HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sichase@csa1.lbl.gov (SCOTT I CHASE)
Newsgroups: misc.education,sci.astro,sci.bio,sci.chem,sci.math,sci.physics
Subject: Re: What can we have for an educational system?
Date: 13 Nov 1992 09:23 PST
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.3.254.196
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

>swann@divsun.unige.ch (SWANN Philip) writes:

> I read the other day that the president of Yale has quit his job to
> go into business with a guy who specializes in cable tv for kids (i.e
> makes millions splicing cartoons with ads for junk food). This pair
> of reformers plan to open a chain of private schools based on high tech
> mutimedia delivery of instructional modules (doubtless sponsored by
> junk food companies). I guess the teachers will change the tapes,
> sweep the floor and perform other menial tasks. 

Every new technology receives this big hype from the education community
about how it will revolutionize teaching.  Radio was hailed as the ultimate
teacher around WWI.  All you had to do was find the best math teacher in the
country, and beam each day's lecture into every classroom in America.  
Later, when I was a lad in the 60's, TV was supposed to transform the 
learning experience.  Film-strip projectors were also big.  Then came
the computer revolution, which, in the late 1970's was supposed to 
turn teaching upside down.  Now we have multimedia.  Big deal.  Each of 
these tools adds something to the basket of tools available to the 
skilled teacher.  None of them has, or will, completely change the 
nature of teaching, which fundamentally depends on the student-teacher
interaction.  But I'm sure that this new equipment will become the lastest
and greatest way to solve our educational problems - for about 5 years or so.

When will the education community stop jumping on every new fad and
get down to the business of training quality teachers?

-Scott
--------------------
Scott I. Chase			"It is not a simple life to be a single cell,
SICHASE@CSA2.LBL.GOV		 although I have no right to say so, having
				 been a single cell so long ago myself that I 
				 have no memory at all of that stage of my 
				 life." - Lewis Thomas
Newsgroups: misc.education
From: wwarrick@mwc.vak12ed.edu (William D. Warrick)
Subject: Re: I won
Organization: Virginia's Public Education Network (Fredericksburg)
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 92 03:33:54 GMT

hunter@master.lds-az.loral.com  writes:
> I won the race for School Board in my community.  Now the hard part, can I
> really make a positive difference?
> 
> Bill Hunter

PUT THE KIDS FIRST.
-- 
	 _______________________________________________________ 
                 William Warrick, Computer Contact Person
                          Drew Middle School     
                 501 Cambridge St.  Falmouth, VA  22405
Newsgroups: misc.education
From: rpeck@pure.com (Ray Peck)
Subject: Re: Funding position in Californian universities
Organization: Pure Software, Los Altos, CA
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 02:40:06 GMT

In article <17271@mindlink.bc.ca> Crawford_Kilian@mindlink.bc.ca (Crawford Kilian) writes:
>Colin Bell of Cambridge University writes:
>
>A friend of mine is intending to do a PhD in the USA, possibly at either
>Berkeley or Stanford, getting funding from the university in question if
>possible. He's worried about what effects the current financial crisis
>in California will have on these two universities and his funding. 

Stanford is a private university.  State funding has nothing to do
with it (except for CA's ever-rising taxes. . .)

Stanford is currently cutting jobs (mostly administrative) and trying
to save money, mainly due to the recent reduction in Federal research
overhead funding.


-- 
Ray Peck						rpeck@pure.com
Pure Software						415-903-5100

From: donp@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com (Don Pettengill [CT R+D])
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 20:57:18 GMT
Subject: Re: I won
Organization: The Land of Nod
Newsgroups: misc.education

In misc.education, klf@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (karen.l.fenton) writes:

> > 	Sit in on classes, and hold teachers accountable if they are teaching
> > poorly (as well as reward those who are teaching well).  I.e., get some
> > idea of what is going on in the school(s), rather than just going to 
> > the appointed board meetings.

> This is absolutely precluded by most union contracts I've seen.
> And even if (IF!) one were allowed to do this, I'd like to see
> a show of hands from all of you who feel that *I*, a software
> developer with no training whatever in education methodology, classroom
> techniques, psychology, or staff development/evaluation, should be
> allowed to sit in and formally evaluate teacher performance.
> 
> Thanks. I didn't think so.

I could not disagree more. Company CEOs *should* spend time on the
factory floor. Our legislators *should* spend time living with (and
as!) ordinary people. And school board members *should absolutely*
personally acquaint themselves with what is going on in the classrooms
of the schools they run. As for "formally evaluate" - perhaps not,
particularly at first. But I would hazard a guess that a ten-year
board member who sits in on classes several times every week, would be
much better clued in to the educational process he or she is
overseeing, than one who has never seen the inside of a working
classroom.

> It's all *so easy* when you don't know the laws or limits, isn't it???
> Karen

First should come an understanding of what needs changing. For
gathering information, *nothing* beats the first-hand experience.
As for the "so easy" potshot, perhaps you are one of those whose job
is to make it "so hard"?

regards,

don
Newsgroups: misc.education
From: jmiller@mica.webo.dg.com (Janice Miller)
Subject: Re: Innovative school programs
Date: 10 Nov 92 10:34:50
	<1992Nov9.131305.1@cbrown.claremont.edu>
Organization: NSDD, Data General Corp., Westboro, MA

In article <1992Nov9.131305.1@cbrown.claremont.edu> dhosek@cbrown.claremont.edu writes:

   I called up NPR (who had carried the original report) and got the
   following information:
	 The district is District 4 in Harlem. They interviewed
	 Superintendent Marcelino Rodriguez and Deputy Superintendent
	 John Falco. The story was carried June 29. 
   So much for my amazing powers of recall.

   I have a transcript on order and will be calling the district at
   some time after getting the transcript. If anyone picks up more
   information in the meantime, I'd be glad to hear about it.

There is an article on choice in the East Harlem school district in
this month's (November) Atlantic Monthly.

--
--
Janice Miller                           janice_miller@dg.com
Network Systems Development Division
Data General Corporation
Westboro MA
Newsgroups: misc.education
From: klf@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (karen.l.fenton)
Subject: Re: Channel One (was Re: Tell me about Chapter One funding)
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 17:28:04 GMT
Summary: we said no

In article <83516@ut-emx.uucp>, andy@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Andrew Hackard) writes:
> 
> I've heard quite a bit of invective hurled at Channel One, and I can't
> really understand why.  I'm observing a junior high school class this
> fall, and every morning C1 (fer short) turns on and delivers ca. 15
> minutes of news and commercials.  By and large, I've been fairly impressed
> with the quality of the reporting -- which is to say, it's no worse than
> network news: hardly high praise, but it's not access cable.  The ads
> don't bother me, and as far as I can tell, the kids ignore them.
> 
> Furthermore, the teachers I've spoken to seem to like the system; they 
> have video equipment available if they wish to use it, and it often 
> gives them ideas for further lessons (or at least "hooks" into the
> lessons).
> 
> So, those of you who don't like the system, what problems do you have
> with it?  The obvious one I see is the loss of 15 minutes of instructional
> time, but what others can y'all come up with?
> 

We evaluated this offering and said 'NO thanks'.

Frankly, the biggest objection *was* the loss of instructional
time. We had to guarantee that some large percentage - I
believe it was 90% - would watch the program EVERY day, for
12 minutes/day.
Our periods are 40 minutes long. That represents a *SUBSTANTIAL*
loss of instructional time and is sufficient reason for blowing
off the offer of "free" video equipment that suckers districts into
this.

I *personally* had a problem with the content. I found most of the
material too vapid - it lacked depth. And there was the clear
message that GOOD == music && age < 24. In fact, the rep who
tried to sell us bragged at length that no one under 24 was
allowed to appear (except in news shots, like Bush for example)
because they believe older people have little or no credibility
with kids. Isn't that a *dandy* idea to reinforce!

We decided to stick with video aids our *teachers* select and the
supplement of CNN for news_without_rap.
Our staff breathed a sigh of relief and said "thank you!"

Karen
From: troberts@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu
Newsgroups: misc.education
Subject: Software Search <help me>
Date: 6 Nov 92 15:39:37 -0500
Distribution: world
Organization: Georgetown University

We at Georgetown University are attempting to integrate microcomputers 
into the biology curriculum.  We have a number of DOS boxes, but very 
little software.

We are interested in any programs that integrate the computer into the 
teaching environment.  Anything in biochemistry, genetics, histology, 
physiology, immunology, ecology would serve us well.

We [I] haven't a clue about what biology software is available.  
Please e-mail me with suggestions, manufacturers' names, gurus' names, 
phone numbers, addresses, whatever.

Thank you.
TROBERTS@GUVAX.ACC.GEORGETOWN.EDU
From: ivy@hpscit.sc.hp.com (Ivy Griffiths)
Newsgroups: misc.education
Subject: Re: Funding position in Californian universities
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:44:03 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA

Your friend will probably be affected at Berkeley most in terms of cost of 
education, especially if paying a foreign student tuition rate.  Stanford
however is a private institution.  What may be affected is the financial aid
and some of the research $ might be affected, but I think Stanford gets affected
more by the federal budget that the California Budget.  California is still
on the map, your friend should do just fine if either of these schools are 
his choice.
From: dhosek@cbrown.claremont.edu
Subject: Arkansas' HIPPY program
Organization: Quixote Digital Typography
Date: 9 Nov 92 13:22:10 PDT

Does anyone know how I can find out more about Arkansas's Home
Instructional Program for Pre-school Youngsters (HIPPY). At the
very least, the name of the Arkansas agency which administers it
would be helpful.

-dh
Newsgroups: misc.education
From: uelaczin@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Eva Laczina)
Subject: Teaching for the Army?
Organization: Educational Computing Network
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 19:24:27 GMT


I was wondering whether or not someone knew of this one teaching program
which is in conjunction with the services.  I know it's a government
supported program that would allow certified teachers to teach the
children whose parent(s) is/are in the service.  This I think would
be an opportunity for those of us who are interested in travelling
as well.  Does anyone know of this program, or is this just some
tale......

Any information would be helpful.

Thanx!

Eva Laczina

e-mail:  uelaczin@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu

Xref: sparky misc.education:4269 sci.astro:11933 sci.bio:4115 sci.chem:4546 sci.math:14860 sci.physics:18780
From: gilligan@bldrdoc.gov (Jonathan M. Gilligan)
Newsgroups: misc.education,sci.astro,sci.bio,sci.chem,sci.math,sci.physics
Subject: Re: What can we have for an educational system?
Date: 12 Nov 92 20:52:20 GMT
Followup-To: misc.education
Organization: National Institute of Standards and Technology

In article <1992Nov12.162137.24580@news.unige.ch> swann@divsun.unige.ch (SWANN Philip) writes:
>I read the other day that the president of Yale has quit his job to
>go into business with a guy who specializes in cable tv for kids (i.e
>makes millions splicing cartoons with ads for junk food). This pair
>of reformers plan to open a chain of private schools based on high tech
>mutimedia delivery of instructional modules (doubtless sponsored by
>junk food companies).

Just for accuracy, Chris Whittle started off in business delivering
media (I forget whether it was radio or magazines) to captive
audiences in doctors' waiting rooms and similar places. He sold
advertising at high prices because he could guarantee a specific
audience. Then he branched into satellite-TV with a company he called
Channel One. This comany supplies schools with free satellite
receivers and A/V equipment if the school would agree to show all the
students a half-hour news show broadcast by Channel One, which has
fifteen minutes of news and fifteen of advertising.

A study commissioned by Channel One found no evidence that watching
the show had any beneficial effect on students (neither did it report
any deleterious effects, but I don't think they were looking for any).

Whittle and Benno C. Schmidt, the ex-president of Yale (whose legacy
to Yale is the demolition of several academic departments, such as
Linguistics, and the recommendation that many others, including
Physics, cut their size by ten percent), are working for the so-called
project Edison, which pretty much fits the description given above.

The promise is that about 20 percent of the students would be poor
kids on scholarship, but it remains to be seen how that works in
practice. The idea, as I've seen it put forth, is that one in five
schools would be in a poor neigborhood and would have the poor kids.
We'll see if this version of separate-but-equal provides true equality.

Also worth mentioning is that Lamar Alexander, the education
president's education czar, is a business partner of Chris Whittle's
and that project Edison depends on the passage of a school-voucher
program to become viable. Any appearance of a conflict of interest
is a figment of the reader's imagination, of course.

Speaking of junk food, about a year and a half ago, a public high
school here in Boulder gave its cafeteria concession to McDonalds, so
the kids can eat healthful Big Macs and fries for lunch without
leaving the school. Hail private enterprise!

---Jon
-- 

Disclaimer --- The government probably disagrees with my opinions.
From: dhosek@cbrown.claremont.edu
Newsgroups: misc.education
Subject: Re: Innovative school programs
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:13:05 GMT
Organization: Quixote Digital Typography

In article <1992Nov7.024635.1@hmcvax.claremont.edu>, dhosek@hmcvax.claremont.edu writes:
> About a month or so ago I heard a report about a school district
> somewhere in NYC (Brooklyn?) which had instituted a school choice
> within their district. One of the innovative ideas was having
> multiple "schools" in a building, each with its own specialty.
> Does anyone know where I can get more information about this
> program? While I'm at it, how about pointers to other innovative
> programs for revitalizing education in a district.

As I follow up to my own article...

I called up NPR (who had carried the original report) and got the
following information:
  The district is District 4 in Harlem. They interviewed
  Superintendent Marcelino Rodriguez and Deputy Superintendent
  John Falco. The story was carried June 29. 
So much for my amazing powers of recall.

I have a transcript on order and will be calling the district at
some time after getting the transcript. If anyone picks up more
information in the meantime, I'd be glad to hear about it.

-dh
Newsgroups: misc.education
From: kgrossha@radford.vak12ed.edu (Kurt Grosshans)
Subject: Re: Religion in the Classroom [was Re: Please Read and Critique for my Education Class]
Organization: Virginia's Public Education Network (Radford)
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 92 03:25:05 GMT

A very articulate message. However, your writings do not argue
against my original point. I have a hard time buying into the
"we just want to share our joy with others" statement. The
religeous right wing (Pat Robertson, Jerry Faldwell and others)
are committed to forcing their way of life on others. If not,
why is prayer in the classroom so important to them? Please do
not patronize me with "I hope you meet a true Christian." I am
married to one. 

I still think a two tiered system is an outcrop of organized
religeon. It has to be. Otherwise the religeous would not deem
it necessary to minister to those of us who are "unsaved."

Respectfully,
-- 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=
Kurt Grosshans
kgrossha@radford.vak12ed.edu

From: ivy@hpscit.sc.hp.com (Ivy Griffiths)
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 17:57:34 GMT
Subject: Re: National Technological University (NTU)
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA
Newsgroups: misc.education

HP uses NTU extensively, we have access to it at all sites.  I think Boeing is
a participant.  NTU uses courses from major universities (Iowa State, Univ or
Ariz), the enrollment requirements are similar to other universities.  The 
advantage is the reduction of commute time to your class.  But...if you sleep
during live engineering classes, watch out when you watch them on tape!

Ivy Griffiths
From: burtt@comet.nscl.msu.edu (BRIAN BURTT)
Newsgroups: misc.education
Subject: Re: I won
Date: 8 Nov 92 04:27:00 GMT
Organization: NSCL Michigan State University
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Nov08.033354.24640@mwc.vak12ed.edu>, wwarrick@mwc.vak12ed.edu (William D. Warrick) writes...
>hunter@master.lds-az.loral.com  writes:
>> I won the race for School Board in my community.  Now the hard part, can I
>> really make a positive difference?
>> 
>> Bill Hunter
> 
>PUT THE KIDS FIRST.
>-- 
>	 _______________________________________________________ 
>                 William Warrick, Computer Contact Person
>                          Drew Middle School     
>                 501 Cambridge St.  Falmouth, VA  22405

	Sit in on classes, and hold teachers accountable if they are teaching
poorly (as well as reward those who are teaching well).  I.e., get some
idea of what is going on in the school(s), rather than just going to 
the appointed board meetings.
	If you are feeling really daring and liberal, try to convince your
other board members to do the same.
--Brian Burtt
Undergraduate major in physics and mathematics
Michigan State University
burtt@lynch.nscl.msu.edu
From: crb11@cus.cam.ac.uk (Colin Bell)
Newsgroups: misc.education
Subject: Funding position in Californian universities
Date: 7 Nov 92 19:00:18 GMT
Organization: U of Cambridge, England

A friend of mine is intending to do a PhD in the USA, possibly at either
Berkeley or Stanford, getting funding from the university in question if
possible. He's worried about what effects the current financial crisis
in California will have on these two universities and his funding. If 
there's someone out there who knows what the situation's like, could
they e-mail me with pertinent information? I will of course pass it onto
anyone who asks me for it. 

-- 
-
Colin Bell, CRB11@CUS.CAM.UK.AC
Department of Pure Mathematics, University of Cambridge.
Newsgroups: misc.education
From: mdepalma@cwis.unomaha.edu (Melissa DePalma)
Subject: Re: Teaching for the Army?
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 15:28:55 GMT

uelaczin@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu  writes:
> 
> I was wondering whether or not someone knew of this one teaching program
> which is in conjunction with the services.  I know it's a government
> supported program that would allow certified teachers to teach the
> children whose parent(s) is/are in the service.  This I think would
> be an opportunity for those of us who are interested in travelling
> as well.  Does anyone know of this program, or is this just some
> tale......
> 
> Any information would be helpful.
> 
> Thanx!
> 
> Eva Laczina
> 
> e-mail:  uelaczin@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
> 
Newsgroups: misc.education
From: lwidman@bluemoon.use.com (Lisa Widman)
Subject: Re: Channel One (was Re: Tell me about Chapter One funding)
Organization: Blue Moon BBS ((614) 868-998[024])
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 16:29:40 EST

andy@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Andrew Hackard) writes:

> dhosek@cbrown.claremont.edu writes:
> >One of the points in Clinton and Gore's _Putting People First_ is
> >"Make educational opportunity a reality by increasing Chapter One
> >funding for schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods..."
> >
> >Can anybody elaborate on what Chapter One funding covers?
> 
> I'm not responding to this article.  I'm going off on a tangent.  Fair
> warning.
> 
> I've heard quite a bit of invective hurled at Channel One, and I can't
> really understand why.  I'm observing a junior high school class this
> fall, and every morning C1 (fer short) turns on and delivers ca. 15
> minutes of news and commercials.  By and large, I've been fairly impressed
> with the quality of the reporting -- which is to say, it's no worse than
> network news: hardly high praise, but it's not access cable.  The ads
> don't bother me, and as far as I can tell, the kids ignore them.
> 
> Furthermore, the teachers I've spoken to seem to like the system; they 
> have video equipment available if they wish to use it, and it often 
> gives them ideas for further lessons (or at least "hooks" into the
> lessons).
> 
> So, those of you who don't like the system, what problems do you have
> with it?  The obvious one I see is the loss of 15 minutes of instructional
> time, but what others can y'all come up with?
> 
> Thanks for your input.
> 
> --
> --Andrew Hackard                                 If I spoke for UT, this post
>   andy@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu                        would make even less sense.

        We psuedo-have Channel One - which means we have it but I have
        no clue when it is shown (I believe it's before school).  I'd
        love to have time to show it.  There is a really good feature
        of having Channel One - which is being able to get other
        educational programs on tape.  For example, this month, Channel
        One is blockfeeding a series of fractions that may be quite useful
        in my classroom.  These are programs that you may not be able
        to get unless your school has Channel One.      *** Lisa ***

"I want all the power but none of the responsibility."
        -Ashleigh Brilliant

Newsgroups: misc.education