September, 2007

I. Teachers and Teaching

1.Mr. Teacher? Fewer men in front of the class

Mon, Aug 27, 2007 from The New York Times

The number of men teaching in Minnesota has been dwindling—mirroring a national trend that has schools concerned. The number of men in Minnesota classrooms has been dwindling since the 1980s; the cumulative effect has turned the male teacher into an endangered species in many schools, especially at the elementary level, and in many college teaching-degree programs.

2. China Addresses Teachers' Income Gap

Tuesday, September 11, 2007 from www.chinaview.cn

The Chinese government was working to close the income gap between urban and rural teachers to encourage teachers to work in the countryside, said an education official on Tuesday.

II. Learners and Learning

1. Math Scores Rise, but Reading Is Mixed

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 from The New York Times

America’s public school students are doing significantly better in math since the federal No Child Left Behind law took effect in 2002, but gains in reading achievement have been marginal, with performance declining among eighth graders, according to results of nationwide reading and math tests released Tuesday.

2. Senior High School Students Required to Do Community Volunteer Work

Friday, September 21, 2007 from edu.china.com

From this semester, senior high school students in Beijing must engage in at last 10 days of community volunteer work, plus at least one week of social work in each school year, which has officially integrated in their certification of graduation from senior high school.

III. Leaders and Leadership

1.   President Signs Overhaul of Student Aid

Friday, September 28, 2007 from The New York Times

President Bush signed legislation overhauling federal student-aid programs, raising grants to low-income college students and cutting subsidies to companies that make federally guaranteed student loans. The law also offers forgiveness on student loans to graduates who work for 10 years or more in public service professions like teaching and limits monthly payments on federally backed loans.

2. China Increases Postgraduate Quotas for Ethnic Minorities

 Thursday, September 27, 2007 from www.chinaview.cn

China's Ministry of Education has raised the ethnic minorities’ quota for postgraduate places from 3,700 this year to 4,200 in 2008, said the Ministry of Education here Thursday. The quota comprises 3,400 master's degree places and 800 doctoral places.  The government started the special postgraduate program for ethnic minorities in 2006 when 2,500 people were enrolled.

IV. Curriculum

When Science Suddenly Mattered, in Space and in Class

Tuesday, September 25, 2007 from The New York Times

Scientists who had benefited from the science curriculum used during the cold war time are advocating an adequate refinement of science curriculum. Instead of too much emphasis on memorizing terminology and not enough on concepts, they are calling for giving students chance to do real research — to experience framing a question, deciding what kind of evidence is relevant and figuring out how to collect it.

2.New National Development Class Integrating Environmental Issues

Tuesday, September 25, 2007 from China Education News

The recently issued new national development curriculum has integrated latest development of environmental protection in China, including key environment projects, significant incidence/accidence concerning environmental protection and highlighted environmental issues in China. The multimedia technology based instruction and up to date curriculum content are well accepted and considered as vividly informative and impressive among students and teachers.

V. Family and Community

1. School options urged for parents

Monday, September 24, 2007 from The Washington Times

Top federal education officials have released a new handbook urging state and local administrators to explain more effectively to parents that they can transfer their children among schools or access free tutoring services if their child's school is consistently subpar.

2. Confucius Quotes May Greet Beijing Olympic Guests

Friday, September 28, 2007 from www.chinaview.cn

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