Milwaukee Public Schools Say Hello To Life Without Cell Phones By Patricia Hawke

Cell Phone Ban in Milwaukee Public Schools

It’s hard to imagine a world without cell phones. Next to the Internet it’s probably the single most important invention that has affected the maximum number of lives around the globe. People run entire businesses through their stylish gizmo fitted cell phones and it’s normal to find a family with each member sporting his or her individual phone.

But, students in Milwaukee Public schools won’t be among those yakking on their cell phones this year. The reason – Milwaukee public schools have enforced a ban on cell phones on campus. From January 2007 onwards, students in Milwaukee’s122 schools are banned from using cellphones in classrooms.

Fear of Violence Leads to Cell Phone Ban in Milwaukee Public Schools

The catalyst that triggered this ban was a brawl involving students outside the gates of a Milwaukee school. Female students who got into the fight used their cell phones to summon help from family members. At least 20 family members turned up and matters got really ugly before the Milwaukee school authorities and police managed to step in. Although nobody was seriously injured in the brawl, Milwaukee school authorities were stunned into action. This wasn’t the first such instance in Milwaukee schools. Earlier two students had been caught using their cell phones to summon others to a fight outside campus.

Milwaukee Schools Join a Growing Number of School Districts in Banning Cell Phones

Milwaukee public schools are by no means the only school district taking, what some consider, this extreme measure. New York and Los Angeles do it too, albeit for different reasons. The Columbine shooting in 2001 and the attacks of September 11 had many schools all over the country lifting their bans on cell phones as parents expressed their desire to stay in touch with their children in what they saw as an increasingly dangerous environment around the country. That trend has definitely been turned now and more schools are scrambling to enforce similar bans in their schools. Reasons given for these bans in schools around the country range from using cell phones for cheating to taking inappropriate pictures.

The issue of whether the ban will have any positive effects on curbing the levels of violence in Milwaukee schools is debatable. It seems simplistic to think that banning cell phones will curb any tendencies to fight. Students who want to fight will do so regardless of who they can or can’t summon to their cause. It seems more appropriate to beef up security around campus to deal with issues of school safety. In these days of working moms and kids who are forced to be independent, a cell phone is a powerful tool for communication. To take away this tool might be the equivalent of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=187444&ca=Education

How To Pursue A Health Care Degree Online By Andy West

Thanks to the increase in online educational opportunities, you can now get your health care degree online. However, just because the decision to continue your education has gotten easier, doesn't mean that you should rush into it. Your degree is a major step in the advancement of your career. Before making any final decisions, you will need to consider your options carefully.

Here are several steps you should take before pursuing a health care degree online.

1: Envision your career. This may sound like a no-brainer, especially for someone who already knows they want to pursue a health care degree online. However, you would be surprised how many people dive in without knowing first what they want to do with their degree once they complete it. Before you make any decisions regarding your degree, first think about and write down, if possible, your career vision. Include as many concrete goals as you can put into words. You will need to keep this vision in mind as you are looking at schools.

2: Compile a list of schools you are interested in. Before you begin researching any one school in depth, you should create an overview of all the schools you are interested in. You will narrow them down later; right now it is more important to make sure you are aware of all your options. To find schools that offer a health care degree online, you can do an Internet search, check with the library, or ask for referrals from friends and co-workers. If you already hold a job in the health care industry, your employer may also provide resources for finding schools and pursuing degrees.

3: Research each school's program in order to narrow down your list. Some of the schools on your list you will be able to eliminate pretty quickly. With others, you will only decide after researching the school and its program. Regardless, it is important not to decide on a program without knowing first exactly what you will be getting for your money. Ask to see information on the curriculum, including graduation requirements and course descriptions. Research the school's instructors, reading their bios and taking note of which classes each teaches. Finally, verify the school's reputation with employers in the industry. You don't want to go through all the trouble to earn a health care degree online, just to find out that employers don't have any faith in your school's graduates.

4: Arrange for financial aid. Once you have chosen a school, or even once you have narrowed your options down to two or three schools, you should start applying for financial aid. Aid is typically given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so waiting too long can cost you, quite literally. Although the financial aid process can be somewhat intimidating, the financial aid office at your chosen school should be happy to help you.

5: Study and prosper. If you haven't already enrolled, now is the time to do so. Having made an educated decision on what school to attend, you can now relax and focus on doing the coursework necessary to get your health care degree online.

Deciding what school to attend should never be a one-off decision. You are paying a lot of money for your education, not to mention putting a lot of time and effort into earning your degree, and you have every right to the best education that money and effort can buy. Before pursuing your health care degree online, follow the steps above to make sure you are making the best possible move for your career.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=187502&ca=Education

Minneapolis Public Schools Lose Students To Charter Schools By Patricia Hawke

Students are Fleeing Minneapolis Schools

Minneapolis schools are being faced with the prospect of empty school buildings as more and more students flee the system to charter schools in the district. Minneapolis schools’ enrollment figures have plummeted to just 36,000 this year - that’s almost half its capacity of 50,000 students. Schools in the north side have felt the pinch the hardest with a 44 percent drop in enrollment over the past five years. All indications are that there is no stemming this tide and Minneapolis schools have already announced plans to close 5 schools leaving more than 2000 students in the lurch, desperately scrambling to find new schools.

The Exodus of Blacks and Minorities from Minneapolis Schools

A bulk of the students that chose to leave Minneapolis public schools belongs to high poverty black neighborhoods and other minority communities. The statistics reveal a strong yet disturbing trend. In the ’99-’00 academic year, more than 48,000 black students sought admission in Minneapolis schools. Compare this to the bleak picture painted for 2008 when enrollment from black students is expected to touch barely 33,500.

Most black students prefer to enroll at charter schools in the district which have perceived higher standards than public Minneapolis schools. This problem of “black flight” is, authorities agree, a serious problem for Minneapolis schools. Surveys in the African American community show that black parents in general tend to be dissatisfied with the quality of education in Minneapolis public schools. Not that they have any reason to feel differently. In 2005, barely 29 % of black students in the eighth grades in Minneapolis schools managed to pass basic math tests and just 47% could manage to scrape through the reading tests. Graduation rates for black students at Minneapolis schools were some of the lowest at fifty percent. Besides blacks, Asian students are joining the growing movement out of Minneapolis schools.

Moves to Stem the Tide at Minneapolis Schools

The success of charter schools can be traced to a number of factors. School sizes are smaller, and it is generally believed that teaching staff are more in tune with students’ requirements and are better able to meet these needs. Minneapolis schools have begun to realize that immediate steps have to be taken to avoid the current migration of students. School authorities have proposed initiatives that require schools in the district to offer additional emphasis on music, arts, and language besides improving their core academic curricula. It’s hoped that raising the bar on academic learning will stem the growing tide. Even if the schools do not succeed in attracting students back to their fold, one hopes that at the very least they will be able to stop students leaving in masses.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=187445&ca=Education