4 Day Schools

http://www.educationnews.org/k-12-schools/more-schools-considering-a-four-day-week/

   This article talks about schools that are being forced to go into a 4 day a week due to the lack of federal funds available. Some parents like the idea of 4 days a week because it allows them the extra for family trips. However, class time is longer which forces the teachers to change their lessons and make it last the extra time. Students also find it difficult the extra time they are in the classroom and become restless. Teachers have to rearrange their activities to accomadate the students.

  I personally wouldn't like my son's school to go to a 4 day a week. I know this is going to sound bad but I like the fact that he is in school. The time he is in school allows me time to go to class or do homework or even run some errands. I know that sounds selffish but being a wife, mother, and student isn't easy and I have to take whatever free time I can. For me my free time is when he's in school.

Anti-bullying Bill

http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/michigan-anti-bullying-bill-may-change-amid-uproar/

   This article talks about a new anti-bullying bill  that turned out to be a "joke" according to superintendent Flanagan. He says that this bill will allow bullies to bully people who are gay, lesbian, or transgender. This bill will also open the doors for people of certain religion to get bullied as well. People want the bill to have the inserted lagnuage to be removed and add a passage that will band bullying for people having a certain sexual preference.

   I agree with this article that there needs to be rules that will band any kind of bullying what so ever. Bullying is something that should seen wrong and not allowed by anyone to anyone. I do beleive though, that schools need to start stepping up to the plate and take more responsibility for what is going on their schools. WHy do they need a bill to tell them what is acceptable. Shouldn't the schools know what should be happening in thier schools? Isn't their job to protect and have the child's safety in mind. I know that when I drop off my son at school I'm expecting everyone that works in that school to make sure my child as well as others are safe. If that isn't the case then why send them off to school.

Penn. Gov./Voucher Plan

http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/pennsylvania-gov-tom-corbett-speaks-about-voucher-plan/

   This articles talks about how the governor wants to make education available to students with low-income. He wants to provide students with the opportunity to go to a well school where they can actually have the chance to succeed in school. This will be available  for students that are committed to school and show it through there academic grades. The governor also wants to give business an incentive to help the studets by providing tax credits. The governor feels that this will help the overall achievement of the students that were raised in the "bad' neighborhood and lack the finanical means to gain a good education.

   I think that this is a good idea that the governor has. I think that students she have the opportunity to succeed in life. If they receive help going to school they will be able to get a good job and later on be able to support themselves instead of also depending on others to support.

Minority Groups/Harsher Punishments

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/10/05/07discipline_ep.h31.html?tkn=YXNFrkiOgFO1fVMcpLF5C%2BZSS%2F7zx1KG03Ol&cmp=clp-edweek

Lidia Padilla Libs 4960

 

      This article talks about how students that are black or hispanic receive harsher punishments when it comes to breaking the rules in school. The article gave examples and percent comared between blacks and whites that received punishement for dress codes or breaking the rules in schools. The percent was more than double when compared between blacks and whites.

     This article made me upset when I heard about the student James that received a 45 day suspension for hold a "cell phone". I don't think that was necessary over a cell phone even if he was holding and using it. If  that would have been my son being treated that way I would have made a big scene. I think they should have suspended him for maybe one or two days but 45 days that's ridiculous. I do agree with the author in publishing this article. We need to be more aware of the discriminastions that people are facing. It could be the other way around where minority teachers may be punishing white students, so we just need to be aware and stand up for people. I do agree that students can be pushed to drop out of schools if treated unfair and harshly.

Charter Schools

http://www.educationnews.org/parenting/rand-study-charter-school-parents-are-happier/
   The article that I read talked about how parents that have kids in charter schools are happier because they feel like they have more choices than in public schools. There isn't a big difference between the schools. However, parent involvement and students discipline is better in public schools arroding to the article.
    After reading this article it made me wonder if charter schools are the best choices for students. Personally me being a mother I wouldn't enroll my kids in a charter school. I feel that public schools are better at teaching the standards and teaching the students discipline.
   I don't necessarily disagree with author just because I wouldn't enroll my kids in charter schools. Maybe to some kids and parents it's the best choose but for me I wouldn't not. We were actually having a discussing in another class where a girl said she has a friend that I had place her kids in charter school and when her oldest was in fifth grade was sent to public school and was totally lost when it came to the work they were doing. She said her freind's son struggled to keep up the material they were doing in class. That just made me wonder if charter schools are actually teaching the material they are suppose to be teaching and at the same pace. I personally won't take my kids to charters schools not when we have public schools that are offered.

NCLB

Lidia Padilla

Libs 4960

Summary:

This article mainly talks about President Obama’s decision to remove the No Child Left Behind in public schools. In the NCLB schools are expected to all be at the same level when it comes to test scores. Now they want to leave it up to the schools without having to be at a certain standard.

This doesn’t make me feel anything, not one way or the other. I guess I’m neutral because I can see both points. If we have NCLB, they are trying to make sure schools are doing their part in having the students keep up with the standards. However, it’s difficult for people in the school board to be stating what needs to happen without being in the classrooms. Not all students know the English language. They don’t’ master the language fast enough to score high in the test. English was my second language and I struggled with it and I know there is no way I would have scored high enough to meet their standards. It took time for me to score well. This is great pressure on the schools.