The University Transportation Center for Alabama, headquartered at The University of Alabama, is conducting a pilot study to assess the impact of installation of lap/shoulder seat belts on a limited number of Alabama school buses.
Bullies in the schoolyard now have a new place to wield their punches – cyberspace. “Cyberbullying,” as it’s now called, is like regular bullying except it’s done online through sites like Facebook and MySpace and the use of cell phones, says Dr. Vivian Wright.
“No Child Left Behind,” the Bush administration’s education package, will continue no matter who wins the November presidential election. Its focus, however, will likely shift to early intervention programs, predicts Marcia Rock, associate professor of special education.
Teenage subcultures featured in the majority of American teenage movies and TV shows such as "Mean Girls", "The Hills", and "Gossip Girl" have led some to assume that all social aspects of middle and high school are negative. That’s not the case, said Dr. Natalie Adams.
Tests implemented since No Child Left Behind’s passage may have helped with accountability issues in education, but they have had little effect on improving learning in children, says Dr. James McLean, dean of The University of Alabama College of Education.
Dr. Jay Lindly discusses a three-year pilot study that analyzes past school bus accidents, examines data from overhead cameras on school buses for information about use of seat belts, and runs a cost-benefit study on what it would cost to add safety belts to all school buses in Alabama.
Dr. Vivian Wright defines cyberbullying and discusses how schools deal with its student impact, how students can protect themselves online, and how teachers embrace new technologies as teaching methods.
Dr. Marcia Rock discusses budget cuts relating to state of Alabama educational systems and how the upcoming Presidential election will affect the "No Child Left Behind" act, including additional focus on early intervention, and how educational partnerships can benefit schools.
Dr. Natalie Adams shares why social groups are so influential in schools, how they create communities and develop social skills, and she provides tips to parents of children navigating these groups.
Dr. James McLean discusses major trends in testing such as a focus on more specific learning objectives, the purpose of "No Child Left Behind" testing, what negatives are associated with this type of testing, and why some colleges are no longer using ACT/SAT test scores.
A number of University of Alabama experts are available to comment on education issues for back-to-school stories and school-related stories year-round.
