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Extended Learning Time Parent Backlash

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There has been a push by some to extend the school day. They call it ELT (Extended Learning Time). There is a growing backlash from parents that in fact find this to be a bad idea. They maintain that longer school days cut into family time, sports, theater activities and tire out kids. Those promoting this idea tend to be wealthy philanthropy organizations with big ideas about education and trying to push their ideas on middle class families who are on the receiving end. Kids need a chance to unwind and have free play. A 6-7 hour school day is more than enough time to get everything done that they should be doing. What do you think?

Depression

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Depression in children and teens is a major problem that is hardly discussed. People are often too embarrassed to talk about it and sometimes in denial. If depression in children and teens is left untreated, it can lead to long-term educational issues, relationship problems, substance abuse and suicide.

Common Core State Standards Initiative Major Changes: Standardized Tests

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The Common Core State Standards Initiative will trigger a higher level of critical thinking and deeper understanding into your child’s curriculum. There will also be a new standardized test in English and math. The Common Core benchmarks will be supported by one of two new standardized tests in the 2014-2015 school year.

Biology Class Dissection Anxiety

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As students return to biology classes, many feel anxiety over being forced to dissect animals. If this is an issue for your child, we suggest the following:

1. See if your state protects your right to choose alternatives.

2. After finding out about their rights to opt-out of dissections, have your student talk with their teacher about the curriculum during the first few weeks of school. Have them ask the teacher about any planned dissection labs and if they will use animals and/or offer alternatives.

3. If they do want to opt-out, now is the best time to let teachers know that they will be choosing dissection alternatives so the teacher will have the opportunity to plan accordingly.

Newton Public Schools Controversy

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The City of Newton Superintendent of Schools after begging the taxpayers to raise their property taxes by $11,000,000 to pay for school projects, decided his meager $251,923 annual compensation was not enough. He has since signed a four-year contract being paid a 10% raise. Did you or anyone you know get a 10% raise?? He now receives $246,918 plus $29,748 in fringe benefits including payments into an annuity, a life insurance reimbursement and a car allowance. This brings his annual compensation up to $276,666. One has to wonder if the Newton, MA residents would have been so eager to raise their own property taxes with a Proposition 2 ½ vote at the pleading of the mayor and superintendent of schools, if they knew the same two public servants were going to raid Newton’s treasury after the vote.

Would the Newton Public Schools have been better off halting the Newton Public Schools Superintendent’s raise and spending the $25,000 on the children he was hired to serve?

More Controversy In Newton, MA

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The City of Newton, MA is back at it again with more controversy. Recently the residents voted to raise their property taxes to pay for school improvements and town services. After the vote, the money has been flying out of the city treasury and into the pockets of the mayor and superintendent of schools.

The Mayor of Newton got an annual raise of $27,125!! His old salary of $97,876 is now $125,001. He was given a 28% raise. Did you or anyone you know get a 28% raise last year? Most are just lucky to keep their jobs. You’d be very lucky to earn a 5% raise. Now one could argue that the mayor is the most important City of Newton public servant and deserves to be highly paid. If this is true, how can one begin to explain what the superintendent of schools is pulling?

Come back tomorrow to find out where the taxpayer money for the public schools is really going.

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