Few Teachers are Black Men

Lenny Macklin made it to 10th grade before having a teacher who looked like him — an African-American male. Gregory Georges graduated from high school without ever being taught by a black man.
Only about 2% of teachers nationwide are African-American men. But experts say that needs to change if educators expect to reduce minority achievement gaps and dropout rates.
The Associated Press

Lunch Debts Piling Up for School Districts

More children are getting into school lunch lines without being able to pay, creating a financial burden for school districts.
Some schools are toughening their policies — limiting students to two or three unpaid meals, creating payment plans and using collection agencies.
USA Today

Study reveals that online education is more effective that classroom study

The U.S. Department of Education just released findings that reveal: "On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction." Not the first study to support the benefits of online education, the report's significance stems from the federal government's recognition of the power of online education.
News Medical Net

Elsevier and PUMP donate books to schools and medical universities in Midwest China

Elsevier, a world-leading publisher of medical information products and services, announced today that in cooperation with Peking University Medical Press (PUMP) it has donated over 5,000 books to medical universities, colleges and schools in Midwest China. The initiative is supported by the Development Centre for Medical Science and Technology of the Ministry of Health.
News Medical Net

U.S. Department of Justice to Release Study on Children's Exposure to Violence

Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan today joined with Chicago city officials to call for a national conversation on values to address youth violence in the wake of the fatal beating of a Chicago high school student. The announcement followed meetings with City officials, community leaders, students, and parents.
Media-Newswire

Nursery Rhymes Could Die Out, Survey Suggests

Traditional childrens nursery rhymes such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star are becoming so unpopular with parents that they could die out, researched suggests. A survey by the charity Booktrust found favourites Nursery rhymes could die out survey suggests Telegraph
Telegraph

Class Struggle : How to Fight for Special Education

I have often wondered what I would do if I discovered I had a child with learning disabilities. The parents I have interviewed who have gone through this seem more patient and persistent than I am. I suspect they got that way by necessity. Now I have found a couple of books that may help parents encountering this issue for the first time.
Washington Post

College Dems, Republicans change gears for new year

Progressives, Liberals and Independent Democrats organizes opposition to College Republicans during non-election years
In the wake of the 2008 presidential and congressional elections, campus political groups have redefined their focus and organization.
The Transcript
Ohio Wesleyan University

Faculty pay dilemma reminds us that state's power should be tied to its contribution

...Governor Doyle found a creative way to cut state workers' pay - requiring mandatory furloughs. Yes, all state employees, including those who work for the UW System, will have to take 16 days off over the next two years. And yes, they are also not working during those days.
Racquet
University of Wisconsin La Crosse

Big Brothers/Big Sisters need more like UW-L student Andrew Boldt

Making a difference in someone's life isn't something everyone can say they've done; it takes time and effort to truly have a positive influence on someone. UW-La Crosse graduate student Andrew Boldt knows this--he's been dedicating his time to a child through Big Brothers Big Sisters for the past five years.
Racquet
University of Wisconsin La Crosse

Online education expands for U.S. need, awaits innovation

....The online education sector grew 13% last year and had been growing at about 20% in previous years. Nearly one in four students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002. Two million students, most older than the traditional 18-22 year-old undergraduates, take all their courses online and two million more take one or more online course.....
USA Today

Newt Gingrich: Americans Must Fight Hostility to Christianity Growing in Schools

A virulent hostility toward religion is threatening the very fabric of American liberty and prosperity: That's the alarm former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, are sounding in their thought-provoking new documentary, “Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage”.
NewsMax

World Business Forum Announces "Bloggers Hub" Featuring Live Blogging and Coverage on Facebook and Twitter by Leading Bloggers

On October 6-7 - as 4,000 attendees gather at Radio City Music Hall for the 6th edition of the annual World Business Forum - more than 50 leading business bloggers will be working together to bring the inspiring ideas from the main stage and surrounding events to life for the global business community on Blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other social media.
Reuters

New Study Sees a Higher Rate of Autism: Is the Jump Real?

One in a hundred American children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). That stunning new statistic was released on Monday by the Federal Government, officially revising the 2007 federal estimate of 1 in 150 children. The new number puts U.S. prevalence on par with reported rates in England, Japan, Sweden and Canada. It is based on two separate and very different government-funded research studies...
Time

Teachers union’s objection bolstered State panel finds contract disparity

The Boston Teachers Union’s objection to the Teach for America program has sparked an investigation by the state Division of Labor Relations, which has determined that a strong likelihood exists that the Boston School Committee violated the union contract when signing an agreement with the highly regarded national program.
Boston Globe

U.S. needs foreign teachers

By employing foreigners, the report says, school districts can plug holes in their faculties without considering "domestic solutions" (read: American hires). Foreign teachers are also subject to abuse by unscrupulous recruiters, who saddle them with enormous fees. Finally, the AFT warns, the teachers often face "culture shock" in American classrooms.
Philadelphia Inquirer

Women encouraged to join STEM fields

The National Science Foundation recently awarded $250,000 to Sacramento State to create Fast-Track Math for Women, a program that will increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, fields.
The State Hornet
California State University

Facebook Wave: Why Facebook Should Clone Google Wave

This week we saw the release of the highly anticipated Google Wave (). Wave is an innovative communications platform that combines asynchronous communication (like email) with real-time communication (like chat), an application platform, and discovery tools. It’s been touted as both an email killer and a Facebook killer. In short, there’s a lot of hype, and while Wave may prove to be a huge success, I think one thing it potentially represents is a great opportunity for Facebook ().

Mashable

CSU hopes to join the Smart Grid

The California State University system is continuously looking for ways to save money and the environment at the same time. The newest proposal is a plan to implement the Smart Grid technology system.
The CSU Board of Trustees proposed a plan to implement Smart Grid technology in 934 buildings on all 23 CSU campuses using a $77.5 million federal grant. The US Department of Energy will vote on the proposal on Nov. 3.
The State Hornet
California State University