In the Loop

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. At least that’s how the old adage goes. But since the rise of social media, bullying has gone from the physical space to cyberspace, and those words — or pictures and video — have the potential to make a person’s social life tough, and even lead to some serious consequences. A recent poll by the University of Michigan found that 1 in 3 parents in the U.S. worry about cyberbullying, and most recognize it as a leading health problem among students. And it’s not just students who are victims of cyberbullying: teachers can fall victim to cyberbullying from students and colleagues. Morning Shift talks to Jonathan Singer, professor of social work at Loyola University, and Bridget Walsh, Learning Resource Specialist at Francis Parker School in Lincoln Park.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. At least that’s how the old adage goes. But since the rise of social media, bullying has gone from the physical space to cyberspace, and those words — or pictures and video — have the potential to make a person’s social life tough, and even lead to some serious consequences. A recent poll by the University of Michigan found that 1 in 3 parents in the U.S. worry about cyberbullying, and most recognize it as a leading health problem among students. And it’s not just students who are victims of cyberbullying: teachers can fall victim to cyberbullying from students and colleagues. Morning Shift talks to Jonathan Singer, professor of social work at Loyola University, and Bridget Walsh, Learning Resource Specialist at Francis Parker School in Lincoln Park.

For decades, the U.S. school calendar has been mostly unchanged. Kids start in late August, are off for winter and spring breaks, and then out for almost three months off in the summer before repeating the cycle. But it wasn’t always so. There have been calls over the years to create a more rigorous calendar. So how did we land on our current calendar? Morning Shift talks Kenneth Gold, author of School’s In: The History of Summer Education in American Public Schools and dean of education at The College of Staten Island/CUNY about the history of the school calendar and possible alternatives.

For decades, the U.S. school calendar has been mostly unchanged. Kids start in late August, are off for winter and spring breaks, and then out for almost three months off in the summer before repeating the cycle. But it wasn’t always so. There have been calls over the years to create a more rigorous calendar. So how did we land on our current calendar? Morning Shift talks Kenneth Gold, author of School’s In: The History of Summer Education in American Public Schools and dean of education at The College of Staten Island/CUNY about the history of the school calendar and possible alternatives.

Since the link between degenerative brain disease and football became widely know about a decade ago, the number of pre-high school kids involved in the sport has been on the decline. Last week, suburban Highland Park’s park district cancelled their tackle football program due to low enrollment.  We talk with New York Times reporter Ken Belson about how much of a hit-so to speak-football has taken at the youth level, and what changes organizers are making to convince parents it’s safe.

Since the link between degenerative brain disease and football became widely know about a decade ago, the number of pre-high school kids involved in the sport has been on the decline. Last week, suburban Highland Park’s park district cancelled their tackle football program due to low enrollment.  We talk with New York Times reporter Ken Belson about how much of a hit-so to speak-football has taken at the youth level, and what changes organizers are making to convince parents it’s safe.

Creative types have long been teased about following an academic route in liberal arts. They were chided to keep their passion on the side, but aim for a more “practical” degree that would lead to a better job or higher salary. But that’s been upended as more companies need the art, English and philosophy majors and the skills those studies give an applicant. Esteban Gast taught creativity to engineering students at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and calls himself an entertainer and educator. We talk to him about aligning those worlds to build a career. How has your liberal arts education or creative passion fueled your professional life?

Creative types have long been teased about following an academic route in liberal arts. They were chided to keep their passion on the side, but aim for a more “practical” degree that would lead to a better job or higher salary. But that’s been upended as more companies need the art, English and philosophy majors and the skills those studies give an applicant. Esteban Gast taught creativity to engineering students at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and calls himself an entertainer and educator. We talk to him about aligning those worlds to build a career. How has your liberal arts education or creative passion fueled your professional life?

Last year, the Arlington Heights Elementary District School Board decided to get rid of its Home Economics curriculum. It joined a growing number of other districts around the country that have either eliminated or greatly cut back on its commitment to what's now known as Family and Consumer Sciences courses. But over the last few years, there have been calls to make Home Ec. a mandatory, revitalized, and more contemporary course. Morning Shift talks with Oak Park River Forest High School’s Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction about why these types of courses are still important, and Dr. Carol R. Werhan, Assistant Clinical Professor Family & Consumer Sciences Education at Purdue and Director at Large of The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences tells us how the curriculum has evolved.

Last year, the Arlington Heights Elementary District School Board decided to get rid of its Home Economics curriculum. It joined a growing number of other districts around the country that have either eliminated or greatly cut back on its commitment to what's now known as Family and Consumer Sciences courses. But over the last few years, there have been calls to make Home Ec. a mandatory, revitalized, and more contemporary course. Morning Shift talks with Oak Park River Forest High School’s Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction about why these types of courses are still important, and Dr. Carol R. Werhan, Assistant Clinical Professor Family & Consumer Sciences Education at Purdue and Director at Large of The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences tells us how the curriculum has evolved.