Bullying in schools

In Georgia schools everyday students are harassed and bullied. There was a recent article on 11 Alive News in Georgia discussing different types of bullying violating the laws in place in GA. It is very prevalent and has become very dangerous but how do counselors and teachers decide when it is time to take action?

That is the plaguing question which, so often, results in late action. Teachers and other administrators are too busy trying to decipher the difference between harassment bullying versus innocent banter. Anytime the topics of banter include race or sexual-orientation it’s obvious the innocent banter has gotten out of control. Many schools have failed to stop this ‘innocent banter’ on sensitive topics like these and it resulted in deaths of children at young ages!!

Do you remember Jaheem Herrera? He was a 10 year old DeKalb County student who took his life as a result of bullying. His mother informed the school of the issue but it was too late. The damage had been done. Unfortunately this has become common and the ages of children taking their lives as a result of school bullying are getting lower. Something has to be done.

As educators, especially school counselors, any complaint of bullying received from students must be considered immediately and examined. Waiving off bullying as innocent banter when a child is complaining can place the school in a bad position and even worse, result in the loss of another child. It is impossible to catch everything but there are ethical obligations as counselors and educators to listen and take seriously the complaints of students. Sometimes students won't seek help but often educators and counselors can spot bullying. It is important that it is addressed even if the child does not seek help.

It's easy to brush it off and say ‘that's just kids being kids’. It happens all the time. Unfortunately, as a result of this brush off children are suffering. Some students never get over one harsh comment made to them about their appearance, race or sexual orientation among other things. It's not easy and sometimes impossible to get every bullying situation under control but it is important that we do our best.

Check out this video for more information. 

Vote for a better education

It’s that time again. Local/State elections are here and it’s time to vote. Changes have been made in Georgia that have really affected people personally. Specifically in education; schools have been closed, teachers and administration terminated and many have been forced to take furlough days. Although Georgia officials have claimed that furlough days are a thing of the past and that the worst is behind us, it is imperative that the people vote.

This year in DeKalb County, as well as the other counties in GA, elections will be held for school board members and superintendents. Please take the time to check out the candidates and understand what they are about. These future leaders will help make decisions about your child’s education. As is said over and over again, you cannot complain if you do not vote.

Candidates for state representatives are just as important. These future leaders will be our voice in the senate and congress. Check them out and see what their platforms are. Remember that most of the candidates will speak about education because it has taken such a huge setback in Georgia but be sure to search for specific plans for the betterment of the education system.

Each county should provide a website with information on voting sites, candidates and dates. Please take advantage of these websites to get as much information as you can. Remember early voting in Georgia ends on Friday, October 29, 2010. You will have another chance to vote on Election Day, November 2, 2010.

Please click here for more information on DeKalb County voting.

Please click here for more information on Fulton County voting.

Please click here for more information on Gwinnett County voting.

Please click here for more information on Cobb County voting.

Please click here for more information on Clayton County voting.

Racial bias in standardized tests

Standardized tests are everywhere. They start in grade school and are administered until you decide you no longer want to get a formal education. They define, promote, advance, open doors, close doors and many other things that can dictate a future for a student. So think about a world where standardized tests were not designed with your culture or race in mind. Think about the idea of trying everything to score high on the SAT but realizing on average your scores are automatically at least one standard deviation or 100 points lower than those of the dominate race.

This is the case for minority (Black and Latino/Latina) students. Dr. Janet Helms has done several studies and lectures on this very topic. She discusses this issue in her books and particularly her recent speech, Solving the Mystery of Racial Bias in Testing. Dr. Helms mentions that no research or book has solved this mystery. The only thing that she has been able to show that could possibly make this issue a non-issue is to give Black students the opportunity to be White students.

This sounds crazy but in order to close the gap of this discrepancy in test scores minority students, specifically Black and Latino/Latina, must not feel the pressure of being a minority. The feelings of needing to work twice as hard, understanding that their race automatically puts them at a disadvantage and wondering what it would be like to be a majority or White has to be removed and they must practically “be White”. According to many counselors and psychologists the relief of knowing that no matter what, if you try hard you will receive a fair chance, removes many psychological factors that can affect students test-taking.

Since it is understood that changing the psychological make-up of a person is not a possibility for all minority students it should be also understood that something must be done to change the outcome of standardized tests and make sure they account for minority students specifically Black and Latino/Latina. As parents, teachers, students and administrators your voices can change what is taking place. Yes, there is still more research to be done but understanding that racial bias exists presents the possibility of finding a solution. Our children deserve a search for a solution.

Check out some SAT scores here.

Examiner.com

Hey folks!!! Guess what?! I am now a writer for the Examiner.com. You will see some articles that I post there on here as well. Please check me out here and subscribe. I'll be back soon with another article. Thanks for your support!!!!!

Did Your Child's School Make AYP?

AYP or Adequate Yearly Progress was a program designed during the Bush administration as a part of the "No Child Left Behind Act". It was designed to ensure that all students excel in the areas of reading/language arts and mathematics. It also measures graduation rates for high schools and attendance rates for elementary and middle schools. This year (2009/10) out of 133 schools in DeKalb County 50 did not make AYP. That's almost 38%!! This was based on academic performance alone. I don't know about you but I believe that is an astounding number. This means that according to federal standards the students are not equipped with enough academic knowledge to pass these standardized tests. So, what do we do? There is no easy answer for that question. I am pretty sure all of the schools that did not make AYP this year are asking the same questions. As many of you know Georgia also has CRCT, which is another group of standardized tests that students must pass. So are teachers to spend the majority of their time preparing their students for these standardized tests or are they to focus on making sure they understand the lesson each day? Do they both go hand in hand?
Do you know that there are some students who just don't do well on standardized tests? It doesn't matter how much they practice or how much they know they do not perform well under pressure. So, what do we do about those students? There are schools are the verge of being shut down in DeKalb Co. because they have never made AYP or have not passed more than twice in a row. I believe there are solutions. I do believe that yearly progress reports are good because they hold schools (administrators and teachers) accountable for the success of their school but these reports must take into consideration the demographics of the community. The majority of DeKalb Co students are black. So, are we saying that students of color just can't cut it academically, of course not. That idea alone is preposterous. So, it should be our goal to figure out the reason why 50 of our schools cannot make AYP. Do we need to change the teachers, the administrators, get the parents more involved? Let's figure it out and get it done!

For more information about AYP click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adequate_Yearly_Progress.
Also to check out your schools AYP results in GA click here http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/

Is Education Really Free?

Lately, I have been reading and watching documentaries on Education. More and more people are talking about the price of education. It's a well known fact, of course, that many counties in metro Atlanta, have been dealing with budget cuts and it has taken its toll on the educational system. A system that was designed to offer a place for mental development, whether socially or academically is being placed on the back burner due to a lack of funding. Students walk into classes with books that their parents used and possibly grandparents too! It baffles me. We encourage children to continue to come to class because of the possibilities available but yet we fail, time and time again, to offer them what they deserve. There are even teachers and administrators telling their students that "there is just not enough money". As a student I would think, "Isn't education supposed to be free. Of course we understand as adults that nothing in life is really free but seriously how do you explain to a 7 year old that in order to get better books and smaller classes your parents need to pay to send you to a private school? There has to be a way to change this fact.
Unfortunately some students are paying everyday for this so-called "free education". They may not be writing checks or paying as they enter the door. But every time they have to tape books together, continue to use chalkboards, sit in broken desks and cram into a classroom with 40 other students, they are paying. So, I ask again, Is Education Really Free?

How to Survive Without a Job | eHow.com

How to Survive Without a Job | eHow.com

Thankful

So, since my unemployment, I have started watching Roots. This is an epic depiction of the beginning slavery and the history of many Black and White people across the world. I remember when I first saw this many years ago; it only made me angry. As I grew older I begin to understand a little more. Now, at age 28, I watch the series with a slightly different mind set. It still saddens me and sometimes evokes stronger feelings but more than anything it makes me thankful. Most people watch Roots and see the sufferings of Black people and never see anything else. Do you know what I see? I see how White Americans understood the power of education. They knew that one educated Black person could be the downfall of their entire income in the south. EDUCATION was just as powerful then as it is now. We don't think twice when we wake up in the mornings and send our children off to school. Or get in the car to drive to campus for our college education. Or get a full scholarship to an Ivy League school. I encourage you to think about the power of education as you utilize it everyday. Parents, as you take your children to school remember to participate in their school activities because there was once a time when this was not possible. Children as you sit in your classrooms with classmates and friends of different cultural backgrounds take advantage of learning new things about them. Instead of wasting time bullying others for their differences learn more about them. There were times when the fascination of other cultures was just that, a fascination. We did not have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and ways in one setting. Now we can. Be thankful for the freedom that education has presented. I know there is still so much more to be done within education but it takes interest. One person has to show an interest and then two and then three and so forth and so on. Get interested while it's still free because it could be gone in an instant.

The Beginning

Hello Everyone!!!

For those of you that don't know me let me start with a brief introduction. I have just embarked on the the greatest adventure of my life. What is that you may ask? The path of unemployment! I have never felt so secure in my life. Now, don't get me wrong, I want to work eventually but never again will I work how I have always worked. You know what I mean, subject to incompetent people, not enhancing the life's of others around you by the work you do. It's awful!! I feel so free!

I am currently a Masters student @ University of West GA getting my degree in school counseling. The education field is where it's at! I am so excited. I cannot wait to start that career and begin changing the lives of students one child at a time. Ok, I know you are thinking, "This girl is so cliche'". But really I'm not. I am just really passionate about education and how it can change the life of a person, especially children. I have seen how a crappy education or no education at all can affect the choices a child makes as they enter the real world. I have to make a difference. So, it makes me quote little cliche's sayings because I really believe they are true. If you can go over your education, specifically elementary, middle and high school, you know you can remember the teacher, counselor or principal that initially changed your outlook on school. I am telling you, it changes lives. I cannot wait to be apart of it and I cannot wait to continue sharing my journey with you.

So, take this journey with me. It will definitely be worth it! This weekend I plan to watch, Waiting for Superman, you should too. I will definitely blog about it next. Talk to you soon!!!