Juvenile Justice System and Education

Stories today:

 

“Judge who sold kids to private prisons sentenced to 28 years”

 

“Accused of perpetrating a “profound evil,” former Pennsylvania judge Mark Ciavarella Jr, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for illegally accepting money from a juvenile-prison developer while he spent years incarcerating thousands of young people. Prosecutors said Ciavarella sent juveniles to jail as part of a “kids for cash” scheme involving Robert Mericle, builder of the PA and Western PA Child Care juvenile detention centers. The ex-judge was convicted in February of 12 counts that included racketeering, money laundering, mail fraud and tax evasion. In addition to his prison sentence, Ciavarella was ordered to pay nearly $1.2 million in restitution”. (http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/judge-sentenced-to-28-years-in-prison-for-selling-kids-to-private-prisons?news=843116)

 

“Education: the Key to the Future for Kids in Juvenile Justice?”

“Some 500,000 youth nationwide are detained or incarcerated in juvenile justice (often called juvenile delinquency) systems every year, according to the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. It is a system intended to differ from the criminal justice system. Even the language signals a kinder, gentler approach—defendants face a "hearing," not a trial; they are pronounced "delinquent," not guilty. The goal has historically been rehabilitation, based on the premise that it's not too late for young people to recover and turn their lives around”.

"Education is critical for these kids. If you want to rehabilitate young people, it's the most obvious thing to do,  says Joseph Tulman, professor of law at the Juvenile Justice and Special Education Law Clinic at the University of the District of Columbia”.

“Yet over the past two decades, there have been more than 25 lawsuits against states, charging them with failure to provide adequate education to kids in the delinquency system. Many juvenile incarceration facilities have miserably inadequate education programs," says Tulman. "A huge percentage of kids incarcerated or otherwise in the delinquency system also have unmet special education needs, and there's an astounding lack of advocacy to enforce the rights for those kids".(http://sparkaction.org/content/education-key-future-kids-juvenile-justice)

 

 

Making a profit off children and neglecting the point of rehabilitation, are evils that have been common and continue to happen. We should not complain about ‘kids today’ if we are not giving them a fair shot at life.

 

Education is key!

Dr Flavius A B Akerele         

The ETeam



Let’s talk about zero tolerance again…



Today’s news list:

 

1.      “Disproportionate Suspensions for African American Males

African American males were suspended at a rate more than six times the rate for white males across the district. In Elementary schools this ratio was closer to nine times higher while in high schools the rate was slightly over double the rate for white males, mostly for defiance reasons”.

 

(http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/education/restorative-justice-programs-take-root-in-schools.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)

 

2. “BUFFALO, N.Y. — A new discipline policy adopted by the Buffalo school district for next year is being praised by advocates who say it's about time that schools replace out-of-school suspensions for minor offenses with more productive solutions”.

 

(http://online.wsj.com/article/AP300bfee11e3544a78829e1cf29c70b76.html)

 

 

3. “A fifth-grader in Cupertino, California was suspended and threatened with expulsion for bringing a small Swiss Army knife on a school-sponsored, science-oriented camping trip”.

 

4. “Officials at an elementary school in small-town Michigan impounded a third-grader boy’s batch of 30 homemade birthday cupcakes because they were adorned with green plastic figurines representing World War Two soldiers. The school principal branded the military-themed cupcakes “insensitive” in light of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting”.

5. “At Genoa-Kingston Middle School in northeast Illinois, a teacher threatened an eighth-grader with suspension if he did not remove his t-shirt emblazoned with the interlocking rifles, a symbol of the United States Marines”.

6. “At Park Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland, a student was suspended for two days because his teacher thought he shaped a strawberry, pre-baked toaster pastry into something resembling a gun”.

7. “At Poston Butte High School in Arizona, a high school freshman was suspended for setting a picture of a gun as the desktop background on his school-issued computer”.

8. “At D. Newlin Fell School in Philadelphia, school officials reportedly yelled at a student and then searched her in front of her class after she was found with a paper gun her grandfather had made for her”.

9. “In rural Pennsylvania, a kindergarten girl was suspended for making a “terroristic threat” after she told another girl that she planned to shoot her with a pink Hello Kitty toy gun that bombards targets with soapy bubbles”.

10. “At Roscoe R. Nix Elementary School in Maryland, a six-year-old boy was suspended for making the universal kid sign for a gun, pointing at another student and saying “pow.” That boy’s suspension was later lifted and his name cleared”.

We need to remember that our children are not the enemy and we do not need to treat them like criminals. Criminals are presumed innocent until found guilty so why not our children?

It is about what is best for the student right?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Reality and fiction meet

Those of you who watch network TV might be familiar with NBC’s Law and Order SVU. It follows detectives from the New York City’s sex crimes unit. Yes, there are actually sex crime units; that is how bad rape incidents actually are. Anyway, Wednesday’s episode was obviously inspired by UNC’s rape case; I am glad people are paying attention.

I am attaching the link for those of you who want to watch it online: http://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/video/girl-dishonored/n35873/, but keep in mind it is never for the faint of heart.

What universities can learn from this is that if they concentrate on keeping students safe, and not worry about the crime statistics, they will grow. If it is known that a campus has an extreme draconian medieval response to rape cases, rapists will think twice. This is just my opinion of course, but either way we need to keep the conversation going on this.

Have a good weekend!

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam



I tell you education is the key to solve the sexual assault crisis

Everyday brings me more fodder to blog about on this terrible subject. It is currently a never-ending train of episodes:

“College Sexual Assault Survivors Form Underground Network To Reform Campus Policies”

“Soon after Clark filed the complaint along with others, news stories about it and the broader trend of sexual assaults on college campuses began to gain attention on the Internet. Clark, who graduated from UNC in 2011 and now lives in Oregon, began to receive emails and messages from students all over the country who shared similar experiences they endured at their schools -- and Clark kept notes. Now a visitor to her apartment can see stacks of folders and documents detailing assault victims' cases from Amherst College, Stanford, Penn State, Harvard, Yale and several universities in North Carolina. A map on her wall plots the schools geographically under a banner she's titled "The Bigger Picture" “

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/college-sexual-assault-survivors_n_2918855.html

“Dartmouth College Cancels Classes After Sexual Assault Protesters Receive Rape Threats”

“Some Dartmouth College students have received rape and death threats following their public protest against the school’s attitude toward sexual assault, racism, and homophobia. Dartmouth on Wednesday canceled its scheduled classes to address the growing crisis”.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/24/1911741/dartmouth-protest-cancels-classes/

I am glad to see that victims are banding together for support and trying to end this (as in the first article), but there are too many victims! That means there is a culture of rape that exists on too many college campuses.

What are we teaching our children at a very early age? Are we hiding these issues from them or are we trying to educate and coach them on the right thing? I remember the lessons from my parents, I remember my good teachers telling me “to always do the right thing”, but I also remember whispers about forbidden topics and incidents that no one would really talk about.

If we get in front of this problem and take it head on without worrying about politics, we can solve this! Where is the sense of urgency? This kind of violence will beget violence if we do not do something.

It is about protecting our young is it not?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam



Perhaps the rape problem is our worldwide attitude towards women…

“All over the world women face discrimination, violence, and many other injustices in all areas of life. Study after study has taught us that there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women. Apart from being a question of human rights and democracy, no other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, or to reduce infant and maternal mortality. No other policy is as powerful in increasing the chances of education for the next generation. If we do not improve the way we address women's rights and gender equality, we risk condemning millions of women to continued poverty, oppression, and violence”.

(http://www.gearcampaign.org/Facts.shtml)

"No society treats its women as well as its men. That is the conclusion from the United Nations Development Programme, as written in its 1997 Human Development Report [source: UNDP]. Almost 50 years earlier, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly had adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which specified that everyone, regardless of sex, was entitled to the same rights and freedoms. The 1997 Human Development Report, as well as every Human Development Report that followed, has highlighted that each country falls short of achieving that goal”.

(http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/examples-gender-inequality-around-world.htm)

The documentary “half the sky” looks at gender inequality issues around the world.

“Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide was filmed in 10 countries and follows Kristof, WuDunn, and celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, and Olivia Wilde on a journey to tell the stories of inspiring, courageous individuals. Across the globe oppression is being confronted, and real meaningful solutions are being fashioned through health care, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls. The linked problems of sex trafficking and forced prostitution, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality — which needlessly claim one woman every 90 seconds — present to us the single most vital opportunity of our time: the opportunity to make a change. All over the world women are seizing this opportunity”.

(http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/half-the-sky/)

 

There are no saints here, we are all sinners, all responsible, and in a country like the United States where we pride ourselves on our freedoms, yet rape still happens in our sacred places, we need to look deeper into the root cause. Women do not earn as much as men, how many female leaders are at the head of religious organizations or CEOs. Etc, Etc.

 

We all have mothers, sisters, aunts, and daughters: do we want this to happen to them?

We have a lot of work to do, and in order to accomplish this we need to educate our children and ourselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=J0MwxOIcj0U

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam



College sexual assault issues



I read this article in the Huffington Post, and I thought: what the heck, is this for real?

“Occidental College Sexual Assault Response Subject of Federal Complaints”

“Female Occidental College students, faculty and alumni say in a federal complaint that the Los Angeles school failed to take campus sex crimes seriously by improperly reporting and adjudicating sexual assaults and covering up rapes”.

“Even when the school's investigations have found wrongdoing, punishment has been light, the complaint says. One student found responsible for raping a woman was given the punishment of writing a five-page book report, according to the complaint”.

“The college has hired Gina M. Smith and Leslie Gomez of Philadelphia-based Pepper Hamilton to conduct a review of the college's sexual violence policies. Smith recently worked with Amherst College and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, institutions that faced similar allegations of mishandling sexual misconduct complaints”.

(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/occidental-sexual-assault_n_3118563.html)

 

Is it my imagination or does this issue seem to be getting worse? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/occidental-sexual-assault_n_3118563.html

 

Keep our people safe!

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

More on military/veterans issues



I have a habit of jumping from subject to subject, but there are so many relevant and important topics out there that need a voice. A subject that I continue to be passionate about is the big issue of sexual assault in the military.

I want to share a story that I read in the San Diego Union Tribune that broke my heart to hear, it was titled: “Betrayed, not broken” (http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/21/tp-betrayed-not-broken/).

“Amber Ramirez didn’t mention her military service when she arrived last spring at St. Vincent de Paul Village in downtown San Diego, desperate for a roof over her head. ■ Her brief time in the Army — cut short by a sexual assault, going absent without leave and an other-than-honorable discharge — didn’t make her a veteran, she thought. ■ Now she knows otherwise”.

“Nearly 3,200 documented sexual assaults in fiscal 2011 involved a service member, according to the Defense Department. In most cases, both victim and perpetrator were service members. The Pentagon estimates that only 14 percent of all assaults are reported”.

“In San Diego, nearly 20 percent of veterans in treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder report sexual assault as a reason, according to one study”.

“The Defense Department has faced criticism from Congress for not doing enough to prosecute sexual assault, especially as the number of women in uniform increases”.

(http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/21/tp-betrayed-not-broken/).

Please read the whole story, because she deserves a voice, too many voices stay silent with this issue. How can we ask women to serve honorably if there are people who are supposed to watch their backs who act dishonorably? Real men do not rape.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Wrapping up education in the DRC this week

I would like start off by sharing part of an article from IRIN (humanitarian news and analysis):

“Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains poor, with up to seven million children across the vast country out of school - despite a 2010 government decision to make primary education free”.

“DRC is still struggling to overcome the effects of wars that raged between 1996 and 2003, compounded by continuing violence in the east of the country and decades of corruption and poor governance”.

“The seven million figure was contained in the preliminary findings – reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - of a study conducted by the DRC government with the UK Department for International Development and the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF”.

“It said 25 percent of the primary school-aged children and 60 percent of adolescents were not enrolled in classes”.

“The free education directive is supposed to cover the whole country except the capital, Kinshasa, and the city of Lubumbashi”.

“Parents, many of whom are unemployed and have little means of sustaining themselves, are bearing most of the costs involved in educating their children because of delays in releasing the funds for free education, Ornelie Lelo, communications officer for an education NGO in the capital, SOS Kinshasa, told IRIN”.

"Since independence [in 1960] to date, the government has not prioritized school expansion and building of new institutions, in Kinshasa, for instance, the number of public schools is much lower than private schools: 29 percent are public while 71 percent are private."

Government statistics for 2009-2010, drawn up with help from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UNICEF, suggest the gap in the capital is a little narrower, at 37 versus 63 percent for primary schools and 39 versus 61 for secondary ones.

(http://www.irinnews.org/Report/94196/DRC-Millions-miss-out-on-basic-education)

This is a good factual article, and it goes on. Imagine if these stats were here in the United States, this would be an epidemic! Couple this with the ravages of war, the children in DRC are having a hard time with their education.

There is a solution everyone, it is right in front of us, it involves putting profit aside for just a minute and focusing on a more important resource; the children.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam



Following the money in the Congo (DRC)

I have mentioned there are banks doing business in the DRC, but good luck trying to open a checking account if you are a local. These banks are located in the nicest parts of downtown Kinshasa; they are nice building with luxurious offices. So the question is what kind of banking are they doing?

This is a list of commercial banks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

1. Access Bank - dba - Banque Privée Du Congo (BPC)
2. Afriland First Bank
3. Advans Bank
4. Banque Commerciale du Congo, since 1909
5. Banque Congolaise
6. Banque Congolaise du Commerce Exterieur
7. Banque Continentale Africaine
8. Banque de Kinshasa
9. Banque du Crédit Agricole (BCA)
10. Banque du Congo
11. Banque Internationale d'Afrique
12. Banque Internationale pour l'Afrique au Congo
13. Barclays Bank
14. BGFIBank DRC^[2]
15. Caisse Centrale de Coopération Économique
16. Citibank, since 1971
17. Crédit Agricole
18. Ecobank^[3]
19. Fransabank
20. Procredit Bank
21. Nouvelle Bank
22. Rawbank, (since 2001)
23. Stanbic Bank
24. SofiBank
25. Trust Merchant Bank, (since 2004)
26. Union des Banques Congolaises, (1920–2006)
27. United Bank for Africa

 

Many of these banks are foreign owned/based, and you may even recognize some the names. There are huge piles of cash being moved in the DRC, and if you wait outside certain banks (names not mentioned) at a certain time in the morning (yes everyone sees and knows this) you will see truck loads of cash being loaded and unloaded. The money unloaded is for the street currency traders (there are hundreds of them), so it is local currency. Where do the Dollars, Euros, and Belgium Francs that are being loaded go? If this happened in the United States, it would be called money laundering, so let us call the work that the banks are doing what it is: money laundering.

When was the last time any of these banks used some of their profits to build schools or improve education in the country? I say profit because a bank will not operate in a place like the DRC unless is making money, banks are greedy that way.

Follow the money folks and we have a potential solution to some of the problems in the DRC. There is more than enough to help students learn.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam



The porous borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nine countries border the Democratic Republic of Congo: Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, The Republic of Congo (not to be confused with the DRC), Central African Republic, Angola, Zambia, and Burundi.

It is difficult to defend a border like that. Imagine, every time one of those border countries has an internal conflict, it ends up spilling into your country (literally),  imagine that there are violent rogue armies such as the “lord’s resistance army” (from Uganda) that steal children for soldiers, and by the time your army gets there to defend you, the LRA are long gone back across the border. Imagine another country such as Rwanda decides to set up shop in your country, mine your minerals and sell them (Rwanda has no Coltan, they are stealing it from the DRC), on top of that they have their own troops patrolling inside your country!

Can you feel the outrage yet? I am just scratching the surface here.

Imagine you are a child, who should be happy go lucky and full of life, eager to learn in school, but you do not know whether it is safe to go to school because of raiders. Imagine your biggest concern as a parent is not your next paycheck, but your next meal. The poorest homeless in the United States are kings compared to those in that region of the world.

If we become serious about providing and education for these students, many other things fall into place because we would have to build the infrastructure, we would have to have stability, and we would have processes in place where learning can happen.

The world is not serious about this issue, at least not yet, and this needs to be a global effort of all of us saying “enough”!

There are many ways to help educate children; this would be a good place to start.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

 

http://www.handupcongo.org/about_congo.html

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/03/186734.htm  info on the LRA

http://www.congoweek.org/coltan-facts.html Coltan facts



More on the Congo

Let us look at extent of news (in English) on the Congo today in order of appearance:

 

1.      Congo conflict hits mountain gorilla tourism http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20130416-congo-war-affects-gorilla-tourism

2.      Charlotte Bobcats power forward Bismack Biyombo of Democratic Republic of Congo (0) dunks the ball against the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, North Carolina April 15, ...http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/photos/charlotte-bobcats-power-forward-bismack-biyombo-democratic-republic-photo-012958802.html

3.      Mobile banking sparks a 'minor revolution' in DR Congo workforce http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/14/mobile-banking-sparks-a-minor-revolution-in-dr-congo-workforce/

 

4.      Inside Congo's Link in the Gold Chain http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323820304578410273270663086.html

 

5.      Rape and prostitution: the plight of refugee women at a DR Congo ...

 

It is not until we get to the fifth story that they are talking about something serious. It is also interesting that the first four topics deal mostly with money; money is one of the main reasons the DRC is in the state it is in right now. People are making lots of money, but not the people in the DRC. There are major banks operating over there, but good luck trying to open a checking account if you are a local. Who controls the mines? How many old Russian cargo planes have crashed in crowded markets in the DRC and what were they carrying?

 

These are questions that people in the DRC already know the answer to, however, how is it that no one asking the people?

 

Food for thought…

 

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

 



A Resource

http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2013/03/07/putting-a-mooc-on-the-resume/

Going Global with education topics

 

Have we ever considered what decades of war and fighting can do to an education system? On top of this, imagine the system was not designed well in the first place but by colonists who did not want educated people.

Imagine wanting and education, but having to pay your teacher directly because the state does not pay them at all. Imagine being in anatomy class with 300 students and needing a pair of binoculars to see the dissection.

I could go on, but you get the point. This is the daily reality for students in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it is getting worse.

 

 

A 2010 article titled “Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and tentatives solutions “, touches upon a lot these important points.

“The education in the Democratic Republic Democratic of Congo is among the most sectors affected by the 32 years crisis faced by the country. From the 1960s until the early 2000s, the Congolese public education budget declined from 7% of GDP and 25% of the national budget to 1% of GDP and 5% of the budget, creating a fall of 96% in spending per pupil per year in primary and secondary schools (from US$109 in 1980 to $4 in 2002). Consequently, many reforms were done and the worst one suggested that parents should finance the education system by themselves without sharing funds with the government. The consequence is the degradation of education quality and infrastructure”.

(http://otchia.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/education-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-challenges-and-tentatives-solutions/)

I encourage all of you to learn a little about what is going on in DRC, to understand what is truly causing it, I will be doing my best to shed some light on this subject.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html

 

One last thing, this is not a “pity party”, this is a region with rich history, culture, and pride. It deserves of our attention in ways other just the raping of its natural resources (and women) and a sound bite on TV.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

 



Currently gone fishing be back soon

Closing this week

 

It has been a rough week in education and I really wish there was more positive news to report, or better still that we had heard from those positive educators who are loving life (there are many). What I will do is share this article on keeping teachers spirits up:

“School Leaders: Don't Let Your Teachers Lose Heart”. By Laurie Barnoski

“Teachers in 2013 are getting discouraged. Their two goals are difficult enough without trying to incorporate all the newest programs and strategies in education”.

“People become high school teachers because they have a passion for young people and a passion for their subject matter. They are willing to try to incorporate a reasonable number of new strategies and programs that will enhance student learning. Think carefully about what and how much you are asking your teachers to do. As administrators, you must encourage your teachers to not lose heart”.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/04/03/27barnoski.h32.html?tkn=UPPFBAkVWsA9zAtxby4Go26Xbfv8SF7IhF30&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

I think this article holds true for education in general, do not lose heart, you all do a lot of good so keep the faith!

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam



Well done young lady!

 

We have some positive stuff to report, or at least someone has attempted to take a negative episode and teach something positive.

“Student Filmmaker's Answer to 'Blame the Rape Victim' Ethos: a Positive Video”

“A recent case in which two high-school football players in Steubenville, Ohio, were found guilty of raping a teenage girl sparked a contentious debate about whether the girl—who was heavily intoxicated and had passed out—was partially to blame. But Samantha H. Stendal, 19, a University of Oregon film student, decided to tell a different story. A 27-second YouTube video called "A Needed Response," which racked up more than 1.7 million views in one week, is her answer to the Steubenville controversy, Ms. Stendal says, and is designed to promote respect”.

http://chronicle.com/article/Student-Filmmaker-Turns-Blame/138193/?cid=oh&utm_source=oh&utm_medium=en

Please check out the video link and share this simple but strong message. Keep our students safe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZxv5WCWivM

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam



Still looking for that ray of sunshine…

This is not bad…I guess:

 “After Protest, Prison Company Won't Sponsor Florida Atlantic Stadium”

“Following more than a month of resounding protest from students, faculty and staff, the sponsor and planned namesake for Florida Atlantic University’s new football stadium has withdrawn, FAU announced Tuesday, leaving the university to find a replacement for the private prison company GEO Group (the GEO Group Foundation was the official donor) and the $6 million its founder had pledged toward the project. Protesters had criticized the management and inmate and employee treatment at prisons run by GEO, whose chairman is a Florida Atlantic graduate and former trustee”.

(http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/04/03/after-protest-prison-company-wont-sponsor-florida-atlantic-stadium)

Sorry it came to this, however, getting in bed with a private prison is probably not best for an educational institution.

 

This title sounds reasonable and they are exercising their right to free speech: “Towson Students March to Show Unity”

“The White Student Union, an unofficial, small group at Towson University, has been capturing headlines recently with claims (untrue, the university says) of a surge in crime against white students. In response, about 200 students marched through the campus Tuesday in an event designed to show that the views of the White Student Union do not represent the student body or the university, The Baltimore Sun reported”.

(http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/04/03/towson-students-march-show-unity)

However, what are they truly protesting and what is the true purpose of the march?

 

I know there is some really good news out there, so please share it!

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam



The week in education continues…

 

More issues at UNC: “Chapel Hill Failed to Protect Housekeeper From Harassment, Judge Rules”

“An administrative judge in North Carolina ruled last week that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had failed to protect one of its housekeepers from sexual harassment. The employee, Maria Isabel Prudencio-Arias, had filed a whistle-blower claim alleging that the university retaliated against her for accusing her supervisor of harassment. The judge ruled that she had established only part of her whistle-blower claim, but found that the university had “acted arbitrarily and capriciously in applying its policy … in investigating petitioner’s claims of harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, and as such, violated petitioner’s due-process rights.” A state panel will review the ruling and make a final decision in the case”.

(http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/jp/chapel-hill-failed-to-protect-housekeeper-from-harassment-judge-rules?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en)

What is going on in North Carolina right now? I hope they are seriously looking at the issues!

 

This is more of a K12 issue, but it is something to think about when dealing with parents:

 “When Parents Become Unemployed”

“A new study by the Urban Institute and First Focus shows that when parents lose their jobs, parenting styles can become corrosive. Parents may become irritable, depressed, and switch from a supportive parenting style to a punitive one, the study suggests. About 6.2 million children live in families with unemployed parents. What can schools do to support families with unemployed parents? What signs can teachers and other school staff members look for to determine if these types of changes have occurred in a child’s home? And how might they mitigate any damage from parenting styles that change for the worse?”

Anyway, someone give me some good news please! Something happy and positive, do not be shy!

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

People behaving strangely in education again…

Article from inside higher ed titled: “What Were They Thinking?”

“At Rochester, the controversy involves the blog of Steven Landsburg, an economics professor who last year attracted attention for defending Rush Limbaugh when Limbaugh called a Georgetown University law student a slut. This time around, Landsburg is writing about rape, and in particular the kind of rape in which the victim is unconscious or unaware that the rape is taking place (as was the case in the Steubenville incident that was recently in court)”.

“Carson has been attracting a following in conservative circles and that led him to be asked by Fox News for his views on gay marriage. His answer: "Marriage is between a man and a woman. No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn't matter what they are. They don't get to change the definition." The comparison of gay people who want to marry to those who favor bestiality or NAMBLA (which advocates for relationships between men and boys) angered many, who saw the comment as an anti-gay slur”.

“The letter -- from Susan Patton, a member of the Class of 1977 and mother of two male Princeton students -- urged female students to focus on finding husbands while they were at college. For most of you, the cornerstone of your future and happiness will be inextricably linked to the man you marry, and you will never again have this concentration of men who are worthy of you. Here’s what nobody is telling you: Find a husband on campus before you graduate. Yes, I went there, Patton wrote”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/04/01/flurry-campus-debates-over-statements-offend-many

 

From education week: “Former Atlanta Schools Superintendent Indicted in Cheating Scandal”

“Beverly Hall, the former superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools who had been regarded as one of the top urban school leaders in the nation, has been indicted on racketeering and other charges by a Fulton County, Ga., grand jury for her alleged role in a 2009 cheating scandal that called into serious question much of the district's academic progress under her watch”.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2013/03/former_atlanta_superintendent_.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

This is a tough start to the week? Who wants to share some positive news?

Free speech is ok, it is part of our democracy, but please keep the best interests of education in mind. Wanting your school district to be recognized is not a bad idea, but do not cut corners.

I hope this week gets better!

 

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam