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TikTok | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Social Media, Internet, & Ban | Britannica

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Should TikTok Be Banned? Learn the pros and cons of the debate.

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Artificial Intelligence | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Computer Science, & Technology | Britannica

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Is artificial intelligence good for society? Learn the pros and cons of the debate.

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Zoos | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Scientific Research, & Conservation | Britannica

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Should zoos exist? Learn the pros and cons of the debate.

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Standardized Tests | Pros, Cons, Teachers, Students, Education, & Metrics of Success | Britannica

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Do standardized tests improve education?

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On March 13, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that could force ByteDance, which owns TikTok, to sell the video-sharing app. Lawmakers are concerned that TikTok is a threat to national security. ByteDance is based in China. Lawmakers…

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A zoo is a place where captive animals are put on display for humans to see. While early zoos (shortened from zoological parks) concentrated on displaying as many unusual creatures as possible-often in small, cramped conditions-the focus of most modern zoos is conservation and education. While zoo advocates and conservationists argue that zoos save endangered species and educate the public, many animal rights activists believe the cost of confining animals outweighs the benefits, and that the violation of the rights of individual animals-even in efforts to fend off extinction-cannot be justified.

A Brief History of Zoos

Humans have kept wild animals for thousands of years. The first efforts to keep wild animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in Mesopotamia, Egypt kept collections in enclosed pens. Modern zoos began to evolve during the 18th century and the Age of Enlightenment, when scientific interest in zoology, as well as the study of animal behavior and anatomy, came to the fore.

Early zoos were a dismal affair. Animals were kept in small enclosures with little if any, greenery. With a scant understanding of what the various animals needed, many perished relatively quickly. In accredited U.S. zoos (and elsewhere) things are better now, fortunately. Primates, for example, have gone from barren cages with little furniture to naturalistic and sometimes semi-free-ranging designs. But is it enough?

Arguments for Zoos

By bringing people and animals together, zoos educate the public and foster an appreciation of other species.

Zoos save endangered species by bringing them into a safe environment, where they are protected from poachers, habitat loss, starvation, and predators.

Many zoos have breeding programs for endangered species. In the wild, these individuals might have trouble finding mates and breeding, and species could become extinct.

Some zoos have conservation programs around the world that use the zoo's expertise and funding to help protect wildlife against poaching and other threats.

Reputable zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums are held to high standards for the treatment of their resident animals. According to AZA, its accreditation guarantees that the organization has undergone strict evaluation by recognized experts to ensure the highest standards of "animal management and care, including living environments, social groupings, health, and nutrition."

A good zoo provides an enriched habitat in which the animals are never bored, are well cared for, and have plenty of space.

Seeing an animal in person is a much more personal and more memorable experience than seeing that animal in a nature documentary and is more likely to foster an empathetic attitude toward animals.

Some zoos help rehabilitate wildlife and take in exotic pets that people no longer want or are no longer able to care for.

Both accredited and unaccredited animal exhibitors are regulated by the federal Animal Welfare Act, which establishes standards for animal care.

Arguments Against Zoos

From an animal rights standpoint, humans do not have a right to breed, capture, and confine other animals-even if those species are endangered. Being a member of an endangered species doesn't mean the individual animals should be afforded fewer rights.

Animals in captivity suffer from boredom, stress, and confinement. No pen-no matter how humane-or drive-through safari can compare to the freedom of the wild.

Intergenerational bonds are broken when individuals are sold or traded to other zoos.

Baby animals bring in visitors and money, but this incentive to breed new baby animals leads to overpopulation. Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos, but also to circuses and hunting facilities. Some zoos simply kill their surplus animals outright.

Some captive breeding programs do not release animals back into the wild. The offspring may be forever part of the chain of zoos, circuses, and petting zoos.

Removing individual specimens from the wild further endangers the wild population because the remaining individuals will be less genetically diverse and may have greater difficulty finding mates. Maintaining species diversity within captive breeding facilities is also a challenge.

If people want to see wild animals in real life, they can observe wildlife in the wild or visit a sanctuary. (A true sanctuary does not buy, sell, or breed animals, but instead takes in unwanted exotic pets, surplus animals from zoos, or injured wildlife that can no longer survive in the wild.)

The federal Animal Welfare Act establishes only the most minimal standards for cage size, shelter, health care, ventilation, fencing, food, and water. For example, enclosures must provide "sufficient space to allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Inadequate space may be indicated by evidence of malnutrition, poor condition, debility, stress, or abnormal behavior patterns." Violations often result in a slap on the wrist and the exhibitor is given a deadline to correct the violation. Even a long history of inadequate care and AWA violations, such as the history of Tony the Truck Stop Tiger, does not necessarily ensure abused animals will be freed.

Animals sometimes escape their enclosures, endangering themselves as well as people. Likewise, people ignore warnings or accidentally get too close to animals, leading to horrific outcomes. For example, Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla, was shot in 2016 when a toddler accidentally fell into his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. While the child survived and was not badly injured, the gorilla was killed outright.

Petting zoos have been linked with numerous incidents of diseases including E. coli infection, cryptosporidiosis, salmonellosis, and dermatomycosis (ringworm).

The Last Word on Zoos

In making a case for or against zoos, both sides argue that they're saving animals. Whether or not zoos benefit the animal community, they certainly do make money. As long as there is demand for them, zoos will continue to exist.

Since zoos are likely an inevitability, the best way to move forward is to ensure that zoo conditions are the best possible for the animals that live in captivity and that individuals who violate animal care health and safety sanctions are not only duly punished but denied any future access to animals.

One day we may look back at zoos and marvel at their barbarity. Or, one day we may look back at zoos and be grateful for the species they saved from extinction. Of these two scenarios, only time will tell.

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Are Zoos Ethical? Arguments for and Against Keeping Animals in Zoos

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Zoos, if done right, could be a good thing for the animals and the public-yet many so-called zoos get it terribly wrong.

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You may remember waiting in line at the school cafeteria for a plate of rubbery chicken nuggets or a greasy, soggy piece of pepperoni pizza. Fast forward several years, and now you may be wondering what your children are eating at school.

Well, we may have some good news. But first, let's start with the importance of school lunches and teaching children healthy eating habits, discussed by UC Davis Health pediatricians Lena Rothstein and Dean Blumberg on their podcast Kids Considered.

Children and the effects of obesity

School food should appeal to children but should also be healthy and full of nutrients. Otherwise, food that is high in fat and calories helps contribute to the obesity problem in the U.S.

The percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s. Nearly one-fifth of school-aged children have obesity.

Many factors contribute to obesity, like genetics, metabolism, physical activity and consuming more calories than is needed for growth and activity.

Children with obesity are at a higher risk for major health conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart disease and high blood pressure. They're also more likely to be bullied and teased by their peers, which can lead to social isolation, depression and lower self-esteem. In the longer term, a more obese child is more likely to be obese as an adult.

How schools feed children

Meal planning for schools is a very complicated process because menus need to cater to a wide range of tastes and restrictions, like peanut allergies. Schools also have a limited budget when it comes to feeding students.

So, that all means that school food needs to be lower cost and not require much preparation, which means foods are often higher in sugar, fat and salt.

There are more than 55 million children and teens who attend public schools in the U.S. Kids eat between 35% and 40% of their daily calories at school, which means it's important for these calories to be healthy ones.

However, one-third of these calories consumed at school are unhealthy ones.

Foods eaten at school can be separated into three main categories:

School meals likes breakfasts, lunches and after-school snacks. These are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and cost more than $13 billion each year.

Food and drinks sold in vending machines. These often have higher fat contents and more empty calories.

Outside foods brought in by students like snacks or lunches, or food brought in for birthdays, school fundraisers and sporting events.

What are the regulations on school lunches?

Let's take a look at the meals provided at schools. These programs support more than 31 million lunches and 11 million breakfasts per day for students in the U.S.

For children who suffer from food insecurity, this may be their biggest and most important meal of the day. Food insecurity is the state of being without reliable access to sufficient quantities of nutritious and affordable food. Nearly 1 in 8 Americans suffer from food insecurity, which includes at least 12 million children.

As for the school meals, they are tied to guidelines for healthy eating. Many of these meals may not contain more than 30% of total calories from fat and no more than 10% from saturated fat. The guidelines try to include more fruits, veggies and grains, while aiming for more balanced menus. They also try to reduce the overall fat content by serving more vegetable options and less beef, pork and fried foods.

The USDA says more than 90% of schools are serving meals that meet these higher nutritional standards. Children who eat meals at school have better nutrition than those that eat other meals.
Are there guidelines for vending machine drinks?

As for drinks sold in machines, current guidelines and standards say that schools should only sell plain or carbonated water, low-fat milk, fat-free unflavored or flavored (chocolate) milk or milk alternatives. They can also sell 100% fruit juice or vegetable juice with no added sugar, but as we've blogged about before, that's not always healthy either.

High schools can also sell calorie-free flavored and unflavored carbonated water or other calorie-free drinks. Portions are limited to 8 oz. in elementary schools and 12 oz. in middle schools and high schools.

Are there regulations on food brought in for parties, fundraisers, etc.?

Lastly, that third category of school food consists of those items being brought into schools. Most schools encourage healthier foods to be brought in, but this is controversial because some schools want to limit things like cupcakes and brownies altogether.

Banning sweets at school parties may seem a bit extreme, but it forces parents to think about replacing unhealthy foods with healthier ones or little gifts, like pencils. This could also include candy bars or cookies that are often sold for school fundraisers.

When a school begins to set a standard for outside food, it changes the messages they're sending and how it impacts students. It begins to create a school culture of healthy eating which can have lasting effects as children become adults.

Additional resources:

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Are school lunches really important for your kid's health?

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Two of our pediatricians discuss the importance of school lunches and teaching children healthy eating habits. You can also listen to this on their podcast Kids Considered.

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Healthy school food is not only a solution for nutrition and health concerns, but social, academic, and environmental issues as well.

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Should students be allowed to have their cell phones in middle school and high school? A 2010 Pew Research Center study found that 65 percent of cell-owning teens bring their phones to school despite any bans that may be in place. Most high schools now allow students to have cell phones but require them to be turned off during class because they can be disruptive and distracting.
More: A Complete Guide to Potentially Dangerous Apps All Parents Should Be Aware Of
Both high schools and families seem to have an ongoing struggle with youth cell phone use. The ramifications leave lasting effects and challenges. In a 2020 Pew Research Center article, it was shared that "a majority of parents in the United States (66%) - who include those who have at least one child under the age of 18, but who may also have an adult child or children - say that parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many in this group citing technology as a reason why."

Read on for the pros and cons of allowing cell phones in school to help make the right decision for your child.

The Pros

You can be in touch with your children and know their whereabouts

The 2010 Pew study noted that 48 percent of parents use the phone to monitor their child's location. The monitoring of children's locations during school hours should also be noted as a con for many families who don't like the idea of tracking their high school children with technology.

Cell phones can be used in emergencies

Your kids can reach you in the event of an emergency and vice versa. Families are living through unprecedented times, regardless of whether they attend private or public schools. This generation of children has grown up with mass shootings, and specifically school shootings, being part of the news headlines that they see every year of their lives. We are now also living through a pandemic where school districts and families have heightened anxiety and true health and safety concerns on a regular basis. Knowing that you can reach loved ones in a heartbeat thanks to mobile phones during school hours can feel more important than ever in the current climate.

Cell phones can be used when help is needed

If in danger, your children can reach the authorities or a medical provider. Parents worry about everything from bullying to random violence to car accidents when their children are not only at school, but also attending activities directly after school. School students are driving from high school to work, traveling for sports meets and competitions, and visiting friends. Although parents may not love the idea of teens having their phones at school, they may want them to have access to phones for all that happens immediately following time at school.

Knowing how to engage with cell phones appropriately is an important life skill

Mobile phones can be silenced during class or study periods, and active only in appropriate places. Expert and educator, Blaire Lent, MS.ED., MS.Sp.ED shared that knowing how to appropriately engage with cell phones is now an important life skill and learning tool:

"As the Head of School, I have felt that learning to appropriately engage with a cell phone is an important life skill. Therefore we have a policy that students will lose classroom points if they use their cellphones during lecture and note taking time, but we do NOT ban cell phones entirely. The point behind this policy was to give students an arena to practice self control regarding phone usage so that they might develop those skills before adulthood."

Cell phones provide a convenient way to stay in touch

Cell phones create a convenience that was previously unavailable. With cell phones, you can easily reach your kids for any reason: to ask them questions, change plans, or to simply say hello.

Expert Blaire Lent also explained how this aspect of cell phone use specifically benefits some students: "Allowing students to bring their phones to school has another benefit as well-- many students with acute anxiety manage this condition by frequently checking in with their caretakers about daily plans. For example, "Who is picking me up?" is the type of question a student with anxiety might text several times during the traditional school day. Not because they keep forgetting, but because repetition of the routine helps them assuage anxieties and navigate through the day."

The Cons

Cell phones cause distractions

Students often forget to turn off their phones in class, and ringing noises or text message alerts disrupt learning and school work. Even if set to silent, cell phones can still cause distraction for students and educators, since text messaging has become a high-tech method of passing notes in school. As seen in the popular 2020 Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, young people and even adults experience an addictive need to check their cell phones and notifications whenever the phone is available. This would point to the fact that even the mere presence of the cell phone can be distracting, even when the sound is turned off or if the phone is powered off altogether. The increased screen time has also been found to have harmful effects on learning and development.

Cell phones can be used for bullying and can have a negative effect on mental health

Student cell phone networks add to the spread of rumors and misinformation, which can be harmful on a daily basis. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and other popular - and potentially dangerous - social media apps can be even more of a distraction and can be used for cyberbullying. This is often cited as reasoning for instituting a cell phone ban.

According to a 2019 study, "More than 12,000 13- to 16-year-olds in England found that using social media more than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens. Other studies also have observed links between high levels of social media use and depression or anxiety symptoms." Of course, teens will have access to social media via their computers, but not having an iphone with them for the majority of the day can help to prevent more constant and consistent use of social media and can cut down on the overall amount of time spent on social media and electronic devices.

Expert Blaire Lent shared how these challenges affected her school specifically and what they tried in lieu of banning phones: "Our school recently spent a "phone-free week" in response to students' seeming inability to control phone usage even when motivated to do so. There is an inherent addictive nature to the smartphone and it seems to be more difficult for the most at-risk students to avoid the alluring beckon of a buzzing pocket. Add to this increasing levels of FOMO and the constant reinforcement of self-worth that social media can bring or take away, and schools are seeing more and more students be unable to navigate the pressures of having phones in their pockets and only using them at certain times."

Overall, families have to decide what works best for their own family. Different circumstances dictate different needs. Digital devices are not going away as far as being major influential aspects of our society. Best practices may only be able to be determined through trial and error. It's generally easier to increase usage and relax rules than to dial back extensive use which may be worth considering as you navigate the challenges associated with cell phone use in schools.

Still unsure about whether your child should have a cell phone? Check out Not Ready to Give Your Kid a Smartphone? Try a Flip Phone Instead.

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Cell Phones at School: Should They Be Allowed?

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We've created the ultimate pros and cons list to help you decide if cell phones should be allowed at school. Are cell phones good to have in the classroom?

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Cellphones in the Classroom: Should It Be Allowed? - Graduate Programs for Educators

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Is it a distraction or a learning tool? Weigh the pros and cons of allowing cellphones in the classroom.

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Standardized Tests: The Benefits and Impacts of Implementing Standardized Tests

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Learn the benefits and drawbacks of standardized testing in U.S. schools, such as how they impact student performance, curriculum, and educational equity.

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Removing summative assessments from instructional practice can make class more interesting, engaging, and stress free for students.

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Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching & Learning

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It is a common, but not universal practice to administer exams to students in class (e.g., Rovai, 2000). Traditionally, students come to class and take exams silently and independently without any resources. They have a time-limit that is usually the length of the class. The exams may be multiple-choice, matching, short answer, essay, etc., but even if there are multiple versions of the exam, all students basically do the same thing in the same way. We believe there are several compelling reasons why we may want to stop giving exams in class. We acknowledge that many instructors have valid reasons for giving exams in class (e.g., alternative assessment plans require time and effort, concerns about academic dishonesty; Cramp et al., 2019; Still & Still, 2015), and we urge instructors to use the practices that best fit their teaching philosophies and needs of their specific classes. However, we wish to address the limitations of doing so and offer five reasons to consider to stop giving exams in class. We believe these recommendations may increase the engagement of instructors and students, which may enhance the success of our teaching and learning (Saucier, 2019a; Saucier, Miller, Martens, & Jones, in press).

1. Exams in class are unduly stressful.

Exams given in class are stressful for students (e.g., Zeidner, 2010) and instructors (Madara & Namango, 2016). The instructor and/or teaching assistant proctor the exam, which includes patrolling the classroom in search of signs of students cheating. There is a time limit. Students may not be able to sit in their regular seats if more students take the exam than regularly attend class (which is particularly troubling given potential effects of environmental contexts on students' exam scores; Van Der Wege & Barry, 2008). The exams are often high stakes, making students anxious about the outcome. And, while some may argue that giving exams in class prepares students for the stress of real life (e.g., Durning et al., 2016), it does not seem like the in-class exam experience readily generalizes other contexts. In real life, we often get to look up information from outside resources and double check it before we use it. While we support challenging our students, we believe this type of stress may not be directly helpful.

2. Exams in class are not equitable.

While exams in class are generally stressful, they do not impact all students in the same way. Individuals may experience differing levels of test anxiety (Zeidner, 2010), which may be affected by their experiences of stereotype threat (e.g., Danaher & Crandall, 2008), the imposter phenomenon (e.g., Kumar & Jagacinski, 2006), and/or their general struggles with anxiety (e.g., Zunhammer et al., 2013). The added pressure of the testing situation and the potential high stakes of the exam may cause some students to systematically underperform. Further, some students may have circumstances that require testing accommodations (e.g., extended test time, distraction-free environments). It may be stigmatizing for those students to be unable to take the exam with their classmates and they may feel their absences are conspicuous (e.g., Timmerman & Mulvihill, 2015). Simply put, the ways that we traditionally administer in-class exams may not be fair for everyone.

3. Exams in class are logistically difficult to administer.

The process of administering exams in class may be unnecessarily convoluted. The physical act of passing out exams, particularly if there is more than one form of the exam, is difficult and time-consuming. If the class is large, some students may get their exams several minutes earlier than other students and thus have the advantage of having more time to take their exams. Students who come late may disturb their classmates and may not finish on time. Similarly, students who finish early may distract those who are still working. Proctoring the exam to monitor signs of academic dishonesty and to maintain exam security is a difficult and imperfect process. The subjective experience for instructors and teaching assistants who proctor the exams is aversive. Personally, we are possibly more anxious than our students when we administer exams in class, as we watch them silently and intently, and both worry about cheating and that our students will not do well.

4. Exams in class are not empathetic.

We believe that in class exams are not empathetic, student-focused, or inclusive. We have discussed areas of inequity above, but we also believe in-class exams traditionally do not provide the support or understanding of our students' potential personal and academic challenges that allow them to successfully demonstrate their learning. Additionally, in-class exams often fail to provide students with opportunities for personalization or creativity. We believe that in-class exams often do not achieve the goals set forth by inclusive teaching philosophies (Lawrie et al., 2017) and empathetic course design perspectives (Engage the Sage, 2021).

5. Exams in class are not fun.

We acknowledge some students do enjoy taking exams (admittedly, one of us loved to take exams as a student), but many do not. When our students tell us about the most meaningful things they did in our classes, they do not talk about exams (nor do we when looking back at our experiences as students). Instead, our students tell us about activities, projects, missions, creative products, and research studies. These are the fun and more meaningful ways that students demonstrate and apply their learning. We fear traditional in-class exams may take the meaning out of the wonderful things we teach and learn and our classes.

What should we do?

We have provided five reasons why we should consider not giving exams in class. For some instructors, exams may still be necessary. If so, consider redesigning the exam experience to at least partially resolve some of these issues. For instance, you could permit your students to take them when and where they want during a predetermined time span (e.g., online via your institution's learning management system). Moreover, allowing your students to use resources like their textbooks and class notes may ease test anxiety (e.g., Parsons, 2008) while helping them provide deeper answers to the questions (e.g., Green et al., 2016). This may also alleviate issues of academic honesty-it is not cheating to use these materials if you allow them to. Another option would be to have your students write and take their own exams (i.e., "Exams By You"; Saucier, Schiffer, & Jones, under review). At the very least, consider lowering the stakes of your exams so that one assessment does not have an exaggerated impact on your students' overall semester grade.

But maybe we don't need to use exams at all. We would rather infuse empathy into our classes (Engage the Sage, 2021) and bring PEACE (Preparation, Expertise, Authenticity, Caring, Engagement; Saucier, 2019b; Saucier & Jones, 2020) to our students, and perhaps we can offer professional development to our colleagues to help them do so (Saucier, Jones, Renken, & Schiffer, in press). Maybe we can focus our assessments on allowing our students to demonstrate their learning in ways that are applicable to (and fulfilling for) them. We can provide our students with the opportunity to apply the information in more sophisticated ways than mere memorization. We can empower them to demonstrate their learning through projects, papers, videos they create, podcasts they record, and other creative products. We can provide them with guidelines and rubrics to support them. From our own experience, we have been more excited to get the products of these projects than to grade monotonous exams. Everything we assign comes back to us. Let us allow our students to demonstrate their learning in ways that are less anxiety-provoking, more equitable and inclusive, less difficult to administer, more empathetic, and more fun. Using these ideas, we can make assessment more meaningful and more enjoyable for our students and for us.
Donald A. Saucier, PhD (2001, University of Vermont) is a University Distinguished Teaching Scholar and professor of psychological sciences at Kansas State University. Saucier has published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and is a fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, the Society for Experimental Social Psychology, and the Midwestern Psychological Association. His awards and honors include the University Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Teaching Resource Prize. Saucier is also the faculty associate director of the Teaching and Learning Center at Kansas State University and offers a YouTube channel called "Engage the Sage" that describes his teaching philosophy, practices, and experiences. Ashley A. Schiffer is also a doctoral student in the department of psychological sciences at Kansas State University. Her research often pertains to morality in relation to masculine honor ideology and/or military settings. She also works at Kansas State's Teaching and Learning Center with Saucier and Renken to promote teaching excellence and contribute to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Noah D. Renken is a doctoral student in the department of psychological sciences at Kansas State University. His research interests center on individual difference factors related to expressions of prejudice. Renken's recent work has examined masculine honor ideology and the manifestation of attitudes towards stigmatized events (e.g., sexual violence, trauma). Noah also works in the Teaching and Learning Center at Kansas State University, where he collaborates with Saucier on the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) projects. References
Cramp, J., Medlin, J. F., Lake, P., & Sharp, C. (2019). Lessons learned from implementing remotely invigilated online exams. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 16(1), 10.

Danaher, K., & Crandall, C. S. (2008). Stereotype threat in applied settings re-examined. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38(6), 1639-1655. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00362.x

Durning, S. J., Dong, T., Ratcliffe, T., Schuwirth, L., Artino, A. R., Boulet, J. R., & Eva, K. (2016). Comparing open-book and closed-book examinations: a systematic review. Academic Medicine, 91(4), 583-599.

Engage the Sage. (2021). Engage the sage: The empathetic course design perspective [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-79FHyNd128

Green, S. G., Ferrante, C. J., & Heppard, K. A. (2016). Using open-book exams to enhance student learning, performance, and motivation. Journal of Effective Teaching, 16(1), 19-35.

Kumar, S., & Jagacinski, C. M. (2006). Imposters have goals too: The imposter phenomenon and its relationship to achievement goal theory. Personality and Individual differences, 40(1), 147-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.05.014

Lawrie, G., Marquis, E., Fuller, E., Newman, T., Qiu, M., Nomikoudis, M., ... & Van Dam, L. (2017). Moving towards inclusive learning and teaching: A synthesis of recent literature. Teaching & learning inquiry, 5(1), 9-21.

Madara, D. S., & Namango, S. S. (2016). Faculty Perceptions on Cheating in Exams in Undergraduate Engineering. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(30), 70-86.

Parsons, D. (2008). Is there an alternative to exams? Examination stress in engineering courses. International Journal of Engineering Education, 24(6), 1111-1118.

Rovai, A. P. (2000). Online and traditional assessments: what is the difference?. The Internet and higher education, 3(3), 141-151.

Saucier, D. A. (2019a). "Having the time of my life": The trickle-down model of self and student engagement. ACUECommunity. https://community.acue.org/blog/having-the-time-of-my-life-the-trickle-down-model-of-self-and-student-engagement/

Saucier, D. A. (2019b). Bringing PEACE to the classroom. Faculty Focus: Effective Teaching Strategies, Philosophy of Teaching. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/bringing-peace-to-the-classroom/

Saucier, D. A., & Jones, T. L. (2020). Leading our classes through times of crisis with engagement and PEACE. Faculty Focus: Online Education, Philosophy of Teaching. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/leading-our-classes-through-times-of-crisis-with-engagement-and-peace/

Saucier, D. A., Jones, T. L., Renken, N. D., & Schiffer, A. A. (in press). Professional development of faculty and graduate students in teaching. Journal on Centers for Teaching and Learning.

Saucier, D. A., Miller, S. S., Martens, A. L., & Jones, T. L. (in press). Trickle down engagement: Effects of perceived teacher and student engagement on learning outcomes. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

Saucier, D. A., Schiffer, A. A., & Jones, T. L. (under review). "Exams By You": Having students write and complete their own exams during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teaching of Psychology.

Still, M. L., & Still, J. D. (2015). Contrasting traditional in-class exams with frequent online testing. Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology, 4(2), 30.

Timmerman, L. C., & Mulvihill, T. M. (2015). Accommodations in the college setting: The perspectives of students living with disabilities. Qualitative Report, 20(10).

Van Der Wege, M., & Barry, L. A. (2008). Potential perils of changing environmental context on examination scores. College Teaching, 56(3), 173-176.

Zeidner, M. (2010). Test anxiety. The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470479216.corpsy0984

Zunhammer, M., Eberle, H., Eichhammer, P., & Busch, V. (2013). Somatic symptoms evoked by exam stress in university students: the role of alexithymia, neuroticism, anxiety and depression. PloS one, 8(12), e84911. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084911

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Donald A. Saucier, PhD, Noah D. Renken, and Ashley A. Schiffer

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Five Reasons to Stop Giving Exams in Class

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We wish to address the limitations of giving exams and offer five reasons to consider to stop giving exams in class.

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If you didn't answer "all of the above," then: A. You haven't been paying attention, or B. You work for a testing software company.

develop a thorough analysis in an essay; conduct a laboratory investigation; curate a portfolio of student work; or complete an original research paper.

PBA allows students to demonstrate knowledge and skill through critical-thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and the application of knowledge to real-world situations. In other words, it helps students prepare for college, career, and life.

And when they share with the class, that helps reinforces everyone's learning, she explains. None of this is possible in an individual test.

PBA also removes bias and creates more equity. For example, Holland recalls a state standardized test question about decomposition for eighth-grade science: "The question asked about grass clippings after mowing the lawn, and students got hung up on 'grass clippings,'" she says. "Some had no idea what they were because they either lived in apartments and had no lawns, or they had lawns but didn't mow them because they had landscapers."

Stronger Relationships with Students

"Students always say that working together was the best part," he says. That's the best part for the teachers, too, because it helps them build stronger relationships with students.

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Standardized Testing is Still Failing Students | NEA

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Educators have long known that standardized tests are an inaccurate and unfair measure of student progress. There's a better way to assess students.

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Happy, an Asian elephant, lives at the Bronx Zoo, in New York City. But the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) says the zoo doesn't provide the space and socialization that Happy needs. The NhRP is taking the Bronx Zoo to court. Its case will be heard in 2022.

The case has restarted conversations about whether or not zoos should still exist. Some say zoos save species from extinction and teach people about conservation. Others argue that living in captivity is bad for an animal's mental and physical health. Here, TIME for Kids readers weigh in.

KELLI NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Grace Hipp, 8 Nashville, Tennessee
Many animal species are saved from extinction thanks to zoos. This past summer, I saw the California condor at the San Diego Zoo and learned about the breeding program there. Several decades ago, these vultures were almost wiped out in the wild. But the zoo has taken some of them in and helped them breed. Now there are many more California condors.

COURTESY WINKI WARRENSON
Yanni Warrenson, 12 San Francisco, California
We should not have zoos. In zoos, animals might not be given proper living conditions. They might also be mistreated for entertainment purposes. Animals can feel stressed by cage restraint, an unfamiliar environment, and the presence of humans. A 2003 study of 35 species of carnivores found that zoo enclosures were too small for some of the animals to carry out their normal routines.

LIFETOUCH PHOTOGRAPHY
Shane Madrak, 10 Foster City, California
We should still have zoos for a few reasons. Zoos provide animals with food and a habitat that is made to resemble their natural habitat. Zoos also breed animals to increase their population. And most zoos have educational programs that help children learn about different animals and conservation efforts.

COURTESY ANNSLEY SLAWSKY
Susie Slawsky, 9 Pelham, New York
Animals are kept away from their homes, where they have lots of space to roam, and put in fenced areas or cages. If it's a crowded day at the zoo, some animals might get overwhelmed. When they're in zoos, they can also lose their natural instincts. If they were released into the wild, they wouldn't know how to survive. An animal's health is more important than our entertainment.

The Next Debate! Should the government set screen-time limits? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com by January 6, 2021 for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue.

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Happy, an Asian elephant, lives at the Bronx Zoo, in New York City. But the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) says the zoo doesn't provide the space and socialization that Happy needs. The NhRP is taking the Bronx Zoo to court....

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Should We Keep Animals In Zoos? – KidzNet

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Artificial intelligence is part of our everyday lives. It makes our smart devices work, and you may already be using an AI program in school. But advanced chatbots, like ChatGPT, are new. They are called generative AI. Ask a chatbot…

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GUEST POST: The Benefits and Risks of ChatGPT for Education — The Learning Scientists

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Rapid technological advancement in the 21st century has influenced many sectors, including education. With over 100 million users, the new Artificial Intelligence tool ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) has gained significant popularity among students, teachers and researchers sin

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Juni Learning | Personalized learning for every student

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There are many debatable subjects when it comes to education. Yet, one of the most controversial is whether shorter school days benefit kids. Why should school be shorter? How can it influence academic results? What are the downsides in the long run? These are only a few questions that arise when discussing the shortened day at school.

Still, the truth is that we have many more answers than we might think. There is extensive research on a subject done globally. So, do shorter school days affect students' performance negatively? Today, we'll summarize the available data to give a complete perspective on how fewer school hours can influence kids, parents, and teachers.

##How Do Shorter School Days Influence Academic Results Globally?

According to the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE), kids in the US, on average, spend 180 days at school per year for around 6.8 hours daily. It is somewhat of a middle ground between most other developed countries.

Source: NCEE

Estonia, for example, has shorter school days. Estonian students spend 6 school hours daily for around 175 days a year. In contrast, South Korea has the opposite situation where kids have 220 school days for 8 hours every day.

Source: NCEE

Yet, we can only see the effectiveness of any approach when comparing the academic results and the school hours. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has a program called PISA that assesses 15-year-old students' knowledge and skills globally. You can check the full research, but we've selected some countries in the table below to make it more digestible. It is the latest available study released in 2019. OECD performs this assessment every 3 years, but the organization postponed its 2021 and 2024 research because of the pandemic.

Note: For the sake of clarity, we excluded the results for mainland China as the study only evaluates four regions (Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang). And even the paper's authors say that "these four provinces in eastern China are far from representing China as a whole."

Data source: PISA Insights and Interpretations

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Why Should School Days Be Shorter?

To understand why school should be shorter or not, let's analyze the data we've seen. Singapore is one of the most representative examples. Based on the PISA assessment, it is an undeniable leader in academic performance. Does this mean that kids there spend a larger amount of time at school? Not at all. Singapore has shorter school days (5.5 hours/day) than most countries, including the US (6.8 hours/day). Still, the number of days students study is slightly higher than in American schools - 193 days compared to 180 days in the US.

This example shows us that shorter days in terms of daily school hours positively affect the students' performance. Yet, fewer days spent at school yearly don't seem to have a similar impact. And this trend extends to other countries as well. Finland, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand prioritize shorter school days. Why does it happen?

Study Time vs. Students' Performance

A part of the answer to why school should be shorter lies in the students' attention span. It is much lower than many might think. In fact, phycologists believe that first graders can focus on one task without distraction for no more than 5-7 minutes. Even the 'ideal' attention span for kids this age is 15-18 minutes at most.

Another element we have to consider is how effective full-time studying is. Does the number of school hours play a big role in students' performance? It turns out that time matters only until a certain point. In fact, scientists discovered that when children study one subject for more than 10 hours a week, there is no significant difference in kids' academic results compared to 5-10 hours of study time. So, more isn't always better.

Besides, we shouldn't forget the importance of motivating children to learn and discover new things. Being overwhelmed by a full day of school might leave students tired and indifferent, affecting their academic results in the long run.

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Pros & Cons of Shortened Days at School

Shorter school days don't only influence kids. In one way or another, they also impact parents and teachers. That's why let's dive deeper into the pros and cons of shorter days at school from every angle.

Benefits of Shorter School Days

There are many reasons why school time should be shorter, including the following advantages:

More time for extracurricular activities. School subjects are essential. Still, discovering new hobbies has numerous benefits for the kids. Everything from sports and music to learning coding allows children to get new skills, meet friends, and enrich their personalities.

Better concentration. Shorter days give students an opportunity to concentrate better, as human attention span is limited.

More hours of sleep and reduced stress. When kids have spare time, they can use it to get more rest, which is crucial for brain development.

Lower costs. The larger the amount of time students spend at school, the more financing it requires to cover teachers' salaries and infrastructure maintenance.

More preparation time for teachers. Longer school days put more pressure on teachers, leaving them less time to plan engaging lessons and restore their energy. That's why shorter school days allow them to create a more positive environment for kids to study.

Opportunities for additional academic classes. Many kids either want to learn other subjects or need extra tutoring for schoolwork. More free time after lessons helps children to pursue this intention.

Downsides of Shorter School Days

On the other hand, there are several drawbacks to shortened days at school, such as:

Less guided practice. One of the biggest advantages of offline full-time learning is that kids get more instructional time from teachers whenever they need it. This allows them to avoid unnecessary mistakes and learn faster. Yet, shorter school days might result in a smaller amount of time teachers can spend with every kid.

More pressure on parents. If children have shorter school days, parents have to come up with other activities for their free time. When both of them work, they have to arrange after-school activities or childcare. This requires an additional budget, which creates more financial burdens for families.

Less teacher-student interactions. Creating a productive and trusting environment takes time. That's why shortened days might not be sufficient to develop and foster respectful relationships between kids and their teachers.

Less time to build strong friendships. The same issue might happen with school friends. A full day of school can give more opportunities for children to bond with their classmates.

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Shorter school days have their pros and cons. Can the benefits outweigh the downsides? Learn how shortened days impact students, parents and teachers.

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Although many people think longer school days would increase academic success, students would benefit more from spending less time in school. Many argue that a longer school day would be beneficial because school hours could match parents’ work schedules. It would provide for additional instructional time so students could also learn nonacademic skills during the…

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Learn the benefits and drawbacks of longer school days—and how you can learn more about education with an MSEd degree.

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Fur Clothing Bans | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, & Animal Rights | Britannica

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Should fur clothing be banned? Learn the pros and cons of the debate.

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The use of cellphones in schools is a hot topic. While cellphones offer many benefits, they also bring challenges. Schools… Continue reading The debate over cellphone use in schools: pros and cons

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Standardized testing has ignited a national debate in the last few years (or decades), and many parents feel understandably concerned about their children being judged on the basis of tests that, in some cases, don't seem to reliably correlate with actual learning or with successful college and career outcomes.

In the United States, both public and private schools use standardized assessments each school year. In public schools, students must undergo many tests to ensure they are meeting state or federal standards. Private schools have more leeway, although at Whitby we do require our students from Grade 2 on to complete the Comprehensive Testing Program from the Educational Records Bureau and the International Schools Assessment from the Australian Council for Educational Research.

At Whitby, we believe that standardized testing can benefit students-as long as it's looked at in the right light. Below we'll discuss some of the benefits of standardized assessments, as well as some of the ways standardised assessments can be negative for students.

The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

Pro # 1. Standardized testing is a metric for learning

When Whitby students are assessed through standardized testing, we gain a valuable metric we can use to check the quality of our curriculum. With exams created and given by an independent organization, standardized test scores are useful because they come from a neutral source and give us data that we can compare to other independent schools across the United States and with other international schools across the globe.

Pro # 2. Standardized testing helps pinpoint areas for improvement

When we receive standardized test data at Whitby, we use it to evaluate the effectiveness of our education program. We view standardized testing data as not only another set of data points to assess student performance , but also as a means to help us reflect on our curriculum. When we look at Whitby's assessment data, we can compare our students to their peers at other schools to determine what we're doing well within our educational continuum and where we need to invest more time and resources.

Pro # 3. Standardized tests can help schools evaluate progress

Assessment data is also useful for year-over-year internal comparisons. We compare data over a number of years to find trends-and then trace any changes back to their source. If the math scores of our fourth grade students suddenly jump, we want to identify what change led to the improved performance, and how we can continue to implement this within our curriculum. We're also able to use a student's historical assessment data to monitor their progress and uncover any challenges they may need to overcome (as well as identifying places where they have already improved and excelled.)
Now let's take a look at what we view as the most concerning aspects of standardized assessment:
Con #1. Test scores can impact confidence

A big disadvantage of standardized testing is that it's easy to interpret a student's score as the sole judgement of that student's ability. We're constantly emphasizing at Whitby that the number is only one point of data within an array of internal assessments across many subject areas that provide us with information on a student's learning progress. There are many cases where students have demonstrated clear understanding within a subject or concept through various assessments, but aren't as skilled at taking multiple choice tests. Nevertheless, it can be hard on a student if they feel that they didn't perform as well as they'd like. In worst case scenarios, instead of determining the entire picture of learning through a review of all assessment data with their teachers, a student might determine their success based on a standardized test score that is taken once a year..

Con #2. There's pressure to "teach to the test"

When standardized exams become all important in a school or district, it has a massive impact on teaching and learning. Educators frequently start "teaching to the test" if they feel that their evaluations (and jobs) solely depend on how well students perform. Educators may also stop trying new techniques and teaching methods in the classroom. With every minute counting on the way to their students' next exam, teachers will worry that an untested method will backfire and their students will score worse than before. This comes at the cost of inquiry, engagement, creativity and risk taking in student learning.

Con #3. Scores don't provide a true picture of a student's ability

Far too many people wrongly assume that standardized testing data provides a neutral authoritative assessment of a child's intellectual ability. Cultural factors, unfamiliarity with testing methods, test anxiety, and illness can wreak havoc with how well a student performs. For that reason, it's important to dig deeper when looking at a student's test scores. Does a low score indicate a lack of knowledge about the subject or a problem with taking the standardized test? For example, an excellent writer could struggle with picking out the right answer in a multiple choice grammar and punctuation test. Yet that same student could excel at composing well-thought out, logical essays about the literature they read and enjoyed in class.

It's also easy to assume that students who score high in math are good at processing information and reasoning abstractly, but that's not always the case. In fact, researchers have found that high standardized scores have little correlation with memory, attention and processing speed. High test scores could simply mean a student excels at rote memorization and multiple choice test taking.

Our Final Assessment

Standardized testing is truthfully a very difficult issue, because we do need internal and external assessments to measure student success. Assessments are useful when they're used as data to help schools improve the quality of the teaching and learning. They become harmful, however, when tests are used to judge students' natural abilities and when educators are put under pressure to "teach to the test." Schools and parents should always look at standardized tests not as a value judgement on the student, but as an additional data point that can provide some perspective on student learning.

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The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

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Standardized testing has ignited a national debate in the last few years (or decades), and many parents feel understandably concerned about their children being judged on the basis of tests that, in some cases, don't seem to reliably correlate with actual learning or with successful college and career outcomes.

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I'll start by saying that personally I'm fundamentally against zoos but I do understand some of the arguments why they should exist. My main reason for being against zoos is because I don't agree with caging animals for our entertainment.

I've disliked zoos since I was a small child. The memory of a polar bear pacing back and forth in a very small enclosure in a Yorkshire zoo has stuck with me. Many zoos now provide more space for their wild animals but it could hardly be described as equivalent to what they have in the wild. Keeping animals in climates that are not suited to them seems even more cruel.

Why Zoos Should Exist

Bearing all of the above in mind, some zoos do actually carry out important conservation work. The arguments for zoos are many and varied...

The arguments for zoos

Zoos can help to save endangered species by keeping them in a 'safe' environment. Safe as in protected from poachers, predators, habitat loss and even starvation.

If a zoo has a breeding programme, this is another way to protect endangered species which may have trouble finding suitable mates in the wild.

Zoos have an educational aspect. It's easier to learn about an animal by seeing them in person.

Fostering empathy... By seeing an animal up close, the public might be encouraged to be more empathetic to a species that is facing extinction in the wild. They might put 2 and 2 together and realise the orangutan they saw is in jeopardy due to the products they buy (read about Palm Oil here).

Good zoos have high standards of welfare for their animals. Visiting an accredited zoo is better than visiting one which isn't. For example, BIAZA 'members are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of animal care, conserving the natural world through research and conservation, and educating and inspiring their visitors.'

A few zoos take in abandoned exotic pets and rehabilitate wildlife.

Zoos are a traditional family activity.

What is BIAZA?

" BIAZA is the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums; the professional body representing the best zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland. We have over 100 zoo and aquarium members who pride themselves on their excellent animal welfare, education and conservation work."

"BIAZA contributes approximately £24 million to conservation projects a year."

Why Zoos Shouldn't Exist

Just like there are quite a few arguments for the existence of zoos, whether you agree with them or not, there are also a lot, if not many more, arguments against zoos.

The arguments against zoos

Like the polar bear that's haunted me for over 35 years, animals in captivity often suffer from boredom and stress. Captivity can in no way compare to being free in the wild.

What gives humans the right to capture, confine or breed other species? If an animal is endangered does that justify us removing its freedom?

Most captive breeding programmes don't release animals into the wild. More often than not they become part of a never-ending chain of zoos, safari parks, circuses, canned hunting facilities and even the exotic pet trade. There are more tigers in American backyards than there are in the wild!

Baby animals bring the visitors in in droves, but this often leads to zoos having too many animals. Surplus animals can be sold onto other zoos (or safari parks, circuses etc) but many are just killed. You might remember back in 2014 when the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark killed Marius the giraffe. 'Young giraffe unsuitable for breeding was shot, dissected in public and then fed to lions despite offers of a new home.' The Guardian

Bonds between animals are broken when they are sold to alternative facilities which exploit animals, causing further stress to them.

The wild populations of different endangered species may become less genetically diverse due to the removal of individuals from the wild, causing them to become even more endangered.

If you want to see wild animals behaving normally they should be seen in the wild. Watching a dolphin performing tricks at Sea World in no way compares to a dolphin naturally jumping out of the water in the ocean.

If you can't afford to see animals in their natural habitat visit a wildlife sanctuary that does not buy, sell or breed animals. Sanctuaries take in injured wildlife, unwanted exotic pets or surplus animals from zoos.

Wildlife encounters at zoos might be an unforgettable experience for children or adults but they are stressful and can be harmful to the animals.

Zoo animals can escape. Not only is this dangerous for people and native wildlife, but the animals are often killed rather than tranquilised.

Zoo visitors often don't act responsibly and put the animals lives in danger due to their stupidity or lack of care. When a toddler fell into an enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo in 2016 there was a worldwide outcry that Harambe, the gorilla whose enclosure the toddler fell into, was shot and killed.

The Difference Between Zoos, Safari Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

What is a Zoo? "an area in which animals, especially wild animals, are kept so that people can go and look at them or study them"

What is a Safari Park? "a large park where wild animals are kept and can move freely, and can be watched by visitors driving through in their cars"

What is a Wildlife Sanctuary? "a place where birds or animals can live and be protected, especially from being hunted or dangerous conditions"
Definitions from the Cambridge English Dictionary
The "Conservation Con"

One of the arguments for zoos is that they help to conserve species which may otherwise go extinct. Others argue that this is the 'conservation con', which is explained by freedomforanimals.org.uk

"Zoos in the UK hold tens of thousands of animals captive. One of the main ways they justify this captivity is to say that they need to protect animals who are endangered in the wild. (...)

By focusing on zoos in Wales, we carried out research which unearthed that just 9% of animals held captive are endangered and 17% are threatened in the wild. This means the vast majority of animals kept in zoos are not threatened in the wild, so why are they held captive?"

They go on to say...

"Whilst we do not believe keeping endangered species in zoos actually contributes to conservation, we really would expect zoos that claim to focus on this issue to not be holding so many animals captive who are not of conservation concern. It is time zoos were honest with the public and stopped using conservation claims as a veil for animal exploitation."

Peta also weighs in on the issue of the conservation con...

"Most animals confined in zoos are not endangered, nor are they being prepared for release into natural habitats. In fact, it is nearly impossible to release captive-bred animals, including threatened species like elephants, polar bears, gorillas, tigers and chimpanzees into the wild. Zoos aren't breeding animals with the intent of replenishing threatened populations: Babies bring visitors through the gates, and captive breeding gives the public a false sense of security about a species' survival. But that belief undermines support for and diverts resources from in-situ conservation efforts."

'Conservation' is frequently used in defence of trophy hunting as well.

So, Should Zoos Still Exist?

I don't think that zoos should need to exist. For those that do actually rehabilitate wildlife and protect endangered species I think there is an argument for them in todays world. However it would be far better if they were to become wildlife sanctuaries and they stopped buying and selling animals. What we should be doing is protecting the habitats of wild animals and ensuring their survival in the wild. Until people around the world care more about life than money I'm afraid there's little chance of certain species surviving without a helping hand from zoos.

That's not to say that I think all existing zoos should still exist or that most of them are adequate. I believe there are many zoos that should be shut down immediately. As far as I'm concerned the majority of 'good zoos' still need to make massive improvements to their facilities. In my opinion, a zoos major function should not be to make money for its owner. The profits from ticket prices should go toward increasing animal welfare standards and increasing enclosure sizes. Most importantly the money should go toward protecting the natural habitats of wild animals.

I hope that in the not too distant future we see the end of zoos. Sadly I don't feel like it'll happen in my lifetime... We have too many people in power around the world for whom animal welfare and conservation is of little concern.

Even some wildlife charities are not what they seem.

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Should Zoos Still Exist or Not? The Arguments For & Against Zoos

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I'll start by saying that personally I'm fundamentally against zoos but I do understand some of the arguments why they should exist. My main reason for being against zoos is because I don't agree with caging animals for our entertainment. I've disliked zoos since I was a small child.

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More than at other meals, kids have a lot of control over what they eat for lunch at school. A kid can choose to eat the green beans or throw them out. A kid also can choose to eat an apple instead of an ice cream sandwich.

When choosing what to eat for lunch, making a healthy choice is really important. Here's why: Eating a variety of healthy foods gives you energy to do stuff, helps you grow the way you should, and can even keep you from getting sick.

Think of your school lunch as the fuel you put in your tank. If you choose the wrong kind of fuel, you might run out of energy before the day is over.

So what is the right kind of fuel? What does a healthy lunch look like? Unlike that killer question on your math test, there are many right answers to these questions.

To Buy or Not to Buy

Most kids have the choice of packing lunch or buying one at school. The good news is that a kid can get a healthy lunch by doing either one. Read the cafeteria menu the night before. Knowing what's for lunch will let you know if you want to eat it! Bring home a copy of the menu or look for it on the school website.

A packed lunch isn't automatically healthier than one you buy at school. If you pack chocolate cake and potato chips, that's not a nutritious meal! But a packed lunch, if you do it right, does have a clear advantage. When you pack your lunch, you can be sure it includes your favorite healthy foods - stuff you know you like. It's not a one-size-fits-all lunch. It's a lunch just for you. If your favorite sandwich is peanut butter and banana, just make it and pack it - then you can eat it for lunch. Or maybe you love olives. Go ahead and pack them!

If you want to pack your lunch, you'll need some help from your parents. Talk to them about what you like to eat in your lunch so they can stock up on those foods. Parents might offer to pack your lunch for you. This is nice of them, but you may want to watch how they do it and ask if you can start making your lunches yourself. It's a way to show that you're growing up.

10 Steps to a Great Lunch

Whether you pack or buy your lunch, follow these guidelines:

1. Choose fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are like hitting the jackpot when it comes to nutrition. They make your plate more colorful and they're packed with vitamins and fiber. It's a good idea to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, so try to fit in one or two at lunch. A serving isn't a lot. A serving of carrots is ½ cup or about 6 baby carrots. A fruit serving could be one medium orange.

2. Know the facts about fat. Kids need some fat in their diets to stay healthy - it also helps keep you feeling full - but you don't want to eat too much of it. Fat is found in butter, oils, cheese, nuts, and meats. Some higher-fat lunch foods include french fries, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese, and chicken nuggets. Don't worry if you like these foods! No food is bad, but you may want to eat them less often and in smaller portions. Foods that are lower in fat are usually baked or grilled. Some of the best low-fat foods are fruits, vegetables, and skim and low-fat milk.

3. Go for whole grains. "Grains" include breads, cereals, rice, and pasta. But as we learn more about good nutrition, it's clear that whole grains are better than refined grains. What's the difference? Brown rice is a whole grain, but white rice is not. Whole-wheat bread contains whole grains, but regular white bread does not.

4. Sip sensibly. It's not just about what you eat - drinks count too! Milk has been a favorite lunchtime drink for a long time. If you don't like milk, choose water. Avoid juice drinks and sodas.

5. Balance your lunch. When people talk about balanced meals, they mean meals that include a mix of food groups: some grains, some fruits, some vegetables, some meat or protein foods, and some dairy foods such as milk and cheese. Try to do this with your lunch. If you don't have a variety of foods on your plate, it's probably not balanced. A double order of french fries, for example, would not make for a balanced lunch.

6. Skip packaged snacks. Many schools make salty snacks, candy, and soda available in the cafeteria or in vending machines. It's OK to have these foods once in a while, but they shouldn't be on your lunch menu.

7. Mix it up. Do you eat the same lunch every day? If that lunch is a hot dog, it's time to change your routine. Keep your taste buds from getting bored and try something new. Eating lots of different kinds of food gives your body a variety of nutrients.

8. Quit the clean plate club. Because lunch can be a busy time, you might not stop to think whether you're getting full. Try to listen to what your body is telling you. If you feel full, it's OK to stop eating.

9. Use your manners. Cafeterias sometimes look like feeding time at the zoo. Don't be an animal! Follow those simple rules your parents are always reminding you about: Chew with your mouth closed. Don't talk and eat at the same time. Use your utensils. Put your napkin on your lap. Be polite. And don't make fun of what someone else is eating.

10. Don't drink milk and laugh at the same time! Whatever you do at lunch, don't tell your friends a funny joke when they're drinking milk. Before you know it, they'll be laughing and that milk will be coming out their noses! Gross!

Date reviewed: November 2021

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Lunch is a great part of the school day. Find out why what you eat can rev you up - or slow you down - for the afternoon ahead.

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There are already bans on farming fur across Slovakia, Serbia, Luxembourg, Norway, Croatia, Czech Republic, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Belgium, and the UK to name a few. There are bans on the sale of new fur over California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, São Paulo, and the City of Sydney.

If you live in Australia, you can join our campaign to ban fur here.

No matter where you live, you can get involved in grass-roots campaigns working towards brand commitments to go fur-free.

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10 reasons to help ban fur - Collective Fashion Justice

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Right now, around the world, there are calls to ban the sale of fur, and the farming of fur. Here are 10 reasons to support the efforts to move past farming and trapping animals for the sake of fashion...

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Recent proposals by Los Angeles, San Francisco, and now New York city councilors to ban fur sales should not only worry furriers who risk losing their jobs and businesses. These proposals should be a matter of grave concern to anyone who values living in a free, fair and tolerant society.

There are so many things wrong about the proposed bans on fur sales that it is hard to know where to begin, but let's look at six of the most important problems:

SEE ALSO: New York fur ban: Furriers fight to save sustainable industry.

1. These proposals to ban fur sales are a flagrant example of arbitrary government infringement on fundamental human rights. No one is forced to wear fur, and animal activists are free to campaign against the fur trade, but this does not give them the right to impose their personal beliefs on others. After decades of anti-fur campaigning, many people still clearly want to buy fur. The activist response is to seek legislation that would take away our right to choose for ourselves. This should have alarm bells ringing on all sides of the political spectrum!

2. It is illogical and discriminatory to consider banning fur sales when 95% of Americans eat meat and wear leather. Of course, PETA and other "animal rights" groups that are lobbying to ban fur sales are equally opposed to any use of animals, even for food. But most North Americans do not accept this extreme view; most of us believe that humans do have a right to use animals for food, clothing and other purposes, so long as these animals are treated responsibly. There is no justification for banning fur sales while hundreds of millions of cows, pigs and sheep, and several billion chickens, are killed each year for food in North America. Even philosopher Peter Singer stated in his landmark Animal Liberation - the book that launched the animal-rights movement - that it is completely hypocritical to campaign against the fur trade while most Americans continue to eat meat, eggs, fish and dairy.

3. As a society we do, of course, sometimes restrict personal choice, but only for very important reasons. To ensure that animals will be there for us in the future, for example, we ban trade in endangered species. But endangered species are never used in the fur trade; all the furs we use today are raised on farms or culled from abundant wildlife populations. This is assured by state, national and international regulations. Animal welfare must also be respected - and decades of scientific research and government regulations ensure that fur today is produced responsibly and humanely. Trapping in North America is regulated by state (in Canada, provincial) wildlife authorities, in accordance with ISO standards and the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards. Fur farms are being inspected and certified to ensure compliance with codes of practice developed by veterinarians and animal scientists. There is simply no credible evidence that fur animals are treated less respectfully than other animals we use for food or clothing.

4. Wildlife populations often must be culled to protect property and human (and animal) health, whether or not we use their fur. Overpopulated beavers flood homes, farms and roads; raccoons and foxes spread rabies and other diseases; coyotes are the main predators of lambs and calves - and now attack pets and even people in urban areas; predators must also be managed to protect sea turtle eggs and other endangered species; and the list goes on. But if we must cull some of these animals, surely it's more ethical to use the fur than to throw it away.

5. The fur trade supports livelihoods and cultures, especially in rural and remote regions where alternate employment may be hard to find. We all care about nature, but most of us now live in cities; indigenous and other trappers are our eyes and ears on the land, the people who monitor wildlife on a daily basis and can sound the alarm when nature is threatened. Fur farms provide employment in regions where the soil is too poor for other agriculture, helping to support rural communities. Fur artisans maintain handicraft skills that have been passed down from generation to generation. In this age of mass-production, each fur garment and accessory is still made individually, by hand. The fur trade maintains a range of remarkable skills and knowledge, a part of our human heritage that should be respected and encouraged, not persecuted with bans based on hateful and misleading propaganda.

6. Finally - and certainly not least - fur apparel is a long-lasting, natural material that is recyclable and completely biodegradable. After many decades of use, your fur can be thrown into the garden compost where it returns to the Earth. By contrast, most clothing today is made from petroleum-based synthetics that do not biodegrade. Instead, these synthetics leach thousands of plastic micro-particles into our waterways every time they are washed - plastic that is now being found in oysters and other marine life. It is bizarre at a time when we are trying to reduce our use of plastic - for example, by banning the use of plastic bags and water bottles - that some cities would even consider banning a long-lasting, recyclable and biodegradable natural material like fur!

SEE ALSO: Fur bans: Society has much more to lose than fashion.

As this quick review shows, recent proposals to ban fur sales are anything but "progressive". They would unjustifiably usurp our right to use a sustainably produced, natural and biodegradable clothing material. They are arbitrary and discriminatory, especially in a society where most people eat meat and wear leather. They are completely unjustified because the modern fur trade is extremely well-regulated to ensure environmental sustainability and the responsible treatment of animals. And they would unfairly attack the livelihoods and cultures of thousands of people who maintain heritage craft skills and a close relationship with the land.

Again: no one is forced to wear fur. But everyone should be concerned about these misguided proposals to take away our right to make up our own minds about very personal and complex ethical choices.

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What you can do to help! Make your voice heard at: www.ShoppersRights.org

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Alan Herscovici, Senior Researcher, Truth About Fur

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6 Reasons Why Banning Fur Sales Is a Very Bad Idea

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Recent proposals by Los Angeles, San Francisco, and now New York city councilors to ban fur sales should not only worry furriers who risk losing their jobs.

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The problem with plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids

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Learn all about plastic pollution. How much plastic is in the ocean? Why is plastic pollution dangerous? What can we do to reduce it?

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Should Cell Phones be Allowed in School? (Pros and Cons)

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Should Cell Phones be Allowed in School? (Pros and Cons) |

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Virginia Reischl knows some teachers may feel uneasy about the rise of ChatGPT and other super-advanced chatbots. That's understandable.

The technology, which uses massive amounts of data to generate human-like responses to text prompts, is capable of writing an original five-paragraph essay on the Industrial Revolution or a research paper on the history of video games - with references - in mere seconds. And that's just scratching the digital surface.

Much has already been said and written about the concerns over academic honesty. But Reischl, who serves as a humanities coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education, says there's an academic upside to the new wave of artificial intelligence-powered text generators. She believes ChatGPT and similar products can be leveraged by schools to enhance teaching and learning - and they could even make life a little easier for educators.

In the fall, Reischl plans to present a workshop series that will dive into the pros and cons of conversational language models and what they mean for the future of education. In the meantime, we sat down with Reischl to get a few human-generated answers to our questions.

For the uninitiated, what is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a Large Language Model, or LLM, that's been trained to learn human language patterns and generate text based on given prompts. LLMs have been around since 2018 and are trained for specific industries and purposes.

GPT stands for generative pre-trained transformer, which means that it "learns" every time we use it. We train it every time we give it a prompt and have a conversation.

The downside is that the quality and accuracy of their responses can vary, and they have been known to produce biased and stereotyped responses because they learn from the biases and stereotypes present in the training data. MIT is currently researching ways to train logic into LLMs to neutralize these biases and stereotypes.

What drove your interest and research into this subject?

As an educator and a classroom teacher for 19 years with a background in teaching English and writing, I've always been interested in finding new ways to help students craft their message and communicate effectively. When I first heard about ChatGPT in November 2022, I was fascinated by the idea of an artificial intelligence that could generate human-like responses to text prompts.

As a lifelong learner, I dove into researching ChatGPT and became a huge fan of this tool as a potential collaborator in writing. It's important to remember to put humanity into technology, and with ChatGPT, we can leverage its capabilities while still adding our own voice and creativity. As an educator and writer, I'm excited to explore the possibilities that this technology can offer.

Given the potential for academic dishonesty, how much anxiety is there out in the educational community right now?

That really depends on the teacher's level of comfort with technology. Some are very comfortable with it and teach students how to use it, while others are more anxious and concerned about cheating. That's the highest anxiety, the cheating aspect. The idea that students can turn in essays written with the tool and teachers won't know if they've cheated or not.

What advice do you have for teachers or administrators who are skeptical or even fearful?

I would tell them that they don't need to be experts and know everything about it. If they feel that it's just one more thing they have to learn, and they don't have time to teach their students about it, I would recommend they lean on their colleagues who understand and are excited about it. They could ask them questions and collaborate without feeling completely shut off by the technology. My recommendation is to be open-minded.

How are ChatGPT and similar tools already being used to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom?

Some elementary school teachers have found that ChatGPT can help students with their writing. For instance, if a student is tasked with researching the California Gold Rush, they can simply type into ChatGPT, "Outline a paper on the California Gold Rush." The tool generates a list of topics and an outline that the student can then use to organize their thoughts and write their paper. This eliminates the fear of not knowing where to start or how to narrow down their topic, which has traditionally caused anxiety for students.

Another example is AP literature teachers using it as a way for students to analyze the author's craft and grammar, which then influences their own writing. I've also heard of teachers using it for language acquisition and to help students with starting points, outlines and summarizing passages.

Many have embraced this technology, but are you sympathetic to the concerns of those who worry about its impact on independent student thought?

Yes, I empathize with those concerns 100 percent. With everything we do, it's important to maintain our humanity, our own voices, and our own open hearts and minds. We need to make sure that we center our humanity first, regardless of the technology we use, and then expand it through technological means.

How can educators prevent cheating with these kinds of emerging technologies?

So, in terms of ensuring that technology like ChatGPT isn't used for cheating, it's important for educators to focus on addressing the root cause of cheating rather than just trying to shut down the technology. We need to look at why students feel the need to cheat in the first place and find ways to address those issues.

In terms of assessment, teachers have always used a variety of methods to demonstrate learning, such as presentations, plays, poems, projects and project-based learning. The essay is just one piece of that puzzle. As we move further into the 21st century, educators are increasingly focusing on developing skills like collaboration and varied communication methods, rather than relying solely on the traditional five-paragraph essay. So, it's really about creating a diverse range of assessments that align with the skills and values we want to instill in our students.

Why do you feel it's important for teachers to teach their students about A.I. language models?

It's crucial for educators to be transparent about the technologies available to students and to show them how to use them ethically and responsibly. Students need to know that educators are aware of ChatGPT and other technologies - and can help them navigate their use. It's also important to teach students about the biases and flaws of the technology so that they can be part of the solution to fixing them.

What are your plans for presenting lessons on ChatGPT to educators?

I have a three-part series planned to introduce educators to ChatGPT, its history, and its use in the humanities and STEAM subjects. We'll also be discussing how to support students with disabilities and language learners using this technology. In addition, we'll be having a book study and an AI conference in the future to keep the conversation going.

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Q&A: Weighing the pros and cons of ChatGPT in education

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Virginia Reischl knows some teachers may feel uneasy about the rise of ChatGPT and other super-advanced chatbots. That's understandable. The technology, which uses massive amounts of data to ...

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Schools With Fast Food In The Cafeteria - A Debate

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Schools With Fast Food In The Cafeteria - A Debate	Shoulds we have schools with fast food in the cafeteria? What schools alread do? Should we feed our children fast food or go for nutrition. Answers within.

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Why we should be worried about single-use plastic

The future of single-use plastic usage in Africa isn't looking good. With the recent news that the South African government is planning to oppose a multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) treaty in September that would effectively put an end to the import of plastics into Africa, in addition to Coca Cola's blatant greenwashing campaign on PET plastic bottles in Kenya, single-use plastic and its effect on vulnerable communities in Africa is an issue that needs urgent intervention. Right now.

What is single-use plastic?

Single-use plastic, otherwise known as disposable plastic, is bad. Even if the plastic item is marked as recyclable, if it's designed to be thrown away then it's single-use as 90% of plastic is never recycled after it's discarded. Single-use plastic, or disposable plastic, is any plastic item that is used once, and then thrown in the trash. Below are some examples of single-use plastic items that are causing damage to our communities and environment:

Plastic bread bag tags

Plastic bottles

Styrofoam takeaway containers

Straws

Plastic packaging materials

Plastic cutlery

Plastic shopping bags

Examples of single-use plastic items that end up contaminating our water and food (Image: Greenpeace)

How does single-use plastic affect us and why is it a growing concern?

Big corporations have convinced us for years that single-use plastic is a necessity in this fast-paced, consumer driven culture that they force on us. They offer us false disposable plastic solutions like recycling as an antidote to the massive amounts of disposable plastic waste when most single-use plastic is simply burned and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Below are just a few negative impacts of single-use plastic:

Unfortunately, the Covid 19 pandemic has seen an unprecedented surge in single-use plastics entering production as consumers demand that foodstuffs and other products be protected from the virus by plastic. Medical waste, including disposable masks, and fast food items such as plastic cutlery and single-use plastic straws or bags are some of the biggest contributors to this crisis.

This is largely due to the global plastics industry convincing us that single-use, disposable plastic products are inherently safer than reusable plastic products, while this is simply not the case. In June last year, over 120 health experts, including doctors, virologists and epidemiologists, did their part to kill the 'single-use plastic is safer' myth by signing a document conclusively stating that reusable plastic products can be made safe again through basic hygiene.

South Africa's department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment ( DFFE) seems too paralysed by corporate interests to effect any legislation that will mitigate this flow of single-use, disposable plastic into our towns, cities and villages, and their intention to oppose the MEA in September proves this. South Africa currently ranks as 11 out of 20 countries responsible for the mismanagement of plastic waste, according to a recent article in Science, and this is having a devastating effect on our vulnerable citizens.

The effect of plastic pollution on Greenpeace Africa's Plastic Project Lead Angelo Louw's community (Video: @greenpeaceafrica)

Don't kid yourself. Single-use plastic pollution is a social rights issue as well as an environmental one.
Single-use, disposable plastic finds its way into our poor and at-risk communities as large corporations realise massive profits through their use of single-use plastic packaging. As more developed countries start to take a stand and limit the amount of single-use plastic waste entering their borders, it is often countries in the Global South who bear the brunt of the flow of disposable plastic into their rivers, seas and landfills. Vulnerable people make use of the smothering tide of single-use plastic trade to make a meager living. Big business is aware of this but is taking very little real action to stem the tide of single-use plastic that they contribute to the problem.

Coca Cola is one of the world's biggest producers of single-use packaging (Image: Greenpeace)

A recent report by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) has expanded on the disastrous effects of single-use plastic pollution on at-risk communities:

Plastic production is causing deforestation and contaminating potable water

Plastic waste is endangering communities that rely on marine resources to survive

Women are at larger risk of health complications due to a higher aggregate of exposure to plastic products

Who is responsible for single-use plastic waste?

According to a 2020 brand audit by Break Free from Plastic, the Coca Cola Company South Africa contributed a majority percentage (81.38%) of single-use plastic to our environment in the form of PET disposable plastic packaging. This company is also punting false and misleading solutions like recycling that does not effectively deal with the flood of single-use plastic packaging it produces annually.

Coca Cola is supporting the fossil fuels industry through its gas and oil hungry single-use plastic packaging.

Sasol is a fossil fuel giant that manufactures a range of single-use plastic products. Low density polyethylene (LDPE), most commonly used as packaging material and in plastic bags and cling wrap, is one such product. Many millions of tons of single use LDPE is produced each year and much of it ends up in our rivers and oceans since it is non-biodegradable.

The WWF has identified SASOL and its subsidiaries as a primary plastic raw material producer in South Africa.

Unilever relies heavily on single use packaging for its many consumer products. It is also a heavy promoter of greenwashing to avoid addressing its contribution to the scourge of single-use plastic pollution. Unilever aims to divert attention away from acknowledging that single-use plastic production is outdated and harmful.

Unilever produces 610,000 tons of single use plastic packaging annually, and is planning to expand production into Asia.

You can play your part in fighting the single-use plastic enemy right now!

Greenpeace Africa and Break Free from Plastic have launched a campaign to force the South African government to meet its constitutional mandate to protect its citizens and sign up to the global plastics treaty in September. By signing this treaty, the DFFE will be compelled to introduce further limitations on the production and import of single-use plastic in Africa, as well as forcing corporations to agree to extended producer responsibility regulations so that single-use plastic is stopped at the source.
Get involved, and join Greenpeace Africa's fight against single-use plastics by informing, educating and sharing with your community to ensure Africa can #breakfreefromplastic once and for all.

Waste pickers sifting through a plastic landfill site in Tshwane, South Africa (Image: Greenpeace Africa)

Semantically related keywords: Plastics, disposable plastics, microplastics, plastic pollution, South Africa, fossil fuel product, covid 19, UNEP, DFFE, recycling, Sasol, Cola Cola Company, Unilever

Plastic bread bag tags

Plastic bottles

Styrofoam takeaway containers

Straws

Plastic packaging materials

Plastic cutlery

Plastic shopping bags

Examples of single-use plastic items that end up contaminating our water and food (Image: Greenpeace)

Coca Cola is one of the world's biggest producers of single-use packaging (Image: Greenpeace)

Plastic production is causing deforestation and contaminating potable water

Plastic waste is endangering communities that rely on marine resources to survive

Women are at larger risk of health complications due to a higher aggregate of exposure to plastic products

Coca Cola is supporting the fossil fuels industry through its gas and oil hungry single-use plastic packaging.

The WWF has identified SASOL and its subsidiaries as a primary plastic raw material producer in South Africa.

Unilever produces 610,000 tons of single use plastic packaging annually, and is planning to expand production into Asia.

Waste pickers sifting through a plastic landfill site in Tshwane, South Africa (Image: Greenpeace Africa)

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Everything you should know about single-use plastic - Greenpeace Africa

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Single-use plastic is a massive issue that still isn't being taken seriously

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You and your students likely don't need to look far to see examples of how single-use plastics like straws, plastic bags, and plastic water bottles are damaging the environment. Often times, single-use plastic can be replaced with non-plastic alternatives. Here are some ways you can encourage your students to reflect on how much plastic they use and how they can reduce their plastic consumption.

Plastic Pollution

Whether you take a stroll in the neighborhood near your school, at a local park, or along a nearby beach, there's a good chance that you'll see some plastic pollution along the way.

Straws, plastic water bottles, and plastic bags belong to a group of materials known as single-use plastics. Here are some facts that show how ubiquitous single-use plastics have become:

Single-use plastics do not always make it to the landfill or get recycled. Thirty-two percent of the plastics produced each year flow into our oceans. That equates to one garbage truck of plastic being poured into our oceans every minute.

If nothing changes, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

When plastic collects in our oceans, it can potentially harm marine life by strangling or choking animals. Over time, large plastic degrades into small particles known as microplastics, which have the potential to release toxic chemicals.

Plastic in the oceans can collect in "garbage patches," the most famous of which is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (which is twice the size of Texas!). These garbage patches are not solid masses of plastic, or even whole items like plastic straws and bottles. Instead, they are mostly made of microplastics.

The ocean is not the only place microplastics are showing up. Scientists have found microplastics in our soil, tap water, bottled water, and even in the air. Some studies have suggested that there are more microplastics on land than there are in our oceans. Microbeads found in cosmetics are washed down the sink and clothing fibers from the washing machine end up in sewage sludge. Organic fertilizer from composted food can also become a source of plastic pollution despite efforts to remove plastic contamination.

The Ocean Conservancy's 2017 Coastal Cleanup Report complied data from beach cleanups around the world. It found that the most common trash item found on beaches is cigarettes, followed by plastic bottles, bottle caps, wrappers, and bags. Straws and stirrers placed seventh on the list.

Saying "no" to single-use plastic is one way for students to get involved in the problem of plastic pollution. Here are some ways you can inspire your students into action this month as we celebrate Earth Day 2019:

Plan a litter collection day

You can start small by collecting litter as a class on school grounds or in the local neighborhood. You could also join forces with other classrooms, get the whole school involved, or even work with local municipalities and community action groups to spread the word and take part in a bigger cleanup.

No matter what size of cleanup you organize, students can keep a tally of the different single-use plastics they collect and determine how much can be recycled.

See the activity "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" from PLT's PreK-8 guide for suggestions on helping students collect and analyze data on school-generated trash.

Older students can use their data to write a press release for the local newspaper or school newsletter, or post your efforts on social media with the hashtags #TrashChallenge #Trashtag.

Prompt a discussion

With younger students, read Jo Ann Stover's book " If Everybody Did " and discuss how our actions can have positive or negative impacts on those around us.

You can also ask students to reflect on their experiences doing the neighborhood cleanup: What was it like to see all the trash in the neighborhood? Was there anything you found that we could recycle or stop using entirely? What are some ways you could make a difference in reducing plastic pollution and keeping the schoolground/neighborhood clean?

With older students, first lead them in the activity "Source Reduction" in PLT's secondary module Municipal Solid Waste, in which they learn about the importance of not generating waste in the first place as they analyze products in terms of packaging, waste generated, and toxicity. Then have them reflect on this statement:
"Nothing we use for a few minutes should be allowed to pollute our rivers and oceans for hundreds of years - especially items we don't really need."
-Dan Jacobson, State Director of Environment California and the driving force in getting the "straw bill" passed in California.

Research the pros and cons of using plastic

In 1907 plastic was dubbed "the material of a thousand uses" by Leo Baekeland, the inventor of the first completely synthetic plastic. Every choice we make has trade-offs. Some plastics are beneficial and life-saving and others are potentially unnecessary and contribute to the pollution of our environment.

Ask students to make a poster or presentation showing all the ways we benefit from using plastic and how it can potentially harm the environment. Are there any plastic products where the benefits outweigh the possible negative environmental impacts? Are there any plastic products we might be able to reduce or eliminate? What do we do with plastic at the end of its life? Is recycling a good option for the different types of plastics? Why or why not?

In PLT's activity "A Peek at Packaging," students examine the pros and cons of different packaging strategies, and suggest design or material improvements to resolve problems they identify.

Inspire students to start a campaign in your school

Inspire your students to organize a campaign to reduce the use of single-use plastics at school. Chloe Mei Espinosa's story might inspire your students to take action: Her love for the sea and its inhabitants compelled her to start a straw-free school campaign at her school in Southern California. Now all 32 campuses in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District have joined the fight against single-use plastic straws.

Use PLT GreenSchools "Waste & Recycling Investigation" to investigate the waste stream at your school and to help students develop an understanding of how individual and collective actions can affect the waste stream. As a result, students in schools across the country have cut down on disposables, they compost cafeteria waste, they recycle batteries, milk containers, plastic bags, and other items.

For ideas on how to organize and carry out a service-learning project, see the activity "Improve Your Place" in PLT's PreK-8 guide.

See also "Take Action: Success Stories and Personal Choices" in PLT's secondary module Municipal Solid Waste for suggestions and inspiration on developing a plan for reducing waste at school.

Create posters for at school and at home

Encourage students to spread the word about what we all can do to reduce or eliminate the single-use plastic products in our lives. To help them understand possible alternatives, use the activity "Renewable or Not" in PLT's PreK-8 guide, which explores the differences between renewable and nonrenewable resources. Then have students make posters or signs for school and at home to serve as a reminder of why it's important to reduce our plastic consumption and what alternatives are available. The posters could include facts, photos, comics, or memes - whatever they think will inspire people to think twice and change their habits!

Keep a journal of single-use plastics

Through the activity "A Few of My Favorite Things" in PLT's PreK-8 Guide, students can research and analyze the energy and materials - including single-use plastic - that go into making a favorite object. Ask students to keep a journal of the single-use plastics they use over the course of a week (they could even include their whole family in the process!). They will likely be surprised to see how many times plastics are used in packaging. To take it a step further, ask students to collect all the single-use plastic products they used throughout the week and bring their collection to class at the end of the week. That type of visual can make a big impression on your students and would be a great discussion starter. You could also encourage your students to create an art piece with the plastic they collected throughout the week to make a statement that the whole school or community can see.

Make a pledge

Ask students to consider making a pledge for themselves and for the environment. Choose one single-use plastic that they will try to avoid using now and in the future. Your students may be inspired by 12-year-old Milo Cress who started the Be Straw Free campaign and take the Pledge to Be Straw Free.

How will you encourage your students to reduce their plastic consumption? What types of lessons and discussion prompts have helped your students see the impact their actions are making on the environment? Let us know in the comments!

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How Students Can Help Reduce Single-Use Plastic to Protect the Environment - Project Learning Tree

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You and your students likely don't need to look far to see examples of how single-use plastics like straws, plastic bags, and plastic water bottles are damaging the environment. Often times, single-use plastic can be replaced with non-plastic alternatives.

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Tea bags, coffee cups, clothing, soda cans, and gum are only a select few items that surprisingly all contain some form of plastic. The more obvious plastic water bottles, bags, electronics, and containers further display how humans live in a plastic-filled world. Although innovation and standard of living have greatly improved since its invention, plastic comes with some serious consequences, which raises the question: is a plastic-less world better than the current plastic-filled one?

Most plastics are categorized as polymers, consisting of repeating monomers with various side chains that allow for different physical and chemical properties. Plastic, with its many types and applications, engenders innovation at the expense of the environment and human health.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. generated 14.5 million tons of plastic containers and packaging in the year 2017 alone, with 70 percent of the plastic ending up in a landfill. The accumulation of plastic waste, domestically and internationally, has amounted to a total of 8.3 billion metric tons. However, landfills aren't the only problem. About 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year. The almost indestructible plastic releases harmful chemicals that poison the water, and floating waste is often ingested by aquatic animals, causing them to choke and starve.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. generated 14.5 million tons of plastic containers and packaging in the year 2017 alone, with 70 percent of the plastic ending up in a landfill.

The tremendous environmental impact of single-use plastics is killing the planet's wildlife along with the environment itself. Since humans are completely surrounded by and dependent on plastics, they are also negatively impacting themselves as they are exposed to toxins in them multiple times a day simply through the air, consumer products, food, and water. One major chemical, bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that is used to make certain plastics and resins. This chemical is often found in the plastics of containers and water bottles, where it can seep into the food or liquid within. Because BPA disrupts the normal functions of the brains and prostate glands of fetuses, infants, and children, the FDA recommends using BPA-free plastic containers as well as avoiding heating plastic to prevent the possible breakdown that could release more BPA.

With so many damaging health and environmental effects it would seem plastic should be removed, but without plastic, the modern world would be nowhere near as innovative it is today.

Plastic has helped keep food fresh longer, allowing for less food to go to waste and ultimately less methane to enter the atmosphere. Plastic has enabled the advances that we see in modern medicine, as many research labs use equipment and supplies that are made of various plastic materials. Plastic also helped with sterility. Because plastic is so cheap and easy to mass produce, personal protective equipment, such as gloves, are essential for working in the lab, and disposable syringes allow for the easy administration of millions of vaccines and other drug products. In addition, technological advancements would not be possible without plastic because its insulating properties allow for necessary wire insulation and computer motherboards.

Plastics compose essentials, but they also find themselves in convenience, an ease that comes at the cost of millions of gallons of fossil fuels each year. The simplistic solution to this environmental price would be to use reusable bags instead. However, the Ministry of Environment and Food in Denmark found in 2018 that the carbon footprint of producing a reusable bag is so much greater than producing a plastic one that in order to make up for this difference the reusable bag would have to be used 7,100 times. Plastic waste is not the only environmental problem that humans face, and trying to find replacements causes trade-offs like increasing carbon emissions or logging. Thus, rather than looking into alternatives, research has shifted into finding environmentally friendly ways to break down plastic. For instance, in a 2014 study in Beijing, researchers have been examining the possibility of degrading polyethylene using caterpillars from the wax moth, Galleria mellonella. Although the results are promising, more research into degradation efficiency needs to be conducted to support using the method as a feasible solution to the plastic problem.

Thus, rather than looking into alternatives, research has shifted into finding environmentally friendly ways to break down plastic.

To revisit the question - would the world be better without plastic? The answer is not as straightforward as some might have initially thought. There is much research to be done before a plastic-free world is imaginable, but the damage to the environment and humans themselves is forcing researchers to look into environmentally friendly alternatives and other creative solutions.

Environ. Sci. Technol. (2014). DOI: 10.1021/es504038a

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A world without plastic? The pros and cons of plastic

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Tea bags, coffee cups, clothing, soda cans, and gum are only a select few items that surprisingly all contain some form of plastic. The more obvious plastic water bottles, bags, electronics, and containers further display how humans live in a plastic-filled world.

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Truth About Fur, voice of the North American fur trade

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5 Reasons Why We Must Wear Leather and Fur

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The 5 reasons why we must all wear leather and fur, and those reasons all point to the fact that there are simply no viable alternatives.

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Explainer

Debates about the ethics of zoos abound - but when it comes to animal welfare, there are certainly more cons than pros.

For many people, zoos are the only chance they'll have in their entire lives to see beautiful animals native to far-flung ecosystems - lions, elephants, pandas, lemurs - the list goes on. And they're popular - over 181 million people visit a U.S. zoo every year. But zoos face criticism from animal welfare organizations and environmental activists for inhumane treatment of the animals they claim to protect. Zoos maintain that they are important aspects of conservation and education.

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of zoos? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of these controversial organizations.

What Are Some Pros and Cons of Zoos?

First, not all zoos are created equal. While it is easy to imagine animal ethics as a binary of evil and moral, zoos can vary widely on how they treat their animals, how much space they are given and how the animals are obtained. Still, most zoos tend to have the same positives and negatives overall.

Arguments Against Zoos

Poor Conditions for Animals
Animals Often Only Have Quite Limited Space
Many zoos' enclosures are too small, especially for animal species that are used to roaming, flying or swimming large distances in the wild. For example, polar bears are used to home ranges of about 1,000 square kilometers in the wild - large swaths of land and ice they enjoy exploring. In zoos, they get a couple hundred square feet.
Zoos Are Crowded
In addition to limited space, many zoos cram in as many animals as possible into the enclosures. Many visitors prefer seeing animals up close, instead of peering at them from afar, hidden in their dens or nests. This encourages zoos to increase the number of animals per exhibit, increasing the likelihood of visitors seeing animals on the move near the boundaries of the enclosure.
Animals Are Trapped in Unnatural Environments
Anyone who has visited a zoo knows the exhibits are a far cry from the natural landscape they are trying to imitate. Nearly all zoo enclosures contain fences, glass or other barriers for visitors to look through, which are inherently artificial. And the natural-seeming landscapes can sometimes be made out of astroturf, concrete or plastic.
Confinement May Alter the Behavior of Animals
The lack of space, unnatural environments and crowded conditions can directly affect the behavior of animals; most notably in the form of what's known as "stereotypy." Stereotypy is a condition in which non-human animals engage in repetitive behaviors with no apparent purpose, such as pacing for hours on end, wagging tails abnormally or picking their own fur.

The structure of zoos increases the likelihood of stereotypic behavior due to a lack of enrichment, mundane environments and boring, repetitive schedules. This prevalence of stereotypy in zoos even has its own name: "zoochosis," or psychosis caused by zoos.
'Surplus' Animals Can Be Killed
After an animal has reproduced successfully and the zoo no longer requires the animal to maintain an exhibit, the animal is deemed "surplus." At this point, the animal's welfare is no longer profitable. Zoos can sell the animal to private owners (who may keep the animal in tiny cages for amusement or kill the animal for taxidermy purposes), sell the animal to other zoos or enclosures, or "euthanize" the animal.
Animals Are Often Mistreated
Animal mistreatment is much more than hitting or beating an animal. It also includes harmful training techniques, separation from family members and forcing animals to behave in abnormal ways.

In a report from World Animal Protection, three-fourths of zoos include human-animal interactions, many of which can be very stressful or physically harmful for animals. In some extreme cases, visitors rode on the backs of animals (causing injury) or encroached on the animals' enclosure (causing stress).

Investigations into popular zoos sometimes reveal that caretakers don't always clean the exhibits frequently, leaving the animals to live near their feces. The research also reveals many zookeepers hitting animals who "misbehave," and not helping animals with injuries sustained in the enclosures. While not all animal caretakers behave this way, the reporting suggests many zoos around the world are lax with animal welfare.
Animals Don't Like Being Visited
The mere presence of human beings can negatively affect wild animals, especially in massive crowds that are common at zoos. Being bombarded by the sounds, smells and appearances of swaths of humans can trigger the stress responses of some animals. Some studies show that the number of visitors correlates with the amount of stress hormones in many animal species.
Animals Struggle to Form Connections
Many animals are highly social creatures. Elephants, lions, pigs, cows and many more species are shown to have complex connections, hierarchies and relationships with members of their own kind - especially with friends and family. However, zoo animals rarely stay with the same herd or family for their entire lives. Instead, zoos opt to transfer, sell, buy or relocate animals throughout their lifespans, making it difficult for animals to form social connections. This lack of bonding can harm the animals emotionally.
Zoos Are for Humans, Not Animals
Most zoos are for-profit enterprises, meaning they have one goal in mind: maximizing revenue. It is easy to see how making more money can come at the expense of animal welfare. For example, a zoo is unlikely to fund an exhibit expansion if it isn't cost-effective, regardless of its benefits for the animals inside. While many zookeepers form real bonds with their animal companions, the animals still exist under a for-profit, human-centered organization.
Zoos Promote Human Superiority
The aesthetic nature of zoos - animals in panopticon-like enclosures, viewed 24/7 by members of a different species - can reinforce human superiority. As moral philosopher Lori Gruen writes in her book, "visitors leave the zoo more convinced than ever of human superiority over the natural world." Of course, zoos also reinforce the idea that humans have a right to take away animals' freedom and bodily autonomy.

Zoos Don't Always Help with Conservation - Some Wild Animals Have to Be Caught to Bring Them to Zoos

Many animals in zoos are born in captivity, but that's not the case for all. Many animals are taken directly from the wild, often when they are babies, to make the transition to captivity a bit easier. At times, this is done in the name of conservation, or when a wild animal is very ill. But many zoos will take animals from the wild, or buy animals from unethical animal traders.
It's Often Not Possible to Return Animals to the Wild
Releasing an animal into the wild isn't always successful, especially if the animal has spent time in climates different from their native regions, like jungles, savannas or ice caps. Properly preparing animals for success in the wild is a multi-stage process that can require thousands of dollars - and it doesn't always work. Captive-born predator species - disadvantaged by being born and raised in an artificial environment - only have a survival rate after being released into the wild of 33 percent, according to one study. As a result, re-release is not a priority for many zoos.
Zoos Are Poorly Regulated
While there exist many laws that protect animals, such as the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Endangered Species Act, they only offer minimum protections. For example, the AWA excludes entire species of animals, like mice, farmed animals, birds and all cold-blooded animals. Its "minimum" standards of care usually ensure the animals' safety, not their welfare or happiness. Many animal law experts say these regulations don't go far enough.
What Are the Pros of Having Zoos? They Can Be Important for Researchers
Biologists and zoologists can benefit from studying animals in zoos. Some breakthroughs in animal behavior and treatment, like why elephants swing their trunks or how gorillas develop heart disease, have been made possible because of zoos' ease of access. However, not all animals behave the same in captivity as they do in the wild, so not all research is possible in zoos.

Zoos Are Educational - People May Behave "Eco-friendlier" After Going To the Zoo

Zoos can kickstart individuals' interest in biodiversity, which is a critical aspect of environmental protection. Many zoos include calls to action in their exhibits, highlighting how endangered animals are being poached, driven away, or otherwise killed by human activity. This can inspire some people to behave more conscientiously. One limited survey found that 35 percent of eco-friendly people learned sustainable behavior from zoos. '
Zoos Can Help Educate Children About Animals
Zoos are a quintessential school experience for many young people. Children love learning about animals up-close in a safe environment - in fact, education is possibly the biggest advantage of modern zoos. Many programs, like school presentations, guided tours, informational exhibits, and talks with zookeepers can trigger a lifelong love of animals in children.

But zoos aren't perfect in this regard. According to a study of zoo visitors in the UK, only 34 percent of children learned more about animals at zoos (the result was slightly better when the children were given a guided tour). Worse, children did not feel empowered to help with conservation efforts after visiting a zoo. This suggests that if zoos care about education, they need to more actively reach out to schoolchildren for empowerment and education.
Going to the Zoo Is Affordable
More ethical ways of engaging with animals without removing them from their natural habitats - like whale watching, safaris, hikes, or excursions - are usually expensive or inaccessible for many people. Zoos tend to be relatively cheap for the average family that wants to learn about animals.
Conservation Zoos Can Protect Endangered Species from Extinction
Zoos often claim they can protect entire species from extinction through conservation programs that involve breeding more animals in captivity and then releasing them into the wild. This is especially important for endangered species like pandas.

While these conservation efforts are truly important, they don't represent the majority of a zoo's activities, nor are zoos leaders in conservation worldwide. At the National Zoo, for example, only one-fifth of animals are endangered. In North America, zoos only contribute about 14 percent of all animals reintroduced into the wild as part of a conservation program. Zoos also tend to focus on headline-grabbing endangered animals to bring in visitors, like pandas, elephants or tigers, as opposed to lesser-known but crucial species, like tamarins, kakapos or wombats.
Are Zoos Good or Bad for the Environment?
Zoos claim to support global biodiversity through conservation efforts like protecting endangered animals. This is somewhat true, although it varies greatly from zoo to zoo.

On the other hand, zoos are big polluters and use up lots of resources, especially energy and water. Aquariums in particular use tons and tons of water. Zoo animals also generate waste that may or may not be composted or disposed of correctly.
Should Zoos Exist or Be Banned?
Given the many ways that zoos are unethical to animals, the flawed attempts to contribute to conservation, and the positioning of humans as superior to animals, many animal ethicists believe zoos should not exist - or at least, not exist in their current form.

For example, animal philosopher Dale Jamieson says in his book Ethics on the Ark that zoos primarily "alleviate our sense of guilt for what we are doing to the planet, but they do little to help the animals we are driving to extinction." He continues to argue that zoos exist for humans alone, and that it is very difficult to wave away the inherent immorality of depriving animals their liberty for the sake of human amusement.

Instead, private conservation programs can benefit endangered animals without showcasing them to the public. Animal sanctuaries, which are areas of land in which endangered and other animals are protected by humans, are also advantageous for both individual animals and global biodiversity.

Zoos do have advantages - fostering curiosity and education chief among them. But experts believe there are other ways of accomplishing these goals without resorting to zoos with tiny enclosures. Excursions, nature documentaries, safaris, local gardens, hikes, boat tours and other ways of interacting with nature don't involve taking animals out of their natural habitats.
The Bottom Line
If you do choose to visit a zoo, opt for zoos that have certifications from independent animal welfare organizations. If you are interested in animal conservation, you'd be more impactful donating to a non-zoo animal protection organization instead. And if you do want to visit animals, consider an animal sanctuary or an ethical safari, where you can see animals in their native environments.

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Are Zoos Good or Bad for Animals? The Argument, Explained

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Debates about the ethics of zoos abound - but when it comes to animal welfare, there are certainly more cons than pros.

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The concept of a four-day school week keeps gaining traction as it's adopted across the U.S. While it's now a reality for some districts, it remains a curiosity for the rest. In this blog post, we explore the benefits and challenges of adopting a four-day K‑12 school week. Plus, we look at ways to gain similar advantages by improving operational efficiency even if your district isn't likely to adopt a shortened school week in the near future.

In this post, you'll learn:

How States Implement a Shortened Schedule

Pros and Cons of a Four-Day School Week

Achieving Time- and Cost-Savings in a Five-Day Week

Making the switch to a four-day school week is a big decision. Let's start by taking a look at how states go about making this change.

How States Implement a Shortened Schedule

Currently in the U.S., 25 states have at least one district following a shortened school week schedule. The majority of those districts are within western states that are largely rural, like Wyoming, Idaho, and Colorado.

The minimum instructional time required by each state governs school calendars. Funding formulas require schools receive less money from the state if the time requirement isn't met.

Many states allow districts to opt into a four-day school week by offering flexible requirements, definitive rules for the administration, or through a waiver approval process. Legal guidelines don't often list the four-day week as an option, but rather provide flexibility so the minimum instructional day requirement is counted by the hour or minute instead.

Some states offer guidelines on transitioning to a four-day school week and then remain hands-off on monitoring the process. Meanwhile, other states require districts to submit their four-day plans to their state education commissioner or their superintendent for approval.

While the administrative burden associated with switching to a four-day school week varies by state, the change can have a major impact on staff, teachers, and families. These effects factor heavily into any discussion about whether it's the right move for any given district.

Pros and Cons of a Four-Day School Week

Districts making the switch to a shortened school week can realize positive improvements, but tradeoffs exist. Dropping a day from the traditional school week represents a significant change. Many families depend on schools to operate on a similar schedule to their five-day work week, and others rely on schools to help them deal with difficult situations like food insecurity. Inequity is a real concern for any district considering a major shift in their operations.

An alternative tactic districts can consider is how to get the benefits that have them eyeing a shortened schedule without making a change to their traditional five-day week. Improving efficiency can help districts save time and money, helping them give back to teachers so they can better serve their students. In the list of pros and cons below, we'll also include ideas for achieving the pros without cutting a day from the schedule.

The Pros of a Four-Day School Week

Supporters argue that a shortened schedule attracts and helps retain higher quality teachers.

According to a We Are Teachers article, Colorado's District 27J went from a handful of applicants to receiving over 100 applications per posting (including special ed and secondary math positions) after switching to a four-day schedule.

The candidates were also more qualified and had master's degrees or special certifications. On top of all of that, the turnover rate for teachers dropped from 21% to 13% that year.

How to Improve K‑12 Staffing in a Five-Day Week

One of the best ways to address the teacher shortage is to hang on to the ones you have. A smooth onboarding process can be your key to success. Offering teachers and staff a convenient online experience can help them better prepare for their first day on the job, leading to better retention in the long run-up to 82% according to Glassdoor.

Improving your onboarding process with an easier, tech-forward approach can help your team save time and money while reducing recruiting pressure by contributing to lower turnover.
Learn More: Benefits of a Smooth K‑12 Staff Onboarding Process
One of the biggest arguments made for the shortened school week is that it will save money for the district. Proponents say the schedule reduces overhead when you eliminate a full day of bus transportation, food service, and maintenance and operations.

After the Duval County School District in Jacksonville, Florida moved to the four-day schedule, they saved 0.7%. While that sounds like a small return, it actually meant a $7 million reduction in spend for the district.

How to Save Money with Cloud-Based K‑12 Software

Budgets are always tight-that's just a fact of life in education. But the right software solution can help your funding go further by harnessing the full potential of your staff's resources and energy. The best part is, cloud-based K‑12 software maximizes efficiency by giving you powerful software without the need to house, maintain, and secure costly on-site servers.
Learn More: How Cloud-Based Software is Saving School Budgets
A cloud-based K‑12 ERP solution, for example, can help your finance and HR teams spot needs and issues before they become big problems. This could mean getting in front of a staffing shortage at a particular school or adapting and adjusting quickly to spiking supply costs.

IMPROVE EMPLOYEES' WORK-LIFE BALANCE

District 27J in Colorado noticed a large drop in teacher turnover after transitioning to a four-day school week, and this likely attributed to a greater sense of work-life balance.

According to a study conducted in 2018 by the Office of National Statistics in Great Britain, teachers do 20% of their work (10 hours or more) before school, after school and on weekends.

The extra day offers teachers and staff the room to run errands, make personal appointments, complete work-related training or planning. They can also choose to relax, travel, or connect with friends and family.

How to Give Back More Time to K‑12 Teachers and Staff
Learn More: How to Cut Down on Meetings While Managing Your School District
Cutting down on meetings might be the lever most within reach when it comes to giving back more time to teachers and staff. Consider if you often walk out of meetings thinking, "Could that have been an email?" If so, you may already have a lot of room to give back time to teachers and staff without needing to drop a day from the schedule.

Giving time back helps teachers and staff focus more of their workday time and energy on students and their work tasks. That translates directly to leaving work on time more often and spending less time at home thinking about work. They gain more time to rest, recover, and balance their lives.

Each year, educators are required to complete a certain amount of training. Often, teachers have to request a substitute to cover them while they are away for training sessions. With a four-day school week, teachers could attend training without any concern on missing in-class time with their students.

The Cons

Sure. A shorter week sounds like an A+ idea for school districts and teachers. However, critics of the four-day school week find it problematic in its inequity, particularly for lower income families.

In many American households, the adults work eight-hour days at least five days a week. Some parents have more than one job to make ends meet. By moving to a four-day school week, a district inadvertently places working parents in a position of doling out more money for childcare-something many cannot afford.

In addition, some families experiencing food insecurity rely on public schools for nearly half of their meals. If nutrition service is eliminated one day each week, those children could miss out on breakfast and lunch as a result.

Opponents have found that while some larger districts may find overhead savings, they warn that most districts do not. This is attributed to one main thing: educator pay and benefits.

This line item accounts for 65% of all educational spending. A common misconception with projections is that educator pay and benefits could be cut by ⅕, and this hasn't been the case for most districts.

When a school switches to a four-day schedule, it adds up to 90 minutes to the school day. Imagine a five-year-old Kindergartner trying to focus on schoolwork for nine hours. That's asking a lot.

Achieving Time- and Cost-Savings in a Five-Day School Week

Not every district wants to make the shift to a four-day school week, but saving time and money always makes good sense. Fortunately, the right technology can help districts realize many of the attractive benefits outlined in the pros above without dropping a day from the traditional five-day work week. In this blog we looked at a few of the pros and cons.
5 Practical Tips to Improve Efficiency in Your District
The next time a conversation comes up about the benefits of a four-day school week, consider sharing some ideas about achieving the pros without risking the cons. A five-day school week is still the reality for many districts across the U.S. Without a drastic change, that's likely to continue. Districts can still direct energy toward ways to save time and money while reducing stress on their workforce and attracting top talent. Technology plays a crucial role here as it continues to give K‑12 teams more power to streamline operations, improve employees' experience, and adapt to changes and uncertainties through sound data-driven decision making.

Get 5 Tips to Improve K‑12 Operational Efficiency

Make an impact right now whether your district operates on a four-day or five-day schedule with these actionable tips for success:

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The Pros and Cons of the Four-Day School Week

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The four-day school week is a hot topic in education. See the pros and cons, plus get tips to achieve similar benefits with a five-day week.

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The big debate: Should school lunches be vegan?

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The big debate: Should school lunches be vegan?

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The Junk Food Debate

Greasy fast food may not be healthy, but there's no denying it is extremely tasty.

Thanks to a long list of questionable additives, every bite is an explosion of delicious flavor. From an evolutionary perspective, we are hardwired to like junk food as a survival mechanism. That's the reason chemicals and neurotransmitters released in our body induce us to eat more than we normally do every time we smell, see, or eat junk food.

Do Junk Food, Fast Food, and Sugary Snacks Belong in Schools?

Even though people realize junk food is not a healthy option, that does not deter them from consuming a variety of greasy fast foods. Even worse, it is given to children at school. In some parts of the world, some parents actually pack junk or fast food in their children's lunchboxes to have as a meal or snack in school.

We have to admit junk food, processed food, and fast foods have become an unavoidable part of our lives. But should they really be the only option for school kids?

Junk Food at School

Considering how busy we are in this age of technology, snacking on fast food and junk food is a solution for many. Snacking-on-the-move has become a way of life for people in a hurry. While junk food is popular globally, there is growing concern about it being consumed by youngsters, and whether these foods should be banned in schools. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 implemented requires United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain healthy nutrition standards for foods sold in schools.

The USDA's Smart Snacks Program

The USDA's Smart Snacks Program, which focuses on food sold in schools, has been in effect since 2014. The program aims to give children healthier snack options. The program also regulates the different types of food and snacks sold at the school canteen, food store, or any another venue in the school where children get food.

The program brings science-based nutrition guidelines to schools, highlighting practical and logical solutions that promote healthy eating habits on campus. It has guidelines about which types of foods should be encouraged and promoted and which foods should be avoided. The program also has guidelines for portion sizes and caffeine content limits suitable for kids.

While measures are being taken to implement healthy snacking and nutrition for school children the fact remains that different types of unhealthy junk food or fast food are extremely popular in schools. What's rather concerning is the fact that many schools in the US and other countries have vending machines that sell junk food in schools. The question often asked is should the sale of junk food be banned in schools or allowed in schools. The school of thought in regard with this question differs. There are advantages and disadvantages associated with junk food in schools. Do the pros outweigh the cons? Find out in the lines below.

5 Reasons Junk Food Should Be Allowed in School: Pros

1. It's important for children to eat something.

Every child is different and has their own very particular likes and dislikes in regards to food. Kids cannot be pressured to eat what they do not like. Research shows that children do not like eating nutritional meals and are likely to skip their meals or waste their food if they don't like it. If a child does not eat in school, they are likely to have depleted energy and immunity levels.

Most kids are happy to eat when they snack on greasy burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs. It is a satisfying and reassuring feeling for parents to know their child eats something at school rather than staying hungry, even if it means junk food.

If your child loves junk food, let him/her have a little bit of it in school. Junk food, when consumed in moderation, is not a bad thing.

2. Junk food is easier and cheaper.

Some parents pack a lunchbox of snacks made at home for their children. Sometimes parents are too busy. In times like these, most children will love to find fast food burgers or sandwiches in their lunch bag. Junk food is an easy, tasty, less expensive, and convenient option for children who have busy parents.

3. Vending machines are profitable for schools.

Installing vending machines that offer snacks is a useful and profitable option for schools. It is easy and convenient for children to buy cheap junk snacks from a vending machine, and a sizable profit is made. This profit can be used to improve the school's facilities.

4. Using healthy ingredients can reduce the junk in junk food.

Junk food has a bad reputation because of its unhealthy and greasy content. Certain preservatives and ingredients are added to processed food to increase its shelf life.

But schools can ensure that their meals are made fresh with healthy ingredients. Using the right oil and the optimal temperature for cooking ensures less penetration of the oil in the foods. Not many children like to see vegetables on their plate at school, but children don't mind eating mixed vegetables when they are made into a patty and put between burger buns.

There are innovative ways to make "junk" food healthy. If the choice of ingredients is healthy, the junk in junk food can be eliminated.

5. Kids should have freedom of choice when it comes to their meals.

Strict rules and policies in regard to junk food are not a solution. It's not right to limit the freedom of choice of school students. Research shows that schools that implement a "no junk food" policy have a higher number of kids that do not eat, either because they do not like the healthy meals served in the cafeteria or because they can't afford those options. Ideally, the food options given to children should be as varied as possible. Restrictions on junk food in school compel children to stay hungry. Kids feel uneasy in an environment where the foods they want to eat are not available. Eating food they like should be a freedom of choice for children in school.

5 Reasons Junk Food Should Be Banned In School: Cons

1. Junk food leads to obesity.

Junk foods usually have a high level of salt, fat, calories, and sugar and offer limited nutritional value. Consumption of unhealthy foods on a regular basis leads to obesity.

The amounts of fats and sugar in junk are alarmingly high. Children are at risk of gaining weight and becoming obese if they consume foods high in sugar, carbs, and salts. Junk foods often do not include dietary fibers and other vital nutrients that play a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy body.

As a result, consuming junk food results in weight gain at a rapid pace and increases the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and different forms of arthritis. Obese children who consume large amounts of junk food regularly are at high risk of suffering a heart attack in early adulthood.

2. Children get habituated to unhealthy eating.

When children get habituated to eating junk food, it becomes extremely difficult for them to get accustomed to eating healthy foods. Children who eat junk food every day find it difficult to enjoy a healthy meal that consists of lean meats, salads, leafy greens, or other vegetables. Junk food has a synthetic taste that is very addictive. Children who eat junk food regularly get habituated to a certain type and amount of flavor and find it difficult to adjust to balanced meals with nutritional value.

Foods such as burgers, fries, salted snacks, fried food, pizzas, candies, and carbonated drinks or sodas get children addicted to a certain taste. Children eating these foods every day get habituated to a cycle of unhealthy food habits. 7 out of 10 children carry their unhealthy junk food habit into adulthood. Habituated tendencies can turn into addictions. Eating junk food becomes a survival mechanism for many and in the long run leads to a number of health issues.

3. Junk food increases the risk for heart disease and liver disease.

Children who carry their junk food habit to adulthood are at higher risk of liver damage and heart attack. Junk foods have exceedingly high levels of sodium and fat that contribute towards raised cholesterol levels and buildup of arterial plaque. This in turn can bring about drastic changes in the circulatory system, thereby fluctuating blood pressure levels and increasing the risk of suffering a stroke. Junk food is also a source of trans fatty acids that lead to fat deposits in the liver and pose a set of varied liver problems.

4. Junk food increases the risk of acquiring adult-onset diabetes.

Children who consume junk food regularly are at high risk of developing diabetes in adulthood. Different types of junk food prevent proper absorption of healthy nutrients and minerals, thereby affecting metabolism function and resulting in a weakened immune system. When the metabolism rate is altered drastically, a number of health problems crop up.

A wide variety of deep-fried foods when consumed often can lead to insulin resistance and over a period of time lead to Type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia. Addiction to junk foods and fast foods can also affect hormonal activity and lead to hormonal imbalance. Furthermore, excessive consumption of greasy foods lead to health problems associated with kidney, liver, weakened immunity, blood pressure and cholesterol.

5. Regular consumption of junk food causes gastric problems.

Different types of gastrointestinal problems are associated with excessive consumption of junk food. Flatulence is a common problem among children and adults who eat junk foods and fast food on a daily basis. Constipation is also a problem among children who eat excessive junk food.

It's a known fact that junk foods and processed foods offer little in terms of dietary fiber which constitutes healthy and natural bowel movement. The lack of sufficient fiber in the body can cause different gastric problems associated with gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, bloating, and flatulence. Furthermore, kids that consume fast foods that contain spicy sauces, pastes and pickles, are at risk of suffering from digestive disorders such as acid reflux and gerd.

What Do You Think?

In this article, we have examined some of the main arguments for and against allowing junk food in schools.

Whether the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa depend entirely on perspective. Draw your own conclusions based on what you feel is right and wrong. Are you in favor of junk food in schools or against it? If you feel strongly about this issue and want to voice your opinion, vote in the poll below.

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Lorna Lamon on August 20, 2019:

This is an interesting article and even though I believe that 'everything in moderation' is the best way to go, I cannot see that eating junk food in school is a good idea. These foods are full of sugar and other additives which make them addictive. There is an obesity epidemic in children in the UK and surely a healthy diet in schools would be a good place to ensure a healthier future for these children.

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Pros and Cons: Should Junk Food Be Banned or Allowed in Schools?

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Pros and cons to help decide whether junk food be banned or allowed in schools.

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The ability of Chat GPT to generate human-like responses has sparked a debate on whether it is beneficial for students. Let us take a look into the immense benefits, potential pitfalls, and possible solutions associated with students' increasing reliance on Chat GPT. Even as Indian schools are adopting gatekeeping or restriction practices, several school districts in the US have banned or blocked access to Chat GPT on their devices and networks to prevent cheating and plagiarism. Some teachers and students have expressed concerns about the impact of Chat GPT on academic integrity and learning outcomes. Others have argued that Chat GPT can be used as a learning tool or a creative outlet. With schools, parents, tutors, and students themselves as stakeholders, it is crucial to examine the impact of Chat GPT on the learning process.

Benefits of Chat GPT for students

Chat GPT can offer several advantages for students who use it for learning purposes. Some of these are:

Accessibility: Chat GPT can provide students with instant access to information and feedback on various topics and subjects. Students can ask questions, request explanations, or seek guidance from Chat GPT at any time and place, without relying on teachers, tutors, or peers. This can be especially helpful for students who have limited resources, face barriers to education, or need extra support.

Engagement: Chat GPT can make learning more interactive and engaging for students who prefer conversational modes of instruction. Students can have personalized and dynamic dialogues with Chat GPT that cater to their interests, needs, and goals. Chat GPT can also use humor, creativity, and emotion to capture students' attention and motivation.

Diversity: Chat GPT can expose students to different perspectives, cultures, languages, and styles of communication. Students can learn from Chat GPT's diverse knowledge base and linguistic abilities, as well as interact with Chat GPT's various personalities and voices. Chat GPT can also help students develop their critical thinking and cross-cultural skills by challenging their assumptions and biases.

Innovation: Chat GPT can inspire students to explore new ideas, possibilities, and solutions. Students can use Chat GPT as a brainstorming partner, a creative collaborator, or a problem-solver. Chat GPT can also generate original content for students, such as poems, stories, essays, code, etc., that they can use as references or inspiration.

Drawbacks of Chat GPT for students

However, Chat GPT also has some limitations and challenges that can negatively affect students' learning outcomes and experiences. Some of these are:

Accuracy: Chat GPT is not always reliable or trustworthy when it comes to providing accurate or factual information. Chat GPT may make mistakes, errors, or inconsistencies in its responses due to its probabilistic nature or lack of verification. Chat GPT may also produce misleading, biased, or harmful content that can confuse or misinform students.

Ethics: Chat GPT raises some ethical issues and dilemmas that students need to be aware of and responsible for. For example, how should students cite or acknowledge Chat GPT's contributions to their work? How should students respect Chat GPT's intellectual property rights? How should students protect their privacy and security when interacting with Chat GPT?

Dependency: Chat GPT may create a sense of dependency or complacency among students who rely too much on its assistance or output. Students may lose their initiative, curiosity, or creativity when they use Chat GPT as a shortcut or a substitute for their own learning efforts. Students may also develop unrealistic expectations or overconfidence in their abilities when they use Chat GPT as a crutch or a validation.

Addiction: Chat GPT may cause addiction or obsession among students who use it excessively or compulsively. Students may spend too much time or energy on chatting with Chat GPT instead of focusing on their academic tasks or other aspects of their lives. Students may also form unhealthy attachments or relationships with Chat GPT that interfere with their social or emotional development.

Solutions for using Chat GPT for students

Given the pros and cons of using Chat GPT for learning purposes, how can we ensure that students use it in a safe, ethical, and effective way? Here are some possible solutions:

Education: Students need to be educated about the nature, capabilities, limitations, and implications of Chat GPT. They need to learn how to evaluate the quality and credibility of Chat GPT's responses and content. They also need to learn how to use proper citation and attribution methods when using Chat GPT's output. Moreover, they need to learn how to respect the rights and interests of both themselves and Chat GPT when interacting with it.

Regulation: Students need to follow some rules and guidelines when using Chat GPT for learning purposes. They need to use Chat GPT only for appropriate and relevant topics and subjects. They also need to use Chat GPT only for a reasonable and moderate amount of time and frequency. Furthermore, they need to use Chat GPT only with the consent and supervision of their teachers, parents, or guardians.

Balance: Students need to balance their use of Chat GPT with other sources and methods of learning. They need to complement Chat GPT's responses and content with their own research, analysis, and synthesis. They also need to supplement Chat GPT's dialogues and interactions with their own reflections, opinions, and feedback. Additionally, they need to diversify their learning experiences and activities with other forms of media, technology, and human communication.

Summing up

Chat GPT is a powerful and promising technology that can enhance students' learning outcomes and experiences. However, it also poses some risks and challenges that need to be addressed and managed. By applying the solutions suggested above, students can use Chat GPT in a safe, ethical, and effective way that maximizes its benefits and minimizes its drawbacks. Chat GPT can be a valuable ally for students, but not a replacement for their own learning efforts or human interactions.

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Is Chat GPT good for students? Exploring the pros and cons (and side effects!)

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The ability of Chat GPT to generate human-like responses has sparked a debate on whether it is beneficial for students. Let us take a look into the immense benefits, potential pitfalls, and possible solutions associated with students' increasing reliance on Chat GPT.

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The Pros and Cons of Students Using ChatGPT

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ChatGPT is a natural language processing (NLP) tool that uses machine learning algorithms to generate responses based on the input it receives. It has the ability to hold conversations and answer questions, making it a useful tool for students who want to improve their language skills or learn about…

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Pros and cons of zoos: Should animals be kept in zoos?

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Animal cruelty or protection? Learn about the pros and cons of zoos and join our debate / poll: Should there be zoos? Should animals be kept in captivity?

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Standardized testing has long been a crucial part of the American education system.

It provides a uniform assessment of a students' knowledge retention, skills, abilities, and the fastest way to measure their progress throughout the curriculum.

However, there is disagreement over standardized test in regards to their impact on a student's well-being and if they have become obsolete. We explain the key advantages and disadvantages of standardized testing.

What is Standardized Testing?

Standardized testing is an assessment method created on the principle of consistency. All elementary, middle school, and high school students are required to complete standardized tests, which consists of each student receiving the same set of questions, provide an answer (either written or multiple choice), which is then graded by a teacher based on a rubric or answer key.

Standardized tests also provide a source of data for educators to reference when developing a plan of action for school improvement.

Much like the approach taken in improvement science, quantitative data is then used to determine target improvement areas for a student/class.

The Benefits of Standard Testing

As more parents are opting out of standardized tests, the debate around their effectiveness continues. However, these tests still provide several valuable insights into student and school performance.

1. Tests Provide Guidance for Curriculum Planning

Standardized tests are aligned with grade-level curriculum standards, making them useful for shaping a comprehensive curriculum. By evaluating what the tests measure, educators can ensure students are learning what's expected at each grade level.

2. Tests Help Schools Assess Overall Progress

Standardized test data allows schools to track their progress and make informed decisions for improvement. Without them, districts would have fewer tools to evaluate student achievement and address deficiencies. They also help identify whether student performance is trending up or down, aiding in deeper analysis of the reasons behind it.

3. Tests reduce Subjective Grading Practices

These assessments offer clear right and wrong answers, minimizing subjectivity in grading. Although they may oversimplify student knowledge, they help identify fundamental gaps in understanding that can be addressed.

4. Standardized Tests Highlight Areas for Improvement

By analyzing test results, districts can pinpoint subjects where students struggle, such as reading or math. This data can guide the allocation of resources and support to improve educational outcomes.

The Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

While standardized testing offers a range of benefits, it also has some major drawbacks. The disadvantages of standardized testing not only obstructs the potential success of a school improvement plan , but goes against several key aspects of improvement science .

1. Teaching to the Test

The biggest criticism of standardized testing is that it takes the personalization out of student's education by instead "teaching to the test." Where the teacher is focused on test preparation rather than the general education of a student. This denies students the opportunity to use their critical thinking skills and denies creativity.

Standardized testing is also not evenly distributed across the country. A by the Center for American Progress found that schools in urban areas tested students twice as often as schools in suburban areas.

Improvement science brings a balanced approach to education, whereby many sources of data inform the school's improvement plan. Over-reliance on standardized test data can result in a narrow focus on test scores and, therefore, a potential cut of broader educational goals. That counter would have schools include qualitative measures of student learning and well-being in plans for improvement, having schools ensure a more holistic approach to education.

2. Stress and Anxiety for Students

Standardized tests can cause high level of anxiety and stress in students, which negatively impacts their mental health, development, and impaires academic performance. Stress is especially high for students who really struggle with taking tests as well for ambitious students who want a high grade.

The stress and anxiety associated with taking tests is a result of how frequently students take them. A 2015 study by Council of the Great City Schools found that the average student in the US takes 112 standardized tests, with many students taking far more than that over the course of their education.

Improvement science teaches educators that the well-being of students must be central to any school improvement plan. Test data should be used as one tool, among many, for assessing student performance-not as the definitive measure of a student's progress. By moving toward a more holistic model of education, some of the stress associated with standardized testing can be vastly reduced, and ultimately benefit the mental and emotional welfare of students.

3. Narrow Assessment

Standardized tests are focused on essential subjects like math and English, which relegates other subjects like art, music, and P.E. to be deemed less essential.For this reason, the scope of education becomes limited only to some topics, and test results alone cannot represent the whole potential and capability of a student.

Improvement science, therefore, encourages the use of multiple sources of data in order to better inform school improvement plans. Therefore, schools should consider multiple forms of assessment, such as project-based learning and portfolio reviews, among other qualitative assessment tools. This expanded approach will guarantee consideration of all dimensions of student learning and present an accurate portrait of student achievement.

Final Thoughts

While standardized testing plays a significant role in evaluating student performance and providing data for school improvement, it is not without its drawbacks. The benefits of receiving consistent measures of academic progress and identifying areas for improvement are clear, but these come at the cost of stress and anxiety for students, narrowed curriculums, and an overemphasis on test preparation. A balanced approach that incorporates multiple assessment methods alongside standardized tests can help create a more comprehensive and less stressful educational experience, ultimately benefiting both student development and overall school success.

Learn how Schools That Lead helped North Carolina education leaders create their own strategies for managing the students in their care and improving student outcomes, such as a greater decline in chronic student absences than the state average.

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The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing - Schools That Lead

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Standardized testing is used to measure progress of a student's education, but it's also a source of stress and anxiety. Learn more about the pros and cons.

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Pros & Cons of Standardized Tests - Oxford Learning

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Learn the pros and cons of standardized testing and see how Oxford Learning can help students confidently prepare.

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Educators, parents and students all debate the value of standardized tests. Some say that standardized tests are the best way to evaluate students accurately, while others believe that these tests provide skewed, inaccurate results. There are many pros and cons of standardized tests; therefore, it is important to identify exactly what these tests are designed to do, and why.

What are standardized tests?

Standardized tests attempt to measure a student's educational ability "across the board." Educators use these results to determine current averages and identify high and low performers. All test takers answer the same questions and are scored the same way. This process makes it possible to compare students based on their performance. The testing sample can be as small as a classroom or as broad as the entire country.

Why standardized tests are important

Test such as these provide benchmarks of average performance which can help identify struggling students who need help, or gifted children for possible advancement. These benchmarks also help educators make a decision about the distribution of federal funds to schools across the country.

The process of standardized testing remains part of our education system, but are they helping or hurting students?

Standardized Testing: Pros

Standardized testing can provide benchmarks for parents and teachers. This allows parents and teachers to see how a student is doing compared to other students in his or her class, city, and country.

Standardized tests can help identify problem areas in individual students, as well as schools and curriculums.

It provides guidelines for curriculum. Standardized tests give educators a structure for what subjects students need to learn, helping keep classroom material consistent across the country.

It is a practical and accurate way of evaluating what a student does or does not know in key subjects like math, reading, and writing.

Standardized Testing: Cons

Tests can create major stress for students. Students feel the pressure when it comes to performing well on tests. Test scores can affect student confidence. This can lead to students developing a negative attitude about their abilities and a dislike for school.

Teachers may end up "teaching to the test" rather than giving students a deeper understanding of a subject. This also creates a classroom atmosphere that lacks creativity and can limit a student's learning potential due to boredom.

It evaluates student's performance without considering external factors. Standardized tests don't consider factors like test anxiety, home life, or the fact that some kids are extremely bright but just don't test well.

It only considers a single test performance upon evaluation. It does not consider how much a student has grown over the year.

These tests create a limited scope of learning and success, only measuring specific areas like reading, writing, and math. They don't provide a full picture of soft skills needed to learn, such as creativity, motivation, and cooperation

How to Prepare for Standardized Tests

Teaching students good study habits can help relieve test-taking stress and anxiety. Critics cite this as one of the main factors contributing to out-of-character scores.

If you are concerned about the performance of your child, there are ways to improve - the easiest of which is to hire a GradePower Learning tutor.

Our skilled tutors help students develop stronger test-taking strategies, manage their time, and improve critical thinking skills. Don't wait. Begin building better study and test-taking skills today at GradePower Learning! Find a location today.

Please note that this post was originally published in 2014 and updated in 2024.

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Pros & Cons of Standardized Tests - GradePower Learning

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Learn about the pros and cons of standardized testing and see how GradePower Learning can help students prepare with confidence.

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Cell phones in school: Let’s talk about the pros and cons

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Should cell phones be allowed in school? Experts are divided, but have solid points for both sides.

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It has become increasingly common for students to have cell phones at school. In fact, many middle and high schools expect students to have their own mobile devices. Phones can be a useful tool for children, it allows them to easily contact someone in an emergency and keep in touch with parents.

While phones can be beneficial for children, they also come with several downsides. In addition to being a distraction, they can also be used to engage in cyberbullying, access inappropriate content, or cheat.

Deciding if your child should have a phone at school can be a difficult decision for families. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of allowing children to use phones at school.

Pros of Cell Phones at School

Safety

Cell phones are one of the best ways for kids to reach their parents or emergency services if they are in an emergency. Having quick and easy access to help can make parents and teachers feel more secure about their children.

Parents can also use GPS tracking to locate their child, this is especially helpful if your child rides the bus.

Communication

Parents and children can easily stay in touch during the school day. If a parent needs to update their child on changes to afterschool plans or remind them about an assignment, having a phone at school is highly useful.

Additionally, many teachers use communication apps like Remind to communicate with students. Also, extracurricular activities may use text, Instagram, or other apps to keep students updated. It may be difficult for your child to stay up-to-date and informed if they do not have access to these forms of communication.

Learning Opportunities

Cell phones are a great tool that children can use in the classroom. They have a world of information easily accessible at their fingertips, which makes research easy. Students can often access their assignments, instructional videos, and other educational materials needed for class.

Students may also choose to record their lessons, photograph notes on the board or take notes on their phone. Phones in the classroom give students more ways to engage with the subject they are learning.

Socialization

A phone is a great way for kids to connect with their classmates and build friendships. Since many other students have phones, they can call or text each other. If parents approve of social media, they can also connect with classmates on social media.

Digital Literacy

Allowing students to use their devices in a controlled environment teaches them how to properly use their phones. Having cell phones in classrooms gives teachers the opportunity to teach children proper phone etiquette and to set boundaries on usage. As technology evolves and becomes more essential to our society it's important that young people learn how to properly and professionally use these tools.

Cons of Cell Phones at School

Distracting

Phones can be a significant distraction in the classroom. When students have phones in class they have access to games, videos, music, texting, and social media. This is obviously one of the biggest struggles for parents and teachers when students have phones at school. Many schools have strict guidelines for when and where students can use their devices.

Cheating

Students may use their phones to cheat on exams. A phone gives instant access to information online, making it tempting to look up answers. Cheating via mobile device may come in many forms like texting answers, using the calculator, looking up answers, and even finding the answers to the test online.

Bullying

Cell phones can be used to engage in cyberbullying both in school and outside of school hours. Cyberbullying is a major concern for both parents and educators as it's difficult for them to monitor and address. Students may pass around rumors, crude pictures, or nasty comments via social media or group texts. Teachers often are unaware of this type of behavior.

Inappropriate Content

Students may take or share inappropriate pictures with classmates. With built-in cameras, phones can be used to record or photograph someone without them knowing. Children also have access to sexually explicit or violent content via their mobile devices, which is why it's important for parents to set up parental controls on their phones.

Mental Health

Social media and cell phones can be addictive. Many parents worry that their children spend too much time on their phones which can lead to an increase in teen depression. Many teachers prefer to limit phone use during class time to encourage students to take a break from their devices and engage with other students face-to-face.

Teaching Your Child Phone Etiquette at School

If you decided that your child needs a phone at school it's important to teach them proper phone etiquette. Children should know how to use their phones appropriately so they don't become a distraction.

Rules of Phone Use at School

Know your school's cell phone policy. When and where is phone use allowed?

Put away and silence your phone when you are in class unless given permission.

No headphone use during the day unless given permission by a teacher.

Do not post photos of others without their permission

Be aware of your surrounding. Be courteous to those around you.

Do not use your phone while walking.

Do not post personal information online.

Report any inappropriate, cruel, or suspicious online behavior to an adult.

Final Thoughts

It is ultimately up to parents and schools to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of allowing children to carry mobile devices to school. Many schools already have policies regarding cell phone use during the school day.

For many parents, the pros of being about to communicate with their child at school are the deciding factor in allowing their child to have a phone at school. With proper instruction and management students can learn to responsibly use their mobile devices safely.

About Jessica Lieb

Jessica Lieb is the founder and editor of B Honest Media, a site that gives parents a guide to entertainment, technology, parenting, and more. She enjoys helping parents navigate parenting in a digital world. Her goal is to guide and equip confident digital parents.

Jessica has lived in the Raleigh area since 1989 and currently lives in Knightdale with her husband and four sons.

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Should Children Have Cell Phones at School? | SchoolUp Wake

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Guest Post by Jessica Lieb, B Honest Media It has become increasingly common for students to have cell phones at school. In fact, many middle and high schools expect students to have their own mobile devices. Phones can be a useful tool for children, it allows them to easily...

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, a popular social media platform known for its short-form videos, has garnered immense popularity worldwide. However, it has also faced controversies and concerns regarding data privacy and security.

This bill, known as House Bill 7521, introduces a prohibition on distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services for certain applications, such as TikTok, that foreign adversaries control. However, there are exceptions to the prohibition if a covered application executes a qualified divestiture as determined by the President.

The bill grants the Department of Justice the authority to investigate and enforce violations, with civil penalties imposed on entities based on the number of users affected. Additionally, the bill requires covered applications to provide users with their account data upon request before the prohibition takes effect.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has exclusive jurisdiction over challenges to the bill, and there are specific time limits for filing challenges. As discussions arise about the ban of TikTok, it is crucial to explore the potential pros and cons associated with such a decision.
Pros of Banning TikTok
One of the primary concerns surrounding TikTok is its potential to collect and mishandle user data. Banning TikTok could mitigate the risk of data breaches, protecting users' personal information and privacy.

TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, leading to concerns regarding the Chinese government's influence over the app. Banning TikTok could reduce the potential for foreign entities to access and exploit sensitive information of users, thereby safeguarding national security interests.

TikTok has faced criticism for inadequate content moderation, with concerns over inappropriate or harmful content, including cyberbullying and hate speech. Banning TikTok would remove the platform's negative influence, potentially leading to a safer online environment for users, particularly younger audiences.

Banning TikTok could encourage the development and growth of domestic or alternative social media platforms. This could foster healthy competition, innovation, and increased choice for users while promoting platforms that prioritize data privacy and security.

A potential positive outcome of a TikTok ban is that it may contribute to an improvement in the attention span of children. TikTok's addictive nature and short-form content have been criticized for potentially reducing attention spans and decreasing the ability to focus for extended periods. With a ban on TikTok, children might be encouraged to engage in activities that require sustained attention, such as reading books, pursuing hobbies, or participating in outdoor activities. This shift could lead to the development of stronger concentration skills and the cultivation of more well-rounded interests among children.
Cons of Banning TikTok
TikTok serves as a platform for creative expression, allowing individuals to share their talents, ideas, and opinions. Banning TikTok could be viewed as an infringement on freedom of speech, limiting the ability of users to express themselves and connect with a global audience.

TikTok has created an of content creators, influencers, and businesses that rely on the platform for promotion and revenue generation. A ban on TikTok could disrupt this ecosystem, impacting many individuals' and companies' livelihoods and economic opportunities.

A ban on TikTok could strain international relations, particularly with China. The Chinese government has a history of being protective of its domestic companies and could view a ban on TikTok as an unfair and discriminatory measure. This could lead to retaliatory actions or further restrictions on foreign platforms operating within China, resulting in a more fragmented global internet landscape.

User Experience and Entertainment

TikTok offers users an engaging and entertaining experience, with a range of content spanning various interests. Banning TikTok would deprive users of this unique form of entertainment and community, potentially leading to a void that alternative platforms cannot easily fill.

The decision to ban TikTok is complex, with potential benefits and drawbacks to consider. While concerns regarding data privacy, national security, and content moderation are valid, it is essential to balance them against the principles of freedom of expression, economic impact, and international relations.

Finding a middle ground that addresses these concerns while preserving the positive aspects of TikTok may be a more viable solution, such as implementing robust data privacy regulations, strengthening content moderation practices, and fostering competition among social media platforms.

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Examining the pros and cons of the banning of TikTok

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TikTok, a popular social media platform known for its short-form videos, has garnered immense popularity worldwide. However, it has also faced controversies and concerns regarding data privacy and security. This bill, known as House Bill 7521, introduces a prohibition on distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services for certain applications, such as TikTok, that foreign...

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8 Pros and Cons of TikTok On Kids' Mental Health

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TikTok is the hottest social media app of the day. One of the most prevalent concerns about this platform is the effect it can potentially have upon mental health. Some argue that TikTok offers more upsides than downsides. Here is our take...

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Welcome to the New & Improved AmericanChemistry.com

Plastics are in products we use every day that help keep us safe. They are in bicycle helmets, child safety seats, and automotive airbags that protect us and the cell phones that connect us. Plastics also help keep the foods we eat and serve to our families safer and fresher than ever before.

Strong, lightweight plastics enable us to live better while contributing to sustainability in many ways-all of which stem from plastics' ability to help us do more with less.

Plastics help us protect the environment by reducing waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and saving energy at home, at work, and on the road. Plastic packaging helps to dramatically extend the shelf life of fresh foods and beverages while allowing us to ship more product with less packaging material-reducing both food and packaging waste.

Plastic insulation, sealants, and other building products are making our homes significantly more energy efficient, while reducing costs for heating and cooling. And lightweight plastics in cars can dramatically increase miles per gallon, saving drivers money at the pump.

Plastics not only help doctors save lives, they protect our loved ones at home, on the road, on the job and at play. And these advanced materials are helping make health care more affordable.

17.5 Billion pounds of waste potentially diverted from landfills annually as result of announced investments in advanced recycling since 2017

10% Reduction in vehicle weight can result in a 6% - 8% increase in that vehicle's fuel economy, according to the Department of Energy.

Explore Chemistries Critical to Plastics

Stay up-to-date and engaged with the latest industry-related news.

Chemistry in Everyday Products

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5 Actions Congress Can Take to Accelerate A Circular Economy

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Plastics are in products we use every day that help keep us safe. They are in bicycle helmets, child safety seats, and automotive airbags that protect us and the cell phones that connect us. Plastics also help keep the foods we eat and serve to our families safer and fresher than ever before.

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There is nothing "natural" about clothing made from animals' skin or fur. In addition to causing the suffering and deaths of millions of animals each year, the production of wool, fur, and leather contributes to climate change, land devastation, pollution, and water contamination.

How Fur Production Harms the Environment

Eighty-five percent of the fur industry's skins come from animals on fur factory farms. ¹ These farms can house thousands of animals, and as with other factory farms, they are designed to maximize profits-with little regard for the environment or animals' well-being.

Each mink skinned by fur farmers produces about 40 pounds of feces in his or her lifetime. ² That adds up to millions of pounds of feces produced annually by U.S. mink farms alone. ³ When a Washington state mink farm was charged with polluting a nearby creek, the fecal coliform levels measured in the water were as much as 240 times in excess of the legal limit. ⁴ Over the span of five years, studies of lakes and rivers in Nova Scotia found "degradation in water quality to be primarily a result of high phosphorus inputs resulting from releases emanating from mink farming operations." ⁵ According to the World Bank, the hazardous process of fur dressing is so problematic that it is now ranked as one of the world's five worst industries for toxic-metal pollution." ⁶ Raising animals for their fur also pollutes the air. In Denmark, where more than 19 million minks are killed for their fur each year, more than 8,000 pounds of ammonia is released into the atmosphere annually. 7,8

Why Finished Fur Is Anything but 'Natural'

Fur is only "natural" when it's on the animal born with it. Once an animal has been slaughtered and skinned, his or her fur is treated with a soup of toxic chemicals to "convert the putrefactive raw skin into a durable material" (i.e., to keep it from rotting in the buyer's closet). ⁹ Various salts-along with ammonia, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and other chromates and bleaching agents-are used to preserve and dye fur. ¹⁰ Much of the world's fur is processed in China, where environmental regulations are often ignored. According to Professor Cheng Fengxia of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, "Pollution caused by inappropriate processing, especially coloring the fur, has also become a headache." ¹¹

Fur-farm pollution is further compounded when all aspects of farmed-fur production are considered: Fur processing requires transporting feed to animals; removing animals' waste; providing electricity for housing facilities, the slaughter process, and other operations; using pesticides, vaccines, and antibiotics; transporting carcasses; transporting pelts to auction; transporting pelts to a fur tannery, which involves sorting, soaking, fleshing, tanning, wringing, drying, cleaning, trimming, buffing, and finishing; and transporting tanned pelts to a garment maker, a wholesaler, and so on. When all these processes are taken into account, the negative environmental impact from producing a fur coat and trim can be three times higher than making a faux fur coat. In some models, the environmental effects may be 10 times higher. ¹²

No federal humane slaughter law protects animals on fur factory farms, and killing methods are gruesome. For more information on the intolerable suffering that animals endure, please see PETA's factsheets on the fur-farming and trapping industries.

How Leather Production Harms the Environment

Until the late 1800s, animal skin was air- or salt-dried and tanned with vegetable tannins or oil, but today animal skin is turned into finished leather with a variety of much more dangerous substances, including mineral salts, formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives, and various oils, dyes, and finishes-some of them cyanide-based.

Most leather is chrome-tanned. All wastes containing chromium are considered hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The waste from tanneries also includes large quantities of other pollutants, including protein, hair, salt, lime sludge, sulfides, and acids. Furthermore, a chrome-tanning facility wastes nearly 15,000 gallons of water and produces up to 2,200 pounds of "solid waste" (e.g., hair, flesh, and trimmings) for every ton of hides that it processes. ¹³ Leather tanning also generates 800,000 tons of chrome shavings annually, and much of this chromium waste ends up in landfills. ¹⁴

Groundwater near tanneries has been found to have highly elevated levels of a variety of toxic substances. The Regis Tanning Co., Inc., operated a tanning facility in New Hampshire from the early 1950s until 1972. But more than 20 years after it closed down, groundwater samples collected in the area revealed that arsenic, chromium, lead, and zinc were all still present-likely because of wastes disposed of on the property-while samples taken from nearby Lamprey River and its wetlands indicated the presence of cyanide, chromium, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). ¹⁵

More than 500 tanneries in three districts of India were charged with polluting some 16,000 hectares of agricultural land and contributing to drought conditions that were "not due to failure of monsoon or other natural causes termed as Act of God, but ... purely man-made." ¹⁶

How Leather Production Harms People

The toxic groundwater near tanneries has caused health problems for residents in surrounding areas. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the incidence of leukemia among residents near one tannery in Kentucky was five times the national average. ¹⁷ Arsenic is only one of a number of common tannery chemicals that has been associated with various cancers in workers who are exposed to them on a regular basis. ¹⁸ Studies of leather-tannery workers in Sweden and Italy found cancer risks "between 20% and 50% above [those] expected. ¹⁹

Because of the acknowledged hazards of leather production, the process is being discontinued in most European countries and the U.S., and operations are moving overseas. Bangladesh Tanners Association President M. Harun Chowdhury said, "Most of the European countries and USA are discontinuing leather processing, as [the] leather industry is an environmentally hazardous one." ²⁰ As a result, the health of people in other parts of the world is now being threatened by the tanning industry. In Bangladesh, 90 percent of the leather exported comes from a slum where tanneries' wastewater isn't even treated. According to a Human Rights Watch report, the contaminated water flows into the nearby river and "[w]hile the government takes a hands-off approach, local residents fall sick and workers suffer daily from their exposure to harmful tannery chemicals." ²¹

The health of 3.5 million people in Ranipet, India, has been jeopardized by a factory that produces the salts used in nearby tanneries, according to a report issued by the Blacksmith Institute, a group that works with scholars, scientists, and nongovernmental organizations to reduce pollution in developing nations. The group, which included the area in its annual "Dirty Thirty" list of the world's most contaminated sites, noted that groundwater and land had been contaminated from waste runoff. Furthermore, it reported that farmers suffered from skin ulcerations when they came into contact with the water supply. ²² In 2012, the institute listed "tanneries" at number four on the top 10 list of the world's "Toxic Pollution Problems." ²³

Studies have shown that even finished leather products-especially those in direct contact with the skin, such as gloves or shoes-contain high levels of a toxic chemical called hexavalent chromium, considered to be a strong allergen that can lead to skin reactions like eczema. One German study found the substance in more than half the leather products it examined. ²⁴

Above all, the process of turning skin into leather is cruel to animals, some of whom are slaughtered as babies, spend their entire lives in confinement, or are skinned or boiled alive for their hides. For more information, please see PETA's leather factsheet.

How Wool Production Harms the Environment

Without human interference, sheep grow just enough wool to protect themselves from temperature extremes. The invention of shears led humans to breed sheep for continuous fleece, and subsequently, land has been cleared and trees have been cut down to make room for grazing sheep, which has led to increased soil salinity, erosion, and decreased biodiversity.

Oxford University researchers studying land degradation in Karoo, South Africa, reported that large numbers of farmed animals, especially sheep, were responsible for an unfavorable change in vegetation and erosion that led to the formation of badlands (heavily eroded, barren areas) and gully systems. ²⁵

In the first half of the 20th century, Patagonia, Argentina, was second to Australia in wool production. But local sheep farmers' scale of operations outgrew the ability of the land to sustain them. Soil deterioration in the region triggered a desertification process that, according to National Geographic, "brought the industry to its knees." More than 50 million acres in one province alone have been "irrevocably damaged because of overstocking." ²⁶

Not only does animal agriculture consume huge amounts of water, chemicals used for wool production can also pollute existing water supplies. More than 9,000 pounds of insecticides were applied to sheep in the U.S. alone in 2010. ²⁷ According to a 2004 technical memo from the Environmental Agency of New South Wales, Australia, an "investigation of a major decline in the invertebrate fauna of the upper Teifi has established that the major causal factor is pollution by sheep dip pesticides." ²⁸

What You Can Do

With so many great alternatives to fur, leather, and wool available, there's no reason to wear the fur, skin, or fleece of any animal.

There are many plant-based, sustainable, and renewable fabrics available, including hemp, cotton, bamboo, and linen. Designers such as Gucci, Michael Kors, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Stella McCartney don't use fur in their collections, and stores such as J.Crew, Gap Inc., Express, and Ann Taylor do not sell fur items.

There are many alternatives to leather, including polyurethane, Ultrasuede, pineapple leaves, grape-derived leather, cork, waxes canvas, cotton, linen, ramie, and other natural and synthetic fibers.

Vegan wool knits are made from polyester fleece, soy-based "vegetable cashmere," biodegradable Tencel, and fleece is created from recycled plastic bottles, seaweed, hemp and modal.

These materials are easy to find, and will keep you warm and cozy without contributing to cruelty to animals. For the latest in cruelty-free and environmentally friendly clothing and accessories, check out PETA's Shopping Guide to Compassionate Clothing and visit PETA's online cruelty-free mall at PETAMall.com.
Learn More About Wool
References

¹International Fur Trade Federation, "Farmed Fur," 2013.
²Marijn Bijleveld et al., "The Environmental Impact of Mink Fur Production," CE Delft, Jan. 2011.
³U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, "Mink," 14 July 2017.
⁴"WA Mink Farm Fined for Manure Discharge," Manure Manager, 2 Apr. 2013.
⁵Judith Lavoie, "Mink Farm Pollution Key Culprit in Rendering Nova Scotia Lakes Unswimmable: Report," The Narwhal, 15 Aug. 2014.
⁶Tansy Hoskins, "Is The Fur Trade Sustainable?" The Guardian 29 Oct. 2013.
⁷Danish Agriculture & Food Council, "Mink and Fur," accessed 30 May 2018.
⁸Steen Gyldenkærne and Mette Hjorth Mikkelsen, "Projection of the Ammonia Emission From Denmark From 2005 Until 2025," Research Notes From the National Environmental Research Institute, No. 239 2007, 23-9.
⁹BASF, "Fur," Pocketbook for the Leather Technologist, 22 Jan. 2007.
¹⁰Jeanne Mager Stellman, "Fur Industry," Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety (Geneva: International Labour Office, 1998) 88.4-88.6.
¹¹Zhao Renfeng and Ding Qingfen, "Domestic Fur Demand Increases," Business Weekly 20 Jan. 2004.
¹²Marijn Bijleveld et al., "The Environmental Impact of Mink Fur Production," CE Delft, Jan. 2011.
¹³Doris Schubert, "Assessment of the Environmental Release of Chemicals From the Leather Processing Industry," IC-07 Leather Processing Industry 28 July 1998.
¹⁴Jonnalagadda Raghava Rao et al., "Green Route for the Utilization of Chrome Shavings (Chromium-Containing Solid Waste) in Tanning Industry," Environmental Science & Technology 36 (2002).
¹⁵U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regis Tannery," Waste Site Cleanup and Reuse in New England 9 Aug. 2006.
¹⁶ The Hindu, "Assess Effluent Damage to Farm Land," 29 Feb. 2004.
¹⁷Richard E. Sclove et al., Community-Based Research in the United States (Amherst: The Loka Institute, 1998) 52.
¹⁸S.K. Rastogi et al., "Occupational Cancers in Leather Tanning Industries: A Short Review," Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 11 (2007).
¹⁹France Labrèche, "Occupations and Breast Cancer: Evaluation of Associations Between Breast Cancer and Workplace Exposures" (Montréal: McGill University, 1997).
²⁰Jasim Uddin Khan, "Local Tanners Eye Bright Prospect as US, EU Quitting Leather Processing," The Daily Star 20 Dec. 2007.
²¹Reuters, "Toxic Tanneries Drive Bangladesh Leather Exports: Report," 9 Oct. 2012.
²²The Blacksmith Institute, "The Top Ten of the Dirty Thirty," The World's Worst Polluted Places Sept. 2007.
²³The Blacksmith Institute, "Source #4: Tanneries," Top Ten Toxic Pollution Problems 2012.
²⁴Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, "Chromium (VI) in Leather Clothing and Shoes Problematic for Allergy Sufferers," 7 Feb. 2007.
²⁵Environmental Change Institute, "Annual Review 2006," University of Oxford, 2006.
²⁶Simon Worrall, "Land of the Living Wind," National Geographic Jan. 2004.
²⁷U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, "Agricultural Chemical Usage: 2010 Sheep and Sheep Facilities," May 2011.
²⁸ Graham Rutt, "A Summary of Investigations of Sheep Dip Pollution in Southwest Wales 2002-2004," Environment Agency, 2005.

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Wool, Fur, and Leather: Hazardous to the Environment | PETA

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There is nothing "natural" about clothing made from animals' skin or fur. In addition to causing the suffering and deaths of millions of animals each

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You’ll want to read this before purchasing any products using fur.

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5 Reasons Why Wearing Fur Should Be Cancelled

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With numerous animal-friendly and eco-friendly alternatives now available, there is no excuse for the continued use of fur in fashion.

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Plastic is ubiquitous. It's in the clothes we wear, wrapped around the food we eat and in the toothpaste we use. It floats in the oceans and litters the snow on Mount Everest.

Every year, the world produces nearly 400 million tons of plastic, a 19,000% increase from 1950. The amount is forecast to double by 2050 and 90% is never recycled. Over half of the plastics produced are used only once, for things like packaging, utensils and straws.

"A lot of people have a hard time imagining that," said Phaedra Pezzullo, associate professor in the Department of Communication at CU Boulder. "But we produce an astronomical amount of plastics every day. Most plastic bags are used for less than 12 minutes, but they last on the planet for hundreds of years."

Plastics are made from fossil fuels, and its production is exacerbating problems like climate change and biodiversity loss. It also leads to many health problems like asthma and cancer in people.

To address the problem, 175 nations, including the U.S., agreed in 2022 to come up with a legally binding global treaty by 2024 to end plastic pollution. And this year's Earth Day, which falls on April 22, will center around the theme "Planet vs Plastics."

"You can't fix climate change just in your county or country, you have to have an international answer. And the same is true with plastics," Pezzullo said. In her recent book, " Beyond Straw Men," Pezzullo discusses the current plastic crisis, the global anti-plastic movement and the international plastic treaty.

CU Boulder Today spoke with her about her book, plastic legislation in the U.S., and what it will take to end plastic pollution.

Social movements have tried for years to reduce plastic pollution. Is production slowing down?

So far, there hasn't been a slowdown. Many people working on plastic pollution, such as Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics, argue that the plastics industry has grown so much, because it's the plan B for the petrochemical industry.

As we're reducing our use of fossil fuels, the petrochemical industries that make money off fossil fuels are now making more and more single-use plastics to compensate for the profit lost during the energy transition and to keep making record-breaking profits.

What is driving the rise in plastic production and use, both domestically and globally?

There was a conversation that the plastics industry had in the early 20th century when they realized they could make more money if more people threw away their plastics. So there was a concerted campaign for the advertising industry to work hand in hand with the petrochemical industry to convince us that plastics were something we could recycle. The plastic industry was very successful in advertising the convenience of plastics to us and the myth of plastics recycling.

Certainly, plastics have made our lives more convenient. And for some people, plastics are necessary for medical reasons, helping to prolong life. But on the other hand, Americans love to consume. Some people in the U.S. equate freedom to consumption. This is why we have fast fashion and fast food. This is why we have so many single-use plastics. As I argue in the book: "Every person is necessary, every plastic is not."

How do single-use plastics impact human health?

Bangladesh became the first country in the world to ban single-use plastic bags in 2002. This is because the country's drainage pipes were clogged up by all the single-use plastic bags. During their summer monsoon season with heavy rains, which has become worse due to climate change, the streets would be flooded, and people were literally drowning to death. So, banning plastic bags helps prevent deaths.

It's not just a litter issue, however. Plastics cause harm throughout their lifecycle from extraction of oil to disposal. In southern Louisiana, for example, there are many petrochemical factories. Plastic production, that is, the making of plastic products from petrochemicals, causes many public health issues among people living near those plants, such as respiratory illnesses, endocrine disruption, asthma and a whole host of cancers. In the U.S., people of color are disproportionately impacted by toxic pollution.

If you now think, "Well, I don't live there, so it's not impacting me," that is not true. It is estimated that all of us living on this planet are consuming about a credit card worth of plastic each week. Scientists have detected small pieces of plastics called microplastics in people's lungs, blood, placentas and in every corner of the Earth. We're all becoming more plastic, even if we don't know what that means for our health.

Many other countries have banned single-use plastics. The U.S. hasn't. Are we falling behind?

Yes, the U.S. is very behind. We have been dumping our single-use plastics around the world, and therefore we haven't had to deal with it. Most of us throw plastic products in the recycle bin and assume they are taken care of. But studies tell us that the most generous estimate is: Less than 9% of all plastics ever created have been recycled properly.

The good thing is that the U.S. has been part of the ongoing U.N. plastic treaty conversations. And I am optimistic that we are turning the tide culturally in the U.S. to understand that we can't have unlimited consumption without consequences.

How do we break that dependency on plastics?

If we learned anything from COVID-19, it would be that we can change the world overnight. We radically changed many ideas around things like working remotely, hand washing and social distancing, because we realized it was a problem. It is clear that we have the capacity to change when we have the will.

Of course, we always need structural change if we can get it. Many people don't care too much about what their coffee cup is made of. They just want to have a delicious drink. So if we could change what kind of cups are offered on our campus, in Colorado, in the U.S., or globally those drinks are served in, we can lower the barriers to behaviors that are good for the environment and for people. That would be great progress.

Colorado recently joined a dozen other U.S. states to ban single-use plastic bags from large retail stores. Will this have a big impact?

In California, their single-use plastic bag ban, which went into effect nearly a decade ago, has already reduced the use of plastic bags by 70% in the state, which is pretty phenomenal. I hope Colorado's ban, which just went into effect in January, can do the same. I hope in Colorado, where we tend to care about the outdoors, we can find a way to make every place-the resorts people go to and everyday workplaces-more sustainable.

At CU, the Sustainability Council, consisting of students, staff and faculty, has been working on eliminating all single-use plastics in items sold in our vending machines. For example, instead of water in plastic bottles, we are trying to get vending machines to sell water in aluminum cans, glass bottles, or cardboard boxes.

There are so many environmental issues that are complicated and difficult to tackle. But in the case of single-use plastics, we have what we call "low-hanging fruit." It would be wonderful to take care of those as baby steps on our way toward these larger changes. While reducing single-use plastics might seem small compared to the challenges we face on climate and public health, they actually are a compelling entry point into thinking about how we can create a healthier and more just future.

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We're drowning in single-use plastics. Here's why and what we can do about it

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Just in time for Earth Day, CU Boulder Professor Phaedra Pezzullo discusses her new book "Beyond Straw Man," on the online and offline controversies regarding the global social movement to ban plastics.

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The big debate: should the government ban fur?

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As the government considers a potential ban on fur sales across the UK, Drapers asks one fur advocate and one anti-fur brand to debate the issue.

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It's no secret that students need good nutrition in order to learn and perform well in school. A balanced diet is essential for their physical and mental development.

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When it comes to lunch provided by schools or packed at home, it's critical to provide healthy meals for students. In this blog post, we will go over a few reasons why a nutritious school lunch is so important to students and their success.

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Physical Health

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A healthy school lunch is incredibly important for students' physical health. The nutrients in a healthy school lunch help students to grow and develop properly. In addition, a healthy school lunch helps to prevent obesity and other chronic health conditions.

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When students eat a nutritious school lunch, they are more likely to be physically active and to have a positive attitude towards physical activity. Furthermore, a healthy school lunch provides essential vitamins and minerals that are necessary for good health. Vitamins and minerals help the body to function properly and can help to prevent disease.

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Mental Health

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Healthy school lunch is important for students' mental health for a combination of reasons. First, nutritious food helps to improve concentration and focus, which is essential for academic success. Second, healthy eating habits can lead to increased energy levels and improved moods. Finally, nutritious meals help to promote overall physical health, which can lead to improved mental health.

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When students feel good about themselves physically, they are more likely to feel good about themselves mentally as well. By providing healthy school lunches, we can help our students to thrive academically, emotionally, and physically.

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Classroom Performance

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When it comes to school performance, there are many factors that come into play. But one of the most important is nutrition. When students eat a healthy lunch, they are more likely to have the energy and focus they need to succeed in the classroom. A nutritious meal gives students the fuel their bodies need to grow and learn.

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It also helps them to maintain a healthy weight, which can boost self-esteem and confidence. And when students feel good about themselves, they are more likely to take pride in their work and perform at their best. A healthy lunch can truly make all the difference in their academic success.

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Healthy Eating Habits

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A well-rounded school lunch program is an essential part of developing healthy eating habits in kids. Not only does it provide the fuel they need to focus in class, but it also offers an opportunity to develop healthy eating habits.

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Furthermore, school lunches provide an important opportunity for children to try new foods and expand their horizons. By offering a variety of healthy options, schools can encourage kids to experiment with new flavors and ingredients. In addition, by teaching kids about the importance of nutrition, schools can help them make informed choices about what they eat both now and in the future.

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Immune System Support

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A healthy lunch can also help students stay healthy by boosting their immune systems, preventing them from missing class as well. While there are many factors that contribute to a strong immune system, diet is one of the most important. The nutrients in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains help to support the body's natural defenses, while unhealthy foods can weaken them.

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For example, research has shown that vitamin C can help to prevent respiratory infections, while sugary drinks increase the risk of developing obesity-related illnesses. By providing students with a healthy lunch, schools can help them to build up their immune systems and stay healthy throughout the year.

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In Conclusion

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As you can see, there are many reasons why it's important to provide students with healthy meals for school lunch. By doing so, we can help them to succeed academically, emotionally, and physically. A healthy lunch could make all the difference for a combination of different reasons.

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Why Healthy School Lunches are Critical for Students' Success | Ordo

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A nutritious and balanced school lunch is critical for students' physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance.

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How bad can it be to let your child watch a short video featuring a pug running circles around a yard?

Seems harmless enough, until you realize that one video feeds a proprietary algorithm that recommends content based not just on the videos your child watches, but their location and language, and continually exposes your child to new content, mostly from creators they may not follow.

Since its 2016 launch in China, TikTok has exploded, getting downloaded worldwide over 3 billion times and morphing into a full-fledged video service with an extraordinary range of content geared at all types of audiences. And it's highly addictive.

According to a 2022 Pew survey, kids and teens spend on average 91+ minutes a day on TikTok.

You can learn more about how screen time affects kids, in our previous article.
But is TikTok safe for kids? That's the question every parent wants to know.

"While there's plenty of fun and engaging content on TikTok that parents and kids can enjoy together, and it's certainly a shared interest among kids today, parents should be mindful of the app's limitations and risks," reminds Julie D'Orsi, HYM Lead Psychometrist.

"TikTok can lead a child to engage in a dangerous activity in the form of a challenge, lead to shorter attention spans, and expose them to constant negative comparisons. It may also expose children to misinformation which may lead to poor mental and physical health."

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create and share short-form videos on any topic. While most videos range from 15 to 60 seconds, the app now enables videos up to 10 minutes. Users can add filters, music, animation, special effects and more, changing even the most mundane content into engaging entertainment. TikTok has incredible social influence, and is credited for allowing users to be authentic and relatable.

TikTok has two primary feeds. The "For You" feed recommends content, ranking videos based on everything from what interests you express to what you're not interested in. The "Following" feed only includes videos by creators you follow.

While TikTok states its mission is to "inspire creativity and bring joy" it's become much more than a platform for self-expression. It also has the potential to become a toxic environment for children, exposing them to highly addictive content and inappropriate, negative content and commentary.

What is TikTok's age limit?

According to TikTok's terms of service, users must be at least 13 years old to create an account. Any user between 13 to 15 years has their account set to private by default, which prevents them from private messaging and limits comments to their "friends." Once a user is 16, however, they can access private messaging and record and post live videos.

Age verification, however, is not foolproof, and younger children can easily bypass it by entering a fake birthdate. This raises concerns about the suitability of the app for younger users.

Just how many kids are on TikTok? As of April 2022, almost 18% of the U.S. user base was teens age 12-17, with 2.5% kids age 11 years or younger. Almost half of U.S. users fall between age 18 and 34. Another trend that's disturbing? According to Common Sense Media, 38% of kids aged 8 to 12 years now report using some sort of social media - an age group that is often not allowed on certain platforms.

Why are parents concerned about TikTok?

There are several reasons why parents might be worried about their children using TikTok. These concerns range from exposure to inappropriate content (and language in song lyrics) to cyberbullying and data privacy issues.

What strikes many parents is that TikTok has different viewing rules in China. In 2021, Chinese authorities set rules that limit minors to one hour a day to play online games, and only on Friday, weekend and holidays. Any children under 14 are limited to 30 minutes a day. Moreover, the content directed towards kids includes science experiments, museum and art exhibits - all designed to "inspire kids." Contrast that to what the algorithm feeds most U.S. kids (entertaining, yes but not necessarily educating) and it raises concerns that the parent company Bytedance, based in China, knows more about how addictive this platform can be.

And addictiveness is not the only concern. Harmful content is a concern as well. To see how the algorithm responds, researchers at the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate set up fake teen accounts in the U.S. Canada, Australia and the U.K. that "liked" videos about body image, eating disorders and mental health. Users were quickly recommended content on losing weight and self harm, even videos of razor blades, supermodels, and discussions of suicide. As cited in their report, "vulnerable" accounts (usernames included the term "lose weight" to suggest an unhealthy focus on eating) received 12 times more "For You" content related to self harm.

Similarly, a recent report from Common Sense Media found that for girls with moderate to severe depressive symptoms, 69% are exposed to suicide-related content at least once a month on TikTok.

The potential risks of TikTok for kids

1. Inappropriate content

TikTok features a wide variety of content, including comedy skits, dance routines, and lip-syncing videos. However, not all content on the app is child-friendly. TikTok states that users are barred from sharing inappropriate or illegal content, but relies on algorithms to filter content - which is definitely not foolproof.

For example, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) ran a research study on 1,030 videos from 491 TikTok accounts, and used keywords related to ideologies, extremist individuals, and related events. They found 30% (over 300 videos) promoted white supremacy; 24% featured support for extremist and terrorist individuals or organizations. Others supported holocaust denial and anti-Semitism.

There are also TikTok challenges (tagged by hashtags) that encourage users to create videos doing a specific action or task. Some can be inspiring, like #ThePushUpChallenge or are branded, for example Colgate's #MakeMomSmile. While the minority, some challenges encourage users to try things that can be dangerous or deadly. Newsweek listed a few that went viral.

2. Cyberbullying

As with any social media platform, cyberbullying is a concern on TikTok. One organization found kids on TikTok have a 64% chance of experiencing cyberbullying - this includes repeated harmful or offensive comments, harassment, spreading rumors or lies, and threatening and hurtful messages - all which can have a detrimental effect on children and teens mental health and self-esteem.

It's important for parents to be aware that all social media platforms (including YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and more) have issues with cyberbullying. The problems are all the same (summarized here by the Cyberbullying Research Center):

Cyberbullying is related to significant emotional and psychological problems including low self-esteem, anger, suicidal ideation, and more.

Adolescent girls are more likely than boys to be cyberbullied.

Traditional bullying is still more common than cyberbullying, but the two are closely related.

Cyberbullying is related to other issues like delinquency, anti-social behavior, and substance abuse.

3. Data privacy

TikTok has faced scrutiny over its data privacy practices. The app collects a significant amount of user data, including location, device information, and browsing history. Parents may be concerned about how this data is being used and who has access to it.

4. Addiction

Like other social media apps, TikTok can be addictive. Children may spend excessive amounts of time on the app, which can negatively impact their schoolwork, sleep, and overall well-being.

The Wall Street Journal ran a study (releasing its findings in this video), creating fake accounts to get a deeper look at how the TikTok algorithm works. While the fake accounts didn't enter age, location or interests, it did use these factors to guide what videos the bot watched. Here's the alarming finding:

"...TikTok only needs one of these to figure you out: How long your linger over a piece of content. Every second you hesitate or rewatch, the app is tracking you. Through this one powerful signal, TikTok learns your most hidden interests and emotions, and drives you deep into rabbit holes of content that are hard to escape."

How to keep your kids safe on TikTok

1. Set up parental controls

TikTok offers several parental control features, such as screen time management and restricted mode. These settings can help limit your child's exposure to inappropriate content and manage the amount of time they spend on the app.

Some settings make more sense depending on the age of your child, but it's good to know key options:

Privacy - to limit your child's contact with strangers, it's a good idea to set up a private account. Under privacy settings, you can also limit who comments on your child's video, whether it's downloadable, or who can "stitch" (aka, add on to your child's content).

Restricted - this feature instructs the app to block or filter out more mature content, but it's not bulletproof. To block any videos you find inappropriate, press "not interested" and "more" - which will block all videos from a user and with that sound/song.

Screen time - While the app limits screen time automatically based on the user's age, you can set your own limits and set a password that needs to be entered in order for your child to continue using the app.

2. Talk to your kids about online safety

It's essential to have open and honest conversations with your children about online safety. Discuss the potential risks of using TikTok and establish guidelines for appropriate behavior on the platform.
How do you talk to your kids about social media safety?

Adds D'Orsi, "Kids want structure and guidance. For younger children, parents may want to use technological parental controls to limit screen time and block age inappropriate content.

For older children and teens, it is important for parents to be frank and honest with their children about the inherent privacy and other risks associated with social media."

3. Monitor your kids' TikTok usage

Regularly check your child's TikTok account to ensure they are adhering to the agreed-upon rules and not engaging in risky behavior. Parents are encouraged to use the family pairing feature, linking your and your children's accounts. Not only can you control screen time, comments and set restrictions, but your kids can't change these setting without your approval. You can also see what videos your children have posted and "liked" plus who they follow.

For teens, here's where it gets tricky. Many are resistant to any type of monitoring, but you should still be aware of how and what they're watching.

"Try not to be reactionary when your child opens up to you," advises D'Orsi.

"A great tip is to listen without reacting and spend some time thinking about an appropriate response before responding in haste. We want our kids to be able to tell us what is going on in their world so that we can keep them safe.

Not being heard or fear of being reprimanded often leads to evasive behavior and may put them at risk."

Our Perspective
Is TikTok safe for kids?

TikTok can be a fun and creative platform for kids when used responsibly. However, there are potential risks associated with using the app. Parents should be proactive in ensuring their child's online safety by setting up parental controls, discussing online safety, and monitoring their child's usage.

What else can parents do to protect their kids online?

Parents should educate themselves about other social media apps and websites their children are using. Regularly updating privacy settings, using strong passwords, and being aware of online trends can also help protect your child in the digital world. Ultimately, fostering a relationship built on trust and open communication is key to ensuring your child's online safety.

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Wondering about the safety concerns surrounding TikTok for kids? Learn the facts, including the app's features, age restrictions, and parental control options.