Video Game Replacement? I Hope So!

There are many times when I see kids with electronic machines shoved in front of their face; it usually frustrates me to no end, but a device like the new version of the Nook could possibly change my opinion on this. This Nook not only allows access to millions of books for adults, but is now incorporating children's books that can also be interactive. For a child who doesn't like to read, or who maybe doesn't have the capability to pay attention to a regular book for an extended period of time, this could be a great solution to them not reading at all. In my experience, children are usually very willing to play with new electronics. Giving them an interactive, electronic, educational version of their "video games" may get them more interested in reading, especially since this new Nook is in color (which might be more attractive!). There is also access to magazines; imagine being able to have access to a stack of Disney and Highlights magazines without the stack! Of course, as with all pros, come the cons. I am the kind of person who likes to hold an actual book, and flip through it. Some people may say this is useless, but as we have all learned in TE301 giving a child an actual book is a very important process for them to experience. They are able to learn what is the top and bottom of a book, where the beginning is, which way to flip the pages, etc. Having an actual book is a very important part of learning literacy, but I think once the basics are learned, the Nook is an incredible option for students to have access to sometimes. It could be a great way to send materials back and forth from home to school, and students with special needs could easily bring their reading materials back and forth from their gen. ed classrooms, to the basic and resource rooms, and to any other services they receive.

Victim...Says Who?

I have been following this court case since it began; and I'm outraged. As a future educator, I like to think I have a fairly accurate idea of the importance of safe schools. With all of the new cases of students committing suicides because of bullying, I would think that teachers, administrators, and school boards would take this very seriously. So why, then, did the principal feel the need to ask what kind of underwear the female student was wearing?! Are you kidding me? His reasoning is something along the lines of getting a good idea of what was "exposed", to "determine the severity of the matter". Who cares?! Does the fact that this young man pulled down two students pants in gym class not sound like a good enough reason to take disciplinary action? Any action at all? It doesn't matter what was exposed, the fact is that every student has the right to keep their "private parts" private. That's just general knowledge. Even if that female student was wearing underwear that covered that entire section of her body, that does not lesson the embarrassment of the situation, nor does it make her feel more safe at school. This mother, in my opinion, had every right to talk to the principal in this manner, because he simply wasn't listening and was asking questions that were in no way appropriate. I don't think it's appropriate in any case, not even this one, for an adult male to ask what kind of underwear a young female student was wearing. All he should have to know is that another student violated her right to privacy, and that should be enough. Why is this mother having to take all of this action to protect the rights that the school should have taken more seriously? It seems like the "bully" in this case should be the one having to address officials, not the mother of this violated middle-schooler. It's about time that everyone in schools, including teachers, parents, administrators, and other faculty, start taking initiative to make schools a safer place for our students. Statistics show that students learn better and retain more information when they feel safe...isn't this one of the obvious answers to the education crisis? Safer Schools = Better Learners.