More bad news about children and television viewing--it raises their blood pressure.

Time magazine reports that researchers in the United States and Spain collaborated on a study of more than 100 children aged 3-8 to examine the link between their blood pressure and their choice of inactive pastimes, including watching television, using the computer, and reading. They discovered that regardless of the child's weight, children who watched between 1.5 and 5.5 hours of television a day had blood pressure readings that were five to seven points higher than those children watching TV less than half an hour a day.

This troubles me for a variety of reasons. First, of course, is the health of the children. Sustained high blood pressure can lead to heart disease later in life. Inactivity leads to any number of health problems, including strength and endurance issues. Second, children who watch television close to their bedtime may remain too stimulated to sleep properly. Their bodies don't have an opportunity to recharge properly, so these children are going to have trouble paying attention in school.

Television viewers may also snack on unhealthy foods while watching TV, contributing to childhood obesity and, in some cases, diabetes. Children who have health issues can suffer further in school, where (as reported in a blog last August), positions">positions such as school nurse have often been cut to help balance budgets.

Come on, parents. Let's turn off the television and get children outside for some physical activity.

I just read in USA Today that reality TV may be coming to the classroom. Teach, a new reality TV show set in a Philadelphia high school, is being discussed with actor Tony Danza. Philadelphia's mayor supports the project, and the school reform commission is deciding whether to allow its schools to participate in the show, which would be broadcast on A&E.

Reality TV can give viewers a glimpse into the real world, but it can also skew a real-life situation in the interests of entertainment. This is what causes me some concern. However, Tony Danza appears to be taking it seriously and is already attending teacher training with other first-year teachers. The class he would co-teach is Grade 10 English. If the show embraces the challenges of teaching and the joys of making learning relevant, it may have merit. There is nothing wrong with entertainment, but let's hope that the show's creators are putting the proper spin on classroom teaching and promoting the teaching profession as the noble career it is.

The Education Department is clearly interested in measuring teacher effectiveness and creating systems to provide for professional development. Race to the Top funds have been earmarked for this purpose.

The Teacher Beat blog reports on some provisions that will impact teachers, unions, and educational organizations. For example, states that have data firewalls preventing access to student-achievement information may not be eligible for these particular funds. If a state receives funds, it must commit to using the achievement data to help determine what kind of teacher training is most effective. The state must also use some of the funds for professional development for teachers. While union officials want to know a little more about this part of Race to the Top before they commit to it, applicants must state that they have union approval for their participation.

I wonder how teachers feel about this. Do you perceive it as an opportunity or something detrimental?

The government's pledged billions have given hope to school administrators, teachers, and parents--hope that, finally, there will be adequate funding for school infrastructure, resources for professional development, and educational opportunities that will allow students to shine. I believe that ultimately we will see a change for the better, but the short-term picture is disheartening.

Thus far, we are seeing states trimming education budgets to plug gaps elsewhere. Local budgets, which rely on tax revenue for school funding, have been hit hard due to the recession. Schools are cutting teaching positions even as the need for more teachers grows. And remaining teachers may be reassigned to an area that they haven't taught in previously.

In "As School Budgets Dip, Class Sizes Grow," Time magazine reports on the increased class size expected in the coming school year. In Los Angeles, for example, kindergarten through third-grade classes will grow by four students, and fourth through twelfth grades will grow by two.

Research may vary on the degree of benefit to students in smaller classes, but parents and teachers alike know that larger groups of children require more general oversight with fewer opportunities for one-on-one time.

Parents like Californian Cheryl James plan to volunteer in their children's classrooms. Says James, "If you get more people in the room--trying to get their hand up, trying to get their question answered, trying to get someone to stop kicking the back of their chair--there are going to be more problems."

It's volunteers like Ms. James who will help make a difference in these changing times. I'm betting there are a lot of parents like her out there. I would love to hear from you about them.