Archive for the ‘Education’ category

Mercer County Schools Show No Mercy To Autistic 9 Year Old

December 27th, 2011

One would think that educators running a special needs classroom would be seasoned at dealing with different behavioral issues. Recently, staff at Mercer County Intermediate School in Harrodsburg, Kentucky proved otherwise, placing 9 year

Map of Kentucky highlighting Mercer County

old Christopher Baker inside a duffel bag after he misbehaved in class. Baker, a 4th grader with autism, ha apparently been placed in the bag on multiple occasions. It’s hard to imagine what the other side of this story would be; how someone might attempt to justify this horrific action.  Interim school superintendent Dennis Davis would not address the incidents, saying that confidentiality laws prohibit from doing so. It seems that Kentucky law does not prohibit this sort of restraint.  Let’s hope that this incident leads to rectifying this bizarre situation where a student can legally be placed in a duffel bag, but the school system cannot legally discuss their actions in doing so.

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Posted in Boggles the Mind, Education

War Equals Peace, Cosmetology Equals Chemistry?

December 14th, 2011

In what ought to be a criminal offense, Sharron Smalls, Principal of Jane Addams High School in the South Bronx stands “accused of handing students chemistry credits for cosmetology courses and geography credits for tourism classes. Teachers say the fraud may lead to more than 100 seniors not graduating from the F-rated school because they lack credits in high-level math courses.” Smalls’ actions may have a permanent negative impact on the lives of dozens of students and yet she remains in her position.  In addition, Ms. Smalls stands accused of charging teachers for parking spaces, and was shown in an inappropriate photograph circulated by students grinding on a dance floor with a shirtless man while be squirted with chocolate. Despite her actions, Ms. Smalls somehow remains in her position as principal of the school, and students and staff continue to suffer.  This is an outrage.  The seriousness of the allegations here demand Ms. Smalls immediate removal from any position of authority. Why hasn’t the New York City Department Of Education done so?

 

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Posted in Boggles the Mind, Education

The 3 Rs: Reading, Writing and Risque

September 3rd, 2006

Perennially cash-strapped schools are always looking for new ways to raise funds. Scores Las Vegas, a strip club gentleman’s club managed to break new ground. The Las Vegas establishment sponsored “Detention” night to benefit the Public Education Foundation in Cook County. Strippers dressed as schoolgirls, teachers and librarians, though we imagine they didn’t stay dressed for long. Patrons donated over $1000 which Scores matched, delivering a check for $2500 to the foundation. Deb Hegna, director of development for the foundation was pleased. “From any licensed, legitimate business, we’re certainly happy to accept donations.” Chalk this up as a lesson in economics. To Cook county schools, all money is apparently green. As for the well-endowed women who helped boost the school’s endowment? We can only hope that they learned enough math to count singles. And a word of advice: the letter after D is not double-D.

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Posted in Education, Strange Bedfellows

College Students don't let classes crimp their busy schedule

September 2nd, 2006

College professors report that fewer and fewer students are bothering to show up for class. The increased availablity of course materials online, particularly for large lectures of hundreds of students, has made an ever-growing group of students comfortable skipping classes. Some of the professors for those large classes claim not to mind, but those are probably the ones who teach only so they can continue their research and convey that to students. Professors who add value in the classroom are likely to continue to be rewarded with good attendance. As for the students, we suggest they start attending classes, else when their parents catch on, they’ll be at home attending the University of Phoenix.

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Posted in Education