Math teachers

A new study finds many math teachers are just one chapter ahead of their students. Unsurprisingly, this situation affects (negatively) the quality of math instruction.

I guess I can beat myself up a little less -- maybe -- about feeling challenged by my boys' Art of Problem Solving textbooks.

Yet another Nebraska post

I admit that I am not able to follow this story very closely, due to external demands (i.e., family). I did want to share this item from Slate's "XX Factor," in which Dana Goldstein looks beyond the sensationalistic consequences of Nebraska's safe haven law to consider why a parent would surrender an older child.

The new face of ADHD

Also from The New York Times: That swimmer guy is the new role model for kids with ADHD. Parents and professionals debate whether ADHD should be seen as a positive thing or as a disability. [My take: sometimes one, sometimes the other. Why not just call it a difference and move on, instead of trying to judge it?]

A doctor's ties to J & J

The New York Times reports today on Dr. Joseph Biederman, who, apparently, has been earning far more money through his ties to Johnson and Johnson than he had been telling his employer, Massachusetts General Hospital.

Noteworthy quote from this story: "Dr. Biederman’s work helped to fuel a fortyfold increase from 1994 to 2003 in the diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder and a rapid rise in the use of powerful, risky and expensive antipsychotic medicines in children."

Overparenting

An interesting article on "helicopter parenting," courtesy of The New Yorker.

Idiots with publishing contracts

I walked into the "Borders Express" at the mall tonight and saw this book prominently displayed on a shelf at the front of the store. Now, I do have a sense of humor. I enjoy "South Park" much more than I probably should, and I absolutely understand the importance of being able to laugh at ourselves. But this book is stupid, offensive, pointless and unnecessary. So I complained, and the guy working at the store was considerate enough to remove the book from the front display; of course, he might have put it right back out front as soon as I left, who knows. Other people with whom I have interacted would have just shrugged and said "So what?" so this guy gets points for at least pretending to care.

So here I sit, imagining what the next titles in this series might be: Crippled Chimps? Retarded Houseplants? I think my time will be better spent giving the TSA a "heads up."

About that bullying study...

Slate takes the New York Times to task for its story on how bullies enjoy bullying. Apparently, the article was more of a re-hash of a press release than anything else.