SLOW DOWN THE CYBER HIGHWAY THIS SUMMER...

The Realities of Internet Addiction

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, excessive social media use can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders and obesity. Conversely, people with strong social connections have less stress-related health problems, lower risk of mental illness, and faster recovery from trauma or illness. The irony is, in our always-connected world, we’ve lost vital personal connections.

The word “social media” is very misleading. The fact is, there is very little meaningful social interaction when children or adults are plugged into cyberspace and, with the creation of the Smartphone, people are now connected from the cradle to the grave.

Of course there are benefits to social media. There are more learning opportunities available, making it easier for students to do research and collaborate with other classmates. Some schools use blogs and web portals as teaching tools as well as grade trackers that allow parents to access their child’s academic progress. There are also excellent health resources and websites that can give you information about any notion you might entertain.

All that being said, the intensity of the online world can be trigger depression, social isolation, and anxiety. These are all signs of Internet addition. Symptoms also include excessive use, changes in mood, preoccupation, and diminishing social life. While many of us think of addiction in terms of substance abuse, Internet addiction resembles other behavioral addictions, such as gambling.

If you’re worried that the Internet is being overused in your house, there are ways to slow down on the cyberspace superhighway.

Get your kids involved with teams, clubs, sports, church, music, dancing, singing, whatever will get them out of the virtual world and into the real one. Summer is the perfect time to look for escapes. Set up playdates that exclude Playstations. When going to a movie, sporting event or concert, have everyone leave his or her various electronic devices at home. Plan a family entertainment night that, you guessed it, does not include electronics. After dinner, dust off the old board games. If face time on Facebook is absolutely required by family members, set a timer. After about 15 minutes on the computer, get them up and log them off.

Remember, children learn by example. If your time is consumed with texting and tweeting, your child will follow suit. As fascinating as the World Wide Web is, our understanding of its powers is limited and technology is still in its infancy. We must tread warily, especially where children are concerned. Executive Chairman of Google knows this well. “The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have every had.”

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

NO FREE RIDES ACCORIND TO SCOTUS

Supreme Court Held Up Collective Bargaining Rights of Teachers

On March 29^th the Supreme Court, which has a seat vacant since the Feb. 13 death of Justice Antonin Scalia, came down with a 4-4 split decision over Freidrich v. CTA, a lawsuit aimed to strike down “fair share fees” that help cover the costs of collective bargaining for unions. When the Supreme Court is deadlocked, the lower court’s decision in the case is upheld, which in this case means the current law will stand allowing unions to bargain collectively for competitive salaries, smaller class sizes, safer schools, and better learning environments for students.

The case was brought by the Center for Individual Rights (CIR), a Washington, D.C.-based public interest law firm. CIR has also pursued lawsuits seeking to ban affirmative action and racial and gender preferences, including California’s Proposition 209.

If the Supreme Court had ruled in favor of Friecrich, the bargaining and political clout of the California Teachers Association and other public-employee unions would have been significantly undermined. The loss of money from “free-riders” – those who benefit without paying – would threaten a union’s ability to effectively represent employees.

Further, according a report by the Economic Policy Institute, in states that prohibit collective bargaining, public employees earn lower wages and compensation than comparable private sector employees, and this low compensation may impede state and local governments from recruiting and retaining highly skilled employees for many of their professional and public safety occupations. The report also found that

public-sector unions raise wages of public employees 5 to 8 percent more than nonunion public employees.  

Many teachers, politicians, and professors hailed the decision. CTA President Eric C. Heins criticized the legal challenge, arguing the high court “rejected a political ploy by the wealthy corporate special interests backing this case to make it harder for working families and the middle class to come together, speak up for each other and get ahead. The decision recognizes that stripping public employees of their collective bargaining rights in the workplace is a step in the wrong direction.”

California Attorney General Kamala Harris also commended the decision.“(The) ruling protects the right of public employees working in our schools, universities, hospitals and police agencies in California and across the nation to negotiate fair wages and benefits, without restricting any individual employee’s freedom of speech,” Harris said. “While this decision is a victory, we must keep fighting to protect the ability of working families to make a living wage and pursue the American dream.”

“Allowing collective bargaining strengthens teachers’ resolve in order to work together for what’s best in education,” said Leanna Goldenberg, a teacher and union board member in the Santa Clara Unified School District.. “Teachers deserve to voice their opinions on what’s best for their students.”

UC Irvine law school professor Catherine Fisk stated, “Usually the Supreme Court takes cases for the purpose of resolving conflict in lower courts. Friedrich is unusual because the law is settled nationwide. It’s been settled since the middle 1970s at least and there was no circuit split. This was a case delivered to the court for the purpose of giving it a vehicle to overrule settled precedent.”

“Under California’s public sector labor laws, like those of almost every other state, the union owes a duty of fair representation (DFR) to all employees it represents.  The DFR requires the union to enforce the contractual rights of all the employees it represents, without regard to whether they are members.”

On April 8, The Center for Individual Rights filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to rehear Friedrichs v. CTA when a new, ninth Justice is confirmed.  

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

THE MARKETING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

In the Bay Area and across the country, charter schools, known for their aggressive marking campaign and recruitment techniques, are speaking at churches, canvassing neighborhoods and convincing parents that they are offering not only an alternative to traditional public school but also the golden ticket to academic success.

Public schools, whose budgets depend on the number of students enrolled, are under a lot of pressure to retain students. That may not be all bad if their efforts improve school services and help maintain high standards. However, funds are not well spent if districts must resort to spending their resources on marketing and litigation rather than better facilities, smaller class sizes, enrichment classes and outreach specialists. Case in point is Bullis Charter School vs. Los Altos School District. They have been in litigation for years. In May of 2003, The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees rejected Bullis’ school petition citing “the petition’s lack of program focus, lack of sufficient planning time, lack of familiarity with legal requirements, unrealistic financial and operational plan, lack of necessary expertise and lack of a viable facilities plan.” In September of that year, Santa Clara County Board of Education approved the charter for Bullis Charter School. Since that time, much of the legal wrangling has been over campus space.

Education scholars are also leery of charter schools’ propaganda and the promises they make. Diane Ravitch is considered one of America's leading educational historians. She was a Research Professor of Education at New York University and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education in President George H.W. Bush’s administration. In her latest book, “Reign of Error” she warns us not to be persuaded by a false, charter school-constructed narrative touting a public school crisis. The real objective of this misinformation is the privatization of public education.

In the book she reveals examples of some charter school’s unfair admissions policies and enrollment procedures that allow them to grant admission only to students they believe will be academically successful. “The charter movement has become a vehicle for privatization of large swaths of public education, ending democratic control of public schools and transferring them to private management,” she stated. “The charters seek to compete, not collaborate, with public schools.” She also references the widespread criticism that charters enroll many fewer students with disabilities than do traditional public schools.

Having choice is good when it raises the bar of performance and customer service in any organization and that includes educational ones. However, diverting tax dollars away from public schools towards charters that are not held to the same legal requirements as public schools does nothing to reduce the inequalities between well-resourced and poorly-resourced public schools. In fact, it further depletes lower-income schools by targeting their students. Charter schools’ success may come at the cost of dismantling our country’s public education system and our children’s fundamental right to a free, quality and public education.

Dr. Ravtich, in her book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How testing and Choice Are undermining Education states the argument succinctly. “Going to school is not the same as going shopping. Parents should not be burdened with locating a suitable school for their child. They should be able to take their child to the neighborhood public school as a matter of course and expect that it has well-educated teachers and a sound educational program.”

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

A PENNY WISE DAD'S DAY

William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. He raised all six kids by himself on a rural farm in Washington State. While listening to a Mother’s Day sermon, his daughter Sonora realized her father deserved to be honored for his selflessness and sacrifice. So, on June 19^th, 1910, the first Father’s Day celebration was held in Spokane, Washington.

This coming Sunday, dad is officially head honcho. In today’s eclectic family the gifts and pleasures bestowed are not dependent on DNA. “Dad” is the man who lovingly and respectfully helps raise the kids. He’s the one who deserves all the honors, kisses and kudos, regardless of his official title.  

If money is not a concern, a weekend trip to Pebble Beach, or 49er season tickets are more than appropriate. If, however, your piggy bank is looking a bit gaunt, there are still ways to make his day - one he will remember for years to come. And the best part, the kids do all the work!

Turn the lawn chair into a throne that puts within the king’s reach everything he needs to be king of the castle. Use clamps or tape to attach appropriate accessories (umbrella for shade, drink cup, back-scratcher, etc.) Brainstorm together everything he enjoys. Bring out the boom box or ipod with his favorite songs, and a bucket for soaking his feet. Serve his favorite smoothie, or beer in a frosted mug. Dish up his favorite meal on a breakfast tray, and if you really want to go out on a limb, assign each family member slave duty for an hour. Dad can demand back, foot and head rubs.

One minion may have to wash the car, while others clean the back yard or garage. If you’re looking to get out of manual labor, offer to bring him the paper and read it to him!

Don’t forget the homemade cards. They are truly priceless. Use construction paper, pictures of the family and charming quotes, like the French Proverb, “A father is a banker provided by nature.” Or, “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.” - Sigmund Freud. And my favorite, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother” – Henry Ward Beecher. For more quotes, poems, recipes, and gift ideas, visit www.loveyoufather.com.

For a real sentimental punch, have the children make their own book for Dad. Klutz Build-a-Book: Why I love my Dad by Sherri Haab is a kit containing everything a kid needs to create a one-of-a-kind book just for dad to show off and cherish.

Dads, if you’re reading this, act surprised! Also, go over the top when showing your appreciation. The children will begin to recognize how much better it is to give than to receive.

Listen to their stories, and congratulate them on a job well done. As Shakespeare penned in “Merchant of Venice”, “It is a wise father that knows his own child.”

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

SCHOOL CHOICE

Last fall my daughter started Kindergarten and the reality hit me like a ton of bricks. As a parent I was processing a myriad of emotions and as an educator, I am acutely aware of the importance of a proper placement. In addition to ruminating over the warp speed of the last five years, I became immersed in data and inundated with paperwork for school admissions, open enrollment, charter school lotteries and private school applications. Here’s what I took away from my weeks of soul and school searching.

First visit your school district’s main office. It is a good place to start your research because they will have information on all the public schools in your district. When deciding on a school, assess your family’s requirements, especially if there are any special needs. The most common inquiries include; is there before and/or after school care provided and at what cost? Is transportation available? Are friends or siblings attending the same school? In case you decide on a school outside of your designated one, ask about the procedure for an intradistrict transfer.

I highly recommend visiting a school of interest. If a school isn’t friendly about a pre-enrollment visit, that might be a sign of how they’ll respond when you’re a parent there.

While at the school, try to meet the principle, vice principle, teachers and any parents helping around campus. Check out the work on the walls, overall cleanliness, and how adults and children interact. Also, ask what type of involvement the school wants from parents.

You may also want to ask:

What extra-curricular activities and outreach programs are available?

How much homework is assigned?

How are behavior problems handled?

Is there a dress code?

Is there a handbook?

What is the deadline for enrollment?

Are there any other dates that need to be adhered to?

What is the student-to-teacher ratio?

What is the school’s API (Academic Performance Index) score?

I warn against getting too caught up in the numbers. While a high API is telling (a preferred score is anything over 800) there are other considerations to a well-rounded education. I find, as a public school teacher, that the emphasis on scores has become so significant that teaching the test often becomes a primary goal. I believe the love of learning needs to be at least as important.

To compare schools in your area, you can go to www.schooldigger.com. Great Schools, www.greatschools.org, also rates schools and has lots of other information and advice for parents.

Make sure you’ve got all the necessary documentation when the time comes to enroll. Public schools will require proof of residency, a copy of your child’s birth certificate and vaccination records. Parochial schools may ask for additional information regarding religious affiliation and documentation.

If you are looking at private schools, there may be extra steps required, like interviews, testing and letters of recommendation. If you are concerned about the expense, inquire about financial assistance.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so have a backup plan. Have a second or even third school choice.  

Getting your child in the right school is only half the battle. Staying actively involved and communicating often with your child and his teacher is also key to academic success.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTIVATION AND LEARNING?

With so much attention on test scores and budgetary concerns, it's refreshing to learn some folks are keeping their focus on what matters most to parents and teachers - figuring out the best practices to

motivate and educate children.

In 2007, Redwood City School District and Stanford's John W. Gardner Center continued a longstanding partnership in their efforts to gain a deeper understanding of the practices that effectively promote student motivation, engagement, and ultimately, achievement.

They surveyed all Redwood City School District middle school students in the spring of 2009 and again in 2010 regarding their experiences in their classrooms and their beliefs about themselves as learners.

The research is ongoing and they have already completed a third round of data collection this month. They have learned some interesting and encouraging information about the relationship between student's classroom experiences, motivational beliefs, and academic achievement.

The data clearly showed that a safe and caring setting is the ideal climate for learning. Caring classrooms have students that treat each other with respect and teachers who foster this by letting students know they

are not allowed to make fun of each other for a wrong answer or mistake, stating that mistakes are part of the learning process.

They also set aside time for individual conferences and provide individual feedback regarding the student's growth and areas for improvement (versus public feedback that make comparisons between students) and create opportunities for students to revise their work, give private feedback about

grades and also time for students to work with each other.  These classrooms tend to inspire student motivation and benefit all students, especially and inclusive of low-income students.

Test scores back up these results. The JGC analysis showed that there is a relationship between higher motivation and higher achievement evidenced by elevated California State test scores. This is true for all

students - regardless of prior achievement. This means that if teachers can improve student motivation, then they are also very likely to see improvements on standardized tests.

The JGC staff are encouraged by the outcomes hitherto.

"These results remind us that motivation is not a static trait. Motivation is not something that a student simply has or does not have. Rather motivational beliefs are malleable and very responsive to classroom

practices. Perhaps even more exciting is the evidence that students' motivational beliefs can shift within the course of less than one academic year. It is also important to highlight that these motivating and caring

practices are doable and already present in many classrooms in Redwood City. We hope these findings will serve as a catalyst for more reflection and conversations between researchers, teachers and parents about specific strategies for motivating students to deeply engage in their learning."

When planning the school year administrators and teachers should, in conjunction with analyzing and disaggregating test scores, have another conversation. Is the designated curriculum backed up with constructive strategies and teaching practices that improve proficiency as well as foster curiosity in a welcoming environment? What does that classroom look like?

BUSTING THE SUMMER TIME BLUES!

Good News! There IS a cure for the summer time blues. In fact, there are loads. Stop the “I’m bored!” lament by engaging the kids in activities that are chock-full of art, science, math and other smart lessons.

Inspire the next Ansel Adams. If you don’t trust your children with the digital camera, buy some disposable ones. Send them clicking around the neighborhood and your house - just not inside the neighbor’s house! After developing, pick some favorites and make a thematic scrapbook.

Teach the kids some entrepreneurial skills by helping them set up a lemonade stand at the front of your driveway, or have them go into business with a friend who has a better location. A lemonade stand is a lot more fun to run with a buddy. Having big brother or sister help is a good choice too. Prove the importance of advertisement by plastering leaflets around the neighborhood, including times and dates. Rip up an old box and construct a capacious, colorful, cardboard sign in front of the stand with prices and products available. Charge a lot, giving a break to seniors and kids. Adults, even in these difficult economic times, won’t bicker about paying a buck instead of 75 cents; especially if you’re giving part or all of the money to charity. Offer cookies and brownies to sweeten the deal and increase income. Running the stand for two days will allow kids to learn from mistakes. Saturday and Sunday are ideal.

Retro the whole families’ wardrobe by creating some tie-dyes t-shirts. In the garage (or somewhere else that can get real messy) twist a wet t-shirt and tie it with rubber bands. Put on some rubber gloves and mix ½ cup of liquid dye in a quart of hot water or follow the directions on the back of a of Rit dye box. Go to www.ritdye.com and click on tie-dyeing for some cool patterns and creative designs. Soak for about twenty minutes then rinse in cold water until the water runs clear. Take off the rubber bands and rinse again. Hang the shirt out to dry in the sun.

Instead of putting a message in a bottle, spread lots of love by putting messages in balloons. Brainstorm a bunch of positive, inspiring messages like, “the best things in life are free.” or “all you need is love” and insert the messages into helium balloons. You can rent a helium tank at any party supply store. Tie them up and let em’ loose. 

Give back to the community. Advocating charity and compassion at an early age is truly priceless. It also nurtures the appreciation of your family’s fortunate status. Help your kids help an elderly neighbor with house or yard work, contact your local church, senior center or go to www.thevolunteercenter.net for other volunteering opportunities in the bay area.

These are just a few suggestions that have a bit of an educational bend. Whatever your family decides to do, do it with enthusiasm, love and kindness. Summertime is brief, and within a blink of an eye your little ones will be all grown up. Just ask your parents.