I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands . . .
PREVENT THE SUMMER SLIDE #6: SOCIAL STUDIES / HISTORY
Take advantage of the upcoming presidential election by exploring the election process in America.
Michigan State Board of Education Policy: Student Options for Animal Dissection
Michigan State Board of Education Policy: Student Options for Animal Dissection Coursework
The Michigan State Board of Education recognizes that a growing number of students have moral, ethical, religious, or other objections to animal dissection and that modern nonanimal teaching methods (e.g., interactive computer software) are available. The State Board of Education also recognizes that these alternative teaching lessons may be more effective and less expensive. Consistent with the recommendations of leading science education organizations, to accommodate these students and create an inclusive learning environment, any K-12 student who objects to dissecting animals or animal parts should be permitted to opt out of dissection activities without fear of reprisal.
School districts should establish a written policy stating that options are available for students who object to dissection activities, and that upon written request, the school will permit a student who objects to dissection activities to demonstrate competency through an alternative method.
Teachers shall provide these students with an alternate project (i.e., completing modules on interactive computer software) that does not involve participating in or observing dissection and through which they can learn and be assessed on the material required by the course. The alternate project should be selected by the teacher and entail a comparable amount of work to the dissection activity.
No student shall be punished or discriminated against based up on his or her decision to opt out of animal dissection activities.
A student who is reluctant to voice his or her concerns about animal use in a particular course, or who thinks these concerns have not received proper attention, may seek assistance from their principal.
Michigan Is The Newest Dissection Choice State
The Michigan State Board of Education adopted a dissection-choice policy that allows more than 1.57 million students throughout the state to opt out of classroom animal dissection. Children now have the option of using modern computer software and other humane methods. Michigan joins 21 other states plus the District of Columbia in establishing a policy to allow students to avoid animal dissection. Michigan students can now choose not to dissect without worrying that their grades will suffer or that there will be other repercussions from the teacher.
The policy is important because students who have a moral objection to animal dissection often stay silent and go along with it causing anxiety. This is because they are not presented with a choice or fear being punished for opting out. Michigan was able to make this new policy due to the fact that numerous studies show that advanced computer simulation software helps students learn anatomy even better than old-fashioned animal dissection does.
Tomorrow we will take a closer look at Michigan’s new dissection-choice policy.
New Hampshire Now A Dissection Alternative State
Last week the New Hampshire Board of Education approved a policy supporting the right of all K-12 students to choose alternatives to traditional animal dissection without being penalized. New Hampshire Board of Education determined that students deserve a right to a science education without compromising personal beliefs on hurting animals. They also decided that biology students learn as well or better with alternatives that do not involve once living animals.
The policy stresses that New Hampshire schools should make equal or better non-animal alternatives like computer simulations available to any student who does not want to dissect frogs, cats, or any other animal. New Hampshire’s Board of Education cannot mandate individual school policies by law, but can issue recommended sample policies like this for schools to adopt.
With New Hampshire creating this policy, there are now 17 states plus Washington, DC that protect a student’s right to choose a cruelty-free education.
ADHD More Common Than You Think
More than 1 in 10 children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD.
PARCC Test Spring 2014
The country is getting ready for new nationwide tests to measure student performance. Coming soon will be a trial run of the new national standardized test called Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). About 2/3 of MA’s schools have been chosen to participate in the PARCC trial next spring. This includes the Y3K Tutor In Your Home communities of Natick and Weston. The full list of schools participating in the trial run have not been released yet as some are still being chosen and notified.
Check back here tomorrow for how the MCAS 10th grade graduation requirement will be handled.
Common Core State Standards Initiative Major Changes: Standardized Tests
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.
Common Core State Standards Initiative Major Changes: Math
The Common Core State Standards Initiative seeks to standardize and improve education across the nation. Another major change due to Common Core State Standards Initiative to be on the lookout for is in math. Students will be required to show more work in solving math problems. Tomorrow we will have more Common Core State Standards Initiative changes to be aware of.
Common Core State Standards Initiative
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a set of standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in the subjects of English and math that the states voluntarily adopt. 45 states including Massachusetts have signed on. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter college or the workforce. They claim that the standards are “ . . . clear and concise to ensure that parents, teachers, and students have a clear understanding of the expectations in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and mathematics in school.” It remains to be seen if this is in fact true. Tomorrow we will take a closer look at some of the changes coming soon.