Bill requires conservation, development curriculum
Posted: March 31, 2012 at 12:53 am
JUNEAU, Alaska The chairman of the House Education Committee has proposed a bill that requires Alaska public schools develop curriculum conveying constitutional principles of resource use, development and conservation.
Rep. Alan Dick, R-Stony River, said students are getting a skewed idea of resource development, often from teachers who don't hail from Alaska and aren't familiar with the state's constitution. He said constituents district have complained that students are being taught exclusively that development is bad without learning of economic benefits and the other side of the story.
His bill, HB352, requires that curriculum conveying constitutional principles of resource use, development and conservation be developed "without regard to personal opinion."
"I want to empower citizens of Alaska so that if they feel there are things being taught in their districts that violate the constitution, they can go to their school boards," Dick said.
Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, and a committee member, said during a hearing Friday that the bill would put a burden on school districts. He said the wording of the bill makes it so districts might be required to purchase books that don't exist, and that supplementary curriculum materials might be a better solution than limiting the types of books districts can buy.
"I'm worried about unintended consequences and whether this will be applied to individual school boards and districts and how it would affect them," Seaton said. "We need to hear from them."
An opportunity for public testimony was provided Friday, but no one from the public testified.
Betsy Beardsley, environmental justice program director of the Alaska Wilderness League, said in an interview that she wants to know more about the bill before it passes.
Tim Bristol, director of Trout Unlimited, said the legislation "isn't necessarily bad as long as the pro-development themes that teachers will be required to espouse are balanced with information about how important clean water is to Alaska's world-class fisheries."
Most House committees face a tentative deadline next week to stop hearing House bills and to focus on Senate bills.
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Bill requires conservation, development curriculum
Affirmative Insurance Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Financial Results
Posted: at 12:53 am
ADDISON, Texas, March 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFM - News), a leading distributor and producer of non-standard personal automobile insurance policies, reported consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011.
Gary Kusumi, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "2011 was a disappointing year for reported financial results due in large part to non-cash charges and loss development related to our Michigan business, which we exited in 2011. We made improvements in claims, underwriting, product structure and a number of other areas during the year as reflected in our core operating results. The current market environment continues to be difficult, particularly with the increase in gas prices. Increasing revenue and matching the expense base against current premium volume is our greatest challenge. The entire organization is singularly focused on executing on our initiatives to return to profitability. We recognize the challenges we must overcome and the hard work that will be necessary to achieve our financial objectives."
Operating Performance
As a result of adverse loss development in Michigan and recent premium production trends, the Company recorded a non-cash, pretax goodwill impairment charge of $140.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Significant declines in the fourth quarter of 2011 in premiums written in the markets corresponding to the recorded agency relationship compared with prior periods and forecast, as well as customer attrition rates indicated that the carrying amounts of definite-lived intangible assets were not recoverable, resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of $1.7 million.
About Affirmative
Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc. is a distributor and producer of non-standard personal automobile insurance policies and related products and services for individual consumers in targeted geographic markets. Non-standard personal automobile insurance policies provide coverage to drivers who find it difficult to obtain insurance from standard automobile insurance companies due to their lack of prior insurance, age, driving record, limited financial resources or other factors. Non-standard personal automobile insurance policies generally require higher premiums than standard automobile insurance policies.
The Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3443
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking terms such as "likely," "typically," "may," "intends," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "targets," "forecasts," "seeks," "potential," , or "attempts" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. By their nature, these statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual future results to differ materially from those results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements. They give the Company's expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and, except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update them to reflect changes that occur after that date. For a discussion of factors that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Any factor described in this press release or in any document referred to in this press release could, by itself or together with one or more other factors, adversely affect the Company's business, earnings and/or financial condition.
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Affirmative Insurance Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Financial Results
Learning Online – Video
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Florida education news: Twitter, school grades, online education and more
Posted: at 12:52 am
TWEETING: USF's underwater research robot is sending reports back to shore via Twitter. (USF photo)
LESS STRESS: Gulf High principal Steve Knobl quits his post for a job that will give him new challenges and more family time.
NO MORE: Sacred Heart Academy in Tampa will close after 81 years because of low enrollment.
TOP OF THE CLASS: Kindergartners get a first peek at career options Stuffed animal pet show teaches Winding Waters Elementary students about real life creatures Springstead High students begin a humanities club to learn more about other cultures and religions
LOW EXPECTATIONS: Leon school officials brace for school grades to decline under new FCAT scoring guidelines, WFSU reports.
AT ODDS: The State Board of Education overrules the Duval School Board's denial of an online-only charter school, setting up a possible lawsuit, the Florida Times-Union reports.
BE SURE: Florida education leaders should ensure that online education offers at least comparable results to classroom learning before jumping more deeply into that arena, the Orlando Sentinel editorializes.
EXTRA HELP: A Stuart church begins its Homework Angels program to help children whose parents don't speak English to complete their school work, the Stuart News reports.
LABOR NEWS: The Palm Beach Classroom Teachers Association has ousted its executive director, the Palm Beach Post reports.
STILL SHRINKING: The Flagler school district looks for ways to continue cutting its spending in order to keep its reserves sound, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.
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Florida education news: Twitter, school grades, online education and more
Excercise f – Video
Posted: March 30, 2012 at 10:35 pm
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Excercise F part 2 number 2 – Video
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A force for health
Posted: at 10:35 pm
The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) National Convention in Boston, AAHE awarded former longtime resident of Sierra Vista, Michelle Henry, the National Health Teacher of the Year K-12.
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The Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review
SIERRA VISTA Each year, the American Association for Health Education recognizes health educators who enrich the depth and scope of health related activities in the classroom and who have been committed to the advancement of health promotion at the school, district, regional and national levels. On March 16 at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) National Convention in Boston, AAHE awarded former longtime resident of Sierra Vista, Michelle Henry, the National Health Teacher of the Year K-12. Henry taught health and physical education at Fort Huachuca Accommodation Schools, was a tennis instructor at Cochise College, a gymnastics and swimming instructor and a private tutor for special needschildren.
Henry received her B.A. in education at Arizona State University in 1976 and recently received her masters degree in special education at the University of Virginia. Throughout her career, teaching in public and private schools for more than 30 years, Henry has fulfilled many roles in promoting health across all age groups. As the health specialist at Liberty Middle School in Clifton, Va., she recognizes that all students are gifted and challenges each student to reach their full potential as health students and students of life. Henry conveys a tremendous passion for teaching her students about some of the more pressing issues for the middle school students such as fitness, nutrition, self-esteem, anti-bullying, peer pressure, and tobacco, drug and alcohol awareness. Henry injects a creative twist to actively involve her students in the learningprocess.
One student said, Getting stickers for answering in class, picking out of the treasure box for handing in activity logs, and Mrs. Henry using those crazy noise makers to get our attention all made health class reallyexciting.
As a health advocate at her school, Henry was the lead teacher to implement a school wide wellness program that led Liberty Middle School to winning the 2010 Fairfax County Public School G.O.L.D.E.N. Apple Wellness Award, the highest honor for a school that demonstrates excellence in wellness for both students and staff. In physical education classes, students track their cardio fitness levels with heart rate monitors and complete weekly physical activity logs. In health classes, students evaluate their daily diet, practice stress relieving exercises like deep breathing and visualization techniques and they also log sleep habits. Henry also developed and implemented a comprehensive wellness program for the faculty that includes weight loss challenges, walking and running events, relaxation treatments, nutrition consultations, weight room and aerobic excercise trainings, flu shot clinics, and screenings for osteoporosis, high blood pressure and diabetes. With the rising incidence of childhood obesity, early onset diabetes and heart disease in the U.S., as role models, teachers can send a strong message to students about living a healthier lifestyle through their own increased physical activity and more nutritious eating habits. Additionally, healthy and fit teachers are more energized in their classrooms to inspire and motivate learning across all the subject areas, saidHenry.
Along with her teaching duties, Henry also volunteers and participates in a variety of boards and committees. Henry has been the co-chair of character education, a member of the positive behavior intervention supports committee, a strong advocate for school wide anti-bullying campaigns, a sponsor of the LMS Safe and Drug Free Bookmark Contest and the chair of both the autism awareness and inclusive school committees. Henry has devoted time to afterschool programs such as the running club, exercise and nutrition club for students at risk for obesity, and also instructs babysitting classes and CPR classes for the American Heart Association. Henry was a volunteer sponsor for a warm-hearted gift giving program for LMS students to deliver toy bears to children in the hospital affected bycancer.
Henry is a member of the Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and the American Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Henry is also a mentor to pre-service teachers from George Mason University who are fulfilling their health methods fieldexperience.
Henry is devoted to her students and colleagues and leaves an impression on every person she encounters. One colleague stated, students in Mrs. Henrys classes, whether middle school or college age, all leave with tremendously convincing facts and powerful impressions that will empower them to make good health and wellness decisions for themselves now and throughout theirlives.
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A force for health
Cobra Pose: Home Practice from Yoga Journal – Video
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Home Ab Workout : How To Get 6 Pack Abs Excercise in 8 Minutes Fast – Video
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Home Ab Workout : How To Get 6 Pack Abs Excercise in 8 Minutes Fast - Video
Energizing Sequence, All levels Yoga – Video
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