There are lots of bills regarding education, here are some bills I thought looked interesting because they seem to expand the role of the schools from just teaching our kids...
Virginia Wellness-Related Fitness Test. Requires the local school boards of each school division to annually administer the Virginia Wellness-Related Fitness Test that must include an assessment of students' height and weight. Height and weight must be measured in grades K, 3, 7, and 10 unless students are admitted for the first time to a public kindergarten or elementary school and have been weighed and measured as part of the comprehensive physical examination. The Department of Education must enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health for the sharing of aggregate information on physical fitness, height, and weight from which personal identifiers have been removed. HB 2140. Full Text
An obesity bill from the Senate (there is a House bill on this also, mentioned in a previous post)
Obesity; requiring Bd. of Education, et al, to promulgate regulations establ. standards in schools.
Summary as introduced:Childhood obesity. Requires the Board of Education to promulgate, in cooperation with the State Health Department, regulations establishing standards to ameliorate childhood obesity in the public schools. This bill also adds the improvement of school health as one of the criteria to be considered by local schools during the annual evaluation of division superintendents. Further, the bill requires division superintendents to complete instruction concerning the causes and consequences of overweight and obesity by July 1, 2006. The requirement for instruction may be satisfied by attendance at conferences, seminars, or in-service training. Senate Bill 747. Full Text
Friday, January 14, 2005
More on Gay Marriage
Elizabeth at Half-Changed World offered a couple of links to bills in the comments section of my post on No Gay Marriage in Virginia and I wanted to thank her for that. A caveat about this blog, I'm only following the issue out of curiousity and my searches (obviously) aren't thorough. So if you're reading my posts on this issue for a comprehensive review, you'll fall very short. I'm new to legislative monitoring and following politics generally, but I'm awed at the effect that blogging can have -- one bill will be modified as a result of bloggers and their readers. Definitely check Elizabeth's and Maura's blogs for their insights and research.
There is an article in today's Washington Post talking about why some are seeking an amendment to the Virginia Constitution to ban gay marriage -- basically to take it away from state judicial review. Another article discusses the process by which an amendment becomes ratified. If this resolution goes through, it won't show up on the ballot until 2006.
There is an article in today's Washington Post talking about why some are seeking an amendment to the Virginia Constitution to ban gay marriage -- basically to take it away from state judicial review. Another article discusses the process by which an amendment becomes ratified. If this resolution goes through, it won't show up on the ballot until 2006.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Barney's Bad Manners
We have a Barney's Manners DVD that the kids love. I like Barney, I know its not hip to say that but he's kind and polite and kids tend to learn from him (Suzanne learned the alphabet song from some PBS program and it might have been him). If you want to get academic about it, you could say Barney is a Christ-figure -- he's loving and kind and ridiculed by many for this. But thats a discussion for another day.
What I don't like about this DVD is that it begins with an advertisement extolling the virtues of Barney. Thats fine, but I don't want to watch it. The DVD does not allow me to skip or fast forward this message. Fine. The part that chaps me is that after the ad, the DVD menu pops up, it does not play the program -- those sneaky bastards force me to watch the ad because I have to be there to push the play button after its over (I suppose I should teach the 4 1/2 year old to do this -- its not beyond her). Its annoying -- Barney stealing 90 seconds of my life that could be spent blogging.
Oh well, its better than the ads for DIK entertainment that precede Madeline videos. Those ads are for lots of videos for older kids; they are noisy and violent and scare the children in the age range for Madeline. Bad marketing if you ask me. At least we have videotapes of those which can be fast forwarded.
Well, maybe I dump my kids in front of the TV too much. But Barney reinforces the values that I teach them...opps, been watching that ad too much.
What I don't like about this DVD is that it begins with an advertisement extolling the virtues of Barney. Thats fine, but I don't want to watch it. The DVD does not allow me to skip or fast forward this message. Fine. The part that chaps me is that after the ad, the DVD menu pops up, it does not play the program -- those sneaky bastards force me to watch the ad because I have to be there to push the play button after its over (I suppose I should teach the 4 1/2 year old to do this -- its not beyond her). Its annoying -- Barney stealing 90 seconds of my life that could be spent blogging.
Oh well, its better than the ads for DIK entertainment that precede Madeline videos. Those ads are for lots of videos for older kids; they are noisy and violent and scare the children in the age range for Madeline. Bad marketing if you ask me. At least we have videotapes of those which can be fast forwarded.
Well, maybe I dump my kids in front of the TV too much. But Barney reinforces the values that I teach them...opps, been watching that ad too much.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Learning Log -- early January
We've had some nice, unseasonable weather recently, so we've taken walks and played at playgrounds and gone to playdates. Lots of socializing. We had one great day at a mall playground last week. Suzanne (4 1/2 yo) had fun running around with a few other girls. She even had a suitor -- some cute little boy that she taunted into a frenzy. Reminds me of meeting her dad so long ago. Poor boys, they have no idea what they're in for...
Suzanne has been showing an interest in writing. It began a few weeks ago when she wanted to write words on the computer. I told her she could look in a word book (Usborne's First Thousand Words) and copy words if she wanted (I think she had started asking me to spell words for her). She spent quite a while consulting the book and typing words. We have several pages printed with words like amusement, merry go round, sandwich, and toilet.
The other day, she was writing on her MagnaDoodle and showed me that she could write the letters H, I, L, M and O. This is huge progress for her and it thrilled me to see that she would get there when she was ready, that its okay that I'm not sitting her down and telling her to practice. Today, she found the workbooks that are all around and was doodling in them. Sometimes she holds the pen correctly, sometimes not. I credit her Paternal Grandmother on the interest in writing, one gift she received from her was a board game that involves tracing letters and she recently played it with her dad.
Gabrielle (2 1/4 yo) is jabbering all the time. She is mainly saying words, but will come out with a short, simple sentence now and then. Its a bit frustrating to ask her a question because she doesn't answer but will repeat the words of the question. I remember Suzanne going through this, its all part of learning. It might be annoying not to get the answer, but it is fun to watch her learn.
She's also learning the alphabet. She received LeapFrog Fridge Phonics. Its a set of magnets with a player. You select a letter magnet, put it in the player and push. It plays a little song about the letter's name and the sound(s) it makes. She's played with it at other people's houses -- kids seem to really like this toy.
My husband enjoys working with her -- he'll go through the alphabet, one letter at a time and she'll repeat back the letter. She can say nearly all of them, W is a bit of a challenge, sometimes she just says 'double.' Maybe she's just not a Bush fan (ha ha).
So, we're having fun around here. Lots of playing pretend and dress-up and listening to music and story CDs. They learn when they want and I'm so happy to be able to watch and help when they want it.
DISCLAIMER: these Learning Logs encapsule about 15 minutes or less of each day. While our home life is fairly pleasant, it isn't all sunniness. I'm no paragon of patience, but it does get easier when I hold myself back a bit and just watch. I lose my temper sometimes and yell. These posts are to remind me that they are learning and to encourage others who may want to try homeschooling but who are worried. I don't think my kids are better than your kids ;-)
Suzanne has been showing an interest in writing. It began a few weeks ago when she wanted to write words on the computer. I told her she could look in a word book (Usborne's First Thousand Words) and copy words if she wanted (I think she had started asking me to spell words for her). She spent quite a while consulting the book and typing words. We have several pages printed with words like amusement, merry go round, sandwich, and toilet.
The other day, she was writing on her MagnaDoodle and showed me that she could write the letters H, I, L, M and O. This is huge progress for her and it thrilled me to see that she would get there when she was ready, that its okay that I'm not sitting her down and telling her to practice. Today, she found the workbooks that are all around and was doodling in them. Sometimes she holds the pen correctly, sometimes not. I credit her Paternal Grandmother on the interest in writing, one gift she received from her was a board game that involves tracing letters and she recently played it with her dad.
Gabrielle (2 1/4 yo) is jabbering all the time. She is mainly saying words, but will come out with a short, simple sentence now and then. Its a bit frustrating to ask her a question because she doesn't answer but will repeat the words of the question. I remember Suzanne going through this, its all part of learning. It might be annoying not to get the answer, but it is fun to watch her learn.
She's also learning the alphabet. She received LeapFrog Fridge Phonics. Its a set of magnets with a player. You select a letter magnet, put it in the player and push. It plays a little song about the letter's name and the sound(s) it makes. She's played with it at other people's houses -- kids seem to really like this toy.
My husband enjoys working with her -- he'll go through the alphabet, one letter at a time and she'll repeat back the letter. She can say nearly all of them, W is a bit of a challenge, sometimes she just says 'double.' Maybe she's just not a Bush fan (ha ha).
So, we're having fun around here. Lots of playing pretend and dress-up and listening to music and story CDs. They learn when they want and I'm so happy to be able to watch and help when they want it.
DISCLAIMER: these Learning Logs encapsule about 15 minutes or less of each day. While our home life is fairly pleasant, it isn't all sunniness. I'm no paragon of patience, but it does get easier when I hold myself back a bit and just watch. I lose my temper sometimes and yell. These posts are to remind me that they are learning and to encourage others who may want to try homeschooling but who are worried. I don't think my kids are better than your kids ;-)
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Bills Affecting Public Schools
As a homeschooler, I'm always intrigued by whats going on in the public schools (of which I am a product, by the way). Here are a couple of bills I found interesting.
Childhood obesity.
Summary as introduced:Childhood obesity. Requires the Board of Education to promulgate, in cooperation with the State Health Department, regulations establishing standards to ameliorate childhood obesity in the public schools. This bill also adds the improvement of school health as one of the criteria to be considered by local schools during the annual evaluation of division superintendents. Further, the bill requires division superintendents to complete instruction concerning the causes and consequences of overweight and obesity by July 1, 2006. The requirement for instruction may be satisfied by attendance at conferences, seminars, or in-service training. Senate Bill 747
Full Text
Probably not a very interesting bill, but it seems like a good first step is getting the vending machines out of the schools. I remember being in high school, you had to know where the soda machine was and go down a long hall to get it. The high school cafeteria where I vote had a few vending machines filled with candy and fattening treats.
Hmmm...was there only one? Perhaps I'll find more in my future travels in the LIS.
Childhood obesity.
Summary as introduced:Childhood obesity. Requires the Board of Education to promulgate, in cooperation with the State Health Department, regulations establishing standards to ameliorate childhood obesity in the public schools. This bill also adds the improvement of school health as one of the criteria to be considered by local schools during the annual evaluation of division superintendents. Further, the bill requires division superintendents to complete instruction concerning the causes and consequences of overweight and obesity by July 1, 2006. The requirement for instruction may be satisfied by attendance at conferences, seminars, or in-service training. Senate Bill 747
Full Text
Probably not a very interesting bill, but it seems like a good first step is getting the vending machines out of the schools. I remember being in high school, you had to know where the soda machine was and go down a long hall to get it. The high school cafeteria where I vote had a few vending machines filled with candy and fattening treats.
Hmmm...was there only one? Perhaps I'll find more in my future travels in the LIS.
No Gay Marriage in Virginia
A quick check on whats up in General Assembly with regard to marriage....
You can get a license plate announcing your views...(I'm told all proposed license plate templates must be passed by the General Assembly, so there is nothing special about this particular plate)
License plates, special; issuance to supporters of traditional marriage.
Summary as introduced:Special license plates; supporters of traditional marriage. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to supporters of traditional marriage. The design of the plates is to include the legend: TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE and two interlocked golden wedding bands over a red heart. House Bill 1660
Full Text
Constitutional amendment; marriage may exist only between a man and woman (first reference).
Summary as introduced:Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. Provides that marriage "is the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife" and that "no other combination of persons may be licensed to marry." The proposed amendment prohibits the creation, recognition, or enforcement of imitations of marriage. However, a right, privilege, or obligation of marriage may be conferred by statute on an unmarried person. House Joint Resolution 584
Full Text
Elizabeth addresses the above joint resolution on her blog. It all raises an interesting question and is worth watching, they want to repeal the law but change the Virginia Constitution, what do you think about that???
You can get a license plate announcing your views...(I'm told all proposed license plate templates must be passed by the General Assembly, so there is nothing special about this particular plate)
License plates, special; issuance to supporters of traditional marriage.
Summary as introduced:Special license plates; supporters of traditional marriage. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to supporters of traditional marriage. The design of the plates is to include the legend: TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE and two interlocked golden wedding bands over a red heart. House Bill 1660
Full Text
Constitutional amendment; marriage may exist only between a man and woman (first reference).
Summary as introduced:Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. Provides that marriage "is the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife" and that "no other combination of persons may be licensed to marry." The proposed amendment prohibits the creation, recognition, or enforcement of imitations of marriage. However, a right, privilege, or obligation of marriage may be conferred by statute on an unmarried person. House Joint Resolution 584
Full Text
Elizabeth addresses the above joint resolution on her blog. It all raises an interesting question and is worth watching, they want to repeal the law but change the Virginia Constitution, what do you think about that???
Bills That Make You Go 'Huh?'
I'm not quite sure why this is being proposed, its definitely to give Commonwealth's Attorneys (state prosecutors) another offense, but why its needed is unclear to me. There is a link to an impact statement that might shed light on the necessity of this, but a quick glance did not enlighten me.
Providing birth control to minor in certain circumstances; penalty.
Summary as introduced:Providing birth control to minor in certain circumstances; penalty. Creates a Class 6 felony to provide a minor with a contraceptive or contraceptive device if the person knows or has reason to believe that the minor is engaging in sexual relations with a person three or more years older than the minor. House Bill 1807
Full Text
Providing birth control to minor in certain circumstances; penalty.
Summary as introduced:Providing birth control to minor in certain circumstances; penalty. Creates a Class 6 felony to provide a minor with a contraceptive or contraceptive device if the person knows or has reason to believe that the minor is engaging in sexual relations with a person three or more years older than the minor. House Bill 1807
Full Text
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