Morgan for our Schools

Archive for June, 2009

The Illinois State Board of Education has approved the state’s first virtual public elementary school, the Chicago Virtual Charter School. The Board acted against State Superintendent Randy Dunn’s recommendation to disapprove the Chicago schools application, as well as against the opposition of the powerful Chicago Teachers Union, by voting a five-to-four approval.

Though virtual schools already exist in the United States, they usually are high schools. Several states, however, prohibit virtual charter schools, such as Indiana, Tennessee and New York. South Carolina goes one step further by prohibiting any home-based instruction at its charter schools.

Opposition to the Chicago schools’ new virtual elementary school stem from a variety of areas. Here are just a few:

• Computers will replace teachers and/or reduce their role in education, eliminating many teacher positions.

• The one-on-one attention that students may receive in a physical classroom setting will be lost.

• Virtual students in the Chicago schools will not receive enough social interaction, stunting their socialization skills.

Proponents believe the Chicago schools new virtual institution may give some children a chance to succeed, where traditional schools already have failed. The state board’s Chairman Jesse Ruiz noted that he received many compelling letters from parents, pleading for an alternative approach for their Chicago schools children.

Another issue that faced the state board is the current Illinois law on charter schools, which states they must be “non-home based”. It was for this reason that State Superintendent Dunn had recommended the new Chicago schools’ application be denied. This added more fuel to the Teachers Union’s argument against approving the school.

State board members and proponents argued that the charter school laws were enacted in the 1990s, before lawmakers could have anticipated the growth of technology that makes a virtual school possible. Chicago schools General Counsel Patrick Rocks told the board that the restrictions on home-based charter schools were from concerns that home schools would attempt to reposition themselves as charter schools in order to secure public funding.

Charter schools are part of the Chicago schools system and are given more flexibility in staffing, curriculum and other areas — similar in theory to home schools. They receive public funding per student, causing the lawmakers concern over a possible redefinition of home schools. Rocks presented board members with letters from several of the lawmakers who enacted the law that stated their intent was not to block Internet-based schooling.

After the vote, Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart vowed to take “swift and appropriate” action to stop or block the opening of the school. Rocks noted that it was very unlikely that the Union could mount any viable legal challenge.

The Chicago schools’ new virtual institution opens September 13, 2006. Already about 300 families have applied for their children to attend, and the school can accept another 300 students, according to Sharon Hayes, head of the school.

Once enrolled, the Chicago schools families receive desktop computers, workbooks and other student materials. The Chicago schools students are required to meet weekly at a downtown Chicago learning center, located within DePaul University. The students interact regularly with teachers through emails, conferences and workshops, as well as interacting with teachers and other students at the learning center.

Chicago Virtual Charter School already scheduled to serve a wide variety of elementary Chicago schools children. They include gifted and special education students, as well as children who previously attended public, private and home schools. Their web site is at: www.chicagovcs.org.

I have to admit I’ve put on a considerable amount of weight over the past year and I know why. It’s not because I’ve been eating more, but rather exercising less.

I’ve been writing another book and my research has had me virtually glued to the chair in front of the computer and only my brain and fingers have been getting a workout.

That’s my excuse, but not for much longer as the book is almost done. The stupid thing is I feel really lethargic. I know just a few minutes exercise a day would really energise me and most likely make me more productive. However, I can’t seem to drag myself away from the computer and find myself saying things like, “I’ll just do this first”, or I’ll do it “later”, “tomorrow”, “next week”, and the truth is I just haven’t done anything. It shows.

I’m not alone though. According to the latest BBC television news, half the nation will be obese within the next twenty-five years. It will cost the country something in the region of 45 billion pounds through health issues and lost work hours.

Obviously, not everyone is writing a book so what’s happening?

Well, it appears there’s a lack of education as far as food labelling is concerned and people are having a hard time deciding what’s good or bad. Despite the government recommendation of a simple traffic light system on packaging which clearly indicates green is good, orange requires caution and red is bad, some major supermarket chains have adopted their own versions which appear to be confusing everyone. Maybe that’s the idea?

Advertising too is being blamed for targeting young children with delicious but unhealthy snacks. Manufacturers know youngsters can be very influential when it comes to items in the trolley at the supermarket checkouts and of course they are the shoppers of tomorrow so it makes sense to get to them early.

Another important factor is the lack of exercise at school, especially for girls. I went to an all girls school, and whilst admittedly I left thirty six years ago, I could only see two pupils who I would consider to be “fat” on my dreaded final annual school photo.

Back then we only actually had sports lessons twice a week but they were double lessons and I hated them, mostly because we had to wear horrible big navy knickers and a white tee-shirt. We played tennis, hockey and netball, and went either swimming in the summer or cross country running in the winter. We also attempted athletics for the annual sports day and I remember landing on a rake once whilst doing the Fosbury Flop in the high jump.

Of course, back then, we also used to either walk everywhere or ride our bikes and it seems the youth of today do neither. It’s not actually their fault as we’ve become a society obsessed with safety and a fear of letting our children out of our sight, but I do have to admit there are some strange people around now. Also, there are far fewer safe areas to play these days as many parks and playing fields have been built on.

As a teenager I never ventured far but as my parents were unable to ferry me backwards and forwards to the local village dances I often found myself hitch hiking. Actually that just meant standing on the corner at the crossroads and someone would always stop and give me a lift, but in those days everyone knew everyone else so the likelihood of a stranger picking me up never crossed my mind. Now I wouldn’t dare contemplate either hitching a ride or giving anyone else a ride which is a shame. It’s a sign of the times though, and I reflect upon that sadly every time I see the face of an unlucky hitchhiker in my rear view mirror.

Going back though to my younger days, and outside of school I always used to exercise although I never thought of it in those terms. Rather, it was having unsupervised “fun” with my friends, something which also seems to be a thing of the past.

Until I started work I used to play football. This was long before it was fashionable for girls to do so and whilst you would never guess it now, I was quite good. I had lots of energy and could run. My friend, Josephine also played football, but in goal, and was extremely good too. I can picture her now diving for the ball with her long thick hair tied up in bunches with elastic bands.

Every weekday night a gang of us would meet up at the local recreation ground, pick two teams and play football until it was too dark to see the ball. Then we’d either run or ride our bikes straight home. It kept us fit and cost nothing.

Now, it’s very rare to see children playing any sport or taking any exercise at all unless the games are paid for and organised. Parents drop off and collect their offspring, all of whom have their own mobile phones.

For those children whose parents can’t afford these activites the opportunity for exercise is limited. They either spend most of their lives in front of a television or computer screen, or hang around street corners. It’s no wonder the nation is getting bigger and less sociable.

As I said I have an excuse for gaining weight but I’m ashamed to need one. Exercise should be as fundamental as breathing, not something I have to schedule in. I know lack of exercise and excess weight is a recipe for major health issues so unless I want to sleepwalk my way into obesity and be part of the aforementioned BBC statistic in a few years time I need to do something about it now.

How about you?

A general notion is that Military boarding schools act as correctional facilities for troubled and difficult teens. However, contrary to this belief, it’s a unique opportunity for parents and children to seek discipline and success in their life.

As the Public school system today is not well equipped to handle troubled teens, parents turn to military schools discipline and educate their troubled teenagers. Apart from education, military schools inculcate two important characteristics, structure and discipline, which explains their popularity.

So, what are the benefits of such Military schools over normal public schools?

As compared to public schools, teenagers cannot indulge in consumption of narcotics, fights or sexual encounters. With a normal day starting at 6AM, the students are expected to wake up early, complete their chores, participate in physical drills and follow all the norms of the institution. Even simple entertainment like getting out on weekends or watching a movie has to be fairly earned by indulging in good behavior and adherence to rules.

These schools effectively train the students to come out of their shell of confusion and decide what they want to do with their life. They make them self reliant and strong. It also imbibes in them qualities of leadership, determination and a winning attitude that makes them stand apart from conventional students. As compared to conventional schools, military schools compel their students to follow the rules and complete their assignments meticulously. Hence, the students have no scope of incomplete assignments and it becomes a habit not to neglect any academic assignments.

Apart from these, they have a positive peer atmosphere and hence they seldom stray away. It becomes more of an issue of honor than just simple code of conduct.

Though such military school programs are viewed to be highly traditional, but they have a strict academic program that sets it apart from the regular program.

There is also a great emphasis on the physical fitness of the youngster so that they don’t turn out to be another bookworm.

Lastly, with such a structured environment in place, it greatly helps under-motivated, disturbed and defiant youth to seek the purpose of their life. When at last such students compete in the world with other students, they tend to stand out and defy all odds and surprise their competitors with their talent, structured approach to problems and greater sense of responsibility.

With so many, Military schools benefits still act as a boon for parents of troubled and defiant youth who find solace in drugs and destruction.