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Departments: Resources
Understanding Urban Schools
What does it mean if a child is 'at risk'? Twenty-five
educators dispel myths about city kids and schools.
City Kids, City Teachers: Reports from the Front
Row
Edited by William Ayers
and Patricia Ford
The New Press, $25
Have you been to the Grand
Canyon? If you have, you may remember the feeling of burning anticipation
you had before casting your eyes downward, for the very first time, on
the extraordinary vision below.
A writer once suggested that it's impossible for visitors to truly "see"
the Grand Canyon, as it actually is, because their minds are burdened
with preconceived notions derived from slick magazine advertisements,
postcards, and travel brochures.
In their anthology City Kids, City Teachers: Reports from the Front
Row, editors William Ayers and Patricia Ford convincingly argue that
the same could be said of inner-city, minority children.
For decades, sociologists, policy-makers, and the media have routinely
and indiscriminately labeled inner-city children "at-risk."
The practice is so prevalent that most adults who have bought into the
negative advertising see so-called at-risk kids only in terms of problems
such as drug abuse and violence.
The premise behind this extraordinary and inspirational book is that
we need to break down these preconceived notions about inner-city kids.
By compiling 25 provocative essays by such leading educators and writers
as Deborah Meier, James Baldwin, and Lisa Delpit, the book's editors hope
to explode a variety of stereotypical visions.
Some contributors to the book tell real stories about themselves. Other
authors criticize policy or plead for better programs.
The book, in short, is part diary, part policy, and part education textbook.
You'll feel sad, angry, hopeful, agitated, and inspired--all in one sitting--as
every page delivers a new understanding and a new emotion.
In Part One of the book, titled "City Kids," we see through the eyes
of children, as they passionately share their own stories about growing
up in the city.
We meet bright students turned away from college-preparatory work in
high school by teachers and counselors.
We meet children who are searching for their own understanding of race,
ability, and self-identity; who dare to question the validity of standardized
tests and structured school days; who painfully address their own portrayal
in the media.
"The media says we have no ambition and will never amount to anything,"
writes one frustrated high school senior. "It's wrong for them to twist
facts and transform them into vile lies. It's wrong for them to trample
the hopes of a child who lives in the projects."
In the book's second section, "City Issues," we're taken through a series
of thoughtful commentaries about some of the most critical issues facing
urban educators: language, race, class, culture, violence, and poverty.
We travel from the aftermath of the 1996 Los Angeles riots to the pedagogy
of poverty, from issues of bilingual education to the realities behind
"Black English."
In Part Three, which is titled "City Teachers," we are introduced to
educators who have implemented culturally relevant teaching strategies
that inspire their students to achieve beyond everyone's expectations.
We hear from city teachers, in their own voices, about classroom life
and about all the countless frustrations and joys that come with their
"calling."
We are also given a glimpse into the real story behind Hollywood's portrayal
of city teachers. We see those on-screen practitioners of tough love who,
tragically, do so little to encourage their students to reflect on the
society that has shaped their lives.
--Dina S. Gómez
Excerpt:
"I saw a television program some years ago where the interviewer
asked some high school dropouts, seventeen or eighteen years old, whether
they knew anyone who had ever graduated from college. These three dropouts
said no. I thought, what an odd thing to say. They had been in school
for almost twelve years, and had had somewhere between twelve and fifty
teachers, all of whom had graduated from college. On the other hand,
this was not a strange statement at all. The youth did not include any
of those teachers among the people they knew because they did not know
their teachers."
--Deborah Meier, from
City Kids, City Teachers
New from the NEA Professional Library
 Professional
Development Schools: Combining School Improvement and Teacher
Preparation
Lucindia Chance, Editor
160 pp., $18.85 #2017-0-00-FN
This book helps educators turn their learning workplace into a successful
"professional development school," or "PDS." Learn how to develop effective
relationships with universities. Explore the roles and responsibilities
of teachers, student teachers, para-educators, and higher education
faculty in the professional development school framework. See how you
and your colleagues can evaluate the effectiveness of a PDS program.
A must read for any educator concerned with professional development
or considering whether to try to establish a PDS.
To order, call 1-800/299-4200, or check the Web at www.nea.org/books.
Excerpt:
"Real empowerment related to decision-making is more than participation
in teacher committees that advise the principal; in real empowerment,
teachers make decisions affecting not only their own classrooms and
schools, but also their districts and state. Some decision-making
opportunities at the school level that can contribute to school improvement
planning and enhance teacher empowerment are: (1) developing alternative
assessment programs, (2) selecting textbooks and curriculum approaches
that are developmentally appropriate, and (3) sharing in personnel
and budget decisions."
Girl in Hyacinth Blue
By Susan Vreeland
A compilation of eight independent stories woven together, Girl in Hyacinth
Blue travels back in time to chronicle the history of an art piece. Recounting
the lives of the painting's owners, Vreeland offers insight into the human
spirit. $17.50 plus $4.20 s&h from MacMurray & Beck, 4101 E. Louisiana
Ave., Suite 100, Denver, CO 80246, 800/774-3777. On the Web at www.macmurraybeck.com/girl.htm.
Going Beyond Duck, Duck, Goose
By Cary Pyle
Going Beyond Duck, Duck, Goose presents several entertaining activities
for children ages 5-10. Realizing the time and resource constraints placed
on teachers and recreation leaders, Pyle lists games that require a minimal
amount of preparation. $10 (includes s&h) from Formula Marketing, 726
West Kalmia St., San Diego, CA 92101, 800/533-5111. On the Web at http://www.formulamkt.com/Pyle.htm.
Who Was the Scottish Medieval Knight, Prince Henry
Sinclair?
By Elaine Sinclair Fowler
A product of personal genealogical research, Fowler's illustrated children's
book, Who Was the Scottish Medieval Knight, Prince Henry Sinclair?, reveals
that a European visited North America before Christopher Columbus. $7
(includes s&h) from Lake Champlain Islands Publishing Co., P.O. Box 11,
South Hero, VT 05486, 802/372-4557.
Simple Hands-On Science
By Greg Bartram and Lois Belavich-Ivanc
In Simple Hands-On Science, authors Bartram and Belavich-Ivanc offer
a slew of hands-on experiments that demonstrate concepts in earth and
life sciences. Designed "for teachers, by teachers," each activity requires
simple materials and minimal preparation. $16 (includes s&h) from NDT,
inc., 4 E. 194th St., Euclid, OH 44119, 216/531-1591. On the Web at www.ndteachers.com.
Uncommon Champions
By Marty Kaminsky
Looking to instill a sense of hope in America's youth, Kaminsky chronicles
the lives of 15 athletes who overcame adversity to achieve their goals.
Uncommon Champions provides motivating insights that remind readers that
athletics is not just about physical strength. $14.95 plus $4.95 s&h from
Boyds Mills Press, 815 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431, 877/512-8366.
Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks
HBO
December 16, 2:45 p.m.
Airing in honor of his 88th birthday, this feature-length presentation
profiles photographer, novelist, poet, musician, and filmmaker, Gordon
Parks, while exploring America's social history through his life and work.
Drawing on the work of Mr. Parks himself, the documentary features archival
footage of the turbulent 1960s and 70s, as well as interviews with friends,
family, colleagues, and others. Both HBO and Turner Learning have produced
online guides for parents, teachers, and students. The guides contain
biographical and historical background material, biographical and photographic
timelines of Parks and his work, discussion questions, and activities.
In addition, a PDF file of a special insert on Gordon Parks in Weekly
Reader Current Events can be downloaded from the HBO Web site. A limited
supply of 30-minute educational compilation tapes of Half Past Autumn:
The Life and Works of Gordon Parks is available for the first 200
teachers to call 1-888-881-5725. Questions and activities can be adapted
for use with this abridged version. The Gordon Parks Inspiring Vision
Contest invites students to respond to social injustice in the world
through poetry and photography, by considering the question of what bothers
them about the world and choosing an issue that concerns them and illustrating
it with a poem or a photograph. The deadline for submissions is January
15, 2001, and all submissions must be accompanied by a submission form
which is available at hbo.com and turnerlearning.com. Prizes include a
trip to New York City, cash awards and other gifts. HBO has granted educators
the right to make one videotape of this program for classroom use which
may be retained for five years from the airdate.
The Royal Diaries - "Isabel: The Jewel of Castilla"
HBO
December 14, 3:30 p.m.; December 18, 5:45 p.m.; December 23, 8:30 a.m.,
check local listings.
An all-new series inspired by women leaders in history tells the stories
of a pivotal point in their lives. Isabel: The Jewel of Castilla
tells the story of the young woman as she faces conflicting loyalties
within her family. In order to fulfill the royal duty to marry for political
purposes, Isabel must compromise her own desires and goals. The program
also airs on HBO Family on December 2, and 22 at 6:30 p.m. and December
27, at 8:30 p.m.
Hamlet
Odyssey
December 16, 2:00-6:00 p.m.; Part II repeats December 18, 2:00-4:00
a.m. and December 27, 7:00-11:00 p.m.
This Odyssey original production of "Hamlet" has been adapted and set
in America in the early 1900s, but the dialogue stays faithful to Shakespeare.
Campbell Scott directs and stars in this celebrated tragedy about the
troubled Dane who yearns to avenge his father's death. KIDSNET has developed
a study guide for high school teachers which can be downloaded from their
website at www.kidsnet.org.
Animated Epics: Beowulf
HBO Family
December 14, 6:30 a.m.; December 18, 9:45 a.m.; December 22, 1:00 p.m.,
check local listings.
This animated presentation tells the story of the epic struggles of the
great 6th century Scandinavian warrior who faced three mortal enemies:
the monster Grendel, Grendel's vengeance-seeking mother, and a fire-breathing
dragon.
The Forgotten Americans
PBS
December 14, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET, check local listings.
There are nearly 1,500 colonias in the United States, unincorporated
neighborhoods scattered along the Mexican border. This film follows a
year in the lives of colonia residents, documenting their struggle
to attain basic living and housing services such as electricity, water,
and sewer hook-ups. How various non-profit organizations assist colonia
residents with health and home concerns, and political perspectives of
what can be done to remedy the situation are also presented. The show's
Web site at pbs.org/forgottenamericans
provides additional history of the colonias and how they were formed,
a gallery of photographs taken by kids who live in colonias, and two interactive
features which show what it is like to live in a colonia and how local
government works.
Great Books: Les Miserables
The Learning Channel
December 23, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET, check local listings.
This special "Great Books" presentation examines the inseparability of
Victor Hugo's writing and politics and his concerns about penal reform
and the burdens of the poor and working classes. Les Miserables,
first published in 1862, was one of the first popular works of fiction
that explored the social effects of poverty. This program explores Hugo's
artistry and his political activism, with commentary by Victor Brombert,
professor of Romance and Comparative Literature at Princeton University,
Hugo biographer Dr. Graham Robb, and several individuals involved in modern
prison reform.
The Weather Classroom: Hurricanes
The Weather Channel
Mondays and Thursdays through January 11, 4:00-4:30 a.m. ET, check local
listings.
This new installment of The Weather Classroom explores the power of hurricanes
through the experiences of experts. Viewers learn how the intensity of
a storm is measured and what it's like to fly into the eye of a hurricane.
The Weather Classroom is aired commercial-free with closed captioning
and taping rights for educators. Support materials are available at www.weather.com/education.
Jazz
PBS
Beginning January 8, check local listings.
Filmmaker Ken Burns highlights America's quintessential art form in this
10-part series. The program traces the growth and development of jazz,
with all its social significance, from beginnings in New Orleans to reinvigoration
at the end of the century. Jazz uses interviews, music, archival film
clips, and photographs to capture the rich history of this musical form.
A companion book by Geoffrey C. Ward and corresponding CDs will accompany
the series, along with a Web site at www.pbs.org/jazz.
Freedom Never Dies: The Legacy of Harry T. Moore
PBS
January 12, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET, check local listings.
This documentary looks at the life and death of Harry T. Moore, an early
civil rights activist during the postwar years who championed equal pay
for Black teachers, organized Black voters, and publicly condemned the
racist actions of local and state officials in Mims, Florida. In 1951,
Mr. Moore and his wife, Harriette, were killed in their bed by a bomb.
President Truman ordered a full investigation by the FBI, but their murders
remain unsolved.
The Great Gatsby
A&E
January 14, 8:00-10:00 p.m., check local listings.
In this original adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, Mira
Sorvino plays Daisy Buchanan, the epitome of beauty, wealth, and class
in the 1920s. Jay Gatsby is the newly rich suitor who's determined to
win her away from her cruel but very rich husband. The Great Gatsby captures
the decadence of the Jazz Age and America's obsession with wealth, ambition,
and the ability to reinvent oneself. F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American
Dreamer, will air January 19 on A&E Classroom, and support materials can
be found at www.AandE.com/class.
Inside the Kill Box:Fighting the Gulf War
Discovery Channel
January 14, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET, check local listings.
Ten years after the United States launched an attack on Iraqi forces
occupying Kuwait, politicians, soldiers, and historians still debate the
conduct and goals of the Gulf War. This program examines the methods and
motives of the war and its impact on American military personnel and the
people of Kuwait and Iraq. Former President George Bush, Dick Cheney,
and General Norman Schwarzkopf are featured, along with soldiers, pilots,
and Iraqi military officials.
Crosses on the Lawn
Fox Family
January 15, 4:00-5:00 a.m. ET, check local listings.
The town of Springdale has been hit hard by economic loss, but when a
large corporation arrives with the promise of jobs, things seem to be
improving. Then, when it's revealed that one-quarter of the jobs will
be set aside for minorities moving into Springdale, the mood shifts: Residents
must now deal with racial hatred, and how they respond offers important
lessons about bias, prejudice, and tolerance. KIDSNET has produced an
online study guide for middle school educators, as well as a bulletin
board discussion forum. Visit www.kidsnet.org
for more information.
CNN Newsroom: To Serve a Nation
CNN
January 17, 4:30-5:00 a.m. ET, check local listings.
CNN Newsroom goes to boot camp in this special on military service. Tom
Haynes investigates the four main branches of the military and the strict
training endured by recruits. Military careers are profiled, and Haynes
looks at how the armed services can help to instill responsibility, teamwork,
and a sense of service in young people. For more information, or to receive
classroom guides and programming information by E-mail, log on to www.turnerlearning.com.
Lizzie McGuire
Disney Channel
January 19, check local listings.
This new series combines animation with live-action to provide an inside
look at the life and stresses of a 13-year-old girl. The live-action Lizzie
may look calm, or perhaps simply stunned, but her animated counterpart
fully expresses the highlights, pain, and humor of a typical teenage girl.
The Book of Pooh
Disney Channel
Weekday mornings, check local listings.
Using "Bunraku," the 300-year-old art of Indonesian puppetry, this new
series brings A.A. Milne's beloved stuffed animals to life. The show's
pre-literacy foundation features storytelling, word play, and language
appreciation, along with creative problem-solving and social skills for
preschoolers.
Attila the Hun
USA Network
January 30 and 31, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET, check local listings.
Filmed on location in Lithuania, this original presentation tells the
story of what happened when the worlds of Attila, king of the Huns, and
Roman General Flavius Aetius collided. Attila envisioned an empire and
the possibility of a new world order that would supersede the power of
Rome. Aetius, raised as a royal hostage by the Huns, learned from them
the art of war and combined that art with Roman infantry tactics. When
these leaders and their armies met near Chalons, France, in 451, they
fought until the Huns, vanquished, fled under the cover of night. But
because the losses were so great on both sides, the Romans could not pursue
Attila, who escaped.
KIDSNET, a national resource for children's media
in Washington, D.C., provides these listings. For additional listings
and information, check the Web at www.kidsnet.org.
Scoop from the Soviets
The fall of the Soviet Empire led to an explosion of news about the region,
and NewsLine keeps us informed. This is a free daily report based on news
gathered by the correspondents, services, and regional specialists of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Family/SchoolCon-nections
Resource
Disney Learning Partnership launches this new resource area containing
information on how educators and family members can work together to help
children succeed in school. Offers instructions for teachers on how to
create interactive homework that involves parents in the learning process.
Gives parents advice on getting involved with their child's learning.
Includes The Teacher's View, a monthly in-depth look at how a teacher
works to involve families in the classroom.
Running Scoop
Are you sick of hearing manufacturers claim that their product is the
best of the best? Now there's a place to go to find the latest
non-biased information for runners. Realrunner.com boasts that it's an
independent site not linked to any manufacturer or race organizer, "so
the content on the site is guaranteed to be free from bias that you'd
get otherwise." Aimed at the global running community, whether you're
just starting out or an expert.
Healthy Meals
Are you eating healthy? The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued
its Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2000, 5th Edition. This link
also lists recipes for thrifty meals and an Interactive Healthy Eating
Index.
Mars Mania
Take your students on an interplanetary journey with pictures of Mars
that have been acquired by NASA's Global Surveyor. More than 25,000 images
in all from three cameras that give us narrow, wide, and global angles.
Famous Words
From Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein to Rene Descartes and Thomas Jefferson,
Gabriel Robins, Walter N. Munster associate professor of computer science
at the University of Virginia, has tapped into his literary side. His
Good Quotations by Famous People is a great site to tap into the minds
of history's greatest thinkers.
Animal Habits
Ever wonder what those critters outside your house were? These local guides
from eNature give you a list of wildlife common to your area. Complement
a lesson on insects and animals with photos and descriptive text from
the National Audubon Society Field Guide series.
Freedom First
A historical treasure goes digital: The first 20 issues of Freedom's
Journal, the first African-American owned and operated newspaper published
in the United States, are now online. Brought to us by the State Historical
Society of Wisconsin.
Something Old
From his Anatomy of the Human Body, Henry Gray has made studying
the human body fun and easy. More than 1,200 engravings--many in color--from
the classic, now-digitized 1918 publication.
How
Schools Stack Up
How does your school match up with the latest reports on the health of
our schools? The Condition of Education report profiles America's
educational system, displaying trends and monitoring important developments.
In an Adobe Acrobat format for easy reading.
Real Leaders
Women who strive to make America a better place are, of course, fearless.
Let it be known that these are amazing women who won't take no for an
answer. Update yourself on who these women are and what they are doing
at befearless.com.
Museum Online
Take your students on a virtual trip to Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum. See Rem-brandt's
etchings, work by Albrecht Durer, and many other amazing pieces of art.
This virtual tour is well worth the price of admission (a mouse click).
Internet Public Library
This vast online library, created and maintained by librarians, sports
a youth division with a treasure trove of information--links from sites
as obvious as Yahoo and as obscure as that of a New Jersey elementary
school's geometry class.
National Geographic's
Map Machine
Give your child the cartographer's challenge of making flat maps for a
round planet. Or scan the night sky with views from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Seniornet
Rich and easy to use, this site for older folks covers everything from
hobbies to investing. Its information about senior discounts and online
classes is especially helpful. You can talk with your peers about politics,
literature, and anything else.
Look for Law Day 2001
"Celebrate Your Freedom--Protecting the Best Interests of Our Children"
is the theme for Law Day 2001. On May 1, the American Bar Association
will celebrate its 100-year endeavor to address the needs of children
and their unique status within the legal system. Every year many legal
and non-legal organizations, state and local bars, businesses, and schools
join the ABA in conducting thousands of programs on how the rule of law
makes our democracy possible. Learn more information on how you can participate
by visiting the ABA Law Day Web site.
Science
News
Uncover the origins of the first known evidence of life on earth. Read
about the final space walk and the first jetpack testing by the crew of
the space ship Discovery. Learn how one wild teacher motivated his students
to learn physics through the use of a firsthand lesson on lightning. You
can do all this and more though the ABC news Web page science link. This
site is packed with exciting information useful for designing up-to-date
lessons in science. Decide for yourself.
Cool Science
These guys took some of the best projects from the best museums in the
country and adapted them for the Web. These simple activities, for grades
K-3, include classifying animals, learning where butterflies come from,
and finding out what kinds of particles are hiding in your nose.
Portal to the World Of Knowledge
This Internet distance learning Web site offers educational opportunities
for everyone from preschoolers to corporate executives. The site has won
18 awards as outstanding distance education Web site and USA Today
names it the "best bet" education site.
History of Physics
You don't need an advanced degree to learn about the history of physics.
This site from the American Institute of Physics offers an Exhibit Hall
packed with topics ranging from the discovery of the electron to the life
of Albert Einstein.
Definitely In the Pink Study Site
An online study buddy, Pink Monkey, combines 314 literature summaries
(at last count), 1,800 classic texts, and online SAT prep. Not to mention
current college planning advice, plus creative study tips, and a jamming
radio. All free.
This is the Real X-Files
Wonder whether UFOs are fact or fiction? Dig into the Popular Documents
Collection of the CIA's online reading room to find the spy set's official
report on the matter. Everybody convinced now?
Learn a New Language or Several
Languages
Over 70 languages to choose from, travlang's travel and language site
provides translating dictionaries in many languages--free. Learn a new
word every day in 70 different languages via the web. Check out the currency
exchange rate and a worldwide hotel database.
The Journalists of Berkeley High
This high school newspaper is filled with sophisticated feature stories
that set high standards for high school journalism. Recently, the journal
received national recognition with its ground-breaking story uncovering
the carbon-monoxide poisoning death of a 17-year-old Indian Immigrant
in the Bay area, an indentured servant to a local real estate tycoon.
Read The Jacket online.
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