High-Tech Cheating

Cheating is a serious problem that strikes at the core of a child's academic success and character development. According to a recent study by our friends at Common Sense Media, kids today are using a new tool to cheat: cell phones.

The study finds that more than a third of teens with cell phones admit to storing information on them to use during a test or texting friends about answers. This is a big deal considering the pervasiveness of cell phones: More than two-thirds of teenagers in this country own a cell phone, according to US Cellular, and most 8- to 12-year-olds will own a cell phone in the next three years, says a report by the Yankee Group.

That kids cheat is not news. The real eye opener is two points made in the Common Sense study:

1. Parents don’t think their kids are cheating. While most parents are well aware of cell phone cheating (76% say that it happens at school), they don't believe their kids are doing it (only 3% say their child has ever cheated with a cell phone).
2. Children don’t think cheating is wrong. Nearly one in four kids thinks accessing notes on a cell phone or texting friends with answers during a test is acceptable.

So not only are parents in la-la land about whether their children are cheating, but also kids are failing to distinguish right from wrong. Yikes.

Is this the latest manifestation of the so-called Napster generation, which assumes that everything should be free and fully accessible? Or is it simply an example of teaching a young pup new tricks?

The answers to these questions matter less than how parents and teachers respond to this disturbing trend. As James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, stated, “The call to action is clear: Parents and educators have to be aware of how kids are using technology to cheat and then help our kids understand that the consequences for online cheating are just as serious as offline cheating.”

We couldn't agree more. Parents play a vital role in showing children right from wrong and teaching them character traits that will last a lifetime.

Buying your child a cell phone provides a teachable moment, an opportunity to stress the wrongness of cheating and the value of learning. We encourage you to look at Common Sense Media's recommendations for parents.

How are you talking to your kids about cheating? We want to know.

The Power of Dads

Last month I wrote a piece about the power of moms on our children’s educational development in commemoration of Mother’s Day.

This Sunday is Father’s Day so now I'd like to pay tribute to our nation’s dads — and highlight the important role of fatherhood. Fathers model the behavior, values and character traits that prepare their children for success in school, work and life.

In that spirit President Obama, who models fatherhood by balancing the role of Commander-in-Chief and Dad-of-Two with great agility, is using his first Father’s Day in office to reflect on what being a father means to him. In a letter to Parade Magazine, President Obama calls on dads everywhere to ‘step up’:

On this Father’s Day, I am recommitting myself to that work, to those duties that all parents share: to build a foundation for our children’s dreams, to give them the love and support they need to fulfill them, and to stick with them the whole way through, no matter what doubts we may feel or difficulties we may face.

So this Sunday, we hope you take the time to thank your father — and fathers everywhere — for their hard work. And fathers, let’s all recommit to being more involved parents. For me, this means putting down the laptop and spending more time with my daughter.

How are you celebrating Father’s Day? How did your father prepare you for school, work and life?

On Facebook

Hello there, involved parents! GreatSchools is now on Facebook. Our goal is to enable parents to connect with each other wherever they are on the web. With our new Facebook page, you’ll find even more GreatSchools community, more discussions and more interactivity with quizzes and polls. 

This week we’re featuring a quiz that tests your knowledge of the state of education (go ahead, see if you can stump your friends) and a ‘voice of the parent’ poll that asks whether preschool graduation should be celebrated.

But today’s post isn’t just a shameless plug. It’s a call to all parents to understand what’s happening with social media sites — like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. — because, let’s face it, today’s kids are growing up in a technology-rich environment that will have a profound impact on their success in school and in life.

Several months ago, the folks at SavvyDaddy got it right when they said the reasons to familiarize yourself with social media are:

1. safety — the more you understand social media, the better able you are to help protect your kids as they explore it;
2. connection — the more you understand social media, the better able you may be to connect with your kids in their world (though, don’t feel rejected if they do not accept your friend request); and,
3. academic growth — today’s classrooms must teach technology for kids to be able to compete in an ever-flattening world. The more you know, the better able you’ll be to guide your kids academically.

So before your kids get light years ahead of you in technology, go ahead and jump in the fun and connectedness of the social web.

And while you’re at it... [cue shameless plug]...become a Fan of GreatSchools on Facebook!

The Power of Moms

It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday and we are celebrating the vital role that mothers play in their kids’ lives.

Moms guide the development of their kids’ character – the importance of playing well with others, sharing and self-discipline. They also model the behaviors that lead to academic success, such as making reading an every day habit, moderating the amount of TV and videogame screen time, and keeping plugged in with what’s happening in school. All of this helps prepare kids to succeed in school, work and life.

So while you may have found it difficult — OK, annoying — when she insisted that you eat your vegetables and clean up your room, remember the important role your mother played in how you’ve turned out today.

We hope that you take the time with us this weekend to thank your mom — and moms everywhere — for the hard work they do. How are you celebrating Mother’s Day? We’re interested in your stories.

PS: Here’s a fun video sent to us from our friends at Common Sense Media — originally developed by momsrising.org. Enjoy... and don’t forget to call your mom on Sunday!

The Swine Flu

News of the swine flu — also known by its more scientific name H1N1 virus — is all over the place.

As the virus continues to spread and has already resulted in the closing of several schools, we know that many GreatSchools members have questions about the swine flu, how best to prevent it, what to do if schools close, and how to talk to their kids about it.

Prevent the spread of the virus. We encourage you to read the comprehensive information on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website, which includes key facts about the virus and how best to prevent its spread. The CDC advises people to take commonsense, everyday precautions:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Develop contingency plans. Schools that have confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu may temporarily close to prevent its spread. We encourage parents to create contingency plans by checking with the school and other community groups.

Talk to your kids. The swine flu can also be scary for kids — especially given its attention in the media and the fact that it's an 'invisible' illness.

We encourage parents to initiate a conversation with their kids about swine flu. Ask what they know and what concerns them. For younger children, keep the explanations simple.

As Harold Koplewicz, a child psychiatrist and director of the New York University Child Study Center, told USA Today, "You could say, 'Some people have gotten sick with a flu you get from contact with someone who has it. Mom and Dad are going to make sure you're safe. We'll take care of you.'

More Resources on the Web
American Academy of Pediatrics Advice on Swine Flu
Center for Disease Control

Remembering Columbine

On the morning of April 20, 1999, two seniors in Columbine High School unleashed an attack with guns and pipe bombs killing 12 students and a teacher. Ten years later, it's still hard to imagine the tragedy of Columbine High School.

Today, our thoughts are with the Columbine community.

Most people can remember the exact time and place where they watched the events unfold live on TV. Even so, a recent San Francisco Chronicle article found that enough time has passed that a new generation of teenagers has never heard of the massacre.

Our hope is that people continue to remember the important lessons about safety in schools, and that a prerequisite to academic success is both physical safety and a culture that is emotionally supportive. You can read more about how to stop school violence on the GreatSchools web site.

So are schools any better prepared to do this now than they were 10 years ago? A survey from Campus Safety Magazine finds encouraging news that shows K-12 and university campus security programs have made huge strides since this terrible tragedy. The survey found:

• 90% of respondents believe their campus to be safer since the Columbine tragedy.
• 49% of K-12 schools created or expanded multidisciplinary threat assessment teams — administrators, teachers, police, and counselors who identify and respond to situations they see as potential threats.

But as so many 'non-essential' services are being cut as a result of the country's economic troubles, how do we make sure that we take heed of the Columbine lessons? How should we recognize and treat severe emotional problems among teens? How do we renew our focus on prevention and combating the problems — like bullying — before they spiral out of control?

We're interested in hearing from you.

Web 2.0 and Parenting

Last week, several of us from Team GreatSchools went to the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco. The conference showcased the latest tools and highlighted how organizations and people are participating in the social media world.

The show echoed a central theme: Social media is …social! It’s about people -- how they connect, what they learn from each other, and what they do together.  One session reinforced this point with the title ‘It’s the people, stupid!’.

At GreatSchools, we’ve seen how social media can unlock the power of parents in guiding their kids’ education. We’ve seen it through ratings and reviews that help people find schools that are right for their kids. Through the collaborative and organic nature of social media as parents share intimate, personal stories, helping one another ensure that kids are on the right track in their education.

What is your opinion? Is Web 2.0 a boon or bust for parenting? Have social media sites like Facebook or MySpace helped you with your parenting challenges? Or do you feel that Social Media is no replacement for connecting the good ol’ fashioned way in the offline world?

What do you think?

The Stimulus Package and Education

Hello GreatSchools Blog readers. We're introducing something new with our blog today — you'll hear from more people on the GreatSchools team and we'll cover more issues.

Our goal remains the same: to continue a dialogue with our community about the changes we're seeing in the education landscape, the vital role parents play in supporting their kids' education, and other trends that impact the education ecosystem. We'll share what's new at GreatSchools and we'll look at news events, insights and data that shape the overarching dialogue.

In that spirit, today's newswires and blogosphere is abuzz with President Obama's stimulus package and the infusion of $100 billion to improve education. According to the Associated Press, the Obama Administration has released the first $44 billion to states. It's clear that the Administration wants to both preserve jobs (an estimated 294,000 teachers may face layoffs due to state budget cuts) and transform the federal government's role in education.

With the influx of new money in the education system, have you noticed the impact of the education funding at your school or in your city? Has it changed the way you think about your role in supporting your child's education?

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and experiences.