Local School Topics

Students returning to school after Christmas break may find new condom dispensers in their schools. The district is expanding the availability of free condoms to 22 high schools in the city, choosing schools based on their rates of sexually transmitted diseases. The move has been endorsed by city officials, including the mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter. The pilot program is designed to curb the “epidemic” of sexually transmitted diseases that has swept parts of the city, according to some officials.

This video reports on Philadelphia schools' installation of condom dispensers in 22 high schools.

Concern Leads to New Policy

The dispensers will be installed in the health offices of 22 high schools in the Philadelphia school district, according to the New York Daily News. The schools receiving the dispensers had the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases among students, including gonorrhea and chlamydia. Back in 2010, city officials saw a nearly 50 percent increase in confirmed gonorrhea cases among the city’s youth, which was closely followed by a similar rise in chlamydia cases.

Other reports showed that one in every four Philadelphia residents diagnosed with AIDs was between the ages of 13 and 24. At the same time, the city was reporting these concerning figures, condom use among teens in the city appeared to be on the decline. Dr. Donald Schwartz, the health commissioner for Philadelphia, told the New York Daily

One of the largest and oldest school districts in the country is the School District of Philadelphia. This public school system is the eighth largest school district in the United States, and it dates back nearly two centuries. As such, the district has faced more than a few challenges throughout its long and illustrious history. From the passage of child labor laws at the end of the 19^th century to the restructuring of the governance of the district today, the School District of Philadelphia has seen its share of strife and success.

The Early Years of the School District of Philadelphia

The School District of Philadelphia was established in 1818, although the school board was not created until a number of years later. The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia states that changes in the city at that time prompted the state government to establish a public school district when crime and poverty were becoming huge issues for the growing city. The school system was designed to provide a public education to the city’s poor children after forcing their free entry into private schools did not work as planned.

This video offers a look at one of the early school buildings, the Bok Building.

While the new system was an improvement over what had been established in the past, it still failed to miss the mark in many ways. Some of those problems were answered

The public school system for the Islands of Hawaii is unique in many different respects. First, it is the largest school district west of the Mississippi River. Second, it is the only district that encompasses the entire state, rather than representing a single, defined area of that state. The Hawaii Department of Education is also one of the oldest public school systems west of the Mississippi, with an establishment date that goes all the way back to the middle of the 19^th century.

This video looks at the state of Hawaii's public schools.

Facts and Figures in the Aloha State

Wikipedia states that the Hawaii public school system was first established in 1840, under the monarchy of Kamehameha III. The system grew throughout many decades, and today, the Hawaii Department of Education oversees 286 schools. The department employs approximately 13,000 teachers to instruct more than 180,000 students each year. The majority of the schools are located on Oahu, with the rest spread throughout Maui, Big Island, and Kauai. The district headquarters is also located in Honolulu, on the Island of Oahu.

The Hawaii Department of Education includes 32 charter schools in its total number of public schools. The district has a per-pupil expenditure of more than $11,000, which is relatively high compared to many of the school districts throughout the United States. The Department of Education’s website states that

As the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest school district in the country, Houston Independent School District faces a monumental task. The district serves a widely diverse student population of more than 203,000 in the district’s 279 schools. To meet the needs of so many students, the district provides a range of educational opportunities, including an alternative learning center and online learning options. The district also boasts charter schools, college prep high schools, and a school for the visual and performing arts.

History of Houston Independent School District

Wikipedia states the Houston Independent School District was first established in the 1920s, during a time of exponential growth and change in the state’s school system. Houston ISD replaced the Harrisburg School System after the state legislature voted to separate governance of schools from municipal government responsibilities. The school district boasted a student population of just over 1,800 in 1899 to more than 8,800 by 1927.

During the middle years of the 20^th century, discrimination became an issue for Houston schools. In addition to the separation of African-Americans from white students that was common in southern schools at this time, Mexican Americans that resided in the Houston area also complained of discrimination. The Mexican American community launched a series of protests and boycotts to voice their displeasure with the discrimination practices, particularly in light of the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Eventually, the district successfully

Broward County Public Schools is the second-largest school district in Florida and the sixth-largest in the United States. Broward also boasts the largest, fully-accredited school district in the country. Serving more than 260,000 students in 260 schools, this district has implemented numerous programs to address the needs of all students. From magnet schools to a brand new military academy, this district strives to provide for a diverse student body, preparing them for life after their Broward County Public Schools experience.

The History of Broward County

According to the Broward County Public Schools website, the first two public schools in the county opened in 1899. The first teacher for the county, Ivy Cromartie, taught nine students at one small schoolhouse while Mary Butler greeted another nine students in another. The school was only in session for around six months a year at that time since their parents needed students to help on family farms for the rest of the years.

Schools in the area continued to grow by leaps and bounds over the next few years. By 1914, Fort Lauderdale High School, which was created in 1910, boasted a study population of 325 and a full nine-month school year. Broward County was officially established in 1915, offering firm boundaries for the region. The county was named for the former governor of the state, Napoleon B. Broward. The new county was established, and the official Broward County School System followed, complete with a superintendent, board