The FAPE Site

NEA Joins Smart Television Alliance

Children's Programming Coalition Helps Parents Take Control of Family Viewing

NEA has joined forces with TiVo, National PTA, YWCA, Parents Choice Foundation, and other community groups in creating the Smart Television Alliance, a coalition devoted to promoting information about, and access to, quality children's television.

NEA President Reg Weaver says, "We have long been concerned about the impact of television, particularly violent television, on children. Studies show that the average child spends about 900 hours in the classroom during the course of a school year, but 1,023 hours in front of a television. Think about the level of violence to which they are frequently exposed. Thousands of studies have been conducted on children's television and violence, and according to a majority, kids who watch violent programming are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior. We are seeing all too often that aggressive behavior in how it hurts other students as well."

The group's Web site offers parental tips and programming recommendations to millions of subscribers to TiVo's digital video recording technology and anyone with Internet access. Expert recommendations and tips from organizations like NEA make it easier for parents to choose shows that are best for their families.

For more information, visit the Smart Television Alliance.

Staying Safe in Cyberspace

"PointSmart. ClickSafe." is a new multimedia initiative coordinated by the National Cable Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and Cable in the Classroom (CIC) to help families and children make appropriate choices and stay safe while using the Internet. The cornerstone of the effort, www.PointSmartClickSafe.org, provides a variety of materials—including an online "guidebook" and video vignettes—offering simple instructions, tips, and scenarios that can help parents and caregivers teach children to make good choices about Internet use. Educators may also find much of the site's information helpful.

Interested in Teaching Online?

Good courses require good teachers. Although online teaching shares much with face-to-face instruction, it also requires a unique set of skills. new Guide to Teaching Online Courses provides an overview of an effective online education system, focusing on the skills teachers need, professional development to get there, and models to evaluate and improve online teaching. And it's free!

Go to www.nea.org/technology/images/onlineteachguide.pdf ( 32 pp, 1,311 KB) to download.

Race—The Power of Illusion

In 2003, PBS aired a three-part series on race in society, science, and history. At the companion Web site, explore race and ethnic diversity through a variety of interactive tools. Take a quiz to guess someone’s race based on a photograph, or view a slideshow where people talk about how race affects them. This online resource will challenge you to examine your own assumptions, while educating you about human diversity.

Go to www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm.

The History of Labor is Ongoing

Labor unions have a long and fascinating history in the United States. Delegates to NEA’s 2006 Representative Assembly voted to encourage all Association members to learn more about labor, and to participate in its ongoing history by contributing materials to institutions dedicated to preserving labor’s legacy.

The American Labor Studies Center collects and disseminates curricula and other related materials for K–12 teachers. Visit them at labor-studies.org/ and explore their many resources, including lesson plans, timelines, biographies, and more.

The American Labor Museum maintains a Web site at www.geocities.com/labormuseum. Take a virtual tour of the museum and shop online for labor-related apparel, posters, and other items.