You don’t always succeed with this but you never stop trying — and you wonder if those attempts will be enough to afford a better education for your child.

The notion of private schools is one that many parents consider. They wish to offer opportunities to their sons and daughters, allowing them to experience stronger lessons and art-enriched environments. Institutions that are not governed by the state are proven to provide an education of value.

They are also, however, proven to demand money for it.

The terrible truth of private schools is that they are not free — unlike their public counterparts. They instead require tuition payments and enrollment fees; and these numbers can be staggering. As of 2010 the average expense of such an organization is $6,600 dollars a year. This price reflects less distinguished districts, however. Along the eastern and western coastlines costs can rise dramatically: with some schools requiring over $20,000 dollars for one term.

For many families these prices are simply too high. Even with financial aid and scholarship programs (which are not always available), the requirements can still be thousands of dollars a year — and many cannot spare such amounts.

It’s essential therefore that all parents understand the specific district costs of schools and what assistance is provided. Recognize the limitations of a budget and do not exceed these. An education can easily form debt and recovering from that would be difficult.

Image via Wikipedia

It’s essential that your child goes to the right school – a school that will motivate them to succeed, and give them ambitions and experience. Choosing a school does require plenty of research, to ensure you have the full story, especially if you are not familiar with the area your child will be going to school.

Look at school guides. Many states do this, such as the Washington State Post, and have page for each school giving some information. Some review schools on different areas, such as extra curricular activities, and you might find comments from previous students here too.

Look at the schools website. This should list important information such as what courses and activities are on offer, term times and any special points. You should also be able to see the latest score that the school was given under the ‘No Child Left Behind’ law.

Visit the school. Make sure your child is ready to ask any questions they have, and take a notebook to make notes. Talk to the principle, and find out about the schools aims, strengths and weaknesses. Consider whether you would have the principal as a friend, or if you would hire him as a colleague. If you can’t see the principle, or don’t get along with him, this should be a warning sign. This man will have a lot of control over the school.

Talk to other parents if you can, and the Parent Teacher Association. Find out what they think – would they send their child there again? Where else did they consider? Why did they choose this school? Their answers might help you to make up your mind.

Talk to your child and find out what they thought. Make a shortlist of schools, and talk about your gut feeling for each one. Allow your child to have their say, too. Then make the choice together, and get ready to go to school!

Image via Wikipedia

Bullying and school violence are on the rampage nowadays. It seems you can’t turn on the news or read a newspaper without hearing a story about a child, or even an adult, involved in violence at school. But it doesn’t have to be this way! There are ways to avoid violence at school. Take a look at these tips to keep yourself or your child out of trouble.

1. It’s all about respect. Remember that the first step to avoiding violence is to respect other people. Try to understand the other’s perspective and that will go a long way in keeping you out of trouble.
2. Try online school. Sometimes, a school really is too violent to attend. One way to stay away from the violence is to attend online school. Many college students choose this route. You can even get a master degree this way! Search for a master degree at earnmydegree.com to see the available options.
3. Talk it out. If you are the victim of violence at school, talk to someone. Find a guidance counselor or someone else you trust to talk to about the problem. Avoiding the situation will not make it go away. You need to talk to someone and get some help.
4. Report the situation. You absolutely need to report the bullying and the violence to an authority. Violence cannot be tolerated in any kind of circumstance. Report it to help stop the problem.

If you are a victim of school violence or if it is someone you love that is the victim, remember, there is help available.

Image by BillRhodesPhoto via Flickr

Violence can never be justified under any circumstances. There have been examples of wars being won without the use of force. Having said this, it is not an idealistic world that we live in. Violence is a common occurrence. Sometimes it is as dangerous for those who cause it as it for those against whom it is carried out. This holds true in the case of school students who indulge in any form of aggression or antagonism with fellow students. Such cases of violent behavior are highly perilous, as students might inflict fatal injuries on each other.

Students have a duty while in school, but the school also needs to keep the student’s requirements in mind. If, for certain reasons, students are unhappy, they might try and harm school property. School violence might be extended towards the staff and teachers as well. It is mandatory to provide all students with an education through a harmonious existence. Anger management workshops and activities can be encouraged among students and early signs of violent behavior must be nipped in the bud.

Violence is not limited to either a public education system or private education system and can occur in either scenario. In both cases, if it is severe, the students involved may end up facing legal consequences, which they will probably regret throughout their lives. This can also affect the mental health of the students, since they are in their formative years in school and are incapable of dealing with acute stress. This is why all possible means to discourage incidents of school violence must be implemented seriously in all schools.

Image via Wikipedia

Many students put time and effort into finding the perfect apartment near their college campus and don’t like giving them up when they go home for the summer, but what else can they do?

One option is subletting to another tenant. Here are a few things to consider when looking at subletting:

1. Get permission from the landlords. Not all landlords allow subleasing, so make certain that you are meeting the legal requirements.
2. Advertise online. Ideally when a potential tenant types in something like ”Atlanta apartments for rent” your listing should come up.
3. Run a credit or background check on your potential tenant. Ask questions about the person’s previous rentals and past employment. Make sure you get permission from the person before you initiate background screening.
4. Prepare a sublease contract. You can use a lawyer to help draw up the contract or find a subletting contract on the Internet. The contract should make the tenant responsible for payments and damages, as well as stipulating a deposit.

In order to assess the condition of the apartment, it is a good idea to walk through the apartment with the tenant. Make an inventory list that you both sign. Each of you should keep a copy of this list.

A sublease agreement may save some cash, however, it will not asolve you of responsibility. The original contract will remain in effect, and you are the person who will carry the responsibility should anything go wrong during the sublease.

Finally, make sure you have enough time for the tenant to move out before you’ll need to settle back in for the next semester.

Image via Wikipedia

Parents should create awareness among their children about the school violence and should encourage their children to watch television programs that discusses about such violence. Parents should let their children know that the violence in the schools are rare and do not happen all the time. Parents should check the security programs offered by the schools. Parents can obtain about the security information from the teachers, principal, or from the counsellors of the schools.

Most schools provide handbook of the school security programs and parents can read it carefully to check the measures implemented by the school to protect the children. Parents should attend board meetings and parent-teacher meetings in the schools so that they can interact with the teachers and know more about the security programs.

While attending meetings, parents can even suggest some new measures to improve the campus security. Parents should provide their children with some important phone numbers and this include fire department, police department, medical department, and other relevant department as this will be very helpful during emergencies. Parents can even train their children with some escape or survival methods. Finally, parents can provide their children with survival kits.

Image via Wikipedia

Most likely, the bills you pay have an option to pay by check, credit or debit card, or have an automatic withdrawal. Many people choose not to do the automatic withdrawal, but there are many benefits to this option.

First, you don’t have to worry about being late. Many companies charge large fees if you are late on your payment. The later you are, the more likely you are to need to get extra money from payday loans. To avoid late fees, you can choose automatic withdrawal from your checking account, and the money is taken out at the same time each month.

Many companies offer incentives for signing up for their automatic withdrawal program. Some will give you a discount, while others will enroll you for coupons. Depending on the company and what they offer, you will want to consider these incentives.

You don’t have to write checks! More and more people today are moving away from paper checks. If you get frustrated writing out a check to the cable company every month, inquire as to whether or not they have an automatic withdrawal program.

With so many great things about automatic withdrawal, you will find that there are relatively few down sides. One problem is that if you forget that a bill is being taken out of your account, you may find yourself without the money in the account. This can be detrimental, because you could end up with not only late fees from your cable company, but also overdraft fees from your bank.

The University of Waterloo is a very cooperative and hands-on university in Waterloo, Ontario. The emphasis at this school is on securing employment in engineering after graduation. Students do this by alternating between their classes and working, alternating a semester of each one.

McGill University is located in Montreal Quebec, and has an extremely diverse educational environment. Students there come from 150 different countries. McGill’s College of Engineering has been ranked 20th best in the world, which is pretty incredible considering how many of these programs there are in the world.

The University of Alberta is in the town of Edmonton Alberta, and is no slouch on the global stage either. With an engineering program ranked 55th in the world and having the second largest engineering school in Canada, this college also has the most active student body. There are actually eleven different student government organizations here, so students can get extremely involved in the world of their campus.

You can find these schools and others like them through Canada 411, which allows you to search for a keyword or category on anything. You can also search for the best pizza places, and the nearest bars and clubs, while you’re looking for things to enhance college life.

The Teachers Credo

Waldorf teachers strive to answer three questions for every student every day.

• How do we find each child’s highest level of academic achievement?
• How do we instill in each child a zeal for learning, self-awareness, concern for others, and respect for the world?
• How do we help each student find meaning in their life?

Students Grouped by Developmental Stages

Students are grouped into three developmental stages.  The first is birth through 6 years old; the second is 7 to 14; and the third is 15 to 18.  Fundamental to the Steiner method, is that age appropriate information should be delivered to the student in a way that nourishes healthy growth and learning.

Arts Focus

Waldorf schools emphasizing learning through art, writing, storytelling, and music.  Students are encouraged to use their imaginations, to think creatively, and to explore new solutions to old problems.

A Typical Day

Each morning Waldorf students are presented with a long lesson (usually around 2 hours). Subjects for the long lesson center around a theme that lasts for several weeks.  The long lesson allows teachers to present material in depth.  Following the lesson is a brief review.  Then the students have recess.  Afternoon sessions are active and involve all aspects of the child.  Some of these activities include dance, music, crafts, handwork, and gym.

Waldorf schools strive to prepare their students for a complete and grounded life.  Graduates not only master English, math, history, geography and science, but also know how to sing, draw, carve and act. Waldorf graduates know how to work with others and how to think independently.

Before you begin your search for a tutor, you need to ask yourself two questions.  First, what is my educational goal for the tutoring sessions? Second, how will I measure the effectiveness of the tutoring?

Where to look for a tutor

Your first and best asset is your school.  Ask your child’s teacher and principal for a list of tutors.  Your school district’s website is another source to find recommended tutors. Finally, the internet offers a wide variety of tutoring options.  Some of these include: kaplankids.com, kumon.com, sylvanlearning.com and tutormatch.com.  This is hardly a comprehensive list, but it is a place to start.

Things to ask a prospective tutor?

1.      What training do you have in the subject area?

2.      What experience do you have teaching children the same age as my child?

3.      How will you help my child master the skills they need? What methods do you use?

4.      Can you give me a list of five references?

5.      What are your rates?

6.      Are you willing to have an introductory session? (If the answer is no, move on to the next candidate.)

Always try an introductory session for your child and the tutor before committing to a contract for a specific number of sessions. After the introductory session, evaluate how your child feels about the session and about themselves and whether learning objectives were met.

School board members are elected officials and school board meetings are open to the public. School boards are charged with:

• Creating the educational vision of the district. The educational vision is reflected in the learning environment by the quality of teachers, the measurement of student learning, and the effectiveness of the school/ community collaboration.
• Establishing educational goals.  School boards rely on community input to their elected officials to set educational goals that meet the concerns of parents, students, and the community.
• Developing policy.  School boards develop district-wide policies that govern student discipline, student assessment, teaching practices, and much, much more.
• Allocating resources. School boards ultimately make the tough budget decisions.  In an ever tightening economy, school boards decide which programs to keep and which programs to cut.
• Assuring fiscal and educational accountability.  School boards, as an elected body, are accountable to their electorate for the financial and educational decisions they make.

As parents and as a community we have a lot at stake in the educational outcomes of our school district. Becoming more involved with our local school board is one way to be sure that our students are getting the best education for the tax dollars we spend.

To find out more about your school board visit your school district’s website and find the current list of school board members and the date of the next school board meeting.

In 2011 these are still valid reasons to limit or qualify cell phone use in the classroom. However sound the reasoning, educators have found that by invoking a zero-tolerance policy for cell phones in the classroom, they have inadvertently installed a barrier between teachers and students.  Rather than enriching the educational environment by reducing distractions, students are restless and disengaged.

Today more and more teachers are finding ways to incorporate cell phone usage as part of their lesson plans and the results have been mostly positive.   Some of the ways teachers are using student cell phones in the class room are:

• Photographing white boards for future use
• Using the cell phone as a stop watch to time experiments and free writing
• Transferring files between home and school
• Creating short movies for school projects.

Teachers who allow some uses of cell phones in the classroom report that students are more engaged in the educational process.  In addition, students are more tolerant and respectful toward some cell phone restrictions in the classroom when it is not all or nothing.

The pocket computing capabilities of cell phones is the wave of the future.  As the technology improves, educators can find even more classroom applications.

Understanding the impact of technology and online learning on our students is critical for teachers and administrators who hope to develop successful online learning programs. Traditional online learning was developed to answer a need for students who needed access to educational materials in their home. Home schooled students, those interested in higher education but unable to attend traditional classes and those interested in continuing education at a distance found online courses to be a good solution. This still holds true today; however, teachers are utilizing online course material in new in unique ways to educate students even in a classroom setting.

Integrating technology into a traditional classroom setting is the new definition of online learning. Teachers who utilize online courses, resources and technology are meeting the needs of their students in a more effective way. Consider the science teacher who uses an online class resource to help students better understand anatomy. This may be done through the use of videos, lectures or even discussions with other students.

Students often relate better to online resources – especially students who feel that they are technologically advanced and rely on technology and computers for every aspect of their life. By integrating technology, online courses and the drive of our students, fish teachers have a better chance to educate the whole student instead of simply teaching them a lesson.

As technology continues to develop we’re likely to see continuing changes in the form of online classes. Who knows? Students 10 years from now maybe using ebooks for textbooks, emailing reports and assignments and taking tests online.

Age Groupings

In Montessori schools and classrooms students are grouped according to age.  For instance one group is 0-3 years, the next group is 6-9 years, the third group is 9-12, etc.  The varying ages within a group allows each child to learn at their own pace.  In addition, it allows each child to teach another.

Free Range Learning

Classrooms are set up to accommodate learning centers for each subject.  Students can move freely around the room, working first on one subject and then moving on to the next.  In the course of a school day the student will spend time on every subject.

Interwoven Learning Modules

Rather than teaching subjects in isolation, the Montessori method takes a theme for the day or the week and explores that theme through history, math, science, music, reading and writing.  This method allows the student to have a greater understanding of the topic.

No Grades

In Montessori schools and classrooms there are no grades.  Learning is measured by the student’s portfolio of work and the teacher’s observations.

According to recent statistics students taught using the Montessori method score above average on standardized tests and perform well in college and life. There are more than 4,000 Montessori schools in the United States.

Not every student victim or perpetrator of small acts of physical and psychological violence goes on to commit an extraordinary act.  Yet every victim and perpetrator is changed by the violence, some irrevocably.

Our role has parents and educators is to create a learning atmosphere where every student feels accepted by their teachers and by each other.  Our goal for education should be more than the acquisition of a prescribed volume of knowledge or the passing of standardized tests.  Our goal should be to prepare students to learn fir  understanding, to learn to find meaning, and to learn tolerance and how to live together.

Addressing small violences as they occur is everyone’s responsibility.  It must be addressed at home, at school, in the community, and in the media.  It begins with information.  What is a small act of violence? Is it pushing? Shunning?  Is it cruel speech?  It begins with modeling the behavior we want to see, not just in the classroom, but everywhere we interact with each other.

Violence of any kind should never be ordinary.  A great society only flourishes when every member is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.  Can we change the wave of violence if everyone steps up to the responsibility?  Parents and educators can change themselves and influence changes in children. Isn’t it worth a try?  We have so much to lose.

This might sound odd, but it is truly the students full-time job to be at school and participate in learning. The rules and requirements that are set in place are no different than what a student would see in a work place or with a higher education institution. Students are not just being educated while at school, they are being trained in what it takes to be a member of society once school is completed. A willingness to follow the guidelines and rules shows that a students understand the concept of respecting others, respecting themselves, and respecting the rule that were put in place regardless of the reasons. This will carry on in their lives, in their workplace, and with their own families later on in life. For those that struggle with their requirements, they may find that they have a tough transition into the real world, and that they are not treated like what they had expected.

There are several ways to avoid this sudden surge of debt while still in school. First, when applying for a loan, calculate how much is really needed. Extravagant expenses like vacations, excessive amounts of clothing or dining out, and other costs are not necessary and should not be included in the budget. Only list what is truly needed, such as groceries, rent, utilities, books, and tuition.

Living on a budget is a great way to limit the amount of debt that will be incurred. Another way to save is to work while in school; even a part-time job during evenings or on weekends can help to pay off the loan sooner and avoid some of the extra interest that can accrue. Learning about an available debt consolidation service in the area can be a useful tool, as it helps to combine all outstanding loans that can be paid with one payment at a lower interest rate. Being prepared for the expenses that come with graduation can help students to be more aware of what is coming and help them begin to save money in order to make the loan payments in a timely fashion.

The other aspect to school property is that is must be respected and taken care of. Allowing students to vandalize or ruin school property does nothing other than create an ugly mark and cost tax payers money for repairs. Parents should encourage their children to help maintain and take care of the schools they attend so that the remain beautiful and ready for the next set of children preparing to attend. By teaching them to respect their place of academics, hopefully they will being to respect other public areas and their own homes as well.

Think about it. Going back to school may not just be great for your career; it may also be a great way for you to sharpen up your mind, like a whet stone for your synapses. While going to grad school may seem like the “late night infomercial blade sharpener” version of honing your mind, it can be extremely effective. Not only will you expose yourself to some seriously different concepts, grad schools know that you’re going into a profession – so they won’t just let you skim by on mediocrity. The whole thing is a challenge, from day one until you graduate.

Business doesn’t let up, and that GMAT class online will only give you so much of an advantage. You have to really want this if you’re going to get it. So will you let your mental machete get all dull, so you basically end up bludgeoning your problems to death like a house wife with a frying pan? Or will you hack and slash your way through the problems of business (and life) like a Samurai gardener? You have the opportunity to go far, and to do so much, so take it!

Today teachers are well versed in their particular area of study, and have mastered very detailed aspects of different topics. This is why students change classrooms for different subjects because the information is so detailed that is could not possibly be taught by one person. This is the case with science and foreign language. It would be impossible for one teacher to know the deepest details of mitosis and be able to teach Spanish, Calculus, American Literature, and History to the depth of what students are required to know these days. Public educators are masters at their particular area of study, and that is of a great benefit for students as they are provided a well-rounded and deep education.

For the beginnings of public school, many students were taught to read and to write, and they were also in a tiny room of students that were from grades k-12. Many students did not remain in school until they reached the 12th grade, as many of them had to help with the family. We are so fortunate to have a system that allows us the ability to be educated without pressure of taking care of a family at the same time.

This was quite a shocking ruling, but in all truth was accurate. While a student is at school the administrators and teachers are in the place of guardianship according to federal law. This is why they must report abuse, drug use, suicidal threats, and other such issues, because they are considered the guardian during school hours. This is not a benefit for schools, rather it is a mechanism used to protect students, and those that are around them that may be caught up in something that can cause harm. The main cause of awareness came after the Columbine shooting, and there is not a school in America that is willing to allow that to happen again.

Think about it.  Going back to school may not just be great for your career; it may also be a great way for you to sharpen up your mind, like a whet stone for your synapses.  While going to grad school may seem like the “late night infomercial blade sharpener” version of honing your mind, it can be extremely effective.  Not only will you expose yourself to some seriously different concepts, grad schools know that you’re going into a profession – so they won’t just let you skim by on mediocrity.  The whole thing is a challenge, from day one until you graduate.

Business doesn’t let up, and that GMAT class online will only give you so much of an advantage.  You have to really want this if you’re going to get it.  So will you let your mental machete get all dull, so you basically end up bludgeoning your problems to death like a house wife with a frying pan?  Or will you hack and slash your way through the problems of business (and life) like a Samurai gardener?  You have the opportunity to go far, and to do so much, so take it!

Image via Wikipedia

Private schools have been on the map for some time. They started out originally as boarding schools, and then quickly spread to include specific religious affiliations. The most popular of these affiliations with the Catholic Church. These schools hold reputations for being very thorough in their studies and in the way they teach the three r’s, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. In fact, most Catholic school students are given preferential treatment for college entrance placement because there is the assumption that remedial classes were never taken. This is proven by the Notre Dame entrance exam including advanced Calculus.

Private education has been long sought after because it is believed that student receive more one on one attention from teachers, that the discipline is more strict, and that students are taught to respect, listen, and obey in a way that public schools simply cannot do. The other aspect so private schooling is that for many students, this is their only option. For some students that have found that their public school experience was not optimal, or they found that they were in getting themselves into trouble on a regular basis, private schools accept these students, and prepare a plan of attack on how to create a student that is going to be a life long learner, and become a responsible citizen. Public schools are not always able to do that because of their class sizes and lack of support by other overwhelmed administrators.

Many public school teachers are not in favor of private schooling as they believe that it creates a sheltered environment. This is the case as many feel that having a religious affiliation is more of an indoctrination process than an educational process. Private school teachers feel that public school is over saturated and students lack individual attention. Regardless of the opinion, most agree that making a student the center of the equation is the best policy.

Since this horrific day, schools nationwide have been trained on how to handle such an event, how to notice warning signs, and the proper procedures for ensuring student safety. In fact, most public high schools now have one to two full-time police officers that are on staff that roam the halls of high schools. They are notified of suspicious activity, and there are psychologist on staff that assist in the detection of emotional disturbances. There has even been an extensive study completed that suggests that many of these students that exhibit violent emotional behaviors are in need of special services, anti-psychotic medications, and individualized attention that is intended to address the behavior and help correct it so that the student can function in a mainstream environment. This has been most beneficial as the occurrences in school violence committed by individual students has dropped significantly. Students also have free counseling services that allow them to reach out to professionals in an anonymous fashion, and they can receive help free of charge. This also includes therapy for suicidal tendencies, and physical threats against teachers.

These policies, sometimes called codes of conduct or ethics, often start with explaining the ethical principles that teachers and schools should follow. This generally means that teachers, administrators and other staff should always recognize the inherent dignity and value of each student, teacher, peer and parent. It is only with this recognition that we can hope to pursue truth, devote ourselves to excellence and to continue to acquire knowledge.

In order for our society to continue to grow, our students must have access to equal educational opportunities. No student should be discriminated against due to their age, gender, sexual preference, religion or infirmity. Maintaining the highest of ethical and moral is necessary in order to provide this type of education to everyone.

Students have responsibilities in the arena of discrimination as well.  They must also take steps to ensure that discrimination is not occurring in their environment. Students should take steps to ensure that fellow students have access to the same facilities, are offered the same degree of education and are not discriminated against.

The problem is discrimination, in spite of all the changes that have been made to negate it, is still often considered a ‘dirty little secret’ or too difficult to prove.  Many people still avoid drawing attention to possible incidents of discrimination.  It long past time we stop has to enforce these laws. It’s too bad we still have to.

The thing that is very funny is how difficult it is to simply define anti-discrimination. Seriously – look it up online. Most online dictionaries will define discrimination as “treating individuals or groups differently because of a predefined prejudice.” They will then offer a definition of anti: “opposed to.” So we can combine the two definitions and come up with a belief system that basically means: we are against discrimination. It’s bad.

That isn’t too helpful – especially when trying to explain this complex subject to teenagers.  Instead, schools are developing rules and regulations aimed at punishing those that do discriminate.  This may work…to a degree, but it begs the question, are we teaching our children a lesson about discrimination and how to prevent it or are we simply punishing those who engage in it?

Anti-discrimination is actually so much more than rules. It is an attitude of acceptance, a belief that everyone is equal and that no one should be held back because of their race, religion, orientation, appearance or favorite food.

Discrimination stinks. It is also a fact of life for many people. Isn’t it time we made sure that anti-discrimination appears in the dictionary?

Schools are legally responsible for the safety of students while they are in class.  This encompasses a wide variety of ideas. For example, schools must carefully following safety regulations and building codes.  Students must also be protected from violence, self-harm and just about anything else that could harm a student. Schools are also responsible for reporting signs of abuse or violence outside of their boundaries.  In general, a school is a sort of legal safety net for students and is designed to keep them safe.

Schools are also bound by the rules and regulations of their local school boards and their state board of education.  These governing bodies dictate policy, course content and curriculum and a variety of other areas.  For example, schools must adhere to regulations relating to the number of schools days, the length of those days and what information is taught.

They are further legally responsible for their employees. They must adhere to employment rules and regulations and safeguard their teachers. The same holds true for the rest of their staff.

The truth is there are a wide number of rules and regulations that schools must follow.  It might seem that school administrators must spend all of their time ensuring their schools are in compliance with these rules. That logically means less time spent developing programs to better educate our children. Maybe it is a trade off.

For this reason, it is important to carefully consider what rules and regulations are put in place at a school or learning institution. For example, schools who are considering instituting a uniform rule. Uniforms can have a positive impact on students by removing a lot of temptation and the need to impress others. Still, there is some indication that by removing a student’s individuality and ability to express themselves we may be removing a crucial component of student freedom and expression.

This same idea must be applied to any rules and regulations developed for a school.  Even so, there are many rules that simply make sense. Schools must include rules designed to protect the safety of their students. Rules protecting students against harassment and discrimination are important as well. There are other common sense rules that nearly all schools have in place.  These are rules such as a ban on curse words, an ethics code and a morality code.

Schools simply must have rules. It is unfortunate, but in the world we live in is built on laws and rules.  They govern our attitudes, define right and wrong and help guide us through what can often be a complicated world. We can only hope that those that make the rules for our students use a bit of common sense when they do so.

The problem is that there is no single federal standard for course content and curriculum.  The federal government attempted to do an end run around this problem with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. The act promised additional funding to states who met certain criteria. In some aspects this has addressed the problem, but still, school districts across the country have different requirements.

A perfect example of this is math requirements for high school students.  Researchers believe that all high schools should require their students to complete three years of mathematics in order graduate. Some states have taken this recommendation to heart and instituted a policy of three courses. Others have gone further and now require students to complete four years of math. Unfortunately, there is still at least one state that only requires students to complete one year of math.

As you can see, it is a bit confusing to try and break down what is expected of a student. The truth is it depends on where the student lives. Parents and students are encouraged to review the information provided by their child’s school and to meet with a school counselor to determine what is required for their particular child in that particular school district.

Luckily, most schools are adept at guiding students through their requirements – leaving nothing up to chance.

1. Educational goals: if your student is advanced or has advanced goals for their education private school may be more in keeping with their educational goals. You should also consider the ability of your local public school to educate your student. Review curriculums from both the institutions to determine which is more appropriate.
2. Religious affiliation: many private schools are affiliated with a religion. If religion plays a large role in your life or if you wish your student to be educated by a religiously affiliated institution private school might be best. Those who do not wish their students to be exposed to religious education might want to steer away from private schooling.
3. Socialization: private schools offer a different degree of socialization than public schools. Many are same sex, have enforced dress codes and a student conduct code that is stricter than public schools. It is important to carefully consider these areas during the process of determining whether a child should attend public or private schools.

Determining whether a child should attend a public or private school will have a big impact on their future. It is not a decision that should be made lightly. Parents, students and guidance counselors should meet to discuss available options and to determine which will work best for a particular student.

School bullying has led to several cases of extreme violence such as the tragedy at Columbine. Left unchecked school bullying will continue to cause growing problems in which those who believe they are bullied seek to end the bullying through acts of further violence.

School administrations across the country are actively seeking to develop programs aimed at ending bullying in the classroom. Programs include educating school age children about bullying including the forms it can take and the effect it can have. The programs also aim to put clear and decisive punishments in place for those that opt to bully.

The trouble begins when students are afraid to report bullying, feel their complaints are not being addressed or are left feeling that they are at fault. Parents often make the situation worse by refusing to believe that their child is a bully or by not reporting an incident of bullying to the administration.

The only way to end bullying completely is to develop a program of 100% honesty and responsibility. Students need the freedom to report bullying and to know that their concerns will be addressed immediately and appropriately. This will only work if parents, teachers, administrators and students work together.

School harassment may take several different forms. A student may feel harassed by peers. Under this form of harassment students are singled out and consistently treated differently or picked on by fellow classmates. Students can also be harassed by faculty or administrators. This form of harassment is often considered more serious and often includes students who are singled out by teachers. Faculty harassment often makes students feel that they cannot attend class.

School harassment, like all forms of harassment, is often caused by a lack of understanding. Because of this students who are different in some way are often the recipients of harassment. Common causes of harassment include gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and appearance.

Combating school harassment often means nothing more than a program of education which fosters a feeling of acceptance. That’s just a nice way of saying that teachers, administrators and parents must teach our students to understand the differences are a sign of individuality and uniqueness. Differences are not a sign of weakness. Respecting others for their differences is important. Unfortunately most school harassment is only stopped by swift and appropriate punishments.

If we do not address school harassment it is likely that the problem will continue to grow. Students who perceive they are being harassed are likely to drop out of class and this could lead to a higher unemployment rates, higher drug and alcohol abuse rates and other problems.

It is easy to blame school violence on things like violence in video games and the media or increased access to firearms, but the truth is school violence is about more than what our children are exposed to. It is about what our children are feeling, how they’re taught to deal with those feelings and a general feeling of entitlement or invulnerability.

School violence is a touchy subject because many people have differing views on what causes school violence and how should be addressed. Many believe that the root cause of school violence is harassment or bullying while others believe that school violence is caused by ‘bad’ kids or kids with violent tendencies. Maybe it doesn’t matter what causes school violence, may be what really matters is how we deal with it.

Some schools are opting to install metal detectors, employing fulltime security guards and regularly searching lockers and backpacks. Others require students to carry see through backpacks. Maybe preventative measures are not enough. Maybe what we need to do is educate our children from kindergarten about school violence.

Perhaps if students, teachers, parents and administrators all learn to understand the early signs of violence we can begin to put a stop to it. Something must be done before school violence continues to escalate.

Private schools are traditionally seen as more academically robust when compared to public schools.  This is one of the primary advantages of the private school forum.  It is often true because private schools attract a higher caliber of teacher due to increased salaries or because they do not rely on state funding. This allows private schools a degree of freedom not seen in traditional public schools.

Many parents also find the religious affiliation of many, although not all, private schools to be advantageous.  They feel that by sending their child to a private school affiliated with their religious beliefs their child is more likely to be educated in their belief system.  Many parents opt to send their children to private schools that are affiliated with a religion even if they themselves are not ‘religious’ believing that the strict moral and ethical code taught at these institutions provides their children with a leg up over other, publically educated, students.

Private schools do have several disadvantages, but one is more notable than the rest: the cost. By their very definition private schools require their students to pay a tuition fee in order to attend classes. These fees can be very expensive making private education impossible for many students.

Private school is a great option for those that can afford it. Heavier course loads with a focus on total teaching as well as a belief in teaching student’s morals, ethics and responsibility really make this form of education stand out.

For some high school students, though, the very thought of spending four to five more years in a classroom setting is simply more than they can deal with, whether that feeling is caused by the fact that they are tired of the “school” environment or because of financial concerns. For these students, the modern advances in technology that make it possible to get an online degree may be the answer.

Online universities are usually somewhat cheaper than traditional universities, but that does not mean that students must pay all charges up front. Online universities can offer financial aid for students pursuing online degrees, just like other higher education opportunities. This is just one reason why online degrees are becoming popular with many students. Another reason is the benefits of a “non-traditional” classroom setting.

Many students enjoy the convenience and flexibility that the Internet affords where earning online degrees is concerned. The idea of literally being able to attend class in one’s underwear or setting the time when one wants to attend class can be very inviting to someone for whom traditional start and end times for classes was bothersome.

Others like the fact that they are able to work a job as well as work towards online degrees. In fact, many students take advantage of break and lunch periods at their job to study for or work on assignments because they are readily available to them. This allows them to utilize their time in a manner that works best for them.

Developing a program that encourages everyone from the head of the school board to the smallest kindergarten student to care for all pieces of school property might be the best idea. Doing so has several benefits including fostering a sense of responsibility in students and faculty alike. It also can help create a learning environment that students, teachers, administrators and parents are all proud of.

This concept starts first with clearly identifying areas of concern throughout the school. This may mean an area that is subjected to repeated attacks of graffiti or a student area that is consistently used as a favorite hangout for litterbugs. Starting small as a good idea as it allows those participating in a program to develop a sense of pride in their work. One the area has been identified it’s time to begin the work.

It is important to encourage as many students, faculty, parents and administrators as possible to work to clean up the property. The more people involved in the project the more likely it is to succeed. Larger projects which may require funding, for example installing a new playgrounds set, may require additional planning and can be an excellent way to introduce students to project management, budgeting and even fundraising.

Caring for student property should be the focus of the community not simply a select few on whose shoulders this enormous responsibility rests.

Back in the day corporal punishment was popular and common. Students who disobeyed rules were likely to be paddled, have their hands ruler slapped or other such physical punishment. This form of corporal punishment has been done away with almost completely. Corporal punishment only exists in privately funded schools in which parents are given the option to allow corporal punishment for their students.

This change likely came in an attempt to protect the rights of students. Administrators and politicians might not have stopped to think how important an effective punishments system can be. Today’s students often get little more than a detention for serious infractions. News stories of students plagiarizing, vandalizing school property and bullying others abound and in many cases show that misbehaving students are not really punished.

While the unlikely that corporal punishment will come back perhaps what we need is it a more demanding set of rules, standards and guidelines and appropriate punishments for each infraction. Parents, students and administrators must clearly understand these infractions and punishments and agree to a set of standardized punishments for infractions.

Our students are supposed to learn how to behave as adults during their school career. By teaching them that rule breaking has no consequence we’re setting them up to fail.

While there are several major pieces of legislation that have been passed in the past 50 years perhaps none is as significant as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. This act was passed by the Federal government in an attempt to regulate the content, course selection and standards our schools use during the education process. While the Federal government could not directly require state and local governments to change the guidelines they used the act to entice school boards through monetary gains. In other words, schools that met certain criteria were offered additional funding.

Unfortunately many people feel that this act had several negative impacts on our students. They believe it has led to a culture in which we teach to the test and effectively ignore educating our students. Because of this legislators at the Federal level are currently investigating other options for regulating education.  NCLB is currently up for renewal and many legislators are interested in repealing the act and replacing it with a more effective piece of legislation.

Using laws to regulate education makes sense but only if those writing the laws understand how those laws impact every single aspect of our children’s education. Perhaps the best idea is creating laws based on input from teachers, students, parents and administrators.

Public school does have many advantages. Key may be the socialization factor. There it is somewhat of a social stigma attached to private school. Students who attend public school are able to experience the normal education. They are also exposed to a wider variety of students from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds. Many public schools also have the advantage of highly developed sports programs. They also offer student’s access to many different types of activities something many private schools are unable to do.

It is important to recognize that public schools are free. This may be the single greatest advantage they offer over private schools which can be very costly.

Public schools do have disadvantages as well. Many feel that the educational level at public schools is not as high as that of private schools. Public schools rely on funding from state government and often do not have the financial means to provide students with access to advanced courses. Some also believe that the teachers at public schools are either underpaid or under prepared.

Making the decision to attend public or private school is often entirely based on the desire of the parent and the student. Carefully reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of both types of educational systems is the best way to determine which one is most suitable for a particular student.

Whether you choose to send your student to a public or private educational institution, remaining involved in their education is the best way to ensure their success.

Private schools tend to set a slightly higher standard for their students. While they are still bound by state regulations, private schools are just that, private. Because of this, they have a bit more flexibility when it comes to course curriculum, discipline and attendance. In some cases it is also true that private schools often recruit ‘better’ teachers or teachers that are more dedicated. Many parents choose private schools with a religious affiliation to promote continuing exposure to religious education – something that is not possible at public schools.

Public schools, on the other hand, are mainstream. Always co-ed, many parents choose a public school over a private, sex segregated school. Public schools are very much ruled by state law and public opinion. Parents who do not want their children exposed to religious education like this. Public schools also, as a rule, have better developed athletics programs. Parents of athletic students of choose public schools for the exposure they can give their children. Finally, public schools are free – there is no expensive tuition bill due at the beginning of the year.

There really is no answer to the question, which school model is better. Parents should carefully consider the options in their particular area as well as the needs of their child before deciding which educational model will work best for their own child.

The funny thing is some schools, most notably colleges and universities, attempted to ‘make up’ for discrimination behavior by implementing a type of affirmative action during their admissions process. Some schools considered race favorably during the acceptance process. In other words, two students with the same academic record apply to the same university. One opts to leave the race portion of the application blank while one honestly selects their race as African American. As recently as ten years ago, the student who disclosed their race would be awarded the slot. This concept may have been conceived to address an injustice, but the Supreme Court found it a violation of student rights.

Many female students believe that sex-bias still exists in schools. In an attempt to address these discrimination issues and others, the federal government passed the Educational Amendment Act of 1972. Title IX of this bill states that no United States citizen can be denied educational benefits or excluded from and educational school based on their sex. Other clauses within the act protect against other forms of discrimination.

Still we have made inroads. As recently as the late 60’s there were still school districts that actively practiced segregation. Today the issues of discrimination we face may not be as overwhelming, but there is still work to be done. Hopefully one day there will be no need to further legislate anti-discrimination laws because there will be no discrimination.

Luckily for our students, in most cases, the Supreme Court has consistently worked to protect the right of our students. Take for example violations of free expression. In a case, Tinker v Des Moines (393 US 503 [1969]), a group of students wore black arm bands to symbolize their disapproval of the Vietnam War. The school board attempted to force the students to remove the arm bands. The Supreme Court disagreed, stating that student’s actions did not disrupt the classroom.

Similar cases have been brought before the court regarding freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Students have been excused from saying the pledge while other students have won the right to produce school newspapers that are uncensored.

The trouble with student rights is that in most cases a student who feels their rights are being violated often has little choice but to accept the school ruling unless they have the time or money to fight the issue, often to the Supreme Court.

Our students have rights, just like the rest of the citizens of our country. When those rights are disregarded, they have the right to bring the issue before a court of law. Wouldn’t be nice though, if instead of creating rules for every aspect and potential issue, our students, like our criminals, were ‘innocent’ until proven guilty.

A large portion of the rules focus on student conduct and responsibility. These laws are designed to provide students, teacher and administrators with a healthy and effective learning environment.  These regulations, in particular, are often superseded by federal laws. Examples include discrimination laws, regulations governing the treatment of special needs students and truancy regulations.

Other laws govern curriculum and course content. These regulations are somewhat sticky, owing primarily to No Child Left Behind. The 2002 federal law does not regulate curriculum, but it does offer states additional funding based on performance. Prior to 2002 curriculum and content was handled primarily on a local basis. After the passage of NCLB many states took control of curriculum in order to assure they were eligible for more funds.

Additional regulations apply, again depending on the institution. Typically absenteeism, tardiness, probation, academic standards and other areas are cover. All educational institutions provide students, teachers, parents and administrators with carefully worded student code handbooks which explain in detail all of the applicable words and regulations.

Until such time as the federal government mandates across the board governance of schools and colleges it is likely that this system of varying rules will remain in place and maybe that isn’t a bad thing. Maybe it is the differences that make our education system work.

The first big set of rules governs income generation. Thanks in large part to the No Child Left Behind Act, schools have the ability to generate income based on the performance of their students. Because of this, most administrators follow the guidelines set forth in NCLB very carefully.

Part of following NCLB is compliance. This means nothing more than setting policies within the school that follow not only education laws but also discrimination laws and laws protecting the rights of students and staff.

Special education needs are carefully governed as well. Laws specific to special education mandate the education, resources and even physical premise to ensure that students with special needs have them met.

In recent years rules and regulations governing pupil behavior have been at the forefront, with schools and administrators treading the line between discipline and going too far. Many states have mandated additional laws governing pupil behavior in order to protect their students.

Admissions, primarily at the college level, are carefully regulated.  Discrimination plays a large role in many college admission disputes. Because of this, many institutions have themselves implemented transparency regulations to prevent the appearance of impropriety.

The truth is that every aspect of education is subject to rules and regulations. In many cases, these rules and regulations are followed not to protect the students or even to improve academic standings but to increase revenues.

Some, however, could not — religion shaped them to uncertainty, with no symbol enough to compel them to rise. They would defy their beliefs if they followed the majority; but they would receive punishment if they remained seated. And the conflict was endless, forcing constant debates and concerns, reprimands and chides. Students were meant to offer allegiance, it was argued. They didn’t have the right to refuse.

In 1943, however, that right was granted.

The introduction of the Barnette Principle (found in the case of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette) was a revolutionary thing. This law — passed by the Supreme Court — stated that no student could be compelled to salute the flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Forcing such gestures was instead unconstitutional, defying the First Amendment right to religious freedom and speech protection. A classroom did not repel the need for such a law. It instead intensified it, requiring all students to regain power from their instructors.

And this philosophy remains today.

Students wishing to refuse such traditions as the Pledge or opening prayer cannot be forced to become involved. They instead have the ability to remain at their desks, offering nothing but a stare. The intention is not to disrupt the proceedings (these individuals are not able to voice their displeasure as the events are happening, for example. They cannot distract others). It is instead to offer a child the all important choice. He or she can make a decision based upon personal feelings, rather than having to merely submit to what is assumed to be correct.

And this is a vital student right that should never be forgotten.

A public education cannot be denied as valuable. It can also, however, not be denied as incomplete. The state requirements for schools (the courses that must be offered, the credits that must be earned before graduation) are shaped to the minimal. Students have to finish only a low specificity of mathematics, English and more to receive their diplomas. And often this same specificity leads them to believe that college will be the same. All higher forms of learning are thought to be standard… but they’re not. And this can cause immediate problems of stress, anxiety and confusion.

For those educated privately, however, the expectation of hard work has already been instilled.

The demands of a private school are considerably higher than those of a public. Courses are to be taken in excess — such as four years (on average) of mathematics compared to the typical two or a full year of foreign languages rather than a singular semester. This difference reflects the ability for private institutions to create their own curriculums; and the results are students who are more aware of the university rules.

It’s estimated that 52 percent of private school students will seek out bachelor degrees and higher education, while only 21 percent of public school pupils will. And this occurs most often due to the levels of preparation that are provided.

The difference is the expectations and these are forever high when given privately.

A public education is formed by clumsy chaos. The student population is forever expanding while the instructor levels remain the same — stagnant, overcrowded and not as effective as they are meant to be. This is not a reflection of the desire to teach. It is merely proof that those teachers are human; and they cannot do what is required when their classes are overwhelmed.

And private education therefore becomes far more appealing to parents.

While all may regret the cost of private education (the force of countless dollars each year), none could regret the advantage it offers — all classes are tailored small, with the ratio of students and teachers rarely exceeding 13 to 1 and the majority instead providing 10 to 1. This is a sharp decline when compared to public schools and their average of 17 to 1.

The difference is startling — and the results are undeniable. When teachers are not forced to bear the burden of too many pupils, they can become stronger presences. Their focus will not be divided. Instead it can be offered to each individual student, ensuring that they all receive the attention they deserve. The quality of lessons becomes greatly improved; and knowledge is earned, rather than simply memorized.

And parents seeking more than the standard experiences for their children will find this ideal.

Private education offers intimate classes and practical ratios; and the consequence is success. The advantage can’t (and shouldn’t) be refused.

He is, however — and you are stunned.

Private education is sought by countless parents each year. The desire is to receive a more comprehensive curriculum, with all attention offered to students and their needs. But this intention is not always secured. Instead many individuals will find themselves denied entry to their districts, with their children unable to attend.

And the reason for this is all too simple.

Private institutions are not required to accept all applicants (even those who have been proven able to pay). They instead create their own standards and many families can be refused access — merely because they did not match the vital criteria. These schools are governed by:

One: Academic standing. All students must have a high grade point average and suffer from no mediocre courses.

Two: Community service. Students are expected to be involved with their districts, exemplifying humanitarian efforts.

Three: Behavioral certainty. Students must refrain from less than ideal behaviors; and those with disciplinary problems will be denied.

Four: Classroom quota. Students will not be allowed to enroll if classrooms have already reached their maximum limits. Small sizes are to be maintained.

Such rules can cause even the most worthy of applicants to be rejected. And this can become the great concern of all parents. Private education is not guaranteed, unlike its public sibling. This must be understood by all and anticipated.

That chance never comes, however.

A school instead refuses to accept him, won’t even consider allowing him to enroll. It is not a reflection your bank account. It is not a slight against your child. It’s instead the prerogative of an organization that is not required by law to offer admission to special needs pupils. They can instead reject them, deem them too much of a concern.

And this is — you discover — the great failing of private education. There is no certainty your son can be helped.

Public schools, however, provide a far better advantage. Despite the many complications they may offer, these institutions are government sanctioned. This translates to an immediate acceptance of your child. All students with disabilities (no matter how mild or severe) are to be accommodated. The necessary programs and procedures must be implemented. New teachers and methods must be offered. It’s a guarantee of success.

And parents wishing to ensure a better education for their son or daughter will discover that the public option is the stronger choice. No student can be refused. They instead must be helped — and this is essential.

Private education is often deemed to be the only acceptable decision. But those seeking to enhance their child’s life (in regards to a disorder) will often be met with a lack of compassion. There is no assurance. There is only refusal.

Public schools, however, offer an easier ideal: all special needs will be answered, aided and soothed.

The nearby school is not one you wish to choose. It suffers from too many students and too few resources, is sagging beneath the weight of its own inefficiency. You don’t want your children to attend this public nightmare; but the state laws are defined all too clearly. All individuals found within this specific boundary must enroll. This is the rule.

It’s one you don’t want to accept — and it’s one you don’t have to.

While public institutions are shaped by their borders, private schools are not. The advantage parents can achieve by choosing them is one of selection, not necessity. Any school can be sought. There is no longer the need to remain within a neighborhood (or even a town, if you are willing to bear the commute). These organizations will instead accept students from any distance.

And this becomes imperative when you’re seeking to provide a college-worthy education for your sons and daughters.

The worry of districts has forever prevailed among parents; and any relocations were faced with dread, assumed to be too limiting. The notion of private schools, however, ensures that the miles won’t define your childrens’ experiences. They will instead be allowed to learn where you wish them to — and such a choice is vital.

Public education is not to be maligned. It is, however, to be recognized for its potential complications. Understand your area and what it truly means to remain within it.

There are endless advantages to private schools. This could never be refused. They provide sterling selections of courses, extracurriculars and community service programs. They ensure that each child is offered the necessary attention and relief. They do not, however, provide the wanted cultural experiences. Instead they are defined to the shocking similarities.

The majority of pupils within private schools will come from identical social and religious backgrounds. There will be occasional distinctions (often from the inclusion of scholarship students or those receiving financial aid). Most, however, will be defined to the same standards. And this is not a value parents should want.

To succeed in the world all most be aware of those who help to create it. Tolerance is needed; compassion is required; and there must be an understanding of how to relate to the ones who are so very different. A public education guarantees exposure to all forms of cultures and customs. It ensures that students will not be overwhelmed by new opinions or ideas. Instead they will learn (early) to accept these and consider them valid.

This is essential in an age when continents can be bridged so easily. Countries are no longer contained within their borders. They can instead sprawl wide, seeking out connections. And students must be able to do the same — an action that becomes infinitely more difficult when their lives have been kept to the sterile similarities.

A public education is precisely what its name implies: an education for the public. All are included and all can be taught the essential lessons. It’s an experience that can’t be denied.

For many families seeking out private schools is an impossibility. The tuition fees are too high and the endless extra expenses are staggering. Discovering the value of accelerated courses is simply not practical — and yet many still try to obtain these, wanting their children to gain the chance to succeed.

Such success can come with a heavy price, however. A lifestyle can be drastically changed. Poor credit can accumulate. And the stress of meeting the many requirements can strain all parents.

It’s important therefore that families recognize the value of public schools instead.

Too often are these institutions thought to be unworthy — they are considered without the essential courses and credits, the college preparation. While some are admittedly not able to match the standards of their private counterparts, many still can. And these offer more than just a solid education. They instead can offer it for free.

There are no payments needed to enroll your child in a public school. For families already burdened with a budget this is a relief that can’t be denied. All individuals — no matter their gender, race, religion or social status — are able to attend these facilities. There is no distinction to be made and no fees to provide. And this allows all parents to focus on enhancing their lives instead of scrambling always to offer money.

Public education is free — and this is a value that can’t be dismissed so easily.

He does.

The yells are not unexpected, but they are so very loud. The accusations are without end. He demands explanations for her conduct, reasons for her supposed foolishness. Her attempts to rally students against the latest rules (demands for uniforms, the stripping away of personal expression) are deemed irresponsible and without merit. She is told she can’t do such things.

But she can — because student rights are just as vital of those of adults.

All children have the ability to form assemblies and protest against their schools. This is secured by the First Amendment (as well as the revolutionary case of Edwards v. South Carolina, crafted in 1963 when African-American students were allowed to gather together and march without repercussions). All individuals are given permission to speak against laws or views they do not believe to be fair. This is guaranteed.

It is also, however, limited. While students can assemble, they are not allowed to do so during the hours of school itself (disrupting others and their chances to learn) and cannot resort to violence. All protests must be peaceful and organized. If these conditions are adhered to, however, then no principal or teacher can find fault with the process. Any attempts to deny it — or threaten individuals with punishment — is a violation of inherent rights and is therefore illegal.

Students must be aware of what they can accomplish and wield the power responsibly. The ability to assemble is one that must be considered carefully and understood as vital. It is a law that is ensured. It is a right that cannot be refused.

But such intentions are as foolish as they are unlawful.

Students — despite the protestations of principals and faculty members — have rights. They are secured under the clauses of the First Amendment and are never to be denied the values it provides.

Simply defined, this law (as relevant now as it was when it was first created in 1789) ensures that all individuals — no matter their gender, creed or even age — cannot be refused the freedoms of religious expression, speech, assemblage, press and the ability to petition Congress and offer grievances. These rights are deemed the cornerstones of a republic and must be adhered to… even in the school environment.

Students cannot be refused the ability to declare their religious ties or political views (as long as those views do not disrupt the intention of learning. There are, naturally, limitations to all laws and the context must be understood). Speech is to be protected and protests are to be allowed — as long as they are peaceful and follow the accepted protocols.

Age does not define worth in the eyes of the government. No child is to be without the rights of his parents; and this must be understood. Too often are students denied even the most basic of dignities. Such denials are illegal, however, and must be countered immediately.

The First Amendment is to be offered to all.

But his confidence begins to wane as others make those exact same promises. His competitors are offering all of the vital words, and he thinks he cannot win this way. He must try something different, something unexpected.

And so — when it is finally his turn — he tries to earn his peers’ favor with a joke: about drug use and its more… soothing qualities. The laughs are received but the consequences are immediate. He is taken from the stage and told such words are not permitted. He tries to argue First Amendment freedom but is quickly proven wrong: not all speech is acceptable within a school setting.

The common misconception regarding the First Amendment is that it cannot be challenged. All assume that it protects every form of dialogue. It doesn’t, however. Instead there are limitations — especially when relating to the education system — and these must be understood.

No student, during the process of an assembly or formal gathering, can promote illegal behaviors: such as drug use, alcohol consumption, underage intercourse or theft. Obscenities and vulgar statements are also not allowed (as distinguished in the Bethel School District v. Fraser case of 1986, when a child was suspended after offering sexual implications within a speech). Schools are allowed to make certain distinctions based upon the accepted standards of morality. The judgment is often provided solely by the superintendents.

Free speech is guaranteed but it is not without restrictions. This is to protect the rights of others, ensuring that offensive content is not simply passed about the halls. Students must recognize this and understand the consequences of ignoring it.

And the owner of those drugs — a student, summoned from class — is already howling about his rights, the violations of amendments. He is to be protected from unlawful seizures (he remembers that from the endless television shows he’s watched, the Miranda codes he’s heard again and again). This isn’t legal, he argues. This isn’t fair.

But it is — and students must understand why.

In the majority of scenarios no search can be conducted with proper cause (and an accompanying warrant). Homes, businesses and personal property are to be secured against random quests and police interference. Individuals have expectations of privacy and these must be protected.

School lockers, however, are not awarded such favor. They belong to the educational system, not to the individuals who are using them for the year. This translates to a complete lack of the aforementioned privacy. No students can claim that they were violated as they did not own the lockers that were searched. They merely borrowed them and this is not enough to sustain an unlawful seizure claim.

The rights of students are as vital as those of adults. There are distinctions, however, that must be made — and this is one of them. The safety of all within a school must be maintained; and lockers must be made available to any inquests that are necessary. The need to secure the majority outweighs all individual freedoms.

All students must recognize this and be aware that their lockers do not belong to them. They cannot therefore demand privacy. It will never come.

It is also correct — if the institution is private.

Private schools (where individuals must pay tuition fees and have to be accepted for enrollment) are not formed of the same standards as their public counters. Course selection, class size and student admissions are all based upon specific requirements — and this philosophy applies even to pupil rights.

While in these organizations no violation must be held to the standard of In loco parentis. Simply defined, In loco parentis is the belief that schools must make judgments as parents would. Amendments are tamed to the contexts of age and responsibility; but those contexts must be proven reasonable within a court of law. All attempts to curtail student rights must be able to withstand the scrutiny of judges.

Private facilities, however, are not burdened by the need to prove their decisions. All rights can instead be ignored if they do not meet the demands of the school’s particular code.

And this distinction is vital.

Students can have no true expectations of protection while attending these institutions. They will be governed by rigid rules and ethics, rather than the typical legalities. This must be understood and recognized as a potential burden. The desire for an education may conflict with a desire for amendment standards. And all must decide which element is more worthy.

Such drama, however, will never be received. It will instead be reported to the faculty and erased — and all members of the press will have to face the consequences.

It is an all too simple assumption that student presses are protected by the First Amendment. All believe them to be without censorship, able to explore all facets of writing. This belief, however, is wildly inaccurate. There are several limitations to be offered to these papers and they must be understood.

Student presses are not provided the free speech assurance. All articles must refrain from inflammatory remarks or questions. There can be no use of profanity or support of illegal activities (such as drug and alcohol consumption). And no editorials can encourage pupils to go against the established codes of the school — disrupting education and putting safety at risk.

Instead each paper must follow a specific standard of rules (these will be supplied by the schools themselves). Failure to adhere to these rules can result in the dissolution of the press and the suspension of all involved students: an action that cannot be contested in a court of law.

The ability of expression is considered secondary when it can influence the opinions of others in a negative way. Students must recognize this and be aware of what power their words can provide. Their rights are limited in ink.

You are instead angry.

Virtual bullying is an epidemic among children and young adults. The joys of the Internet have been shaped into a greet of unkind words and constant teases — all mockery now conveniently offered through chat rooms and forums. The social networking influences have been redefined; and the cost is anxiety.

It is estimated that 20 percent of all middle school and high school students have received unwanted texts or emails (all with the intent to bully). 56 percent of these individuals knew their attackers, but only a dismal 10 percent dared to inform a parent or authority figure. The rest remained silent, too intimidated to speak, too worried of the repercussions — the accusations of being weak, the persecutions earned from tattling.

Each day thousands of children become the recipients of offensive (and damaging) messages. They’re targeted in their homes, are unable to find any form of relief. Instead their every second is filled to worry — and this causes intense feelings of fear, depression and suicidal considerations.

This must end.

Parents must be aware of who their children are conversing with and what is being said. If bullying is suspected, your son or daughter must be made to confess it; if only so you can then take the necessary precautions of alerting the school and confronting the many aggressors.

Don’t allow virtual bullying to continue. Help instead to make it stop.

Such feelings eventually fade, however. You think therefore that there is no reason to be worried when your son admits to occasional teases, the infrequent bullying. It is part of growing up and you don’t wish to interfere with him.

Perhaps you should — because, if your child is willing to confess even minor mockery, there is a chance that he is suffering from far worse.

Teens will rarely speak of bullying. It is considered a weakness to run to parents, to ask for help. They try instead to handle the problems themselves, wanting to refuse all adult aid. From the 77 percent of children that are bullied each year, only 10 percent will inform their parents. Over half of these individuals, however, will consider some form of retaliation — and it’s estimated that 100,000 students bring a type of weapon to school each year (typically a handgun) in preparation for such things.

These numbers are worrying, if only because they should not be allowed to exist. Bullying is not to be considered a simple part of life, accepted by all as common. It’s instead to be combated, with parents intervening and offering the necessary support.

Your child does not deserve to harassed — whether mentally, physically or through cyber communication. He instead should be allowed to attend school without fear of aggressors and insults, able to focus on his education instead of hiding from others. It is vital therefore that you become fully involved with his life. And, if he confesses to being bullied, you must understand the relevancy of this.

It was not easy for him to offer a secret. You must respond with the essential aid.

Because your child — who is being mocked at school, who is sobbing now at home because he can find no relief — is offered no legal help. Your state has crafted no legislation to address the issue of bullying. Instead there’s only the reply that schools are to make all decisions. You’re on your own.

This… stuns you.

And it should.

As of 2010 there are five states that do not offer any form of bullying laws. These are Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii and Montana. The District of Columbia also has no available rules. And individuals living within these areas should be shocked to learn that few — if any — efforts have been given to change the current standards.

These states cling to the notion that bullying is not a crime that can be dealt with by the government. All concerns are instead given to budgets and crime rates, not the schoolyard scuffles. But this is a problem that is on the rise — with 77 percent on all students mocked each year, and many of those (14 percent) contemplating suicide because of the teases they have suffered.

Those statistics are (naturally) upsetting to all parents; and the demand for laws has been made. All other states have passed a form of legislation. It is the public’s duty therefore to see that the previously mentioned five do the same. Contact representatives. Create petitions. Being letter campaigns. All efforts will be vital in changing the legislation and enabling a safer future for your child.

And that should be a necessity, not a mere wish.

It isn’t.

All records regarding you and your education are to be offered to you whenever you ask for them. This is an undeniable right — and yet it is one most students do not understand.

Permanent records are not to be ignored, shielded from sight. They are instead to be provided. A simple request must yield results. And this is guaranteed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (more commonly called FERPA).

Established in 1974 FERPA is a federal regulation that offers control of student records to the students themselves. They can — according to this statute — obtain their files when they wish, have them amended as needed and also regulate who can access them at later times. Disclosure is the desire of the individual and not the school in almost all situations. The only exemptions to this are suitably ranked faculty members and government officials.

Despite the revelation that FERPA offers, however, it’s often overlooked by students, not understood as relevant. Its promise of privacy and control is one that should always be recognized but too many don’t even know of its existence. This is unfortunate. It offers young adults the opportunity to gain essential information and learn of their own school careers. This must be noted by all and used as needed.

Your files, your rights: the two are now tangled.

He won’t confess this, however. He instead denies it, claims there is nothing to be concerned with. But his distress is palpable and you know the truth — even if he won’t admit it. He’s being harmed at school. And you wonder how you didn’t notice until now.

The signs of bullying are often ignored. Without the obvious bruises and tears, children can shield their worries: deceiving their families and refusing to voice their fears. It is essential therefore that parents understand the early warnings and address the issue as soon as possible.

Look for these symptoms:

One: Constant claims of illness. There are excuses each morning, feigns of disease (all exotic and impossible to diagnose). Your child swears to being ill, refuses to leave the bed; but you can’t even feel a fever on his brow. Students will often make excuses to miss school when being bullied. Truancy is a common problem.

Two: Frequent needs for money or possessions. Dollars are misplaced; books are lost; supplies is left at school. These are the words you hear each day, offered when you confront your child about his missing items. Individuals who are in perpetual need for basic supplies or lunch money are often being bullied — with their aggressors stealing from them. Take note of exaggerated bouts of forgetfulness.

Three: Emotional withdrawal. You remember laughter, easy smiles. Now, however, you receive only the briefest of nods. Your child has become silent, will not speak of school or friends. This is the most obvious indication of bullying and should be noted immediately.

These signs must be understood by all parents. Monitor your child’s behavior and recognize the effects of mockery.