Education News: May 16, 2008

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending May 16, 2008.

Newly Minted Elementary Teachers Find Few Jobs in Northern Texas
(Source:  The Dallas Morning News, 5/16/08):  Northern Texas is experiencing a glut of elementary school teachers and a shortage of math, science, special education, and bilingual teachers.  To address the problem, teacher education programs in the area are encouraging those interested in teaching young children to consider other areas of teaching.  Currently, many newly certified elementary teachers are unable to find jobs and must return to school to expand their certifications.

Teach for America Sees Surge in Popularity
(Source:  The New York Times, 5/14/08):  Teach for America, the non-profit that places high-achieving recent college grads in teaching positions in high-need schools, is on the rise.  Applications were up from 18,000 last year to 24,700 this year.  The application process is more competitive than ever, even though the organization has increased the number of teachers it places.  The program tends to attract applicants from top colleges.  This year, 11 percent of Yale graduates and nine percent of Harvard graduates applied.

To Curb Truancy, Dallas Tries Electronic Monitoring
(Source: The New York Times, 5/12/08):  Dallas Independent School District is experimenting with a new method for getting chronically truant students to come to school – electronic monitoring devices equipped with GPS technology.  The program is currently in its pilot phase but so far appears to be effective at keeping kids in school and out of juvenile detention.

State Funding Helps Fuel Preschool Boom
(Source:  USA Today, 5/12/08):  New data compiled by Rutgers University researchers indicate that three quarters of American four-year-olds attend preschool and that this figure has been steadily rising for 20 years.  The increase is due largely to states’ decisions to fund preschool programs, allowing many children to attend for free.  Recent research from the Rand Corporation indicates that preschool fosters better educational and social outcomes.

Three Students Suspended for Sitting out Pledge of Allegiance
(Source:  The Seattle Times, 5/12/08):  Three Minnesota eighth graders were suspended for not standing during the Pledge of Allegiance, thereby breaking school rules.  In response, the head of the Minnesota American Civil Liberties Union sent a strongly worded letter to the school district stating that the suspensions were unconstitutional.

Locke High School in South Los Angeles Locked Down After Huge Brawl
(Source: The Los Angeles Times, 5/10/08):  A massive melee involving as many as 600 students at a Los Angeles high school had to be broken up by police in riot gear.  The fight was racial in origin, with black students and Latino students fighting against each other.  Four arrests were made, but no serious injuries were reported.