WHY TEACHERS DRINK!
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Showing posts with label School Systems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School Systems. Show all posts
Friday, September 2, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Should a School Require Parents to Buy iPads for Their 9 Year Olds?
From: http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/
Image: John Cave Osborne
Yesterday was a red-letter day for my nine-year-old daughter, as it was the first day in her entire life that she could legitimately say she was more technologically advanced than I. And I’m blaming her school. After all, they’re the ones who required that I buy her an iPad, a toy I’ve yet to even buy myself. And I’m not so sure how I feel about it.
I mean, on the one hand, I suppose I’m okay with it — at least from a conceptual standpoint.
After all, my daughter attends a private school, and in my opinion, a private school can ask anything they want of their student body. No one’s holding a gun to the parents’ heads forcing them to enroll their children there. What’s more, I attended that school back in the day, so I know firsthand what a great place it is — I believe in it.
Besides, I think every single school, public or private, should do whatever it can to deliver the best education possible to its students. And it’s obvious that my daughter’s school feels that having students in grades 3 through 12 use an iPad to navigate the school’s curriculum will do just that. They have a very detailed plan with regard to how the entire process will work, and the communication of that plan has been excellent.
So, again, conceptually, I’m reasonably okay with my soon-to-be fourth grader having an iPad for educational purposes.
But yesterday that concept turned into reality, and I have to admit, I’m not quite as okay with it as I had thought. Our daughter just seems too... young to have an iPad. To her, it’s nothing more than a toy, one on which she spent all day downloading various apps and games. One which she repeatedly flaunted to her younger siblings. One which may as well have been a $600 rubber ball.
Yet not only do I feel she’s too young to appreciate it, I’m also concerned she’s too young to take proper care of it. Within the first few hours of ownership, the screen was already filthy and when she tried to charge it, she inserted the charger the wrong way, then proceeded to try to force it in. Luckily, I was there to show her the correct way to insert it.
Once the newness of the iPad wears off a bit, I’m sure that it won’t be quite as sexy to her as it is now, which means that she won’t always want to sleep right next to it (joke?). Which also means that she’ll eventually begin to regard it as the serious thing that it is. Yet, even so, it’s obvious that I'm going to have to monitor her use of the iPad very closely. And, well, with four kids under the age of four in the house? I'm kinda up to my ears in monitoring at the moment.
And all of these thoughts have me wondering whether or not the school is doing the right thing by requiring students in grades 3 through 12 to have an iPad. Given that this is the first year of the new policy, and given that during this first year there are bound to be glitches, it seems to me that it might have been prudent to have only required the older students, say those in high school, to acquire the devices.
Yet, my reservations don’t stem from glitches which may or may not happen during this inaugural year. My reservations stem from a sixth sense that tells me that my daughter is just too young to have an iPad.
All that said, I’m certainly going to give it a go. And I will totally do my part to assure that my daughter gains all the educational value from her iPad that the school believes she will. And I'm hoping that my sixth sense is wrong. Besides, I think it's entirely possible that my skepticism is ill-founded.
After all, she hasn’t even had the thing for 24 hours yet, and she’s already MONEY at Garage Band. And don't even get me started on Angry Birds.
So what say you, parents? How would you feel if you had to buy an iPad for your 9-year-old?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Recycled Shipping Containers As Disaster Response: School Built In Four Weeks After Earthquake
by Paula Alvarado
from http://www.treehugger.com/
Photos: VientoFuerte.cl.
Shipping containers continue to prove their value to build almost anything, from amazing office buildings to houses to even boy scout cabins.
And although their use as a disaster response has been questioned, they've proven to be a useful resource when a tsunami hit Chile last year and a group of students from a local university was able to re-build a local school in a devastated town in only four weeks.
A fishing town of 3,000 people, Tubul is located about 500 kilometers (300 miles) south-west from Santiago, and was one of the areas most affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
In an effort called Viento Fuerte (Strong Wind), the architecture department of the Finis Terrae University gathered 56 advanced students to design, mount and equip a school for the town.
The project was built from 22 shipping containers donated by a company, which were properly isolated and used as prefab modules. There are 20 containers on ground level and two on a second level, which were jointed by one of their large sides to conform the different classrooms and spaces.
In between, there are open areas that serve as patios, which are shaded and covered to protect children from the rain. Part of the old school building that survived the earthquake was connected to the new structure.
Despite containers having been accused of 'top down' solutions in crisis response, the promoters of the project claim this school was designed not to be a temporary solution but a definitive, full functioning building.
As mentioned, an amazing part of the project is that it was designed and built in only four weeks after the earthquake. The university published a video in English sharing the experience:
The rescue of the Chilean miners and the Japan earthquake have long pushed the Chilean tsunami out of the news, but TreeHugger experienced first-hand that its consequences remain. The initiative Viento Fuerte keeps working on the reconstruction of Tubul and are currently gathering donations for their new projects.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Schoolboy in a skirt: Pupil protests at rule forcing boys to wear trousers during hot weather
By Andrew Levy
From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
It's not necessarily a photo Chris Whitehead’s parents will be framing and keeping on the mantelpiece.
But they are certainly proud of him. The 12-year-old wore a skirt to school yesterday to protest against ‘discriminatory’ rules which ban boys from wearing shorts.
He says it is unfair that girls can change into skirts during the hot weather, while boys have to swelter in long trousers.
Taking a stand: Chris Whitehead, 12, who sits on the school's council with supporters at Impington Village College, near Cambridge
This, he says, affects their concentration and ability to learn.
The schoolboy is taking advantage of a ‘silly loophole’ in the uniform policy at Impington Village College, near Cambridge, that means boys can wear skirts as the school would be guilty of discrimination if it tried to stop them.
‘In the summer months, girl students are allowed to wear skirts but boys are not allowed to wear shorts,’ Chris explained yesterday before his protest.
Skirting around the issue: Chris, who is in Year 8, said he wearing long trousers in summer affects boys' ability to concentrate
‘It discriminates against boys. I will march in a skirt with other boys waving banners and making a lot of noise.
AND THE RULES ON UNIFORM ARE ...
Students at Impington Village College must obey the 'Look Smart' uniform policy at all times.
The policy states students must wear 'plain black tailored trousers or knee-length skirts without slits' but does not specify a gender.
This means shorts are banned by their omission.
The uniform policy also states skirts should be 'free moving not tight against the legs, and trousers should be neither tight nor baggy'.
Jeans, corduroys, cargos with pockets, drainpipes, leggings or capri pants are all banned.
Pupils can wear one pair of discreet stud earrings, no bangles or rings, necklaces must not visible and no more than one watch should be worn.
Discreet make-up is permitted but teachers have the power to instruct students to remove excessive make-up and nail polish.
Teachers also have the power to make students tie back hair for health and safety reasons.
Coats, scarves, gloves and hats can be worn to and from College but not in lessons or the library. Denim, sweatshirts or "hoodies" are not permitted.
Plain black sensible footwear must be worn with no logos, coloured flares, coloured stitching and no high heels or boots, or sandals.
Tights must be plain, opaque, black or flesh-coloured and socks worn with skirts must be plain in colour and ankle length.
Belts must be plain, narrow, black, and fitted through belt loops of trousers.
Pupils are also ordered to wear sky blue polo shirts or sweatshirts bearing the school's logo.
‘I will be wearing the skirt at school all day in protest at the uniform policy and addressing the assembly with the school council.’
The year 8 pupil, who lives in nearby Histon, added: ‘Wearing a skirt is just like wearing shorts with a gap in the middle. I don’t feel silly at all. I don’t embarrass easily.’
The 1,368-pupil school, which was classed as good in its last Ofsted inspection in 2006, imposed the ban two years ago after a consultation with parents and teachers. Its ‘Look Smart’ dress code states students must wear ‘plain black tailored trousers or knee-length skirts without slits’ – but does not specify gender.
This means that while shorts are prohibited because they are not mentioned, girls – and boys – are free to wear skirts as long as they are ‘free moving, not tight against the legs’.
Chris borrowed a skirt from his sister Joanna, 11, and was accompanied by 30 supporters waving placards saying, ‘Cool shorts, not hot pants’, ‘Shorts for the long-term’ and ‘What’s wrong with my legs?’
And he said he intends to continue wearing the outfit.
His mother, Liz, 50, a maths teacher, said: ‘I’m delighted that Chris is taking action on what he believes in – which the school actually encourages, so he is only doing what he is taught.’
And his father, Brian, 48, who owns a publishing company, added: ‘It’s a creative and imaginative idea. I was worried about him getting picked on but he just shrugged his shoulders.’ Headmaster Robert Campbell said: ‘Our uniform policy does not state girls’ and boys’ uniforms because we can’t be discriminatory, so Chris is perfectly within his rights to wear a skirt.
‘What he has done is raise the issue in an entirely legitimate way. I think it will be right to start thinking about uniform again in September.’
An Equality and Human Rights Commission spokesman said: ‘It’s not possible to say if different uniform policies for boys and girls is or is not lawful, as it’s not been tested in the courts.’ But schools ‘should be flexible when considering students’ needs’, he added.
Friday, August 27, 2010
10 iPhone Apps to Get You Back to School
By:
From: http://mashable.com/
As August nights get cooler, we begin begrudgingly counting down the remaining summer days. Once Labor Day passes, it’s back to school time for millions.
The best part of going back to school is clearly the shopping. Even though a new notebook can go a long way in preparing you for the new year, the iPhone (
) also has a ton of apps that will help to get you organized and in the right mind-space to focus and learn.
Last year we brought you 10 awesome applications and now we are updating and adding to that list, ensuring you have a smooth transition when returning to those hallowed halls.
From the college-bound to those who are still lucky enough to enjoy recess, here is a list of the best back to school apps.
1. Open Culture
Going back to school can be a shock to the system. You’ve probably spent the last few months relaxing, hanging out with friends, or transitioning from summer job mode. Hours of classes, papers and assignments can be rough, so to get yourself in a more intellectual space, you can check out Open Culture, which gives you free access to a huge selection of educational and intellectual audio and video collections.
Because acing school often has to do with time management, this app can really help you out in the multitasking department. Choose from a decent list of classics available as audio books while you do your laundry or hit the gym. The “Ideas and Culture” option has a lengthy list of podcasts and radio shows that will tune you into some striking commentary and analysis from some of today’s most interesting thinkers. There is also access to free university lectures plus foreign language lessons and scientific tutorials; as if you didn’t have enough to deal with.
2. Mental Case
Those first tests are but a few weeks away, and it’s up to you to make studying for them as easy as possible. For $4.99, Mental Case lets you create oh-so-handy flashcards on your iPhone. If you’re still leaning toward making them out of paper, then the added bonus of being able to record audio and insert images to the cards may sway your thoughts.
In addition to making your own custom flashcards, you also have access to FlashcardExchange where you can choose from over 21 million cards on a huge range of topics.
If you’d rather not spend all your time studying from your phone, you can download the flash cards to your computer.
3. Rate My Professor
A professor can often make or break a course. Some love teaching and really bring excitement and innovation to the lecture hall, while others have sleep-inducing voices and read straight out of the textbook. Rate My Professors is a useful app in deciding what courses you want to try to get into and which ones you should probably ditch before the add/drop period is over.
While versions of Rate My everything — from teachers, to doctors to dentists — have existed for years, this app is a great way to let other students know when your prof does something great or should just be avoided. You can tweet or post the messages to Facebook (), but use caution if you plan to publicize a bad review.
4. myHomework and iStudiez Pro
myHomework and iStudiez Pro are two apps we have reviewed before, but we simply can’t leave them off this list. myHomework is a free app that will help you stay afloat amidst the sea of assignments you’ll have to tackle.
Color coding helps you keep track of assignments in different classes, and when they’re due. If you are a great organizer, you can use the app to intricately plan how much of each assignment you want to accomplish and by what date to really keep you on track. The app has been updated since we last reviewed it, and you can now view your homework in a day or calendar view, as well as send homework reminders to friends.
iStudiez Pro is a paid app ($2.99) that will help you keep track of your student life. Here you can track your class schedule, so you aren’t missing lectures and ending up at the wrong end of campus, and you can also color-code each of your classes with their corresponding assignments, and be notified of their due dates on the apps calendar.
5. Free Translator
French class may be frustrating, but it’s not hopeless. Free translator is a great way to help you learn another language, as you can discover words that are more relevant to your life.
This app supports a ton of languages, so you even if your school doesn’t offer Polish or Korean lessons, you can learn a few things on your own. It also won’t hurt to have it handy when your French teacher calls on you in class.
6. Chegg
So this probably isn’t news to anyone entering or already in college; textbooks are expensive. Even courseware, which is often a compilation of photocopied texts, can run you hundreds of dollars. Since you probably just dropped a ton of cash on tuition, why not try and save some money where you can without sacrificing your education?
Chegg is a free app that does just that. It’s a textbook rental company with millions of titles to choose from, which is a real bonus considering you don’t have to brave the school book store and stand in line for hours.
You can search for your book by title, author or ISBN, or simply scan its barcode. The app is hellbent on saving you money, as you can compare Chegg’s rental price to the retail and in-store prices, so you know you are getting the best deal.
Since it’s a book rental app, you’ll have to part with the books eventually, which means you have to remember to return them. With all your work, that might be the last thing on your mind, but thankfully the app will send you gentle reminders so late fees don’t ruin the value of the service.
7. Blackboard Mobile Learn for iPhone
Blackboard is a platform that many schools use as way to communicate with students, as well as posting their grades and assignments to private student accounts. Many teachers and professors will direct their students to head to Blackboard to view next week’s lecture notes or find the link to a required reading. Having access to the platform on your phone can make keeping up with your assignments so much easier.
8. Quick Graph
For many of us, math is just not our thing. Those who get it and love it will probably adore Quick Graph, a graphic calculator with 2D and 3D capabilities. It’s also capable of displaying explicit and implicit equations as well as inequalities in both 2D and 3D, in all standard coordinate systems: Cartesian, polar, spherical and cylindrical. You can also share your results via e-mail or you can save them to your photo library.
9. Formulus Free – Formulas for Calculus
Even if you are a math-wiz, it’s hard to keep track of all those formulas. Formulus Free is an app that can help when your memory fails you. There is no more searching through pages of notes to find the right formula for your equation. The free app has all your algebra, geometry and differential equation needs in one easy-to-find place.
10. Free Books
So Free Books isn’t actually free, but you get a lot for its $1.99 price tag. Once you’ve paid for the app, you have easy access to 23,469 classics at the swipe of a finger.
While you won’t find modern titles, the classics — the ones you are likely studying in class — are all there. You can search for titles by name, or browse through them by genre or collection. Think of the money you’ll save not having to buy each book for your Lit class.
For those worried that they couldn’t read an entire book on their iPhone screen, fear not, as you can actually e-mail yourself a copy of the entire book so you can read it on your computer or download it to an e-reader.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Kids' dancing causes Haiti school collapse, Red Cross says
Second school collapses in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNN) -- Children dancing and jumping in a musical at a school in Haiti's capital caused the building to partially collapse on its foundation Wednesday, a top Red Cross official said.
A partially-collapsed school in Port-au-Prince that left 7 injured Wednesday.
Nine children were injured Wednesday at Grace Divine Primary and Secondary School in Port-au-Prince but there were no fatalities, said Brigitte Gaillis, head of operations in Haiti for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
The incident marked the second school building collapse in the country in less than a week.
The school, on the side of a hill, consisted of several small buildings constructed on top of each other, Gaillis said.
"This is a minor collapse," journalist Clarens Renois told CNN by telephone from Port-au-Prince.
Renois said the apparent cause of the latest collapse was faulty construction.
"This is the same kind of problem of construction as in the school last week," said Renois, of the Haiti Press Network. "It's weak construction. It's not solid."
Children panicked at a second school about a mile away when they thought their building was shaking, Gaillis said. Two children were injured in the panic, but there was no damage to that school, she said.
CNN's David Mattingly said the scope of the damage did not appear to match last week's collapse of a three-story concrete school that killed more than 90 people -- many of them children -- and injured 150 in nearby Petionville.
Speaking about last week's disaster, Haitian President Rene Preval said the school's structure was "really weak." He called for a review of construction guidelines.
There were conflicting accounts of how many people had been inside the College La Promesse Evangelique when it collapsed Friday.
Abel Nazaire, deputy coordinator of risk and disaster management in Port-au-Prince, said about 700 people were on the school grounds at the time of the collapse.
But Andre LeClerc, a U.N. spokesman at the scene, estimated that as few as 250 people were inside at 10 a.m. Friday, when the disaster struck.
Haitian and international search-and-rescue officials told reporters Monday afternoon they had done all they could to ensure that no survivors remained in the rubble of the school. The search-and-rescue effort, carried out on a hilltop on the outskirts of the capital, became a recovery effort.
No survivors had been found since early Saturday.
The school's owner, Fortin Augustin, was questioned by Haitian authorities, said Alta Jean-Baptiste, director of the Caribbean nation's Civil Protection Bureau. Augustin turned himself in but had not been charged, said Garry Desrosier, a police spokesman.
Many of the injured -- most of whom ranged in age from 10 to 20 -- suffered deep cuts and broken bones.
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