Nearly 350 parents and students from the Stewart Manor School, at 38 Stewart Ave. in Garden City, enjoyed a first-ever cultural diversity event, “International Night,” on March 31. The event began during the day for students, who went on a tour through different classrooms in the school to view exhibits of different cultures. In the evening, students and parents came together for International Night, held in the school’s gym and cafeteria, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event also included a storyteller and performances by the school’s fourth- and fifth-grade chorus. Local businesses, including La Bottega and VI Pizza, supplied food for the event, which was free of cost for students and parents. more

The student, all of 12 or 13 years old, slammed my already broken left hand against the cinder-block wall. Pain shot down my plastered skin. The boy then ran out of the suspension room, pursuing another student with whom he had gotten into a fistfight. more

Randi Weingarten, former president of the United Federation of Teachers, now head of the American Federation of Teachers, recently delivered a speech titled, “Towards a True Development and Evaluation System.” She was being proactive by presenting her own plan in response to recent calls for revamping teacher assessment and tenure. more

The New York Times reported last week that three-quarters of the 17,500 freshman at City University of New York’s six community colleges require remedial classes in reading and writing and math. more

The Elmont Interschool Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, which includes the Clara H. Carlson, Covert Avenue, Dutch Broadway, Gotham Avenue, Stewart Manor and Alden Terrace schools, hosted a celebration for Founders Day, the birthday of the national PTA, on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. more

These days almost everybody has a complaint about the government. In Washington it’s about health care, taxes, over-regulation and bailouts. Here at home the complaints deal with the economy and real estate taxes, but mostly taxes. more

For this column and the next, I will continue to present the results of my survey on what makes a great teacher. I asked my Hofstra students to think back to their elementary, middle and high school days. Last week I shared their responses to the first question: "Who was your favorite teacher? What made him or her so special?" more

Several weeks ago, I featured a survey of students who had dropped out of school in Baltimore, which asked them why they had left. For this column and next, I would like to share with you the results … more

I was a teacher for years, so I know firsthand the challenges of the classroom, and I continue to be in awe of those who inspire the children they teach and honor the profession they have chosen. more

On New Jersey’s Election Day, April 20, Gov. Chris Christie wanted voters to reject school budget proposals in any districts where the unionized teachers weren’t willing to freeze their salaries for a year. more