Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

New Jersey town bans texting while walking

As a slew of U.S. states have passed laws to ban texting while driving, one New Jersey town upped the ante with its texting-while-walking ban. Pedestrians in Fort Lee, New Jersey will have to stop to text, following the passage of a new law that imposes $85 fines on walkers caught texting. Fort Lee Police Chief Thomas Ripoli cited numbers of pedestrian crashes to support the ban: Last year there were 74 crashes involving pedestrians; three pedestrians were killed this year, according to the Record’s NorthJersey.com.

“It’s a big distraction. Pedestrians aren’t watching where they are going and they are not aware,” Ripoli said during an announcement of the ban.

Following a brief warning period, New Jersey police began issuing fines to distracted walkers near the end of March, with more than 117 violations recorded to date……Read More

Career guidance just a click away for North Jersey students

North Jersey high school students considering their options after graduation now can find a powerful new gateway to career exploration just a click away, NorthJersey.com reports. The new web site, NJCareerDoor.com, comes from North Jersey Partners, a regional partnership of public, private, and government organizations promoting skilled workforce development and economic growth in North Jersey. “The more youth understand the educational background and skills required in the 21st-century workplace, the better their chances of succeeding in a rewarding career,” said Kathy M. Weaver, vice president of programs at Newark Alliance, North Jersey Partners’ managing organization. Web resources available through NJCareerDoor.com include an in-depth system that matches users to potential professional career suggestions based on who they are and what they want out of their job; important details on numerous industries and the types of jobs that those industries offer, including the most recent news on the job front as well as an inside look into the emerging industries that are creating brand-new types of jobs; and job-search articles written by students and career professionals…

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