Teaching Church in Public School? Texas Votes Yes

Adopt-a-school programs are cropping up nationwide as many communities tune into the benefits the programs offer students and community members. According to the American Chemical Society, which operates such a program, “Adopt-a-school fosters a better sense of understanding of the community's school system, strengthens and improves school programs and curricula, and creates a sense of personal involvement and interaction between organizations and schools.”

The benefits of adopting a school extend to all parties. The organization that adopts the school receives positive public relations through its involvement with such an integral part of the community. The school benefits from the involvement, as students are enriched through programs that expand their knowledge base. The school’s staff and faculty are supported in their efforts.

Indeed, the program can be a win-win for everyone if it is implemented well. Consider these four examples of positive adopt-a-school programs and the stellar results they have reaped for both the schools and the community at large.

Fort Hood

According to a report in the Killeen Daily Herald, this military base received national recognition in 2008 for its effective adopt-a-school program, winning the National Civic Star Award. Fort Hood partners with neighborhood schools in eight different Texas school districts every year, involving more than 5,000 soldiers and 2,500 teachers in the program. Soldiers go into the schools, read with the kids, and act as mentors. When the soldiers are deployed, many keep in touch with the children while they are away from home.

In addition

It may seem that your child has barely graduated from cut and paste projects in school before reading and math facts take center stage in their education. Suddenly, you find yourself opening books every night, listening to your child sound out words, and helping them understand the stories they are studying. Does your effort really matter in the overall academic success of your child?

It turns out that the time you spend reading with your kids might have a much greater impact on their life success than you realize. According to a new report published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, "Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters," your child's reading proficiency by third grade has a direct correlation to his success in high school and beyond. The study found a link between those students reading below the proficient range in third grade and the likelihood they would graduate from high school.

This webinar discusses the critical importance of developing students into proficient readers during the early years of childhood education.

Low Income = Low Proficiency

One of the most startling aspects of the study is the low proficiency rates among low-income students. Many of the children who are not able to read well by third grade end up dropping out of high school, thus directly impacting their ability to raise themselves above the poverty

A vegetarian diet isn't one embraced by the majority of Americans today. In fact, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, most Americans exceed the daily amount of recommended protein by a significant amount, with much of it coming from meat and animal products every day. However, many public schools are hoping to change that trend by introducing "Meatless Mondays" to their students and faculty.

According to an article last year by U.S. News and World Report, numerous schools across the country have begun offering vegetarian selections to students on a daily basis. These choices were provided in addition to meat entrees, giving students both diet options. However, Meatless Mondays are a new concept that was recently introduced by Baltimore City Public Schools and is quickly spreading across the nation as other school districts are hopping onboard the vegetarian bandwagon.

This TEDTalk discusses the concept of Meatless Mondays.

Going Meatless in Baltimore

A report in the Washington Post stated the Baltimore City Public Schools launched their Meatless Mondays campaign in October of last year. Instead of the usual fare of hamburgers, pizza, and "pigs-in-a-blanket," the schools are providing students with healthy, meatless options like cheese sandwiches, cheese lasagna, and mixed vegetable bowls.

Melissa Mahoney, a chef and dietician with the Baltimore school district, said the idea started as an element of a themed approach

Arizona has made national headlines not once, but twice, in the last few weeks. First, the state was the subject of numerous protests over an immigration law that allows police to require documentation from any individual stopped in the state for another violation. Opponents of the bill are concerned that recent decisions will lead to racial profiling in the state.

More recently, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed another bill banning "ethnic studies" in elementary and secondary schools. Once again, her decision has raised the ire of many, including UN human rights experts. However, proponents of the bill state that the ban will actually improve race relations among the various cultures living in Arizona, rather than deepening any divide that may exist.

This video from PBS discusses the issue.

Step Two: Ethnic Studies in Schools

Currently, Arizona schools offer a number of different ethnic studies programs, including specialized courses for African-American, Mexican-American, and Native American classes that teach subjects such as history and literature that originate from those cultures. The studies are designed to explore the role of various ethnicities in American history and their contributions to literature.

An article on Politico cites one portion of the bill, which reads, "Public school pupils should be taught to treat and value each other as individuals and not be taught to resent or hate other races or classes of people." Brewer