Kid's Museums

NPR.com has a nice article about museums for kids.

Character Education

For several years I've been receiving issues of a character education publication from the Center for the 4th & 5th Rs at the State University of New York Cortland School of Education. The Fall 2008 issue of the publication provided an interesting article titled Maximizing the Power of Character Through the Integration of Excellence and Ethics by Matt Davidson and Tom Lickona. The article indicates that "All schools face challenges in two critical areas: academic performance and ethical behavior." The articles continues by defining performance challenges to include:

• Motivating all students to do their best and care about the quality of their work
• Improving performance on standardized tests
• Reducing dropouts
• Preparing students for college and/or the workplace

Ethical challenges were cited as:

• Teaching students to respect legitimate authority, rules, and the rights of others
• Preventing peer cruelty
• Promoting academic honesty
• Reducing risky behaviors
• Helping students become responsible citizens

All of this is praiseworthy, but I always find it difficult to talk about character education without the family unit being at the center of the discussion. Moreover, schools are leveled with the responsibility of character education even though a child's character is clearly framed prior to a child's first step onto a school's campus.

I agree schools should assist parents in teaching children positive behavior. The first teacher for this type of education is the family unit, however. If schools are reporting lack of time testable subjects why should they accept an additional challenge as lead teacher for character education. My strong view is that society should force parents to fulfill their duty to education children in character development and let schools return to the "three Rs."

Picture Books on Paper Better than on Computer Screen

A study out of Norway is indicating that our assumption is wrong that nothing is lost when children read from a computer screen as opposed to reading material from paper. This should be good news to children book publishers.

One Laptop Per Child Project

I've been watching the One Laptop Per Child Project for quite a while.. I found it pleasing that the project is continuing and is even expanding to countries outside of Africa according to an article on New Scientist.com.

Initially, I thought the project was odd in that someone was focusing on computers for African children when in many cases those children needed food more than computers. I've had a change of mind after thinking that any needed resource a benefactor can provide is good and trying to work with so many people on a priority for what resources to give, when to provide it, and to whom to give would be a nightmare.

Girls Have Superior Sense Of Taste Compared To Boys

For some reason I've suspected that girls have a more superior sense of taste, on average, than boys. An article in Science Daily provides information concerning a study done in Denmark that supports the idea that girls have a more acute sense of taste. Moreover, the article indicates that boys and girls tend to lean toward different taste directions where in boys seem to prefer sour items more often than girls.

Which Country is #1 in Raising Healthy and Happy Children?

Economist.com is reporting that Save the Children, a British organization, has rated all countries in regard to safe and healthy environments for children. The country on top of the list is Japan. The United States is a bit down the list, however.

Physical Ed for K-5 in Florida

I guess I missed this story in the news when it came out on November 17. The Christian Science Monitor. com is reporting that in Florida "schools must comply with a state law requiring children in kindergarten through fifth grade to receive 30 minutes of continuous physical education every day." I keep thinking that with a bit of imagination, physical fitness activities can be incorporated in each class. Also, I'm wondering how are parents being held accountable for ensuring children are active when away for school since the fight against childhood obesity should start at home not school.

A Father's Presence Makes a Signifcant Difference in a Child's Life

Excuse me for not providing the stats, but I think the situation of fatherless homes with children present has been growing. With that said, the results of a study that indicates the involvement of a father in a child's life has a bearing on the child's later success seem to highlight missed opportunities. There a several interesting findings form the study in an article at NewScientist.com.

MySpace...TheirSpace

By now I'm thinking that most people have heard about the mother (Lori Drew) who created a bogus MySpace identity and eventually harassed a teen who eventually committed suicide after receipt of a depressing email. Lori Drew was convicted of a misdemeanor, not a felony. Background information is here. Quite a few people were angry and thought the outcome was not harsh enough for Ms. Drew.

As the debate continues concerning this case, I think Emily Bazelon at Slate.com was on the right track when she wrote: "Drew was an adult who secretly entered a teenage world and made it more dangerous." My view is slightly different however. I believe Lori Drew is a predator. The only part missing from this case and other predatory cases is the sexual intent. The imbalanced of power/age in the relationship is there, the secret identity by the adult is there, and the intent to do harm to a child is there.

The media is referring to the situation as cyber-bullying, but I think that term is best used when the communication is between children or between adults. An adult-child communication is predatory in my mind.

Testing Genes for Athletic Ability

Would you have your child's DNA tested for a gene that would indicate her or him likely having special athletic ability? Well, several companies have popped up to provide this service. Read more here at Slate.com.