Education Commons^™

Blaine It On Politics: The (Non-) Effect Of Anti-Aid Amendments On Private School Choice Programs In The U.S. States, Patrick J. Wolf, Richard D. Komer, Michael Q. Mcshane

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

James G. Blaine was a prominent American politician of the late 19th Century. Although Blaine was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for President in 1884, U.S. Secretary of State, Speaker of the House, and a Senator from Maine, his primary legacy was the enshrinement of "anti-aid" amendments in the constitutions of 39 U.S. states. These so-called "Blaine Amendments" were designed to prohibit government funds from supporting "sectarian" religious organizations such as schools and charities. In Blaine's day, "sectarian" was widely understood to be a euphemism for "Catholic". Nondenominationally Protestant organizations such as the public schools of the day were considered to …

Model Provisions For Building A Successful Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: A Case Study For The Western United States, Kathleen Lauckner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

It has been 236 years since Benjamin Franklin voiced his concerns about lead poisoning from the occupational exposures in his printing shop, yet, in 2012 childhood lead poisonings and adult occupational exposures are still serious public health issues in the United States. Lead poisoning is a 100% preventable affliction if the ingestion or inhalation of lead from environmental exposures can be avoided.

The quality of blood lead detection methods and brain function studies have improved dramatically over the last few decades and far more is now known about the adverse health effects from low level (microgram- µg) exposures to lead. …

Into The Tangled Web: K-12 Educators, Free Speech Rights, And Social Media, John David Andrews

Theses and Dissertations

Much attention has recently been given to K-12 educators and their use of social media. This quantitative study surveyed a targeted sample (n = 543) of known social media users to learn about K-12 educators’ use of social media, their legal knowledge of the First Amendment as it relates to free speech and education, and their dispositions toward the First Amendment. Survey respondents self-reported levels of social media use, completed a legal knowledge section, and responded to a series of items used to gauge their disposition toward the First Amendment. These were analyzed through various demographic and contextual factors in …

Principal Perceptions Of The Relevancy Of The K-12 Minnesota Principal Competencies, Paul Peterson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the relevancy of the K-12 Minnesota Principal Competencies as perceived by practicing Minnesota principals. Two research strategies were used in this mixed-methods study. First, a quantitative survey was administered to Minnesota principals. The survey asked respondents to consider the relevance of each of the 16 Minnesota principal competencies. Based on the results of the survey, principal focus groups were held to gather additional input, including recommended changes to principal preparation programs within the state. While affirming the competencies currently in place, this dissertation provides policymakers with practitioner perspective and recommendations for improving principal preparation within the state …