Officials at West Side High School in Gary, Ind., tossed one senior out of the prom after taking one look at the clinging gown the student wore, even though there were others that revealed more.
"I have no formal pictures, no memories, nothing. You only have one prom," the student said. The problem was, well, the student's name was Kevin Logan and he was the only guy trying to enter the prom wearing a slinky gown.
Now, of course, he is planning on suing the school. Check out the Associated Press article.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Heavy cell phone use could indicate anxiety
A medical study indicates excessive cellphone use by teens may be an indication of unhappiness and anxiety. The Los Angeles Times' article on the subject is reprinted below:
FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
The teen obsession with yakking, text messaging and ring tone swapping on their cellphones might mean more than a whopping phone bill. For the most crazed, it's a sign of unhappiness and anxiety, according to a new medical study.
A survey of 575 high school students found that that the top third of users – students who used their phones more than 90 times a day – frequently did so because they were unhappy or bored. They scored significantly higher on tests measuring depression and anxiety compared with students who used their phones a more sedate 70 times daily.
The study, presented Tuesday at a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in Toronto, was among the first to explore the emotional significance of teens' cellphone habits as the device becomes more entrenched in today's youth culture.
Two of every five youths in the U.S. from ages 8 to 18 own a cellphone, according to a recent survey. Students in grades seven through 12 spend an average of an hour a day on their cellphones – about the same amount of time they devote to homework.
Some earlier studies involving college students have suggested a link between heavy cellphone use and depression. Other research has shown that students incorporate cellphones into their personal identities.
For teens, cellphones were "not just objects or communications tools. They were portals for being in touch with other people – extensions of themselves," said Christina Wasson, an anthropologist at the University of North Texas who has studied cellphone use.
Dr. Jee Hyan Ha, lead author of the latest report, said heavy cellphone users involved in his study weren't clinically depressed. Rather, Dr. Ha said, the students probably were suffering from some serious cases of teen angst. The youths may have been unhappy because of a problem in their lives or anxious about their social status.
"They are trying to make themselves feel better by reaching out to others," he said.
Dr. Ha, a psychiatrist at Yongin Mental Hospital in South Korea, surveyed students attending a technical high school in that country about their cellphone habits and attitudes. Most of the participants were boys, and their average age was 15.
The heaviest users were communicating with their phones on average about every 10 minutes during waking hours. The majority of their usage was in text messages.
They continually checked their phones for messages and often became irritated when people didn't call them right back.
Based on the popularity of the devices in South Korea, where three-quarters of residents have cellphones, Dr. Ha expected to find students had become addicted to their phones.
"I thought that there would be some kind of craving, but that is not what I saw," he said.
Instead, Dr. Ha found that cellphone use appeared to be linked to self-esteem.
Students in the highest third of users scored significantly worse on scales measuring depression, anxiety and "alexithymia," or the ability to express emotion, compared with students in the bottom third of cellphone users.
Dr. Ha used a psychological test to measure the mental state of the students. In the test, a score of 21 marked a clinical depression. The heaviest cellphone users scored 12, well below that point, while the lighter users came in at 7.
FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
The teen obsession with yakking, text messaging and ring tone swapping on their cellphones might mean more than a whopping phone bill. For the most crazed, it's a sign of unhappiness and anxiety, according to a new medical study.
A survey of 575 high school students found that that the top third of users – students who used their phones more than 90 times a day – frequently did so because they were unhappy or bored. They scored significantly higher on tests measuring depression and anxiety compared with students who used their phones a more sedate 70 times daily.
The study, presented Tuesday at a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in Toronto, was among the first to explore the emotional significance of teens' cellphone habits as the device becomes more entrenched in today's youth culture.
Two of every five youths in the U.S. from ages 8 to 18 own a cellphone, according to a recent survey. Students in grades seven through 12 spend an average of an hour a day on their cellphones – about the same amount of time they devote to homework.
Some earlier studies involving college students have suggested a link between heavy cellphone use and depression. Other research has shown that students incorporate cellphones into their personal identities.
For teens, cellphones were "not just objects or communications tools. They were portals for being in touch with other people – extensions of themselves," said Christina Wasson, an anthropologist at the University of North Texas who has studied cellphone use.
Dr. Jee Hyan Ha, lead author of the latest report, said heavy cellphone users involved in his study weren't clinically depressed. Rather, Dr. Ha said, the students probably were suffering from some serious cases of teen angst. The youths may have been unhappy because of a problem in their lives or anxious about their social status.
"They are trying to make themselves feel better by reaching out to others," he said.
Dr. Ha, a psychiatrist at Yongin Mental Hospital in South Korea, surveyed students attending a technical high school in that country about their cellphone habits and attitudes. Most of the participants were boys, and their average age was 15.
The heaviest users were communicating with their phones on average about every 10 minutes during waking hours. The majority of their usage was in text messages.
They continually checked their phones for messages and often became irritated when people didn't call them right back.
Based on the popularity of the devices in South Korea, where three-quarters of residents have cellphones, Dr. Ha expected to find students had become addicted to their phones.
"I thought that there would be some kind of craving, but that is not what I saw," he said.
Instead, Dr. Ha found that cellphone use appeared to be linked to self-esteem.
Students in the highest third of users scored significantly worse on scales measuring depression, anxiety and "alexithymia," or the ability to express emotion, compared with students in the bottom third of cellphone users.
Dr. Ha used a psychological test to measure the mental state of the students. In the test, a score of 21 marked a clinical depression. The heaviest cellphone users scored 12, well below that point, while the lighter users came in at 7.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Blog: Unwed parents not welcome in Missouri town
If you're not married, you had better live somewhere besides Black Jack, MO., according to a post on the brettbart.com blog Local officials are only welcoming traditional families, the post indicates.
High school students in trouble for Internet list
When you think of Internet lists created by high school students, the first thought are the hit lists that have been reported in some areas.
That was not the case at Kirkwood High School in the St. Louis area where students are in trouble of creating a list purportedly telling "who's hot and who's not" among girls in the junior class.
That was not the case at Kirkwood High School in the St. Louis area where students are in trouble of creating a list purportedly telling "who's hot and who's not" among girls in the junior class.
How do these people get into teaching, part 4?
Today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch tells the story of a veteran teacher who was arrested after arriving at school drunk and fondling a 13-year-old girl. No mention is made of previous instances of misbehavior by the man, but he has been teaching at that school for 22 years, the article said.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Illinois school district to monitor student blogs
It's a policy that seems to be crying for a lawsuit.
The Libertyville, Ill., School District Board voted unanimously Monday to begin monitoring student blogs and have students who participate in extracurricular activities sign a pledge agreeing that any type of "illegal or inappropriate" activity on the net can be grounds for disciplinary action.
Please read the Associated Press article.
The Libertyville, Ill., School District Board voted unanimously Monday to begin monitoring student blogs and have students who participate in extracurricular activities sign a pledge agreeing that any type of "illegal or inappropriate" activity on the net can be grounds for disciplinary action.
Please read the Associated Press article.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Columnist: Forget privacy, we need to spy more
Syndicated columnist Max Boot offers a provocative commentary suggesting that we need to forget about privacy concerns and increase spying to protect us against terrorism.
Senate passes bill making English our official language
During debate on the immigration bill this week, the United States Senate passed an amendment making English our official language. Is this a good move, please read the BBC article and let me know what you think.
England to eliminate junk food from school diets
In America, the publicity the past couple of weeks has been about an agreement to remove soft drinks from schools, but the United Kingdom has plans to go much, much further.
British officials are talking about not only removing soft drinks, but junk food snacks, and even "low quality" meat.
British officials are talking about not only removing soft drinks, but junk food snacks, and even "low quality" meat.
You can't just ask a girl to the prom any more
It appears approaching a girl and asking her if she wants to go the prom with you is too boring these days. The whole thing has become a grand production number, according to an article in this morning's San Diego Union-Tribune.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Nebraska plan goes against Brown vs. Board idea
Each year during the third quarter, students in my communication arts classes at South Middle School research major events in the civil rights movement, including the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision which paved the way for the desegregation of American public schools.
Now, Nebraska appears to be heading in the opposite direction with schools divided by racial makeup, according to an article from the New York Times.
Now, Nebraska appears to be heading in the opposite direction with schools divided by racial makeup, according to an article from the New York Times.
Discussing having the National Guard protect our borders
Earlier this week, President Bush announced a plan to have the National Guard protecting our borders. A Washington Post editorial criticizes this plan. What do you think?
Columbine massacre video game criticized
It appears as if there is nothing that people desperate for a buck won't do, including fashioning a video game based on the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.
Teen abuse of prescription drugs increasing
Teen use of alcohol and illegal drugs is down, but abuse of prescription medicatin is on the upswing, according to a new study.
Study says fewer teens are dating
A newly released study indicates fewer teens are going out on dates. Please read the Chicago Sun-Times article.
Do computers really help school performance
Though I have tried to help the educational process through websites such as those in the Room 210 family, online MAP practice tests and other use of technology in the classroom, I do sometimes wonder if we are not sacrificing basic educational concepts in favor of keeping students entertained with computers.
Apparently, I am not the only one who has these kinds of thoughts. Jay Mathews of the Washington Post, in his most recent column, asks the same question with some fascinating results.
Apparently, I am not the only one who has these kinds of thoughts. Jay Mathews of the Washington Post, in his most recent column, asks the same question with some fascinating results.
Bill would eliminate MySpace, similar sites from school, library computers
The recent wave of publicity surrounding sites such as myspace.com has led a Congressman to propose that such social networking sites be prohibited on school library and public library computers. Educators and librarians are fighting the bill, noting that it restricts the educational use of such websites.
It should be noted that if this law passes, blogger.com would be one of the sites blocked on school computers, meaning sites like this one and Room 210 News would not be available on any school computers.
It should be noted that if this law passes, blogger.com would be one of the sites blocked on school computers, meaning sites like this one and Room 210 News would not be available on any school computers.
Minnesota to try MAP-like tests online
Minnesota students will try a new method of taking standardized test, according to an article in E-School News. The students will take their achievement tests online on a trial basis. If it works, this could become the wave of the future.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
How do these people get into teaching, part 3
A St. Joseph teacher has been suspended after giving his students a writing assignment which had them tell what person they would like to kill and how they would go about doing it...and this assignment was for an industrial technology class.
Please read the Associated Press article.
Please read the Associated Press article.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Scientists say anti-drug programs do not work
Scientists claim that anti-drug programs in schools not only do not work, but may have a harmful effect on students. Please read the Los Angeles Times article.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
More teachers using e-mail, but students have moved beyond that
Just as teachers have finally started using e-mail to communicate with students, students have advanced far beyond that and prefer instant messenger.
According to an ESchool News article, the only time many young people use e-mail is to communicate with adults or to save documents.
According to an ESchool News article, the only time many young people use e-mail is to communicate with adults or to save documents.
Visiting Mom in prison
Hopefully, it's something the teenagers who read this blog will never have to worry about, but today's Los Angeles Times includes a feature story about a 15-year-old visiting her mother in prison, where she is serving a life sentence for charges that include kidnapping and armed robbery.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Bill adds restrictions for teen drivers
Teen drivers face additional restrictions under a bill passed Friday by the Missouri General Assembly. Teens will now have to have 40 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, up from 20, and will have limits on the number of teen passengers they may have. Please read the article from the Jefferson City News-Tribune.
Neosho teen turns her life around
The Friday Neosho Daily News included a feature written by Wes Franklin about a Neosho High School student who turned her life around after being in trouble with the law at her former school. The article is reprinted below:
By Wes Franklin / Daily News Staff Writer
Krystil Steffen, a junior at Neosho High School, doesn't think of herself as necessarily special, but she realizes she's come a long way.
Today she received the Better Choices Award from Newton County Presiding Circuit Court Judge Timothy Perigo in recognition for having the courage and fortitude to change her life for the better.
But it's been a rocky journey.
About a year ago, while living in Stone County, Steffen found herself in more trouble than she would like to admit. Only 16 at the time, she became involved in drugs which eventually landed her in a rehabilitation center. Brazenly “escaping” with an accomplice from rehab, she stole a car but ended up getting caught.
Afterwards, when Steffen was placed into foster care with Neosho couple Kathi and Roy Stephens, she said she wasn't too enthusiastic about going back to the normal routine of high school.
“When I got here I could really care less,” Steffen related. “I didn't even want to be back in school.”
But on advice from her caseworker, Steffen re-enrolled in class. And that's when she noticed things starting to turn around.
“I've made straight ‘A's all my life, so obviously I was kind of obligated to make ‘A's, and I got into some accelerated classes that started motivating me a little more and things just kind of came alongŠ,” she said. “There's a lot more opportunities for me here than I had before so I just kind of went for them all as I get more motivated in school.”
However, education can only do so much. A negative perception on life can void whatever attributes may be gained through attending even accelerated classes. It takes a different world outlook to lift one's self up out of whatever funk they've fallen into - something Steffen said she realized soon after arriving in foster care and enrolling at Neosho High School.
“It was kind of a wake-up call,” she described. “I mean, my (real) parents were abusive so, before, I could really care less what my life was like. And then when I got here I realized, you know, life's not all crap. It can be fun if you make it and you can have a lot of opportunities thrown at you.”
Besides being involved as a tenor saxophonist in the Wildcat Band, Steffen's high grades and changed attitude about life have created a domino effect of consistent honor roll awards, a selection by a committee of teachers to represent Neosho at Missouri Girl's State this summer, an April Student of the Month award and a vote by her fellow classmates to the Neosho High School Student Council.
Applying to run for council was something she almost didn't even go forward with, but was strongly encouraged by her new friends - an example, Steffen believes, of her changed life.
“All my friends were like ‘dude, if you don't apply, what are you going to say if nobody else applies and you could have made it, a shoe-in; you're going to be kicking yourself all next year,' ” she related.“I definitely got that support system there that's like, you know, ‘if you don't do something that's going to put yourself in a better position, don't talk to us. If you're just going to be a bum, leave us alone.' I didn't like that. I wanted to keep the friends I had made here. They're really good friends.”
According to Rob Lundien, high school A+ coordinator and guidance counselor, Steffen was recommended to receive the Better Choices Award by high school resource officer Cameron Kruse, a corporal with the Neosho Police Department. The nomination was seconded by high school teachers and faculty.
“Earlier in the year, I knew this award was coming up and I kind of thought, ‘of any student in this school that I know of, Krystil is definitely a student who has made better choices,' ” Lundien said. “She's self-determined, she's self-motivated. She's very unique in the sense that she's had a period where she's made some not so good choices and she's decided she's not going to do that anymore. I think that's what that award is pretty much all about.”
Steffen said she was completely taken by surprise when Lundien called her into his office last Monday after lunch and told her she was chosen to represent Neosho by accepting the honor.
“When he told me I was like ‘oh, that's so sweet,' ” Steffen related. “I didn't really expect to be picked, you know. I'm just your average juvenile delinquent trying to get her life straight.”
After graduation next year, Steffen hopes to be accepted into the United States Army Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
By Wes Franklin / Daily News Staff Writer
Krystil Steffen, a junior at Neosho High School, doesn't think of herself as necessarily special, but she realizes she's come a long way.
Today she received the Better Choices Award from Newton County Presiding Circuit Court Judge Timothy Perigo in recognition for having the courage and fortitude to change her life for the better.
But it's been a rocky journey.
About a year ago, while living in Stone County, Steffen found herself in more trouble than she would like to admit. Only 16 at the time, she became involved in drugs which eventually landed her in a rehabilitation center. Brazenly “escaping” with an accomplice from rehab, she stole a car but ended up getting caught.
Afterwards, when Steffen was placed into foster care with Neosho couple Kathi and Roy Stephens, she said she wasn't too enthusiastic about going back to the normal routine of high school.
“When I got here I could really care less,” Steffen related. “I didn't even want to be back in school.”
But on advice from her caseworker, Steffen re-enrolled in class. And that's when she noticed things starting to turn around.
“I've made straight ‘A's all my life, so obviously I was kind of obligated to make ‘A's, and I got into some accelerated classes that started motivating me a little more and things just kind of came alongŠ,” she said. “There's a lot more opportunities for me here than I had before so I just kind of went for them all as I get more motivated in school.”
However, education can only do so much. A negative perception on life can void whatever attributes may be gained through attending even accelerated classes. It takes a different world outlook to lift one's self up out of whatever funk they've fallen into - something Steffen said she realized soon after arriving in foster care and enrolling at Neosho High School.
“It was kind of a wake-up call,” she described. “I mean, my (real) parents were abusive so, before, I could really care less what my life was like. And then when I got here I realized, you know, life's not all crap. It can be fun if you make it and you can have a lot of opportunities thrown at you.”
Besides being involved as a tenor saxophonist in the Wildcat Band, Steffen's high grades and changed attitude about life have created a domino effect of consistent honor roll awards, a selection by a committee of teachers to represent Neosho at Missouri Girl's State this summer, an April Student of the Month award and a vote by her fellow classmates to the Neosho High School Student Council.
Applying to run for council was something she almost didn't even go forward with, but was strongly encouraged by her new friends - an example, Steffen believes, of her changed life.
“All my friends were like ‘dude, if you don't apply, what are you going to say if nobody else applies and you could have made it, a shoe-in; you're going to be kicking yourself all next year,' ” she related.“I definitely got that support system there that's like, you know, ‘if you don't do something that's going to put yourself in a better position, don't talk to us. If you're just going to be a bum, leave us alone.' I didn't like that. I wanted to keep the friends I had made here. They're really good friends.”
According to Rob Lundien, high school A+ coordinator and guidance counselor, Steffen was recommended to receive the Better Choices Award by high school resource officer Cameron Kruse, a corporal with the Neosho Police Department. The nomination was seconded by high school teachers and faculty.
“Earlier in the year, I knew this award was coming up and I kind of thought, ‘of any student in this school that I know of, Krystil is definitely a student who has made better choices,' ” Lundien said. “She's self-determined, she's self-motivated. She's very unique in the sense that she's had a period where she's made some not so good choices and she's decided she's not going to do that anymore. I think that's what that award is pretty much all about.”
Steffen said she was completely taken by surprise when Lundien called her into his office last Monday after lunch and told her she was chosen to represent Neosho by accepting the honor.
“When he told me I was like ‘oh, that's so sweet,' ” Steffen related. “I didn't really expect to be picked, you know. I'm just your average juvenile delinquent trying to get her life straight.”
After graduation next year, Steffen hopes to be accepted into the United States Army Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Teens protest sex and violence in media
Cape Girardeau teenagers are protesting what they call the destruction of our values, according to an article in today's Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian.
Friday, May 12, 2006
How do they get into teaching, part 2
Now, we have the case of a man who continues to get teaching positions despite being a racist and occasionally letting his beliefs find their way into the classroom. How do these people keep getting hired? Please read the article from the WLTX website in Columbia, S.C.
Search for weapons uncovers 800 cellphones
Is anyone safe in New York City schools?
Today's New York Times features another article about the cellphone ban, revealing that a search for weapons uncovered a few, but also unearthed 800 cellphones.
Today's New York Times features another article about the cellphone ban, revealing that a search for weapons uncovered a few, but also unearthed 800 cellphones.
Politician puts career on hold to save his teen daughter
Don't let anyone tell you all politicians are bad. One New York politician is setting his ambition aside, according to this New York Daily News article, so he can donate a kidney to his teenage daughter.
Parents' group to sue over cellphone ban
We've had a couple of posts about this recently, but the story continues to grow. Now, some New York parents plan to sue a school over its ban of student cellphones. Please read the article from the New York Daily News.
Teenager's project saves prom for Katrina victims
Today's Washington Post features a heartwarming story about a teenager whose simple idea of collecting prom dresses for Katrina victims snowballed into something much, much more.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Nixa schools consider crackdown on fundraisers
Sick of complaints about students selling one thing after another, the Nixa Board of Education is considering a new policy which would severely limit fundraising activities. Please read the article from today's Springfield News-Leader.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
School authorizes criminal background checks on prom dates
If you think your school's policies are tough, try the policy at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. You cannot bring a date to prom until that person undergoes a criminal background check. Please read the article on the Cape Cod Times website.
How do these people get into teaching?
A teacher at a Latino charter school in the Chicago area is in hot water after making a discriminatory remark against Hispanics who had allegedly gotten paint on her jacket. You can read the story at the CBS2 website in Chicago.
Cruzan lawyer featured in Post-Dispatch column
Each year, students in Mr. Randy Turner's communication arts class at South Middle School discuss the Nancy Cruzan case, in which a Carterville couple fought for the right to disconnect the feeding tubes that kept their daughter alive after she ended up in a persistent vegetative state following an auto accident near Carthage in 1983.
The Cruzan family's lawyer, Bill Colby, pictured, spoke Monday about the right-to-die, in cases ranging from the Cruzan case to Terri Schaivo. You can read more in this St. Louis Post-Dispatch column.
column.
Monday, May 08, 2006
New York schools ban MySpace
The controversial MySpace has been banned from New York school computers, according to an article in today's New York Post.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Soft drink decision praised in editorial
The decision by the companies that make Coke, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper to pull their high-caloried soft drinks out of schools is praised in an editorial from today's Houston Chronicle.
Teens actively work to eliminate violence in Boston
Fortunately, it's not the kind of problem we have to deal with in Joplin, and hopefully, it never will be, but students in a Boston school have far more serious things to worry about than ballgames and who is going out with whom.
A group of students are serving as mediators in an effort stop deaths from gang violence. Please read the article from today's Boston Globe.
A group of students are serving as mediators in an effort stop deaths from gang violence. Please read the article from today's Boston Globe.
An example of how not to run a school
Today's Denver Post features a cautionary tale of how not to run a school system. Manual School in Denver had all of the money it needed, but due to faulty leadership, the once highly-regarded institution will close later this year.
Among the problems cited: removal of advanced placement classes causing students to leave, rusty water coming out of fountains, principals fighting over who should get what textbooks, and a principal who kept coming up with new plans, but never gave enough time to allow any of them to work.
Among the problems cited: removal of advanced placement classes causing students to leave, rusty water coming out of fountains, principals fighting over who should get what textbooks, and a principal who kept coming up with new plans, but never gave enough time to allow any of them to work.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Teen suspended for creating top 25 list
A Mount Lebanon, PA teen who created a top 25 list of his fellow students, which included racial slurs and crude sexual information, has been suspended from school. Find out more from the article on the WPXI website.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Nutritionists want sports drinks added to soft drink ban
Nutritionists believe the deal announced yesterday that would ban soft drinks in public schools does not go far enough. According to an article in today's Boston Globe, they are concerned about the exception given to sports drinks.
State officials want MySpace age to be raised from 14 to 18
Middle school and high school students would be booted off the popular MySpace if company officials follow Massachusetts' lawmakers request to raise the minimum age for participation from 14 to 18. Check out the CNN article.
Springfield schools consider testing for body fat
Concerned by the growing obesity problem (no pun intended), Springfield school officials are considering a proposal which would require all students and teachers to have their body fat percentage checked. The Springfield News-Leader criticized the proposal today in an editorial.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Pop machines to be eliminated from schools
Bans on soft drinks currently available at American public schools will go into place soon, according to an article in today's Washington Post.
According to the article: "The agreement calls for eliminating sales of sodas, diet sodas, sports drinks, juice drinks, apple juice or grape juice in elementary schools. Water and more healthful juices such as orange juice could continue to be sold, but in only eight-ounce or smaller containers, according to sources who were briefed yesterday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan had not yet been announced." At the middle school level, the article said, students would be able to drink 12-ounce containers of the same types of drinks.
High schools will be able to have diet soft drinks with a 12-ounce limit.
The official announcement of the agreement, which has been signed off on by Coke, Pepsi, and other major soft drink manufacturers, is expected to be made today. Soft drinks have come under fire in recent years due to the negative effect experts say they have on children's health.
According to the article: "The agreement calls for eliminating sales of sodas, diet sodas, sports drinks, juice drinks, apple juice or grape juice in elementary schools. Water and more healthful juices such as orange juice could continue to be sold, but in only eight-ounce or smaller containers, according to sources who were briefed yesterday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan had not yet been announced." At the middle school level, the article said, students would be able to drink 12-ounce containers of the same types of drinks.
High schools will be able to have diet soft drinks with a 12-ounce limit.
The official announcement of the agreement, which has been signed off on by Coke, Pepsi, and other major soft drink manufacturers, is expected to be made today. Soft drinks have come under fire in recent years due to the negative effect experts say they have on children's health.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Illinois school tries to make senior year more productive
Today's Washington Post features an article on a Winnetka, Ill., school that is trying to make the senior year more than just a layover for college.
Teachers join students in opposing cellphone ban
New York teachers are supporting parents and students who oppose a cellphone ban. Read the story from today's New York Post.
Monday, May 01, 2006
School told to prepare for bird flu
American schools are being told to prepare for the possibility of a bird flu pandemic, according to an article on eschoolnews.
New project to seek writing from teenage girls
Magazine company CondeNast has announced a new initiative which would use writing from teenage girls, according to an article in Business Week.
Is recess an endangered species?
The drive to milk every bit of teaching time out of school in order to raise scores on standardized tests has prompted some schools to eliminate recess for elementary students. Read the article in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Is school too much for students?
A Washington Post article explores the stress school causes for students.
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