Walnut Creek School Notes: Nicotine addiction specialist to give free talk

A doctor who once worked for the tobacco industry will speak about the dangers of nicotine addiction on Sept. 25.

Offered by the Contra Costa County Office of Education, the public is invited to a free and informative program, titled "Inside the Dark Side: The Science behind Nicotine Addiction and the Lies of the Tobacco Industry."

The presentation will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at the office, 77 Santa Barbara Road in Pleasant Hill.

Offered as an educational service to the community by the office's Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program, Dr. Victor DeNoble will be the keynote speaker. Hired by the Philip Morris Tobacco Company in the 1980s to research and study the effects of nicotine on the brain DeNoble was later fired because of what his studies revealed, according to a news release from the education office.

"He became the first whistle-blower to begin tearing down the wall of secrecy built by the tobacco industry, and was a key witness in the federal government case against the tobacco industry," according to the release. DeNoble was featured on "60 Minutes" and "Dateline NBC," and his story was the subject of 2011 film "Addiction Incorporated."

He will discuss the science, history and biology of drug addiction.

Read more of Elizabeth Nardi's San Jose Mercury News article HERE.

At the New Ed Roberts Campus, DREDF Continues its Pioneering Civil Rights Work

As one of the seven partner agencies at the new Ed Roberts Campus (ERC), DREDF (The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund) is expanding its efforts to advance the rights of people with disabilities. A national law and policy center, DREDF offers legal advocacy, training, education, public policy work, and legislative development. DREDF’s director, Susan Henderson, says that being at the ERC brings many advantages, including increased awareness about each agency's disability rights work, new opportunities for collaboration, proximity to a transit hub, and additional space for meetings.



Read more HERE.

Researcher Touts Easy Cure For Test Anxiety

A simple writing exercise can relieve students of test anxiety and may help them get better scores than their less anxious classmates, a new study has found.

The report in Friday's edition of the journal Science says students who spend 10 minutes before an exam writing about their thoughts and feelings can free up brainpower previously occupied by testing worries and do their best work.

Read Donna Gordon Blankinship's Associated Press article in the San Jose Mercury News HERE.

Comments on Gov. Brown's Budget

Here are some sites for coverage and commentary regarding Gov. Brown's Budget:

Contra Costa Times: The governor's promise to spare K-12 education from cuts in his budget places a heavy burden on schools because it is contingent on a tax extension that isn't guaranteed.

San Jose Mercury News

California School Boards Association: Under this proposal, mental health services for special education students that are mandated by AB 3632 would be paid with Proposition 63 funds in 2011-12. After that, they would be funded from the Local Revenue Fund and the state General Fund.

MDUSD Board of Education Member, Sherry Whitmarsh's Blog

What are your thoughts?

Free Lectures at the Morgan Autism Center

Where: Morgan Autism Center, 2280 Kenwood Ave., San Jose, CA 95128
When: Saturday, February 5, 2011 9:30 - 12:30 pm
Speaker: Irene van der Zande

Title: "Bullying, Violence, & Abuse: Simple Skills to Stop Big Problems."

Saturday, March 12, 2011 9:30 - 12:30 pm
Speaker: David Traver, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Title: "Biomarkers for Conditions Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder."

More information HERE

Bay Area Parents Coalesce to Work to Reform Education Funding

From the San Jose Mercury News:


Urged on by the worsening state budget crisis, a group of parents from across the Bay Area have joined together to mobilize other parents to reform the way California funds education. The new effort grew from a phenomenally successful fundraising drive, which saved teacher jobs in the Cupertino school district, and from growing campaigns in other districts. READ MORE