Posts Tagged ‘parents’

Higher Education on Facebook

October 23rd, 2009
facebook

Stalking is ok if its on facebook

When talking about Facebook, Tracy Mitrano,  The IT Director of Cornell had this to say in her facebook 2.0 viewpoints;

“Let’s “face” it: Facebook has built the site, and students use it; we in higher education should come to recognize that this universal commercial site is here to stay. We should use it for advertising and for communications—and certainly for emergency messaging.”

She wrote this post in 2008, and started to have the idea in 2006, and she hit the nail on the head.  Facebook is  definitely here to stay. 

» Read more: Higher Education on Facebook

Parents Uncomfortable with Math and Science

October 22nd, 2009

If you don’t talk to your kids about math or science, then who will?

A September survey found that eventhough more than 50% of parents consider math or science as the subjects most important to their children’s success, they report being uncomfortable talking to their children about these subjects. In fact, nearly a 25% of parents, who admit to being less involved in their child’s math and science education than they would like, say that a main reason for this is because they, themselves,  have troubles understanding these subjects.

American schools are falling far short of parents’ expectations, with nearly 9 in 10 parents saying they believe the U.S. lags behind other countries in math and science, even though 98% of parents say these subjects are critical to America’s future.

Read more on the findings of the survey here.

Education is Key to Proper Retirement

October 7th, 2009
This is not a good source of education

This is not a good source of education

and 75% of all adults retired say they will work as long as they can during, both because they want to and because they need the income.

Populations around the nation now expect to delay retirement due to the financial crisis, doing so 1 to 5 years later than they planned. Education is an important factor here, as 44% of people with a high school education or less say they will not ever be able to retire because of the state of finances.

Of those already retired, more than half of them say they wished they had saved more money before leaving their occupations. Some current retirees solely depend on Social Security for their income, which is most common among those with a high school education or less. Few of those with a college degree rely on Social Security. 40% of people without a college education under thirty years old have not yet set up retirement accounts or have started a strategy for saving money for retirement.

With things being what they are with the economy and financial status, it is a good idea to plan ahead for your future expenses, either by saving up as much as possible, or getting as much education as you can. This will grease the wheels of the retirement process, and will help allow you to spend your retirement as it is meant to be spent.

President Wants to Extend School year

September 30th, 2009
Stay in School...... Literally!

Stay in School...... Literally!

The economy is picking up, yet, only slightly; and new support of ideas such as extending the school year, may do more harm than help.

President Obama advocates this belief that extending school days for the academic year will help close the achievement gap, promote higher learning, and improve grades. He says that kids in our nation spent too little time in the classroom; however, the cost of keeping students and teachers in school would be increased (air conditioner, utilities, overtime salary, etc.) In addition to education facilities, leisure industries will be affected by a curtailed vacation period. Travel agencies, hotels, summer camps, and other vacationing business spots will suffer some loss of customers.

While the President has his positive intentions, this is not the time to increase expenses in our economy, yet education experts agree with the idea and believe that increasing time learning is correlated with higher grades. The details of Obama’s plan are still witheld, and educators agree they will hold their judgement until a more specific proposal is made.

Source

Parents Struggle with Letting Go

September 14th, 2009
No Mom you can not move into the dorm with me

No Mom you can not move into the dorm with me

It’s September, also known as the end of summer. More widely known as back-to-school season. Kids are moving up in grade school, some entering high school, Juniors are becoming Seniors, and many teens worldwide are leaving the nest and moving into college dorms away from home. While this is an important decision made by students who are ready for the change, some parents struggle with letting go. » Read more: Parents Struggle with Letting Go

Massive Debt Changes Student Plans

September 9th, 2009
Don't worry everyone is doing it!

Don't worry everyone is doing it!

In a recession, is college worth it? The risk of debt may change some students’ plans.

Danielle Claussen, 18, acknowledges she didn’t give much thought to the ultimate cost of college when she enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Morris County, NJ.

“My plan is to attend for four years, like my sister did,” says Claussen, who grew up in Tuckerton, a small suburb town in South New Jersey. Because she didn’t qualify for financial aid, she took out student loans. Set to  graduate in 2012 with a major in nursing and an estimate of  more than $70,000 in debt. Claussen adds, “With my brother and sister currently in college before me, it’s hard to pay for me and taking out loans is really the only way.” » Read more: Massive Debt Changes Student Plans

Kids Grades are too High in NY!

September 9th, 2009

More students appear to be earning A’s and B’s on their progress reports in New York.  State Education officials reported Thursday that they plan to make changes to the grading system used throughout the schools.

Shael Polakow-Suransky, the department’s chief accountability officer stated “We are going to raise the bar,” adding that eventhough he wishes there to be more of an assortment of grades, “At the same time, when we set clear goals and schools meet them, they need to be recognized and rewarded for that.”

Read more here.

State Budget Cuts Are Here?

January 26th, 2009

Although state officials everywhere are making attempts at continuing to fund classrooms, increasing budget cuts may lead to the loss of many useful and even necessary tools. An example of this is the case for the Star System, used by over a hundred school districts in Tennessee.

The Star System is the name of the software package that manages the attendance, schedules, and discipline of students in the schools. It is also the way the schools’ reports are sent to the state. Word is pending by Tennessee state governor Phil Bredesen of whether or not this budget item will be cut. Should that be the case, funds will no longer be provided for it, and schools will have to either find their own management software or pay for a state contract. » Read more: State Budget Cuts Are Here?

Home-Schooling More Popular?

January 7th, 2009
Wow parents helping kids with schoolwork?

Wow parents helping kids with schoolwork?

According to this article, more and more parents are opting for home-schooling for their children rather than enrolling them into institutions and having them sit in classes. A recent survey revealed the parents’ reasons for their decisions are not just religious. Travel, financial, curiosity, and others have been added to the list. The article mentions that the growing availability of Online Education may be a contributing factor to the “disappearance” of students.