MRSA Not Welcomed in Schools

Schools are up against new super bugs that can severely affect the health of the youth. There are many 'bugs' that attack schools each year. In particular, the U.S. is hit hard by MRSA, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a serious deadly skin infection that spreads quickly. Informing children and parents of good personal hygiene as well as cleanliness is the best defense against this illness. Also, keeping schools clean can help prevent students from getting MRSA.

MRSA is also known as Staphylococcus (Staph) infection. Staph is a form of bacteria that is responsible for causing many common skin infections. MRSA is so easy to get. It is passes from person to person through means of skin contact which then enters the body through any abrasions or cuts that may be on the skin. At first MRSA appears to be a pimple on the skin that is filled with fluid or pus. Most of the time the pimple or boil will appear to be on an arm or a leg. However, it has been known to appear on other places of the body. The boil becomes swollen, warm, painful, and red. Fever is extremely common with having a staph infection. To determine if the infected area is in fact staph, the area is swabbed and then tested. People who get staph sometimes have to be hospitalized, depending on the degree of MRSA. Some people have died from this infection from not having the proper care.

The name 'super bug' is an infection that used to plague the super hero population from comic books or in science fiction movies. These drug-resistant infections have been on the rapid increase over the past decade. These infections are becoming more and more of a reality in the general population. This particular infection, MSRA, has urged many school districts to battle against this major health threat. Schools stopping MSRA will help decrease the numbers of people getting it.

Methicillin-resisitant Staphylococcus aureus, which is pronounced as mersa, (MRSA, pronounced mersa), is feared for several reasons. Firstly, this infections spreads rapidly and is not treatable with regular antibiotics. Secondly, if MRSA goes untreated, then it may cause several unwanted serious complications (Delisio 1). While that may be the dirt and bad news about this infection, there is still hope. Schools can make a difference. Schools enforcing personal hygiene and cleanliness policies can cause the spread of MRSA to decrease or even be prevented. If schools systems join in alligence they can kick MRSA to the curb, so to speak.

Educating parents, teachers, and students is the most influential factor of ending MRSA in schools. "To help prevent the spread of MRSA in schools, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched an education campaign aimed at clinicians, educators, and mothers" (Delisio, 1). In this campaign, students, teachers, and parents are each provided with resources that teach MRSA prevention, how to identify it, and how to treat it. MRSA is not welcomed in schools.

Delisio, Ellen R. "Preventing MRSA in Your School." EducationWorld. 14 Apr. 2010 http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues428.shtml .

Schools Going Green

The color that is mostly talked about now is green. This color symbolizes several different elements such as money and recycling. The element that has blossomed in the 20th century is recycling. Going green is the term coined for extensive recycling and having elaborate conservation programs. Going green means to rely more on natural resources and have conservation and recycling programs to increase momentum in the movement. Some schools across America are turning the page and becoming green as well.

Green schools are built to depend on extensive conservation and recycling programs as well as natural resources for energy. It may seem like building or even maintaining a green school would be significantly expensive. However, researchers have found that schools who switch to the 'green light' are saving their schools districts thousands of dollars each year. The savings come in with time, the longer the schools maintain green practices they will keep saving precious revenue.

The rise of green schools across the U.S. is what everyone is talking about. States and school districts are searching fr more environmentally friendly and energy-saving building designs. Green schools get their name from both their design and practice. They focus on maximizing the usage of natural resources such as the sun. The sun gives off tons of energy, and with the right tools such as the building, special blinds, and other such items, classrooms can receive their energy from the sun. Green schools also get their name from having extensive school wide programs such as recycling.

The process of a school becoming a green schools is not as strenuous as some may think. "Schools can earn an official green designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Schools and other buildings that meet certain criteria can receive a rating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)" (Delisio, 1). Meeting and maintaining their seal should be the easy part. With school-wide participation, students and school staff will be able to reap the benefits of living in a cleaner and healthier environment. Also, they will be saving school districts money, which will go to other areas that need attention.

The savings that a green school has are countless. Designing a building that will maximize other natural resources such as sunlight can help to yield savings by fifty percent. Parts of the country that do not get as much sunlight can be apart of this as well. Schools need determination and the support of their local lawmakers as well as hard workers to see that their school can become a green school. Helping students live in an environment that practices recycling, reusing, and reducing will help to make them become greater members of society.

Delisio, Ellen R. "Green Schools Save the Environment, Money." EducationWorld. 12 Apr. 2010 http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin402.shtml .

Acting Out May Be the Result of Stress

Stress is detrimental to everyone that experiences it. Most people do not think about younger kids having stress, or being affected by the aftermath of stress. However, children are experiencing stress."Children today live with more uncertainty, stress, and trauma than those of a generation ago, leading many to act out in school. Teachers need to differentiate between kids who are disobedient and those who are anxious, says child trauma expert Barbara E. Oehlberg" (Delisio 1). Stress can make people act differently than what they would act if they were not stressed. A study has found that stress, not primarily the lack of self-discipline, in children is linked to students acting out. The forms of how they are acting out include bullying and emotional fits.

There are many causes of stress. Stress may be caused by not getting an adequate amount of sleep. Students need to have plenty of sleep in order to be able to function, much less cope with various situations. It is hard to internalize one's feelings if they are mentally not there. Stress may be caused by living in a hostile environment. It may also be caused by problems in the home such as parents either being divorced or separated. A child needs to be around stability. Stability is crucial in both the development of a child as well as the enjoyment of life. The list of causes of stress can go on and on. Teachers may not be aware of what is stressing the students. It is hard for a teacher to know how to help if the child is externalizing their feelings by acting out.

The effects that stress has on a person is countless. Stress can cause students to act in ways that they should not. Students under pressure or stress feel that the only way to relieve their stress is to act out. They may act out by having a temper-tantrum, throwing items, or by bullying other kids. Not only does stress make someone act differently, but it can do serious damage to a child's health. Thanks primarily to stress, high blood pressure is on the rise in today's youth. Stress also weakens the immune system. It takes longer for a child to get well from getting sick from the occasional bug that is being passed around at school. Not only does a childs' behavior and health suffer, but so does their learning. Students are not able to learn well if they are stressed. Their brains are not able to focus on anything else other than what is stressing them out.

As educators, we have to take a step back and evaluate the situation to see what we can do to to help reduce the stress levels of children to promote learning. There is a multitude of resources that can help teachers with this issue. "Reaching and Teaching Stressed and Anxious Learners in Grades 4-8: Strategies for Relieving Stress and Trauma in Schools and Classrooms" is a book written by Barbara E. Oehlberg to assist teachers in helping kids. This book contains information that is extremely helpful to teachers.

At the center where I am currently doing my service learning, we have been participating in a stress level reducing ritual. Each day we go outside, depending on the weather, lay on the ground and close our eyes. We then focus on our breathing, motor skills, and visual imagery. Each of these helps to slow the children down and take a moment to relax. Many of the kids enjoy this time to wind down and be in a quite environment.

Delisio Ellen,R. "Acting Out Could Be Sign of Stress." EducationWorld. 2. Apr 2010 http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat199.shtml .

Health Issues Become School Issues

Many people are developing health issues more now, than they used to the past few decades ago. Genetics as well as environmental issues play a role in the people who have developed certain issues. These issues range anywhere from type two diabetes, obesity, to heart problems. Schools around their world are adopting this health epidemic problem, and making it their job to do something about it.

Over the past few years, children are developing a form of diabetes that adults contracted later in life. Type two diabetes is just as serious as type one diabetes, but it is preventable. Also, more and more children are developing high blood pressure. There are many environmental factors such as stress, poor eating habits, and lack of sleep that all contribute to the development of high blood pressure. The American Heart Association is teaming up educational and physical programs of schools to help decrease the numbers of children developing these issues.

The American Heart Association has developed several programs such as Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart to decrease numbers. About 31,000, of schools all throughout the United States participate in either the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart or the Hoops For Heart programs (Delisio 1). Both of these programs work closely with elementary schools as well as middle schools to teach students are lifelong physical activity, such as jumping and basketball. Also, students are not only learning about the dangers of tobacco products, they are learning about proper nutrition.

Students receive many benefits by participating in the programs such as Jump Rope and Hoops. Students learn about the importance of maintaining heart-healthy lifestyles while they are also participating in service learning as well as being physically active. Schools have an opportunity to enroll themselves in the Healthy Schools Program. Millions of students each day all across America are attending schools with such programs.

Schools have an advantage in helping with this health epidemic, if they chose to make a difference and contribute. Providing communities where students can learn about the benefits of receiving healthy lifestyles as well as being in an environment that promotes health, is one of the best ways to shape up the outdated health educational programs. The efforts of the American Heart Association have made an impact on millions of youth. Informing the youth and providing them with resources is how America is going to over come the various health issues that we are facing, as well as the ones we may face in the future.

Delisio, Ellen D. "Heart Health Programs Move Into Schools." EducationWorld. 24 Mar. 2010 http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat254.shtml.

No More Bullies

I remember that bullying was a huge problem in both my elementary and high school. In elementary school, most of the bullies would pick out the 'weaker' kids who either wore glasses or were the teacher’s pet, and taunt them by saying mean things to them or about their family members. As we aged into our high school years, so did the brand of bullying. The bullies had access to cars, phone numbers, and developed skills of hacking into other people’s computers. With the bullies having so much more access, they did not keep bullying at school; they continued to bully different kids outside of school. There was little to none that teachers were able to do to prevent bullies, or even scold the ones who were bullying others. This was a school-wide problem in my county, but I'm sure that it was a nationwide problem in all around me.

Bullying has been a problem in schools for many years. The types of bulling have changed in the past 15 years. The name calling as well as the terrible rumors still exist. Now-a-days, most kids are bullying other kids through a new type of bullying known as Internet cyberbullying. In cyberbullying, kids bully other kids through text messages, e-mails, or through IM conversations. Also, social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter have transformed bullying by allowing more and more bullies to torture their victims at any given time of the day. Students are no longer finding refuge at home due to this mass epidemic of cyberbullying. Many parents, teachers, and administrators are concerned with this issue.

In Massachusetts, lawmakers are making a stand against bullying in schools. A bill has been approved to make this effort official. This bill will ban bullying and require school districts to start bullying prevention plans as well as inform the parents of the new anti-bully curriculum("Mass. House Approves," 1).Parents of both the bully and their victim will be notified of each incident.

Several amendments of this bill have been added to ensure that it will be effective. Teachers, nurses, and any other school personnel are to report any bullying incidences to the school principal. Teachers will be required to complete anti-bullying training. Also, lawmakers adopted an amendment that is designed to be effective statewide. It is known as the "no name calling" day. On this day students will be encouraged by their teachers and school staff to think about the lasting effects of bullying and to make a pledge that they will not participate in calling each other names.

Bullying is a problem that has to be stopped. Many students at all ages are committing suicide, which is believed to be the result of cyberbullying. The bill has gained momentum since the deaths of both 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover and 15-year-old Phoebe Prince. Parents, teachers, school administrators, and lawmakers need to join together in the stand to prevent and end every nature of bullying. Each effort that is made is one step closer to saving the lives of the victims of bullies.

Below is a video of a young boy named Ryan Halligan, who was a victim of being bullied online and offline. He was a normal teenager who unfortunately ended his life due to being bullied. His dad effortlessly tells the story to warn people or the online dangers that today's children may be facing.



“Mass. House Approves Anti-Bullying Bill.” Boston. 16 Apr. 2010 http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/03/mass_house_appr.html .

image found here.

Teacher Evaluations

Teacher evaluations have been established to ensure that students are being taught with quality as well as efficiency. With programs such as No Child Left Behind, evaluations are critical to a teacher. Failure to have evaluations that are satisfactory, may result in the loss of a teachers job. Not all schools are being treated the same when it comes to teacher evaluation. Cracking down on all schools may result in a better quality of education.

Charter schools and public schools have to meet criteria differently. Charter schools, in particular have more flexibility in their teacher-evaluation policies than that of typical public schools. The Center of American Progress released a study that has recently found evidence that affirms that charter schools are being evaluated differently than public schools. "Charter systems create their own teacher evaluation systems and are not usually constrained by school district mandates, union rules, or laws governing tenure and dismissal" (Donaldson, M. and Peske, H., 1)There may be different effects of being evaluated differently.

Researchers Morgaen Donaldson and Heather Peske interviewed the administrators and teachers of five different schools that are located in three different charter-management organizations, also known as CMOs. Two of the nonunionized CMOs' observations were unstructured and unannounced. Their annual dismissal rates were higher than the nation's average, they did not appear to exceed eleven percent of the teaching forces of the schools (Donaldson, M. and Peske, H., 1).

President Barrack Obama's stance on producing better quality education is mostly in teacher evaluation and charter schools. The amount of funding that schools receive will be based on whether or not student test scores are meeting the qualifications that they should. The Obama administration believes that the persistent failure of public schools can be fixed with the advances made in charter schools.

Several criteria have to be met to judge the performance of charter schools. A few of the questions that have to be asked to ensure quality. The first question is, does teacher evaluation in charter schools improve instruction, enhance student learning, and raise achievement? The second question is do charter school evaluation ratings exhibit wider variation than the narrow distribution of high marks commonly found in "conventional" public schools? The last question is, are charter school administrators able to use teacher evaluation as a means to identify and dismiss teachers who are not effective or recognize and reward those who are? Each of these questions are critical in the process of promoting effective evaluations.

image found here .

Donaldson, Morgaen L., and Peske, Heather G. "Supporting Effective Teacher Through Teacher Evaluation." 21 Mar. 2010 http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/03/teacher_evaluation.html>.

The New Classroom

Superintendent, Keith T. Larkin, has a digital vision for future classrooms. He feels that classroom will renounce their name as ‘classrooms,’ and take on the new name of ‘learning environments.’ Also, he envisions these ‘learning environments’ to be filled with all sorts of technology. Wireless computers, multimedia presentations, and interactive whiteboards will all inspire learning in the learning environments.

Student learning will be more interactive with the new classroom system compared to the old classroom system. For example, the article states that at the Tracy Learning Center, students view their textbooks and instructions by logging onto a web portal. Viewing books digitally without having to carry around books is a very innovative tool that almost all of the students appreciate.

Teachers will need to adapt more to student needs. Teachers have to make the choice whether or not their best interest is going to be for their students. Teachers can make this choice by staying on task with what resources are available for them to use. Students will be able to have more one-on-one time with computers due to the new digital classrooms (Manzo 3). Classrooms will be changing in the digital age.

Switching from the old classrooms to new the digital learning environment may have both positive and negative effects on education. Many students will be very successful in their academics in the new digital learning environments. However, the switch will be very expensive. Superintendents from all over will have to heavily contemplate on whether or not their school systems are ready to make the change, or if they are even financially able to change.

Unfortunately, the schools who are not able to embrace this new styles may cause some issues. A digital divide may be seen among the schools in which the schools systems cannot afford to make the switch. A digital divide can slow down schools. If the schools are being slowed down due to lack of funds, then students may be slowed down as well as different parts of society.

Manzo, Kathleen. “The New Classroom Look.” EdWeek. 12 Mar. 2010 http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2009/06/17/04classroomlook.h02.html?qs=student+designs&print=1>
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