Home Remedies That Might Interact With Your Prescriptions

Private School News // January 29, 2010

As flu season kicks into full gear, you may find yourself standing in your local drugstore wearing slippers, holding tissues, and searching for something over the counter to help with the symptoms. If you find yourself picking up traditionally popular holistic treatments, think about the following interactions first.

Read More

New Statistics on Childhood Obesity

Private School News // January 29, 2010

There is a delicate balance between educating children on the importance of being healthy and damaging their self-esteem. When a child is overweight, it's hard to find the right sequence of words to express concerns. What you don't want to do is push the child toward dangerous eating or exercise habits, or away from you. Yet, it's vital to communicate healthy relationships between food and kids—especially now as yearly statistics continue to grow dimmer and dimmer for our future generations.

Read More

21st Century Teaching: Lessons That Are Challenging, Relevant, and Reflective

Academic Leadership // January 29, 2010

Two veteran teachers in a school each teach a secondary World Geography class. They have approximately the same class sizes, the same content, and the same access to technology. The students of the first teacher groan at the mention of his subject, while the students of the second teacher can't wait to get to class. So what is making the difference??? In this case it has to do with the pedagogy each has elected to use.

Read More

The Sex Talk That Everyone Is Talking About

Private School News // January 29, 2010

If you haven't heard about Shirley Price's lecture yet, we're surprised. The story is alarming, and raises some serious risk management concerns for schools nationwide. On January 15, 2010, in Hitchcock TX, school Board member Shirley Price was supposed to give a motivational speech to a group of sixth- through eighth-grade girls. However, the presentation turned from motivational into an explicit sex talk and used some profanity.

Read More

California Parents Are Required to STEP Up

Private School News // January 29, 2010

Most educators know that what is learned in the classroom is only the first step in a child's education. A small public school in California, Christa McAuliffe Elementary School (named after the teacher killed in the Challenger explosion, Christa McAuliffe), has a program that not only takes this theory and encourages parents to spend evenings with their children discussing homework and the days' activities, but requires parents to be involved.

Read More

No "Sexting" at Your School? It's More Common Than You Think

Academic Leadership // January 29, 2010

In its new study Sex and Tech: Results From a Survey of Teens and Young Adults, The National Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy found that 39% of teens have sent or posted sexually suggestive messages via text, e-mail, or instant message. And 20% of teens have sent or posted online nude or semi-nude pictures or videos of themselves. This collision of cyber technology and judgment, dubbed "sexting," could have a profound effect on your school.

Read More

Record Highs of Disability, Religious, and National Origin Bias Charges

Business and Operations // January 22, 2010

The 2009 fiscal year (ending September 30, 2009) proved to be a tough one for employers battling discrimination claims. The US Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported that 93,277 claims were filed last year—the second highest ever—totaling over $376 million in obtained cash for victims.

Read More

A Dreary Classroom Is Cause for a Lawsuit

Business and Operations // January 22, 2010

Seasonal affective disorder season is upon us. And, for those of you who suffer from the depression-like symptoms associated with this disorder, you might be struggling to maintain balance in your life. (For additional information about SADD, follow the link at the end of this article.) Renae Ekstrand, an elementary school teacher in WI, was one of the many Americans who struggle with SADD, and knowing this, informed her principal before the 2006 school year that she had difficulty functioning in a classroom with artificial light rather than natural light. Ekstrand also identified other issues that exacerbated her symptoms including noise distractions and inadequate ventilation. She repeatedly requested another classroom with natural light. The school district worked with Ekstrand to remedy her other concerns, but did not reassign her to a room with natural light.

Read More

Ask Michael

Business and Operations // January 22, 2010

Once a month, ISM's Human Resources Consultant Michael Brisciana will answer an HR-related question submitted by one of our readers. To ask Michael a question to be addressed in future e-letters, please click here. Q: At my prior place of employment, they had a policy to have a "witness" in the room whenever a warning was given. We're getting ready to give a written warning to a longtime faculty member. Should we have another person in the room as a witness?

Read More

More International Students Are Finding Their Way to American Campuses

Advancement // January 15, 2010

For the last eight years, India has been the leading country of origin for international students. 103,260 students—a 9% increase from last year—came to the U.S. to study this year. Interestingly, China is quickly catching up to these numbers. 98,510 students—a 21% increase—traveled to the States to study at American universities.

Read More