Back To School

MALIBU, Calif. -- Human nature often entails putting off unpleasant things. One of those often-unpleasant things is back-to-school shopping, which can mean high-volume wardrobe "negotiations" between parents and children. The mall awaits - and so do potential shopping disagreements that can leave parents feeling frustrated and befuddled. But understanding the economics of this traditional conflict can help ease parents' trepidation. Economics can be reduced to the proposition that incentives matter.

WASHINGTON -- Like most parents of school-age children, I recently attended back-to-school night, when teachers are peppered with parents' questions on school behavior expectations, specific goals for academic achievement and everything in between. Delighted with my daughter's school and the quality of her teachers, I came away with a good sense of their plans to ensure that she will come out with a solid understanding of integers, will never split an infinitive and will surely be enriched by the 20-plus pounds of books and homework in the backpack my 11-year-old will be required to lug home from school each day for the next nine months.

For some workers looking to bolster their careers amid a slumping job market, going back to school can seem like a good choice. "When people are trying to decide whether to go back to school or not, they ask the question, 'How would this advance me in my job?'" says Susan D. Strayer, a former Johns Hopkins University career adviser and author of The Right Job Right Now. "Simultaneously, when the economy isn't doing well, you see fewer raises, advancements and promotions so you say, 'this is a good time to go back because I'm not going to miss out on anything.

The local Cub Scout troops invite old members and new friends to Back to School Night on Thursday. Leaders of the local dens will be available to sign up new members and renew old friendships that night at area schools.Dave Czaplicki is the contact person for Troop 62 at Forest Ridge. His number is (301) 725-1076. Lisa Maloney of Troop 345 out of Laurel Woods can be reached at (301) 725-4750. Tanya Lewis of Troop 513 at Guilford Elementary can be reached at (410) 381-5785. Joseph Owens of Troop 606 at Hammond Elementary can be reached at (301)

Northeast High School PTSA will sponsor Back to School Night at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening.After a brief business meeting and introduction of officers, parents will have the opportunity to experience their student's high school day on a mini-schedule. Classes will be 7 minutes in length."Parents will be able to view textbooks, review curriculum, learn course requirements and meet the teachers," said William Myers, assistant principal.Refreshments will be served in the cafeteria.The PTSA will also kick-off its membership drive that evening.

WHAT DO really dedicated teachers do when summer rolls around? They go back to school as students, of course. That's what about 100 of them did for three weeks, ending Friday. Stacey Russell, a third-grade teacher at South Penn Elementary School, traveled all the way from Allegany County to attend the Governor's Academy for Science and Mathematics at Towson University. Janine Steele, who teaches fourth grade at Thomson Estates Elementary, came from Cecil County. John Galeone, a chemistry teacher at Fallston High School in Harford County, was there, as were Ann Burdette, Fay Scola, Susan Larsen, Gale Mundy, Doria Hillsman and John Davis Copeland.

As children across the nation head back to school, they will be wearing fewer new clothes and shoes and carrying fewer new accessories than many retailers had hoped they would.At many stores, back-to-school sales have been disappointing, executives say, and retailers have been forced to cut prices to generate sales.Retailing experts say weak spending bodes ill for the rest of the important fall and Christmas shopping season, which retailers rely on for the bulk of their profits.Retailers will not release official sales figures for August until Thursday, but preliminary reports paint a gloomy picture for merchants.

Words of encouragement from a variety of men will welcome Baltimore public school students returning to classes tomorrow. Young people fresh from summer vacation will be greeted at the front doors and sidewalks of their school by fathers, elected officials, college students and other men as part of the fourth annual Men of Baltimore Welcome Our Children Back to School campaign. The male leadership campaign was the brainchild of Marvin "Doc" Cheatham, president of the Baltimore branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

A slow economy and labor market can lead many workers to consider going back to school. In fact, schools geared toward working professionals generally report higher enrollments during recessionary periods. But it might not be the right choice for everyone. Before taking the leap back into academia, take some time to ask questions and do some research. For starters, consider whether additional schooling or another degree will advance your career. Career experts and recruiters say an advanced degree doesn't always mean you'll get a higher salary or a better job. Researching your industry and salary level will help you determine whether that is the case.

Students will likely head back to school toting all manner of Pokemon paraphernalia or mimicking the cropped-top-and-shiny-pants style of teen pop star Britney Spears. Retailers, in the throes of the crucial back-to-school selling season, are banking on it. Many expect business to peak this week. "Back-to-school is very important. We don't sell a whole lot of toys, so back-to-school is almost a Christmas for our stores," said Seth Cohen, manager of Burlington Coat Factory at Security Square Mall, where shoppers have been snapping up shoes, backpacks and, for the college crowd, linens.