Strollerderby : students

Meet The Robot Teacher

Brett Singer — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Some kids may joke that their teachers are so weird, they must be from another planet.

For some elementary school kids in Japan, they wouldn't be too far off.

Saya is a robot and she/it is teaching this elementary school class.

Here's a really creepy video of the... thing in action:

(For a less jokey take on the story, check out this video from MSNBC.)

Here's the thing. I get that technology can make our lives easier. (Freudian slip: I typed "teachnology" my mistake, which I thought wasn't a word but I guess it is, at least according to Google.) But teachers shouldn't be robots. Or is that robots shouldn't be teachers? Certain jobs would be okay I suppose, although in an economy like this one, any job taken away from humans seems like a bad thing. But teachers? Really? Doesn't that imply that the job is nothing more than a glorified baby sitter?

According to the embedded video, which is a bit cheeky, the purpose of the TeachBot 9000 (my name, not theirs) is to "get kids excited about technology." The MSNBC clip says that Saya started out "her life" as a "robot receptionist" and that she/it "isn't meant to take jobs away from real teachers, but could fill in in a pinch for understaffed schools." They say that she 'bot has the kids "undivided attention." Frankly, I think they look a little scared.

Would you want your children to be taught -- or whatever that thing is doing -- by a robot?

Source: Gizmodo via Telegraph, MSNBC

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Tennessee Public School Computers Block LGBT Websites

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Whoopsie! It turns out that the computers of the Tennessee public school system are inexplicably biased against gay rights. How the heck did that happen? School administrators are completely baffled by the embarrassing snafu, but say that it must be the fault of their filtering service, Education Networks of America.

But the ENA has clearly stated that they are off the hook. "The decisions on whether to block certain websites are made solely by the school districts,” the ENA attorney said. “ENA does not participate in these decisions in any way and is instead simply told which websites to block." Huh. Is it possible that homophobia had something to do with this?

Some of the blocked Web sites include Human Rights Campaign--with such inappropriate messages for kids as, “In a world defined by difference, our strength depends on our common humanity”--and the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, which creepily “envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people.” Not all Web pages dealing with gay people were blocked, however. Tennessee schoolchildren are more than welcome to peruse such sites as People Can Change and The Americans For Truth Against Homosexuality.

As Jezebel points out, the silver lining of this rather shocking homophobic agenda is that no one wants to take the blame for it, showing how much public opinion has progressed in favor of gay rights.

Photo: britannica.com

Texas School Accused Of Student Cage Fighting

Brett Singer — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Next time you have complaints about your children's school, remember this story. Because things could be worse.

According to a report obtained by the Dallas Morning News, school officials at South Oak Cliff High in Texas (ironically known as "SOC", pronounced "sock", as in "sock it to me") had students settle their differences by fighting. In a cage. This did not happen last Tuesday. It happened back in 2003 and continued until 2005. And no one did anything about it.

Listen to this quote:

"Superintendent Michael Hinojosa told the newspaper that there were 'some things that happened inside of a cage' and called the fights 'unacceptable.'"

See, the only thing that should be happening "inside of a cage" at school is a hamster being fed. Maybe a little jog on the ol' exercise wheel. The hamster, I mean. Perhaps a bunny. I'm thinking cages at schools are for class pets. Students generally should not be doing ANYHTING in a cage. Especially at school.

In a blog entry at The Dallas Morning News web site, Kent Fischer digs up a few facts about former SOC principal Donald Moten. Moten allegedly "not only allowed [the fights] to take place, but that he egged on the participants." Hey, at least he wasn't just picking up a paycheck, right? Fischer points out that Moten's other "accomplishments" at SOC include "An athletic grade changing scandal, times two," "Allegations of credit card abuse," "Allegations of inappropriate sexual relations with students' mothers." Oh, and of course -- "Cage fights." The piece questions why Moten was even hired for the $92,000 a year job in the first place, since his employment history includes a stint as a police officer where he faked his own kidnapping.

When I was a student at a New York City Public School, people would always ask me how horrible it must have been. Sure, there were problems. But we never had anything like this. Well, as far as I know.

Source: Yahoo! News

Image: SXC (stock photo)

Baby Born in Penn Station During Rush Hour

Stroller As Gun Rack

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Parents Ripped Off On Inauguration Trip?

Brett Singer — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:00:00 GMT

It wasn't all fun and games (and hope – let's not forget hope) at the Inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.

Congressional Youth Leadership Council organized trips to our nation's capitol for 15,000 students at a rate of $2500 for five-days. 1,000 of those students were from New Jersey, and some of their parents are mighty peeved that their young'uns didn't get a good view of all the Obama-mania.

According to New Jersey's Daily Record, parents are claiming that the students missed out on "many of the historic events," including the swearing-in ceremony. That was kind of a big one. I mean, if you had miss something, that wouldn't be my choice.

The company says that most of the attendees had "a positive experience." Whenever I hear that line, I always have to wonder if that means they just didn't complain.

For now, this all falls under the category of "allegedly." New Jersey's Consumer Affairs Division is investigating.

If the kids did miss the ceremony, it might not have been the company's fault. The New York Times reports that a lot of ticket holders were " abandoned by event organizers as they stood crowded, frustrated and cold in what some referred to as the Purple Tunnel of Doom," thus missing the chance to see Chief Justice Roberts show that he has difficulty reading. (Kidding. Sort of.) The name "Purple Tunnel of Doom" is a bit dramatic (ya think?) but I'd be annoyed too if I came to D.C. to see history being made and ended up standing in a tunnel. (I don't think I'd start a Facebook group, though.)

Maybe four years from now they'll just hit the Lego Inauguration. Cheaper, and probably smaller crowds.

Source: Daily Record

Image: foreignpolicy.com

Linda Ellerbee Says Kids Should Skip School To Watch Inauguration

Parents Criticize Schools for Celebrating Inauguration

Obama Says His Kids Are Cooler Than He Is

Third Printing For Obama/Spider-man Comic Book

Crafty: President Obama, Cube Style

Morning News - Obama, Limbaugh, Cheese

Sarah Palin Says Leave My Kids Alone

Elementary Teacher Sends Student 80th Birthday Card

JeanneSager — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:57:00 GMT

If she were still manning a classroom today, Collette Hartung would be the teacher who inspired parents to start a bribing war to ensure their kids got to be her students. The ninety-year-old Hartung put down her chalk almost seventy years ago, but she hasn't forgotten her kids.

Just last month, she sent one of them a birthday card. An eightieth birthday card.

Hobart Anderson was one of the children Hartung taught during her just three years in front of a classroom. She taught his sister too - twice during that three-year span. It's no wonder she remembers them; there were just two students in Anderson's class. But there are plenty of kids from small classes whose teachers have long since forgotten them. Running into Hartung once several years ago, Anderson's wife, Charlotte, said the teacher not only remembered her husband but had kind words to say. "She said 'He was a smart little fellow but he liked his fun'," Charoltte told the Minnesota newspaper The Journal.

At ninety, she apparently had the same fond memories. Here's what she wrote in Anderson's birthday card:

"Eighty candles shine today to honor one important life that's touched so many others and been such an inspiration. And as they shine, may you look back with pride and satisfaction knowing that your life and you are cause for celebration!

Your teacher 70 years ago, Collette Hartung"

Think your kids' teachers will care when they turn 80?

Image: The Journal

Kindergartners Vote An Autistic Classmate Out of the Class

Recess One Step Closer to NJ Lawbooks

School's In Session for Boys Who Want to Be Girls

Kids Yell Assassinate Obama on Idaho School Bus

Catholic High School Kicks out Catholicism

High School Student in Hospital After Scavenger Hunt

Brett Singer — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:30:00 GMT

When I think of scavenger hunts, I think of summer camp, back when I was about 10. The tasks were, "find a blue rock." Maybe a spork.

Clearly I'm out of touch.

A group of students at St. Charles North High School in Kane County, Illinois, have their own scavenger hunt for the "Jackass" generation. Items on the list include "Getting kicked in the groin", "Pelting the elderly with muffins", and the ever-popular "Jumping from a moving car."

It was that last item that landed student Erik Nava in the hospital. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that he is "hospitalized in serious condition" after participating in what his fellow students describe as an "underground scavenger hunt". Local police say that "as many as 200 students" take part in this nonsense. They prove to their friends that they did the dumb stuff by taking video of the asinine acts, and then destroying the evidence. So they prove that it happened (taking the video), and also prove that they know it's stupid (destroying the video).

Sing it with me now – momma's, don't let your babies grow up to be buttheads…

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Image: phiredup.com

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Seven Holiday Card-inal Sins

Schoolyard Angst Makes It to Book Form

Denis Leary Puts Autism Comments In Context

GPS Lingerie Upsets Some, Entices Others

Female Med Students Underestimate Themselves

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:30:00 GMT

It’s clear that women have shattered the glass ceiling of achievement within the medical profession. They just don’t feel that way.

According to a new study, female medical students feel more anxious and less confident about their knowledge and abilities. Males, on the other hand, tend to overestimate their competence, even though women consistently do as well or better than their male counterparts in medical school. And, at the end of medical school, males tended to unhesitatingly report that they felt like doctors, while women tended to weigh their medical knowledge before answering the question.

According to the study’s authors, more than half of medical students are female, but educators may not be taking into account different learning needs between the genders, overlooking, for instance, the issue of self-confidence.

Although I'm glad that this question is being raised, what bothers me about this and similar gender studies is the implication that women’s natural tendencies are wrong. Personally, I would rather have a female doctor who was just as competent but a bit less cocksure than a male doctor who believed himself more competent than he actually was. Then again, if women are less confident and more anxious because they have been conditioned to feel that way, parents and educators have a whole lot of work to do well before youth even get to medical school.

Photo: Student BMJ

Virginia Teachers Get Flack for Pro-Obama Email

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:30:00 GMT

The Virginia Teachers Union is in hot water for allegedly mixing education with politics. A union member sent out an email encouraging teachers to participate in “Obama Blue Day” by wearing a blue shirt (without displaying any candidate names), and getting at least two people to register to vote.

The author concedes that she should have worded the email differently—perhaps “Obama Blue Day,” for instance, was not the wisest turn of phrase. But the union stands by the email as an example of the nonpartisan voter registration efforts that Virginia educators have long engaged in. The union voted to endorse Obama because of his education policies, so the left-leaning tone of the email reflected that endorsement; it was not an indication that teachers should influence their students' political leanings.

According to the union president, no teacher interpreted the email as a call to encourage students to support Obama, as state Republicans have, quite understandably, charged. The president pointed out that "Obama Blue Day" was all but ignored. She even forgot all about it and wore red that day.

Just another reminder to take to heart the adage, "Always assume that whatever you write in an email will be published on the Internet."

Photo: Bag News Notes

Teachers Fake Deaths to Scare Students Sober

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:02:00 GMT

Imagine you're called into a school assembly a few days before high school graduation and told that several of your beloved classmates were killed in a drunken driving auto crash. Terrible, right? Young lights ripped from a community.

Then imagibe the teachers involved in said assembly -- who had even brought in the cops to make it look legit -- told you it was all fake; it was just an attempt to scare you sober as graduation parties near.

Some students later held signs saying, "Death is real -- don't play with our emotions." While still others said the emotional shock was worth it if the event saved even one life.

I keep thinking about the poor kid sitting in the assembly who doesn't drink at all and just found out his friends "died." It seems there has to be a better way to send this message, but of course I don't know what it is.

If these were your kids -- what would you think: Going to far? Or worth it if one life is saved?

Train Hits Bus, Kills Seven Children

Cole Gamble — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

A train struck a school bus at a railroad crossing in France, killing seven of the kids and injuring a couple dozen people...

The bus was carrying 50 students, 5 adults and a driver. This marks one of the deadliest train accidents in years for France. The cause for the accident is not currently known.

Photo: reuters

OK! The dog didn't eat my homework! Don't shoot!

Brett Singer — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Third grade teacher Jayne DeArmond has been de-armed (get it?). One of her students was looking for something in a drawer and found – wait for it – a handgun. It wasn't loaded, but there was ammo. The teacher was arrested and is now free on bail. School didn't stop for the day; the kids in her class were moved to a different room and parents were told at the end of the day.
"Hi honey, what happened at school today?"
"Nothing much. Oh wait. Someone found a handgun. Can we stop at McDonald's?"

For the gun nut perspective, read this piece in the Colorado Springs Gazette. The paper feels that the "nutty" parts of this story are the fact that the students were moved to another classroom (um, maybe it was worthwhile to search the rest of the room? Maybe there was a crossbow in the glue cabinet), not to mention this affront: school officials had the nerve to offer – offer, not require – counseling if anyone wanted it. "Instead of counseling, the school should give gun lessons. It should hold classes that tell children guns are abundant in society, they're dangerous, but mostly they do good." Oh sure, that makes perfect sense. Why didn't I think of that?

The original story mentions that police believe the gun to be DeArmond's but they aren't certain. So we'll have to wait and see. For a video report from CNN.com, click here.

image: GorillaPostle

Parents stress teachers out

Adrienne Martini — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:49:00 GMT

It turns out that it's not the kids or the administration or "no child left behind" or the chalk dust or the rotten apples that burn teachers out, it's the parents. Or, at least, it's German parents, given that that's where the latest round of research is from. Perhaps it's not too far of a leap to apply these results to the U.S. system, even if we don't have an autobahn or the Reinheitsgebot.

According to the data, teachers who feel pressured by parents to be perfect are more likely to leave their jobs because they are dissatisfied. And that's quickly becoming a problem. Teachers, like nurses, are leaving the field in record numbers, either by retiring or by quitting. Good teachers -- those who feel satisfied with their students' progress and with their working conditions -- are hard to come by.

Still, are demanding parents really at the heart of what drive teachers around the bend? Or are they yet another straw on an already bowed back?

School Libraries Lure Students With Coffee

Madeline Holler — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:31:00 GMT

We Americans are a heavily beveraged culture. If we’re not holding a creamy iced-coffee in a clear plastic cup, we’re swigging water from brightly colored Nalgene or disposable plastic sport bottles. Our kids suck on sippy cups more often than soldiers carrying canteens. Everybody’s holding something potable in one hand or the other.

Some school libraries are conceding to the ubiquitous water bottle or can of Red Bull and letting kid patrons sip while they read in order to attract more students. Other schools are taking advantage of unquenchable thirst and setting up cafes right next to the stacks. Student workers make the macchiatas while the librarians sit behind the desk and observe for the first time what a student in a library actually looks like.

School officials say allowing food, drink and the spoken word in libraries increases reading and studying by promoting the place as a hangout. Critics say the cafes are just another source of sugar, fat and caffeine for the kids and kind of negates any progress made in getting rid of vending machines. Profits often go towards scholarships (for those students who now have to hide under a rock to concentrate?).

One teen interviewed in the article said the library would be boring without the food and drink and he wouldn't go there. So here’s my question – is getting teens to sit next to books actually promoting the library for its intended use? Isn’t that like putting your notes under your pillow to study for an exam? I suppose accommodating the liquid lifeline that no person under 18 has ever had to go without will get a least a few more people through the doors. But actual library users were probably already sneaking it in anyway.

Photo: Associated Press

A Penny for Your Thoughts, $1,000 For Smart Thinking

Madeline Holler — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:27:00 GMT

I am not sure what I think about this new program: some New York City schools will start paying kids to perform well on Advanced Placement exams.

The plan is to encourage low-income, black and Latino high-school students to not only take the test, which not enough do, but also to do well on it, which plenty can. The program is promising $1,000 for a top score of five, $750 for a four and $500 for a three. It's funded by philanthropists and enthusiastically embraced by the chancellor.

Schools will also get a little somethin’-somethin’ for participating in the program and could be eligible for grants to improve their AP classes.

I know AP courses are overwhelmingly white and that students who have taken AP classes have an advantage when applying for school. So, sure, let's get every smart-enough kid in there.

Proponents of the program say by paying for good scores, it takes the pressure off of these kids for having to work so they can have time to devote to these intense, homework-heavy classes. Okay, then they’ll need more than $1,000, right? Or is it $1,000 for every AP class they take? Do they have to pay it back if they drop out? Will they get support once they’re in?

While I’m all for more funding for education and teachers, I get a little leery of cash and other prizes for grades. I think it quells students’ interest in learning, keeps them from taking risks, and even undermines their own satisfaction in having accomplished something on their own.

But I can see how this is something different. Rather than a pay-off for good work, it’s an incentive. Get the kids in the seats, let them know they have a place, take away some of the pressure to have a part-time, energy-sapping, shitty teenage job -- do whatever it takes to put them in the position to see whether they’re up for the challenge of actually thinking, trying hard, and really learning.

What the hell, I say write top scorers a check. I’m interested to see what happens with this.

Your Children Suck at Riting

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:06:00 GMT

Young children are great at swinging. They're really good at playing tag. A few might be good at math. But man, they suck at writing. And history, apparently. I mean, come on! Kids these days have really got to pull it together, buckle down and hit the books.

Case in point ... these essays written by kids. Here's an example:

Writing at the same time as Shakespeare was Miguel Cervantes. He wrote Donkey Hote. The next great author was John Milton. Milton wrote Paradise Lost. Then his wife died and he wrote Paradise Regained.

That's a really poor deconstruction of the work of history's greatest artists.

And then there's this:

The French Revolution was accomplished before it happened and catapulted into Napoleon. Napoleon wanted an heir to inherit his power, but since Josephine was a baroness, she couldn’t have any children.

And my personal favorite:

Johann Bach wrote a great many musical compositions and had a large number of children. In between he practiced on an old spinster which he kept up in his attic. Bach died from 1750 to the present. Bach was the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel. Handel was half German half Italian and half English. He was very large.

Read for yourself -- it only gets worse.

But you know who I feel sorry for? Not the kids. Not the sorry state of our educational system. Not the future we all must inherit. The teachers. I can only imagine the poor, weary teachers sitting at metal desks and pounding their fists in anger, their bellies rolling with obvious frustration and their heads tilted back while they bellow loudly and uncontrollably until they have to pee. That's what I did. I have a feeling that when you read these essays, you might just do the same.

New York City Parents Rally For Phones

Melissa Summers — Sun, 13 May 2007 21:04:00 GMT

A judge threw out a lawsuit filed by 8 parents of New York City school students to dismiss the mayor's ban on cellphones in public school buildings. The parents say the phones are a necessity for safety reasons and their children should be allowed to carry them to school, but should not be allowed to use them during school. The judge said the phones are being carried by teens and even younger tweens who lack self control and therefore can't have the phones around. The Department of Education says students have been caught using the phones to cheat and to keep in touch with friends during class time. Shocking!

I absolutely adore high school students and their broad sense of the world. Like this student who explains, "And I think it's going to be a giant loss if we lose our cell phones, not because so we can talk to our friends, but for basic responsibility purposes.” Responsibility Purposes. Right. A mother who was part of the suit mentioned how her daughter was unable to contact her parents after 9/11 because she had no cell phone. I'm sorry to tell you this but I know several people in the city on 9/11 who did have cell phones and they didn't work.

The district has decided to try a program where students can pay to have their phones stored during the day in lockers. If it's effective in keeping the phones out of the classroom they'll implement it in all schools. It's funny we can't even get enough parents to volunteer for Fun Fair at our school and yet these parents are out there filing law suits to keep phones in their kid's pockets. Wow.

School Holds First Integrated Prom; Yes, It's the 21st Century

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:54:00 GMT

Growing up in Northern California has made me soft. I think there's even a song about the condition. Thankfully it didn't make me stupid. Or ignorant. Or downright D-U-M. Like these kids. And their parents.

And don't even come at me with "It's the South; it's tradition." It's the 21st Century. It's moronic that anyone would let this go on as long as it has. Yes, you read the headline correctly. A high school in Georgia held its first "united" prom, with white and black kids dancing together and, gasp, holding hands!

Said one moron about the segregated prom tradition of the way yonder past, meaning 2006: "There was not anybody that I can remember that was black," she said. "The white people have theirs, and the black people have theirs. It's nothing racial at all."

Uh huh. Look, I'm happy to see an integrated prom has finally taken place. Kudos to the kids who finally got their heads out of their ... binders. Still, an all-white prom was held a week before, so I'm not so sure race relations in bumbleweed are as great as they so obviously sound. I'd like to say at least it's a start -- but it's scary to think they're just starting.

Today is the 11th Annual LGBT Day of Silence

Karen Murphy — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:03:00 GMT

I thought it was quiet around here today. According to Mombian, it turns out that thousands of students are holding silence today in honor of the 11th Annual Day of Silence which is hoped to bring attention to the problem of anti-LGBT bullying, harrassment, and discrimination in schools. Students and teachers alike are observing the day in silence to echo the silence that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered kids and their allies face everyday. Some of the silent kids will pass out "speaking cards" to spread word about and explain what they are doing.

I don't know, when I was a kid, I never thought much about activism. Who wants to stand out, let alone take a stand? The closest I got was to refuse to say the "Pledge of Allegiance" every morning (ooh, I know, I was such a rebel). But these kids, and they're not necessarily LGBT to take part in today's silence, are courageously taking a stand against something that most people won't talk about, let alone do something to bring it to people's attention.

Bullying should be stopped, no matter who is the victim. I applaud these kids and teachers for what they are doing today, and I hope that the increased awareness that it brings will help someone, many someones, even if it's just one kid who's saved from a miserable existence because he's no longer being bullied and harrassed.