In the article that I have provided a link for here, http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/17/chinese.students.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText, we see that unlike my previous post that touts that many students in the United States are opting to go overseas in order to obtain their degrees, but the students in Chin are opting to come here. According to the article, China’s economic boom, growing middle class and aggressive recruiting has allowed for more students to be able to afford an education overseas. According to the article “Their enrollment grew by 8 percent in the fall of 2006 and by 20 percent last year.” According to the article, “Numbers of international students had dropped alarmingly because of competition from other countries and tighter visa procedures after the September 2001 terrorist attacks. But the latest IIE report finds 7 percent more students at U.S. universities than a year ago, at an all-time high of 624,000.” Those in the United States love the flood of Chinese students in the campuses because it allows for better educational and cultural benefits and exposure.

It’s very interesting that while there is evidence of an increase now, “next year’s increases may slow as a reflection of the struggling economy and weak dollar, but Blumenthal says U.S. colleges are committed to study abroad and keeping it no less expensive than college in the United States.”

Students from China love the opportunity to come overseas into the United States to study and obtain their degrees because surprisingly, the educational standards are so much higher here. According to Xiaoli Liu, an Ohio State freshman from Beijing, “Chinese universities offer solid academics but can’t compete with the overall experience of higher education in America, including more opportunities for out-of-class activities, an open learning environment and diversity.”

However, while many of the students are very enthusiastic about studying in the United States and obtaining their degrees, very few are as eager to stay here and maintain a life. Many have stated that once they earn their degrees, they are going to head back to China to work. According to many, there is still more and better opportunity in China than in the United States.

I chose to write about this article because I found it very interesting that while students here are seeking to leave the United States, other students in other cultures feel just the opposite. They feel that it is better obtain a degree here than in their home states. I also felt that it was interesting to see how others feel about our educational standards. While we see so many areas that need improvement, other cultures still felt that it is much better than the standards that they are accustomed to. I also found it interesting that as I stated in my previous blog entry, universities overseas make the requirements for admission much easier for American students, the opposite rings true for United States admission standards for foreign students. According to the article, “They must meet the same entrance requirements as anyone else, including passing an English-language test.”

In the article whose link you can click here, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/education/01scotland.html, the focus is on American students choosing colleges that are not only out of state but out of the country. More and more students are choosing to earn their degrees overseas. According to the article, the recent flood of American students is not by accident. The article states that colleges like St. Andrews located in Scotland has “10 recruiters making the rounds of American high schools, visiting hundreds of private schools and a smattering of public ones.” Many students say that the overseas experiences appeals to them because of “the international experience and prestige at a cost much lower than that of one the top private institutions in the United States.” However, with this prestige there are drawbacks, there is less chance of “individual attention form the professors and less chance of specialized courses.” There is also the chance that the alumni organizations are not as easily recognizable in the states once students return home to seek employment. The ironic thing is that American students are paying far more than their residential peers for the exact same education. The controversy here is that the students that are being admitted are in many cases “far less qualified than the European students.” When asked about this, the principal of St. Andrews is quoted as stating ““If a Scottish parent asked why their very talented child did not get in to St. Andrews, when so many Americans did, I would tell them to ask the government, which encourages us to take international students, but caps the number of local students they will pay for.”

According to the article, “Students need not present themselves as the well-rounded package of perfection, as many feel they must to impress American admissions officers.” This alone is reason enough, according to many, for the interest in education overseas. The major requirement, according to both recruiters and students, of the students applying to college overseas is that they “know where they are headed, and to be intellectually independent.

I find this article very interesting. I had no idea that more and more students have a preference of attending school overseas. However, after reading the article, I can say that I do understand the desire. For a student who had absolutely no chance of being admitted to an Ivy-League college, to be admitted to a university overseas and gain (if not more) respect and prestige, is enough all in itself. I also found it interesting that the foreign government places a cap on residential students but encourages international admissions. With the educational standards in most cases being sub-par in the United States and so many students being ill prepared to be admitted to the Ivy-League colleges of their dreams, I can only see this situation increasing. The funny thing is that with the economy the way it is, and the enrollment of students decreasing on a daily basis, I also see us teachers fleeing, I mean leaving the country as well.

In the article whose link you can click here, http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/25/magazines/fortune/GatesFoundation_Wallis.fortune/index.htm, we see that at least someone else other than us teachers are actually concerned with the educational standards that are being set forth. This article is about the infamous Bill Gates Educational Foundation. According to the article, “Since 2000 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has invested $2 billion in public education, plus another $2 billion in scholarships. Most of it went into efforts to improve high schools that serve poor and minority students – mainly breaking up big, urban high schools and creating smaller, friendlier, and in theory more scholastically sound academies”. Now according to the article, Bill Gates himself (along with others) has decided that the money was actually being allocated to the wrong places. Once Gates realized that by placing most of the focus on the “structure” was “no where near enough”, he and his Foundation went back to work. He hired new leaders and advisors and together they decided it is definitely time for change. They decided that this time, they would invest “3 billion dollars over the next five years” and with that investment they would place most of their emphasis on “what’s inside of the classroom”. They would seek to improve the quality of teaching, and the curriculum. According to the article, their new goal is to “double the number of low-income students who earn post-secondary degrees or credentials that let them earn a living wage”. While this is good news to many, some beg to differ, saying that efforts should be made at an earlier age – at the elementary and middle school level. Gates plans to provide funds that could improve “business college partnerships, rapid remediation and performance based scholarships.” While attention will still be paid to the community colleges, emphasis will remain in the high school sector. Gates and his Foundation feel that better attention needs to be paid to trying to figure out how many students are actually ready for college after their senior graduation and what efforts can be put forth to get these students better prepared. He feels that money is being wasted at the college level by students taking classes in their freshman year of college that should have already been covered while these students were in high school. According to the article, “The Gates mantra is “fewer, clearer, and higher” standards, so the foundation will support efforts like the American Diploma Project, which works to determine what standards are most closely tied to success in college and careers, and pushes states to adopt them.”

I think that this is an excellent idea and concept. I have heard many stories from fellow friends and peers who are highly disappointed during their first year of college because their grades are not as high as expected. So many students face the harsh reality that they are not actually as ready and prepared for college as they thought. Unfortunately, it is already too late. More attention needs to be paid to what goes on in the classroom, rather than how the actual classroom looks. I think that if this concept is fully carried out, the results will be astounding and college preparation and success will increase tenfold.

In the article linked here, http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070519/SCHOOLS/705190344/1003/METRO, a controversial bill has been introduced to Legislation this week in regards to the possibility of Detroit School Board members being paid an annual salary each year for their services and commitment. The members of the Detroit School Board have not been receiving anything for their services to the School Board other than $30 a meeting. This, according to some does n teen cover gas expenses. While the most members of the board are in favor of the possibility of earning a pay, other still disapprove the idea. One Detroit School Board member, Joyce Hayes-Giles, who also acts as the Board’s Vice President is quoted as stating “”There’s no question that we put a lot of time into it and don’t get paid, except for $30 a meeting, But if the district is expected to pay, I can’t support it. I’d rather see (the money) go to instruction.”

According to the article, the proposed $61,890.30 annual salary is not to exceed 90 percent of the salary that Wayne County Commissioners earn. The bill was introduced by State Rep. George Cushingberry Jr, who feels that by paying the state school board members a salary “would help create a more professional school board and draw more candidates.” He also stated that the implementation of the proposed salary could “prevent backroom deals.” This is because those who currently serve on the board are “usually retired, unemployed or volunteers”. Those who do not fit this description are already wealthy. Even though the bill was introduced, there are already problems that would prevent it from being passed as according to the article the Detroit School “district is projecting a budget shortfall in excess of $110 million next school year. Its budget is about $1.3 billion.” Most members are not even considering the deficit that the district is currently in as they feel that “they spend dozens of hours a week attending meetings, taking calls, filling out paperwork, traveling to schools and researching policies” and should be compensated for dong so.

According to the article, many are in opposition to the bill and have posted comments about it on the website, Michiganvotes.com. I honestly understand the frustration of the naysayers. I guess that my confusion comes in as I do not understand where the money for these salaries will come from. The district is closing schools doors daily and teachers are suffering layoffs by the hundreds. If money can not be allocated for the schools the schools to remain open, then how can money be available for people who went into their positions knowing that the compensation would be a mere $30 a meeting. If this pay was feasible, when the “members” accepted the position, then why is there such a problem with it now? I have to agree with the school board President – if places that need more funds, instruction should be at the top of the list. Isn’t the education of our children our main concern here? I guess that I, like many have to keep the hope alive that sooner or later, the focus will once again be redirected to where it belongs—to the children and their education – our future!!!

I found the article here by going through my Digital Writing, Digital Teaching feeder. The article which can be found through this link, http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-11-19-mandarin-cover_N.htm, boasts that while China is booming tenfold so is the interest in the United States in the study of its language. I find it very cool that students have far more choices to choose from in order to complete their foreign language requirement. In high school, I remember my peers and I not having a choice. The only language that was offered was French and I hated it. Granted, I attended a small Catholic High School but a choice in what I was offered would have really been appreciated on my part. I also find it interesting that students now are being offered the opportunity to take a foreign language beginning in elementary school. My niece and my little cousins have been taking Chinese since first grade and they both love it. They also had a chance to choose between Chinese and Spanish, so they were allowed to study the language that they each felt most comfortable in. I hated French and because of how I felt about the language in itself I did not apply myself as much as I could have. Giving students a chance to choose to study a language in which they feel most comfortable in could allow for better grades when they get on the secondary level as these students have learned the basics.

According to the article, the study of Chinese is not only appreciated by the students but by the parents as well. The article states that many parents, those in the Chicago area in particular “the push for Mandarin has come from non-Chinese families who wanted their kids to learn a “world language,” Davis says. The study of this language is also appreciated by teachers because it is a language in which the students have to actually do the work. This ensures that the students actually know the language that they are studying and aren’t just getting by. I find this very interesting that Chinese is now becoming the “world language”. I find it interesting that this article boasts that Chinese is becoming the new English.

While many are showing appreciation for the implementation of this language, there are problems that are coming with it. According to the article, the main problem that the schools are facing is finding qualified teachers. The article states that “there are only 10 university programs nationwide that offer teaching credentials for Mandarin at the grade-school levels, and most of the programs are new.”

There are new programs that are being offered that will help with the training of teachers in the language although along with these programs will also come the costs of training materials, textbooks, and other instructional materials. A good thing though is that there is great support for its success.

I for one am behind it all the way, times and conventions are changing and the students of our futures need to be as best prepared for these changes as possible.

Colleges offering free bikes to their students? I like the idea. According to the article here, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/education/20bikes.html, many colleges and universities are offering free bikes as a way to beat the ever increasing parking fees, overcrowded parking structures and overcrowded roads and streets on the college campuses. This new program is also helping in many colleges efforts to improve air quality and to make their campuses more “green”. Although the concept seems to be more widespread in England than in the United States I’m sure that its popularity will be increasing in the coming months.

According to the article “while many new bike programs are starting up, some are shutting down because of problems with theft and vandalism.” I guess that even all programs do not go without cons as the free bike program was suspended in Maryland because of “free” bikes being stolen and vandalized, however I think that the system that St. Xavier University in Chicago has implemented into their bike share system of placing a GPS system on their loaner bikes will help to bypass occurrences like these. The bikes are also marked with the student’s names. Although this is the case in the United States, in England officials say that the program will have the opposite effect. According to the article, officials believe that “giving students a bike of their own might encourage them to be more responsible.” The other problems that the program has faced across the board include the low numbers of bikes that are available as well as the upkeep of the bikes that they have. Many of the bikes that are donated are old and have been previously used.

I know that all students are interested in bypassing increasing parking fees that come with the start of every new semester, so the idea should go over well in the campus communities. Another perk is the added exercise factor that students are getting while headed to class. The article says that “We did it as a means of reducing the need for parking,” Dr. Joyce said, “but as we looked at it from the standpoint of fitness, health and sustainability, we realized we have the opportunity to create a change.”

A change would be great especially on the campus of Wayne State University. I for one can’t stand the $3.75 and rising parking fees that I have to pay daily (adding up to the 15 plus dollars a week) on top o tuition just to go to class. What makes it even more unappealing is that you may come outside and paid to have your car stolen. I would definitely sign up for the program if it was launched in our school and I’m sure you would too.

I usually keep my views on politics and religion to myself, however this was one point that I had to bring to everyone’s attention. I’m sure that many of us may have caught bits and pieces of the final debate and there was various things that may have caught your attention but this is one thing that stuck out to me. Last Wednesday, I was watching the final debate and I found my mouth hitting the floor once again when McCain spoke of his political views. To say that I was beyond appalled when McCain boasted that one of the things that would come with his campaign would be his allowing those that served in the military automatic grounds to teach in the classrooms, is definitely an understatement. Tell me, what does the war have to do with the classroom? I am sorry but this really bothered me because of what is being required of us to become certified teachers whereas those that serve in the military are automatically certified just because he feels that they did their duty and they “fought for our country”. So, I ask – what about the tuition, fees, tests and countless unit plans, lesson plans and “teacher preparation assignments” that we have had to complete on our journey to being able to teach in the future? And further I ask Mr. McCain to tell me just what will these ex-troops teach in the classroom anyhow? I don’t think I agree with his views that loading/unloading your firearm, cleaning your rifle and marching in formation are all one needs to succeed in life. So what is he trying to do — increase the numbers of people that join the armed services — I mean if you look at it they will definitely be farther ahead than us. They will get paid to be in the army, receive a pension and then walk right out of the services into a classroom — the only thing that have to worry about is “not being killed”!!! Sounds fair to me, right??? What do you think?? I guess that while the rest of us future teachers struggle to become more qualified and eventually certified just to earn our places in a classroom of our own, if McCain gets in office, we will have no one but him to thank that while no child is being left behind , no troops are being left behind either. Oh, I forgot I guess that we will have to “give a shout out” to Palin as well.

What are our school system’s coming to? Layoffs of 300 DPS employees, parent volunteers teaching band class and forcing certified teachers to take substitute teaching jobs in order to ensure weekly pay. Is that alarming or what? The article located here http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081004/SCHOOLS/810040374/1026/rss06 states that these are only a few of the ways that the school board has chosen to deal with the $408 million deficit that the Detroit Public School district finds themselves facing. According to the article, “To help trim the district’s massive deficit, Detroit Public Schools’ officials this week sent layoff notices to more than 300 employees, including social workers, psychologists, custodians and bus attendants who assist special needs students.” Umm, I don’t know about everyone else but I could come up with one surefire solution that may not solve the problem but would sure help matters a little bit. How about cutting that $280, 000 salary that the superintendent (who doesn’t attend any of the pertinent school board meetings) takes home annually? I mean I’m no math whiz, but her salary alone could help at least four teachers stay employed right? But, I’m sure that this was not even an option whatsoever. Talk about selflessness!!! I’m still dealing with the concept of she could accept this salary knowing that the students don’t often have individual textbooks and inadequate educational resources (i.e., desks and extra curricular activities like phys ed, band, etc.) According to the article, “according to the Detroit Federation of Teachers, hundreds more are anticipated.” One school board member, Reverend David Murray, states that he is “sick about what they are doing to our most vulnerable children. It’s scary.” Scary it is, but what’s even scarier is the fact that too few are realizing this and even they are realizing it far too late. Let’s just do our parts and keep this school district and those students and teachers in it in our prayers.

I am a major proponent of teaching “big kids” versus “little kids”, hence the certification in Secondary Education. I have always felt that a career for me in secondary education would be more rewarding because there is less of a chance of dealing with students who are not aware of the intended expectations that we as educators have for them. However after reading the article located here http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081008/METRO02/810080437/1026/rss06 I found myself thinking twice. Apparently, some “kids” will always be “kids” , at least in Ferndale, and there is nothing that we as educators can do about it but send them to the Principal’s office. This article tells about a 36 year old Adult Education teacher who was teaching “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller. While covering the novel, a classroom discussion about witchcraft occurred and a 20 year old student, Dari Najor, asked the teacher if she believed in witchcraft. Upon the teacher saying no in regards to the practice of witchcraft and the punishment that was sentenced to the practicing “witches” of those times, the student poured a liquid on her and then lit his cigarette lighter as if trying to set her on fire. The teacher admittedly was scared for her life and did not know what to do but to get security. When security found the student, he was at his car smoking a cigarette and then attempted to come after the teacher again. Consequently, the student was expelled and sent to the mental hospital for a 72 hour evaluation and has been charged with a 93 day misdemeanor for assault and battery. Could you imagine an experience like this? All I can say is for his sake, is that I hope that she isn’t a witch because the consequences that she could have “brewing” up for him would cause an all out witch-hunt!!! It is October after all!!!

The “No Child Left Behind” law has received a great deal of mixed reviews since its introduction by Bush’s campaign. While it is apparent that the law – like many things that have been enforced by Mr. Bush- needs a few major tweaks, many are worried that its importance is being left behind in the new dash for the presidential seat in the White House. Both candidates have chosen not to make the “No Child” law a major component of their platforms, with one candidate merely offering to “fix the failures” and another not mentioning the law at all. However, we have to make sure that we don’t forget its importance as well. It is very important for our students to be proficient in reading and math and it is just as important for us as educators to do our best to help in the process of reaching proficiency. I am a major proponent in being as prepared as possible for every situation. In my opinion, the “No Child” law, provides for students to be better prepared for not only college but for life as a whole.

The article which can be accessed via this link http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/14/AR2008091402461.html?nav=rss_education states that a whopping 67% of people polled says that the law needs to be worked on or even eliminated completely. We have to agree that while the law has its disadvantages – I think that students should be proficient in every subject not just reading and math- the law does have its advantages as well. There should be no questioning the possibility of making sure that our students are proficient, I mean isn’t that what the educational system is for?

It’s apparent that the future of the world is not left up to us but ultimately to our children. Since this is the case, I would feel far more comfortable knowing that our children won’t be ill-prepared to deal with the cards that they are dealt just because they lack in reading, writing and basic math skills. I think that this article does a great job in illustrating the importance of the “No Child” law. Many of the main points that support its importance are raised in this article. I, for one, hope that it’s not ignored along the way and just as “No Child” shouldn’t be left behind, its implementation should not be left behind either. Check the article out and let me know what you think.