Education // Current TV

If it’s good enough for a dog, it’s good enough for a kid, right? Students in Texas to be monitored with microchips

If it’s good enough for a dog, it’s good enough for a kid, right? A school district in Texas will be watching over its students a lot more closely, but not with the aid of extra teachers. Instead each pupil will be monitored with microchips.
Officials at the Northside Independent School District in rural Bexar County, Texas have approved a plan to track the whereabouts of each and every student by requiring them to walk the halls with identification cards in their pockets that are equipped with RFID microchips.
By using Radio Frequency Identification System technology, teachers and faculty will be able to monitor the move of over 6,000 students at two select schools and every pupil with special needs throughout the district as soon as next semester. If the pilot program is a success, the district intends on expanding the tracking system to all of its 112 schools, totaling nearly 100,000 students.
Backers of the program say the move is well intentioned and will actually bring the school millions of dollars in extra funding. Ghastly attendance rates in Bexar County currently keeps the district from earning around $175,000 a day in state assistance, reports KHOU News out of San Antonio, TX. Speaking to that city’s Express-News, district spokesman Pascual Gonzalez explains that the school wants “to harness the power of (the) technology to make schools safer, know where our students are all the time in a school, and increase revenue.”
When each step of the students is being watched by administrators, the district expects to see their absentee count drop drastically. But is it worth the cost of killing the privacy of thousands?
“It’s going to give us the opportunity to track our students in the building," Principal Wendy Reyes of Jones Middle School tells KHOU. “They may have been in the nurse’s office, or the counselor’s office, or vice principal’s office, but they were marked absent from the classroom because they weren't sitting in the class. It will help us have a more accurate account of our attendance.”
It will also let teachers know who is in the bathroom and for how long and monitor the group habits of students. It could also become catastrophic, of course, if the very sensitive data ends up in the wrong hands. Similar programs were pitched elsewhere in recent years, but in other instances the American Civil Liberties Union stepped up to speak out; in many cases, the programs were shot down after the ACLU intervened.
"We are urging the school board to recognize the important civil liberties concerns and safety risks implicated in RFID technology," the ACLU’s Nicole Ozer, the technology and civil Liberties policy director of their Northern California office, wrote in a statement back in 2005 . "RFID badges jeopardize the safety and security of children by broadcasting identity and location information to anyone with a chip reader and subject students to demeaning tracking of their movements. We hope the school district reconsiders this serious issue."
In that case, the ACLU was opposed to a program at Brittan Elementary School Board in Sutter, California where youngsters were being tracked with RFID chips. Even though that kind of technology has become both more advanced and commonplace in the seven years since, it doesn’t change the concerns that continue to arise.
"The monitoring of children with RFID tags is comparable to the tracking of cattle, shipment pallets, or very dangerous criminals in high-security prisons," Cédric Laurant of EPIC told the ACLU in 2005. "Compelling children to be constantly tracked with RFID-enabled identity badges breaches their right to privacy and dignity as human beings."
But, hey — how else is the school going to raise a few grand?
“I think this is overstepping our bounds and is inappropriate,” Northside school board trustee M'Lissa M. Chumbley tells other district officials this week. “I'm honestly uncomfortable about this.”
Kirsten Bokenkamp of the ACLU tells the San Antonio Express-News that her organization is once again alarmed by Northside’s plans to implement the program. They are expected to challenge the board’s decision this time around too.
http://rt.com/usa/news/texas-microchips-school-district-262/If it’s good enough for a dog, it’s good enough for a kid, right? A school... more

MotherForTruth
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Seeds Of Change to donate 25 million seeds to support organic school gardens

Seeds of Change®, an organic seed and food company, is celebrating spring with the launch of the "Sowing Millions, Growing Minds" initiative and will donate 25 million seeds to help school children nationwide plant organic school gardens. Organic school gardens are a growing trend nationally and offer children valuable lessons in science, health, conservation, nutrition education and life skills. Beyond the individual level, increased numbers of school gardens can help expose entire communities to healthy foods and eating, which is especially important in communities that have little or no access to healthy food choices, known as food deserts. It can also help make a dent in public health issues such as childhood obesity.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120425/CG94690)

"At Seeds of Change, we are passionate about growing good food. We are committed to helping teach children where food comes from and how it is grown," said Tricia Lang, brand manager for Seeds of Change. "As part of these efforts, we are kicking off the 2012 spring gardening season with this exciting donation. We want kids to get their hands dirty and learn about the joy of eating organic produce fresh from the garden."

To announce the donation program, Seeds of Change hosted an event in partnership with Green City Market, a not for profit supporting local, sustainable agriculture. The event took place in Chicago at the Edible Gardens at Lincoln Park Zoo's Farm in the Zoo. To further demonstrate their commitment to organic gardening and education in Chicago, Seeds of Change awarded a grant to the Green City Market that will make it possible for hundreds of Chicago Public School students to visit the Edible Gardens on field trips to learn about organic gardening first hand. In addition, Seeds of Change donated gardening tools to the Edible Gardens.

As part of the festivities to launch the "Sowing Millions, Growing Minds" initiative, Seeds of Change and Green City Market invited children from the Garden Club at Yates Elementary School located in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood to participate. The area is known for its staggering statistics related to childhood obesity and lack of fresh food access, and the students are doing their part to educate their classmates and the community about gardening. Jeanne Nolan, an organic gardening expert and director of the Edible Gardens program, led a planting demonstration and helped the students plant the first seeds of 2012. The students planted lettuce, radishes, broccoli, carrots and more, as they learned about the benefits of organic gardening, and techniques they can apply at school and at home. The students also enjoyed a cooking demonstration led by Seeds of Change executive chef, Chris Skolmutch. He taught the children simple recipes using organic vegetables and herbs they can grow in their own gardens to further reinforce healthy eating.

"It's such a thrill for me to see kids roll up their sleeves, plant seeds, watch them grow and taste the fruits of their labor," said Nolan. "Numerous studies have shown the connection between gardening, eating habits and school performance, and I'm a full believer in the many gifts gardening can offer students."

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/25/4442105/seeds-of-change-to-donate-25-million.html#storylink=cpy

http://img.scoop.it/ZpgkfMSRH5v7vDsKkT08VDl72eJkfbmt4t8yenImKBVaiQDB_Rd1H6kmuBWtceBJSeeds of Change®, an organic seed and food company, is celebrating spring with the... more

JanforGore
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GOP Rep: ‘I have little tolerance’ for those with high student loans

By Andrew Jones Saturday, April 14, 2012 17:30 EDT If someone is looking for... more

KB723
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158 comments

Parents in Shock as Priest Displays Gay Porn Images

Ummm.... *** has denied knowing how gay porn images appeared on a screen during... more

maasanova
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30 comments

National Occupation of Washington DC Lifts Occupy to New Levels!

National Occupation of Washington, DC Lifts Occupy to New Levels Through Powerful... more

figgdimension
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2 months ago
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Philadelphia Mayor educates Mitt Romney on education

Mitt Romney's record on education gets an unfriendly welcome in Philadelphia

WizardOfOsrin
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Another Girls School in Afghanistan Comes Under Poison Attack

"Afghan officials say more than 120 schoolgirls and three teachers have been poisoned at a school in the northern Takhar Province.

The attack was blamed on fundamentalist radicals who used an unidentified toxic powder to contaminate the air at the school.

Many victims reportedly lost consciousness and were hospitalized.

One of the children, Samera, told Reuters they originally thought the school's water had been poisoned.

"We saw one of the students was unconscious and in bad condition," she said. "We were told not to drink water but we had already drunk the water and we became unconscious too."

Last month, 150 girls were poisoned in Takhar when they drank contaminated water. And last week, more than 200 boys fell ill at a school in Khost Province.

The Education Ministry reported this month that 550 Afghan schools have been closed down because of security concerns, affecting 300,000 students in 11 provinces.

A spokesman for Afghanistan's intelligence agency said the Taliban was trying to make families afraid to send their children to school ahead of the scheduled 2014 withdrawal of international combat troops.

The Taliban has not claimed responsibility for the school attacks, but they have carried out violent raids in Takhar Province.

When in power from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban regime banned education for girls. Since having been driven from power, Taliban fighters and their sympathizers have carried out numerous attacks against schools.

In addition to poisonings, they have targeted schools with rockets and mortars, have burned them down, and have thrown acid in the faces of schoolgirls. There have also been reports of Taliban fighters beheading teachers who work at schools for girls.

The UN Afghanistan Assistance Mission (UNAMA) earlier this month condemned the attacks as a violation of the right of Afghan children to be educated.

UNAMA called on the Afghan government and the NATO-led international coalition to "ensure that effective security measures are in place to protect schools, students, and teachers.""Afghan officials say more than 120 schoolgirls and three teachers have been... more

Truthitswhatsfordinner
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A Romeny 'special adviser on education' was Houston's Sup.of Schools when that district falsified its dropout rates

Also, he was bush's first Sec of Ed, Rod Paige. Drop out Supervisor Paige... more

attilatheblond
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8 days ago
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Innovative program bolsters climate science with the hope of improving overall scientific literacy in public schools

Maryland has a history of integrating environmental science into public school... more

JanforGore
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9 days ago
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Teacher Tells Student He Can Be Arrested For Criticizing President Obama

A North Rowan High School teacher tells a student he can be arrested for speaking ill... more

maasanova
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9 days ago
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Teacher Yells at Student because of a Question He Asked About Obama

Teacher yells at student because of a question he asked about Obama!... more

CarlosBobthe3rd
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Should I Vote For Ron Paul 2012? Complete Guide to Ron Paul's Stance on Every Issue

Love or hate him, Texas Congressman Ron Paul just might be the least understood... more

Radical_Centrist
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How corporations like Monsanto have hijacked higher education

Here’s what happens when corporations begin to control education.

"When I approached professors to discuss research projects addressing organic agriculture in farmer's markets, the first one told me that 'no one cares about people selling food in parking lots on the other side of the train tracks,’” said a PhD student at a large land-grant university who did not wish to be identified. “My academic adviser told me my best bet was to write a grant for Monsanto or the Department of Homeland Security to fund my research on why farmer's markets were stocked with 'black market vegetables' that 'are a bioterrorism threat waiting to happen.' It was communicated to me on more than one occasion throughout my education that I should just study something Monsanto would fund rather than ideas to which I was deeply committed. I ended up studying what I wanted, but received no financial support, and paid for my education out of pocket."
Unfortunately, she's not alone. Conducting research requires funding, and today's research follows the golden rule: The one with the gold makes the rules.

A report just released by Food and Water Watch examines the role of corporate funding of agricultural research at land grant universities, of which there are more than 100. “You hear again and again Congress and regulators clamoring for science-based rules, policies, regulations,” says Food and Water Watch researcher Tim

Schwab, explaining why he began investigating corporate influence in agricultural research. “So if the rules and regulations and policies are based on science that is industry-biased, then the fallout goes beyond academic articles. It really trickles down to farmer livelihoods and consumer choice.”

The report found that nearly one quarter of research funding at land grant universities now comes from corporations, compared to less than 15 percent from the USDA. Although corporate funding of research surpassed USDA funding at these universities in the mid-1990s, the gap is now larger than ever. What's more, a broader look at all corporate agricultural research, $7.4 billion in 2006, dwarfs the mere $5.7 billion in all public funding of agricultural research spent the same year.

Influence does not end with research funding, however. In 2005, nearly one third of agricultural scientists reported consulting for private industry. Corporations endow professorships and donate money to universities in return for having buildings, labs and wings named for them. Purdue University's Department of Nutrition Science blatantly offers corporate affiliates “corporate visibility with students and faculty” and “commitment by faculty and administration to address [corporate] members' needs,” in return for the $6,000 each corporate affiliate pays annually.

In perhaps the most egregious cases, corporate boards and college leadership overlap. In 2009, South Dakota State's president, for example, joined the board of directors of Monsanto, where he earns six figures each year. Bruce Rastetter is simultaneously the co-founder and managing director of a company called AgriSol Energy and a member of the Iowa Board of Regents. Under his influence, Iowa State joined AgriSol in a venture in Tanzania that would have forcefully removed 162,000 people from their land, but the university later pulled out of the project after public outcry.

What is the impact of the flood of corporate cash? “We know from a number of meta-analyses, that corporate funding leads to results that are favorable to the corporate funder,” says Schwab.

More at the linkHere’s what happens when corporations begin to control education. "When... more

JanforGore
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13 days ago
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Presenting Academic Success, Inc.; Helping students reach their full academic potential

Read more on Diversity News Magazine at... more

diversitynews
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13 days ago
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Hawaii's beaches are in retreat and its way of life may follow

Little by little, Hawaii’s iconic beaches are disappearing. Most beaches on... more

JanforGore
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15 days ago
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Young Education Activist - Mera Passion Pakistan

They say ‘children should be seen and not heard’, but 13-year-old Malala... more

mppakistan3
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Trumka: Manufacturing Revival Vital to Strong National Security

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka today said our national security depends on reviving... more

kvb1
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16 days ago
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Gov Andrew Cuomo: 'white knight' or 'sith lord'?

When your 'average Joe' is found to have lied under oath - especially before Congress- (like some pro athletes) he's subjected to media scorn and increased scrutiny by those in law enforcement for 'perjury'. When a state Attorney General does the same - no action is taken and he becomes a 'shoe-in' for Governor.

Alternately, when that same AG posts a letter thru the US Postal Service (in response to a criminal complaint) lying in-regard to his inability to enforce the laws and refusing his sworn duty to ensure state residents are NOT defrauded out of what little funds they have (through a scheme to defraud not only THEM but state and federal taxpayers as well) - he's committed 'Mail Fraud'.

Which is Andrew Cuomo; Mail Fraudster or perjurer?

According to the Governor (while NYS AG) he was prohibited from investigating SUNY officials over criminal complaints of 'Financial Fraud' and 'Coercion/Conspiracy to Commit Financial Fraud' in regard to these officials instructing (through threats) NYS college students to enter false information on FAFSA applications so the students might remain 'enrolled' in college even though they were NOT attending ANY of the classes required for graduation in their chosen degree fields.

Students found their majors switched (for a year or more) to some other 'alternate' course of study (Phys-Ed, arts and crafts, TV Shows/movies of the 1960s, etc) rather than those majors which were more likely to gain them employment upon graduation (ie: medical studies like nursing and medical imaging) after SUNY officials denied them access to the all important 'clinical classes' - required and mandatory for graduation.

Students were threatened with expulsion from the SUNY system for refusing to collaborate in this scheme with most accepting their fate and declaring their 'intent' to study towards graduation in the alternate course of study picked for them by college officials - for a year or more (financed by YOUR tax dollars). When college officials finally acquiesced to permit them into the clinical classes - the students merely switched BACK to their original course of study and (hopefully) went on to graduation - several thousands of dollars MORE in-debt.

Of course - there's that little matter of the grant monies. See 'offering a False or Fraudulent Claim for Payment' with the federal government constitutes a felony crime - punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of 3 times the cost to the government (plus $10,000) to prosecute.

Cuomo was informed of this criminal scheme in 2005 while he held the office of NYS Attorney General AND was the (self-proclaimed) 'People's Lawyer'.

In responding to a criminal complaint against these SUNY officials he claimed; to investigate the actions of SUNY officials would present a 'conflict of interest' - both SUNY and the AG's office being state agencies. Yet in his sworn (under oath) testimony before Congress he specifically stated he'd investigated "the state university system of New York" for defrauding SUNY students on college loans (the 'Predatory Lender' scandal). See - http://youtu.be/NejE6c-5n_U at 9:30 minutes.

So is Andrew Cuomo New York's white knight or Elliot Spitzer's protege?

And will ANYONE in law enforcement come to the aid of these students to punish their 'financial rapists'? From the responses given by US Attorney's, US DOE, the FBI and White House staff - not bloody likely!When your 'average Joe' is found to have lied under oath - especially before... more

lp115lp
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Sometimes Teacher’s Have To Strike

The following is an article I was forwarded about the SFUSD Teachers that are planning... more

baghdadbythebay
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18 days ago
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Article: Australia: Police attack protesters at Sydney University

students beginning to organize around the globe, it's time to help them out NOW

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21 days ago
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