Education

Global Tutors, Big Brothers, and a
Sticky Job Situation

By Anthony Rebora — May 27, 2005 3 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Don’t look now, but the global economy appears to be creeping into the K-12 education market. Seeking lower costs and expertise in math and science, American tutoring providers are increasingly contracting with educators in India. That means students in need of extra help may now find themselves working over the Internet with an instructor in a different hemisphere. Critics of the practice—including the American Federation of Teachers—say it’s unfair to local educators and question the level of quality control. As for the Indian tutors, despite being given cultural training, they’re still learning how to work with American kids. Observed one: “I find that we ... need to shower a lot of praise for the students’ good work, which is very uncommon in India.”

Presumably, the job of teaching the Constitution won’t be outsourced anytime soon. In fact, mark your calendars; your school will be teaching it this September. Under a little-known provision passed by Congress this past year, all schools and colleges that receive federal money are now required to teach about the Constitution every year on September 17, the day it was adopted in 1787. The federal government is generally prohibited (by—you guessed it—the Constitution) from dictating the content of schools’ lessons, but American kids’ lack of historical knowledge apparently proved the greater concern for some lawmakers. While interpretation of the mandate is being left to schools, some education groups are bristling at Congress’ encroachment on day-to-day planning. “It’s the sort of the thing that raises the question, ‘If this, what’s next?’ ” said Becky Timmons, senior director for government relations at the American Council on Education.

Drama teachers in Loudoun County, Virginia, have their own Big Brother issues to contend with. After a play at one high school about a gay football player set off a storm of invective, much of it spread via an e-mail campaign, the school board is considering adopting a policy that would restrict the content of all school plays. One suggested proposal would ban works that “contain sexual themes, promote sexuality, or depict sexual acts”—language, opponents say, that would effectively bar Romeo and Juliet, among other classics. Meanwhile, wary drama teachers are already reexamining—and even editing—scripts for language that could be considered offensive. “I think we’re all walking on eggshells,” said John Wells, a drama teacher at Loudoun County High. “One person with a computer can ... start a real uproar.”

In a separate outpost of the Culture Wars, about a dozen current and former students in Cobb County, Georgia, landed summer jobs with the school district to peel evolution-disclaimer stickers off biology textbooks. The work comes as a result of a federal judge’s ruling in January that the stickers—ordered by the Cobb County school board and warning that evolution is “a theory, not a fact”—amounted to an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Hired through a temp agency at $10 an hour, the student workers will now have to take putty knives and adhesive remover to some 34,500 textbooks. The cost to the school district is not expected to exceed $25,000. “This job, it’s kind of ironic,” remarked one sticker remover.

Finally, lawmakers in Connecticut made headlines this week by passing a hotly debated bill that would ban the sale of soda and junk food in schools, though Governor M. Jodi Rell has indicated that she may veto it. But a more interesting (and certainly more original) attempt to address the student-obesity problem has been hatched in the land where people are said to eat haggis burgers. Education officials in Glasgow, Scotland, have launched a program whereby students can earn points toward coveted rewards, including iPods and Xbox consoles, by purchasing healthy foods from school dining halls (or “fuel zones,” as they’ve now been dubbed). The points, tabulated on individual electronic cards, vary depending on nutritional value of the food. (The premium item, something called the Vital Mix, gets you 40 points—1/100th of the way toward an iPod.) The scheme appears to be having an impact. “I’m saving up 3,000 for an Xbox, and I like the healthy food now,” said one Vital Mix convert.

Sources for all articles are available through links. Teacher Magazine does not take credit or responsibility for reporting in linked stories. Access to some may require registration or fee.

Editors’ note: Web Watch will be published on a biweekly schedule through the summer. The next edition will be published on Friday, June 10.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reflections on Evidence-Based Grading Practices: What We Learned for Next Year
Get real insights on evidence-based grading from K-12 leaders.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Creating Resilient Schools with a Trauma-Responsive MTSS
Join us to learn how school leaders are building a trauma-responsive MTSS to support students & improve school outcomes.
School & District Management Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: We Can’t Engage Students If They Aren’t Here: Strategies to Address the Absenteeism Conundrum
Absenteeism rates are growing fast. Join Peter DeWitt and experts to learn how to re-engage students & families.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz ICYMI: Judge Orders Teacher-Prep Grants Restored And Other Trending News This Week
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of the Supreme Court.
iStock/Getty
Education Briefly Stated: March 19, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz How Much Do You Know: Ed. Dept.'s Mass Layoffs and More This Week
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Illustration of 2 hands cutting paper dolls with scissors, representing staffing layoffs.
iStock/Getty
Education Briefly Stated: March 12, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read