Friday News Roundup

It’s Friday. Time for the News Roundup.

What’s the Secret to a Long, Healthy Life? Staying in School, a Study Finds (EducationWeek)

EducationWeek online reported this week that,

“Keeping children in school could literally lengthen their lives as adults, according to a massive international research analysis published this week in the journal The Lancet Public Health.”

“An international team of researchers analyzed more than 40 years of data on adult mortality from more than 600 studies in 59 countries, including the United States. They controlled for adults’ age, sex, and marital status, as well as their socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds.”

“For each additional year of schooling, mortality for adults younger than 50 fell by nearly 3 percent, with smaller but still significant benefits for older adults, too.”

“Completing 18 years of education – the equivalent of K-12 plus a four-year college degree – cut adult mortality by 34 percent. That’s similar to the level of health protection linked to eating a healthy, vegetable-heavy diet and getting plenty of exercise.”

This story makes me wonder – would this conclusion be true for kids who spend all of their time in low-performing schools?

Road Scholars: When These Families Travel, School Comes Along for the Ride (The 74)

This week The 74 ran a story highlighting families choosing to “school” their children while they travel across America in RVs. Linda Jacobson, a reporter for The 74, writes,

“Jon and Sam Bastianelli looked on patiently as their oldest son, the ‘history buff,’ examined the axes, shovels and old farming tools displayed in a blacksmith shop at the Coachella Valley History Museum.”

“His younger siblings crushed pumpkin seeds with a mortar and pestle in an exhibit honoring the Cahuilla tribe, the first inhabitants of the region. Then they all listened as a volunteer explained the inner workings of a washing machine from 1910.”

“This wasn’t just a quick detour during their family vacation. You could call it homeschooling, but home in this case is a customized Country Coach RV with a bunk room for the kids – and school is wherever they choose to go next.”

Some call this roadschooling, and it seems to be holding its popularity after exploding during the COVID pandemic days.

With so many adults now being able to work anywhere and anytime, why should learning be any different?

Growing Number of Parents Looking to Change Kids’ Schools, New Survey Shows (The 74)

The 74 online reported this week that,

“Parents are increasingly considering new schooling options for their kids, according to a survey released this month. After exploring available choices, a smaller number of families ultimately selected new schools but a majority reported wanting more information about school choice.”

“Both local and out-of-district traditional public schools remained popular among school-searching families, followed by charter schools, private and religious schools and homeschooling.”

…

“’The big takeaway here is families want options for their kids,’ [The National School Choice Awareness Foundation] CEO Andrew Campanella said. ‘They’re looking at their options, but the lens through which they view choice is significantly different than the way people involved in the policy world look at it.’”

“Overall, about three-quarters of parents surveyed said they’d at least ‘considered’ new schools for a child last year – a 35% increase over 2022. Ultimately, 44% of parents selected a new school. Just under two-thirds reported wanting more information about their options.”

Parents are becoming inquisitive, and more demanding, when it comes to selecting providers to help their kids become smarter and stronger in their learning. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens to public school market share over the next 20 years or so.

In Gun Safety Push, White House Turns to Anxious School Principals for Help (The 74)

According to The 74 online this week,

“The Biden administration is calling on the nation’s school principals to promote safe gun storage among parents and staff as part of its effort to prevent school shootings.”

“Gathering with principals at the White House, including several who have experienced school shootings, first lady Jill Biden said the nation asks a lot of educators, but their leadership on this issue could save lives.”

“’How can we accept a world where the leading cause of death for our children is gun violence?’ asked Biden, who visited Uvalde, Texas, in 2022 after 19 students and two teachers were killed at an elementary school. ‘I don’t want to have to put my hand on another cross with an 8-year-old’s name.’”

Well First Lady Biden, get ready, because I’m guessing you will have an 8-year-old’s name in your hand sooner than later, given this country’s infatuation with guns.

I’m skeptical if enough principals will step forward to make a difference regarding the First Lady’s latest idea on how to curb gun violence. School leaders are already battling their communities over library books, LGBTQ+ issues, and curriculum decisions (especially reading). Why would principals take on another challenge?

Have a great weekend. Til Monday. SVB