The Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) recently underwent its first major revision in the past 20 years. The DSM (or “the psychiatrist’s Bible”) is used to diagnose mental and behavioral conditions in infants, ch…
The Common Core: Issues and Implications in Education Reform
COMMON CORE
Talk to anyone within the public school system, and those two words will likely stir up conversation and controversy. Set forth by the National Governors Association for Best Practices, the Common Core State St…
Dallas School District to Provide Free Meals for All Students
With 159,000 students, the Dallas Independent School District has a lot of mouths to feed. According to the Dallas Morning News, the district has participated in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) free meal program since 1980. Over the last three decades, families have had to apply for free or reduced price breakfast and lunch, because eligibility was determined by income. In Dallas, these applications are now a thing of the past as the USDA now offers a no-cost meal option for all; beginning this year, no families in the district will need to submit applications. Meals are now free…
Are Sports Good or Bad for Schools? by Peter DeWitt
As an elementary school principal you would think that sports do not have a large impact on what we do during the day, but they do. Students play kickball and two-hand touch football out at recess, and treat those games as though they are playing in the World Series or the Super Bowl. Some of the games get a bit out of control and we end up talking about good sportsmanship.
I love recess. There is a great deal of research on the necessity of recess. I'm not a fan of taking it away for disciplinary reasons and believe that all students should be outside for at least 30 minutes a day. Getting fresh air in all sorts of weather can offer students a much needed brain break.
But what happens when student academics takes a back seat to our fascination with sports?
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What the Government Shutdown Means for Education
With so many federal government workers facing furloughs because of the recent government shutdown, one must pause and wonder how shutdowns affect the education system, which receives funding from federal, state and local sources.
The Counterproductive Ways Schools Punish Kids…
This blog was originally published on Finding Common Ground at Education Week by Peter DeWitt on September 24th, 2013 5:42 AM
As educators, we should also make su…