Monday, March 24, 2003
That's Outrageous!
 
In the July 2002 issue of Reader's Digest, Tucker Carlson wrote an article titled "That's Outrageous! Reading, Cheating and 'Rithmetic" concerning the issue of cheating in school. A tenth grade teacher gave a fourth of her class a failing grade for plagiarizing their biology projects. Parents revolted, the school board sided with the cheaters and the teacher resigned in protest. Children learn about values and principles from their parents. What are we teaching our next generation?

Posted by Barbara at 3/24/2003 11:58:46 AM | Link


Sunday, March 16, 2003
Bringing Back the Sabbath
 
The New York Times had an interesting article about the current need for a Sabbath, titled Bring Back the Sabbath. Here's an excerpt.

"The eclipse of the Sabbath is just one small part of the larger erosion of social time, with its former generally agreed-upon rhythms of labor and repose. ''After hours'' has become a strictly personal concept, since the 24-hour convenience store, gas station, pharmacy, supermarket, movie theater, diner, factory and bar all allow us to work, shop, dine and be entertained at any time of day or night. We greet each shift of an activity from weekday to evening or weekend as proof of American cultural superiority; we knock over the barriers between us and the perpetual motion machine that is the marketplace with the glee you might expect of insomniacs who had been chained for too long to their beds."

Posted by Bill at 3/16/2003 09:27:57 PM | Link


Thursday, March 13, 2003
Too Much Homework?
 
National Public Radio had an interesting series this week on homework. Here is the introduction on the NRP website:

"March 2003 -- Homework -- the traditional bane of a school-age child's existence -- is once again coming under fire. Some influential researchers say homework does little to improve a student's academic abilities. Others believe homework is excessive, and doing more harm than good."

If you have audio capability with your computer, you can listen to several interesting interviews about homework, including one on family stress by an expert who has changed his mind about the value of so much homework, at Homework: How Much is Too Much?

Posted by Bill at 3/13/2003 06:34:40 PM | Link