The Sunday Education Weekly Reader: 9.25.11

Good day! Welcome to the Sunday Education Weekly Reader compiled from last week's education news and tidbits.

Here are some interesting education articles about:

• possible school board political/business cronyism
  
• common core standards
• a parent objecting to his student's homework assignment based on the religious examples used
• a question of double standards in freedom of speech
  
• a thought to take with you during the week

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Just breaking this morning! The headline in the local newspaper features The Rockwood School District in Eureka:

Rockwood has cozy tie with firm:

Rockwood School District finds itself entangled in a legal and ethical dilemma according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Steve Smith, the School Board president of Rockwood School District is also an employee (project coordinator) of Glenn Construction Company that has been responsible for 98% of the construction work in the district the last 14 years. The company also maintains rent-free space in the district.

Could such questionable business practices be occurring in your school district?


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Mitt Romney comes out in favor of Race to the Top and Arne Duncan's reform? When did conservatives start supporting more and more centralization of education...and why?


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Viewpoints: Why Common Core standards are illegal and will ultimately fail.

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The Underground Parent explained in 2010 why Common Core standard arguments and Arne Duncan's contentions its theories are based on research....are just not true. Is this an example in Salesmanship 101 at the expense of states' rights and bankruptcy for these states because of these mandates?

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From wsbtv.com in Atlanta:

A father's complaint that his daughter's homework promotes the Muslim faith could lead to a lesson change in Cobb County. Channel 2's Tom Regan talked to the father who showed him where his daughter’s homework which said there's nothing wrong with having multiple wives.

Any word yet from the ACLU on the separation of church and state?

Here's an updated video from Channel 2 news in Atlanta explaining the content of the homework.

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Is this an example of a double standard?

A student in Ft. Worth, Texas gets suspended initially for 3 days (now reduced to one day) for telling his friend his personal belief on homosexuality.

A government studies teacher in San Antonio, TX calls a panel member in a public discussion a Nazi for his views on the "Dream Act" and he faces no disciplinary action.

When/where is freedom of expression allowed and when/where is it smothered? And why?

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Thought for the week:

This is a poem from a treasured book found in an estate sale entitled "Floridays". It was published in 1941 and written and illustrated by Don Blanding. As a native Floridian, the poems and recollections touched my heart, especially this one about a child. Why we fight not for the system but for children and their ability to choose their own futures can be summed up in the last two lines.

Hug your kids and treasure the days of their youth!

BIRTHDAY

For Binney, July 6, 1941

Binney was six years old today,
Party and presents and pink ice cream!
Thirty children to romp and play.
The hours passed like a shining dream.

Ribbony packages, tinsel stars,
Books and dollies and endless games,
Hose and hankies and candy jars,
Birthday cards with children's names.

A cake with candles all alight,
A deep-drawn breath and a lusty phewwww!
Shivers and prickles of sheer delight!
Each moment crowded with something new.

Tight blonde pig-tails tied with blue
Matching the blue of thoughtful eyes.
Wonder and laughter shining through,
Happy tears and a glad surprise.

Six long years...how very old!
The solemn thought brought a stab of pain.
Whatever the years ahead may hold...
She'll never be six years old again.