The Olympics kick off in London today (yes, soccer kicked off a couple days ago), and former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst is out with an Olympics-themed ad criticizing the U.S. education system.
The ad shows a chubby man ineptly competing in rhythmic gymnastics while a commentator observes “the once-proud U.S. program has been relying too much on their reputation. I’d say they’re completely unprepared.”
The U.S. education system is that flabby OIympic athlete and needs reform, the ad concludes.
Allison Chan, 10, says her ideal teachers would always use games in class to help students learn.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, we hear how one student would improve class learning.
Editor’s note: This post was written by elementary school student Allison Chan.
By Allison Chan, 10
I would make the teachers at least everyday do different activities that are the lessons that you would learn in class but in an un-boring way to let the kids have fun. Like, Jeopardy, Hot Potato etc.
TO REVIEW LESSONS
Jeopardy is an educational game that can review the terms that your students have learned in your class. You should do this game around 30 minutes or 40 minutes till class ends. You can start by putting different categories that you have teaches during that class. Then you would put different questions about each category. And DONE!!
Hot Potato is a game that you throw around the room to each student and when the music plays, each person throws it to each student and then when the music stops, the person who has it, needs to answer the question that the teacher gives the student. First you would want to buy a small ball. Then you would make up the question that was covered in the class (ONLY ON THAT DAY). And DONE!! Continue Reading →
Protesters carry posters reading "I am Trayvon Martin" during a rally in downtown Washington DC on March 28, 2012. Protesters gathered outside the American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC) headquarters to protest against the laws protecting the "justifiable homicide" first approved in Florida.
This corporate‐funded 501(c)(3) organization…has unprecedented access to lawmakers and to the composition of the bills they pass into law. Out of Florida’s 160 state legislators, 60 have had ties with ALEC since 2010 through dues records or records of its task forces where corporate lobbyists vote as equals with legislators on “model” bills behind closed doors.
ALEC’s website says it “works to advance the fundamental principles of free-market enterprise, limited government, and federalism at the state level through a nonpartisan public-private partnership of America’s state legislators, members of the private sector and the general public.”
The groups behind the report don’t see it that way. They include Progress Florida, Florida Watch, People For the American Way, Center For Media and Democracy, Common Cause.
The law says parent can choose how to reform a low-performing school if a majority of parents sign a petition. They can replace some or all of the staff, turn it into a charter school under private management or even shut it down.
Woodolph Myrtil, 12, says he feels like a bad student when he doesn't get selected to go on school field trips.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, one student writes about being left out of school field trips.
Editor’s note: This post was written by middle school student Woodolph Myrtil.
By Woodolph Myrtil, 12
One problem at my school is that only the Top 200 PBS (point based system) point leaders get to go to Busch Gardens.
PBS points are an effective system where students get “points” for having positive behavior in class.
Such as when you tuck in your shirt when a grown-up tells you to. Or if the whole class goes wild and you’re the only one being calm.
It’s not fair because the people who are not a part of the Top 200 can’t go on the field trip. Also not getting to go on that trip makes my mom think I’m not doing well when I am being a good student. Continue Reading →
Katerina Sanchez, 14, is a student at Coral Reef Senior High participating in the College Bound summer program with Breakthrough Miami.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, one student writes about the value of meeting people who came from poor neighborhoods and went to college.
Editor’s note: This post was written by high school student Katerina Sanchez who is participating in the College Bound program with Breakthrough Miami.
By Katerina Sanchez, 14
On Friday, July 20th about 35 9th grade students were invited to attend a meeting at the University of Miami Sports Medicine Center.
We were picked by our Breakthrough College Bound teachers to learn about peer pressure, leadership, and our plan A and B. About 10 speakers, including the Marlins Vice President and a professor that taught sports at the university, were speaking to us.
Many of the lecturers came from poor areas. They lived in the hood but were able to rise above the rest and not fall into drugs or alcohol. They managed to do very well in school. Continue Reading →
Mount Pleasant Standard Base Middle School principal Yolanda Capers. Mount Pleasant was the only state middle school to jump to an A from an F grade this year.
Principal Yolanda Capers says the grade stung because she saw her students improving.
“It’s devastating because…our students were still learning,” she says. “58 percent of our students made learning gains in reading. That’s a lot of learning gains. However we still received an F.”
This year, school leaders warned more Florida principals would know Capers’ feeling.
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