www.newrivervalley.com

A story from out in Kansas says that children -- even high schoolers -- are more likely to understand people who speak more slowly.

In the article, which I grabbed from Education Week, Wichita audiology professor Ray Hull said the average adult speaks at a rate of almost 170 words per minute. But the average 5- to 7- year-old processes speech at a rate of only 120 words per minute.

The resulting gap, he said, can lead teachers to think a child is confused, when, in reality, he may just not be understanding the fast speech.

Looking back, it's no wonder I sometimes get blank stares from kids when I visit schools.
On the other hand, some parents think slowing down, or the charming, "kiddie talk" doesn't work.

Parents, teachers, what works best with you, and do you buy into this theory of slowing down?

An annual poll released today shows that Americans think the nation's public school system needs a boost and that the biggest problem is a lack of funding.

The Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll polled folks about several hot-button issues facing the nation's school systems like educational standards, federal funding and student achievement.

Results included figures like this: Only 22 percent gave American schools an A or B, while 48 percent gave European schools an A or B and 52 percent gave Asian schools an A or B. Also, many polled favored using more federal funds to finance public schools.

Here are complete results of the poll , but let me know what you think the biggest issue facing schools in the valley is while you're at it.

Subway's Jared Fogle is expected to speak to students at Margaret Beeks Elementary on Sept. 5.

Fogle travels the country in an effort to stem the county's rising childhood obesity problem. Chris Neck, the PTO president at Beeks, helped organize the program.

Neck teaches a leadership course for upperclassmen at Tech, to which Fogle is expected to speak after talking to kids at the elementary school. Neck said the assembly will be an addition to the school's push for physical activity.

A 16-year-old student has died after a shooting in a Knoxville, Tenn., school cafeteria. You can read more here.

Montgomery County facilities workers will be busy this year demolishing buildings, replacing roofs, heating and cooling systems and carpet, according to the maintenance project list for the coming year.

Although the school board had few costs for the list of 37 projects that Facilities Director Dan Berenato asked them to approve this week, the list -- which includes demolishing the annex building at Shawsville Middle and a house near Harding Avenue, was approved.

You can see the complete list below.

Although the state won't release which schools made the federally mandated "adequate yearly progress" until next Wednesday, Montgomery County officials are saying that a little more than half of the district's schools met the standard.

AYP is the a state's set measure of the progress students make toward becoming "proficient" in subjects. It's all part of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation

During Tuesday's school board meeting, assessment coordinator Carol Jennings told board members that 11 of the county's 20 schools made the grade.

Elementary school director Lois Graham told board members that some elementary schools have begun targeting specific students who are not passing to make even further improvements.

AYP regulations are tough to understand, and the test scores break down students in a host of different categories. In the coming week, I'll look at little more in depth at what it all means in the NRV.

I'm not sure how you could miss it what with all the sales and back-to-school goodies, but local schools are gearing to open their doors in the coming weeks.

In Montgomery County, students will return on Wednesday. A few schools, including Bellview Elementary and Eastern Montgomery High have open houses and schoolwide picnics tonight to prepare people for opening day. Floyd County High will have its open house tonight at 6 p.m.

At roanoke.com we've posed the question, "Are you ready?" What I want to know is, "What's your biggest fear?" Students, is it bullies and making friends? Parents, how about leaving your son for the first time?

Maybe these "get-to-know-each other" nights will help alleviate some of those woes.