Montgomery School

Sleaze in politics is nothing new. Anthony Weiner’s sexcapades are just the latest in a very long line of politicians’ indiscretions – think John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to name just a few of the more recent offenders. But there’s a lot to be learned from the scandals that dominate headlines. And yes, we can even apply the lessons learned to our careers.

Career lesson #1: Be careful when mixing business with pleasure. For today’s savvy professionals, social media like Twitter and Facebook have become excellent platforms for self-promotion and career advancement. Still, you have to be careful about what you release into the black hole of cyberspace. Consider keeping separate accounts – one for your professional network, and one that’s just for friends. If that distinction is blurry, edit yourself. Anything you put in writing – even if it’s just a text – can find its way back to you. That goes quadruple for photos.

Career lesson #2: Learn the ins and outs of social media. As Weiner learned, the stakes on Twitter are higher than on plain old e-mail. When you mistakenly send an e-mail to the wrong person, at least you’re messaging someone in your address book. But if you’re attempting to direct message someone on Twitter and you type “@” before the username instead of “D,” your message becomes visible to anyone with a Twitter account. Don’t become a victim of the DM fail. If you have private info to share, go with e-mail. Better yet, pick up the phone (but not at work!).

Career lesson #3: The higher you go, the farther you fall. Sending lewd photos can get you fired no matter what your position. But the higher you go in your career, the more people pay attention to what you’re doing. Weiner is certainly not alone in his sexploits, but ordinary joes don’t make headlines for their wrongdoings. If you have your eye on a big promotion, keep your act clean. Don’t be deluded into thinking that a position of power makes you invincible – if anything, it makes you even more exposed (no pun intended).

Career lesson #4: Take responsibility for your actions. It’s simple – if you mess up, ‘fess up. The truth has a way of coming to light, and your personal and professional prospects will look much, much better if you’re the one shining the light rather than getting caught in the glare. Weiner’s story would have had much less traction if he had told the truth right from the start, don’t you think? Adding lies to your indiscretions, whatever they are, will not endear you to your clients, your colleagues, or your boss.

Scandals have been around since the beginning of time, but social media has given us an all-access pass to every sordid detail and blurred the public-private distinction. If you want to succeed in your career, consider keeping your personal life to yourself and put your camera away!

The two former Texas Tech football stars in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nev., over the weekend had mixed results.

Billy Joe Tolliver, who played quarterback at Texas Tech from 1985-88, finished in a tie for 13th with a 49 in the Stableford format that gives positive points for under par results, zero points for pars and negative points for results over par. His 49 was 31 points behind tournament winner Jack Wagner.

Wes Welker, a standout receiver for the Red Raiders from 2000-2003, was not so fortunate. He finished tied for 64th in the 83 player field with minus-9 points. His final round on Sunday was a plus-9, his only positive day of the event, so it could have been much worse.

Green education would be mandatory in American schools if a bill in the U.S. Senate gains approval and such requirement already are being set in place in some states.

Maryland students last month became the first in the nation required to learn about the environment before they can graduate, and two U.S. senators hope to include the mandate into a reauthorized No Child Left Behind Act, according to Jason Koebler of U.S. News & World Report.

The bill would be another step toward a national curriculum and one more away from local control.

Sens. Jack Reed, D-RI, and Mark Kirk, R-Ill. are sponsoring bills, backed by No Child Left Inside Coalition, a group that represents more than 2,000 business, health, youth, faith, recreational, environmental, and educational groups.

The bill would provide funding for states to create outdoor, educational activity programs, train teachers, and form state-specific environmental literacy plans, Koebler wrote, adding that similar bills died in 2009.

Koebler reports the Maryland law requires each school to create a multi-disciplinary environmental education program, with a specific focus on the state’s natural resources. Every high school student will be required to participate in the program in order to graduate.

The Board of Education is ensuring that our young people graduate with a keen understanding of and connection to the natural world,” Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a statement. “Only through exposure to nature and education about our fragile ecosystem can we create the next generation of stewards.

The coalition said districts dont have to craft a separate course of study, but can integrate environmental content and experiences into existing classes.

Critics said the law was vague and will force other subjects out of the curriculum.

But coalition director Don Baugh called the law a momentous day not only for Maryland but for educators across the country who are watching what Maryland does, and hoping to increase outdoor learning in their states. The reason environmental education is gaining popularity is simple: it works. Children learn more, think more, and get healthier.

Teachers are being told to use force to physically control unruly pupils under a back-to-basics crackdown on bad behaviour in schools. Bad behaviour is still a problem in many schools, the Government said. 

By Graeme Paton, Education Editor

12:01AM BST 11 Jul 2011

Staff in England should use “reasonable” measures to remove disruptive children from classrooms, break-up fights and stop pupils attacking other teachers or classmates.

New guidance published today says it “may not always be possible to avoid injuring pupils” while using restraining techniques in the most extreme circumstances.

Some schools currently impose sweeping “no touch” policies to avoid being sued by parents after children are gripped or held by staff.

But the new guidance explicitly bans these policies, and even says heads should not automatically suspend teachers accused of using “excessive force” on young people.

The changes come amid Government claims that the balance of power in schools has swung too far towards pupils in recent years.

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According to figures, major assaults on staff reached a five-year high in 2010, with 44 being rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Almost 1,000 children are suspended from school for abuse and assault every day and two-thirds of teachers admit bad behaviour is driving professionals out of the classroom.

New guidance is intended to outline the tactics staff can use – and punishments that can be meted out – to control disruptive pupils. The “clear” advice is just 52 pages long compared with the 600 pages of documents on behaviour issued by Labour.

Charlie Taylor, a top head teacher and the Government’s new behaviour tsar, said: “For far too long, teachers have been buried under guidance and reports on how to tackle bad behaviour. The new guidance will help teachers to be able to do their job without lessons being disrupted and schools to feel confident when they address behaviour issues.”

The guidelines are intended to be used by more than 21,000 state schools in England.

Under the rules, schools are told to:

• Consider calling in police to prosecute pupils who make serious false allegations against staff;

• Resolve the vast majority of accusations made by pupils within a month and ensure unfounded claims are not included in teachers’ records;

• Punish pupils for misbehaviour and bullying committed outside schools, including at evenings and weekends;

• Search pupils’ clothing, bags and lockers for drugs, alcohol, weapons and stolen goods without their consent;

• Consider forcing all pupils to undergo airport-style screening checks as they enter school even if they are not suspected of carrying weapons;

• Require all parents to sign “home school agreements” and apply to the courts for £50 spot fines or parenting orders if sons or daughters regularly misbehave or skip classes.

Some of the most comprehensive guidance covers the use of “reasonable force” to restrain pupils.

This can include standing between pupils or physically blocking their path, guiding children by the arm or holding youngsters to get them under control.

Staff should “always try to avoid acting in a way that might cause injury, but in extreme cases it may not always be possible to avoid injuring the pupil”, the document says.

Physical force can be used to break up fights, stop children attacking classmates or teachers and to remove disruptive children from lessons or school events.

Schools do not need parents’ permission to use force and must not automatically suspend staff who are accused of using excessive force against children, says the guidance.

In a further conclusion, it makes clear that staff can also make physical contact in other circumstances such as holding children’s hands, comforting distressed pupils, patting them on the back or demonstrating sports techniques during PE without fear of being labelled as paedophiles.

The Government also said it was legislating to give accused staff full anonymity – until cases reach court – to ensure false allegations do not stain teachers’ careers. It also wants to remove the legal requirement on schools to give parents 24 hours’ notice of detentions.

Nick Gibb, the Schools Minister, said: “This new, clear and concise guidance removes the red tape that has stopped teachers from being confident in maintaining discipline in the classroom. It will also help schools promote good behaviour.

“We know that the majority of pupils are well-behaved and want others to behave well too. The role of the Government is to give schools the freedom and support they need to provide a safe and structured environment in which teachers can teach and children can learn.”

(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted) Miami Sunset at Monarch at Deerfield Beach High; Champagnat at Pompano Beach; Stranahan at Dillard; Fort Lauderdale at West Broward at Cypress Bay High; Boca Raton at Northeast; Coral Glades at Hollywood Hills at Lockhart Stadium; Western at Palm Beach Central; American Heritage-Delray at American Heritage.