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NJ Spotlight--Parents Raise Voices as BOE Tackles Teaching LGBTQ History in School
Public arguments part of longstanding tradition protesting changes to the curriculum stretching back to 1970s
When dozens of people descended on Trenton yesterday to speak out on — and mostly against — a new law requiring public schools teach about gay and transgender rights and history, they became the latest in a long line of New Jerseyans clashing over their school standards.
From sex education in the 1970s, the arts in the 1990s, and “common core” national standards a few years ago, public arguments about what public schools should be teaching have a rich history in New Jersey.
John Mooney, Brenda Flanagan | January 9, 2020 | Education
Chalkbeat (via NJ Spotlight)--Advocates Blast Superintendent’s Call to Close Four Newark Charter Schools as ‘Unfair’ and ’Alarming’
Superintendent Roger León argued that charter schools drain money from district and fail to serve fair share of students with special needs
Charter school advocates are firing back at Superintendent Roger León after he called for the closure of four Newark charter schools last month and warn that his actions could reignite district-charter clashes.
Two advocacy groups sent strongly worded missives to the state Monday in response to a series of letters León wrote in December urging the state to shutter four charter schools: M.E.T.S., People’s Prep, Roseville Community, and University Heights.
Patrick Wall, CHALKBEAT | January 9, 2020 | Education
Jersey Journal--Jersey City residents speak out against converting elected school board into mayoral appointed
Jersey City residents spoke out Wednesday night against a City Council resolution that would leave it to voters to decide on whether to convert the city’s elected Board of Education into one appointed by the mayor.
Joshua Rosario | The Jersey Journal| Updated Jan 08, 2020;Posted Jan 08, 2020
Asbury Park Press--Toms River demonstrators protest school funding cuts, vaccination bill
TOMS RIVER - Waving signs and chanting "save our schools," and "kill the bill," dozens of protesters picketed outside the Grove Restaurant & Tavern at the Howard Johnson Hotel on Tuesday morning, aiming their ire at state Sen. President Stephen M. Sweeney, who was in town to meet with members of the Ocean County Mayors Association.
Protesters came to the rally for a variety of reasons: to protest state education aid cuts that Toms River and Brick parents said would decimate their school districts; to object to a bill that would put limits on exemptions from childhood vaccines; and to show disapproval for the state’s annual bear hunt.
Jean Mikle, Asbury Park Press Published 2:32 p.m. ET Jan. 7, 2020 | Updated 5:46 p.m. ET Jan. 7, 2020
NY Times--After a Measles Scare, Seattle Cracks Down on Vaccine Compliance
At a time when states and school districts are trying to increase vaccination rates, an aggressive strategy in Seattle appears to be paying off.
A Seattle student received a vaccine that the school district provided at a free immunization clinic last month.Credit...Elaine Thompson/Associated Press
SEATTLE — After a measles outbreak sickened dozens of unvaccinated children in southwestern Washington State last year, school health administrators around the state went into crisis mode, intent on confronting the relatively low vaccination rates in the region.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/08/us/measles-vaccination-washington.html
Mike Baker| Jan. 8, 2020
Education Week--Good Sleep Habits Are Better Than a Good Night's Sleep for Test Performance, Study Finds
Getting consistent and adequate amounts of sleep in the weeks leading up to an exam can have a significant impact on how well students perform on tests. That's according to a new study by a group of researchers out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rulesforengagement/2020/01/good_sleep_habits_test_scores.html
Arianna Prothero on January 7, 2020 4:00 PM | No comments
Edutopia--How to Introduce Meditation to the High School Classroom
Setting aside time for reflection and introspection helps students focus.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-introduce-meditation-high-school-classroom
Suzanne Caines| January 6, 2020
