Monday, October 24, 2005
Rural Education in the News
Once again, courtesy of my Google Alert News service (although a little late this week)...
A way to revolutionize rural education in South Carolina
Hilton Head Island Packet - Hilton Head Island, SC, USA
Imagine a tool that could radically change the way students learn and open floodgates of opportunity, particularly for students in rural areas who don't have access to the variety of coursework available in richer school districts. This tool is already readily available today. It's the laptop computer. Imagine what would happen if every South Carolina middle school student had one to use for a year or two. That isn't as far-fetched as it may first sound. In 2002, Maine Gov. Angus King spearheaded a pioneering one-to-one learning program that provided a notebook computer to every seventh- and eighth-grade student in his state. For $37 million, the state bought 34,000 laptops.
US's Snow supports Hu's new plan
Asia Times Online - Kowloon, Hong Kong
When China's communist leaders adopted a new blueprint for the country's economic development over the next five years, they hardly banked on the support of the US treasury secretary in pushing forward ambitious tasks such as equalizing growth and narrowing the wealth gap between urban and rural China. But as John Snow, the US top treasury official visiting the Chinese countryside this week, delivered enthusiastic support for Beijing's new development model of slower growth and "social fairness", it served to illustrate how every ripple from this giant economy can now be felt across the world. ''We see the growth of consumerism as going directly to what is most on our mind, which is the global imbalance of trade,'' Snow said, touring a ruralmarket in the Chinese inland province of Sichuan.
Schools shake-up 'to hit rural areas worst'
Belfast Telegraph - United Kingdom
Rural areas of Northern Ireland will be left isolated with little choice of schools if the Government continues with plans to radically change the education system, it has been claimed. The Confederation of Grammar Schools Former Pupils Association and the Concerned Parents for Education (CPE) campaign had a joint meeting with Education Minister Angela Smith this week and are calling again for her to reconsider her plans to scrap academic selection in schools. In a joint statement, Peter Cosgrove and Ethne McCord (chairs of the CPE) and Gerry Beamish, chairman of the former pupils' association, said they were "saddened and disappointed" by the Minister's insistence that there was no role for any form of selection in the new Costello era.
Meth is one of the most devastating drugs to have affected rural communities in Minnesota
Murray County News - Slayton, MN, USA
Meth has been an increasing problem in rural areas including southwest Minnesota. “Between 1999 and 2003, police raided more than 750 clandestine meth labs located mostly in Greater Minnesota. Meth producers prefer the seclusion of rural communities (Minnesota ICE).” Meth not only affects its abusers, but it also affects their children and families. Children exposed to meth production are at the greatest risk of injury and even death. The ingredients to make meth can be corrosive, flammable, emit toxic fumes, or have other hazardous effects. These chemicals can cause respiratory problems, eye and tissue irritation, dizziness, headache, nausea, chemical burns, and death. Often time these chemicals are stored in kitchen and bathroom cupboards, bedrooms, garages and other storage facilities, leaving them exposed to children.
Oregon 'highly qualified teacher' rates edge upwards
Katu.com - Portland, OR, USA
Ninety percent of Oregon public school classes are led by educators who have documented expertise in the subject they're teaching, according to data released Wednesday by the state Education Department. The figure, measured in the 2004-2005 school year, is slightly up from the 88 percent of teachers in 2003-2004 who were considered highly qualified under federal education rules.
Tags: aera, rural, education
A way to revolutionize rural education in South Carolina
Hilton Head Island Packet - Hilton Head Island, SC, USA
Imagine a tool that could radically change the way students learn and open floodgates of opportunity, particularly for students in rural areas who don't have access to the variety of coursework available in richer school districts. This tool is already readily available today. It's the laptop computer. Imagine what would happen if every South Carolina middle school student had one to use for a year or two. That isn't as far-fetched as it may first sound. In 2002, Maine Gov. Angus King spearheaded a pioneering one-to-one learning program that provided a notebook computer to every seventh- and eighth-grade student in his state. For $37 million, the state bought 34,000 laptops.
US's Snow supports Hu's new plan
Asia Times Online - Kowloon, Hong Kong
When China's communist leaders adopted a new blueprint for the country's economic development over the next five years, they hardly banked on the support of the US treasury secretary in pushing forward ambitious tasks such as equalizing growth and narrowing the wealth gap between urban and rural China. But as John Snow, the US top treasury official visiting the Chinese countryside this week, delivered enthusiastic support for Beijing's new development model of slower growth and "social fairness", it served to illustrate how every ripple from this giant economy can now be felt across the world. ''We see the growth of consumerism as going directly to what is most on our mind, which is the global imbalance of trade,'' Snow said, touring a ruralmarket in the Chinese inland province of Sichuan.
Schools shake-up 'to hit rural areas worst'
Belfast Telegraph - United Kingdom
Rural areas of Northern Ireland will be left isolated with little choice of schools if the Government continues with plans to radically change the education system, it has been claimed. The Confederation of Grammar Schools Former Pupils Association and the Concerned Parents for Education (CPE) campaign had a joint meeting with Education Minister Angela Smith this week and are calling again for her to reconsider her plans to scrap academic selection in schools. In a joint statement, Peter Cosgrove and Ethne McCord (chairs of the CPE) and Gerry Beamish, chairman of the former pupils' association, said they were "saddened and disappointed" by the Minister's insistence that there was no role for any form of selection in the new Costello era.
Meth is one of the most devastating drugs to have affected rural communities in Minnesota
Murray County News - Slayton, MN, USA
Meth has been an increasing problem in rural areas including southwest Minnesota. “Between 1999 and 2003, police raided more than 750 clandestine meth labs located mostly in Greater Minnesota. Meth producers prefer the seclusion of rural communities (Minnesota ICE).” Meth not only affects its abusers, but it also affects their children and families. Children exposed to meth production are at the greatest risk of injury and even death. The ingredients to make meth can be corrosive, flammable, emit toxic fumes, or have other hazardous effects. These chemicals can cause respiratory problems, eye and tissue irritation, dizziness, headache, nausea, chemical burns, and death. Often time these chemicals are stored in kitchen and bathroom cupboards, bedrooms, garages and other storage facilities, leaving them exposed to children.
Oregon 'highly qualified teacher' rates edge upwards
Katu.com - Portland, OR, USA
Ninety percent of Oregon public school classes are led by educators who have documented expertise in the subject they're teaching, according to data released Wednesday by the state Education Department. The figure, measured in the 2004-2005 school year, is slightly up from the 88 percent of teachers in 2003-2004 who were considered highly qualified under federal education rules.
Tags: aera, rural, education
