Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
Shortchanged by the Bell
After a summer of budget cuts in Washington and state capitals, we have only to look to our schools, when classes begin in the next few weeks, to see who will pay the price.
10 years after 9/11, camp for victims’ children ends
America’s Camp opened to give children who had lost a parent in the terrorist attacks a haven where they could escape the grief and curiosity that dogged them. Today the camp closes for good, having fulfilled its 10-year mission.
How about a little help here
A recent survey published by Psychology Today magazine found that fewer than 25 percent of American parents compel their kids to perform chores. And those few children who are made to do chores expect to be paid for them, the study said.
Weight gain hits women after marriage, men after divorce
A new study shows that women are more apt to pile on excess pounds after marriage, while men add the weight after a divorce.
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
Role for Teachers Is Seen in Solving Schools’ Crises
DENVER — Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, convening a two-day labor-management conference here on Tuesday, argued that teachers’ unions can help solve many of the challenges facing public schools.
But as the conference opened, that view was under challenge in a number of state capitals.
Republicans in several states have proposed legislation in recent weeks that would bar teachers’ unions from all policy discussions, except when the time comes to negotiate compensation. In Tennessee and Wisconsin, Republicans have proposed stripping teachers’ unions of collective bargaining rights altogether. (New York Times)
Calories on Menus Don’t Change Kids’ Choices
Feb. 15, 2011 — Listing calories on the menus at fast-food restaurants doesn’t seem to affect kids’ choices or those that their parents make for them, finds a small study in the International Journal of Obesity. (Web MD)
Chores are Good for Kids
I began this post as a response to Daniel Lancy’s discussion of chores from an anthropological perspective. I don’t believe he mentions it, but my reading of the literature suggests that among many groups of hunter/gatherers, where women provide most of the food for their families (meat being a special treat, not daily sustenance), children as young as three essentially find enough food to support themselves. Inefficiently, probably interfering with their mothers’ work every step of the way, but a net gain to the family. (Psychology Today)
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