The Pros and Cons of Allowing Cell Phones in School

One of the more controversial and most discussed issues that school administrators face on a daily basis is where they stand with students and cell phones. It seems that virtually every school takes a different stance on the issue of cell phones  in school. No matter what your school’s policy is, there is no way to completely keep all students from bringing their phones unless you do student searches every day, which is simply not feasible. Administrators must evaluate the pros and cons of allowing cell phones in schools and make a decision based on their own student population. The fact is that almost every household owns multiple cell phones.   The age of students who own a cell phone has progressively been trending downward.   It has become increasingly common for students as young as five to possess a cell phone. This generation of students are digital natives and thus experts when it comes to technology. Most of them can text with their eyes closed. They are often far more adept than most adults at using their cell phones for many purposes. Should Cell Phones Be Banned or Embraced in Schools? There are essentially three core stances most school districts have taken with their cell phone policies. One such policy basically bans their students from having their cell phones at all. If students are caught with their cell phones, then they can be confiscated or fined. In some cases, the student may be suspended. Another common cell phone policy allows students to bring their cell phones to school. Students are allowed to use them during non-instructional times such as time in between classes and lunch. If students are caught with them in class, then they are confiscated from the student. Another cell phone policy is leaning towards a shift in administrators thinking. Students are not only allowed to possess and use their cell phones, but theyre also encouraged to use them in class as learning tools.   Teachers incorporate the use of cell phones regularly into their lessons for purposes such as research. Districts that ban their students from having their cell phones or limit their usage do this for a variety of reasons. Those include not wanting it to make it easy for students to cheat, being afraid that students are sending inappropriate content, playing games, or even setting up drug deals. Teachers also feel like they are distracting and disrespectful. All of these are valid concerns and are why this is such a hot issue among school administrators. The movement towards embracing the use of cell phones by students begins with educating students on proper use of phones at school. Administrators who are shifting towards this policy often say that they are fighting an uphill battle with a policy that has a complete or partial ban on cell phone possession and use. Administrators who have transitioned to this type of policy say that their job has become much easier and that they have far fewer issues of cell phone abuse than they did under other policies. This type of policy also clears the way for teachers to embrace cell phones as an instructional tool. Teachers who have elected to use cell phones in their daily lessons say that their students are actively engaged and more attentive than they typically are. A cell phone can be a powerful educational tool. Smartphones have the ability to provide students with so much information in an instant that teachers cannot deny that they can be powerful tools that enhance learning in the classroom. Many teachers are using them for a variety of purposes such as small group projects with research races or text competitions for correct answers. The website polleverywhere.com allows teachers to pose a question to their students.   The students then text their answers to a particular number that the teacher provides them. The website collects the data and puts it into a graph, where teachers can project their answers on a smart board and discuss the answer choices with the class. The results of these activities have been very positive. Teachers, administrators, and students have all provided positive feedback. Many teachers and students would argue that it is time to move into the 21st century and begin using the resources we have available to engage our students in the learning process more readily.

Make Your Own Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Some commercial hand sanitizer contains ingredients as scary as the germs they protect you from, so why not make your own hand sanitizer from ingredients you select? This is an excellent project for kids as well as adults since the project can be expanded to include a discussion about hygiene and disinfection. Youll save money, protect yourself from germs, and can customize the scent of the hand sanitizer so it doesnt smell medicinal. Homemade Hand Sanitizer Ingredients 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol1/3 cup aloe vera gel8-10 drops essential oil, optional (such as lavender, vanilla, peppermint, grapefruit)bowl and spoonfunnelrecycled liquid soap or hand sanitizer bottle Make Hand Sanitizer Nothing could be easier! Simply mix the ingredients together and then use the funnel to pour them into the bottle. Screw the pump back onto the bottle and youre ready to go. How It Works The active ingredient in this hand sanitizer recipe is the alcohol, which needs to comprise at least 60% of the product in order to be an effective disinfectant. Essential Oils in Hand Sanitizer In addition to adding fragrance to your hand sanitizer, the essential oil you choose may also help protect you against germs. For example, thyme and clove oil have antimicrobial properties. If you are using antimicrobial oils, only use a drop or two, since these oils tend to be very powerful and might irritate your skin. Other oils, such as lavender or chamomile, may help soothe your skin.

Private School Vouchers Essay - 2547 Words

Proposals to use private school vouchers, a marketplace strategy, as a mechanism by which to improve the general quality of public education have produced a lively debate. Frequently, that debate has degenerated into a disagreement about whether public schools are as good as private schools or whether a given private school is better than a certain neighborhood public school. Other issues raised in these discussions include the appropriate use of public funds, the role of competition in improving public education, and the right of parents to choose a school for their children. Although these issues are of interest, they are not the fundamental questions which must be raised about the future of public schools in a democracy.Two Core Issues†¦show more content†¦The Thompson proposal for Wisconsins schools embraces this belief system it is a denial of the fundamental role of public education in affirming the public good.A second issue which remains unexamined in the rush to the marketplace concerns the claims offered in defense of private school choice. Choice is offered as a quot;lesson learnedquot; rather than a proposition to be examined. Advocates of private school choice have ignored its history. Despite the claims made for a market-based school restructuring strategy, the history of choice does not support the claims of its proponents.A Declaration of CrisisWillingness to abandon strong support for public schools and to turn to marketplace solutions is driven by a crisis rhetoric. This rhetoric, which suggests that public education is failing, is not only misleading, it is dangerous because it may erode public confidence in the very institutions on which our capacity for a democratic response depends.Criticism of public education has continued unabated since the publication of A Nation At Risk in 1983. Stimulated in large part by new international economic realities, by a domestic economy based on traditional production models, and by changing domestic demographics, the critics have sought solutions to these challenging problems by turning to schools and educators. The data cited by critics of public schools were accepted at face value until the late 1980s. However, sinceShow MoreRelatedNation At Risk Gave Rise To Two Major Education Reform974 Words   |  4 Pagesgave rise to two major education reform movements; accountability and school choice. Federal government started thinking about testing, and standardization, which resulted in No Child Left Behind (N CLB), and Race to the Top. McGuinn’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB), describes the politics of accountability as setting a standard for teachers, testing students to see if the schools meet the set standards, and then holding the schools and teachers accountable for not achieving those standards by creatingRead MoreBusting Unions For Fighting Reform Policies784 Words   |  4 Pagesreform programs, including voucher programs, charter schools, and merit pay programs, there is also evidence where teachers’ unions have supported new reforms. They have introduced new charter schools and have based salaries on merit pay programs. Former NEA president Bob Chase delivered a speech in 1997 claiming that the NEA was on the forefront of education reform. He stated that the NEA invested 70 million dollars on reform initiatives and sponsored six charter schools across the country (ChaseRead More School Vouchers Essay1467 Words   |  6 PagesSchool Vouchers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  School vouchers can be described as financial funding given to students who elect not to attend public schools. Therefore the government would not be spending money educating that student in a public school. A school voucher is the allotment of money that the government would have used for that student to attend public school. This money is then given to the family of the student to help fund the education of that student. This money cannot be used for anything other thanRead More School Vouchers Essay1739 Words   |  7 Pagesthe issue of school vouchers. The two sides have remained deeply entrenched in their rival positions concerning this issue. Some wonder about the practicality of using the vouchers, while others wonder if it is defeating the purpose of the educational system. Educational vouchers can be very beneficial for both the student and even the school districts involved in the program. Many people do not realize the benefits of this program. Educat ional vouchers are something that many school districts needRead MoreCritical Analysis of Problems and Issues in Education Essay examples1547 Words   |  7 PagesThe School Voucher program was designed to give families a choice about where their children could go to school. The program offered a fixed dollar amount each year to put toward a child’s tuition. Their choices ranged from private or parochial schools, these are schools that many of these children may not experience otherwise. Charter schools were also options because they are run much like private schools. The thought behind voucher programs is that a sense of competition would be created. TheRead MoreEssay about Vouchers and School Choice - Vouchers are Not the Solution1296 Words   |  6 PagesSchool Vouchers: Not the Solution       As standardized test scores continue to plummet and our nation falls farther behind such industrial rivals as Germany, England, Australia and Japan in comparable education, parents are questioning the current system of education. After being kicked around the national agenda for decades, the school voucher issue is finally being emphasized in several state legislatures, as well as in Congress. In the website titled Vouchers: No, but...Taxpayer Help toRead MoreEducation in America1590 Words   |  7 PagesEducation in America: Failing Schools Education in America is one of the most important issues that face our nation. If the education in America is not thought of one of most serious issues we face, our nation as a whole will fall. There are many debates and they seemly extend to all walks of life. The debates range from the decline in education, school vouchers, and the no child left behind law. As a nation, the United States is ranked above others. We must search for that solutionRead More The School Voucher Debate Essay2167 Words   |  9 PagesThe School Voucher Debate In the education community, few issues stir up as much debate as the notion of providing government-funded aid, in the form of vouchers, to parents so that they may send their children to private schools. The voucher movement has been gaining momentum since Wisconsin implemented the first voucher program in 1990, but only few states have adopted such programs. Although the courts have upheld the constitutionality of vouchers, there is still a lack of consensus amongstRead More School Vouchers: Parents Need a Choice Essays4617 Words   |  19 Pagesall people. Chief Justice Clarence Thomas, in a 2002 ruling, stated reasons why school choice should be protected under the 14th Amendment. Justice Thomas wrote in defense of school choice, â€Å"Whatever the textual and historical merits of incorporating the Establishment Clause, I can accept that the Fourteenth Amendment protects religious liberty rights. But I cannot accept its use to oppose neutral programs of school choice through the incorporation of the Establishment Clause. There would be aRead MoreEssay Will School Vouchers Improve Public Schools?1082 Words   |  5 Pagesthe discussion on voucher schools directly affects our youth, the very foundation of our country. Many cities across the United States have proposed school voucher programs in an effort to improve the education of inner-city children that come from low-income families. However, with this proposition arises certain questions that cannot be avoided. Although proponents of school vouchers argue differently, challenger s of the system expressly state that the taxpayer-funded voucher system infringes upon

Achondroplasia Essay Example For Students

Achondroplasia Essay AchondroplasiaThere are many conditions and diseases that can cause short stature, dwarfism. Some of these conditions involve a bone disorder the bones do not grow and develop normally. These conditions are called skeletal dysplasias or chondrodystrophies. People with these conditions of short stature often refer to themselves as dwarfs, little people, or short-statured persons. More than 100 skeletal dysplasias have been discovered. Of these, achondroplasia is the most common. It occurs in all races and with equal frequency in males and females, but is a rare disease. An individual with achondroplasia has disproportionate short stature, which means the head is large and the arms and legs are short compared, to the chest. This shortness is particularly noticeable in the upper arms and thighs. Other signs are a large forehead, a flat or even depressed area at the base of the nose, a protruding jaw, and sometimes the teeth are crowded and the upper and lower teeth may be badly aligned. An adult with achondroplasia usually has an exaggerated forward curve to the lower spine. The legs of a person with achondroplasia almost always become bowed and the elbows often cannot be straightened completely. Sometimes the person has limited twisting ability at the elbows. The hands are short, and the feet are short and flat. Another sign is double jointedness, caused by loose ligaments in some joints. Achondroplastic children can flex their finger, wrist, hip, and knee joints to an extreme degree because of this. These signs are usually apparent at birth, and ach ondroplasia can be diagnosed at that time. Affected men average 51.8 inches in height, while women average 48.6 inches. There is no relationship between the height of the parents and the adult height of their children with achondroplasia. Children with achondroplasia develop slower. It takes them along time to gain proper head control, because of the extremely large head the neck muscles have to be strong enough to support it. Children with achondroplasia commonly get middle-ear infections in the first five or six years of life, probably due to abnormal drainage of the tube from the middle ear to the throat. Weight control is a frequent and lifelong problem for many people with this disorder. Both children and adults must be careful of what they eat because they are prone to add excess weight. The basic cause is faulty development of the bone structure. If these infections are not recognized and treated, or are resistant to treatment, the child may sustain significant hearing loss. Dental problems caused by overcrowding of teeth (especially those of the upper jaw) may occur. Malocclusion often results and makes good oral hygiene difficult. In addition to ordinary dental care, orthodontic treatment may be necessary. Th e large head seen in achondroplasia is often confused with hydrocephalus (water on the brain). Hydrocephalus may develop in achondroplasia, but it rarely requires surgical treatment. It is important to measure the young childs head circumference regularly to distinguish hydrocephalus from normal head growth. Young children with achondroplasia are at increased risk for specific neurologic and respiratory problems. These result from smaller openings in the skull, particularly at the foramen magnum (or large window) at the base of the skull. In some cases, surgery is required to enlarge this opening and relieve pressure on the base of the brain and spinal cord. Common orthopedic problems in childhood include a reverse curvature (kyphosis) of the lower spine in infancy, and bowed legs, which may develop any time after children begin to walk. The spinal kyphosis usually resolves without treatment, but may require bracing or surgery if it persists. Bowed legs may be treated by bracing or orthopedic surgery. Older children and adults frequently experience fatigue, numbness, or pain in the lower back and thighs. Often these complaints are simple muscular problems that do not require special care. If they are persistent or severe, the person should be evaluated by a physician, perhaps a neurologist. Nerve or spinal-cord problems are common because of the narrow spinal canal, particularly in the lower back. .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 , .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .postImageUrl , .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 , .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636:hover , .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636:visited , .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636:active { border:0!important; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636:active , .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636 .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u317502fc58c48dce311d6860b7fa2636:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: John Berger and History EssayMutations within a single gene cause achondroplasia. The condition may be passed from one generation to the next or it may result from a new mutation in a