The Canadian Press: Advocates call changes to Sask. Education Act step backward for disabled kids
The Saskatchewan Association for Community Living called the act's description of students with intensive needs discriminatory. What we as an organization, as parents, have been fighting for many years is fully inclusive education," said association president Laurie Larson.
Instead what this piece of legislation has done is gone backwards." Section 178 of Bill 29 adds the definition of "pupils with intensive needs." It addresses issues surrounding the assessment and educational services that may be required for such kids. But Larson called the changes "regressive, shocking and simply unacceptable."
She argued that the bill, which received third reading but has not yet been proclaimed, does not support inclusion. In fact, Larson charged, the bill gives schools the ability to exclude students with disabilities - what she called "an out-of-sight, out-of-mind" approach. It doesn't take into consideration the child's right to be educated," said Larson.
All it says is that if they (school boards) choose not to do it in the classroom, they need to set up a special program which is a step backwards to segregated classrooms and segregated schools." That is a very big concern for us because it most definitely is a step backwards," said Larson, who has two disabled sons.
In a news release, the association said the impact of the legislation would be far-reaching. It said if students with disabilities are not welcome in school for who they are, they will not be welcome in their communities. The group wants the government to amend the legislation to guarantee the right to an inclusive education.
Education Minister Ken Krawetz stood by the legislation Wednesday, saying the changes give school boards more ability to identify a child's requirements based on a needs assessment model. Krawetz disputed suggestions that the changes would lead to the segregation of students with disabilities. The act does not allow for that," said Krawetz. It allows for greater flexibility for the board to meet the needs of children." Hosted by Copyright © 2008 The Canadian Press.
Important keywords of article: the, the legislation, the changes, that the, the bill, called the, the act, the government, the segregation, the canadian
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
In an all parties conference on February 5, 2008, 16 political parties had signed a joint declaration on "Education For All" (EFA), which called for over 10 percent budget allocation for education sector. EFA is an international movement and Pakistan is signatory to the EFA Declaration and it has promised to achieve EFA targets by 2015.
The EFA targets included early childhood and care, primary education for all, life skills, 50 percent increase in adult literacy rate, elimination of gender disparity in education and improving quality of education. It has been internationally recommended that governments should spend at least four percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education. Unfortunately, during the last 10 years, Pakistan has annually spent less than two percent of GDP on average.
During a seminar organised to mark Education For All Week on Wednesday, parliamentarians, policymakers, scholars, educationists and students applauded the government step for discarding two standards of education prevailing in the country. Addressing on the occasion, Federal Minister for Education Ahsan Iqbal said the discrimination in education system could lead to the worst educational apartheid.
Within two years, the ministry would build up the capacity of the government schools up to the international standard so that the elimination of other systems could not affect the system negatively," he said. New education policy: Iqbal said the draft of the new education policy had been prepared which would be finalised after discussions with different segments of society.
We are planning for a two-day national education summit in which literary personnel, educationists and scholars from all across the country would be invited for consultation over the draft," he said. Iqbal said till the end of May the draft would be presented in the National Assembly, which would pass it after debate.
The leaders of all political parties would sign the draft so that it could not be amended for at least next ten years," he said. Iqbal said it was a knowledge revolution era and there was a need to design the curriculum according to new standards and demands. Our curriculum and education system should enhance the creativity of the students as it is an era of inventions and innovations," he said.
One girls school in each union council: Iqbal also said the government would establish at least one girls school in each union council to provide equal opportunities of education to females besides providing incentives to the teachers. Book reading: Department of Libraries Director General Chaudhry Muhammad Nazir said that it was pitiable that the habit of book reading was declining day by day.
Special attention of the government is required to take concrete steps to create awareness about the significance of book reading," he said. Nasir said the government should focus on establishing more libraries to increase the habit of book reading among youth. The parliamentarians present on the occasion included Nuzhat Amir, Pervaiz Khan, Liaquat Mangal Zai and Shakeela Rasheed. They stressed the need for political stability in the country for the success of the government policies. A book fair was also organised on this occasion to mark World Book and Copyright Day.
Books related to different areas of life were displayed in the exhibition. Home Islamabad Share this story!
Important keywords of article: the, the government, of the, said the, the draft, to the, in the, the country, that the, the efa
The Associated Press: Chilean Senate ousts education minister
Provoste is not accused of any wrongdoing, but opposition legislators said she should be held accountable for the alleged mishandling of millions of dollars (euros) of government funds allocated to private schools.
An investigation by the General Comptroller's office showed that steep subsidies were paid to schools that overstated the number of their students. The probe, still in progress, involves some US$580 million (euro360 million). Bachelet's administration and pro-government lawmakers called the ouster politically motivated, and said the irregularities were merely accounting mistakes that are being clarified. The president accused the opposition of wanting to "make a show of political force," and said, "I hope this will not set a bad precedent."
But opposition Sen. Jovino Novoa said Provoste "was informed of the serious situation that was occurring in her ministry and failed for several months to take action." Provoste, 38, claimed she was being persecuted for being "small, dark-skinned, middle-class and indigenous." She is a descendant of Aymara Indians. Hosted by Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press.
Important keywords of article: the, the irregularities, the associated, the serious, the opposition, the ouster, the general, the alleged, the probe, the number
Education review to ease skills shortage - Breaking News - National - Breaking News
Welcome to The Sydney Morning Herald. Skip directly to: Search Box, Section Navigation, Content. Text Version. Addressing the Higher Education HR conference in Sydney on Thursday, Mr O'Connor said the review announced last month by Education Minister Julia Gillard would reverse the skills shortage. It would look at creating high performance institutions and improving the sector's contribution to increased economic productivity and labour market participation, he said.
Increasing productivity will be critical for Australia in the coming years, particularly under the cloud of the current skills shortage," Mr O'Connor said. A lack of investment by the former Liberal government in education and training has left our nation with the biggest shortages in labour ever experienced."
The review would also look at improving university funding arrangements, allow wider access to higher education for students from all backgrounds and ensure high education standards, he said. Our government knows the education system is important not only for its contribution to the economy but also in building critical thinking and giving us a better understanding of our place in the world," Mr O'Connor said. The Sydney Morning Herald.
Important keywords of article: the, to the, the sydney, the review, in the, said the, the world, the economy, the former, the higher
ESPN - Huskies learn to win by any means necessary - Women's College Basketball
For much of the night, in a game against an old rival it knew all too well, Connecticut looked like a team that didn't know where it was going. Then it felt something as comfortably familiar as it was foreign to past Connecticut teams. Geno Auriemma's team felt the wall at its back and knew it had been here before.
After rallying from a 14-point deficit in the first half, the Huskies are headed back to the Final Four for the first time in four years after a 66-56 win against Rutgers. And if the win wasn't exactly scintillating, it was more than satisfying for the architect of a flawed favorite. We don't have all of the answers to every question like we have in other years," Auriemma said. We struggle at times, just like other teams struggle.
But this particular team didn't necessarily get to the Final Four on talent and the experience of having been there and having three or four college All-Americans. This team got there on a lot of intangibles that make you appreciate coaching."
Even after the tide had turned for good in the second half, with the clock ticking down under two minutes to play and Connecticut clinging to a 55-52 lead, Renee Montgomery was dropped to the ground by a solid screen from behind by Kia Vaughn. What was the distraction that prevented her from seeing, or at least sensing, the impending chiropractic event? Her own coach shouting out defensive instructions from the sideline.
It was just that kind of night. I really don't think this was a pretty win for us," Maya Moore said in an understatement worthy of a veteran. This was one of our more ugly, kind of have to grind it out wins." Enlarge AP Photo Sara D.
Davis Maya Moore faced tough pressure all night, but came up with a game-changing 3 when UConn needed it most. A team that entered the game leading the nation in field-goal percentage, and which hit more than half its shots in each of its first three NCAA tournament games, couldn't shoot straight, when it could get shots at all.
And despite the misses, a group that averaged more offensive rebounds than any Connecticut team in recent memory collected a season-low five offensive boards. The Huskies looked least like themselves in the game's opening minutes against a Rutgers defense trying to score an early knockout. Brittany Ray, who started for just the sixth time this season for the Scarlet Knights, face-guarded Moore in a concerted effort to neutralize the Big East Player of the Year.
And with C. Vivian Stringer opting to employ her press more frequently than at any point since she lost Myia McCurdy to a season-ending injury, the Scarlet Knights scored 12 points off turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. That wasn't our best half at all," UConn senior Brittany Hunter said. That was probably the worst half we had all season. And it just sucks because it was the first half, and that's when we usually try to get up on players.
And the score looked too much like that should have been us and not them." As things went from bad to worse early, it was hard not to look at Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene, both out for the season with knee injuries, on the end of the Connecticut bench and wonder if time had finally caught up with a team down two starters. Montgomery and Ketia Swanier missed 9 of 10 shots from behind the arc in the first half, unable to exploit some of the open looks Thomas thrived on for the better part of four seasons.
And minus Greene's inside-outside versatility on the wing, Connecticut lost control of Essence Carson (12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first half) and the glass.
But instead of letting things spiral out of control, as had happened in last year's regional final against LSU, Connecticut began to climb back into the game even before halftime. Charde Houston opened up a stagnant half-court offense and scored eight big points off the bench.
Montgomery came up with two steals and converted in transition. And when Kaili McLaren executed a picture-perfect drop step in the closing seconds and converted, the Huskies found themselves down just 32-27 after once trailing by 14. As they had over the course of an entire season, the Huskies found ways to fight through without two key components on the court.
Enlarge Daniel Plassmann US Presswire UConn's win even left outgoing coach Geno Auriemma at a loss for words. I think a few of us had that spirit more so, but over the course of the year, I think collectively, we developed it even more," Moore said. And I think a big game was North Carolina, where we were down 11 at halftime and we had to fight back.
We saw that we could do it. And just throughout the year, all the other challenges we've had -- the possibility of not having our seniors going to the Final Four -- we had no choice but to be fighters at that point." As Rutgers, by Stringer's own admission, tired down the stretch in the second half, Connecticut made the plays it needed to make.
Momentarily matched up against Epiphanny Prince after Montgomery slipped to the floor, Hunter came from behind to block a shot after being beaten off the dribble. Moments after kicking a sure layup out of bounds on a breakaway, Moore came off a screen and hit a 3-pointer to give the Huskies their first lead.
Important keywords of article: the, in the, to the, the final, of the, for the, the huskies, on the, the first, and the
The Hindu News Update Service
Tech. Entertainment Agri. Abstinence-only sex education courses ineffective: study New York (PTI): Abstinence-only sex education courses are ineffective in curbing adolescent sexual risk-taking but comprehensive programs do work, especially in reducing teen pregnancy, a new study, published on Thursday, says. The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, concludes that teaching about contraception doesn't increase sexual activity or sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers.
Teaching abstinence-only failed to reduce teen pregnancy or to delay sexual initiation, the study says. University of Washington researchers led by Pamela K Kohler examined teens' responses to a 2002 federal study, the National Survey of Family Growth. The researchers found that teenagers receiving comprehensive sex education, including information about contraceptives, reported about half as many pregnancies as teens, who had received abstinence-only or no sex education.
It is not harmful to teach teens about birth control in addition to abstinence," Kohler said. Sci.
Important keywords of article: , sex, or, federal, kohler, increase, failed, new, but, agri
My view: Kitchen rules put too much heat on schools' culinary arts ajc.com
The DOE has come up with an excellent new culinary curriculum for our kids. This curriculum was first discussed in 2006, and they announced a professional kitchen or at least a modified kitchen would be required to teach the new curriculum. In late spring 2007, the requirements of these kitchens were still not available.
In October, the DOE announced that all 80 schools must have a professional, commercial kitchen in order to teach the new program. Representatives from the state said there was a possibility that the other schools without the commercial kitchens might be grandfathered into the program, with the understanding that they would be given time to raise the $300,000 to $600,000 to build these kitchens.
Two weeks ago, on a videocast to all of the culinary teachers, the DOE announced its decision to make the professional kitchens mandatory for August 2008. The schools that do not have professional kitchens can only teach an Intro Culinary Class to freshmen with only home economics and nutrition classes to follow in upper-class grades.
At last count, only 20 schools had professional kitchens. Sixty schools will not be able to teach advanced culinary classes starting in August 2008. Everyone reading this knows the importance of the hospitality industry and its growth in our state.
These 80 schools have been the foundation for many of our young adults to find an interest in the culinary hospitality field that they would have never had. These kids are the future chefs, general managers and restaurant owners in Georgia. At the school where I chef mentor this program, our classes have doubled and tripled in size over the past years. The DOE has decided that equipment is what makes a chef.
I beg to differ. Our kids can learn just as well in the kitchens they have now, until the funds can be raised to build professional kitchens. To halt these successful classes now would leave a gap in the education of those who have started their culinary training, and a void for those to come, until a kitchen is built.
The DOE is doing a great disservice to the children of Georgia, the hospitality industry in Georgia (which has a hard time finding adequate staffing, as it is) and the enrollment in higher education culinary and hospitality schools, inside and outside of Georgia. If you are in support of grandfathering in these programs, please let your representatives know.
Gary Coltek owns Buckhead Wedding Cakes and has served as executive chef, executive pastry chef, food and beverage director and general manager for companies including Ritz-Carlton, Hilton International and Four Seasons hotels and the Plaza in New York.
Important keywords of article: the, the doe, in the, teach the, the new, the culinary, and the, of the, the hospitality, the children
Patrick names latest secretary of education - BostonHerald.com
Politics On all sides of the Country U.S. Central Region U.S. Midwest Region U.S. Northeast Region U.S. South Region U.S. Southwest Region U.S. Deval Patrick yesterday named Board of Education Chairman Paul Reville his fresh education secretary to oversee Patrick’s better agenda. Patrick also named three members to the newly expanded Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, including Bridgewater Sovereign state College President Dana Mohler-Faria, who has been his top education adviser.
He tapped two others to fill vacancies on the Board of Early Education and Care. Patrick appointed Reville chairman of the Board of Education in August. He served on the board from 1991-96 and helped cutting edge the state’s education reform. 0) Comments Assign Interpret Comments Next Article in Regional Politics: Head Lady Diane Patrick says she feels brawny Photos & Galleries Photo by Associated Press Paul Reville, left, speaks as Massachusetts Gov.
Deval Patrick watches at Shrine Flying Academy in south Boston, Tuesday. Related Articles Falling down in habitual By Christine McConville Elementary gentlewoman Diane Patrick told a hushed group of game executives yesterday how.. First Countess Diane Patrick says she feels forceful By Christine McConville "How do you cache the balance and conduct strong?" Massachusetts fundamental lady..
Patrick to denomination Reville as au courant education secretary By Associated Press Gov. Deval Patrick nowadays named Board of Education Chairman Paul Reville to be the.. 7714. Click here for Patriots and Cardinal Sox back copies © Copyright by the Boston Herald and Herald Media. No portion of BostonHerald.com or its content may be reproduced without the owner's written permission.
Important keywords of article: patrick, diane patrick, deval patrick, patrick feels, patrick named, patrick watches, patrick appointed, patrick told, patrick denomination, patrick nowadays
'Education manner not in interest of children' - Telegraph
Three rooms of those questioned wanted it to be establish primarily by schools themselves. The YouGov survey comes with the proceeds of a announcement by the consider receptacle which argues that there is also all the more government intervention in schools. The research, Helping Schools Succeed: a framework for English education, calls for elementary changes in the administration institute system. It wants union tables to be scrapped and replaced with a "report card" that would fit more news for parents.
The report's authors and propose manufacture all schools independent of resident polity check and encouraging them to endeavor with charities and not-for-profit organisations. Researchers examined advantageous school systems environing the world, focusing on Fresh Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong and Sweden.
They situate forward ideas for replacing the governmental curiculum with a mini set of core subjects to authorize schools extra freedom. They besides backed performance-related wages for teachers.
Sam Freedman, the head of Policy Exchange's education unit, said: "The civic curriculum restricts the abandonment of teachers and schools; it as well holds back absolute diversity in the college system. The curriculum is increasingly cluttered with the modern fashionable adult discovered by ministers.
It should be replaced with a slender core entitlement curriculum based on the Swedish model that testament insist on minimum standards while offering flexibility."
