Your Answers to Education Questions

By Ronald W. Holmes

Through empirical research, this book provides educators and other followers of The Holmes Education Post, with the solutions to education questions in our educational institutions. These solutions include 30 articles on some of our latest interventions to address challenges plaguing our institutions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491865064

Ronald W. Holmes

Ronald Holmes is president and publisher of The Holmes Education Post, an education focused Internet newspaper. He publishes weekly articles on educational issues and offers unique, researched based solutions, perspectives, best practices, and resources to improve public education. Ronald Holmes earned a PhD in Educational Leadership, a MED in Educational Administration and Supervision and a BS in Business Education from Florida A&M University. He also earned a MED in Business Education from Bowling Green State University. He is a former teacher, school administrator, and district superintendent.

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© 2014 Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/14/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6507-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6506-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014902936

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

REGARDING STUDENTS

IS IT TIME TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT STRANGER SAFETY?

IS IT TIME TO STAND FOR THE SILENT?

IS IT TIME FOR RANDOM DRUG TESTING OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETES?

WHAT SHOULD BE THE CIVIC MISSION OF U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

WHY ARE SOME STUDENTS LESS LIKELY TO TAKE AP COURSES?

HOW IS HAZING A PART OF THE K-12 CULTURE?

REGARDING TEACHERS

WHAT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION?

WHAT ARE THE NEW TEACHER EVALUATION PILOTS FOR OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT?

HOW CAN SCHOOLS UTILIZE EMPLOYEES’ STRENGTHS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE IN THE WORKFORCE?

IS IT TIME TO PLACE CAMERAS IN THE CLASSROOM?

REGARDING CURRICULUM

IS IT TIME FOR MORE AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS?

DOES ATHLETIC INVOLVEMENT IMPROVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS?

WHAT MAKES DISD’S SCHOOL FOR THE TALENTED AND GIFTED THE TOP IN THE NATION?

HOW CAN SCHOOLS IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY CHILDREN?

WHY DID PUTNAM COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IMPLEMENT THE SIXTH GRADE CENTER?

REGARDING SCHOOL SYSTEMS

HOW CAN SCHOOLS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A 21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE?

HOW CAN SCHOOLS USE CONTENT MARKETING TO PROMOTE THEIR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES?

HOW CAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS CREATE A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES?

HOW DID DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AVOID A BUDGET CUT?

IS IT TIME TO BAIL OUT U.S. SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

WHAT IS REPLACING THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW IN GEORGIA?

WHAT SCHOOLS ARE HONOREES OF THE 2013 GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS?

HOW CAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS BENEFIT FROM A ZERO-BASED BUDGETING MODEL?

IS IT TIME TO GRADE SCHOOL SYSTEMS’ WEBSITES?

WHO SHOULD HAVE THE POWER TO APPROVE CHARTER SCHOOLS?

REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION

HOW SHOULD GENERAL COUNSEL BE USED AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?

WHAT NEW MINDSETS ARE NEEDED TO HARNESS CHANGE?

WHAT IS THE SUPREME COURT RULING OF THE FISHER V. TEXAS LEGAL CASE?

HOW CAN THE NATION’S HIGHER EDUCATION BE RESTORED TO PREEMINENCE?

HOW DO WE INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF BUSINESS SCHOOL FACULTY?

ROADMAP FOR SUCCESSFUL & STRUGGLING SCHOOLS IN THE U.S.

REFERENCES

AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank all of the followers of The Holmes Education Post, an education focused Internet newspaper.

I would like to thank Reverend Dr. R.B. Holmes, Jr. and my wife, Constance Holmes for encouraging me to write a weekly education article in the Capital Outlook Newspaper. Reverend Holmes had the insight to create a radio and newspaper business and encouraged me to partner with him. He felt that the community needed an outlet for positive news as an avenue to uplift, empower and save the families. Constance was an invaluable resource in my life for helping me create The Holmes Education Post. She felt that the community needed to learn more about the numerous experiences I have gained as an educator, researcher and school leader.

I wholeheartedly thank Reverend Holmes and Constance for their inspiration, encouragement and support. I equally thank my parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives who have been a springboard to my success. I have had a family that consistently supported me through the good and bad times.

Most importantly, I thank the Almighty God for sustaining me during my education and career path. He has been my source of strength, and I acknowledge his goodness and mercy in delivering me to this point.

DEDICATION

I proudly dedicate this book to my grandparents Clem and Louise Johnson. As a child in the 1960s, I gained real-world business experience from them while working in their grocery store in Americus, Georgia. They taught me to politely greet every customer who entered the store with the question, Something for you? In modern day vernacular, the question would be, May I help you?

In the same vein, I gratefully dedicate this book to my parents R.B. and Lucille Holmes. They have been the backbone to my achievement and accolades in all endeavors. They constantly taught me the value of prayer, life, family, school and work. Through the years, I learned so many lessons from them. Specifically, my father taught me about perseverance and credibility as he worked long hours and assisted his friends and three sons in getting good jobs with his employer. My mother taught me about fortitude as she set the example by going back to school and earning a college degree and teaching high school for over twenty-two years after raising eight children. Her perseverance showed me the value of education and taught me that it is never too late to pursue your dream. Her motivation influenced all of her children to attend college and earn a bachelor’s degree.

Again, I dedicate this book to my grandparents and parents. I have achieved a life-time dream and an appreciation for life through their prayers, guidance, mentoring, coaching, teaching and giving to people. As such, all proceeds for this book will go towards scholarships for students.

INTRODUCTION

Through empirical research, this book provides educators and other followers of The Holmes Education Post, with solutions to education questions in our educational institutions. These solutions include 30 articles on some of our latest interventions to address challenges plaguing our institutions.

Each article provides the reader a question related to our educational institutions, references and reflections for the question. In a proposal format with an introduction, problem statement and solution to the problem, I have included a roadmap for successful and struggling schools in the United States with objectives, goals, strategies and performance measures. For better understanding, I have also linked some of the articles from this book to a strategy, as well as articles from my first two books on education: Education Questions to be Answered and Current Issues and Answers in Education. It is hoped that the readers of this book will use the information to address the ongoing issues in education for improved student learning and instruction.

Regarding Students

Is it time to teach kids about stranger safety?

A missing kid is a frightening experience for any parent. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), 800,000 children younger than 18 are missing annually – an average of 2,185 children reported missing daily. Sixty-three percent of the abductions involve non-family members such as a babysitter, friend, long-term acquaintance, neighbor, caretaker or person of authority; whereas, 37 percent of the abductions involve a stranger. Most abductions occur during the day while a child is walking home or riding a bicycle between the hours of two and seven in the evening.

Considering the number of children reported missing, the critical questions to be asked are: Is it time to teach kids about stranger safety? What are safety tips for children and parents?

In a NBC special documentary, My Kid Would Never Do That: Stranger Danger, elementary school kids were tested on what they would do when approached by a stranger. The kids were not aware they were being videotaped by NBC and watched by their parents. The children were only informed that they were participating in a community project to make posters for U.S. troops. The hope was that the kids would remember the things their parents taught them about getting into a vehicle with a stranger.

The kids participating in the experiment included the NBC reporter’s own son, a set of twins, three girls who did not know each other and three boys that knew each other. The children were all faced with the same challenge: a stranger in an ice cream