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 .
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
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 .
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 .
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
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 .
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 .
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