Sandy Garrett’s Column
Kids Count focus: The well-being of children By Sandy Garrett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Friday, August 14, 2009
As school bells ring and classroom doors open for the new school year, the quality of life for boys and girls in our state takes center stage with the national release of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “2009 Kids Count Data Book.”
This is a much-anticipated annual report that gives state and national comparisons for children’s well-being. And, unfortunately, what is considered the overall well-being of children in Oklahoma has fallen to a ranking of 44th in the nation; we ranked 38th just four years ago.
Of the 10 key measures studied in every state, we have improved in three, remained unchanged in one and worsened in six since 2000.
Better:
• Fewer teens (aged 16-19) are dropping out of high school in Oklahoma,
down from 14 percent to 8 percent in the most recent report.
• The number of teens not in school or working decreased from 11 percent
to 9 percent in Oklahoma.
• The infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) has slightly
decreased from 8.5 percent in 2000 to 8.0 percent in 2006.
Same:
• The teen birth rate (births per 1,000 females aged 15-19) has stayed the
same since 2000.
Worse:
• More Oklahoma children are living in homes where no parent has full-time
or year-round employment, rising to 35 percent from 33 percent in 2000.
• Single-parent homes are the norm for 33 percent of Oklahoma children, a
3 percent increase since 2000.
• Children living in poverty—with a family income below $21,027—has risen
from 19 percent in 2000 to 22 percent.
• An increase of low-birth weight babies from 7.5 percent in 2000 to 8.3
percent.
• Child deaths (children aged 1-14 per 100,000) have gone from 25 percent
in 2000 to 29 percent.
• Teen deaths (teens aged 15-19 per 100,000) increased from 77 percent in
2000 to 85 percent.
Study after study has shown that family and economic factors such as enjoying regular meals, getting plenty of sleep, and feeling safe and secure impact children’s academic performance. These are not excuses; these are the facts of life. The better we take care of and invest in our children, the more opportunity for success they will have.
While state and national comparisons on the 10 “Kids Count” measures are helpful, data on how each county performs on these measures also is available here or by contacting the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is our state’s point of contact for a variety of public awareness and engagement activities related to the status of children and families.
Every school day, no matter the situation in which children live and learn, school faculty and staff will continue providing academic instruction, nutritious meals and a caring heart to the children who enroll in Oklahoma public schools. We know that kids count!
Friday The 13th actress to star in play at Rose State College
Rose State College will host the play “Love Letters” on Sept. 11 in the H.B. Atkinson Theatre, 6420 SE 15.
Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the play will begin at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $75 per person, or $575 for a table of eight.
“Love Letters” centers on two characters who read letters and discuss their ambitions, dreams, disappointments, victories and defeats.
The characters will be played by Betsy Palmer and Jon Finch. Palmer is known for her role as Jason Vorhees’ mother in horror film “Friday the 13th.”
For ticket information, call 736-0315 or email lpitsiri@rose.edu.
Tim Henley
Weed Wonder
Oklahoma State University senior Dane Wilber of Cherokee took second-place honors at the 2009 Southern Weed Society Collegiate Weed Undergraduate Contest Aug. 5 at Tifton, Ga.
“It’s a fun yet very challenging regional competition, one that demands participants apply a wide range of what they have learned from their coursework to a real-world situation and solve related problems,” said Joe Armstrong, adviser of the OSU Weed Science Team and an assistant professor in the department of plant and soil sciences. “The whole team did great.”
Wilber is a plant and soil sciences major pursuing the biotechnology option.
Students must employ their knowledge about such science-based aspects as herbicide chemistry and mode of action to identify 32 herbicides based solely on symptoms viewed on crops and weeds in plots.
OCU gallery will feature new exhibit
An art gallery featuring the work of Jennifer Cocoma Hustis will be on display Aug. 30 through Oct. 9 in the Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery on the Oklahoma City University campus.
Hustis attended school at Pratt Institute in New York, Royal College of Art in London and University of Oklahoma.
A free reception will be 7 p.m. Sept. 4 where visitors can meet Hustis.
Most of Hustis’ art work is inspired by her interaction with horses and other animals. Her work can also be viewed at sites.google.com/site/jenhustis/home/paintings.
OCCC offers OSHA compliance course
Oklahoma City Community College is offering a certificate in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance program.
The program is for safety specialists who want to make certain their company complies with OSHA standards.
Six sessions will be offered during the fall and winter, and different topics will be discussed at each session. The sessions will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15, Oct. 13, Nov. 17, Dec. 15, Jan. 19 and Feb. 16.
The cost is $125 per course or $925 for a complete certification in the OSHA compliance program. The cost includes books and materials.
For more information, go to www.okc.cc.ok.us/corporatelearning or call 682-7562.
Sandy Garrett’s Column
Yellow school buses and flashing school zone lights soon will be seen as early as this week in neighborhoods across our state as schools resume.
This is a busy, exciting time for families, and a great time to refresh on back-to-school safety basics.
School bus
More than 372,000 students ride school buses daily in Oklahoma. The school bus continues to be the safest form of transporting students, yet dangers can arise when boarding and leaving a bus.
• Never walk behind a bus or in front where a driver cannot see, and check to see that no traffic is coming if crossing the street.
• Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before stepping off or on.
• Do not move around.
• Try to never wait alone.
Walking and bicycling
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says around 15 percent of students walk or bicycle to or from school. That percentage is higher in less urban areas.
• Wear a helmet and use hand signals; respect traffic laws and ride on the right-hand side of the street in the same direction as traffic.
• Walkers should have a planned route and follow sidewalks or paths if they exist.
• Look both ways before crossing the street, and only cross when clear.
• Walk with a buddy if possible. With younger students, try what the
American Academy of Pediatrics calls a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children to and from school.
• Avoid interaction with strangers.
• Stay clear of vacant lots, fields, and construction sites.
After school
The vast majority of children come from families where both parents work outside the home. If children are staying home alone after school, it is crucial to:
• Create a password for family or trusted adults to use when picking your child up from school or in the home when you are not there.
• Make sure children always have access to parent contact information and know what to do in an emergency; laminated cards are a great idea for younger children.
• Keep doors locked at all times.
• Never answer the door to a stranger, even one who is in uniform; refrain from allowing familiar adults into the home when alone and when they’re not expected.
• Avoid answering unnecessary phone calls and never tell callers they are home alone. Children should say their parent can’t come to the phone right now and take a message.
Adults and children also can make this school year a safe one by using SAFE-CALL, the nation’s first statewide school safety hotline. Citizens can make anonymous calls to the toll-free line 24 hours a day, 365 days each year to report any potential dangers to students or unsafe conditions at schools. The hotline is 1 (877) SAFE-CALL, extension OK1 (or 1-877-723-3225, ext. 651).
Let’s help make this year a safe and happy one for boys and girls!
OBU selects graduate school director
Oklahoma Baptist University selected Scott Harris to serve as the director of the OBU International Graduate School.
Harris has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctorate from University of North Texas.
Harris previously served as headmaster at Plano Christian Academy in Plano, Texas.
The graduate school is at 111 Harrison St. in Oklahoma City. It offers graduate degrees in nursing and business administration.
OSU-OKC extends enrollment hours
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City will extend its enrollment hours for the fall semester.
Students can enroll from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays beginning Monday and continuing through Aug. 25.
New students must complete an admissions application before enrolling. Returning students can enroll at www.osuokc.edu/schedule or by calling 945-8678.
Applications for new students are available at www.osuokc.edu/apply or in the admissions office at 900 N Portland Ave.
Sandy Garrett’s Column
Schools’ summer breaks seem to be flying by and, with the flip of the calendar, August is here!
Over the next few weeks, Oklahoma schools will be back in session for the 2009-10 school year. For many families, it is time to get supplies such as pencils, paper, book bags and clothes, but helping a child get ready for the big day is much more.
A successful and happy start to the school year can result from following a few tips:
§ A week or more before the first day of school, set wake up and
bed times. This will help everyone adjust to time changes early.
Also, eating meals at a regular time will help boys and girls be
ready for a set lunch break during the week.
§ Visit the school before classes start. This gives children and
parents a chance to become familiar with the buildings and
classrooms and meet teachers and staff. Parents can ensure
records such as medical examinations, addresses and contact
numbers are up-to-date. While you are there, take a little time
to learn about resources available such as email, Web sites and
student manuals.
§ Communicate with your child’s teacher about his or her
expectations for the coming year. Talk with children about what
you expect and, in return, ask them what they want to achieve.
§ An upbeat, positive attitude about school will help get the year
off to a great start. Some children may be anxious about a new
class or unhappy about summer coming to an end. Take this time to
emphasize the positives like seeing old friends and making new
ones, getting new supplies or clothes and learning new skills.
§ Set a home study break. Turn off the TV and video games and set
aside time during the week for the entire family to spend time
reading a book or practicing other learning activities. Then,
when school resumes, that time can then be used for homework and
projects.
§ Get involved with the school. Ask about volunteer opportunities
that might be available for parents throughout the year in
classrooms, field trips and extracurricular activities. In
addition, your school may have parent groups or parent education
classes or events.
This time of year is exciting for the entire family and may include many changes, whether it’s a new building, teacher or classmates. The transition can be less about the end of summer vacation and more about starting a brand new school year off on the right foot!
For more information about the 2009-10 school year, see the State Department of Education’s “Back to School” Web page.
Twilight and vocabulary
I got this book in my mailbox the other day. It seems to be a new way to approach vocabulary lessons. It uses the popular Twilight book to help young people learn vocabulary.
When I first saw the book, I was perplexed. What did Twilight have to do with vocabulary? Then I peeked inside and saw that Author Brian Leaf uses passages from Twilight to quiz students and show them what the words in Twilight mean. There are more than the words vampire and blood in that book for sure; words students need to know.
The Twilight series has encouraged many young people to read more and it seems Leaf has found a way to help them learn even more while doing it.
- Staff Writer Dawn Marks
