Archive for 'Law'
Congress to Debate role of Recruiters in Schools
Posted on 27. Apr, 2009 by Admin.
by Kevin Freking, Associated Press Writer (April 24, 2009)
How much information do you think the military should have on our children? Should they have free access to our schools and our children? Should parents be notified before the military contacts our youth?
“Upon the military’s request, high schools must provide students’ names, addresses and telephone numbers. They also must give military recruiters the same access they provide to university and business recruiters during college and career fairs.
“Congress will consider reauthorizing the education law later this year. Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., wants Congress to change how schools handle student contact information so military recruiters do not have automatic access to it. He said parents in his district are frustrated that recruiters are contacting their children at home.
“Under Honda’s bill, parents would have to consent to releasing their children’s information to the military. Currently, parents have to ask that the information be withheld, and Honda said many parents are unaware they have that option.”
It is the opinion of UEC that parents should be empowered, not the government. Parents may or may not choose to grant access to the military, but the current ”opt out” system doesn’t work as parents simply don’t know that the military has access to their child.
What do you think?
Read the entire article here.
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School Recess Cutbacks Overstated, Report Says
Posted on 13. Mar, 2009 by Admin.
by Dani McClain (9/11/08)
We all remember the thrill of recess when we were kids. With ever-increasing federal guidelines and requirements, many schools are cutting back and even eliminating recess. But is that really a wise move?
“The report summarized recent data from sources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics and drew the following conclusions:
• 14% of elementary schools with an enrollment of at least half students of color schedule no recess for first-graders, compared with 2% of schools with less than 6% minority enrollment.
• 18% of elementary schools where more than three-fourths of the student body receives a reduced-price lunch have no recess for first-graders, compared with 4% of schools where less than half the student body comes from impoverished families.
• 14% of urban elementary schools schedule no recess for first-graders, compared with 6% of suburban schools and 3% of rural schools.”
According to the data, recess may actually help encourage student achievement.
That said, we all know that there is no universal “one size fits all” model, method, or approach that works all of the time in education. It’s unfortunate that certain types of students (i.e., minority, poor, and urban students) miss out on recess more often than their counterparts in more affluent parts of the nation. That trend should change.
It is the opinion of UEC that recess plays an important part in children’s development at school. Although it should be used reasonably and responsibly, the data suggests that school leaders should reevaluate and support recess in school.
That said, all decisions should be made based on local factors and conditions. But, generally speaking, recess needs to remain an important part of our nation’s education system.
Read the article here.
What do you think?