Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.0.Beta5/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id IAA26372; Tue, 24 Nov 1998 08:37:05 -0500 (EST)
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 08:37:05 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <1300226686-61650435@[208.141.11.154]>
Errors-To: azaheer@famlit.org
Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov
Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov
Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov
Precedence: bulk
From: Akeel Zaheer <azaheer@famlit.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1787] X-Post: KidsCampaigns Weekly
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet Mail & News for Macintosh - 3.0c (405)
The following is the November 20 edition of the KidsCampaign Weekly.
Akeel H. Zaheer
National Center for Family Literacy
Email: azaheer@famlit.org
x------------x-----------x-------------x-------------x--------------x-------
------x-------------x-------------x------------x----------
*****************************
KidsCampaigns Weekly
****************************
Feel free to forward this information. Please attribute the source to
"KidsCampaigns (http://www.kidscampaigns.org/), published by the Benton
Foundation."
****************************************************************************
*
KidsCampaigns Weekly--November 23, 1998
****************************************************************************
*
Kudos for KidsCampaigns (http://www.kidscampaigns.org)
Make Thanksgiving More Than Turkey and Trimmings
Are Parents Obsolete?
What Kids Want
Behind the Headlines--Tobacco
Growing Public Respect and Support for Quality Teachers
Coalition for America's Children (CAC) Round-Up
Reports and Resources for KidsCampaigners
Focus on the States
Places to Go! Things to Do!
Job Opening: Production Associate for KidsCampaigns
KUDOS FOR KIDSCAMPAIGNS (http://www.kidscampaigns.org)
KidsCampaigns received the 1998 American Public Health Association Award for
excellence in the field of children's mental health services. Explore
KidsCampaigns' award-winning feature on Children's Mental Health at
http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/mental/index.html. If you're making a
return visit, be sure and check out a new posting on moral development and
boys' violence, a commentary by Dr. James Garbarino based on the work he's
doing for his upcoming book, "Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How
We Can Save Them"
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/mental/gstarttmpl.html#C).
MAKE THANKSGIVING MORE THAN TURKEY AND TRIMMINGS
This week families will be gathering across the country to celebrate
Thanksgiving. Invite KidsCampaigns to be part of your Thanksgiving
celebration. Find ideas for how communities are improving their "assets"
for kids and families, how faith communities are helping give kids more to
be thankful for, and how ordinary citizens are joining forces to fight
childhood hunger and improve nutrition. You'll find ideas, success stories,
and organizations to help your family get involved, all posted as part of
KidsCampaigns' Thanksgiving feature at
http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/thanksgiving.html.
ARE PARENTS OBSOLETE?
Does spending time with your toddler, eating dinner with your pre-teens, or
showing up at the school play matter? Or does everything depend on the
friends kids make? In the nature/nurture debates, a new voice claims kids'
peers, not their parents, have the most influence on their values and
behavior. While parents may rely on this book to feel relief from guilt,
KidsCampaigns Senior Editor Richard Louv's review of "The Nurture
Assumption" by Judith Rich Harris says "not so fast"
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Smart/bookreviews.html). Education Week's
review (http://www.edweek.org/tm/current/03parent.h10) also takes a sober
look at this provocative book that is the topic of conversation in carpools
and at coffee breaks.
For another perspective, check out KidsCampaigns' feature on the Early Years
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/earlyyears.html), with information about
the role of early nurturing, and KidsCampaigns' feature on Parenting and
Teens (http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Whoseside/Parenting/time.html), with
information on how teens need parental involvement. "Running in Place," the
landmark report by Nicholas Zill and Christine Winquist Nord that argues
families and kids do better meeting today's challenges when parents "don't
drop out," is posted on KidsCampaigns at
http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Whoseside/Parenting/ripcontents.html.
WHAT KIDS WANT
If you want to know if parents are important to kids, why not ask the kids?
That's what the Whirlpool Foundation did in a recent survey of kids and
teens (http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/ics/foundation/three/kids.html). Not
only do kids think their moms are important, especially in times of
emotional turmoil, but they also identify their moms as the ones who do the
bulk of caring for them, from driving them to the doctor to helping them
with schoolwork or helping them learn right from wrong. Kids' favorite
everyday activities include "having dinner together," "shopping together,"
and "sitting and talking together." And don't hold back on the hugs--70% of
the kids surveyed identified "a hug and a kiss" as the best way to show you
love them.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES--TOBACCO
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/osh/), smoking kills more people each year than
AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and
fires--combined!
Smoking and its cumulative damage begins young. Smoking among young people
has increased dramatically in the 1990's, posing major health hazards to
these generations and threatening rising health care costs for the future.
The most recent study of smoking prevalence among young people, focusing on
college students, is published in the November 18 issue of the Journal of
the American Medical Association
(http://www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/journals/most/recent/issues/jama/oc80656a.
htm).
When federal tobacco legislation failed to materialize this past year, much
of the momentum for tobacco-control initiatives reverted to the states. Now
an agreement has been reached by several state attorneys general and tobacco
companies on settling pending court cases and establishing guidelines for
tobacco advertising and promotion, and several states are signing on to the
agreement.
Reactions to the emerging details of the settlement are mixed--some see this
as a good first step, others as a serious misstep in the public health
effort to curb tobacco promotion and use, especially among young people.
One thing is certain, however, and that is, with cash settlements in the
works, the money is coming. Such an influx of revenue will undoubtedly
spark a feeding frenzy in state capitals across the land. A coalition of
public health advocates urges that the money remain tied to its
source--tobacco use, and that top priority should be given to tobacco
prevention efforts among the young. "The Money is Coming! The Money is
Going!" outlines the challenges and opportunities ahead for state-based
public health efforts (http://209.45.182.169/).
In 1996, the federal Food and Drug Administration established an initiative
to prevent tobacco use among children and teens. These efforts are
continuing at the federal level. Keep track via the FDA website at
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/campaigns/tobacco.html.
KidsCampaigns' feature on "Parenting and Teens" offers a gateway to
information on kids and tobacco, a good place to start if you want to get
informed on the pervasive hazards of tobacco use and efforts to keep kids
free of tobacco
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Whoseside/Parenting/news.html).
GROWING PUBLIC RESPECT AND SUPPORT FOR QUALITY TEACHERS
A new survey, "The Essential Profession," released November 17, 1998 by
Recruiting New Teachers, Inc. and public opinion analyst Louis Harris shows
growing public respect for quality teachers as the key ingredient for a
quality education, far outweighing such new reform strategies as standards,
vouchers, or privatizing public schools. According to Harris, the survey
indicates a shift in public opinion in support of teacher preparation,
teacher pay, and other supports for good teaching: "For the first time,
investing in teacher quality--including higher pay for teachers--is being
seen as the order of the day to improve schools." Another interesting
finding is that people overwhelmingly view teaching as the most beneficial
profession in their community. Check out the numbers in the detailed press
release (http://www.rnt.org/NATL_pr.html) or call 202-467-8344 for a hard
copy of the survey.
Public opinion surveys can help KidsCampaigners measure shifting currents of
public understanding and support for policies and programs that impact kids'
lives. For a collection of relevant polls and surveys, visit KidsCampaigns'
Public Opinion section (http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Smart/pubopinion.html),
especially the "Great Expectations" poll from 1996, where teachers were the
most cited as the trusted source of information on children's issues
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Smart/CACpoll/services.html).
COALITION FOR AMERICA'S CHILDREN (CAC) ROUND-UP
"The Media, Public Policy, and Kids' Issues" is the white paper summarizing
the Coalition's forum on September 23, 1998, covering such topics as
"Finding the Right Reporter" and "How to Pitch a Story." You can order the
$10 white paper, and its predecessor from the pollsters' forum on children's
issues and the voters, by calling 1-877-223-6866. Highlights from both
white papers are online at http://www.usakids.org/html/campaign98.html.
The American Library Association (ALA) President Ann Symons testified before
the US National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) on
"Kids and the Internet: The Promise and the Perils." For background
information and/or the ALA position on protecting kids on the Internet, call
800-941-8478 or visit their website at http://www.ala.org.
"Making Standards Matter," a new report
(http://www.aft.org//edissues/standards98/index.htm) from the American
Federation of Teachers, finds that states are making their academic
standards "tougher, clearer, and more consequential for students," and "more
states are requiring and funding extra academic help for students who are
struggling to meet the standards."
REPORTS AND RESOURCES FOR KIDSCAMPAIGNERS
"Growing Up Drug-Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention" and "Preventing Youth
Hate Crime: A Manual for Schools and Communities" are among the many
publications available for people working to make their communities work for
kids, published in the "What's New" section of the Department of Education
website (http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html).
"College is Possible" tries to help families identify resources for
financing college education. Call 800-433-3243 or log on to
http://www.CollegeIsPossible.org. Financial help for college is becoming
more critical as college costs rise faster than increases in grants and
financial aid. If
you are a student or parent, you can also find important information about
financial aid sources and strategies for finding the right college from the
Department of Education (http://www.ed.gov/thinkcollege/welcome/).
"Immigration in American Memory" traces the history of the American
patchwork of a "nation of nations" from the early settlers to recent
legislative proposals in Congress through a narrative overview with links to
primary sources. It's just been added to the Department of Education's
"FREE" resource library for educators, parents, and kids using the Internet
as an information resource and learning tool. Check "what's new" for
November 9, 1998 at http://www.ed.gov/free/ or go directly to
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/immig/immig.html.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics will be issuing an annual report on school
crime and safety, beginning with its fall 1998 report "Indicators of School
Crime and Safety, 1998" (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/iscs98.htm).
"Family Literacy: Respecting Family Ways" takes a fresh look at involving
parents and families in their children's education--not as an adjunct to the
schools, but as a respected partner in literacy development. Email Judy
Wagner at wagner.6@osu.edu for a copy.
The Goals 2000 program, specifically the impact of federal funding for
systemic education reform in the states and their local school districts,
got a favorable evaluation in a Government Accounting Office (GAO) report
to Congress (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/he99010.pdf). The report includes
a state-by-state chart of the kinds of programs these federal funds are
being used for (Appendix IV).
Every middle school in the land can now get a new science education packet
for teaching about the science of how illicit and abused drugs affect the
brain. Look over the "Mind Over Matter" and other teaching materials,
developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, at
http://www.nida.nih.gov/. You can find information on teen substance abuse
statistics, programs and prevention resources on KidsCampaigns in the
"Parenting and Teens" feature at
http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Whoseside/Parenting/drugs.html.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly
diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood, but there still is no valid
common definition to help practitioners, parents, and educators clearly
identify the disorder or guide treatment. An NIH Conference on Diagnosis
andTreatment of Attention Deficit Disorder drafted a consensus statement as
a first step to establish better guidelines for identifying and treating
ADD/ADHD (http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/cons/110/110_intro.htm).
Background information about ADD/ADHD is included in KidsCampaigns'
award-winning feature on Children's Mental Health
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/mental/index.html).
FOCUS ON THE STATES
KidsCampaigns has added VIRGINIA, NEW MEXICO, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE,
NEBRASKA, MONTANA, and ARKANSAS to our state pages section
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/states/). Check out how kids are faring,
where to find services for kids and families, or how to connect with others
working to make communities better for kids in your state!
MICHIGAN KidsCampaigners used the Internet to help voters get informed and
get out to vote for kids in the November election, including a partnership
with state pediatricians to distribute prescription pads imprinted with the
Michigan's Campaign for Children website address
(http://www.jumpstartmich.com)--giving parents a prescription to get out and
vote for kids! Advice for 2000 from the Michigan KidsCampaigners--focus on
getting parents out to vote!
Email jan@benton.org with your experiences using the Internet to inform and
move voters this past election cycle.
Controversy over NEW YORK's procedures for handling food stamp applications
has prompted advocates to urge NEW YORK CITY to fully comply with food stamp
law. Advocates charge that food stamp applicants are not given application
forms for food stamps and Medicaid upon first request, but are urged, like
applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), to seek
employment and other sources of support first. Email Carrie Lewis at the
Food Research and Action Center at HN7449@handsnet.org for more information.
CHICAGO, NEW ORLEANS, BOSTON, and other major cities are beginning to
embrace lessons learned from treating tobacco as a public health threat in
dealing with the devastation of gun violence in their communities. Filing
lawsuits based on product liability, public nuisance laws, or other legal
strategies is the latest in the fight for gun safety. Follow the news with
Join Together's online clipping service on gun violence at
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/.
NEVADA, ALASKA, HAWAII, IDAHO, NEW MEXICO, WYOMING, ARIZONA, TENNESSEE,
FLORIDA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, and TEXAS are the states identified by a new
National Education Association report as the most in jeopardy of losing
their capacity to improve their public schools due to pending revenue
shortfalls. "The Outlook for State and Local Finances: The Dangers of
Structural Deficits to the Future of American Education" is summarized
online at http://www.nea.org/nr/nr981118.html.
PLACES TO GO! THINGS TO DO!
The Department of Education will hold an arts education teleconference
entitled "Arts Education for a Changing America" on DECEMBER 1
(http://aep-arts.org). Register at 800-USA-LEARN. Check out KidsCampaigns'
new feature on Arts and Youth Development for background information
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/hot/arts/index.html). The 1998 National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) arts assessment was reported in
the November 16 KidsCampaigns Weekly under "Everyone's Talking about the
Arts!" (http://www.kidscampaigns.org/news-weekly.html).
The next regional Religion and Education Summit (http://www.ed.gov/PFIE/),
sponsored by the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, will be
held in Louisville, KENTUCKY on DECEMBER 11. Find ideas for what faith
communities can do for kids in the Thanksgiving feature on KidsCampaigns
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/thanksgiving.html).
JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE FOR KIDSCAMPAIGNS
KidsCampaigns is seeking a part-time Production Associate
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/aboutsite.html#jobs). Email your resume to
ana@benton.org.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Jan Richter, Outreach Specialist, KidsCampaigns
jan@benton.org
**************************
About KidsCampaigns
**************************
The KidsCampaigns Weekly is the electronic newsletter of KidsCampaigns
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/), an action and information center for
citizens, businesses, and parents who want to make their communities work
for kids. The Benton Foundation works to realize the social benefits made
possible by the public interest use of communications.
*********************
How to Subscribe
*********************
If you are not already subscribed to the KidsCampaigns Weekly, here's how:
1. Sign up online at http://www.kidscampaigns.org/index.html?weekly.html
OR
2. Email the following message to majordomo@kidscampaigns.org
subscribe kids-weekly YourEmailAddress
example: subscribe kids-weekly john@somewhere.com
Type the message in the body (not the subject line) of the email.
You may unsubscribe from the KidsCampaigns Weekly list at any time by
sending the following message in the body of an email to
majordomo@kidscampaigns.org:
unsubscribe kids-weekly
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jan 11 2000 - 13:21:03 EST