Dogs Play Key Role in Life at Some Private Schools Poly Prep Country Day SchoolAwaiting orders: Fenway, the headmaster’s dog, at Poly Prep Country Day School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Dr. Evil had his cat, Mr. Bigglesworth; President Obama has Bo; even Jabba the Hut had an interstellar critter named Salacious Crumb. And at the seats of power in some of New York City’s private schools, there’s sometimes something fluffy curled around the chair legs. “Animals have an interesting ability to humanize the people that they are around,” said Robert Lauder, the head of Friends Seminary in the East Village. Bart Baldwin, the headmaster of the St. Not every dog is suited for school mascot status, though, said Liz Palika, a dog trainer and behaviorist and co-author of “Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces.” Trolley, a 125-pound bull mastiff owned by David B. Save for service dogs, you won’t find a personal pet in any New York City public school. Maggie, Ms. At Poly Prep, Mr.
pets www.KINDERART.com Printer-Friendly Page Pets in the Classroom Written by: Andrea Mulder-Slater [Andrea is one of the creators of KinderArt.com] Pets are a wonderful source of happiness and inspiration. Educators have used animals in the classroom for decades. An animal in the classroom creates improved learning experiences for your students as all areas of the curriculum are enhanced. If you are thinking of adding a pet to your classroom, please don't feel discouraged. Still interested? Here are the most popular classroom pets: turtles frogs hamsters gerbils guinea pigs rabbits spiders rats parrots crabs guppies goldfish lizards snakes More Information: Pet Care Trust This program is designed to help teachers that would like small animals as teaching aids or mascots etc. in the classroom, or to assist teachers who presently have animals, in obtaining supplies needed to care for the pet. © Andrea Mulder-Slater, KinderArt® © KinderArt ® | www.KinderArt.com
Deschooling Society Contents Introduction xix 1 Why We Must Disestablish School 1 2 Phenomenology of School 25 3 Ritualization of Progress 34 4 Institutional Spectrum 52 5 Irrational Consistencies 65 6 Learning Webs 72 7 Rebirth of Epimethean Man 105 Introduction I owe my interest in public education to Everett Reimer. Since 1967 Reimer and I have met regularly at the Center for Intercultural Documentation (CIDOC) in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Universal education through schooling is not feasible. xx DESCHOOLING SOCIETY and caring. On Wednesday mornings, during the spring and summer of 1970, I submitted the various parts of this book to the participants in our CIDOC programs in Cuernavaca. Reimer and I have decided to publish separate views of our joint research. Cuernavaca, Mexico November, 1970
Pass On the Classroom Pet March 7, 2012 There are better ways to teach students about animals and responsibility The Humane Society of the United States Shevaun Brannigan/The HSUS Well-intentioned teachers often bring pets into the classroom to give their students lessons in respect, responsibility, and empathy for animals. Busy, noisy classrooms can be stressful, and small animals can be very adept at hiding symptoms of illness or injury (a lifesaving attribute when trying to avoid predators in the wild, but less than ideal in a setting where children are present). Small animals need large habitats that may not fit in the classroom, and many species need ample fresh produce daily. Even without a live animal present, lessons in responsible pet care and respect for all animals can still be a part of the classroom experience. Invite animal experts into the classroom Members of the community may be willing to speak to your students. Help find pets new homes “Adopt” a plush animal as your classroom pet Look Online
Achievement First Endeavor Middle School With a little paint and some bold typography, a school designed to change the life of its students has undergone a transformation of its own. For the Achievement First Endeavor Middle School, a charter school for grades 5 through 8 in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, Paula Scher has created a program of environmental graphics that help the school interiors become a vibrant space for learning. The project was completed in collaboration with Rogers Marvel Architects, who designed the school as a refurbishment and expansion of an existing building. Achievement First is a network of public charter schools in Brooklyn and Connecticut. The graphics can be seen through windows in the school facade. Character building is the foundation of Endeavor’s teaching philosophy, and the environmental graphics at the school have been inspired by a series of motivational slogans used by its teachers. Graphics in one of the school hallways. All of this was accomplished with little expense. The school gymnasium.
Port Angeles School Board to ban classroom pets PORT ANGELES, Wash. - The Port Angeles School Board is banning classroom pets because of concerns that dogs, rabbits, snakes and baby chicks threaten student health and safety. The Peninsula Daily News reports the board voted 4-1 in favor of the ban this week and will take a final vote at its June 11 meeting. “Why can’t we have a classroom gerbil?” But Lonnie Linn, board vice president and a member of the committee that created the wording for the new rule change, said a classroom gerbil is nothing more than a "varmint." Superintendent Jane Pryne says the rule was prompted by complaints against a few teachers who let their dogs run in the hallways. The guide from the state Department of Health provided by the school district includes recommendations for the care of animals in the classrooms, handwashing, parental notification and other safety measures but does not ban animals in the classroom. Under the pet ban, fish tanks and service animals would still be OK.
A Child is Forced to Test: Where is Mainstream “Liberal” Media? A Child is Forced to Test: Where is Mainstream “Liberal” Media? Posted on April 18, 2012 by admin At United Opt Out National, we encourage opting out of high stakes testing because we support public schools. We support real learning and real teaching and a whole and equitable education for all children. High stakes testing is not just any test – it is a test used to punish students, teachers, schools and communities. We wonder – where is mainstream “liberal” media? And answer this question regarding educational neglect. From: Christine Dougherty [mcadoug@aol.com] Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2012 10:38 AM To: Thomas M. Please be advised that my son Joseph Dougherty will not be taking the New York State assessments on April 17-19 and April 25-27. I am requesting that Joseph be given an alternative real learning opportunity option. Christine Dougherty mcadoug@aol.com Dear Ms. This letter is in response to your April 15, 2012 email and follows up today’s telephone conversation. Dear Mr.
AT&T, Feds Neglect Low-Price Mandate Designed to Help Schools A decade after the program started, AT&T was still not training its employees about the mandatory low rates, which are supposed to be set at the lowest price offered to comparable customers. Lawsuits and other legal actions in Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York have turned up evidence that AT&T and Verizon charged local school districts much higher rates than it gave to similar customers or more than what the program allowed. AT&T has charged some schools up to 325 percent more than it charged others in the same region for essentially the same services. Verizon charged a New York school district more than twice as much as it charged government and other school customers in that state. The companies say they comply with the rules of the program, known as E-Rate. Meanwhile, the federal government has made scant effort to enforce the requirement that companies give the preferential rate to schools. Sift through that pile of papers at home and take a look at your monthly bill.