You Spend Whaaaatt?!

How much of your own money do you spend on students? An NEA online survey reveals educators' generous spending habits as well as some of the mundane—and wacky—items they buy.

Catching Their Backs

That first year in the classroom can be rough on anyone. But new teachers around the country are surviving, thriving, and even becoming local leaders—thanks to support from their Association.

Spring Cleaning

Spring is here, and yard and home projects beckon. Learn how to paint and caulk like a pro, bust through clutter, and discover your inner gardener with these job-tested tips from your ESP colleagues.

Is retention better than social promotion for students? Yes. Social promotion has three detrimental effects on the education system. It taxes both teachers and students. Promoting a student into a higher level of English when he lacks basic reading skills, places undue burden on future teachers and students. Socially promoted students monopolize teacher attention, and other students' learning opportunities are limited as a result. No. Is it time to review our centuries-old system of grouping students by age? Perhaps all students should be placed in multi-age classrooms. This arrangement would assist students who struggle to learn as quickly as their peers of the same age and would eliminate self-esteem issues caused by retention. Read more of their rationales or cast your vote. Yes    No

Spotlight

Is your school building hazardous to your health? There's no need to accept poor indoor air quality in school. Find out how to get things changed, even when administration cooperation doesn't exist.

ESP

In Arkansas, a gutsy custodian tells what it takes to bargain a solid agreement for support professionals—against the odds.

Money

What you should know about saving for college, donating that old car, and climbing out of debt. 

Bulletin Board

Educators share some of the lamest excuses they've gotten for missing homework—and no one is blaming the dog.

People

Artist Robt Seda-Schreiber left California beaches to teach, and inspire, at his New Jersey alma mater. The death of Elizabeth Sterling's son inspired her to cycle cross-country to raise awareness about the importance of cancer clinical trials. 

Last Bell

When it comes to grades, gold stars, or pizza parties, just say 'no,' advises health educator John Perricone. External rewards harm because they sap the love of learning.

Editor's Note

President's Viewpoint

UpFront

A new push by President Bush to help high schools means more testing for students.

Leading the Way

State Report

Resources

'Sure, I Remember Her!'

As a biology teacher, I have a lab full of interesting animals from chinchillas to degus. When I have too many guinea pigs, I often sell them to students or their younger siblings. This year, a younger grade school student kept asking for a picture of me to take home. I was flattered that I had such an insistent fan. On the day I remembered to bring one in, I asked him what his plan was for my picture.

"Oh, Mrs. Gray," he said happily, "I've had my guinea pig George for three years now. He used to be one of yours. I want to show him your picture and see if he remembers you!"

—Lois Mittino Gray
New Harmony School, New Harmony, Indiana

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Send it to neatoday@nea.org.