lawprofessors

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Did you dread exercise as a child or did you long to run and play kickball during math or English instruction? It seems that the time allotted for Physical Education (PE) has dwindled over the years, but California students still have a right to receive PE on a daily basis (unless exempted). PE may seem like an obvious need: of course students should be taught baseball, basketball, how to run fast or just play with a team.  It is not as obvious as you may think.  Rather than ramp up PE to fight obesity, America chose other routes, such as attacking sugary drinks via taxes , attempts to stop the sale of extra large sodas , blame on fast food , while at the same time PE and children's activity levels dwindled over time. With the crisis of deteriorating schools, dwindling test scores and  America falling behind the world in education , PE became something easy to cut out of school curriculums.   Ho...

By  Michelle Ball , California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 There is a lot to know about just WHAT is going on in schools regarding sexual education.  If you are my age (early 40's), you remember the obligatory sex education class in junior high school (mine was in eighth grade and our teacher read us "The Princess Bride" most of the class).  Times have changed, however, and sex education is now being initiated at much younger ages.  How young? Kindergarten, which likely encompasses four, five, and six year olds. California Education Code section 51933 outlines the parameters for sex education in California public schools, and indicates that starting from kindergarten on up, kids may receive sexual education in the public schools.  This instruction has to be appropriate for all genders, races, and sexual orientations.  In other words, traditional sexual activities and domestic partner type of sexual activities may be instructed. One may reca...

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 California Education Code 51101 has a handy list of public school parents' rights neatly packaged for use when push comes to shove in California schools.  Some of these rights may come as a surprise to parents who are being denied a simple parent-teacher conference, can't get their child's records, are denied volunteer opportunities, were never given the school policies, or are having other difficulties in the public school environment. Section 51101 affords the following rights to California public school parents (be advised this is an abbreviated list and is paraphrased): 1)  To be "mutually supportive and respectful partners" with the school. 2)  Within a reasonable time to observe their child's current classroom(s) and/or future classrooms if transferring. 3)  To meet with the teacher(s) or principal within a reasonable time of their request. 4)  To volunteer in the school or class...

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Last week, the National Association of Educational Science (NAES) released the test results for many of our nation's children showing a distinct weakness in the sciences.  For example of 300 possible points, the average score was between 147-153.  If graded in the traditional way, this would be an "F." You can see the report here:   http://nationsreportcard.gov/science_2009/ The United States Department of Education response is here  http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/statement-us-secretary-education-arne-duncan-release-naep-science-report-card  and certainly does not make me feel more secure. This low score evidences a few things: 1)  School instruction is not enough to advance in science, 2)  Parents need to step up and help their kids with their science homework, and 3)  Parents need to stimulate an interest in science outside the classroom via home science projects in w...