From the 12/23 PEN Weekly NewsBlast

I recently subscribed to the Public Education Network's weekly newsblast emails. Kinda old school news-blog-style email blast that I mostly find overwhelming. They get sorted into a pile of other list mail. Each email is long and packed with pages of info -- info that I mostly don't read. I would read it as a blog, or be more willing to at least browse the info as a blog, but not as email. Still, I'll continue to subscribe. When I do read it, it usually links to some tasty articles. Here's what caught my eye in this week's episode:

Congress Utterly Fails In Its Commitment To America's Schoolchildren

This week, in a flurry of end-of-session votes, the U.S. House and Senate approved several education-related matters, including a 1 percent cut in funds for public education, and the creation of a private school voucher program within a hurricane relief plan. These measures, instead of being voted on openly and honestly on their own merits, were attached to the Defense Appropriations bill.

Funding Gap 2005: Most States Shortchange Poor & Minority Students

Most states significantly shortchange poor and minority children when it comes to funding the schools they attend, according to a new report by the Education Trust. Nationally, we spend about $900 less per pupil on students educated in our nation’s poorest school districts than those educated in the wealthiest.

The good news is that California does relatively well at equalizing spending among districts. Now, if we can get more of the equitably distributed money to the school sites... Instead, the difference between the $5K/student ADA funding and the $10k/student state budget spending remains a pretty opaque questionmark.

Do Brighter Walls Make Brighter Students?

A project to spruce up dreary hallways at inner city schools is based on a simple idea: Bright walls make for brighter students. Publicolor, a program in which students are permitted to paint over the industrial shades of their schools' interiors, is credited by school officials with lowering dropout rates, decreasing discipline problems and increasing attendance.

Someone alert Caroline! I believe we have somone touting an education miracle here.

Teachers Rate Favorite Holiday Gifts

...Keep gifts simple and heartfelt. Teachers ranked thank-you cards from parents as their favorite holiday teacher gift idea, and edible treats as their least favorite... Classroom materials, such as posters for the walls, stickers, high-quality chalkboard chalk, organizational supplies, stamps and ink pads, framed pictures and books are sure to be a hit. And, you can't go wrong with a gift certificate. Gift certificates to stores like Barnes & Noble, Office Depot or Starbucks may not be the most creative gifts, but they are useful and practical. Other gift certificate ideas include gift certificates to local restaurants, gas stations, malls or teacher stores.