This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

A Global Classroom

-By Kathryn R. Hoffman

Are boys smarter than girls? Students at Ebenezer Preparatory School in New York City took a vote. They were sharply divided: The boys said yes, and the girls said no way!

On April 9, Ebenezer students learned that while boys and girls are equally smart, girls don't always get a fair chance to learn. It was a lesson shared that day by more than 1.3 million people around the world!

The teach-athon was organized by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), a network of groups committed to education issues. NetAid, a member of GCE, organized the online part. The goal was to draw attention to the fact that 65 million girls around the world do not have the opportunity to go to school. Kids in more than 100 countries took part. Organizers hoped to break the Guinness world record for the largest lesson taught at one time.

Students who participated heard about the obstacles that keep girls out of school. Many poor families don't have enough money to educate all their kids. Often, girls have to work to support the family or stay home and care for younger kids or sick parents. Students also learned how failure to educate girls keeps poor nations poor.

Classes were asked to share photos and stories online. Get a glimpse of the global lesson at timeforkids.com/netaid.

Ebenezer was one of dozens of schools in the U.S. to participate in the global lesson. Students there learned how cool it was to be in school. Says Anisah Lee, 10: "I get to learn, to change my life." --By Kathryn R. Hoffman

Next: All The King's Horses