Welcome to the EdLabor Insider e-newsletter! In this issue:
Improving Physical Education in U.S. Schools is Key to Fighting Child Obesity Epidemic
Witnesses, including fitness expert Richard Simmons, told the Committee at a July 24 hearing on physical education in America's schools that expanding and improving physical education in the nation’s schools is key to fighting child obesity. Studies show that more than a third of U.S. schoolchildren are now obese, that the physical activity of American children is dramatically decreasing as they move into their teenage years, and that overweight children are now more vulnerable to serious diseases that were once a rarity among young kids, including cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancer. U.S. schools have drastically reduced their physical education programs in recent years; fewer than ten percent of all public schools now offer daily physical education classes. Although the National Association for Sport and Physical Activity recommends at least 150 minutes of exercise a week for elementary students and 225 minutes a week for middle and high school students, most schools offer far less. More »
Stronger Math and Science Education Key to Boosting U.S. Competitiveness
Improving the teaching and learning of mathematics and science in U.S. schools is vital to maintaining America’s global leadership, witnesses told the Committee in a July 22 hearing. A report released in March by the National Mathematics Advisory Panel found that the nation’s system teaching math is “broken and must be fixed” if the U.S. wants to maintain its competitive edge. Among other things, the panel called for a comprehensive, systemic effort to strengthen math education, including improving teacher training and professional development. The panel of experts, which included business leaders, a teacher, and the first American woman to travel in space, recommended expanding partnerships between the business and education communities that focus on bolstering STEM education, and increasing training and support programs for teachers. The witnesses also urged lawmakers to fully fund the America COMPETES Act, a law enacted by the Democratic Congress last year to provide education and job training for students and workers in math, science, technology, and engineering fields. Last year, Congress approved $193 million in funding for math and science education in the COMPETES Act, but President Bush vetoed that legislation. More »
Witnesses Tell Committee That High Standards and Outstanding Teachers Will Close the Achievement Gap
Setting high standards, ensuring that all children have access to outstanding teachers, holding educators accountable for their schools’ progress, and restructuring chronically struggling schools are vital to creating a world-class public education system, mayors and superintendents of major U.S. cities told the Committee at a July 17 hearing. Each of the four cities represented at the hearing -– New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Atlanta -– have made impressive gains in recent years in boosting student proficiency in reading and math and narrowing the achievement gap between groups of students. As the witnesses explained, many of these gains are the result of the innovative reforms being pursued through mayor-superintendent partnerships, including performance pay initiatives for teachers and principals, increased accountability, and community-wide partnerships that can help strengthen schools and provide better support for teachers. More »
Upcoming Hearing TOMORROW: Hearing on the Role of Social Work in a Changing America
In light of the recent economic downturn and the nation’s aging population, the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, July 29 to examine how social workers can best meet the changing needs of American families.
| WHAT: |
Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing on “Caring for the Vulnerable: The State of Social Work in America” |
| WHO: |
Mr. Gary Bailey, Associate Professor, Simmons College Graduate School of Social Work, Boston, MA
Mr. Michael Bird, Public Health Consultant Albuquerque, NM
Dr. Rene Bergeron, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Dr. Robin Mama, Dean of the School of Social Work, Monmouth University, Monmouth, NJ
Rev. Sarah Wells, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministries, Johnson City, TN |
| WHEN: |
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 3:00 p.m. EDT |
| WHERE: |
Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. |
