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--- Friday --- November 22, 1996 --- Vol. 6 --- --- No. 89
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THE NATIONAL UPDATE ON AMERICA'S EDUCATION REFORM EFFORTS
A service of the National Education Goals Panel
__________ __________
THANKSGIVING BREAK | SPOTLIGHT |
The DAILY REPORT CARD will | |
not publish next week. We will | MATH INSTRUCTION: |
return on Monday, 2 Dec. Happy | IT DOESN'T ADD UP |
Thanksgiving! | |
| A National Science |
COMPUTERS AND KIDS | Foundation study recently |
NEWSWEEK Magazine's special | found American math and |
issue "Computers and the | science instruction "a mile |
Family" offers readers reviews | wide and an inch deep." |
of the latest in children's | (See DRC 10/16). A newly |
software (Fall/Winter 1996). | international study by the |
One trend: software for | National Center for |
girls. However, a program | Education Statistics also |
produced by McKenzie & Co. for | found the U.S. lagging in |
girls from age 10-15 centers on | math/science instruction |
"a group of teeny-boppers in | and teacher quality. (#1) |
search of prom dates." | |
NEWSWEEK notes that the | The pursuit of excellence |
software company has been | in math and science begins |
attacked for emphasizing boys | with instilling higher |
and shopping in this software. | standards in the nation's |
The magazine also profiles | classrooms, urges the |
several children's and | report. It also includes |
teacher's web sites. Included | better teacher training, |
are: TeachNet Creator Impact | both pre- and in-service. |
II, which offers educators, | |
among other things, small | Some may want to review a |
fellowships for innovative | K-12 math curriculum |
teaching projects. | proposed by The Algebra |
(http:\\www.teachnet.org); and | Working Group. (See DRC |
The Scholastic Network, | 11/13, or |
"perhaps the finest all-around | http:\tango.mth.umassd.edu\ |
on-line service for K-8." | AWG\WecomeAWG.html.) |
(http:\www.scholastic.com.) |_____________________________|
============== QUOTE OF THE DAY ==============
"Put together, it's a perfect package." --
Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass.), on offering parents a
television rating system that combines a description of program
content with the traditional motion-picture industry age-related
rating system. (#6)
_______________________________________________________________
| A service of the National Education Goals Panel |
| Published by the Education Policy Network |
| 1255 22nd Street NW; Wash, D.C.; 20037; 202/632-0952 |
| The DRC hereby authorizes further reproduction and |
| distribution with proper acknowledgement. |
| Publisher: Barbara A. Pape |
Staff Writer: Rosemary Polanco |
|_______________________________________________________________|
============== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==============
GOAL FIVE: MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
"PURSUING EXCELLENCE:" International math/science study. (#1)
GOAL SEVEN: SAFE SCHOOLS
"RECONNECTING YOUTH:" A success at reducing drug use. (#2)
CHARTING A NEW COURSE
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CHARTERS: A directory.(#3)
FROM COURTHOUSE TO SCHOOLHOUSE
NAME CALLING OR HARASSMENT: Jury rules in South Kortright.(#4)
BYTES AND PIECES
VIDEO GAMES: Can they be fun and educational? (#5)
CHILDREN AND TELEVISION
T.V. RATINGS: Parents want content guide. (#6)
===== GOAL FIVE: MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE =====
*1 "PURSUING EXCELLENCE:" AN INTERNATIONAL MATH/SCIENCE STUDY
The content of American math courses and the quality of the
teachers partially explain why U.S. students score below average
in international comparisons, according to a new report issued by
the U.S. DoEd's National Center for Education Statistics.
"The data appear to be telling us that we need to examine
what's actually going on in the school and the classroom," said
Ed Sec Richard Riley. "We have bright, dedicated, well-educated
teachers, but compared to Japan and Germany, they get little
practical training or mentoring, and a little opportunity to work
closely with other teachers to improve teaching."
Data from the Third International Mathematics and Science
Study (TIMSS), which examined eighth-grade math and science
teaching, learning, curriculum and achievement in 41 countries,
found that topics taught in U.S. eighth-grade math classrooms are
at a seventh-grade level by international standards. The study
also reported that the content of U.S. math classes requires less
high-level thought than classes in Germany and Japan and that
U.S. math teachers' goal is to teach students how to do
something, while Japanese teachers' goal is to help them
understand math concepts.
According to the report, American teachers generally are
familiar with the rigorous standards prepared by the National
Council of Teacher of Mathematics, but teachers in other
countries, especially Japan, are doing a better job of actually
teaching tougher material.
Major differences exist in teacher training among the
countries. The report found that new Japanese and German
teachers receive a long-term structured apprenticeship in their
profession, which is not available for American teachers. From
the report: "U.S. teachers lack the long and carefully mentored
introduction to teaching that Japanese and German teachers
receive."
Riley urged colleges and universities to examine how
teachers are prepared and recommended that guidelines from the
National Commission on Teaching and America's Future be tapped as
a "blueprint" of how to proceed. According to a DoEd press
release, the commission has called for high standards, more
opportunities for apprenticeships, mentoring by master teachers
and work schedules that permit ongoing professional development.
The WASH POST reports on a response issued by the National
Science Teachers Association, which stated that teachers require
more training throughout their careers and more time during the
school day to plan lessons (Sanchez, 11/21.) "Students cannot
achieve high levels of performance without good teachers, and
good teachers need professional development that allows them to
constantly update their knowledge and skills," said Joanne
Vasquez, the group's president.
Riley also announced DoEd plans to launch a series of
regional and state workshops on the results of the study, "with
an emphasis on successful practices that illustrate more rigorous
content and teaching methods." A summary of the report will be
distributed to business and education leaders and the nation's
local PTA chapters, notes the release.
Other findings from the report: American students are above
average in life sciences and environmental issues, average in
fractions, algebra and physics and struggle with measurement and
geometry; heavy T.V. watching was prevalent in Japan, where
students produced some of the highest scores; U.S. students spend
more classroom time on math and science than students in both
Japan and Germany; there was little difference in how U.S. boys
and girls scored in both math and science; and most nations have
a national curriculum in math and science, which the U.S. does
not.
Christopher Cross, president of the Washington, D.C.-based
Council for Basic Education, commented that "The problem is that,
although many students are raising their knowledge and skill
levels incrementaly by taking more rigorous courses, math courses
are still being taught in the same ineffective ways; as distinct
topics with no attempts made to introduce concepts of algebra and
geometry in the early grades and to all students."
The report is based on exams given to students in all of the
participating countries, teacher surveys, a review of each
country's math and science curricula and classroom videotapes
that show how teachers instruct in math and science.
The report, "Pursuing Excellence," is available on the
DoEd's web site at www.ed.gov/NCES/timss. Printed copies are
available while they last from the National library of Education
at 800/424-1616 (in D.C., 219-1651).
===== GOAL SEVEN: SAFE SCHOOLS =====
*2 "RECONNECTING YOUTH:" A SUCCESS AT REDUCING DRUG USE
The National Institute on Drug Abuse's nationwide campaign
"Coming Together on Prevention," featured "Reconnecting Youth" as
one of the nation's most effective drug-reduction programs
(National Educational Service press release, 11/14). The
program, which operates in more than 1,000 sites throughout North
America, was given a high rating based on "extensive research
data demonstrating the positive impact the program had on the
lives of high-risk youth," writes the release.
"We designed 'Reconnecting Youth' for kids who are not
having a good school experience," said the program's co-creator
Leona Eggert, Spence Endowed professor of psychosocial and
community health at the U of Washington, Seattle. "With the help
of positive peer support and teachers, these students can turn
their real-life problems into an opportunity to apply and
practice the basic life skills they are learning in the class."
"Reconnecting Youth" recently has been transformed into a
comprehensive curriculum for use in schools, residential
treatment centers, youth agencies, juvenile justice programs,
mental health facilities, camps and after-school programs. "It
is straightforward, and gets at the heart of the issues
adolescents are dealing with," said Lenor Hersey, director of
technical services for the National Association of Secondary
School Principals.
A fact sheet accompanying the release notes that
"Reconnecting Youth" initially was tested extensively in five
high schools among approximately 600 youths from 1985 to 1988.
Participants showed decreases in drug abuse and truancy as well
as increases in grade point average and school involvement. The
program also was tested "rigorously" by National Institute on
Drug Abuse researchers for the past five years with the following
results: participants showed a 50% decrease in drug involvement
and a 20% improvement in grade point average, writes the fact
sheet.
NIDA researchers studied "Reconnecting Youth" participants
and a control group at three points: program entry, the end of
the five-month program and 10 months after program entry.
According to their data, participants showed decreased hard drug
use when tested at the end of the program as well as 5 months
later. Postiive trends continued for student grades, self-
esteem, personal control and unexcused absences. Results
occurred equally for males and females.
Copies of "Reconnecting Youth: A Peer Group Approach for
Building Life Skills" is available from the National Education
Service for $139 each. For more information, or to order a copy,
contact Peter Brooks or Orin Wells; National Educational
Services; 1252 Loesch Road; Bloomington, Ind. 47402; 812/336-
7700; fax, 812/336-7790.
===== CHARTING A NEW COURSE =====
*3 EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CHARTERS: CER DIRECTORY
The third edition of the Center for Education Reform's
"National Charter School Directory," "the nation's only
comprehensive listing of America's charter schools," is available
(The Center for Education Reform press release, 11/15).
"The 'National Charter School Directory' is as important a
resource document, as it is a guide for others who want to
establish charter schools in their states," said Jeanne ALlen,
president of CER. "It has proved to be invaluable to school
administrators and faculty in establishing a mutually supportive
network of charter-school professionals, and to be equally
valuable to those for whom charters are a new concept."
The directory lists, alphabetically and by state, all
charter schools operating around the country as of 1 November
1996. Also included is a listing of schools by the year they
opened. School addresses, telephone numbers, contact names,
enrollment figures, grades served and a brief summary of each
school's philosophy and mission are presented. Five additional
states are included in the third edition since they opened
schools during 1996: Alaska, Del., Fla., Ill., La., and Texas.
Allen: "In 1996 alone, 215 schools have opened in nine
states, and with new charter school laws having been adopted in
five states and the District of Columbia since the beginning of
the year, an ever-growing number of children can look forward to
having the opportunity to learn in charter schools."
According to CER, Conn., Ill., N.J., N.C., S.C., and D.C.
enacted charter-school legislation. The directory also notes the
existence of 481 charter schools, with a total enrollment of more
than 105,149 students, operating in 15 states and D.C. Ariz.
leads the nation in charters with 164, followed by Calif. with
109 adn Mich. with 76.
The "National Charter School Directory" will be available in
December for $9.95 plus shipping and handling, by contacting The
Center for Education Reform; 1001 Connecticut Avenue NW;
Washington, D.C. 20036; 202/822-9000; e-mail: cerdc@aol.com.
===== FROM COURTHOUSE TO SCHOOLHOUSE =====
*4 NAME CALLING OR HARASSMENT: JURY RULES IN SOUTH KORTRIGHT
Eve Bruneau, a student who filed suit against South
Kortright Central School District for allegedly allowing male
students to harass her and other girls, lost her case (news
services/WASH POST, 11/22). A federal jury yesterday rejected
her claim, saying that "it was unreasonable to look at adolescent
name-calling with adult expectations," writes the paper.
===== BYTES AND PIECES =====
*5 VIDEO GAMES: CAN THEY BE FUN AND EDUCATIONAL?
The W.S. JOURNAL profiled John Kernan, founder of Lightspan
Partnership Inc, which produces a line of math, reading and
language arts CD-ROMs for elementary school children (Stecklow,
11/19). More than 100 school districts have purchased the CD-
ROMs, which costs $425 per child. However, some question how
much the video games actually help children learn, writes the
paper.
A group of Hollywood-trained animators produced the CD-ROMs,
reports the JOURNAL. Besides skepticism from some educators, at
least two members of Lightspan's advisory board have stated
publicly that the games "focus too much on fun and not enough on
learning," according to the paper. Nelson Heeler, an eduction-
technology newsletter publisher and member of Lightspan's
advisory board, said some of the software is "kind of like an
advanced video game."
Another advisory-board member, Henry Becker, who is an
education professor at the U of California at Irvine commented
that "There's nothing wrong with making things fun, but . . . you
should also be able to have a good theoretical rationale for the
tasks you have kids do, and [Lightspan wasn't] talking much about
that."
However, the program has been lauded by some users.
Constance Means, principal of Barton Elementary School in
Chicago, said her school uses the games for second-grade and
special-education students. President Clinton even remarked that
a Delaware school district using the Lightspan program was doing
a good job "to improve reading and arithmetic in the early
grades," writes the paper.
Yet, many remain unconvinced because of the lack of proof
that the games will improve student test scores "or other common
markers of educational achievement," writes the paper.
Kernan responded that "there's all kind of feedback" that
the program "should improve [student] performance." His company
plans to begin a student-assessment program early next year,
notes the paper.
The JOURNAL also points out that Lightspan representatives
have come under scrutiny for hosting and subsidizing trips for
educators to the company's headquarters in southern Calif. From
the paper: "Some educators believe it is inappropriate for
school officials to accept anything from vendors, and some school
systems bar such vendor-paid trips." Kernan disputes that
hosting conferences with entertainment would sway educators to
purchase his products.
Kernan's last job was chairman and CEO of Jostens Learning
Corporation, also based in southern Calif.
==== CHILDREN AND TELEVISION ====
*6 T.V. RATINGS: PARENTS WANT CONTENT GUIDE
Parents prefer television ratings based on a description of
program content rather than an age-based system used by the
motion-picture industry, according to a recent survey (AP/W.S.
JOURNAL, 11/22). Eighty percent of parents surveyed in a
National Parent-Teachers Association/Institute for Mental Health
Initiatives poll said they prefer information on a program's
content.
A similar system has been in place since the 1980s for cable
network HBO shows, writes the paper. It provides information on
the intensity of on-screen sex, violence and language. In
contrast, the motion-picture rating system uses: "G" for general
audience, all ages admitted; "PG" parental guidance, some
material may not be suitable for children; "PG-13," parents are
cautioned that some material may not be suitable for children
under 13; "R," requiring children under 17 to be accompanied by a
parent or guardian; and "NC-17," no one 17 years old and younger
admitted, reports the paper.
"The first goal [of the survey] was to compare two
conflicting ratings systems," said Joanne Cantor, a
communications arts professor at the U of Wisconsin at Madison,
the university that conducted the study. When asked if parents
would favor a system that combined the two current rating
systems, Cantor said "in general, parents would want more rather
than less." Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass.) agreed. "Put
together, it's a perfect package," said Markey, who is the author
of a provision in the 1996 telecommunications law that called for
the television industry to create a rating system.
Survey results were sent to a T.V. industry panel that is
charged with designing a system to rate programs on broadcast,
cable and public television for violence and sexual content,
writes the paper. "We are trying to devise a T.V. parental
guidance system, which will be family friendly, easy to
understand, easy to use and most of all grounded in honorable
purpose so that parents can better monitor and supervise the T.V.
watching of their children," said Jack Valenti, president of the
Motion Picture Association of American and the panel's chairman.
The JOURNAL reports that the new rating system, to be in
place by January, eventually will work with a V-chip that would
"allow a viewer to use a remote control to block individual
programs or categories of shows."
Markey: "In the era of 100 T.V. channels, the Internet,
shock radio and gangsta rap, parents are desperate for family
friendly filters for restoring order in the home," he said "The
more they know about what is about to come around the corner, the
better job they can do to keep their children safe."
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