District Administration - July/August 2011 - (Page 12)

Br iefings Newsupdate PeoPle Watch Friend oF education tim carpenter and 13 of his Democratic colleagues from the Wisconsin Senate were honored by the National Education Association with an “NEA’s Friend of Education” award for opposing a bill that would weaken collective bargaining rights. New DC ChaNCellor Kaya Henderson has been named the new chancellor of DC Public Schools, a position formerly held by Michelle Rhee. Henderson, who was most recently the district’s deputy chancellor since 2007, was formerly with Teach for America-DC. $100 MillioN woes Many members of the Newark (N.J.) Public School District community dislike Mayor cory Booker’s plan to close low-performing schools and replace them with charter schools with the $100 million given by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. wheels for eDuCatioN basketball star LeBron James held a summer camp filled with reading and technology classes in his hometown of Akron, Ohio for 360 students, along with a 2.6-mile bike-athon, “Wheels for Education.” One of his biggest priorities is getting kids through school. CheatiNg sCaNDal Georgia Gov. nathal deal found 178 Atlanta teachers and principals guilty of widespread cheating after the Georgia bureau of Investigation looked into the city’s gains on standardized tests. It may be the biggest cheating scandal in U.S. history. by Marion Herbert There are more Than 400,000 migranT children working the fields in 48 states across the United States. They begin working as early as age 12, their days begin as early as 4 a.m. and their home moves wherever the crop season takes them and their families. The backbreaking labor and transient lifestyle causes them to drop out of high school at four times the national rate. although other industries have regulations governing the ages, number of hours and conditions under which children can work, agriculture has been largely untouched by the child employment laws that fall under the Fair labor Standards act, which was passed in 1938. The harvest/la cosecha, a documentary directed by U. roberto (robin) romano and produced by the nonprofit production company Shine global, is trying to change this. The movie trails three children and their families as they follow the crop season through Texas, Florida, michigan, Tennessee, mississippi and beyond. These children, Victor, Zumela and Perla, often work as much as 30 hours per week and migrate from may through november. “The kids are never in one place long enough to ever have a real impact made on them in school. They’re so transient that it’s hard to get to know them, deal with their learning issues, and track their progress,” says augie orci, executive director of the american association of latino administrators and Superintendents. Under the high-stakes standards of no child left Behind, meeting federal guidelines in a district with migrant children can be nearly impossible. “The movie depicts a drifting, rootless popu- Victor is a migrant child worker lation. The irony is that the people who feed us highlighted in The Harvest/ La Cosecha. He hauls up to 1,500 pounds can’t afford to feed themselves,” says romano. each day while working in the fields. The children’s act for responsible employment was first introduced by rep. lucille roybal-allard (d-calif.) in September 2009 and advocates stricter limits on child labor in agriculture. romano and executive producer and actress eva longoria have visited capitol hill to support this legislation, which currently has over 100 sponsors. according to executive producer Susan maclaury, the bill would increase the minimum age for child workers, limit the number of hours they are allowed to work, and raise labor standards for pesticide exposure. “These children deserve protection under the law,” says romano. “when we legislate the high road, everyone wins.” maclaury says a free downloadable curriculum is being developed for grades 7-12 so that students can learn more about migrant workers and their impact on society. The film will air on epics TV on oct. 5 and will then be available on dVd. To learn more, visit www.theharvestfilm.com. District Administration Getting Students Off Farms and Into Classrooms 12 July/August 2011 U. Roberto (Robin) Romano http://www.theharvestfilm.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - July/August 2011

District Administration - July/August 2011
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
Facilities News
Inside the Law
District Profile
Administrator Profile
The Social Media Dilemma
Is Year-Round Schooling on Track?
After 50 Years, Ethnic Studies Still Controversial
Finding the Right Purchasing Solution
Look, Listen, Learn
Research Center
Supervisor’s Opinion
Going Mobile
Superintendent’s Insight
Books
Product Focus
New Products
Online Edge

District Administration - July/August 2011