About Public Schools

Today's global economy is highly dependent on technology and engineering, and the countries that can produce the most knowledgeable workforce in these areas will surely be the free world's future leaders. However, test scores have indicated that schools across the United States are far from prepared to embrace the needs of tomorrow by training today's workforce. To answer the call, some schools are revamping their educational priorities to educate a new generation of leaders with highly desired innovation and problem-solving skills. STEM schools are one of the latest educational trends to sweep the country, and this article looks closely at what these schools do to train the next generation of workers and leaders in the United States.

What is STEM?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, which are the focus subjects in STEM schools today. According to the National Governor's Association, the new global economy requires states to prepare a workforce with the skills and knowledge necessary to compete on a much broader spectrum. The key to developing workers with the innovation, creativity, self-reliance, and problem-solving skills necessary for the modern workforce is a focus on the STEM competencies from when students enter kindergarten until they graduate from high school.

Despite the need for STEM competencies in school today, many of the districts across the country are not yet making the grade. The NGA report cites that results from the 2003 Third International Mathematics and Science Study show that 8^th

As budgets grow smaller for school districts around the country, classroom sizes continue to grow larger in many areas. While increasing the size of a classroom can be an effective way for penny-pinching school districts to save a significant amount of money, parents and educators alike are concerned about the impact of larger classrooms on the learning environment and the quality of education overall. Do larger classrooms really translate to a lower standard of learning? This article takes a look at some of the school districts forced to consider this difficult decision, as well as data regarding student performance in larger classes.

Spokane Increasing Class Sizes, to the Concern of Parents and Teachers

Washington has one of the largest average classroom sizes in the country today, but this state may be forced to increase classes once again in some areas if they are going to balance tight budgets. According to a report at the Spokesman-Review, the Spokane Public Schools board of directors recently voted to increase the size of classes as a way to deal with a potential budget crisis. The move could save the school district between $9 and $12 million, but not everyone is pleased about the idea.

Cindy Simonson, a third-grade teacher in the district, told the Spokesman, "We do character education, but we were trained to teach academic material. It's sort of incomprehensible about how you are going to do it [with more kids]. You want to be there

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas naturally found in the environment. It is found in all 50 states, but some states have more of a radon problem than others. Homeowners in the particularly problematic states are encouraged to test their homes for radon and make necessary adjustments if higher than normal levels of the gas are found. However, during the school year, students and staff spend at least as much time at school as they do at home. Are the schools testing for radon? Let's take a look and see.

The Dangers of Radon

Radon originates in granite deposits located deeply underground. The gas can get into buildings by seeping in through cracks in the foundation, openings around drains, or under basement slabs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is one of the most serious health problems facing our population today. While this gas does not pose immediate health risks the way carbon monoxide does, over time, radon exposure can significantly increase one's risk for lung cancer. In fact, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in this country, right behind cigarette smoke.

Radon gas decays overtimes, evolving into radioactive particles that can get into lung tissue and cause damage. Over time, this damage can lead to some types of lung cancer. The EPA cites three factors that determine your risk of lung cancer from radon exposure:

• The level of radon you are exposed to
• The duration of your exposure
• Your smoking

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, and the incidences of diseases related directly to weight continue to rise. To help combat this problem, English chef Jamie Oliver has created his own form of "reality television," heading into the lunchrooms of public schools across the country in an attempt to transform the way Americans look at and eat foods from a young age. Oliver's program, "Food Revolution," spent its first season inside schools in West Virginia, transforming school lunches and breakfasts into healthier fare. During the second season, Oliver planned to bring his healthy food program to schools in Los Angeles – but sometimes, things don't go quite the way we plan.

The Conflict

Jamie Oliver had planned to head into the school cafeterias in Los Angeles in a similar fashion to the way he moved into West Virginia schools – getting a full assessment of the current condition of lunches and breakfasts served through the school system. However, Los Angeles schools were not as willing to comply with Oliver's requests, and his cameras were denied access completely to any Los Angeles school cafeterias. Administrators for the schools said on a Wall Street Journal blog that previous negative experience with reality TV shows left them unwilling to bring any more drama to the Los Angeles school stage.

"This is not a boutique cafe operation," outgoing Los Angeles Unified

KIPP schools, part of the Knowledge is Power Program, were lauded in the film, "Waiting for Superman," as a model for other public schools to follow. The higher graduation rates, even in some of the poorer areas of the country, seem to point to the benefits of longer school days and a few weeks of summer school to help kids catch up on their studies. However, recent reports about KIPP school results are casting some doubt on the results these schools have boasted.

Demographic Questions

A recent study conducted by Western Michigan University and Columbia University's Teachers College in New York suggest that the stellar graduation rates seen in KIPP schools may be due more to attrition than to teaching methodology. According to a report at Bloomberg, KIPP schools may even "cherry pick" their student population, with lessdisabled students or children with limited English skills than other schools in their area. In addition, the new study found that the per-student funding may also be higher in KIPP schools.

Gary Miron, the lead author of the study, said that while KIPP schools do have above-average academic performance with a predominantly poor student body, the students that attend these schools may not be as indicative of the demographics of the district as once thought. Miron told Bloomberg, "There's a perception that KIPP is a model for turning around troubled schools. That's a myth."

Attrition Problems

One of the