How to Measure Student Proficiency?

"The community around South Charlotte Middle School is one of the richest in North Carolina, and the school boasts the kind of test scores that seem to go hand in hand with wealth. Last year, more than 95 percent of its students passed both the state reading and mathematics tests.

A few miles away in a similarly wealthy community, the students at Fort Mill Middle School cannot make the same claim. More than half failed the state mathematics test, and three-quarters failed the reading test.

The difference? Fort Mill Middle School is in South Carolina."

In South Carolina, which adopted a standard for a statewide accountability system three years before the federal requirement was passed, officials feel caught in a bind: Do they lower proficiency standards, or risk stigmatizing most of their schools and opening them up to sanctions?

More than 75 percent of the state's schools failed to make the progress required by the federal education law this year, far more than the 3 percent Alabama reported, or the 8 percent reported by Texas. One of them was Fort Mill Middle School. More :

Gandalf the Grey If I were a character in The Lord of the Rings, I would be Gandalf, Wizard, a guardian against the Dark Lord. In the movie, I am played by Ian McKellen. Who would you be? Zovakware Lord of the Rings Test with Perseus Web Survey Software

WFMZ-TV Online

WFMZ-TV Online: "Brandywine Heights Area S.D. (updated: 12/15 at 07:24)
CLOSED MONDAY UPDATED INFO "

Concert Postponed

The concert scheduled for tonight has been postponed until Monday.

Heading For London?

New London Tube Map

The Perfect Christmas Gift

Octodog's Frankfurter Converter,The fun, simple and safer way to turn ordinary hotdogs into exciting to cook and super fun to eat... Octodogs

How to Argue

TCS: Tech Central Station - How to Argue: "Citizens in a democracy must know two things: how to argue and how to evaluate arguments (so as not to be duped, hoodwinked, railroaded, snookered, or browbeaten). There are two types of argument: inductive and deductive. The difference concerns the relation being asserted between premise(s) and conclusion. When one argues inductively, one claims that the truth of the premises makes the truth of the conclusion probable (or more probable than it would be without the premises). When one argues deductively, one claims that the truth of the premises is incompatible (logically) with the falsity of the conclusion. In other words, the premises entail or necessitate the conclusion. Induction is to probability as deduction is to necessity."

Herald Sun: Diploma of gaming not for fun [10dec03]

Herald Sun: Diploma of gaming not for fun [10dec03]: "THAT internationally renowned ideas factory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has set its sights on harnessing the educational benefits of videogames.

An initiative dubbed Education Arcade aims to transform the way video and computer games are used in the classroom.
The plan is to develop and co-ordinate research by scholars, international game designers, publishers, educators and policymakers. "

Invest in Education

"Back in 1995, I offered readers this prediction: 'My candidate for the hottest industry in 2005 is education.' We're nearly there, and I am nearly right. For-profit education remains a small industry, but it has grown impressively. Is it the 'hottest'? According to the Value Line Investment Survey, which ranks 98 sectors using a formula that emphasizes momentum (a good synonym for heat), the hottest industry is home building, but education services rank second." More :

Politicians, Liars and Mathematical Puzzles

Lying Brain Teasers :

It is Windy Under The Sea

Dave Barry Column that combines the latest scientific breakthroughs with a middle school guy's sense of humor.
"A question that we have all asked ourselves hundreds of times is: How do herring communicate?" More :

We Could Live in New Hampshire

LOCATION SNOWFALL inches
Pinkham Notch 52.0
Gorham 41.0
Randolph 38.0
Twin Mountain 32.0
Errol Dam 30.0
Colebrook 27.0
Lancaster 23.0
Maine - NH

WFMZ-TV Online

WFMZ-TV Online: "Brandywine Heights Area S.D. (updated: 12/07 at 21:35)
2 HOUR DELAY MONDAY "

More Zero Tolerance Nonsense

A sophomore in Louisiana is expelled for one year for having Advil in her purse. More

Media Literacy Begins at Home

Professor Henry Jenkins at MIT has written a very interesting piece in MIT's Tech Review about a parent's role in the media literacy of children. He points out that, too often, parents take a simplistic limiting approach to all media. They simply tell their kids what they can't watch on TV, play on their video game console or visit on the internet. Or, they limit the amount of time they can spend on any of those things. While there's nothing wrong with any of those things, he suggests it's not doing what's really important: which is teaching the kids some media literacy and getting them involved. Instead of just banning things, he suggests, getting involved with what media the children are consuming, asking them questions, and teaching them to think critically about what they are seeing. This way, they learn to have a real understanding of what they see, and can deal with it on their own - rather than just be blocked off from the material and pretending it doesn't exist. He also talks about the importance of encouraging the kids to become producers of media as well. This way they can learn what's really happening when they see things online, on TV or in games - and have a better grasp over what's real and what's created Article :

Is There a math geek on your Christmas list

Mathematicians pictures - Famous mathematicians pictures, posters, gifts items, note cards, and prints

New Board Officers

The following were elected as board officers at the December meeting.

Jim Mabry, President
Mike Sacks, Vice President
Lori Yocco, Treasurer

Brandywine board goes on record against bonus

"By Jay M. Kurtz
Reading Eagle correspondent
The Brandywine Heights School Board has voted 7-2 to go on record as opposing a bonus given to the district's superintendent by the board last month.
The vote reflects a dramatic change in the board's makeup, as five new members were sworn in at Wednesday's meeting.

No incumbents were on the November ballot; they either chose not to seek re-election or were defeated in the May primary.

The new members Michael Grossman, Robert F. Lowry, Janice McDermott, Elizabeth Stehman and Lori Ann Yocco all voted in favor of opposing the Nov. 3 action.

That vote had granted Superintendent Robert L. Gilly a $3,291 bonus, which was 3 percent of his previous year's salary.

After an hourlong executive session, board member Michael Sacks made the motion to oppose the bonus.

Board members did not publicly discuss the motion.

After the meeting, Sacks said that he had wanted to rescind the bonus, but had been advised that it would be illegal because the money already had been paid.

He said it was doubtful that Gilly would get a bonus next year.

Sacks was the only board member to vote against the bonus in November.

George Cherrie, who voted in favor of the bonus last month, voted to oppose the bonus Wednesday night. He did not comment.

Contacted Thursday, Gilly pointed out that the board opposed the bonus, not the raise in salary he also had been granted.

The board gave Gilly a 2.25 percent raise, which set his 2003-04 salary at $112,161.

“The previous board compensated me based on their perception of my previous year's performance,” Gilly said. “However, I respect different points of view regarding bonuses in these economic times.”

The superintendent said the board is obligated to decide on granting him a raise at its first November meeting because his contract runs from Nov. 1 to Oct. 31.

When Gilly was hired in 1998, his contract began in November.

He is entering the second year of a five-year contract with the district.

Contact correspondent Jay M. Kurtz at 610-371-5000 or news@readingeagle.com.
"

WFMZ Channel 69 StomrCenter Update

WFMZ-TV Online

Winter Storm

Winter Storm Watch For Friday Into Saturday...

The National Weather Service Has Issued A Winter Storm Watch For Much Of East Central Pennsylvania...Including The Southern Poconos...And For Northwestern New Jersey. This Includes The Following Counties...

In Pennsylvania...Carbon...Monroe...Berks...Lehigh...And Northampton. And In New Jersey...Sussex...Warren...And Morris.

Light Snow Should Develop Late Tonight And Could Be Heavy At Times Friday Through Saturday. 2 To 4 Inches Of Snow Are Possible During The Day Friday...With A Total Of Several Inches Of Snow Possible By The Time The Precipitation Tapers Off Late Saturday.

Brandywine Snow Policy

ATTENTION NEW RESIDENTS:
If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the most minuscule accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It does not matter if you need anything from the store. It is just something you're supposed to do.