New Content at SusanOhanian.Org!

[Susan Ohanian <susano@gmavt.net>]

Don't miss cartoons and outrage of the day--even though there are no direct links yet. Also check out news in the Special Needs section. I am trying to beef up the Special Needs section. Is there anyone out there who would like to volunteer to help?
Susan

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Medical Students Learn Activism
Sharon Lerner
New York Times
2003-12-02
http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=1423

A growing number of medical students are taking courses in social activism. This sure raises the question about what's happening in colleges of education. But don't ask them. Keeping their heads buried in the sand prevents them from hearing you.

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Church, State and Education
Editorial
New York Times
2003-12-02
http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=1424

The Supreme Court hears arguments today in an important church-state case, one that will decide how much leeway states have in declining to finance religion. Washington, whose State Constitution is emphatic on separating government from religion, does not let its college scholarship funds be used for theology degrees. A student who was training to become a Christian cleric has charged that his First Amendment rights were violated. His claim should be rejected.



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Fill in the Blanks
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
2003-12-01
http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=1425

Strong editorial points out that although an appeals court has now determined that Florida parents don't have a right to see where their students are going wrong on standardized tests, Gov. Jeb Bush shouldn't be so eager to gloat. His win comes at the expense of students who are being held back without really knowing why. 



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School to Review Effect of ‘Effort Grades' on Honor Roll Status
Dan Mackie
Vermont Valley News
2003-12-02
http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=1426

Ohanian takes issue with grading students on some indecipherable quality labeled effort on the report card.

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Whereas. . .
Seattle Education Association Board

2003-12-01
http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=1427

The Seattle Education Association Board of Directors pass a resolution condemning the use of tests as a graduation requirement. Yawn.

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A Muslim School Used By Military Has Troubling Ties
Glenn R. Simpson
Wall Street Journal
2003-12-03
http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=1428

But the Defense Department's reliance on the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences,in America has a potentially troubling side. There are signs that the school, an arm of the Saudi Arabian government, disseminates the intolerant and anti-Western strain of Islam espoused by the Persian Gulf kingdom's religious establishment.



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The Global Education Marketplace
Goldie Blumenstyk
Chronicle of Higher Education
2003-12-03
http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=1429

Kaplan Inc. announced on Tuesday that it had acquired a 5,000-student business college in Dublin, bringing the company into the growing ranks of American higher-education companies that own and operate campuses overseas. 



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To the editor
Robert E. Kay, MD, psychiatrist
Philadelphia Inquirer
2003-12-01
http://susanohanian.org/show_letters.html?id=207

The letter writer advocates scrapping high school altogether. His argument should get attention.

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To the editor
Stephen Krashen
Washington Post
2003-12-02
http://susanohanian.org/show_letters.html?id=208

Stephen Krashen takes a Washington Post article to task for reporting the skillzation of kindergarten as good news.

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To the editor
Kay Jones
Daily Triplicate
2003-05-07
http://susanohanian.org/show_letters.html?id=209

A teacher uses the letters forum in newspaper to advise parents to opt their children out of the state tests.

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To the editor
Kay Jones
Daily Triplicate
2003-05-18
http://susanohanian.org/show_letters.html?id=210



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NCLB Muddle in Vermont
Mike Eldred
Deerfield Valley News
2003-11-29
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=251

School board members got a glimpse into the complex and confusing world of Vermont’s version of the No Child Left Behind Act after their school failed to make adequate yearly progress under the new law.

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Dean Blasts No Child Left Behind
Kate McCann
Times Argus
2003-12-01
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=252

Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean said Sunday he would have turned down money from the federal No Child Left Behind Act if he still was governor of Vermont. 


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The Shame of Houston Will Be the Shame of NCLB
Diana Jean Schemo & Ford Fessenden
New York Times
2003-12-03
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=253

In an article pointing out that questions about Houston's accomplishments are being questioned, the New York Times examine test score data and comes up with dark conclusions. The writers point out that national gains on NCLB similar to TAAS are not going to happen.

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You Can't Set Lofty Goals without Resources
Michael Winerip
New York Times
2003-12-03
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=254

An upbeat story of teacher enthusiasm and state monies that make it possible point to the lack of resources in NCLB.

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Feds Steer Grants to Pro-Privatization Groups
John Gehring
Education Week
2003-12-03
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=255

The Department of Education is providing millions of dollars in grants to a handful of pro-voucher and privatization groups at the same time the Bush administration has underfunded the No Child Left Behind Act, the advocacy group People for the American Way charges in a report. Link to report provided.

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Ohio Halts K-3 Assessment
Linda Jacobson
Education Week
2003-12-03
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=256

 The Ohio Department of Education issued a moratorium on testing designed to diagnose childrens academic abilities and weaknesses in kindergarten through 3rd grade after defiant Cleveland teachers said they would refuse to give the assessment. Be careful what you wish for.