Playing school: Palm Beach students rise to the challenge.

Students in Palm Beach County spent the last few days in school on a high note as they participated in stimulating activities, meant to inform, entertain and most importantly educate. These activities ranged from acting to playing scientist and teaching. Teachers in the Palm Beach school district, say that they leave these activities for the end of the semester, since students usually become complacent at this time. This complacency, they complained, makes it difficult to engage the attention of the students, unless the focus is activity based.

Students at S.P. Sandy Elementary hosted a play that had their parents in the audience. At their performance, the students recited facts that they had learnt in the term about the Everglades. While this activity was fun for all, others complained about the summer holidays and being away from school. The complaints focused on the fact that there are very few things to do during that time which often results in boredom.

Older students at Bak Middle school, after watching a documentary on the hardships being faced by children in Uganda, held a rally at their school. The aim of the project was to sensitize the students on the value of what they have as compared to others. The students were able to raise money from the sale of DVD's and bracelets for their project. A student from the group seemed to have been humbled by the lesson as, she has been reported to say how fortunate she is, as compared to the children in Uganda.

High school seniors at John I. Leonard High were able to explore science as they dissected animals and compared them to humans. While it was not a competitive exercise, the girls seemed to have benefited more from the experience than the boys who became squirmish about the task at hand. Not to be outdone, seniors at Palm Beach Gardens High were able to shine as they went out in the role of teachers to educate first and third graders at Palm Beach Elementary on topics such as banking, and the difference between wants and needs.

The experiences gathered at the end of the semester then, is guaranteed to have a lasting impact on students from Palm Beach County as they exit a formal learning environment to pursue other activities during the summer.

Miami Dade College increases rates.

Students enrolled at the Miami Dade College will be greeted with an increase in tuition and fees as they return to complete their program of study in the fall semester. The increase is expected to cost associate degree students enrolled full time approximately $60 more per semester.

The increase, according to E.H. Levering, vice provost for business affairs at the college, will have a delayed impact, as most of the students rely of financial aid to pay their tuition. The increased rate however, will take effect as the students graduate and have to concentrate on repaying loans accumulated during their tenure at the college.

Fees for associate degree students from Florida are still lower than that paid by out of state students who are expected to suffer more because of the increase. While non-degree and vocational students will also see an increase in their rates, they still enjoy a lower rate than the other two groups.

South Florida taxpayers suffering because of indecisiveness among college students.

On average it takes about four years to complete a baccalaureate degree but, students in the South Florida universities and colleges seem to be taking much more time to complete their program of study. This it appears is a result of the indecisiveness among students, who take a long time to choose a major. This delay causes the students to take more classes than required to meet graduation criteria and by so doing cause taxpayers to suffer.

The problem has become so extensive that administrators are now trying to create programs as an incentive to get college students through the system as quickly as possible. For other students, the college experience seems to be an avenue used to escape the realities of the real world where bills have to be paid and critical decisions made. The extended time in college also makes it difficult for incoming freshmen, who sometimes have to wait longer than anticipated, as a result of lack of space resulting from students being enrolled for longer periods of time.

While the problem is not unique to South Florida, it is imperative that college students recognize the damage that they are creating by staying in schools so long. They need to understand that the debts they are creating now, will eventually turn around to haunt them. This will occur when they finally graduate and start to pay the kind of taxes that responsible law abiding citizens have to contend with.

Broward county students have more reasons to celebrate.

While students enjoy the interaction that takes place at schools between themselves and their peers, many also look forward to their summer breaks. This year the addition of another summer vacation week which results in eleven weeks away from regular classes, is an additional reason that students have to celebrate.

These breaks do not only provide an opportunity for the children to go away on extended vacations with their families and friends, it also allows them to do things that are usually forbidden during the regular school year. Activities such as sleepovers, camps, later bed time hours and parties are among the things that makes summer breaks a favorite among children.

While it is not only about fun and games for all, summer school is another thing that children get involved with. Parents therefore also have a reason to become concerned since the additional week away from school means more money to spend on camps. Reports from the Miami Herald however, refutes this idea as some parents seem to be happy that the extra week has been added.

Teachers are also excited about this longer break as it allows them to earn extra money teaching summer classes. In addition they will still have an extra week off to refresh themselves for the new school year.

For Florida students, parents and teachers then, the eleven week vacation time seems to be a winner and a favorite among all.

High school students mourn the loss of their peers as tradegy strikes.

At a time when students are usually at their happiest- the end of the school year and graduation- many are instead mourning the loss of a peer. In separate incidents over the weekend, two promising young men had their lives taken away from them as a result of gun violence and drowning.

In one incident the Sun- Sentinel reports that Lawrence Wong, a 17 year old junior at Everglades High School in Miramar, accidentally drowned in a small lake in a far-western area of Broward County. The incident occured after playing a ball game with friends. Wong's death has left a school community that is still trying to recover from the recent death of a graduate, and the injury of other students resulting from a car accident in pain.

Wongs's memories live on in the minds and hearts of his peers who took the time to add comments to his personal web page. The school also took the time to recognize a moment of silence in his honor http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/sfl-sstudent23may23,0,2652792.story.

In a second unrelated incident, Jeffry Johnson, a senior at Carol City High School was gunned down early Sunday morning, after a debate about who had the most "tricked out" car. The senior who was scheduled to graduate on Thursday of this week as a summa cum laude was remembered at school by his peers who posted comments on a poster being made in his honor.

According to reports in the Herald, some of the comments posted revealed anger, while others reavealed the sadness that the students were facing. The boys father also made an appearance at the school, where he encouraged the students to stay strong. Johnsons' death is another in a series of deaths to plague the Carol City High School since the start of the year. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/14644084.htm

The death of these promising teens then, is hopefully not just a passing phase for their surviving family and friends but it should lead one to re-think ones values and attitudes.

College writing assignment reaches children in Uganda.

College is a place where the potential leaders of tomorrow get to shine, and this is exactly what happened to 23 students at the Miami Dade College. For many of these students, a writing assignment has led to a major life accomplishment as they have now taken on the role of college students becoming authors.This feat was accomplished as the students participated in a project being run by a non-profit organization called The Memory Project.

The mission of this particular program is to bring hope to children in Uganda who are living in difficult situations as they try to flee slavery.While the students experienced many harsh criticisms and sleepless nights as they prepared the books, they expressed feelings of pride and fulfillment at their accomplishments. In its final stage the books were placed in the hands of the toughest critics, a group of pre-schoolers, who gave the stories a stamp of approval http://cnweeklynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=11&Itemid=73