Millions of people all over the world are experiencing mental health problems. And though the causes vary, we know that half of all these illnesses will have started in childhood or the teenage years. In the UK, referrals for and reports of teenagers with depression and anxiety and other mental issues have risen significantly in recent decades […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Achieving then failing in primary school is a sign of future teenage depression
New Mexico to force High School grads to College
Practically since birth, our children have been indoctrinated into believing they must go to college after high school. Hey, there really was a time when going to college was both a privilege and a valid path into a better life. But it’s not a privilege any more. Every state has multiple “open admissions” schools eager […] … learn more→
School resource officers can prevent tragedies, but training is key
Despite legitimate concerns about the effects of placing school resource officers in the nation’s schools, the reality is having these officers on a school’s campus can literally save lives and avert tragedy. That much became clear on March 20, when school resource officer Blaine Gaskill rushed toward a shooter who had opened fire at Great Mills High School in […] … learn more→
My dyslexic perspective on academia – and how I found science communication
I am an academic with dyslexia and I would like to share my story with you. Dyslexia in academia is a conundrum – it is basically a learning difficulty, and coping with dyslexia is a very personal journey. It is different for everyone. For me, dyslexia affects – among other skills – my maths, sciences […] … learn more→
The transformative effect of university-level learning inside prisons
The canteen at HMP Isis is no genteel tearoom, but today it could be mistaken for one. Staff and family members of inmates at the young offenders’ institution mingle among tables covered in white cloths, helping themselves to items from the buffet prepared by prisoners on the institution’s catering course. Emily Thomas, the prison governor, […] … learn more→
Some officials want to ban school suspensions – here’s how that could backfire
When it comes to school discipline, the fact that low-income and minority students are more likely to get suspended than students who are white or more well off is nothing new. In an effort to turn things around, some education policymakers are beginning to take a critical look at the use of school suspensions. A recent example is this […] … learn more→
#NeverAgain: do student protests work? History tells us they can
When 17 students and teachers were murdered on what should have been a peaceful school day, students across the US took to the streets to demand change. The outpouring of protests in the wake of the tragic mass-shooting in Parkland, Florida earlier this year is an important reminder that students can challenge the status quo. […] … learn more→
Five things parents can do every day to help develop STEM skills from a young age
Educators and researchers agree early literacy experiences are important for children’s cognitive and language development. For the past 30 years there has been a strong movement to foster children’s literacy skills. This has resulted in an abundance of information on how parents can do this by reading books, singing songs and nursery rhymes, playing word […] … learn more→
Offensive speech in the classroom
The spring semester got off to a somewhat rocky start at Princeton University when a number of students walked out of a class in reaction to the instructor’s conduct. Lawrence Rosen, the William Nelson Cromwell Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Princeton and an adjunct professor of law at Columbia University, was starting a class that he […] … learn more→
University lecturer explains why academics are striking over pension cuts
University staff across the UK are striking over changes to their pensions. Academics at 64 universities, who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) and who are signed up to a defined benefit pension scheme (known as USS), are faced with cuts that could leave them significantly worse off in retirement. Universities UK, the umbrella […] … learn more→
