NEA Today articles from September 2002

NEA Today archives from September 2002

NEA everywhere: we are the right people, in the right places, at the right time. And we have the right ideas for public education.(President's Viewpoint)(National Education Association )(President's Page)
September 1, 2002... I wish first to thank the delegates to the 2002 Representative Assembly for their trust and confidence in electing me NEA President. I am committed to doing all that I can to ensure that our Association steps forward as a focused, united,...

Life in a jar: Kansas students carry out a Holocaust investigation that is making headlines.(My Turn)
September 1, 2002... In the fall of 1999, I encouraged four of my students to work on a project that would demonstrate our classroom motto, "He who changes one person, changes the world entire." They came across an old magazine article about a woman named...

Editor's note.(digital photos)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 1, 2002... Twenty years ago the first issue of NEA Today featured all black and white images shot on negative film. This year, for the first time, more than half of the images you see in this issue of NEA Today were shot by photographers using...

My first year: right now, thousands of new teachers are beginning their careers educating the nation's next generation. What are they faced with? NEA Today collected reflections of teachers who just completed their first year on the job.(Cover Story)(Cover Story)
September 1, 2002... Missy Conner Stricklin was the NEA Student Program chair in Oklahoma before accepting a job at the Coyle Public School in the small town of Coyle, Oklahoma. August School starts in two weeks! I'm teaching Title I math, and I'm...

Textbook democracy, NEA-style: Representative Assembly delegates elect new NEA leaders and tackle issues that touch your profession and your pocketbook.(News)
September 1, 2002... I am amazed by your stamina and passion for a cause," National PTA President Shirley Igo told nearly 9,000 NEA Representative Assembly delegates gathered in Dallas in early July. "You come in early and you stay late. You must be teachers!"...

Oklahomans win health care.(News)(fully paid individual health insurance for public education employees)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Working with the broad-based Oklahoma Education Coalition, Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) members have won legislation that finally provides fully paid individual health insurance for public education employees. Until this summer,...

Press clips.(News)(teachers' attitudes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... "Stop for a moment and take a look inside the minds of America's teachers--the people who spend more time with your kids than you do. More than 9,000 of them arrived in Dallas this week as elected delegates to the National Education...

NEAFT September 11 fund report.(Your Dues Did It)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Last autumn, NEA and the American Federation of Teachers created the NEAFT September 11 Fund to assist children and other affected family members of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks andtheir aftermath. Money was then raised...

Quite simply, an issue of fairness: NEA steps up drive to repeal Social Security provisions that impoverish retired educators and hinder teacher recruitment efforts.(On Your Side)
September 1, 2002... You might think that two little-known sections of the federal Social Security Act, the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), couldn't have anything to do with classroom quality or the living standards...

NEA testifies on testing rules ...(Federal Law Update)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Last spring, NEA members testified at five regional Department of Education hearings on proposed Title I testing and accountability draft regulations under the newly reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). NEA's message:...

Teacher "Protection" in question.(Federal Law Update)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... One new section of ESEA is the Paul D. Coverdell Teacher Protection Act of 2001 (TPA), designed to protect school employees from lawsuits filed by students and parents arising out of efforts to discipline students or maintain school order....

Maryland State Teachers Association.(Kudos To ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... ... the Maryland State Teachers Association, for winning big changes in the state's bargaining law. ESP on Maryland's Eastern Shore now have the right to bargain a contract and teachers now can negotiate items beyond wages and working...

Colorado Education Association.(Kudos To ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... ... the Colorado Education Association, which defeated three private school tax credit bills and stopped a last-minute attempt to resurrect a tuition scholarship bill with enormous income tax credits for contributors.

Utah Education Association.(Kudos To ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... ... the Utah Education Association, which has defeated a bill that would have allowed school districts to enter into separate contracts with individual employees--despite negotiated collective agreements. The bill also would have taken away...

Alabama Education Association.(Kudos To ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... ... the Alabama Education Association, which, in the face of a budget deficit, has won a 3 percent cost of living adjustment--effective October 1--for all public K-12 teachers, support professionals, and retirees.

West Virginia Education Association.(Kudos To ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... ... the West Virginia Education Association, for winning passage of legislation requiring heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in new schools to be tested by independent engineers prior to opening day. The new law also...

School funding adequacy--what it costs to do the job right: 'adequacy' defined: after you crank out educational standards, you cost out what it takes to implement them. It's really that simple.(On Your Side)
September 1, 2002... If you ran a company, would you build a state-of-the-art production facility by obsessing over blueprints and directives to your contractors--without ever inquiring about their choice of materials and skilled labor, or wondering if the...

NEA affiliates pursue different paths to adequacy: in reports from the field, the word 'coalition' keeps cropping up.(On Your Side)
September 1, 2002... School funding "adequacy" can become a reality through research into the true costs of a quality education, coalition work, willingness to dig in for the long haul, and--yes--willingness to file lawsuits when legislators drag their heels. ...

Supreme Court says yes to vouchers, drug testing: despite a legal setback, NEA's voucher battle will continue. On another front, the Supreme Court upholds student drug testing and nixes privacy lawsuits.(Rights Watch)
September 1, 2002... It came down to a single vote. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court in June upheld private school vouchers, rejecting NEA's argument that such schemes violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. Addressing the NEA Representative...

Federal appeals court bans pledge of allegiance in schools.(Rights Watch)
September 1, 2002... In a decision that stunned the nation, a federal appeals court in June ruled that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional because the pledge contains the words "under God." In a 2-1 ruling, the U.S. Court...

Meet Reg Weaver: NEA's new president hones in on safe schools, true education reform, and parental involvement in schools.(Interview)
September 1, 2002... Reg Weaver, a science teacher from Illinois, was elected president of the NEA at the 2002 Representative Assembly in Dallas this past July. Weaver grew up in Danville, Illinois, where he attended a segregated school for part of his elementary...

To learn a language: a leading scientist speaks out on what English-language learners need to succeed in school.(In Focus)
September 1, 2002... In the contentious debate over how best to teach English-language learners, Kenji Hakuta is not a name that readily pops to mind. Yet this Stanford University professor is helping shape the national discourse--not with political rhetoric, but...

Flirting or hurting?(In Focus)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Four years ago, several boys at Avondale Middle School in Rochester Hills, Michigan, were suspended for sexual harassment. The boys thought they were just flirting. The very next week, Maria Kopicki's eighth-grade criminal law class...

A global study of the moon.(In Focus)
September 1, 2002... The Moon shining down on Alabama is the focus of a project that has linked fourth and fifth graders in Tuscaloosa's Northington Elementary School with other budding scientists around the globe. Funded partly by a grant from The NEA...

Website brings lessons of September 11 to your classroom.(In Focus)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... What will you do with your classes on September 11? Educators across the country are asking themselves that question as the anniversary of the terrorist attacks approaches--and many of them have come up with good answers. NEA's Health...

Time machines and basic facts: how one Atlanta school meets the challenge of educating low-income children.(Learning)
September 1, 2002... Imagine you have a time-traveling parachute and you're about to land in Africa in the 1600s. What should you pack for the trip? Whom will you meet? What will you do if they confront you? And what exactly does "confront" mean? Such...

How I did it.(Learning)(cooperative learning)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... For years, my physics students shied away from challenging problems. Given a choice, they would avoid the tougher problems on tests. But now my students tackle and solve these problems. The solution was "cooperative learning," which...

Sparking interest: new members get connected to the profession--and the Association.(First Five Years)(Washington Education Association)
September 1, 2002... Ashley Martinson-Voshell always knew she wanted to become a teacher. Both of her parents were teachers and she couldn't imagine pursuing a different profession. But after a year and a half of teaching, the first-grade educator still...

First-year fumbles.(Resources)(Pitfalls and Potholes)
September 1, 2002... The NEA Professional Library has released a new revised edition of Pitfalls and Potholes, part of the NEA Checklist Series. This handy guide includes tips for landing a job, managing student conduct, getting along with administrators,...

New teacher survival guide.(Resources)(Survival Guide for New Teachers)
September 1, 2002... Check out the U.S. Department of Education's Survival Guide for New Teachers. This publication includes reflections from 53 award-winning first-year teachers who talk candidly about their successes and setbacks. The book includes tips for...

Teach like a pro.(Resources)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Looking for lesson plans or a place to share ideas with other K-6 teachers? Visit www.proteacher. net/. This site includes lesson ideas for reading and language arts, science, math, social studies, and the fine arts. Check out the "Busy...

A community rallies around reading: in one California town, NEA members reap the benefits of a reading program created and trumpeted by the local newspaper.(Reading)
September 1, 2002... In Sandra Ballard's second-grade classroom at Franklin Elementary School in Bakersfield, California, it's not unusual to have a different visitor every day of the week. In fact, Ballard counts on them. That's because these visitors help small...

"Never smile before Thanksgiving"--is that a good policy?(Debate)
September 1, 2002... yes I warn new teachers, "Don't be 'nice.'" That is, be aware that you are a target. When school begins, you are being checked out on all sides. If you are looking back at those "mean" teachers of your school days and thinking you...

Who profits when for-profits run schools? money changes hands--but student achievement doesn't budge.(Inside Scoop)
September 1, 2002... When education management organizations (EMOs) emerged in the 1990s, proponents vowed that private firms could successfully manage public schools, earn a profit, and teach the public education "monopoly" a few things in the process. With...

Taking it to the streets: paraeducators rally a Vermont town for better wages and campaign for new school board members.(Compensation)
September 1, 2002... After 11 years as a paraeducator in Winooski, Vermont, Sue Ann O'Brien earns less than $13,000 a year, almost $4,000 less than what her mother collects in Social Security and retirement benefits. O'Brien's salary falls short of the $22,727...

Minnesota Paraeducators win state foundation grants.(Going the Extra Mile)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The Education Minnesota Foundation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning honored five educational assistants with grants this past spring. Mary Neiman, Mary DeLuney, Mary Ann Holtzleiter, and Kathleen Serrill from Minneapolis and Danya...

Finding faith during illness.(Going the Extra Mile)(Faith and Illness: Reflections on God's Sustaining Love)(Book Review)
September 1, 2002... Before she became a paraeducator in 1999, Michigan member Nancy Groves spent 20 years counseling patients dealing with serious illnesses. In January, Patient Press released a new book called Faith and Illness: Reflections on God's Sustaining...

Alaska school nurse receives top state honor.(Going the Extra Mile)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The Alaska School Nurses' Association named Kim Dye, member of the Anchorage Education Association, as the 2002 Alaska School Nurse of the Year. Dye, who works at Kincaid Elementary School, developed a database program called the Health...

Giving kids a sporting chance.(Profile)(Lawrence "Woody" Widmark)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Name: Lawrence "Woody" Widmark Job Title: Community Schools Sports and Recreation Coordinator, Sitka, Alaska What I Do In My Job: I plan adult and youth recreation and indoor and outdoor sports. During the fall we have adult...

Fight privatization.(Resources)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Learn how to protect your school district from private contractors! Check out the updated privatization resources on the NEA ESP website. The site includes background information about privatization trends in public education and local...

New in the "Quality Workforce" series.(Resources)(Building a Quality Workforce)
September 1, 2002... Health and Student Services--Building a Quality Workforce is the latest addition to NEA's "Quality Workforce" series. The 32-page booklet highlights some of the challenges health and student services ESP encounter in their work. The...

For Paraprofessionals.(Resources)(National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The website for the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals (NRCP) includes articles and training materials for and about paraeducators. Paras also can browse the NRCP bookstore, which includes books on special education, teacher-para...

Website update.(Techno Tips)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The Web address for Dan Chuhta's science website, which appeared in the May issue of NEA Today, has changed. The new address is http://fc.sad57.k12.me.us/~Dan_Chuhta.

Editor's pick.(Wired)(Web site of Office of the Clerk, House of Representatives)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Kids In the House (left) is the official children's website for the Office of the Clerk. Using this site, geared for middle school students, visitors can explore the role the Office of the Clerk plays in the U.S. House of Representatives. The...

A morning boost for every child: subsidized breakfast programs have been around for years, but some schools offer them with a new twist.(Health & Fitness)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... It's just before 8 a.m. and the day's activities won't kick off for another 15 minutes at the Van Bokkelen Elementary School in Severn, Maryland. Yet students already sit at their classroom desks, quietly reading. Classical music pipes in...

A new look.(What's up at HIN? NEA Health Information Network)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... NEA HIN's mission has always been to improve health, safety, and student achievement in public schools. The network does this by providing school employees with vital, effective, and timely health information through parent, community,...

'September 11 remembered'.(What's up at HIN? NEA Health Information Network)
September 1, 2002... To mark the first anniversary of the September 11 tragedy and help members and students cope and heal, NEA and NEA HIN have developed a special "September 11 Remembered" website. Here, teachers, parents, and students can discover ideas,...

Making school even safer.(What's up at HIN? NEA Health Information Network)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... It's true: Gun violence is a problem in our schools. Yet schools continue to be the safest place for kids. Still, the fact remains: Nine children die from gun violence every day. Because schools can play a leading role in creating safer...

Get ready, get set, move!(Working Out Our Stress)
September 1, 2002... The start of school can be one of the most stressful times of the year, but health experts say it's actually the perfect time to think about how to consciously make movement--vigorous, pleasurable movement--a natural part of each day. No...

Brown baggin' it.(Healthy Bites)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Try an easy and refreshing lunch with two traditional Middle Eastern staples--hummus and baba gannouj. Made from chickpeas (garbanzo beans), sesame seeds, lemon, and garlic, they pack a wallop of protein and will help keep you energized all...

Get inspired.(Healthy Bites)(to exercise)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... "When it's hard to get motivated to work out, I focus on how I know I'll feel after I'm done. I'm always glad I exercise, so rather than grumble about not having time, I smile about how I will feel in 30 minutes or so, and start moving!" ...

Good question.(Healthy Bites)(exercise)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Q: I haven't exercised in years, What can I do to keep from getting sore when I start? A: Sue Stanley-Green of the National Athletic Trainers' Association says it's important to first see a doctor who can screen and treat any potential...

National Teacher of the Year.(People)(Chauncey Veatch)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The moment he stepped into the classroom. Chauncey Veatch fell in love with his students. He admits he had a few concerns, but he never questioned his decision to teach. Now Veatch hopes he can share his love of teaching with his peers...

Preserving the past in pewter.(People)(Dick Graver)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Modern conveniences have their place, but NEA-Retired member Dick Graver helps preserve the past as one of a half-dozen master pewterers in the United States. "I certainly enjoyed teaching, but this is a bit more therapeutic and...

Teacher on the trail.(People)(Kim Kavanagh on Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... More than 5,000 schools worldwide follow the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on the Web each year, But NEA member Kim Kavanagh, a second-grade teacher in Ellisville, Missouri, experienced the 2002 race in person. As the Iditarod's Teacher...

Teaching from center stage.(People)(William Mack)
September 1, 2002... NEA Student Progam member William Mack always knew theater could entertain people. After he joined the theater department at the University of Kentucky, Mack learned that theater could educate them as well. Mack (shown here on left)...

National ESP of the Year.(People)(Education Support Professional)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Don't tell Colorado's JoAnn Falk she can't do something, because she'll prove you're wrong. During her 27-year career, Falk organized a local Association, won bargaining recognition from her school board, created a district education...

Look before you leap.(Money)
September 1, 2002... Q: I have worked in public schools for 26 years. I want to continue to work, but in a less stressful job, which means lower income. Does salary amount really matter when retiring or is years of service the most important thing to consider?...

Thrifty educator.(Money)
September 1, 2002... This month's tips come from Bonnie McMoran, an EJHS English and Reading Teacher from Boise, Idaho, and Ariatha Lockhart, a music specialist at Medlock Elementary School in Decatur, Georgia. McMoran: I found a great use for electrical tope...

Heads up from NEA member benefits.(Money)(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Statistics show that educators have better than average driving records, meaning fewer accidents and claims. That's why NEA Member Benefits can offer NEA members fantastic rates through the NEA Members Auto & Home Insurance Program[TM],...

The 2002 NEA Representative Assembly: delegates shown ESEA the money.
September 1, 2002... Delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly (RA) voted to set aside $4 million to expand awareness, help shape implementation, and advocate for improvements in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the...

Finding hope in tragedy: a collection of art and poems by New York City public school children serves up compelling food for thought on this first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.(Resources)(Book Review)
September 1, 2002... EXCERPT Imagine a world that's all the same Of one color, one race, and even one name... Is that a world that's worth creating? Where day by day our fives keep fading Our differences make us who we really are So let's stop the fighting...

Beyond the Bus Stop.(Books by NEA Members)
September 1, 2002... By Robert Weyhmuller, Jr. Parents obviously play a vital role in children's education, but sometimes they don't know the best ways to help their kids. Beyond the Bus Stop offers 180 tips on how parents can guide children to succeed in...

Here's How to Reach Me: Matching Instruction to Personality Type in Your Classroom.(Books by NEA Members)
September 1, 2002... By Judith A. Pauley, Dianne F. Bradley, and Joseph F. Pauley This guide for effective classroom management describes six personality types present in students and uses narratives to show teachers how to motivate each type. The concepts...

Look Again! Appealing Bulletin Board Ideas for Secondary Students.(Books by NEA Members)
September 1, 2002... By Judy Serritella Tired of putting up the same bulletin board every year? Then peruse this book for some new ideas. Choose from more than 200 suggestions, grouped by subject, that are simple enough to create quickly and designed to make...

Using Journals with Reluctant Writers.(Books by NEA Members)
September 1, 2002... By Scott Abrams A language arts tool for teachers who want to persuade students to start the flow of ideas, this book demonstrates how to effectively lead students through critical thinking and relevant and proficient writing. Each...

National Board Certification.(Free Or Inexpensive)(The National Board Certification Handbook)
September 1, 2002... If you were wondering what it takes to be a National Board Certified teacher, The National Board Certification Handbook, edited by Diane Barone, is a must read. This handbook not only breaks down how much time certification takes and what the...

Newbery and Caldecott Awards.(Free Or Inexpensive)(Newbery and Caldecott Awards: A Guide to the Medal and Honor Books)
September 1, 2002... To see what books have been honored this year, pick up the 2002 edition of the Newbery and Caldecott Awards: A Guide to the Medal and Honor Books. The awards acknowledge exemplary works for children, and the book includes recent as well as...

Getting grants.(Free Or Inexpensive)(How to Get Grants and Gifts for the Public Schools)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... All schools need more money to improve student learning, and grant writing is a good way to get it. In How to Get Grants and Gifts for the Public Schools by Stanley Levenson, you'll learn how to apply for government, corporate, and foundation...

Primary Science Readers' Theatre.(Books by NEA Members)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... By Sharon Solomon Get students reading with the 11 original scripts in this book. Each piece deals with science topics including habitats, nutrition, space, energy, dinosaurs, and the food chain. Scripts have enough parts for all to...

It's better to give.(Free Or Inexpensive)(Teachers with the Courage to Give: Everyday Heroes Making a Difference in Our Classrooms)
September 1, 2002... Does it ever seem you aren't getting anywhere with students? Then you should read a few pages of Teachers with the Courage to Give: Everyday Heroes Making a Difference in Our Classrooms. Teachers share their tragedies and triumphs in touching...

A word to the wise.(Free Or Inexpensive)(Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid)
September 1, 2002... Ever wonder why some of the most powerful and intelligent people fall due to the most ridiculous things? The contributors of Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid, edited by Robert J. Sternberg, examine these people and situations from many...

Accidental Hero: Room 408.(TVTips)(television documentary)
September 1, 2002... PBS, September 19, 8 p.m., ET, check local listings. NEA member Tommie Lindsey, a San Francisco East Bay high school teacher, changes the direction of students' lives by introducing them to forensics--competitive speech, debate, and oral...

Considering special ed?(So You Want to Be a Special Education Teacher)(Book Review)
September 1, 2002... Drawing on more than 25 years' experience of teaching young adults with autism, Jim Yerman gives tips and encouragement for teachers who want to work in special education in So You Want to Be a Special Education Teacher.... He also discusses...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2002... In the March issue, the American Association of University Women's (AAUW) credit line for the publication, Girls in the Middle: Working to Succeed in School was inadvertently omitted. Girls in the Middle and its accompanying video were...

The First-Year Teacher: Teaching with Confidence (K-8).(Book Review)
September 1, 2002... The First-Year Teacher: Teaching with Confidence (K-8) By Karen A. Bosch and Katharine C. Kersey 168 pp. $16.95 NEA members $20.95 nonmembers #2014-6-00-FN Written by experienced teachers and recently revised--with 24 new pages of...

Looking back to 9/11.(TVTips)(The History Channel)
September 1, 2002... The History Channel, September 2-14, check local listings. The History Channel will air several programs focusing on the World Trade Center, the war in Afghanistan, and the history of Islam. The programs include: * The World Trade...

Teaching civics after September 11.(TVTips)(Television Program Review)
September 1, 2002... CNN, CNN Student News, September 10-14, check local listings. CNN's four-part series looks at American students coping with last fall's tragedy. Part I explores how K-12 students feel about their world. Are they more patriotic or...

A tragedy remembered.(TVTips)(September 11)
September 1, 2002... A&E, September 11, all day, check local listings. A&E looks at last fall's events with these programs: * Investigative Reports: Anatomy of September 11--the story of the 100 minutes that changed the world; * Minute by Minute:...

In Memoriam: September 11, 2001, New York City.(TVTips)(Television Program Review)
September 1, 2002... HBO, September 11, check local listings. HBO will rebroadcast this documentary that follows Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and his staff through the events of September 11--from the first realization of what happened, through smoke and fire,...

The Aftermath of Terror.(TVTips)(Television Program Review)
September 1, 2002... MTV, Monday mornings, 4 a.m., ET, check local listings. Examine the sorrow, suspicion, and fear that haunt a New Jersey town following September 11. The film presents the experiences of Arab-Americans in the town and one family's sorrow...

In Search of America.(TVTips)(Television Program Review)
September 1, 2002... ABC, September 3-8, primetime, check local listings. This six-part series, hosted by news anchor Peter Jennings, takes viewers on a journey through modern-day America. The show examines areas of American life, such as religion,...

Classrooms in Crisis.(TVTips)(Television Program Review)
September 1, 2002... A&E, A&E Classroom, September 12, 7 a.m., ET, check local listings. Studies predict that within the next three to five years, half of the teachers hired today will quit. As these teachers turn to careers in other fields, the overall...

Niagara: a History of the Falls.(TVTips)(Television Program Review)
September 1, 2002... The History Channel, September 11-12, 6 a.m., ET, check local listings. Located right in the middle of the state of New York and the province of Ontario, Niagara Falls is considered to be one of the most spectacular natural wonders on...