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State Rep. Scott Muschany looks on as Missouri Matt Blunt hands a copy of the bill to eighth grade student Raszeriana Stewart. During a visit to Confluence Academy, as part of a five-city tour, Governor Blunt enacted legislation which will allow an additional option for teacher certification in Missouri. Standing behind Gov. Blunt: (L to R) Jay James, Jamecia Roby, Montay McLaurin, Cristal Moore, Alekzander Mullaney.

Governor Blunt Signs New Teachers Legislation
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), May 1, 2008 - Gov. Matt Blunt today visited Confluence Academy, as part of a five-city tour, where he enacted legislation to provide experienced professionals an alternate route to second careers as teachers and also to address teacher shortages that exist in some areas of Missouri, especially in math and science.

In a statement, Gov. Blunt said, "In the 21st Century, with an increasingly global and technology-driven economy, we must provide Missouri students with the training and job skills they need to compete with students from around the world. I am pleased to sign this legislation to provide for the opportunity for new teachers with real-world experience and training to help foster a lifelong desire for learning in Missouri's classrooms."

Regardless of how much state government does to improve Missouri's educational system, teachers will always be our state's most valuable resource in creating greater opportunities for Missouri students. Teachers are the ones there every day, in their classrooms, working with Missouri students to encourage learning and achievement. Gov. Blunt thanks all Missouri teachers who are committed to providing our children the world-class education they all deserve.

The bill allows professionals to pursue teaching through an alternative teacher certification program and would benefit schools around the state by expanding the pool of qualified teachers dedicated to student enrichment. Alternative teacher certification will bring new perspectives to the everyday classroom while at the same time address teacher shortages across Missouri.

Senate Bill 1066, sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway, will provide highly motivated Missourians with real-world experience the opportunity to apply their expertise in Missouri classrooms as teachers. Missourians can obtain an alternative teacher certificate through the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence by successfully completing the following requirements:

Sixty classroom hours including 45 teaching or sixty hours as substitute, including 30 teaching or sixty hours teaching at a private school
30 hours of professional development
2 years of mentoring program
Completion of performance based teaching evaluation
Participation in beginning teacher assistance program

Alternative certification for educators will not be granted in the areas of early childhood education, elementary education, or special education. The alternative teaching certification aligns with one of the five recommendations that the METS Alliance formulated after Gov. Blunt's 2006 Summit that recommends expanding Missouri's METS educators.

For more information, visit www.abcte.org or call 1-877-669-2228.

Webster University to Enhance Learning With iTunes U
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 27, 2008 - Building on its reputation of accessibility, affordability and convenience, Webster University today announced it is making a wealth of educational material available to students and the public through iTunes U. Now anyone can benefit from Webster's unique collection of guest speakers, interviews and much more to come.

"Webster University is at the forefront of the digital education movement," said Webster President Neil J. George. "iTunes U represents a tremendous opportunity for us to enhance our global reach."

Through iTunes U, Webster students and lifelong learners everywhere now have a new source for free educational multimedia, as the University's School of Business and Technology begins offering high-quality video clips and other educational resources on iTunes U.

"Our mission is to prepare lifelong learners for professional fulfillment in the fields of business and technology," said Benjamin Akande, dean of Webster's School of Business and Technology. "To do that, we strive to be where our students need us, whenever they need us. Webster University on iTunes U will help us extend our vision and reach."

iTunes U is a content distribution system that allows colleges and universities to make audio and video content from lectures, interviews, audio books and more available to students online for free. Users can download the content to their Mac or PC, transfer the information to their iPod or MP3 player and listen to or view it anytime, anywhere. The result is learning on-the-go.

Through iTunes U, Webster will extend its teaching and learning environment beyond the classroom, allowing not only students, but the global community at large, to remain engaged in education. The accessible and high-profile iTunes U site also provides another way for Webster to connect with its 130,000 graduates all over the world.

Initially, Webster University on iTunes U features the School of Business and Technology's "Success to Significance Speakers Series," author interviews from the school's BizTalk Book Club, and select speeches. Webster plans to expand its presence on iTunes U with faculty lectures, guest teaching appearances and events from all over the world of Webster and its five colleges and schools.

Author Says Texting and Testing Are
Destroying Kids Writing Style
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 26, 2008 - Somewhere out there is the mind that will produce the next great American novel. If, however, that would-be author is under the age of 18, the words they write may be more of "SOZ" and "TGGTG" then beautiful, flowing prose.

"We have a whole generation being raised without communication skills," says Jacquie Ream, former teacher and author of "K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and Simple" (Book Publishers Network). She contends text messaging and the internet are destroying the way our kids read, think, and write.

A recent National Center for Education Statistics study reports only one out of four high school seniors is a proficient writer. A College Board survey of the nations blue-chip companies found only two thirds of their employees are capable writers.

"These kids aren't learning to spell. They're learning acronyms and short hand," says Ream, "Text messaging is destroying the written word. The students aren't writing letters, they're typing into their cell phones one line at a time. Feelings aren't communicated with words when your texting; emotions are sideways smiley faces. Kids are typing shorthand jargon that isn't even a complete thought."

Reading may not be the problem. Neilson/NetRatings reports the average 12 to 17-year-old visits more than 1400 web pages a month. Ask that average teenager what they read, and they may be able to tell you. Ask the average teenager what their opinion is on that blog or article, and you may find them fumbling for thoughts that are their own.

"What's not taught today," says Ream, "Is critical thinking skills. Teachers are forced to use what little classroom time they have to teach to the standardized tests. The kids learn how to regurgitate information to parrot it back for the correct answer, but they can't process the thought and build on it."

School system money is often tied into the standardized testing results. Many teachers complain of being pressured to spend so much time teaching to the test, that they don't have the time to guide the children into true, thought provoking learning.

"There's a whole generation that can't come up with new ideas," says Ream. And even if they did have a breakthrough thought or opinion of their own, they couldn't share it with the rest of us."

This generation, however, isn't a complete 'write off.' Ream says the parents can make a big difference in the way their children communicate. She suggests reading the same book your teenager is reading - then trying to open a dinner table conversation about the plot of that novel.

Ream says writing is a skill that can be learned. Her book, "K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and Simple" lays out a formula she says makes writing easier: Teach your kids to organize their thoughts on paper; compare the subject with others to show how the ideas are similar; contrast the subject with others to show how the concept is different; and interrelate - write the essay to show how the subject relates to the reader.

Every generation has great minds with great thoughts that can guide the rest of us. If teenagers aren't taught to groom their opinions and ideas so that they can write effectively, society will lose out on a generation of creativity. "If we let these kids get caught up in technology, if we let politicians get caught up in testing, it's America as a whole that loses out on great words, thoughts and novels that will never be written."

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