Federally funded abstinence-only sex education programs are leaving students misinformed, according to California Rep. Henry A. Waxman's recent Congressional study. The study examined the content of sex education programs after the government doubled the funding for these programs over the past four years. Find more information on the report at: www.house.gov/Waxman
The lessons exclude anything incompatible with the abstinence-only curriculum, censoring information about same-sex relationships, abortions, and contraceptives, and allowing religious, anti-abortion material to remain. The flawed curricula present male and female stereotypes as facts, exaggerate abortion's risks, and mislead students about the effectiveness of condoms. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Coalition Against Censorship claim abstinence-only programs are biased, and they are working to bring organizations together to object to censorship. More information is available at www.ncac.org.
Just when the schools appeared to be beating the odds, a Dallas Morning News investigation called the shining star of Houston's school system "cheater." Spectacular standardized test results at Wesley Elementary and two other schools in its area aroused suspicion when research found students' scores dropping off the charts from one year to the next. Some teachers confirm the allegations, providing examples and claiming the school instructed them to help students cheat. The scandal began when Wesley's once-dreadful scores suddenly improved after former principal Thaddeus Lott introduced Direct Instruction, a scripted curriculum, in the 1970s. Since then, as investigations continue, the Houston schools have never completely silenced rumors of cheating.
Philadelphia's newest high-tech high school is going up, up, up
. . . along with the number of sponsors' names on the list. The school district is hoping to secure the highest bidder for the naming rights to its futuristic, Microsoft-partnership campus. The chance to name the entire school was offered up for $5 million to any company willing to pay, within the School Reform Commission's restrictions. Individual classroom names are going for approximately $25,000 each, along with the names for other parts of the school, including the auditorium. Called "The School of the Future," Microsoft says the campus will revolutionize the field of educational technology. So far, the Philadelphia school name remains: for sale.
For more information, see www.commercialalert.org/index.php/external/true/article_id/278.