http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/03/17/469792061/how-the-language-of-special-education-is-evolving
This is a great article because often times in the social work profession and others we "label" people with disorders or syndromes. What we need to be cognizant of that students with disabilities are still people and still students. Often times we need to separate the disorder from the child not only in the education field but other fields as well. This point is also expressed in my other class "Writing for Agency Practice." Very interesting read.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Homeless High Schoolers Face Barriers to Education
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2014/09/29/homeless-high-schoolers-face-barriers-to-education
Homelessness, of course, will pose barriers to education for students. What I found interesting and good information to know for those who will work in schools is that "public schools are required under federal law to ensure that homeless students have access to a free public education. Homeless youth are allowed to stay in their school, regardless of where they end up, and school must provide students transportation to that school." Despite this, "young people who experience homelessness were 87 percent more likely to stop going to school according to the 2014 Don't Call Them Dropouts report from the America's Promise Alliance and its Center for Promise at Tufts University". Homelessness is a challenge for today's students, and it is something school social workers and educators need to be aware of to be informed on why students may be missing school and also to try to help prevent students from dropping out of school.
Homelessness, of course, will pose barriers to education for students. What I found interesting and good information to know for those who will work in schools is that "public schools are required under federal law to ensure that homeless students have access to a free public education. Homeless youth are allowed to stay in their school, regardless of where they end up, and school must provide students transportation to that school." Despite this, "young people who experience homelessness were 87 percent more likely to stop going to school according to the 2014 Don't Call Them Dropouts report from the America's Promise Alliance and its Center for Promise at Tufts University". Homelessness is a challenge for today's students, and it is something school social workers and educators need to be aware of to be informed on why students may be missing school and also to try to help prevent students from dropping out of school.
School Policy Changes For Fights
Consequences For School Fights
The attached article describes a new policy in schools. I was shocked to learn about this in my recent work in Mansfield City Schools; legal repercussions for school fights! At our school students who engage in physical fights with each other are going to get a charge. With schools enlisting the local law enforcement in the form of "Resource Officers" there is usually someone on hand to file and send the reports to the prosecutor's office. This is a policy that is completely different from when I went to school, only 6 years ago. The usual policy was a visit to the principal and some time spent out of school for suspension. Recently, a fight broke out between students, and the highschool principal was involved in breaking it up. The principal was kicked and injured by one of the girls and the resource officer told me the girl might get charged with felonious assault. I can see both sides of this; school faculty and staff need to be protected but also this policy seems harsh used as a blanket for all situations. This topic shows the interaction between the education system and the criminal justice system.
Keeping Students in School
Currently, I am following two bills in related to school discipline and truancy which is aimed to help keep students in school. HB410 has been introduced and referred to the Education committee. Senator Lehner is also working on a similar bill to HB410. These bills would change Ohio law to align with best practices by moving away from zero tolerance school discipline policies and keeping youth out of the juvenile court system for missing school. Erin Davis, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Coalition, created a fact sheet on Ohio school discipline policies and truancy laws.
Research says that decreased school attendance can lead to:
1) diminished academic performance
2) a higher likelihood of out-of-school suspension and expulsion
3) an increased likelihood of juvenile court involvement.
Data shows that non-white students, students with disabilities, and low income students are disproportionately impacted by current policies. They are more likely to be truant, chronically absent, and suspended/expelled from school.
To read in more detail click on "fact sheet" above to access Erin's write up on the issues. Or you can find it through the link here.
School Discipline to Prison Pipeline?
A principal met a student she expelled, and it changed her approach to discipline:
(There is a video or you can read the transcript)
"black students in our schools represent only 16 percent of the student population, they constitute 32 to 42 percent of students suspended or expelled, 27 percent of students referred to law enforcement and 31 percent of students subjected to a school-related arrest"
Ms. Hanks discusses the school to prison pipeline and who is to actually blame? Is it policies, the system, a group to blame. She speaks in a compelling way about how this is a problem all of those in the education system are responsible for and must change. She proposes on every level the way a teacher, principal, superintendent can evaluate and respond to shifting the system, even a little, as to reduce the suspensions/expulsion school to prison pipeline.
She made an interesting statement when we focus on the system or pipeline, that may lessen the personal responsibility that one may feel to change the system. Would you agree that keeping it a policy, pipeline, system mentality lessens one person's responsibility or fault?
Choosing Career Paths Prior to Starting High School?
http://keranews.org/post/texas-students-choose-career-paths-eighth-grade-and-thats-creating-anxiety
About two years ago, Texas state legislators decided to mandate that high schools provide five different career paths (called endorsements) that students choose from based on their career interests for the future. Endorsements are comparable to a college major in which students take classes based on their interests and complete projects to help prepare them for careers in those types of positions. The five endorsements that students can choose from are: STEM, business and industry, public service, arts and humanities, and multidisciplinary studies.
The concern that this article addresses is whether students who haven't even started high school yet should be required to make such a major decision. It does mention that students are able to change their endorsement if they believe they have chosen the wrong one but it's not clear about how that affects their on-time graduation status.
The article also discusses the need for districts to hire more counselors to help students to make these decisions. Ideally, counselors would be meeting with each student individually to help guide them through that decision but time may not allow for that.
What do you think about students choosing their career path prior to high school? Do you agree with the official quoted in the article who said that it could lower drop-out rates
About two years ago, Texas state legislators decided to mandate that high schools provide five different career paths (called endorsements) that students choose from based on their career interests for the future. Endorsements are comparable to a college major in which students take classes based on their interests and complete projects to help prepare them for careers in those types of positions. The five endorsements that students can choose from are: STEM, business and industry, public service, arts and humanities, and multidisciplinary studies.
The concern that this article addresses is whether students who haven't even started high school yet should be required to make such a major decision. It does mention that students are able to change their endorsement if they believe they have chosen the wrong one but it's not clear about how that affects their on-time graduation status.
The article also discusses the need for districts to hire more counselors to help students to make these decisions. Ideally, counselors would be meeting with each student individually to help guide them through that decision but time may not allow for that.
What do you think about students choosing their career path prior to high school? Do you agree with the official quoted in the article who said that it could lower drop-out rates
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Mindfulness and Yoga in Schools: Eliminating Stress or Encouraging Ideology?
When you think of mindfulness and yoga, what do you think of?
Relaxation?
Flexability?
Acceptance?
For parents in Kennesaw, GA, the only thoughts were on religion.
Bullard Elementary School has taught mindfulness and de-stressing strategies to students for years. But now parents have complained about how they are being taught. The term "namaste", for example, is used as a greeting in India and means "the light in me sees the light in you". For some parents, this crosses a line that suggests encouraged ideology. Same goes for Pranamasana, a tradition where you put your hands together and bow. Parents compared these practices to prayer in schools, which is not allowed.
The school district has been open to parent suggestions and has worked to change how these skills are being taught to students. But school social workers often rely on a variety of different relaxation, mindfulness, and stress relief strategies when working with students. Do you think that the school district was, in fact, taking it too far and pushing ideology on students? What are other techniques that may be used in schools that could possibly be considered inappropriate?
http://www.11alive.com/news/education/school-apologizes-for-mindfulness-yoga-after-complaints/96838332
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