Archive for the ‘Education News’ category

Hide SAT Scores in 2010!

January 6th, 2009

students

In 2010, The College Board is launching Score Choice. This will allow students to hide SAT test dates that they do not want colleges to see if they have taken the test more than once.

Learn more

Video For Teachers By Teachers!

January 5th, 2009
For teachers by teachers

Teachers, Get some popcorn and a notepad. You now have help to plan your lessons. Thanks to Jason and Adam Smith of Dallas Texas, teachers have access to over 50,000 videos. For teachers By teachers!

“It is allowing teachers from all over the world to share with each other and learn from one another,” said Adam, “We want to create a grassroots movement in transforming how teachers teach and students learn.”

Learn more

Visit teachertube.com

State Education Might Get $250 Billion!

January 4th, 2009
Hey Banks and Autos got it, why not us?

Hey Banks and Autos got it, why not us?

Five Democratic Governors led by Massachusetts State Governor Deval Patrick have decided to ask the Federal Government for one trillion dollars to help states meet budget shortfalls. $250 billion of this money will go towards education. You can read more about it here.

Just where is all this money coming from? I am glad that state governors are noticing that education can always use more money, but I really think this is just an attempt to jump on the bailout bandwagon and milk money indirectly from hardworking blue collar Americans to save the state’s bloated budget.

Students, you may want to pick up a copy of Atlas Shrugged, a book ironically written in 1957 that talks about the effects of a federal government getting involved in bailing out the economy. This book is a long and hard read that I can relate to more and more each day.

Outrage Over College Application System? … Please!!

January 2nd, 2009
I blame my procrastination on computers!

I Blame my Procrastination on Computers!

According to a NY Times Article, Applications for Colleges Clog System, students and parents where upset that the Common Application computer system was not adequate enough to handle the last minute load on New Year’s Eve to meet this year’s deadline.

Here are a few tips for students and parents to avoid frustration in the future;

Do not wait to the LAST MINUTE to send in your applications. The correct time to send an application is several weeks before the deadline.

Highways always have traffic jams, phone networks go down on New Year’s Eve. If these established infrastructures have problems, it can be assumed that a computer system that handles the applications of over 300 major colleges/universities will too. Be practical.

Understand that if you do send your application at the last minute, you are lumped in with the rest of the estimated 65% of applicants who just did the same thing as you. This is bad. Errors can happen, you can be overlooked, you do not give yourself time to correct mistakes; and finally, when you apply for anything, it pays to separate yourself from the rabble.

Federal Government Leaves Children Behind

December 30th, 2008
Would You Leave Me Behind?

Would You Leave Me Behind?

Education policy experts say it will likely be at least a year before a reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act occurs, as President-elect Barack Obama’s administration has placed a priority on economic recovery and health care reform.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is the current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the fundamental federal law governing K-12 education. The National Education Association strongly supports the stated goals of the law — to raise student learning, close achievement gaps, and ensure that every child is taught by a highly qualified teacher. But, simply put, the law is not working.

Many states have struggled to meet the requirements set forth by law, while others have chosen to sue.

NCLB is up for reauthorization this year, and NEA is asking Congress to make three fundamental changes in the law so that it works for children:

  1. Use more than test scores to measure student learning and school performance;
  2. Reduce class size to help students learn;
  3. Increase the number of highly qualified teachers in our schools.

NEA currently supports 145 bills introduced in Congress to revise NCLB.

NEA also calls for adequate funding of NCLB. NEA state-by-state data shows how current funding falls far below the level set in the law.