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The estimates that the incidence of childhood obesity has tripled in the last three decades, which makes weight one of the primary factors in children's health today. While school lunches may not be a primary culprit in the rise in obesity numbers, few parents and educators would argue that this daily fare could stand to be improved. One solution has been to add more fresh produce to the school lunch counter – some of which is coming from gardens grown right on school grounds. However, this approach to healthier eating is not without its share of opponents.

The Prevalence of School Gardens

According to a recent report on , schools around the world are tuning into the many healthy advantages of growing their own fresh produce. Students are assisting with the planting, cultivating and harvesting of crops that they eat right in their own school lunchrooms. Classrooms take turns weeding, fertilizing and coaxing crops along, until the great harvest comes along and school cafeterias get to work finding delicious, healthy ways to use the fruits, vegetables and herbs the students had been growing.

To help schools along the way, the Green School Initiative, the Healthy Schools Initiative, Farm to School and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN offer step-by-step planting guides and information about how to incorporate the growing process into the classroom. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's Guide to Federal Funding for Local and Regional

Today's students must be well versed in much more than the three traditional "Rs" that have carried public education for the past century. In order to compete in the global marketplace, students must also know their way around the most recent technology utilized in the workplace today.

To help students and teachers in achieving that goal, Google Apps is ready to bring technology into the classroom – in real-time, no less. In a recent agreement between Google Apps and a host of states across the country, more and more public schools will see the results of technology in the classroom.

Using Google Docs in the Classroom

According to a recent entry on the , Google Apps can provide a multitude of uses in today's classroom, including:

• Gmail allows students and teachers to easily communicate with one another
• Docs that give students the opportunity to turn in assignments to the teacher right from the student's own computer
• Sites that give students access to assignments, lesson plans, and research material any time of the day or night
• Groups that provide additional opportunities for students to interact with instructors and classmates online

The addition of Google Apps makes the entire classroom more interactive, as teachers have the ability to coach students throughout the course of their assignments, and students have easy access to ask questions and get feedback. The "anytime, anywhere" access allows students and teachers

Charter schools have traditionally been known for producing high test scores and academically prepared students despite facing challenges in districts that standard public schools have been unable to overcome. However, the establishment of a charter school does not guarantee improved performance all of the time. Even when plenty of money is invested, and renowned academic experts are called in, the schools may fall short occasionally.

This video explains why charter schools can succeed.

This article reports on two struggling charter schools despite an infrastructure of support.

Trouble Brewing in New Jersey Charter School

Newark's Lady Liberty Academy was a troubled school that many in public education in New Jersey hoped to revive. Situated in a low-income area of the state, those involved with the charter school adopted a new commitment a year ago to show just what the correct type of education could do for at-risk kids.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker wooed in public school superstar Glen Pinder, a high-profile principal from New York's Harlem Children's Zone. Pinder was tasked with turning over a new leaf at Lady Liberty, raising test scores and the morale of staff and students simultaneously.

Unfortunately, even the best-laid plan ran amuck at times, and Lady Liberty was not immune to its share of conflict, according to recent reports at newjerseynewsroom.com. With Pinder came an entirely new administrative team, straight from his home field of New York.

Vending machines have become a mainstay in many public schools today, but nutrition experts fear that the calorie-laden treats lurking inside could be contributing to our nation's obesity epidemic. Some schools have taken action against such temptations by eliminating vending machines, while others are replacing the fare with nutritional options that boast less fat and fewer calories.

Are vending machines in schools a pleasant convenience or a nutritional threat? We will explore this issue to discover the full impact they have on the overall health of our children.

Junk Food Studies

A recent study in the showed that school vending machine purchases added about 253 calories to the diets of the 22% of students who ate them daily. Researchers from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Food & Nutrition Database Research Inc. of Okemos, Michigan, conducted the study. The data was collected from 2,309 students nationwide in grades 1-12, and the findings were published in the September issue of the Journal of School Health.

The study also found that the most popular vending machine selections included soda pop, candy, chips, crackers, cookies, cakes, and ice cream. Healthier selections, including low-fat milk, fruit juice, and fruit, were also purchased.

In addition to the added calories, children who regularly snacked from vending machines added ten more grams of sugar to their diet daily. The same kids consumed less fiber, iron, and B vitamins overall.

The Problem with Obesity

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Bed bugs are associated with dingy motel rooms, but more of these creepy crawlers are showing up in the most surprising places - including public schools!

School authorities in many areas are scrambling to dispel misconceptions and provide constructive information to help educators and parents keep the outbreaks under control. However, the news has many parents concerned about the safety of their children in school, as well as the possible infestations of the critter that could occur in their own homes.

What is a Bed Bug?

According to the , bed bugs are flat, oval creatures that are reddish brown in color. They are about the size of an apple seed, but are traditionally difficult to locate because they spend their days hiding in headboards, box springs and the cracks and crevices of mattresses. They come out to feed in the middle of the night, which is why people who have bed bugs in their homes typically wake up in the morning with evidence of bites on their face, neck, arms and hands. Bed bugs can be quite difficult to exterminate completely, particularly if the infestation has significantly grown before it was discovered.

Bed bug bites often appear as small red bumps with a smaller red dot in the middle. They are usually arranged in a line or cluster, and they can be quite itchy. In most cases, bed bug bites do not cause any major medical concerns, unless a person