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March 30, 2007

Long Distance Learning — Obtaining Higher Education On Your Own Schedule

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — admin @ 7:47 pm

If you’re over thirty and work regular, or not so regular, hours, the thought of going back to school may seem like an abandoned dream. Who’s got the time? Between work and family or home responsibilities, finding the time to be able to go back to a college campus and spend hours sitting in a classroom is no longer an option. You may want to rev those dreams back, because these days, long distance learning makes all of your goals a possible reality.

Millions of men and women around the world have let loose of their dreams for higher education because of these considerations, and more. The cost of tuition, books and campus fees, in addition to the fact that some campuses are plain beyond the reach of many without transportation add to the dismal prospects of continuing that quest for knowledge. Today, more students than ever before are attending long distance learning colleges and universities. No matter what they’re called, Online Schools, Distance Education Learning, Long Distance Learning or Correspondence Schools, they are offering degrees in more areas of study than ever before. Whether you want to earn an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree, an online or distance program will more than likely offer you what you need in regard to coursework and testing options. Want to pursue your Master’s? Those are available as well.

Do distance learning colleges offer the same course of studies that traditional colleges do? Yes! Is long distance learning a viable way to obtain a degree? Again, yes. Most online colleges and universities are accredited, but always make sure before you start coursework with any particular college, whether online or off.

Also, find out ahead of time about testing requirements and how exams are handled. Some people must drive to a specified testing location, depending on course of study and location of your nearest brick and mortar university. Long distance learning schools offer most students the opportunity o complete exams in a proctored situation, which can be accomplished at a library, a neighboring school or college, or within any office or location approved by your school of choice.

Because of the overwhelming and growing popularity of online colleges, most major universities in the United States are now also offering online coursework within certain disciplines at campuses across the country. Whether you want to go into nursing, education, business or other disciplines, there is a long distance learning program that will suit your needs, and your budget, perfectly.

Most online or distance learning degree programs offer student financing or payment options that will enable you to budget your school costs, rather than having to pay hundreds, if not thousands of dollars up front for complete course study units per semester. Many online colleges also offer scholarships and financing options as well.

There’s no longer any reason to put off higher education. Now your time is your own, and you can decide where and when you study. Sure, it’s going to be difficult to balance school with other responsibilities, but at least now you don’t have to commit to someone else’s schedule.

Long Island Schools Rate Well On Math Test

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — admin @ 9:13 am

Long Island Schools show marked improvements on statewide math tests for grades three through eight. Albany educational authorities announced the dramatic improvements this month. Long Island Schools tend to mirror statewide improvements across the board. According to Newsday, Education Commissioner Richard Mills said, “The fact that children are achieving higher standards in the middle grades is especially significant.” Long Island Schools, and many across the nation, have faced the challenge of test scores dropping in the middle school years.

In its second year of reporting steady improvements, Long Island Schools are up in every grade and show impressive results. 85.2% of third graders passed, as opposed to 80.5% last year. And seventh graders increased scores from 55.6% to 66.4%. While not all residents in the Long Island Schools district support mandatory testing, these results are still welcome. New York State has the second largest per pupil spending of the 50 states, and often shows the results in impressive test scores. Even so, New York City districts, like the Long Island Schools, have felt pressure to attain the No Child Left Behind mandate to get all children to a proficient ranking by 2014.

Congressman Steve Israel is pushing for funding for the Keeping Our Promise to America’s Children Act to help fund the efforts. Supporting NCLB is costly for Long Island Schools due to lower teacher to student ratios that require more teachers and classrooms, time-consuming but federally mandated paperwork, and the requirement for highly qualified teachers in math and science. While most Long Island Schools’ educators support those actions, finding the methods to make them happen has been challenging. Fortunately, with the over $11,000 per pupil funding through New York State, Long Island Schools are more successful than most schools around the nation.

Of courses this isn’t always felt by board members and educators of Long Island Schools. Some districts in Long Island Schools had heated budget debates in January over trimming the budget and allocating funds. One major area of concern in Long Island Schools is early intervention and remediation programs. Due to the successes of the third grade after school homework program at lessening the need for Special Education classes, Long Island Schools’ educators are hoping for funding for similar projects. Early childhood programs are also in high demand, but didn’t receive the desired funding earlier this year. Early childhood classes are credited with helping low income students better prepare for transition to kindergarten and grade school. Still, with the massive increase in math scores for the past two years, Long Island Schools are showing results the rest of the country is still chasing.

March 29, 2007

Looking For Accredited Vocational Schools

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — admin @ 10:34 am

Jake graduated from secondary school then worked as a clerk in a supermarket in the neighborhood. This person didn’t go to college because the parents were not earning much and there were still two brothers and a sister that still had to go to school.

Given the circumstances, Jake had to do what was necessary to keep the family together. A few years later, all the kids also graduated from secondary school. Given that some money was saved from all those years of hard work, this person finally decided to go back to school.

Some people thought Jake was too old to hit the books again. These individuals wanted to prove everyone wrong by studying in a vocational school and getting that certification.

The vocational school nearby offered business management, which can be finished in two years. Jake may not know that much about running a business but the experiences learned from working in a supermarket and moving up the ranks from being a clerk to a supervisor will surely be useful.

Jake did not want to be a supervisor again after finishing the course in the vocational school. The only way to get a better job in the future was to be sure this place was accredited not only in that state but across the country so the degree will mean a higher position in another company.

Since the school was accredited after doing some checking, Jake enrolled and started with the program. This person needed money to pay for tuition, which is why the student worked in the day time then studied at night.

After two years, Jake graduated at the top of the class and was ready to leave the current job and apply for work elsewhere.

Jake sent the resume to various companies. Since this person had a degree from a certified accredited school, it wasn’t long before a firm gave an offer to handle a chain of supermarkets in the Midwest. The employer was giving a higher salary and a car, which was something that will never happen without going back to school.

The department of Education and the Trade and Industry Commission gives accreditation to most vocational schools in a state. This will ensure the quality of education provided by that institution and a good job once a person finishes.

If the individual wants to succeed like Jake, one should have the determination to work hard and achieve it. Otherwise, the person won’t earn as much as the employee will ever expect.

March 27, 2007

Looking For A Vocational Schools In Florida

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — admin @ 4:53 pm

When the word Florida becomes the topic of conversation, many people will think about the white sanded beaches. Believe it or not this beautiful tropic paradise has other things to offer who want to get a better job such as the vocational programs in its campuses.

One good example is the International Academy of Design and Technology based in Orlando, Florida. The school offers programs for people who want to specialize in computer graphics and advertising.

Students who reside in Tampa can try the Florida Metropolitan University, which has more programs to offer. This includes criminal justice, business, medical insurance building and paralegal.

ITT technical institute has over 80 other campuses all over the United States. If the individual wants to take a vocational course in computer and electronics engineering technology, web development and information system technology, the individual can try visiting its campus in Miami, Florida.

People who want to harness the skills in fashion design and marketing can try getting some information from the American Intercontinental University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The mentioned schools are just four of more than ten institutions offering vocational training to aspiring workers. A few of these are affiliated with some of the best schools in the country which could allow the student to study to learn more by studying for a semester in another state.

The student will also be happy to know that some of these schools offer distance-learning programs that are convenient for those who also have to work.

The individual will just have to log into the Internet and give certain information so that a representative from the vocational school can send a brochure and call. People who may have a hard time paying for tuition can avail of a scholarship or loan enabling the person to get the certificate or degree and get that dream job.

One of the nicest things about vocational schools in Florida is that someone from that institution may also be able to help that student get a job after graduation. This is because many of these places have a good relationship with some of the top employers in the state who need well-trained professionals in various positions of the company.

Nothing is going to happen to the person by just sitting at home after finishing secondary school. If the individual wants to succeed, the first step will be to enroll in a vocational school to learn the tools needed in getting the job done.

Looking For Balance In San Francisco Schools

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — admin @ 9:18 am

Educators in the San Francisco Public Schools are frustrated by the lack of balance in education. The recent focus on mandatory testing has moved schools nationwide away from holistic education. And this can have serious consequences on children in the San Francisco Schools.

Richard Florida in The Flight of the Creative Class says, “What we really need in order to prepare our children for the creative economy is a comprehensive education. Something that takes them from aesthetics to algebra without pretending that the two are mutually exclusive.” Aha!

Elliot W. Eisner, professor of education and art, Stanford University agrees. He states that “The arts are fundamental resources through which the world is viewed, meaning is created, and the mind developed.” Arts education has a profound effect on students, there’s no doubt about it. San Francisco Schools are finally acknowledging this, and are acting on it

In March 2004, voters, in unprecedented numbers, passed Proposition H. This proposition earmarked tens of millions of city funds for schools, including new funds for arts education. This had added further community and political support to the cause of arts education equity and access for all San Francisco Schools students.

A San Francisco Schools Steering Committee was then formed to begin work on the master plan. The steering committee, as well as others, is composed of district administrators, teachers, parents, principals, funders, city agency representatives and arts providers. They met on a regular basis until August 2005 under the direction of a project manager. The Steering Committee continues to provide guidance during the initial implementation phase of the plan and will gradually become an advisory body for the San Francisco Schools plan.

The San Francisco Schools have made an important step forward by acknowledging the role arts play in academic education. The arts engage students and honor the many different learning styles students possess. The arts are essential to understanding one’s self, the community, and global culture. Through arts, students in the San Francisco Schools can acquire the skills and creativity needed to succeed later in life. San Francisco Schools leaders know that the arts encourage commitment and persistence, and they have discovered that an involvement in the arts leads to increased attendance and helps many students stay in school, all the way through 12th grade.

One San Francisco Schools elementary principal agreed, “Art gives kids something they can do well. . . .For some, this is where they start.” We need to see more initiatives like this all over the country. As the San Francisco Schools are finally starting to recognize, there is a connection between art and academic education that can go a long way towards improving the state of education in this country.

March 26, 2007

Looking For The Right Vocational Schools

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , — admin @ 8:32 pm

Education is a large chuck of total tools that will help us to secure a bright future. Given this, society has ingrained in us the need for education and we have been told that a degree is a priceless achievement to have. While there is no doubt that education and earning a college degree is merit enough on its own, make no mistake about assuming that will guarantee you gainful employment after graduation.

Many graduates find themselves rudely awakened to the reality that it is quite difficult to find a suitable match for their degree, skills, education and the kinds of jobs that are actually available to them. A popular Hollywood film a decade ago dealt with the topic of how reality bites for graduates.

While I am not trying to dissuade individuals from going for higher education, let me suggest attending a vocational school instead. Not to be confused with each other, a vocational school is a training institution that teach job specific skills to its students to be able to ready and able to acquire gainful employment after graduation.

As opposed to a college or university, a vocational school will teach only things that are completely pertinent to an individual’s chosen career path. On the other hand, a student in a college or university will have to learn about liberal arts and a host of other subjects that don’t necessarily translate into a direct correlation to future employment.

If you are not sure if choosing to stay at least four years in a college and you already know that type of job you want, perhaps vocational school is what is best for you. Be sure then to choose the right vocational school for your skills, interest and circumstances. Be very meticulous in choosing the right vocational school to attend.

Make sure that they have a solid track record in terms of the success rates of their graduates in finding gainful employment. Now that you armed with the proper tools and know how in choosing the right vocational school for you, it’s time to find out what vocational schools are in your area.

Vocational schools in Pittsburgh

Ask the librarian! Log on to .carnegielibrary.org and find out the technical and vocational schools in Pittsburgh.

Vocational schools in Ontario

In Ontario, Canada? Check out .edu.gov.on.ca for options for quality vocational schools.

Vocational schools in Ohio

Visit lmi.state.oh.us and in their workforce classic page you will find all the pertinent information you need to find vocational schools in Ohio.

March 25, 2007

Low Teacher Pay Scales At Arizona Schools

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 10:15 pm

Teachers in Arizona Schools are Paid Less

Teachers in Arizona schools are compensated based on their level of education, qualifications and teaching experience. But is that truly fair pay? The comparatively low pay scales for teachers in Arizona schools are leading to a serious under valuation of teachers, the backbone of any education system. Salary increases are often decided by the school boards, and teachers are shortchanged when they try to change school districts. Studies indicate that al least one third of teachers in Arizona schools leave the system within two years of joining it.

Teachers at Arizona Schools Have no Say in the Compensation Process

Strangely enough, at some Arizona schools teacher compensation can vary. Salaries can run the gamut beginning in the 20,000s and going up to the 40,000s depending on the Arizona schools districts. This is an odd situation because each student in Arizona schools receives up to $6000 in funding, across all districts.

Teachers in Arizona public schools have even less bargaining power when it comes to salary negotiations than teachers in other stats. This is clear from the insulting pay increase that TUSD recently offered its teachers &ndash a generous one per cent. Since then TUSD has magnanimously upped its offer to 1.5 per cent, and as teachers hold out still continues to dilly dally about further pay raises. But the message is clear &ndash teachers in Arizona schools are grossly undervalued which is a contributing factor in the state’s slow decline in the education rankings. When you factor in inflation and rising costs of living, offering a one percent raise is insulting and demeaning to the teaching profession.

Arizona Schools Fail to Attract the Cream of the Crop

With pay scales that are decided at the mercy of the school boards, and not enough teacher participation in the compensatory decision making process, Arizona schools are having a tough time finding teachers who make the grade. Highly qualified professional men and women who wish to pursue the noble profession of teaching are turned off by the devaluation of teachers that is the norm in Arizona schools. When this happens it’s the students who suffer from missing out on the practical experience that the professionals can bring to classrooms. The devaluation of teachers thus hurts the students the most.

Most Arizona schools also make changing districts tough for teachers by placing experienced teachers at a lower rung of the salary scale than they were in their previous school. This doesn’t allow Arizona schools to offer big money to qualified teachers. It’s an arrangement that hurts the teachers, the boards and ultimately the students themselves.

Los Angeles Schools Welcome Back The Arts

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — admin @ 9:10 pm

Los Angeles Schools are seeing a steady increase in arts education as the dual result of a long-term program and recent state funding. The Arts for All program was initiated in 2002 as a 10-year plan to restore arts education to the 80 districts of Los Angeles Schools. The project focuses on bringing music, dance, drama and the visual arts to K-12 schools in the area. Nine schools have just signed up for the 2007-2008 school year, bringing the total number of Los Angeles Schools involved up to 27.

Two of the newest participants are the Lancaster and Palmdale districts of Los Angeles Schools. Both schools completely eliminated their elementary music programs in the last decade due to budget cuts and increased pressure to perform on state tests. Major cuts first began for Los Angeles Schools with Proposition 13 in 1978. This California mandate reduced property taxes and district funds, which required all Los Angeles Schools to reduce or eliminate arts and physical education classes.

Los Angeles Schools were pleased when the state announced funding of $500 million for art, music and physical education classes in the beginning of June. Los Angeles Schools will use much of these funds for the Arts for All Program. Arts for All is built on a five-step process which, while proven effective, costs money. The five steps involved are:

1. Allocating 5% of a district’s budget to arts education

2. Having a board adopted policy

3. Creating an implementation plan with a timeline

4. Assigning a district level arts coordinator

5. Maintaining a student to arts teacher ratio of 400:1

Los Angeles Schools will pay for a program expert to guide parents, staff and community members in the creation of their implementation plan. The Lancaster district has an additional grant of $260,000 for its art and music programs.

Los Angeles Schools welcome the increased funding as a long overdue measure. Many educators in the Los Angeles Schools have lamented the loss of the arts as harmful to student development. While many of the cuts to arts education result from diverting funds to cover academic subjects needed to pass state tests, teachers argue that art actually enhances learning, allows children to make connections between subjects, and provides a much needed balance to education.

Like the rest of the country’s urban districts Los Angeles Schools are trying to meet the 2014 No Child Left Behind requirement that mandates proficiency on state tests by all students regardless of developmental delays or language barriers. Diverting funding away from the arts has put Los Angeles Schools in a situation where children as young as third grade are losing recess, physical activity and a basic arts background in a frenzied scramble to meet rising national standards.

Los Angeles Schools Wants Some Of New Voter-approved Bond Money

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — admin @ 8:42 pm

Currently, the Los Angeles schools have $20 billion in construction and renovation projects for Los Angeles schools’ facilities underway or planned. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles schools’ officials expect a funding shortfall from known resources and are looking to the state legislature for a solution.

According to Los Angeles schools’ chief facilities executive, Guy Mehula, the Los Angeles schools have identified all but approximately $1.6 billion in funding sources for the building projects. There is enough money to complete construction already in progress, but not for the planned future construction of projected needs for the Los Angeles schools in 2009 and 2010.

The Los Angeles schools have hit a brick wall with the state funding guidelines, which use exaggerated long-term enrollment trends for eligibility requirements. Since the Los Angeles schools’ enrollment is projected to continue to decline in future years, they are ineligible for hundreds of millions of dollars in school construction funding from the state.

Though the Los Angeles schools believe the formula is unfair, state officials contend that the Los Angeles schools should have built needed facilities while they were in a growth cycle and that formulas used in other state funding programs have benefited the Los Angeles schools. Kathy Hicks, chief of program services for the state Office of Public School Construction, stated that if the Los Angeles schools had their construction projects ready back when they were in a growth cycle, they would have had the funding at that time.

In November 2006, however, the voters approved $43 billion in bonds. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger plans another $29 billion in general obligation bonds to be submitted to voters in 2008 and 2010, along with $14 billion in other bonds that do not require voter approval.

Under the governor’s Strategic Growth Plan, there will be a $211 billion investment in the state’s infrastructure over the next ten years. In 2008 and 2010, he plans to submit almost $12 billion in bonds for kindergarten through 12th grade education. The Los Angeles schools are aggressively campaigning to secure part of these funds.

The State Allocation Board, which distributes funds to the various school districts across the state, is reviewing a backlog of $318 million in construction and renovation projects. These are school district projects that already had been approved before the state ran out of previous funding. After the portion for schools of this new bond money is received, these previous projects have been reviewed, and disbursement to eligible projects within the backlog has been completed, the board then will approve new projects on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible districts. They generally approve about $102 million in new construction and $83 million in renovation projects each month, according to Hicks.

Unfortunately for the Los Angeles schools, they are ineligible for any further funding from the State Allocation Board, under the current funding guidelines. The Los Angeles schools are looking to the legislature to change the status quo on school construction funding to cover their needs in 2009 and 2010.

Love Is

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — admin @ 7:04 pm

Love is different like everyone is different in his emotions, thoughts, ideals, feelings and styles. Although there are many love pattern stories they remain just written or told patterns which nobody wants or is able to follow. Shakespeare’s genius knew this like no one else.

His play ‘As You Like It’ perfectly shows the different values people associate with their beloved and ideal relationships. There are four love couples in the play: Rosalind and Orlando, Silvius and Phebe, Touchstone and Audrey, Olivier and Celia. All couples belong to different social classes and originate from quite different family roots. Of course, their different origin, society, education and family environment have established different values of human nature and relationships. Noble Rosalind, who lacks her father’s attention, idealizes a hero, a brave knight who is able to fight for her dignity and life. At the same time lack of male care has made her be attracted by a man who would be enough tender and sensitive to glorify her beauty and soul. Although such ideal image is too romantic to be real Rosalind manages to create such relationships with Orlando through quite practical trial: she tested Orlando’s feeling to her in quite difficult cases where he has to make hard choices.

Silvius belongs to the lower class and shows the model of pastoral love to his ‘shepherdess’ Phebe. Unlike Silvius who worships pastoral love crying and suffering his beloved Phebe ignores her idolization and Silvius’ praying. She is a shepherdess, may be, that’s why she prefers rude, loud, strong and straight man who she would worship for all her life. Why does Shakespeare marry this couple? Who knows, may be he wants to marry all couples by the end…

Touchstone and Audrey are servants. However, Touchstone is wise enough to not value love which, by his opinion, would only disturb real partnership between a man and a woman. Another aspect that attracts him in Audrey is that she is much sillier than he is. He must be a ruler who would be obeyed by his partner. Audrey chooses him for just because he is stronger and cleverer than her boy-friend!

The most astonished, unexpected and fastest marriage has been made for Celia and Olivier. Both have noble origin and many common features, thoughts and ideals. However, none of them are really willing to marry! They are very educated, clever, reasonable, progressive and smart; too smart to be dependent on marriage and family duties; too clever to get caught by unreasonable and unexpected emotions. Here the Shakespeare’s genius gave us a smile: do not deny mistakes until the very last moment of your life because there is always a possibility to make them. All unreasonable, unplanned and thoughtless things are considered to be mistakes. Celia’s and Olivier’s immediate love strike is a mistake, but they feel so happy!

Of course, the Shakespeare’s four couples are not love patterns either. There is only one pattern which all truly love couples follow for centuries, and this pattern requires only one thing: to be happy with whatever relationships you want or choose.

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