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Take Note

Posted on: Thursday, 2 March 2006, 21:00 CST

By Anonymous

Honoring Children, Libraries, Diversity

Libraries across the country will host celebrations with family programs, including bilingual story hours, book giveaways, and other literacy events on April 30, EI dia de los nios/El da de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day). Also known as Dia, this national event brings together children, books, languages, and cultures in an annual celebration of the joys and wonders of childhood and the importance of literacy in the lives of families.

For more information, call your local library, or visit www.ala.org/dia.

Ryan White Award Nominations

Each year the NEA Health Information Network presents the Ryan White HIV Prevention Award to an NEA member or affiliate who has demonstrated a commitment to implementing or supporting innovative HIV prevention education programs. Previous winners have included the Washington Education Association and Wayne Smith of Tennessee. The award will be presented at the 2006 NEA Representative Assembly in Orlando. To nominate an individual or affiliate, contact Paul Sathrum for a nomination form at 202-822-7787 or send an e-mail to psathrum@nea.org. The deadline for applications is May 26, 2006.

Save Your Retirement Benefits

Does your school district provide teachers and support professionals with a deflned-benefit or a defmed-contribution retirement plan? It's important to know which-your future retirement security depends on it. With defined-benefit plans, members are guaranteed a predictable, monthly benefit that takes into account years of service multiplied by final average salary.

Defined-contribution plans are investment accounts to which you and your employer contribute-but you manage the money, putting all of the investment risk on you. In some states, various groups are working to replace definedbenefit plans provided to public employees with defined-contribution plans.

NEA offers an online tool kit, Protecting the Retirement secunty of NEA Members: A Toolkit, to give members the knowledge and know- how needed to counter these threats. Find it at www.nea.org/retired/ tools/ publications.html#toolkit.

March Is Youth Art Month

Created in 1961 by Art and Creative Materials Institute, Youth Art Month emphasizes the value of art education for all children and encourages support for quality school art programs.

In 1995, President Bill Clinton said, "For children, the arts are an invitation to cultivate the skill of critical thinking and to recognize the bonds that link the diverse cultures of the world. American arts education enlivens our schools, opening children's minds and awakening their senses to the human experience." Well put!

How can you participate?

* Request a free booklet of ideas for celebrating Youth Art Month by sending an e-mail to sarahs@acminet.org.

* Visit the National Art Education Association at www.naea- reston.org/research_curriculum.html for arts curriculum materials and lesson plans.

* Check out Muse at www.musee-online.org/, a portal to 37,000 museums around the world.

See Justice in Action

Have you ever wanted to see the Supreme Court in action? You could by attending the Supreme Court Summer Institute. The Institute's two 2006 seminars (June 15-20 and 22-27) include sessions led by experts, journalists, authors, and lawyers, who provide an in-depth understanding of how the Court chooses and decides cases and what it's like to argue before the Court. It culminates with a visit to the Court to hear decisions handed down. Teachers also learn skills to train fellow teachers at home.

Thirty attendees are selected for each session. secondary public school teachers of social studies, law, and government are eligible to apply. Although participants must pay for all expenses, lodging is discounted, and a small stipend is available to those willing to conduct workshops for other teachers. Applications are due March 20, 2006.

For more information, including complete eligibility requirements, see www.streetlaw.org/scipage.html.

Global Community Service

Youth across America and the world will join together in April to perform community service projects for the 18th Annual National & Global Youth Service Day. On April 21-23, 2006, mimons of young people around the world, with the help of volunteers, will address important, unmet community needs through community service and service-learning projects focusing on disaster relief, literacy, hunger, public safety, and the environment. For more information please visit www.YSA.org.

Essay Contest for Juniors

The National Endowment for the Humanities invites all eligible high school juniors to enter the 2006 Idea of America Essay Contest, offering a cash prize of $5,000 for the winning essay and $1,000 each for three finalists.

The contest encourages students to think and write analytically about significant events and individuals in American history. Students will be asked to examine the historical debate during the nation's first Congress about adopting the First Amendment. Judges will look for a strong understanding of American history, well- reasoned consideration of the topic, originality, and clear writing. Essays should be approximately 1,500 words and submitted at the Endowment's Web site by April 19. 2006. For more information, see www.humanities.gov.

Copyright National Education Association Mar 2006

Source: NEA Today; a newspaper for members of the National Education Association

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