Public Schools
Articles, advice and other information relating to education in public schools.
Public Schools Articles
The History of The PTA
The Parent Teacher Association or PTA began when two women from Washington, DC decided that the children of America needed a voice. Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst sent out a call to action and anticipated that maybe 200 mothers would respond. However, on February 17, 1897, more than 2000 mothers, fathers, teachers, workers, and politicians gathered for the very first PTA meeting. After setting by-laws and marking out areas that needed to be addressed, the group began its quest for children’s safety, health, and productive futures.
Why Be a School Volunteer
With class sizes and budgets growing at increasingly different paces, teachers and faculty of our nation's public schools would drown in their workload if there weren't volunteers. Our school children would miss out on several projects, field trips, and activities every year if it weren't for the many hours donated to classrooms and after school programs. In short, without volunteers offering their time and skills to school/community partnership, our public schools would simply not succeed in creating productive, well-round, responsible adults.
School Counselors: Not Just Schedule Changers
In recent years the image of the school counselor has drastically changed. No longer do they just sit in an office ready to change schedules, help fill out college applications and deal with the occasional truant teenager.
An Overview of Special Education
At least 5 percent of all children have some sort of disability, the U.S. Department of Education reported in 2000.
The Facts about Getting a GED
The General Education Development credential, commonly known as the GED, is a multi-hour exam designed to test your knowledge of math, science, writing, reading and social studies. But how do employers and universities view the GED? Is it worth as much as a high school diploma?
Moving Your Child to a New School
Relocating to a new area? Switching from home school to public school? Child accepted at a new private or charter school? Any of these scenarios could mean a mid-year move to a new school. Here are a few ideas to make the move go smoothly.
The History of the School Lunch Program
President Harry S. Truman began the national school lunch program in 1946 as a measure of national security.
Choosing a School Fundraiser
Choosing appropriate school fundraisers for your school community is an important decision with a lot of parameters.
School Bullying
School bullying can involve a number of different behaviors, from verbal (such as threatening, teasing, name-calling, making sexual remarks, spreading rumors, or bad-mouthing someone) to disrespecting personal property (such as stealing or damaging possessions) to violence (such as hitting or otherwise harming).
Public School Uniform Debate
The question of what students should wear to school rouses strong feelings on both sides. Here are some arguments for and against the use of school uniforms.
Public School Uniform Statistics
While school uniforms are typically found in private schools, it may have only been in 1987 that the first public school - Cherry Hill Elementary in Baltimore, MD - instituted a school uniform policy. Here are some statistics about the use of school uniforms.
After School Programs
With many children living in families where no parent is able to be home with them when school is over, after school programs are important to children’s well being. After school programs can be run by schools or other organizations, but their goal is generally to provide a safe and educational environment for children after traditional school hours.
