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Subcategory: Discipline and Safety
School Meals Need to Get Healthier: Report
Oct 20 2009 - Healthday.com
New guidelines are needed to improve the diets of U.S. school children, finds a new government report that would set maximum calorie counts for school breakfasts and lunches.
Nation's School Drinking Water Contains Toxins
Sep 25 2009 - Education Week
Over the last decade, the drinking water at thousands of schools across the country has been found to contain unsafe levels of lead, pesticides, and dozens of other toxins.
GAO Audit: Schools Slow to Get Alerts about Tainted Food
Sep 22 2009 - USA Today
Federal agencies that supply food for 31 million schoolchildren fail to ensure that tainted products are pulled quickly from cafeterias, a federal audit finds.
State's Anti-Bullying Efforts Said to Be Working
Sep 21 2009 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Two bullying prevention programs are paying off for Pennsylvania children who were repeatedly teased and harassed at school, according to a study expected to be released in Pittsburgh in November.
Testing for Toxics at Schools Sparks Questions, Lawsuits
Sep 14 2009 - USA Today
Spurred by a USA TODAY investigation, many local health officials tested for toxics in the air near schools. Their discoveries raised questions in many communities about the effect of these toxics on children and led to lawsuits in some areas.
Schools Say No Knee-Jerk Flu Closures this Fall
Aug 28 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor
More than 700 schools closed last year, but that may not be the best thing to do. Other steps are being urged to protect public health.
Schools Offered Leeway in Handling Swine Flu
Aug 10 2009 - Education Week
Schools can remain open if they have confirmed or suspected cases of flu caused by the H1N1, or swine flu, virus unless there are large numbers of students at high risk, or so many absences that the schools cannot function, according to federal recommendations issued last week.
Unvaccinated Kids Getting Whooping Cough
May 26 2009 - WebMD
Children of parents who refuse to give them vaccines are more likely than fully immunized kids to get whooping cough, according to a new study. Researchers say the number of parents refusing to vaccinate their children is on the rise, and this study demonstrates the risk of the bacterial disease, also known as pertussis.
Bill Would Fund Internet Safety Education
May 26 2009 - eSchool News
A New Jersey lawmaker has introduced internet safety legislation that, if passed, would authorize roughly $175 million—$35 million a year for five years—for internet safety education and training to help make children, parents, and educators aware of proper online behavior and the dangers the internet poses.
US No Longer Advising Schools Close for Swine Flu
May 7 2009 - Associated Press
U.S. health officials are no longer recommending that schools close if students come down with swine flu, the government said. The CDC said parents should still make sure to keep sick children with flulike symptoms at home for seven days.
Panel: Technology Alone Can't Protect Kids Online
Jan 14 2009 - The Boston Globe
A task force charged with assessing technologies for protecting children from unwanted contact online has concluded that no single approach is foolproof and that parental oversight is vital.
In Several States, a Push to Stem Cyber-Bullying
Jan 2 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
There is a push among states to pass laws aimed at clamping down on the student-spun harassment, intimidation, and threats coursing through the web. Most of the laws are aimed at school districts, requiring them to develop policies on cyber-bullying. At least 13 states have passed such laws, and a handful of others are considering similar measures.
Doctors: No Hamsters or Exotic Pets for Young Kids
Oct 7 2008 - Yahoo! News
Warning: young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets—or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards, and turtles, for that matter—because of risks for disease. That's according to the nation's leading pediatricians' group in a new report about dangers from exotic animals.
Pennsylvania First to Ban Smoking at all State Universities
Sep 18 2008 - USA Today
With virtually no warning, smoking at 14 of Pennsylvania's state-owned universities has been banned anywhere on campus—even outdoors.
Getting a Grasp on Student Hackers
Jul 16 2008 - eSchool News
When a group of school district IT chiefs met recently to discuss the challenges of reining in students armed with tech savvy and a determination to wreak network havoc, their tales were cautionary—but their advice could prove valuable as computers become more common in K-12 schools.
High-Crime Label Not Working
Mar 23 2007 - Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii)
A panel of safety experts advising the U.S. Department of Education says the federal law requiring schools with high-crime levels to be labeled “persistently dangerous” needs to be overhauled so more schools are honest about reporting incidents.
Program to Identify Most Dangerous Schools Misses Mark
Jan 19 2007 - USA Today
The schools identified as the nation's most dangerous during the past five years can't be found in Los Angeles, Chicago, or most of America's other urban centers. They are in communities such as Vineland, New Jersey; Augusta, Georgia; and Todd County, South Dakota.
High Schools Trying to Get Rid of Radioactive Materials
Nov 30 2006 - CNN.com
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency launched a program this month to help schools safely dispose of radioactive materials that are used to teach students. Agency officials collect the materials and send them to a radioactive waste disposal facility. Illinois' program is one of several around the country, such as Connecticut, Colorado, and Vermont, that have started since the federal government, following the 2001 terrorist attacks, recommended hunting down radioactive materials in schools, businesses, and medical facilities.
Safety by Design
Nov 8 2006 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
In an increasing number of schools, security drives decisions about everything from where to place the principal's office to what kinds of locks and windows are selected.
Few States Besides Oregon Label Any Schools Dangerous
Oct 27 2006 - The Oregonian
By the looks of the federal dangerous schools list, Oregon classrooms appear plagued by more weapons and violence than those in nearly every other state. But there is something horribly wrong with that picture, say state educators, who deemed 16 Oregon schools unsafe this week.
How to Make U.S. Schools Safer
Oct 12 2006 - Christian Science Monitor
Just hours after a Missouri boy fired an assault rifle at his school and in the wake of four recent fatal school shootings in rural America, President Bush and national experts vetted plans to make schools "gentle places of learning." But, unlike comparable panels after the Columbine High School shootings in 1999, proposed strategies did not include curbing access to guns. Instead, the recent presidential conference on school safety focused on the human face of the solution: getting students, school officials, parents, and police, working together, practicing school crisis plans as regularly as fire drills, and identifying students who need help before they pick up a gun.
U.S. Bill Would Require Student Search Policies
Sep 21 2006 - Courier Journal (Louisville, Kentucky)
A National Education Association-endorsed bill that passed the U.S. House would require schools to develop search policies that balance individual rights while protecting teachers from liability. The American Civil Liberties Union and American Federation of Teachers oppose the bill out of fear it could result in unconstitutional searches.
Back to Safety in School Science Labs
Aug 28 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
In an effort to prevent mishaps, Massachusetts health authorities are strengthening rules on school science labs, especially those involving owl pellets. The state is telling teachers to assume that science projects are not safe and to adopt safety precautions. Teachers, principals, and superintendents will also undergo special science safety training during the upcoming school year. The move comes after a group of fifth graders became ill using owl pellets that harbored salmonella.
Class Bully May Not Be a Student
Aug 16 2006 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Nearly half of elementary school teachers have admitted to bullying students, according to a new study conducted by psychiatrists at The Menninger Clinic in Houston. Most educators attribute their behavior to a lack of classroom discipline. In the study, Menninger scientists surveyed 116 teachers at seven elementary schools in an undisclosed region of the country. Bullying was defined as punishing, manipulating, or disparaging students beyond what would be considered normal disciplinary action.
1 in 20 Students a Crime Victim
Nov 21 2005 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
One in 20 students was a victim of violence or theft at school in 2003, according to a report from the departments of Education and Justice. The report also found that from 1999 through 2003, teachers were victims of an annual average of 183,000 crimes at school. High school teachers were more than twice as likely as elementary educators to be victims of violent crime. Some school violence experts claim the annual report routinely understates crime in schools because it is based on limited surveys and self-reporting.
Smaller Science Labs Challenged
Aug 3 2005 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Requires free registration)
The Georgia Board of Education has decided to scale back the size of science labs from 30 to 28 students. The new change, however, has sparked a controversy with superintendents of school districts who say the new rule violates the intent of Georgia law because the state has not provided more money to make the science classes any smaller than other high school classes. Superintendents also say the change gives them little time to find science teachers. The state board has asked the Georgia Attorney General’s Office to affirm that the board has the authority to reduce the size of the classes.
Schools Take Measures to Protect Against Mercury
Apr 21 2005 - The Montgomery Advertiser (Alabama)
When students at St. James School test to see whether chemical compounds turn cool or hot when they are mixed together, an alcohol thermometer is used. The scientific tool would have been filled with mercury a decade ago. “We always want to give our students the most up-to-date equipment,” a school spokesman observed. “We don’t use materials that could be potentially harmful.” Several schools nationwide are taking that stance, in light of recent incidents in Washington, DC and Mississippi where schools had to be to be evacuated because of mercury spills in the classroom or science labs.
Hidden Hazards
Apr 10 2005 - Boston Globe
Improper storage and handling of toxic substances can be a formula for disaster in the science classroom. Observers explain that state education departments do not provide safety procedures that science teachers can consult. A study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, however, recommends guidelines for inspecting science labs. Science department heads note they rely on safety tips from manufacturers.
Hidden Hazards
Apr 10 2005 - Boston Globe
Improper storage and handling of toxic substances can be a formula for disaster in the science classroom. Observers explain that state education departments do not provide safety procedures that science teachers can consult. A study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, however, recommends guidelines for inspecting science labs. Science department heads note they rely on safety tips from manufacturers.
Schools Moving to Rid Once-Favored Mercury From Science Labs
Mar 6 2005 - Boston Globe
Although mercury spills are on the rise in schools nationwide, teachers and environmental groups say they want to eliminate the use of mercury in science labs. The use of mercury in schools is declining, according to Ken Roy, co-chairman of NSTA’s Safety Advisory Board. The Environmental Protection Agency adds that at least nine states have created programs to accelerate the removal of mercury from schools through lab cleanings and educational outreach to teachers.
Maine Finds Stockpiles of Hazardous Chemicals at Schools
Oct 18 2004 - Portland Press Herald (Maine)
Schools nationwide have struggled with the issue of chemical disposal and finding funding to pursue such efforts. The Environmental Protection Agency is providing $25,000 per region to support local clean-out programs for the first time this year. States are also using legislation to deal with the problem. Other states are dealing with the issue through supplemental environmental projects, which consist of a violator paying a partial fine with the remainder of the financial penalty going toward cleaning a school.
Beyond the Point of No Return
Sep 14 2004 - The Christian Science Monitor
More students are being expelled from the nation’s schools. Expulsions increased from 87,298 to 97,177 between 1998 and 2000, according to the Elementary and Secondary School Survey by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Experts say one reason for the increase is the crackdown on student behavior since the 1999 shootings at Colorado’s Columbine High School. Other experts suggest the No Child Left Behind Act, with its provisions requiring schools to report violent acts and sanctioning those that report too many, gives schools additional incentive to expel difficult students. As a result, the need for alternative programs continues to grow.
Teachers Get Lessons on Hazardous Materials
Aug 31 2004 - Des Moines Register
Performing chemical demonstrations in science class is a common practice for teachers, but the potential danger of the experiments doesn’t stop at the lab table. The real danger is improper storage and disposal of hazardous materials. One environmental safety specialist suggests teachers stock an adequate supply of hazardous materials to last for two years and then replenish them on a regular basis after that time period. Other experts note teachers should evaluate the risks versus the benefits of using hazardous materials.
School Crime on Decline, Report Says
Oct 24 2003 - CNN
The amount of crime taking place in the nation’s schools has decreased, according to a new government report. Data supplied from the departments of education and justice show the percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported being victims of violence or theft dropped from 10 percent to six percent between 1995 and 2001. The 2003 report does not reflect the recent increase in school violence nationwide.
Mercury Experiments In Class Can Be Poison
Oct 22 2003 - Education Week
What are the dangers of having mercury in the science classroom? Kenneth Roy, chair of NSTA’s Science Safety Advisory Board, offers some answers in this article from Education Week. Roy also explains some of the challenges in cleaning up mercury spills in schools and provides some tips for handling the process.
Nation's 50 States Label 52 Schools as 'Persistently Dangerous'
Sep 25 2003 - Contra Costa Times (California)
New research shows that 52 of the nation’s 91,000 public schools are labeled “persistently dangerous” by their states. Localities reporting unsafe schools included Pennsylvania, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, New York, and Oregon. Schools not on the list are not necessarily crime-free. America’s schools experienced 700,000 violent crimes in 2000. The 2003–2004 school year marks the first time states must define and identify their most dangerous schools and let students enroll in other schools in their district.
Many Schools Not Reacting to Terror Alerts, Poll Finds
Aug 19 2003 - USA TODAY
A new poll shows that more than 50 percent of the nation’s public schools don’t react when the federal government raises the level of its color-coded terror alert system. The annual survey conducted by the National Association of School Resource Officers also revealed that funding for school safety initiatives is decreasing. The U.S. Department of Education said it plans to review the findings from the survey.
Science-Lab Safety Upgraded After Mishaps
Apr 30 2003 - Education Week
Science classrooms might be the most dangerous place in America’s schools, according to this article. In recent years, students have suffered serious burns, lacerations, and other injuries in lab accidents. Education experts, however, note that lab experiments can be a safe adventure if teachers take more precautions such as using fume hoods.
High School to Get a Chemistry Lesson
Feb 28 2003 - The Boston Globe
Natick High School in Massachusetts plans to improve its knowledge of science safety, after being cited by its state Department of Environmental Protection for improperly disposing dangerous chemicals. The school recently partnered with Boston Scientific, an organization that pairs scientists with teachers to help them learn how to become more environmentally sound. Natick school officials say they hope to have a training program developed for faculty members by late spring or early fall.
Study Shows High School Science Labs Could be Safer
Feb 6 2003 - The Des Moines Register
High school science labs could be safer, according to a new study conducted by two Drake University professors. Jack Gerlovich and Rahul Parsa studied surveys completed by 383 Iowa high school teachers in 2001 and found more than 37 percent of science educators never received safety training in science. The surveys also revealed 70 percent of Iowa science labs are more than 20 years old. Similar problems have been found in 13 other states, according to Gerlovich and Parsa.
Lab Safety-Beyond Goggles
Jan 28 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
Finding the right combination to keep science interesting and safe is no easy task. A recent safety study performed by researchers from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, revealed 32 percent of science classrooms did not have eye-wash stations and 18 percent did not have enough protective goggles for students. The study also showed 46 percent of teachers had never received training in science safety. Experts note the number of lab accidents is also on the rise.
Editorial: States Too Slow To Part With Corporal Punishment
Aug 23 2002 - USA Today
"The time to ban spanking from all public classrooms is long overdue," argues the above editorial, which notes that 23 states still allow spanking in schools. It also cites federal statistics showing that there were 360,000 spanking incidents in the 1997-98 school year. "What supporters of corporal punishment fail to recognize," the editorial continues, "is that spanking creates more problems than it solves and sends kids the wrong message -- that physical abuse is acceptable under certain circumstances." Read more...
More Students Say Schools Drug Free
Aug 22 2002 - Boston Globe
First, the good news: The percentage of students between ages 12 and 17 who perceive that their schools are "drug free" has more than doubled in the last four years, from 31 to 63 percent. Now, the bad news: Students said for the first time that it is easier to get marijuana than cigarettes or beer. Those statistics are the product of a national survey released this week by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. The director of the study said he wasn't sure why students' perceptions of their schools as drug free have improved so dramatically, but he speculated that the trend may stem from a combination of increased educational campaigns and a changed national attitude since Sep. 11.
Chemistry Lab Accidents on the Rise
Jul 29 2002 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Lab injuries should never happen. But evidence nationwide suggests that such accidents are happening, and with growing frequency as schools move toward more hands-on experimenting in science classrooms, the above article reports. Still, many say, the answer is not to cut down on the number of experiments, but to make sure that science labs are properly equipped and teachers adequately trained.
Teachers Weigh Stance in Student Clashes
May 21 2002 - Washington Post
If a fight breaks out between students, what should a teacher do? A booklet prepared jointly by the NEA and AFT makes 12 recommendations for breaking up physical confrontations -- all without touching the combatants. But some educators believe that, in certain cases, a teacher must intervene physically, particularly if there is no other way to help a child. So who's right, and what are the legal rights of teachers who do intervene? The above article takes a look...
Students' Work Often Not Their Own, Educators Say
May 14 2002 - Detroit News -- AP
From peeking at a neighbor's test paper to Internet plagiarism, cheating is one of education's biggest problems, experts say. In fact, a recent Princeton study found that 74 percent of high school students had cheated during the prior year, and other studies show similar results. What's driving this troubling trend, and what can educators do about it? The above article takes a look...
Interpretations of "Zero Tolerance" Vary
Apr 12 2002 - Education Week
Over the last decade, "zero tolerance" policies for weapons on school property have become commonplace throughout the country. At the same time, as demonstrated through a series of high-profile cases, the policies have created considerable confusion among educators over what constitutes a weapon, what the term "zero tolerance" means, and how much latitude local school leaders have in deciding when and how to apply federal and state laws. The above article takes a closer look at this hot-button issue...
Study Ties Television Viewing To Aggression
Apr 2 2002 - Washington Post
A provocative new study suggests that teens and young adults who watch large amounts of television are more likely to commit violent acts. The study tracked the impact of television on violence among more than 700 young people over a 17-year period, making it the longest study of its kind. "The correlation between violent media and aggression is larger...than the effect of secondhand smoke on cancer," said one psychologist who commented on the study. Find out more...
Latest Way to Cut Grade School Stress: Yoga
Mar 25 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
At several public elementary schools in San Francisco, "the yoga break has taken its place beside typical school rituals like recess and the Pledge of Allegiance," the above article reports. It's all part of a national trend, the article says, that has yoga becoming an integral part of both physical education classes and the regular classroom. "[My] students are under a lot of pressure to succeed. Testing is coming up, reports are going home, so we're doing more yoga," one San Francisco teacher said. Learn more...
Zero Tolerance Under Fire After Expulsion Over Bread Knife
Mar 22 2002 - CNN -- AP
"Zero tolerance" policies for weapons on school property were created to prevent violence and keep campuses safe. But can they sometimes be too rigid? That's what some are saying after a Texas high school student, Taylor Hess, was expelled after a bread knife was found in the back of his truck. Hess says the knife was accidentally left behind after he and his father boxed up his grandmother's belongings to drop off at a Goodwill store. But the district's superintendent says that Hess's expulsion was mandated by the state's zero tolerance law. "We're very limited in what we can do," he said. "I understand the public's frustration. I'm frustrated, too."
School Cheating Scandal Tests a Town's Values
Feb 14 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
A student plagiarism scandal (see previous story)
continues to divide the small town of Piper, Kansas, in a case that is generating national publicity. And as the above article points out, the Piper story is hardly unique: "It is just the latest plagiarism revelation afflicting American high schools and colleges, aggravated by an Internet age in which research papers -- as well as programs to detect cheating -- can be downloaded by the dollar." Read the full article...
Science Teacher Resigns Over Plagiarism Fight
Feb 7 2002 - CNN--AP
In a case that is generating national publicity, a Kansas biology teacher resigned in protest after the school board didn't stand by her decision to fail students for plagiarism. Some say the episode reflects a national decline in integrity. "It's so hard to keep sending the message that character counts when you have officials saying it doesn't count that much," one ethics expert commented. Read more...
Many Schools Built Near Toxic Sites, Study Finds
Jan 23 2002 - Washington Post
According to a new report by an environmental coalition, hundreds of thousands of children nationwide are attending schools that were built on or near toxic waste sites, putting them at increased risk of developing asthma, cancer, learning disorders, and other diseases linked to environmental pollutants. At the heart of the problem, the report says, is the fact that most states and public school systems lack environmental standards for selecting school construction sites, leading many cash-strapped school systems to build on cheap land on or near toxic waste sites. The report calls on federal or state officials to develop guidelines that prohibit school construction near such sites. Click above for the Washington Post article, or click here to read the full report.
Schools Still Working To Rein in Bullies
Dec 4 2001 - Christian Science Monitor
Bullying--the problem has existed at least as long as there have been playgrounds. It's often been dismissed as an inevitable rite of passage, but in the wake of several school shootings (such as Columbine) where bullying is thought to have been a factor, states and districts are stepping up their efforts to protect children from the abuse of peers. Still, the question remains: Has bullying actually declined as a result of these initiatives?
Take NSTA's Quick Poll: Who Should Be in Charge of Student Discipline?
Nov 1 2001 - NSTA
As a recent Education Week article describes, a Florida district is attempting to put responsibility for student discipline back in the hands of its teachers, encouraging faculty to try their own conflict resolution techniques before referring a disruptive student to the principal’s office. Do you think this is a good idea? Who do you think should have primary responsibility for disciplining disruptive students? Click here to
take NSTA’s Quick Poll, and register your vote.
Take NSTA's Poll: What's the Proper Punishment for Student Cheating?
Oct 19 2001 - NSTA
As described in a recent Washington Post column, a cheating case at a Maryland high school has divided teachers, parents, and students over what the proper punishment should be. What do you think is the right response to student cheating? Click here to take NSTA's Quick Poll, and register your vote.
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