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The Illinois State Board of Education is
teaming up with AT&T, Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls and others
to discourage teens from texting while driving. The use of mobile
technology has exploded in recent years and is becoming a major
factor in distracted driving crashes.
AT&T has produced a powerful documentary
designed to discourage teens from texting and driving, and Rose will
take part in a public service announcement to help draw attention to
the campaign. In addition, posters with Rose promoting the campaign
to stop texting and driving will be available to schools, and AT&T
will promote contests for students to take the pledge against
texting and driving.
In Illinois, legislation was recently passed to
make it illegal to text while driving. In 2009, there were 1,300
auto crashes in which cell phone distractions, including texting,
were the primary or secondary cause of the crash - a 9 percent
increase over 2008. Preliminary data from 2010 shows that the number
of crashes where cell phone distractions were a primary or secondary
cause was down, but still nearly 1,100, and more than 360 of these
crashes resulted in at least one injury.
I would encourage you to view the AT&T
documentary, "The Last Text," and consider including it as part of
your driver's education curriculum. It tells the story of eight
individuals who lost loved ones because of texting while driving.
This is a relatively new and emerging issue and it is completely
avoidable. We need to work with students to help them develop new
habits and discipline surrounding this technology just as many of us
adults learned to buckle up and take other safety precautions. All
of us, not just students, need to be aware that taking your eye off
the task of driving, even for a second, can have fatal consequences
that can change many lives forever. You can view "The Last Text" at
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=2964.
The Illinois State Board of Education surveyed
public school districts regarding teacher and principal evaluations
as part of the requirements for receiving federal State Fiscal
Stabilization Funds in 2009 and 2010. The goal of the survey was to
enable state officials, parents, local educators and other
stakeholders to see Illinois' progress toward improving educator
effectiveness and equity in the distribution of teachers and
principals.
The initial survey resulted in a 60.5 percent
response rate from districts. You can see the results of the survey
at
http://www.isbe.net/PEAC/html/surveyresults.htm. Please
take a few moments to review the results and if you have not
completed it yet, please do so. If you have any questions, please
contact Patrick Murphy at (217) 782-2948.
Have a great week.
Chris
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