Quick Hits

PETA protests at LI school: Last week, protesters from PETA showed up at a Hempstead elementary school, unannounced and uninvited, to try to convince youngsters leaving at day's end that circuses mistreat their animals. The protesters handed out coloring books with stickers that read, "Circuses are no fun for animals." (Newsday)

California Warns of Layoffs at Schools: The State Department of Education estimates that preliminary notices will be given to 26,500 teachers and an additional 15,000 bus drivers, janitors, secretaries and administrators. (NY Times)

Court Affirms Texas Schools' Moment of Silence Law: A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a Texas law that requires public school students to observe a daily minute of silence in order to pray, reflect or otherwise remain quiet. A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans affirmed a district court ruling, saying the law is constitutional because it expressly allows any silent use of that minute, whether religious or not. (Ed Week)

Georgia Voucher Bill Dies: A bill that would have made Georgia the first state in the nation with a universal school voucher program has died after education lobbyists mounted a campaign against the measure. (Ed Week)

Gay-Straight Student Club Must Be Allowed, Fla. Judge Says: A federal judge in Jacksonville, Fla., has ruled that a student club promoting tolerance for gays must be allowed to meet at Yulee High School in north Florida. (Ed Week)

Interest in becoming a teacher surges: Career switchers make up about one-third of the ranks of new teachers, and that number has jumped in the past decade. Now, as the recession deepens, even more people are deciding to become teachers. (MSNBC)

Boy banned from wearing Obama mask in skit: A mask similar to one President Barack Obama himself wore in a "Saturday Night Live" skit prompted a Portland school principal to ban a boy from performing while wearing it at his elementary school talent show after deciding the rubber likeness of the 44th president was "inappropriate and potentially offensive." (The Oregonian)

Condoms in goodie bags - kids in a tizzy: Clinton middle school parents were in for awkward conversations Thursday night after some students got condoms as part of a school health fair giveaway... (New York Daily News)

Code of ethics for charters in works: The Pennsylvania Coalition of Charter Schools is preparing a code of ethics for charter operators to address allegations of financial impropriety and mismanagement that have surfaced at charters in the Philadelphia area, roiling the charter community. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

iPod Touch Lights Child's Pants on Fire: A Kentucky child received an unwelcome surprise recently when his iPod touch exploded in his pants pocket. The incident prompted his mother to file suit against Apple and the retail workers who sold her the device. The child was in school on December 4 with the iPod touch in his pocket; the on/off control was in the "off" position. He "heard a loud pop and immediately felt a burning sensation on his leg." (PC Magazine)