Posts from — July 2007

The State of Texas is one of the largest purchases of school text books – which gives them significant influence over the content of what goes in those books.

While some states and school districts are thinking about using online textbooks that can be updated in real time or that can be custom designed, Texas is going to be using the same text books they’ve had for years – because they are short on money.

Textbooks may be on school desks for a decade
With funds held up by lawmakers, state tries to replenish shelves
12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, July 19, 2007
By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News tstutz@dallasnews.com
AUSTIN – Texas students will have to use the same textbooks for a few more years while the state braces for a big jump in costs within a few years, largely because of a series of postponed purchases ordered by the Legislature.

I find both the purchasing power of the State of Texas interesting as well as the fact that students will be stuck using very old content in a world that is changing so fast.

Not only are some educators NOT using textbooks, there are some that are experimenting with holding classes online and some even using the virtual world of SecondLife.

Classroom technology goes extreme
By Randy Myers CONTRA COSTA TIMES Article Launched: 07/05/2007 03:03:27 AM PDT
St. Mary’s College professor Barry Eckhouse leaves no paper trail. In fact, he uses no paper at all.

Do you know why schools have a summer break? I didn’t know this until today. Before 1870 school was not mandatory and the school year was between 240 and 260 days long in different states. But enrollment was low and children missed about half the year for various reasons. So some smart people got together and wondered if school was too long (and if students that did go to school the whole time would burn out). So they eliminated the summer quarter. Why summer? They eliminated the summer quarter for the following three reason: 1) Poorly ventilated school buildings were nearly unbearable during heat waves. 2) Community leaders fretted that hot, crowded environments facilitated the spread of disease. 3) Wealthy urbanites traditionally vacationed during the hottest months, and middle-class school administrators were following in their footsteps.

So now what should we do? Things have changed and some countries go to school up to 243 days per year. What do you think?

As I’ve said before the issue is not necessarily time – but method (or process). Much of what is wrong with the way school works today is the same as what was wrong 100 years ago. People learn in different ways and having one way (sit and get) doesn’t work. AND, sitting in a chair for 4 to 6 hours per day isn’t healthy. Humans must have different input and engage all parts of themselves in order to have energy and take in new information.

Here’s the article about summer vacation:

Do Kids Need a Summer Vacation?Why our schoolchildren get to take three months off. By Juliet Lapidos Posted Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at 4:09 PM ET

Are summers without school healthy for kids?

Most American school kids are about three weeks in to their three-month summer vacation. Yet working adults (the Explainer included) spend the better part of June, July, and August toiling away as usual. Why do kids enjoy such generous summer breaks?