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.
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