The Daily Reveille
Thursday, November 29, 2012
EDUCATION
page 3
HEALTH
Voucher program brought to court How students can
survive finals week
Most teachers oppose proposition
Contributing Writer
Staff Writer
Educators have been up in arms against La. Gov. Bobby Jindal’s voucher program since day one. They’re now going as far as bringing the legislation to court. A court case concerning Louisiana’s K-12 schools’ statefunded voucher program began Wednesday, and District Judge Tim Kelley expects it to last until Friday. The case will determine whether funding private schools with taxpayer dollars is legal, and the ruling could affect University students looking into teaching after college. Education junior Shelby Strong said the bill was part of her consideration when choosing a major. “Everyone told me not to do it because if I got students with bad test scores, I’d get fired, but this is where I’m from, and I want to give back,” Strong said. Strong said every student should have equal opportunities, but she doesn’t think the teachers should be punished. While this is a main aspect of the bill, it also allows any child in a family of four or more whose income is less than $57,000 to apply for a seat in a school outside of their district — if his or her local school holds a rating of C or below. Louisiana K-12 students began taking advantage of the state’s new voucher program this August after Jindal rushed the bill through legislation in the spring. The problem, as seen by teacher unions and school boards across the state, is that the money slated for under-funded public schools will now go to private schools, which have separate funding, according to
FREEBIE FRIDAY FRIDAY NOV. 30TH FREE T-SHIRT WITH STUDENT ID 1 PER PERSON. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OFFER GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.
10% OFF A SINGLE ITEM WITH A STUDENT ID
7656 JEFFERSON HWY / 225-925-2667 WWW.BACKPACKERLA.COM
Vincent’s ways to reduce stress:
Juliann Allen
Megan Dunbar
The number of students seeking mental health services from the Student Health Center increases significantly after midterm exams and stays at a constant rate throughout the semester, according to Mental Health Service Director Drayton Vincent. Although the University organizes no specific mental health awareness programs during finals week, the Health Promotion Department and the Mental Health Service Department promote awareness through programs like Tiger Games, which was based on student wellness and health. To schedule an appointment at the Student Health Center, call (225) 578-6271, or call (225) 578-8774 for mental health services.
Reveille Radio
91.1 KLSU
DANNY JOHNSTON / The Associated Press
La. Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks in Hot Springs, Ark., on July 27. Republicans who talked after the GOP’s electoral defeat say the Grand Old Party needs to get with the times.
various educators. Private schools also exist outside of governmental jurisdiction and do not require the same evaluations and criteria for courses as public schools. Jindal and State Superintendent of Education John White’s argument is that the voucher program has helped and should continue to help students who previously had no options to earn a better education. White said in a statement that the middle of the school year is not the best time to make this decision, as students will be in the middle of a grade. Teachers protested this measure from the start, with demonstrations at the Capitol building as legislators drafted and passed
the bill. Two organizations, Louisiana Federation of Teachers and Louisiana Association of Educators, officially filed suits against the bill’s passing in June. The argument against the bill includes a statement that the bill’s passing was unconstitutional. Lower courts have refused to define the bill as unconstitutional because of the budget deficit this action would cause, forcing the case to make its way to the state court. Currently, 4,900 students are enrolled in 117 private schools using the state’s vouchers. Contact Megan Dunbar at mdunbar@lsureveille.com
Tune in at 4:20 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. to learn how to deal with test anxiety.
- Maintain a regular routine as much as possible. - Eat healthy foods. - Get a sufficient amount of sleep. - Exercise can be used as a distraction and increases endorphins, which decrease stress. - Develop a study plan. - Limit alcohol and drug use during finals week to keep a clear mind. - Engage in Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises.
Ways to get help:
- Visit the Student Health Center to visit with counselors, who also make themselves available for crisis and emergency situations. - Chat with counselors in academic colleges and in Center for Academic Success, Student Life and Residential Life staff and staff from religious programs. - Rely on parents and relatives to provide support. Contact Juliann Allen at jallen@lsureveille.com
Tonight on Tiger TV Newsbeat 6PM Sports Showtime 6:15PM The Big Show 6:30PM Campus Channel 75 DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Joe at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com