Local- MCPS superintendent Joshua Starr added five new instrumental music teacher positions, choosing musical endeavors over counseling and student support positions. In an interview with The Gazette, Starr commented that, “[The county] can maintain where we are with the [pupil personnel workers] complement of folks we have, where if we let the instrumental musical program die off, it takes so many years of recovery that I just don’t think it is worth that.” He made the point that this was a decision based on efficiency. However, while this may draw controversy, especially in light of the Dec. 14 shooting in Newtown, Conn., Starr did include mental health in his list of priorities. Chairman of the Membership Committee of Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, Inc. Janette Gilman noted that the budget plan is a reflection of priorities, and that counseling positions could be worth discussing in future budget talks. The final budget request will be approved on Feb. 12 by the school board, and then passed on to the County Council and County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) for review. The WJ music department already has a staff of three and provides a variety of courses such as Jazz Band and Advanced Choir.
Source: The Gazette
US- While Vice President Joe Biden met with the NRA and other groups to talk about gun safety on Thurs., Jan. 10, a high school student at Taft Union High School shot and injured a classmate at 12:37 p.m. PT that same day. A list of recommendations on guns and gun safety, an issue that has risen to the public’s attention after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, was compiled by Biden and submitted to President Obama, who implemented an array of gun control measures on Wed., Jan. 16. The suspected shooter, a 16 year-old male, entered his first class late on Thursday with a 12-gauge shotgun and shot another student before, according to Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood shooting, and missing, another student. A teacher and a campus supervisor verbally persuaded him to lay down the gun. The incident left a student in critical but stable condition, and the teacher was treated for a head wound as a result of a pellet. 2 other students received minor injuries, one hurt while trying to run from the room (and falling over a desk), and another allegedly was hurt from the sound of the gunshot on their ears.
Source: Yahoo! News
Global- The European Union reported its unemployment rate as the highest ever in countries using the Euro. As a result of dropping incomes, debt and recession, the rate was reported at 11 percent as of November 2012–in sharp contrast with 2008’s 7.2 percent unemployment rate. In addition to the employment decline, the eurozone’s other concerns have also manifested themselves as divides between nations: economically, the the North is generally doing better than the South, where unemployment rates have an average of seven percent on their North counterparts.
Source: NPR
