10 Ways To Build A Positive Parent-Teacher Relationship

Despite heated negotiations that have taken up most of the summer months, Chicago schools did open on time with a full day of school. The teacher’s union failed to file a10-day intent-to-strike by the deadline that would initiate a strike prior to the first school day. However, the sigh of relief breathed by parents, politicians, and members of the school board did not last long. The intent-to-strike was filed a few days later, which puts a walk-out day for teachers on September 10 if a compromise is not found shortly. If CPS teachers pick up the pickets, kids in Chicago schools will get only about a week of education before the entire system grinds to a halt.

This video reports on the 2012 teachers' strike.

Points of Contention

The Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools have met a total of 46 times in an effort to find a compromise both sides could swallow. A fact-finder was also brought in over the summer to find a solution to the conflict. The fact-finder told the Chicago Sun-Times that the relationship between the two sides was “toxic.” Some of the points of contention that have not been resolved include:

Teacher Recall: The Chicago Tribune reports that the union wants CPS to hire from a pool of teachers who have been laid off by the district, rather than allowing principals to hire

The start of a school year can be an exciting time for kids as new teachers and friends broaden their world in many positive ways. However, the presence of a bully in that world can transform what should be a constructive learning environment into a scary place for kids. With many disturbing reports of suicides recently as a result of bullying, it is important for parents to acknowledge the potential for bullying and take steps toward prevention or dealing with a situation that already exists. Fortunately, there are many positive actions parents can take to protect their children from bullying.

Types of Bullying

The Mayo Clinic lists a number of different types of bullying children might experience today, including the following:

• Physical Bullying – hitting, kicking or other types of aggressive physical behavior
• Verbal Bullying – incessant teasing, name calling, spreading rumors or racial slurs
• Cyber Bullying – tormenting another child through cell phones or the Internet

Children may be bullied through just one of these channels, or a combination. The dangers of cyber bullying are particularly pronounced, since this type of bullying can invade the privacy and safety of the home environment. While bullying that is done at school can be left there at the end of the school day, cyber bullying can become incessant. Psychologists believe that is one of the reasons why cyber bullying has resulted in

A new report issued by the New York Civil Liberties Union indicates that the NYPD is making an average of around four arrests each day in New York City public schools. In addition, the police wrote around seven summons daily for students with less serious infractions. The report has been met with widespread concern, particularly in light of the fact that the large majority of students arrested were students of color. Is the NYPD exercising too much power in the public schools of the city, or are the police merely doing the job they were hired to do? The answer to that question appears to depend on who is asked.

Hundreds of Arrests on Record

The NYCLU recently released its report after conducting an analysis of police activity in the city’s public schools. The agency took advantage of a new city law to compile their report, which requires documentation and disclosure of school safety information, according to a report at SI Live. The report found that during the 2011-2012 school year, the police made a total of 882 arrests of students while the students were at school, with an additional 1,666 summonses issued.

Around 95 percent of the students arrested were black or Hispanic, despite the fact that students of color only make up around 71 percent of the total student population in the city. Of the minority students arrested, 63 percent were black students. Around 48 percent of the summonses issued were to students

The debate over junk food in schools continues to rage in states across the country. Advocates for banning junk food in school districts just got a boost from a recent study that shows laws restricting high-calorie, low-nutrition foods in schools may contribute to lower obesity rates in students. The recently published study suggests that stronger restrictions on the food and beverages served in public schools may indeed contribute to the overall health of the school’s student population.

About the Study

The New York Times reports that the study, which was recently published in the journal “Pediatrics,” found a compelling link between laws restricting junk food sold in vending machines at school and obesity rates for that particular student population. The study tracked 63,000 students over a three-year period. While researchers who completed the study said the positive outcomes among students were still relatively small, the evidence suggests that stricter guidelines on school food offerings could actually curb the youth obesity epidemic currently faced by the United States.

Students were evaluated between fifth grade and eighth grade. The study encompassed 40 states nationwide, ensuring the student populations were accurately represented. Weight changes among students were compared between states that have laws against junk food and sugary beverages in school vending machines, and those that did not. The study also classified laws governing food selections in schools; strong laws were those that completely restricted the sale of junk food and sugary beverages, while weak laws