Let's Carnival!

The 204th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Bellringers) has opened-up its midway!And don't forget to drop-in on the homies over at the 157th version of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Carnival Submissions Are Due!

Entries for the 204th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Bellringers.) are due. Please email them to: mybellringers [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 8:00 PM (Eastern) 5:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if

Wonkitorial: Cutting To The Front Of The Lunch Line

All of her adult life, Caroline Schlossberg Kennedy emphatically stated that she wanted to be a "private" person, and therefore completely out of the public's eye but free to attend countless social events with her pals from New York City's Social Register.But now, JFK's deep-blue-blooded daughter has changed her mind and wants to claim what some would believe to be her rightful inheritance by

My Goodness

And now it seems as though women aren't supposed to use the "L" Word first.Heh. Are we supposed to teach that in our schools?

The Carnival of Education: Week 203

Welcome to the midway of the 203rd edition of The Carnival of Education.Unless clearly labeled otherwise, all entries this week were submitted by the writers themselves.Folks interested in hosting a future edition of the C.O.E. should please let us know via this email address: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net.Visit the C.O.E.'s early archives here, later archives there, and our latest entries

The Carnival Of Education: Week 199

Welcome to the midway of the Thanksgiving Day edition of The Carnival of Education. It also happens to be the 199th roundup.Unless clearly labeled otherwise, all entries this week were submitted by the writers themselves.Folks interested in hosting a future edition of the C.O.E. should please let us know via this email address: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net.Visit the C.O.E.'s early archives

Let's Carnival!

The 189th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Thomas J. West Music) has opened-up its midway!And don't forget to drop-in on the homies over at The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does: Part 1

This cop just threw away his career in law enforcement over a few breakfast sandwhiches:MORRISTOWN, N.J. -- A Rockaway Township police sergeant's hunger for some breakfast sandwiches has cost him his job.Sgt. Christopher Stahl pleaded guilty Monday to theft for walking out of a Quick Chek store on West Main Street in Rockaway Borough on Dec. 15, 2007 with eight breakfast sandwiches worth $29.45.

Get Your Carnival On!

Entries for the 189th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Thomas J. West Music.) are due. Please email them to: tomwest [at] psualum [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 4:00 PM (Eastern) 1:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL

U.S. City Celebrates Mexican Independence Day

When it comes to governmental wastage of taxpayer funds, one has to look long and hard in order to exceed that peculiar type of corruption that is found here in the wasteland that is California's so-called "Imperial" Valley. But even here, where all kinds of corruption and nepotism are common-day occurrences, I was stunned to learn that the City of El Centro, California was proudly expending

Did You Know?

That this is "Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week?"I didn't know it, either.The Ministry of Enforcement of Public Education Policy Conformity United States Department of Education is spending lots of taxpayer money in order to celebrate the occasion: Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe will join 1,000 higher education leaders and policymakers on September 8 in

Obama Visits Michigan High School

The gym of Michigan's North Farmington High School was the scene of a visit by Barack Obama just yesterday. He took the time to make a few remarks. On education, Obama wants to invest in early childhood education, close the achievement gap, pay teachers more money in exchange for more accountability, make college affordable for everyone, in exchange for community service.“That’s change,” he said

A Lesson In Funny Money

Some kids are just so resourceful: OCALA, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say an 8-year-old boy was handing out hundreds of dollars in fake $20 bills at an Ocala elementary school. School officials reported the boy to police on Tuesday.The fake bills were discovered when a child tried to use one to pay for lunch. An administrator then tracked down several other students with fake bills. Those students

Dream Cancellation: A Personal Whine

Six years of no increase in take-home pay and several years of insidious inflation have finally gotten the best of our already-tight budget.Today we cancelled our Christmas trip.For the first time in ten years, the Wonk Family will not be going back to South Carolina to visit the folks during Christmas recess.*sigh*When I began my classroom service, I knew that I would never get rich teaching

British Hospitality

What a bunch of Wankers: A hotel that refused an injured soldier a room, forcing him to spend the night in his car, was backed into issuing a grovelling apology yesterday after receiving a barrage of abusive phone calls.The Metro Hotel, in Woking, Surrey, called the police as its phone lines were flooded with angry and threatening calls from the public. The attack on the switchboards came after

L.A.'s Boondoggle High

This is bad, even for California: LOS ANGELES (AP) - A decade behind schedule, a $350 million downtown high school finally opened on Wednesday after years of environmental, seismic and legal troubles."We've been waiting a long time to get this," said Uriel Rivera, an 18-year-old senior at the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center. "A lot of people in the community were supposed to graduate from here,

Skipping The First Day Of School

Many pupils in Chicago's troubled public school system decided that truancy was the best way to protest alleged unequal funding: NORTHFIELD, Ill. (AP) — More than 1,000 Chicago public school students skipped the first day of classes Tuesday to protest unequal education funding, a boycott organizers said would continue through the week with help from retired teachers who will turn office lobbies

Getting Fraked

It's not often that we get to be in on the birth of an obscenity:NEW YORK (AP) -- Lee Goldberg thinks Glen A. Larson is a genius, and not because the prolific television writer and producer gave us "Knight Rider" and "B.J. and the Bear."It was Larson who first used the faux curse word "frak" in the original "Battlestar Galactica." The word was mostly overlooked back in the '70s series but is

The Song Of The Day

Take a listen to Dylan's "My Back Pages" as sung by The Byrds:Maybe I'll have this one played at my funeral.

Carnival Time!

The 187th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Lead from the Start) has opened-up its midway!And don't forget to drop-in on the homies over at the Labor Day edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Common Sense For School Administrators

Ms. Cornelius of A Shrewdness of Apes has some advice that really should be read by school administrators and wannabees: 1. Have meetings only if you have something to say. Holding meetings for the sake of holding meetings, or to show the higher-ups that you hold regular meetings, wastes valuable time for everyone. This is especially important in the days before the school year actually starts.

The Quote Of The Day

Today's quote comes from British statesman William Pitt the Elder: The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail—its roof may shake—the wind may blow through it—the storm may enter—the rain may enter—but the King of England cannot enter!—all his forces dare not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement!In these days of American governments

Carnival Call!

Entries for the 187th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Lead from the Start.) are due. Please email them to: johnmholland [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 7:00 PM (Eastern) 4:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's

Labor Day 2008: What Was Old May Be New Again

All is quiet; campuses around the country are closed.Meanwhile, it has been brought to our attention that at least one Arizona school board member is advocating a return to the good old days, when school started after Labor Day:One member of the Scottsdale School Board claims a lot of money could be saved if schools statewide started after the Labor Day weekend.Many schools, including those in

Of Hurricanes And Cable News Sunday

As Hurricane Gustav bears-down on the Louisiana coast, the cable news channels have been covering the story all day. (See CNN's here.)And so they should cover this major news event.I grew-up in Florida, which is Hurricane Country.And, interesting as it may seem, one of the things that many Florida folks used to say, (and many still do say) is that these monster storms don't hit the big coastal

China Arnold: Monster

This creature masquerading-as-a-mother murdered her baby by cooking the little girl in a microwave oven:DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- A mother was convicted Friday of killing her month-old daughter by burning her in a microwave oven, with jurors rejecting a defense attorney's claims there was evidence that someone else was responsible.China Arnold, 28, showed no reaction when the jury's verdict was

Administrative Buffoonery Or Crazy Like A Fox?

Oftentimes, stupidity needs no explanation:Iowa Central Community College President Robert Paxton will collect $400,000 from the school in return for his resignation.After 13 years as president of the Fort Dodge school, Paxton resigned Wednesday, one day before the school’s board of trustees was scheduled to discuss an undisclosed “personnel matter.”The special meeting was called after The Des

Notes From The Education Underground

Each and every year some well-intended naive soul teacher comes around and solicits for the United Way. Here's an example why I don't give 'em a nickle:For months, the United Way of Central Carolinas board said Gloria Pace King was worth every penny of her controversial $1.2 million pay package.Tuesday, 37 of those board members unanimously called on their longtime CEO to resign or be

Let's Carnival!

The 186th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by SharpBrains.) is open for your educational pleasure!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by taking a look at the Women's Independence Day Edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

EduDecision '08: The Hillary Factor

Last evening, I watched Hillary Rodham Clinton give her speech in support of Obama at the Democratic Convention.Interestingly, she never promoted (or even mentioned) Obama's fitness to be the commander-in-chief. (I don't think McCain's handlers will overlook that omission either.)In my opinion, her remarks were a lukewarm endorsement at best.But don't take my word for it, go over there, take a

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 186th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at SharpBrains.) are due. Please email them to: afernandez [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if

Notes From The Education Underground

Today was the first day of classes in our junior high school.The kids seem to be OK;All 193 of them.*sigh*We classroom teachers will be getting our first monthly pay check six weeks after we reported for our first day of work last week.For what is now the sixth year, I'll be receiving the same take-home pay.And, like the prices down at our local Wal-Mart, what is expected of us continues to

Those Pistol-Packing Texas Teachers

Did you hear the one about the School District who wants their teachers to pack heat? AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry indicated Monday that he supports a school district's decision to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes start this month.Trustees of the Harrold Independent School District approved a policy change last year to allow employees to carry

Get Your Carnival Entries Submitted!

Entries for the 182nd edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at The Chancellor's New Clothes.) are due. Please email them to: learnersinherit [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 6:00 PM (Eastern) 3:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and

The Carnival Of Education: Week 181

Welcome to the midway of the 181st edition of The Carnival of Education!Here's the very latest roundup of entries from around the EduSphere. Unless clearly labeled otherwise, all entries this week were submitted by the writers themselves.Folks interested in hosting a future edition of the C.O.E. should please let us know via this email address: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net.Thanks to everyone

postingan

Education for Sustainability

The Energy Sector
Girish Sant , Prayas, Pune

We need to urgently enhance the services that energy provides, while improving efficiency of energy use. This would not just keep our energy consumption under control but also reduce the social and environmental impacts associated with energy production and use; and keep costs under control. This requires better choices by energy consumers, changed role of workers in the energy industry, as well as better planning by energy policy makers and implementers. In short meeting the mammoth goal of achieving rapid development while maintaining energy security and controlling impact on global warming needs changes in paradigm implicit to our institutions, reflected in planning as well as day–to–day operation of systems and consumer habits.

Awareness and education at all levels is urgently required to achieve this mammoth task of doing a course correction and adapting a to new paradigm. Educational efforts need to reach out to all major actors in the energy sector, that is, consumers, the utilities and other implementation bodies, and policy makers. This short article gives examples of the large task we have in front of us along with the large impact that can be achieved through a modified vision and behavior.

Education for Consumers
Energy consumers need to be educated on the impact of their actions and provided information which can help them to change their actions. Hardly any consumer is aware of the wide difference in the energy consumption of similar looking appliances that are being sold in the market. Figure 1 shows the large potential saving by choosing a specific model of refrigerator. Less dramatic, but similar story exists for almost all appliances and industrial processes. Education through such means can improve consumer choice and reduce energy consumption in addition to increasing sales of efficient appliances, creating an incentive to produce more efficient appliances.

The Akshaya Prakash Yojana is a good example of what education for consumers can do in terms of community action. This was a Voluntary Load Reduction Scheme in villages and Small Cities run by the Maharshtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL) under which the MSEDCL offered to substantially reduce the load shedding hours on the conditions that (a) the citizens/users do not run any power intensive appliances, such as flour mills, water pumps during the evening peak hours and (b) the community comes together to identify and stop the power theft (hooks — that powered the water heaters and electric hot-plates). As a result, the agricultural pumps got reliable supply at good voltage, overall electricity consumption reduced and MSEDCL could reduce or even remove the load shedding in these villages. The scheme rapidly expanded to nearly 5,000 villages and resulted in saving over 900 MW. But unfortunately, the scheme was wound up due to reducing benefits — due to lack of proper monitoring and control by MSEDCL. Figure 2 shows a heap of water heaters removed by the villages under the Akshaya Prakash Yojana. Community actions such as these are important and are possible only after education campaigns that preceded the Akshaya Prakash Yojana.
Water heaters voluntarily removed in Maharashtra village under Akshaya Prakash Scheme

Courtesy Mr Girish Sant

Although sizable power theft is by urban rich and industry, the rural areas are not free of the malice. Power intensive devices such as water heaters and cooking hot-plates are being used in conjunction with power theft by rural poor.

A spectacular public awareness campaign was carried out in Thailand some years ago. As a curtain raiser, a country–wide advertisement campaign was done to sensitize people about resource wastage in their daily life. The campaign culminated in a one-hour programme which was aired on all TV channels, at prime time. The programme itself started with a series of statements from experts within the power sector and celebrities who spoke on energy efficiency and the need for demand side management and how individuals can make a difference. The key point in the programme came when the consumption of electricity through the day was shown as a graph, including the consumption at that moment. At this point, viewers were requested to switch off any one appliance that was not being used at that time. And within a few minutes, the graph that was being generated in real time, showed a significant dip in consumption as one–by–one gadgets were switched off all across the country. To put this example in our context, just one lamp put off by each consumer in India can reduce the power need by as much as 7000 MW — three times Enron’s Dabhol plant!

Education for Industry
It is not uncommon that industry and appliance manufacturers themselves have little idea of potential impacts of their actions. There have been several examples of major awareness campaigns for the industry, which have yielded significant results. Under a program, some of the European countries initiated series of actions to improve awareness among the industry CEOs. In addition to pointing out the potential saving in their industries the governments instituted tax benefits to industry meeting targets of reduced energy usage. In several cases, these targets were met much earlier than expected, resulting in government announcing new targets for increased energy saving.

Appliance manufacturers have a much larger impact on the economy and energy consumption. However many manufacturers are too small to have the capability to invent or adopt efficient designs on their own. In the mid 1970s, California commissioned the Berkley National Lab to carry out a detailed study on mechanisms to reduce the energy consumption of refrigerators. This source–book was freely given to all manufacturers and then they were told to ensure that their products meet the efficiency standards being set by the government.

The case of Japan is very illustrative. The Japanese government promoted awareness on the importance of efficiency in a big way, following the oil price shock in the mid–1970s. Even today, Japanese products — are recognized for their energy efficiency. Japanese cars and motorcycle designs lead in efficiency. This has contributed to their success in terms of capturing major share the in world market. Another indicator of this has been the Japanese oil consumption level, which remained steady for decades after mid 1970s despite the country achieving major economic growth.

Awareness building of CEOs along with change in incentive structure or imposition of standards / rules are critical for rapid and dramatic changes.

Education of Planners
Utility managers and energy planners are the most critical actors, as they can shape policies and government actions that have long–term and deep impacts on society. Most managers and planners have grown–up in a paradigm that has been supply–based and without limits to consumption. When we need to change the paradigm, they need to be made aware of the possibility of a different paradigm as well as tools required to operationalize the new paradigm.

California provides an example of how policy makers and manufacturers and utilities worked together to reduce energy consumption. The per capita consumption of electricity in California has remained stable since the mid 1970s while the US national average consumption has increased since then by as much as 50%. Figure 3 shows the per–capita consumption of three states and the US average.

Per-capita Electricity consumption in different states in the USA

The per-capita consumption of Texas or even the US average has been steadily increasing. California has been an exception. Since, mid 1970s, its consumption has remained constant. Utility and government led programs to conserve electricity; building and appliance efficiency standards and changed incentives have been the major drivers for this change. (Source – Presentation by Jayant Sathaye, Leader, International Energy Studies Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA)

In 1976, California faced the possibility of having to build a nuclear power plant to meet energy needs. The California government realized that the energy consumption by refrigerators in the state was equivalent to building five plants of the type planned. Improving the energy efficiency of the refrigerators would offset the need to build a new power plant. Stringent appliance standards were adopted by California and this led to improved home refrigerators as mentioned earlier. California adopted a different mode than most other states. The utilities promoted efficient appliances through information campaigns and rebate schemes for consumers. In the process the utility avoided the need for building expensive new power plants.

Two years ago, Prayas and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (of the Ministry of Power, Govt of India) organized a workshop to promote the efficient lamps (called CFLs). In recent years, several states have embarked upon schemes to replace the incandescent bulbs with CFLs. The Uttar Haryana Electricity Company has taken up a massive campaign to replace the regular incandescent bulbs with good quality CFLs. High initial cost and lack of availability of good quality CFLs was a barrier for consumers — both were linked to the small market share of CFLs. Utility intervention has made CFLs available easily and widely, at a low cost. The Haryana campaign includes a publicity campaign, a guarantee on the life of CFLs, a scheme to take back/replace worn out bulbs, and a provision to avail of 3 coupons while paying the electricity bills to buy CFL lamps.

The role of education in radically changing the paradigm in transport sector is also noteworthy. Cities in several countries are changing the way they look at transport systems — these are being designed to move persons rather than creating space for moving cars! Efficient public transport, cost–based pricing of road tax on cars are some of the tools used for this transformation. Reduced congestion, reduced travel time, reduced energy consumption and air pollution have been some of the advantages of this change. Some cities in India have started this process in a small way. Interest free loans were given to taxi drivers in Delhi, who were willing to convert to CNG. Pune is experimenting with Bus Rapid Transit System and so on.

Policy formulation is not a one–time task and hence continued awareness and education is essential. Policies made today would bring about changes over a few years, which have to be assessed — did changes take place, what was effective, and if not, what prevented positive changes from occurring. Policy formulation is an iterative process and educational processes can help at all levels — policy formulation, implementation, evaluation and refocusing.

Conclusion
Education plays a key role especially during evolution of a paradigm. This is a large task considering that we have thousands of planners and managers in key positions in energy utilities. Media leaders are critical in shaping public debate. The numbers are much larger in the energy consuming industry and appliance manufacturing industry. If we do a good job in educating them, wider awarenesas building of consumers can become a manageable task.

For more information contact:
Girish Sant
Prayas, Athawle Corner, Karve Road,
Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 411004
Ph: 020-65205726; Fax: 020-25420337
E-mail: girish@prayaspune.org

Website: www.prayaspune.org

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 175th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Learn Me Good.) are due. Please email them to: learnmegood2 [at] yahoo [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Done With Mirrors earned the most Council votes with Memorial

The Carnival Of Education: Week 174

Welcome to the midway of the 174th edition of The Carnival of Education!Here's the very latest roundup of entries from around the EduSphere. Unless clearly labeled otherwise, all entries this week were submitted by the writers themselves.Folks interested in hosting a future edition of the C.O.E. should please let us know via this email address: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net.Thanks to everyone

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 174th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week here at The Education Wonks.) are due. Please email them to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Bookworm Roomg earned the most Council votes with Why Jews Are Right To

Let's Carnival!

The 173rd edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Bluebird's Classroom.) has opened its midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by checking out The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Say Goodnight, Hillary

For those who may have been off the planet out of town this past weekend, Hillary Rodham-Clinton's latest gaffe appears to confirm what many had already thought: Hillary Clinton today brought up the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy while defending her decision to stay in the race against Barack Obama."My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary

Get Your Carnival Entries Submitted!

Entries for the 173rd edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Bluebird's Classroom.) are due. Please email them to: karelleabiggs [at] charter [dot] net . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Wolf Howling earned the most Council votes with Republicans Ponder The

Hillary's Fuzzy Math

For all intents and purposes, it appears as though Hillary Rodham-Clinton is about to win her party's Kentucky primary by a convincing margin. But it's almost certain that she won't be the nominee. Adam Nagurney of the New York Times speculates why:WASHINGTON — When it comes time to recount the story of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s descent from inevitable nominee to defeat at the hands of

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 172nd edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Teacher in a Strange Land.) are due. Please email them to: nflanagan [at] comcast [dot] net . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Soccer Dad received the most Council votes with "Evolution" = "Growth".

Los Angeles' Combat High School

Instead of concentrating on their reading, writing, and arithmetic, it seems as though a large number of "students" in one of our publicly-funded high schools have other priorities:"A fight between rival groups of black and Latino students at Locke High School quickly escalated into a campus-wide melee Friday, with as many as 600 students brawling until police restored calm with billy clubs.The

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 171st edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Instructify.) are due. Please email them to: instructify [at] learnnc [dot] org . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 4:00 PM (Eastern) 1:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Joshuapundit received the most Council votes with Who Cares About Israel,

Carnival-Carnival

The 170th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Bellringers.) is open for your educational pleasure!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by taking a look at the Mother's Day Edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 170th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Bellringers.) are due. Please email them to: mybellringers [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 7:00 PM (Eastern) 4:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Right Wing Nut House received the most Council votes with The Total

Carnivalicious!

The 169th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by What It's Like on the Inside.) has opened the midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Get Your Carnival On!

Entries for the 169th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by The Science Goddess over at What It's Like on the Inside.) are due. Please email them to: the_science_goddess [at] yahoo [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name,

The Carnival Of Education: Week 168

Welcome to the midway of the 168th edition of The Carnival of Education!Here's the very latest roundup of entries from around the EduSphere. Unless clearly labeled otherwise, all entries this week were submitted by the writers themselves.Folks interested in hosting a future edition of the C.O.E. should please let us know via this email address: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net.Thanks to everyone

Life Expectancy Down For Some American Women

Saw this article in the Washington Post. It troubles me: For the first time since the Spanish influenza of 1918, life expectancy is falling for a significant number of American women.In nearly 1,000 counties that together are home to about 12 percent of the nation's women, life expectancy is now shorter than it was in the early 1980s, according to a study published today.The downward trend is

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 168th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by us here at 'The Wonks.) are due. Please email them to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: For the second week in a row, Wolf Howling received the most Council votes

Merit Pay Chronicles: A Teacher Speaks!

Maria Neira is a former classroom teacher who runs a teachers union in New York State. Consider reading what she has to say on the subject of teacher pay based on test scores:Fully understanding last week's battle in Albany over whether student test scores should be used to determine which teachers earn tenure requires a broader appreciation of what it means to be a classroom teacher.Too often,

Friday EduGaggle

'Tis the season for EduDecision '08. As such, see what candidate Barack Obama has to say about education in his own words.Check out what this New York classroom teacher has to say about linking test scores to job security.Writing to his great-grand daughter and her seventh grade history teacher, Michigan sports writer Suds Sumney gives an engrossing eye-witness testimony concerning his tenth (and

Thursday EduGaggle

Should a Texas student who takes a cell-phone call from his dad (who is serving in Iraq) while said student is in class be suspended because taking that call broke the rules? A lot of issues to chew-over on this one. Enjoy your meal. More tidbits here and there.Our Department of Religious Affairs has been monitoring the interesting case of the public school teacher who is in heaps of trouble for

Teacher Arrested Not Once, But Twice!

This Florida middle school teacher has been arrested not once but twice for inappropriate behavior with two different students:TAMPA - When teacher Stephanie Ragusa was having sex with a Davidsen Middle School student last year, she became intimate with a second student, investigators said Tuesday.Ragusa, 28, was arrested again Tuesday, accused of having a sexual relationship with another

Wednesday EduGaggle

Special for all you classroom teachers out there: even though our paychecks may not be going up, the prices of just about everything is skyrocketing. (Oh yes, what is being expected of us is going up too...)Ewww! A Pennsylvania elementary school has had a close encounter of the Mold Kind.Did you know that this is Teach For America Week? We didn't either... See some related pics of First Lady

Let's Carnival

The 167th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by The C.E.A. Blog.) has opened the midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at The Carnival of Homeschooling. (Please keep in mind that The Nerds are in control of this week's C.O.H. roundup...)

Texas Teacher Shortage?

They're crying out for teachers in the Lone Star State:Each day, students of different races, genders, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds enter the nation's classrooms. Unfortunately, for some, these factors may work against them - especially in urban areas.According to TCU's [Texas Christian University] Center for Urban Education, urban schools - those schools with low socioeconomic and/

Get Your Carnival Entries Submitted!

Entries for the 167th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at The C.E.A. Blog.) are due. Please email them to: misterhayes [at] hotmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 7:00 PM (Eastern) 4 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: For the second week in a row, Joshuapundit received the most Council votes,

Friday EduGaggle

And now from San Antonio, Texas we have this sorry tale of a high school fight club.Hearthrob Angelina Jolie has issued a call for more and better educational opportunities... for Iraqi kids. (Disc. There's something about that dress she's wearing in the photo that we find uplifting.)In another entry from our International Desk, we have this story that disproves the notion that high school

The Union President Who Swings

If this South Florida (Why does it always seem to involve Florida?) teachers union president ever gets tired of doing whatever a full-time county-level union person does to fill up his time, I guess he could go back to running a profitable swingers club in his home.Interestingly, a careful read of this related article might lead one to suspect that this man's past was possibly exposed at the

When Girls Go Stupid

What more can be said about this crime? And what can be done to stop the stupidity of this type of made-for-video violence?

Our Fine-Feathered Teachers

Teachers and students come in different shapes, sizes, and (apparently) species: NUNEATON, England, April 8 (UPI) -- The owner of a wildlife sanctuary in Nuneaton, England, says a young parrot has been teaching foul language to its avian brethren.Geoff Grewcock, owner of the Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, said 7-year-old macaw Barney apparently learned his profane vocabulary from a previous

The Carnival Of Education Is Up And Running!

The 166th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by The Elementary Educator.) has opened the midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Gender Bender Elementary

What were they thinking in Wisconsin? REEDSBURG, Wis. (AP) - An elementary-school event in which kids were encouraged to dress as members of the opposite gender drew the ire of a Christian radio group, whose angry broadcast prompted outraged calls to the district office.Students at Pineview Elementary in Reedsburg had been dressing in costume all last week as part of an annual school tradition

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 166th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at The Elementary Educator.) are due. Please email them to: mpullen [at] sbcglobal [dot] net . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 7:00 PM (Eastern) 4 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's

Monday Morning

Have you ever gotten to your workplace and said "good morning!" to someone without really thinking about it?The person so addressed nearly automatically responds with the same greeting and tack-on "how are you?"To that, nearly everyone responds (without thinking, and usually without listening) with "fine."We've all done it countless times.It's a classic (and time-worn) greeting ritual.Today is

When They're Too Cool For School

Sad But True.Heh. It's just a matter of time before those all-knowing Washington lawmakers and their associates accomplices over at The Kingdom Of Spellings will attempt to legislate an attitude-change for America's youth.

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Joshuapundit received the most Council votes with Black Liberation Theology.

Censorchimps: The Mandarin Subspecies

In Communist China, if the powers-that-be don't like what you write, you'll do hard time:A Chinese court Thursday sentenced an outspoken human rights advocate to three and a half years in prison after ruling that his critical essays and comments about Communist Party rule amounted to inciting subversion, his lawyer said.The conviction of Hu Jia, 34, quickly brought outside criticism of China at a

The Wankers Of The Day: Brandon and Amber Herbert

It's so satisfying to see a couple of Wankers get their just deserts: A week after dozens of people ransacked an Oregon home in response to a Craigslist ad offering its contents for free, police have arrested a couple for orchestrating the online hoax as part of a bid to cover up an earlier burglary at the property. Brandon and Amber Herbert were nabbed last night for allegedly posting the March

Censorchimps: The East Texas Subspecies

Who would've thought that wearing a "John Edwards for President" T-shirt would get a kid suspended from high school? The lawsuit was inevitable: A Waxahachie High School sophomore is suing the school district for the right to wear a T-shirt supporting John Edwards as a 2008 presidential candidate.The Liberty Legal Institute on Tuesday announced that it was suing the Waxahachie Independent School

Get Your Carnival On!

The 165th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by I Want To Teach Forever.) has opened the midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at the April Fools' Edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Let's Be Careful Out There!

All points bulletin: Today is April Fools' Day.Beware of prank-playing students and ordinarily-hurmorless school administrators and other co-workers.Get more about All Fools' Day here and the "top 100 April Fools' hoaxes" over there.And remember, if you pull a prank, "the law of unintended consequences" can and will apply.You've been warned.

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 165th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at I Want To Teach Forever.) are due. Please email them to: teachforever [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 7:00 PM (Eastern) 4 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's

D.C.'s Gangster Education

In today's Washington Post, Colbert I. King let's us know how bad it has gotten in many of the public schools in our nation's capital:"Security at Wilson High to Be Tightened" announced a headline in The Post's March 21 Metro section. More stringent measures were being put in place after 13 students were arrested because of two fights that week, the story said.I first visited Woodrow Wilson High

Going Biblical In Texas

The Texas Board Of Education has now indicated that high schools in the Lone Star State may offer courses in Bible study:AUSTIN – Broad guidelines for a Bible course for Texas high schools were approved by the State Board of Education on Friday, but board members delayed action on specific curriculum requirements until the attorney general has ruled on whether all school districts must offer the

Can Tutors Be "Hot?"

Yep!

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Done With Mirrors received the most Council votes with Get Your Grim

'Tis The Season For Parents And Kids To Be Scammed

As the parent of a 16-year-old (the TeenWonk) high school junior that has a 4.35 G.P.A., we've been getting a number of so-called "nominations" for inclusion in this or that "national honor roll," "who's-who book," and, of course, the United States Achievement Academy.The "nominations" were made by her well-intentioned (but unknowing) teachers, who think that they are doing the kids a favor by so

Money For Nothing And Their Tips For Free

In the People's Republic of California, it takes a judge to determine how tip money is split over at your local Starbucks.Update:(03/29/08) It's not over until The Starbucks says "it's over!"

Have Nipple Ring, Won't Travel

Did you hear the one about the Texas woman who couldn't board the airliner without removing her nipple rings first?As many of those federal TSA-types seem to be into pain, maybe Mandi Hamlin should have offered to use those pliers on those TSA agents as well as on herself.Full Disc: I must confess that I find the mental picture of her using those pliers on attorney Gloria Allred (pictured, left)

The Website Of The Day: HotChalk.com

While I was watching NBC's Meet the Press last Sunday, host Tim Russert gave a plug to HotChalk.com. So I went over and had a look. Hotchalk, (http://www.hotchalk.com) is a website that offers a number of free EduResources for teachers, parents, and students. Be sure to check out the Decision '08 material sponosored by the NBC television network.

Carnival-Carnival!

The 164th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Bellringers.) has opened-up its midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Virgina Taxpayers Made To Pay For Criminal's Rampage

Remember when Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho went on a murderous rampage and killed 32 innocent students and staff back in April of 2007?The miscreant went on to video tape a confession, which he then mailed it to NBC. Finally, Cho saved the commonwealth the expense of a trial (and endless appeals) by blowing his own brains out.Now it seems as though the people of Virginia are about to be

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 164th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week over at Bellringers.) are due. Please email them to: mybellringers [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 7:00 PM (Eastern) 4 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if

Hillary, Countess Of Chappaqua, Gets Caught Lying Again!

Hillary, the Countess Of Chappaqua, has been caught telling more whoppers. This latest fish story began on March 17, when she said this about a fact-finding trip junket she and her daughter Chelsea made to Bosnia back in '96: "I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the

In Our Mailboxes Early One Morning

As it is spring vacation, our school is in recess. But just before our students went on break, the Unknown Administrator placed a paper in every teacher's mailbox that bore this pronouncement: "Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment."That was it. There was nothing else on the paper.We teachers continue to have no idea who is putting these into our mailboxes

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Rhymes With Right received the most Council votes with Fisking the Obama

Helicopter Parents Vs. Stinger Teachers

When are "involved parents" too involved? In one Maryland district, the fur is flying between some parents and a number of teachers: The Baltimore Sun ran an article on Tuesday about parental involvement taken to the extreme. The trigger was an annual survey by the Howard County Education Association that shows a majority of teachers say they have been subjected to harassment, and most of the

A Little Teacher-On-Teacher Action

Did you hear the one about the two teachers who went to war in the hallways of their school?COLUMBIA, S.C. (WLTX) -- Richland County deputies say two middle school teachers who got into a fist-fight in front of students over a personal matter were arrested Wednesday.Investigators say the original incident happened in the hallway of St. Andrews Middle School between two female eighth-grade

Please Don't Bite The Students!

It seems as though the employment standards of the Tifton, Georgia's Len Lastinger school could use some revision: Vivian Hightower, a paraprofessional at the school, was suspended without pay for five days by the school’s principal, Dr. Kim Ezekiel. The board confirmed last week that Hightower bit a child she understood had bit another as punishment on Jan. 10. Unconfirmed reports Monday are

Let's Carnival!

The 163rd edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by So You Want To Teach.) has opened-up its midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at The Carnival of Homeschooling.

A Matter Of Free Speech Or Simple Disrespect?

Should individuals who refuse to stand for the playing of the National Anthem ever be asked to leave a sport event that's being held on public property? That's exactly what is alleged to have happened at one Connecticut high school:Two spectators at a high school basketball game are considering legal action after they say they were kicked off the court for not standing up for the National

The Wanker Of The Day

If true, then this Florida (It seems that so much of what is going on nowadays originates in Florida...) teacher must surely qualify for the W.O.D.:ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Orange County Public Schools is investigating claims that a student was forced to use a lunchbox as a toilet in front of his class at Meadowbrook Middle School.The teacher will not be coming to school. She will be relieved of

Get Your Carnival Entries Submitted!

Entries for the 163rd edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by So You Want To Teach.) are due. Please email them to: joel [at] SoYouWantToTeach [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 11:59 PM (Eastern) 8:59 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Wolf Howling garnered the most Council votes with Change & The Cessation of

Smaller Than The Average Baby?

CNN has something for new parents to chew on: There are few issues that preoccupy new parents more than this: Is my baby growing normally? When the percentiles seem off-kilter, we worry -- but experts say there's rarely reason for concern.For starters, healthy kids come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and they don't grow at a steady rate, either.Your child can look very different from your

Exposing Washington's Wasteful Ways: Where's PigFoot?

I couldn't help but chuckle at this one:WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today launched the first in its new series of occasional video podcasts called Where’s PigFoot? The video podcasts, which will be posted on YouTube and viewable on CAGW’s website and blog, will feature CAGW’s mascot uncovering and exposing government waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 162nd edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by Learn Me Good.) are due. Please email them to: learnmegood2 [at] yahoo [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 10:00 PM (Eastern) 7:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Big Lizards garnered the most Council votes with Chicago Rules. Non-Council

Throwing the Bathwater AT the Baby

Did you hear about the mom who punished her young daughter by power-washing the kid at the local car wash?Yep... she's pregnant with another likely future victim.People like her always seem to produce larger families.

The Carnival Of Education: Week 161

Welcome to the midway of the 161st edition of The Carnival of Education!Here's the very latest roundup of entries from around the EduSphere. Unless clearly labeled otherwise, all entries this week were submitted by the writers themselves.Folks interested in hosting a future edition of the C.O.E. should please let us know via this email address: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net.Thanks to everyone

In Our Mailboxes Yesterday Morning

The Unknown Administrator has once again put a sheet of paper in each teacher's mailbox that featured only the following statement: "A person will sometimes devote all his life to the development of one part of his body - the wishbone."That was it. There was nothing more.We've no idea who put this latest missive into our boxes or why...

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 161st edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by us here at 'The Wonks.) are due. Please email them to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL

From The Old School Dictionary Of EduSpeak

Trampstamp: (n.) A certain type of tattoo often seen on adolescent/young adult human females. This tattoo is most often placed on the small of the back with the intent to exhibit the tattoo (through the use of short tops such as the one illustrated) while walking through the hallways (and sitting at classroom desks) of high schools and colleges. Also known in some circles as The Mark of the Whore.

A Penny's Worth Of Detention

Some New Jersey eighth-graders decided to protest their shortened lunch break one-cent-at-a-time:Readington Township school officials gave 29 students detention after they used pennies to pay for their $2 lunches.Superintendent Jorden Schiff said it started out as a prank. But as the eighth-graders began to get in trouble for taking up so much time, it turned into a protest about Thursday's

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Cheat Seeking Missiles garnered the most Council votes with In A PC Nation,

John Murtha: Porker Of The Year!

Not so long ago, Nancy "San Fran Nan" Pelosi promised that Democrats would "drain the swamp," of Washington's pork-barrel spending.And now Democrat congressman John Murtha (yes, that John Murtha) of Pennsylvania has now been crowned the King of Pork by Citizens Against Government Waste: Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today announced the final results of its online

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 160th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by The Sam Jackson College Experience.) are due. Please email them to: zumbooruk [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 4:00 PM (Eastern) 1:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Right Wing Nut House garnered the most Council votes with Make Washington's

In Our Mailboxes Yesterday Morning

The Unknown Administrator put a sheet of paper in each teacher's mailbox Monday morning that had only the following statement: "Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing- the result."That was it. Nothing more.As always, we who work in the classroom remain puzzled....

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Right Wing Nut House garnered the most Council votes with Mandate Me, Baby

Carnival-Carnival!

The 159th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Sharpbrains.) has opened-up its midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at The Carnival of Homeschooling.

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for the posts submitted two weeks ago. Council Member Entries: Done With Mirrors garnered the most Council votes with A Short Hitch,

Let's Carnival!

The 158th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Instructify.) has opened-up its midway!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at this week's edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Trying A Child For Her Own Murder: Legalistic Idiocy

It's too bad that our appointed-for-life supreme court law-making body considers the sterilization of those who murder children to be "cruel and unusual punishment:" "NEW YORK (AP) -- After police discovered the frail, battered body of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown in her home in 2006, authorities say her stepfather was quick to admit he had bound her to a chair with duct tape and beat her on a daily

The Disastrous D.C. School System

Take a quick look at the problem that the public school system in our nation's capital has with finding fully licensed teachers: Next up on Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s agenda to make D.C. Schools more accountable? Getting “highly qualified” teachers into the classrooms. Under the controversial law “No Child Left Behind,” all teachers must demonstrate that they are qualified to teach their

Heidi Gets Her Comeuppance

Those of us who went through the '90s may well-remember Heidi Fleiss, the arrogant, well-born lady procuress who made millions as "The Hollywood Madam" while rubbing shoulders with L.A.'s rich and famous.Then she got busted, and spent a little time in the pokey.And now Heidi is a complete train wreck:PAHRUMP, Nev. (AP) — Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss was arrested Thursday on charges of

Canivals Are Open!

The 157th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by The Colossus of Rhodey.) is now open!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at the acrostic edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Vote Early, Vote Often!

Today's voting is the closest that our country has ever had to a national primary.Here in California, we get to vote for the candidate of our choice.But we're not going to forget for a moment that a vote for Hillary, "The Countess of Chappaqua" Rodham-Clinton isn't just a vote for the first viable female presidential candidate; it's actually a vote for Billary.We think of Billary as a "2-for-1"

Get Your Canival On!

Entries for the 157th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by The Colossus of Rhodey.) are due. Please email them to: colossusofrhodey [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 6:00 PM (Eastern) 3:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Joshuapundit garnered the most Council votes with Energy Independence --

Gun-Ed Goes Public

And now we have politicians in one state taking a serious aim at giving kids lessons in gun play: West Virginia is considering a bill to teach schoolchildren how to handle a gun and hunt safely; its proponent hopes the law will increase state revenues from hunting licenses, a state lawmaker said Thursday."We will teach a hunting safety course during their physical education class," state senator

Tales From The Trenches: Polski3

California junior high school history teacher Polski3 brings us a situation report from the front lines:Teacher asks a student a question, such as "do you have your assignment?" Student response is: a) the blank look b) a silent shrug of the shoulders c) a verbal "I don't know" or d) a disinterested roll of the eyes along with silence or an utterance of annoyance. Teacher tells student that they

Expelling The U.S. Marines

The ruling junta city council of Berkeley, California, has decided that the United States Marines are no longer welcome:BERKELEY — Hey-hey, ho-ho, the Marines in Berkeley have got to go.That's the message from the Berkeley City Council, which voted 6-3, with Gordon Wozniak, Betty Olds and Kriss Worthington dissenting, to tell the Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting station "is not welcome

Pity The Poor Starbucks!

Awwww!It seems as though Starbucks' profits only rose by 2% last year.And now the poor little dears are having to cut back on their menu.Gee.It wasn't too long ago when Starbucks so jauntily raised the prices on their already over-priced assortment of coffees.We here in the Wonk household had to cut Starbucks from our menu some time ago because our profits teaching salary hasn't gone up in over

Note to the N.E.A.: Endorse This!

Is the "stamp of approval" by the National Education Association actually The Kiss of Death for presidential candidates?Unlike the succession process used to install the NEA's unelected (and therefore unaccountable) "president," you get to be the decider...

In Our Morning Mailboxes

The anonoymous administrator has struck again, placing a plain white piece of paper bearing this quote in each teacher's mailbox:"Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success."Good words, but we didn't quite know what to make of them....

The EduWanker Of The Day

I do believe that this New Jersey guy certainly qualifies: MILLVILLE -- Police arrested a high school teacher on drug charges the day he was convicted of a similar charge in Hamilton Township.Christian McCarthy, 37, of the 2200 block of East Main Street was charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia when detectives stopped his car at Main and Beech streets in Millville on Jan. 18,

Bleak Future?

After the results of yesterday's voting down in Florida, it appears more-and-more likely that the 2008 election will be between John McCain and Hillary "The Countess of Chappaqua" Rodham-Clinton.Barring another terrorist attack on the homeland, I would say that The Countess will probably be the next President.I well-remember the mess that the Clintons made of things the first time around.From

Simply Carnivalistic!

The 156th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Creating Lifelong Learners.) has opened-up its turnstiles!And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at this week's edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Where's On Earth Is Margaret San Diego?

Our globe-trotting and usually publicity-hungry U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings hasn't been seen since her last out of town trip back on January 18th when she graced the City of San Diego with her presence.One Washington Insider has intimated that The Queen of All (Teacher) Accountability might be laying low in some Caribbean hideaway order to avoid the righteous anger of some very

Get Your Carnival Entries Submitted!

Entries for the 156th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by Creating Lifelong Learners.) are due. Please email them to: mrneedleman [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 8:00 PM (Eastern) 5:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Done With Mirrors garnered the most Council votes with Liberal Fascism.

Let's Carnival!

The 155th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by The Median Sib) has opened up its midway!Round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at this week's edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling. --------------------------See our latest entries.

Our Out Of Control Borders: Who's Accountable?

As a people, we are all paying the price for our federal government's refusal to secure our wide-open and out of control southern border. And some Americans are paying the ultimate price:GRAYS WELLS — A Yuma Sector Border Patrol agent was killed Saturday morning when he was allegedly struck by a suspected drug smuggler’s vehicle.The incident occurred at 9 a.m. Saturday about 40 miles east of El

Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 155th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by The Median Sib.) are due. Please email them to: mc849 [at] aol [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 7:00 PM (Eastern) 4:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if possible.Visit

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: The Colossus of Rhodey took first place with Ed. Schools: They're Awful (for

Carnival-Carnival!

The 154th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by the mysterious Eduwonkette) is ready for your visit! Don't miss her unique take on "awards season."Meanwhile, over at The Carnival of Homeschooling, they're commemorating Martin Luther King. --------------------------See our latest entries.

The ACLU: Senator Craig's Newest Pals

This is the sort of thing that makes me dislike the American Civil Liberties Union: ST. PAUL, Minn. - In an effort to help Sen. Larry Craig, the American Civil Liberties Union is arguing that people who have sex in public bathrooms have an expectation of privacy.Craig, of Idaho, is asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to let him withdraw his guilty plea to disorderly conduct stemming from a

A Solution For The Pop-Tart's Problems

Sometime singer "entertainer" and full-time unfit mother Britney Spears has lost visitation rights to her children.Maybe if this little trollop actually got a job and went to work (say at her local McDonalds or 7-Eleven) and became a contributing member of society, she could, in time, recover her lost offspring.We find that when people work full time, they're generally too tired to get into much

Carnival Contributions Are Due!

Entries for the 154th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by the enticing mysterious Eduwonkette.) are due. Please email them to: eduwonkette [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 7:00 PM (Eastern) 4:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Wolf Howling took first place with Britain's Prosecution of The Blogger

The Crime of Incompetent Bus Drivers

There's no reason why this kind of thing can't be prevented:VIDALIA, La. — A 20-year-old Newellton man has been booked with aggravated oral sexual battery of a child, said Concordia Parish sheriff's deputies.Deputies allege that Brandon Bass was engaging in a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old female on a Tensas Parish school bus as it was traveling through Concordia Parish on December 15th.The

Let's Carnival!

The 153rd edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by The CEA Blog) has opened-up this week's midway!Meanwhile, they've got rhythm over at The Carnival of Homeschooling. --------------------------See our latest entries.

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Soccer Dad garnered the most votes with The Freddys Seven. Second place was

Dixville Notch This!

Dixville Notch, New Hampshire is the little out-of-the-way hole-in-the-wall settlement that has made a cottage industry out of being the first folks to vote in that state's "God-given" first in the nation presidential primary election. This arrogant little hamlet is described thusly:(emphasis added)Dixville Notch is an unincorporated small village in the Dixville township of Coos County, New

Our Wish List For 2008

Here are some of the things that we would like to see happen in 2008:We would like to see the other 47 United States get together and administer a collective beating to the states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Every four years, it's always the same: these three states take it upon themselves to decide for the rest of us who gets to be the nominee for both the Republican and Democrat

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts. Council Member Entries: Bookworm Room garnered the most votes with Judeo-Christian Doctrine and