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Should Public Schools Hold Graduations at Churches?
Public school graduations are being criticized for violating the separation of church and education mandate. Learn about the controversy facing cap and gowns in church.

When it comes times for public school graduates to march up the aisle to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance," the venue for the ceremony becomes an issue. Many high schools do not boast a large enough gymnasium or auditorium to house a significant number of graduates and family members, and outdoor stadiums are always vulnerable to stormy weather. Public venues, like professional arenas, can be quite costly to rent, leading some schools to look for affordable alternatives within the community.

In some cities, the apparent solution has been to hold graduation ceremonies in large church buildings, and pastors have been more than happy to offer their spaces to neighboring schools. However, public school graduations in churches have raised questions across the country about the separation of church and state. In fact, some schools have actually found themselves in the midst of court proceedings as a result of inadvertently combining religion with public education.

This video looks at the issue of separation of church and state in our public schools.

A Fight at First Cathedral

First Cathedral, a non-denominational megachurch in Connecticut had opened its doors to no less than five high school graduations in previous years, according to an article in USA Today. The expansive church was chosen by the schools both for comfort and affordability.

However, not all the students and parents were comfortable holding a graduation ceremony in

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Growing Trend: Public Schools are Soliciting Churches and Businesses for Money

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Growing Trend: Public Schools are Soliciting Churches and Businesses for Money
Public schools are becoming creative in fundraising in the midst of major budget crises. Learn about how they are selling ad space to companies and sponsorships to churches in exchange for school supplies and money.

With schools across the country facing severe budget cuts due to the current economic slowdown, some are getting creative in their money-raising efforts. As home values plummet and residents are forced to relocate, many school districts are forced to cut their budgets by as much as 10% or more. This means that many schools must choose between cutting funding for much needed supplies and programs and reducing staff.

However, by finding new ways to raise money, from partnering with local churches to selling advertising on school buses, districts are finding ways to get the money they need to provide supplies and staffing to their students.

The Church Connection

Churches have a mission to help people in need. Schools have become quite needy, with severe budget cuts that prohibit them from providing even the basics to their students. It appears that at least one public school in Florida has recognized the connection between the two.

Combee Elementary School in Lakeland, Florida, has been "adopted" by the First Baptist Church at the Mall, according to a recent report on the Wall Street Journal. The local church has stocked a resource room with $5,000 worth of supplies for the school and continues to meet with the school principal to identify additional needs and try to meet them.

In exchange for its financial assistance, the church gains access to families in the community, according to church pastors. Pastor Dave McClamma told the WSJ, "We have inroads

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Banning Sports Drinks

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Banning Sports Drinks
Gatorade may no longer be present on public school campuses, thanks to bans in California and potentially nationally. Learn about the movement and why public schools are saying goodbye to Gatorade on campus.

Gatorade has long been touted as the sports drink of the American athlete, from the traditional dunking of the pro football coach after a victory to professional NBA players making appearances in Gatorade commercials. Beverages are popular in school vending machines today, particularly since soda has been removed from most of the hallowed halls of secondary academia.

However, if these beverages really good for you, why are more lawmakers pushing to have them banned from school along with the caramel-colored, carbonated counterparts?

Bidding Farewell in California?

According to a recent report in the L.A. Times, the state senate in California and the Assembly's Education Committee recently passed SB1255 to remove Gatorade and other sugar-laden sports drinks from schools. The bill, originally introduced by former bodybuilder and current Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, will next go to the Assembly Health Committee for approval.

Why the attack on seemingly innocent and colorful sports beverages? It turns out these drinks boast a powerful punch of sugar and sodium, which may counter the potential health benefits for most children. Despite the abundance of electrolytes in the formulas, these beverages can also contribute to the obesity problem in this country, and they may even raise the risk of high blood pressure issues in younger patients, thanks to the high sodium content.

This video explains how sports drinks are loaded with sugar that kids just don’t need when they get out and play.

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Missing Children: Why Public Schools Need to Improve Security Policies

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Missing Children: Why Public Schools Need to Improve Security Policies
Learn about the case of Kyle Horman, a child who went missing while on campus, and how this tragedy is prompting public schools to reevaluate their security measures.

Most parents worry about their children being victimized by the class bully or getting hurt on the playground. Few consider the possibility of a child disappearing while on or near school property. However, that is precisely what happened in an Oregon community recently, and it has school officials and parents alike wondering what can be done to enhance children's safety at school.

The Story of Kyron Horman

Kyle Horman is a second-grader at Skyline Elementary School in Portland. He was last seen by his step-mother heading down the school hallway to his classroom on June 4, according to a recent report on ABC News. However, when young Kyron did not get off the bus later that afternoon, his family discovered that he had never made it into his class that day. Although the teacher marked Kyron absent, the school never notified his parents. That oversight resulted in hours passing before a search could be launched for this little boy.

Horman was at school early that morning to show off his science fair project on tree frogs. Because the science fair was attended by many students and family members, there were many more people in the school than usual in the early morning hours. The school does not have video cameras and is set on the edge of deep woods, where it would be fairly easy for a little boy to disappear or for someone to hide him for a period of time.

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Gifted and Talented Kindergarteners: Right or Wrong?

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Gifted and Talented Kindergarteners: Right or Wrong?
Should kindergarteners take admission exams and IQ tests to demonstrate their "gifted" abilities? Learn about the growing trend and the ramifications of gifted early education.

Every parent believes his child is the smartest in the class, but what happens when you really do have a kid who is head-and-shoulders above the rest academically? Most teachers and parents believe that to adequately challenge these children, there must be accelerated programs to accommodate them. Hence, the gifted and talented program was born.

Children who belonged in this upper echelon were usually identified in the schools, by the teachers who worked with them every day. However, many parents also got quite busy behind the scenes, ensuring their children met the requirements for special programs that would increase their odds of success later in life. In fact, numerous children are receiving preparation for gifted and talented programs long before their feet even touch the hallowed halls of academia.

Track for Success

According to an article in New York Magazine, many residents of the Big Apple are whipping their children into academic shape as early as their preschool years. The competition for the limited number of slots in selective elementary schools across the city has led parents into a frenzy of preparation shortly after children learn to walk and talk. It is not unusual for parents to hire tutors and test their children's IQs long before enrolling them in New York schools.

Because the competition at many of these stellar schools is so stiff, few will look at children who

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