Bullying of Teachers 'Increasing in Northern Ireland' -(Global)
Though this was a short article, it really made me think. In Northern Ireland, teachers are facing serious cyber-bullying from students and parents. We forget that anything posted on Facebook or YouTube is accessible to thousands of other views. Parents are writing their frustrations and comments to others, visible to teachers, administration, family members, etc. It makes you think about the kinds of ideas, words, materials that you(I) are posting on the internet, not thinking about how long it will be out there, and who will view it.
The New Gatekeepers of Media -(Local)
The article explains New Gatekeepers as our virtual cousins and neighbors. By this, the author means that these are the people that we are depending on for information and truths. A quote I really like was this: "When I spoke the other day to Jon Gosier, the director of SwiftRiver, he said something peculiar: that digital technology is, in a way, bringing us back to the days before the printing press." I had to really put some thought into this idea. Do you agree? I think I do. If you think about it, we find ourselves finding information on Facebook or Twitter, and passing it on as truth, without really knowing whether it is true or not, much like passing on what you may have heard from your neighbor, way back when. Though the article does not see this as a problem, I do. I grew up doing research from books or reference books before Internet was depended on. Now I worry about the children growing up where Internet is the main source for research. Where Wikipedia is a source that pops up with almost any search. Just this afternoon I was talking to my brother about where he got some idea he was telling me about, and his answer was Internet. Was it something I believe was true? NO! Do students know the difference between legitimate sources and sites like Wiki? That to me, is a problem.
The New Barriers to a Foreign Degree -(Global/Local)
Three nations, Australia, Britain, and Sweden, have made it much more difficult to get into their universities for foreign students. Britain will be cutting up to 80,000 students visas a year, effective April 2012. Sweden will stop subsidizing education for non-European Union foreign students. And Australia's foreign student enrollment has dropped nearly ten percent since government policy changes. Not only is this affecting the nations themselves, but foreign students who had hopes of being able to become globally educated. For students, such as myself, it is discouraging to see the limits being put on foreign higher-education programs. In today's world, studying abroad provides great opportunities for all careers fields, as well as personal development. With the limits being put on the education programs, it is going to be much more difficult for students to get in. The only positive that I can see out of this, is that this will help limit the students who are not in it for the right reasons. It will be seen as a way of finding the students who want the high quality of education, versus the free education that may be provided previously.
Teachers Strike Over Pupils' Discipline -(Global)
The one thing worse than bad teachers is bad administration. Teachers at a Darwen, Lancashire high school are feeling the burden of bad administration. They picketed the school gates over the lack of support needed by the head of the school. The teachers made clear that they were not 'striking' over the children's behavior, but the lack of support from administration to help with the behavior. Teachers facing issues with their students need the back-up support from their administration and without that support, the school will end up down the drain. How can the students take their teachers seriously if the administration does not take them seriously and respect them? As a future teacher, this is really discouraging to see the lack of good administration in schools.
Cathleen Black Is Out as City Schools Chancellors -(Local)
Right now, I am not sure how to respond. I am shocked at the lack of respect she showed for the parents in the community. Comments such as--“I have a three-year term, and I am willing and excited to fulfill it to the absolute end,” which to me is a 'I have three-years to be here, to do what I want, so get used to it"; making jokes about birth control; and making a mock of parents at a local school closing-- all seem very disrespectful, as well as childish.
I do however, like that the mayor did as he felt needed in finding a new chancellor for the school district. As education is his main focus, finding a new chancellor is at the top of his list I am sure.
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