Teachers' Rights - Out the Window?

Schools are taking a bite out of the Bill of Rights this summer.

Between gag orders on teachers and banning teachers from wearing "religious attire" in school, the First Amendment is being put to the test by school districts and state lawmakers.

Freedom of Speech

On the Confessions from the Couch blog, Miss A writes:

“I was informed today that teachers have a gag order from our Supe… Release of information about the district, its students or disparaging comments to the media will result in termination. I think this applies to Internet/blogging, too! Although, I found the following [are] our union site: Our contract “does not regulate teachers” speech.” Read more

There is a level of common sense about publishing disparaging remarks/complaints about your employer online. Just like it’s a bad idea to yell at your boss to his/her face, it is an equally unwise idea to rip your school or district a new one in a public forum.

I can also understand the district’s desire to handle their public image through PR professionals to send a single message. Let’s face it, sometimes people put their foot in their mouths despite their best intentions or exaggerate with less-than-admirable intentions.

Read the full post and share your thoughts at TeachHUB.com

Top 12 Ways to Stay Cool in Summer School

12. Lights out! Whenever possible, let the bright summer sun light your classroom rather than extra heat-inducing bulbs. As a bonus, you’ll win major green points for saving electricity.

11. Stay Cool in Style: Break out those cute skirts, dresses and light layers. Though you should make sure those skirts fall below the knee (both for propriety and to avoid sticking to your chair).

10. Put a fan facing out the window. Despite the temptation to point the fan directly in your direction, this tactic should expel the hot air from the classroom and hopefully some cool air will come through the other windows.

9. Hit up TeachHUB's Hot Buy for an adorable desktop fan.

8. Stay hydrated. Avoiding alcohol, sugar and caffeine.

7. Speaking of sweat, load up on deodorant, keep a spray can or two in the classroom and encourage your students to use as needed. You may not feel much cooler, but the “atmosphere” in your classroom will certainly be more pleasant.

6. A science teacher once told me that hot air rises and cold air sinks. Try sitting on the floor in a circle with your student.

Read the Top 6 at the official TeachHUB Blog page!!!!

Harry Potter Student Activies

My excitement is hitting a fever pitch as the long-awaited release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince gets closer!

I’ll be lined up at midnight with all the Pottermaniacs (those enlightened enough to recognize the genius behind J.K. Rowling’s creation), but the waiting is still killing me. To tide myself and the rest of you fans over, I’ve got a Potter-themed preview of the TeachHUB pop culture printable activities.

Potter activities blog

Pop Culture Student Activites page

Lessons inspired by the Iran Protests

The charm of history and its enigmatic lesson consist in the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and yet everything is completely different. – Aldous Huxley

Following the protests in Iran as we approach Independence Day has me thinking about the consistency of progress. More than 200 years ago, a revolution took place that brought us to our current moment in history, one in which we’re still, little by little, achieving the idealized equality and freedom declared by Thomas Jefferson and company. The women-led protests in Iran force us to recognize that people are eternally struggling against those that treat them unjustly and take away their freedom.

Experts liken the current movement more to civil rights movements, ones that seek justice within their current system rather than establishing a new government.

Drawing connections between the past and the present makes history seem less static and decided – not like something printed in a text book with dates and facts to be recited on a test. With current events, students see the struggle, the human component of these conflicts and have more freedom to consider all sides and make up their own mind about what’s going on.

What a teachable moment in the making.

Read more and find lessons for K-12 students at the official TeachHUB blog.