Teen birth rates on the rise

Touchy subject I know...but as I have said we need to talk about them to figure out solutions.

Check out recent CDC findings:

Total births in the U.S. were 4,265,996, a 3 percent increase -- or 127,647 more births -- than in 2005.

Birth rates increased for women in their twenties, thirties and early forties between 2005 and 2006, as well as teenagers.

Caesarian deliveries also rose again in 2006, to 31.3 percent of all births, a 3 percent increase from 2005 and a new record high.

The preterm birth rate rose slightly, from 8.2 percent in 2005 to 8.3 percent in 2006.
The low birth weight rate also rose slightly in from 8.2 percent in 2005 to 8.3 percent in 2006.

Source of preliminary birth statistics: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

I wrote about health education a while back and asked for input. Read a couple recent articles in Florida Today and the Washington Post and give me your suggestions and opinions.

1/8/08 UPDATE: For a more recent story on Gradebook with 43 comments from readers click here.

1/11/08 UPDATE: This has been a hot topic lately click here for a more recent article on the Gradebook and here for a full university report published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education.

Just Listen

After the book Just Listen by Sarah Dessen was challenged in Hillsborough County Schools this past week I felt compelled to read it. And to my husbands chagrin I spent our 18th wedding anniversary weekend doing just that… I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down.

Just Listen is well written with vivid characterizations and a meaningful, moving plot. The different scenarios faced by the characters (including the one read aloud at the School Board meeting) are all unfortunate realities our children are facing everyday. I feel confident this book could be beneficial to students for a number of reasons and do not believe it should be removed from our libraries. However there should be a mature reader label due to the graphic depiction of rape, underage drinking, eating disorders, and other issues thrust upon our youth.

It is not the School Board’s responsibility to review challenged books. This is just my opinion. The current policy for reviewing a challenged book is to have a school site committee review the book and render a decision. I will leave it up to them, as I have confidence that they are intelligent, thoughtful people who will no doubt see the merits of this book.

Exams after winter break...an update

I recently asked for input about giving exams before or after winter break.

I've listened to concerns both on this blog and in person in the community. The general consensus is that high school students, teachers, and parents want exams before the break for a myriad of reasons.

We are going with an academic calendar proposed last year and have tried our best to accommodate their request. Unfortunately because of the Save Our Summers (S.O.S.) legislation and the fact that we can't start our school year any sooner than 2 weeks before Labor Day we will not be able to have exams before break for the 2009/2010 school year. Labor Day starts 1 week later and there will not be enough instruction time in that semester to have exams before break.

This will only take place for one year, and we will give students 1 week for review upon their return from winter break. We will be able to return to the schedule with exams before break the following 2010/2011 school year.

Watch channel 10 news report here.