Students inspired by 'Great Debaters'; $1 million from actor also helps
MARSHALL, Texas - The movie "The Great Debaters" made millions aware of the decades-old accomplishments of the debate team at a small historically black college tucked deep in the piney woods of East Texas — and gave that history new life at the school itself.
Before work began on the film, the Wiley College team that broke racial barriers with several impressive victories in the 1930s was a faded memory. When the school received e-mails from debaters all over the country after the movie was released a year ago, there was no team for them to join.
That has changed, thanks to donations including $1 million from the movie's star and director, Denzel Washington. An 11-member team started debating this fall, and its ranks are expected to eventually grow to about 30.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Friday, January 2, 2009
No shoes? No problem for this college interview
Wake Forest uses webcams for 'face-to-face' with prospective students
RALEIGH, N.C. - For her college interview, Avery Cullinan put on her best outfit but didn't bother with shoes. She sat in her living room, smiled into her computer's webcam and told an admissions officer more than 800 miles away that Wake Forest University was right for her.
"It's hard to part with money for a half-hour interview," said Cullinan, who avoided a costly trip from her home in Newburyport, Mass., thanks to the pilot program at Wake Forest. She was later accepted to the Winston-Salem, N.C., school.
The online interview was part of a push that started in May at the university. Admissions director Martha Allman said she eventually wants to give each applicant — more than 9,000 of them each year — a more individualized review before inviting them to Winston-Salem as part of the school's 1,200-student freshmen class.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
RALEIGH, N.C. - For her college interview, Avery Cullinan put on her best outfit but didn't bother with shoes. She sat in her living room, smiled into her computer's webcam and told an admissions officer more than 800 miles away that Wake Forest University was right for her.
"It's hard to part with money for a half-hour interview," said Cullinan, who avoided a costly trip from her home in Newburyport, Mass., thanks to the pilot program at Wake Forest. She was later accepted to the Winston-Salem, N.C., school.
The online interview was part of a push that started in May at the university. Admissions director Martha Allman said she eventually wants to give each applicant — more than 9,000 of them each year — a more individualized review before inviting them to Winston-Salem as part of the school's 1,200-student freshmen class.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Hawaii attempts random drug tests of teachers
Showdown arose from six arrests; union traded pay raises for testing
HONOLULU - Hawaii public school teachers signed off on first-in-the-nation statewide random drug testing in exchange for pay raises, but now the state claims the educators are trying to take the money and run.
Since the teachers' union approved the pact nearly two years ago, they've accepted the 11 percent boost in pay while fighting the random tests as an illegal violation of their privacy rights. No teacher has been tested.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
HONOLULU - Hawaii public school teachers signed off on first-in-the-nation statewide random drug testing in exchange for pay raises, but now the state claims the educators are trying to take the money and run.
Since the teachers' union approved the pact nearly two years ago, they've accepted the 11 percent boost in pay while fighting the random tests as an illegal violation of their privacy rights. No teacher has been tested.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Monday, December 22, 2008
Private Colleges Worry About a Dip in Enrollment
First came the good news for St. Olaf College: early-decision applications were way up this year. Now comes the bad news: the number of regular applications is way down, about 30 percent fewer than at this time last year.
“To be quite honest, I don’t know how we’ll end up,” said Derek Gueldenzoph, dean of admissions at the college, in Northfield, Minn. “By this time last year, we had three-quarters of all our applications. The deadline’s Jan. 15. If what we’ve got now is three-quarters of what we’re going to get, we’re in big trouble. But if this turns out to be only half, we’ll be fine.”
Not all private colleges are reporting fewer applications this year. Even in the Midwest and Pennsylvania, where most colleges seem to have dwindling numbers, some are getting more applications than ever.
Read full story New York Times
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
“To be quite honest, I don’t know how we’ll end up,” said Derek Gueldenzoph, dean of admissions at the college, in Northfield, Minn. “By this time last year, we had three-quarters of all our applications. The deadline’s Jan. 15. If what we’ve got now is three-quarters of what we’re going to get, we’re in big trouble. But if this turns out to be only half, we’ll be fine.”
Not all private colleges are reporting fewer applications this year. Even in the Midwest and Pennsylvania, where most colleges seem to have dwindling numbers, some are getting more applications than ever.
Read full story New York Times
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Uncertainty on Obama Education Plans
As President-elect Barack Obama prepares to announce his choice for education secretary, there is mystery not only about the person he will choose, but also about the approach to overhauling the nation’s schools that his selection will reflect.
Despite an 18-month campaign for president and many debates, there remains uncertainty about what Mr. Obama believes is the best way to improve education.
Will he side with those who want to abolish teacher tenure and otherwise curb the power of teachers’ unions? Or with those who want to rewrite the main federal law on elementary and secondary education, the No Child Left Behind Act, and who say the best strategy is to help teachers become more qualified?
Read full story New York Times
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Despite an 18-month campaign for president and many debates, there remains uncertainty about what Mr. Obama believes is the best way to improve education.
Will he side with those who want to abolish teacher tenure and otherwise curb the power of teachers’ unions? Or with those who want to rewrite the main federal law on elementary and secondary education, the No Child Left Behind Act, and who say the best strategy is to help teachers become more qualified?
Read full story New York Times
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Teacher sorry for binding girls in slavery lesson
White teacher taped hands and feet of two black girls to enliven discussion
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - A white social studies teacher attempted to enliven a seventh-grade discussion of slavery by binding the hands and feet of two black girls, prompting outrage from one girl's mother and the local chapter of the NAACP.
After the mother complained to Haverstraw Middle School, the superintendent said he was having "conversations with our staff on how to deliver effective lessons."
"If a student was upset, then it was a bad idea," said Superintendent Brian Monahan of the North Rockland School District in New York City's northern suburbs.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - A white social studies teacher attempted to enliven a seventh-grade discussion of slavery by binding the hands and feet of two black girls, prompting outrage from one girl's mother and the local chapter of the NAACP.
After the mother complained to Haverstraw Middle School, the superintendent said he was having "conversations with our staff on how to deliver effective lessons."
"If a student was upset, then it was a bad idea," said Superintendent Brian Monahan of the North Rockland School District in New York City's northern suburbs.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Study: 49 states flunk college affordability
Only California, with lower-cost community colleges, made the grade
An independent report on American higher education flunks all but one state when it comes to affordability — an embarrassing verdict that is unlikely to improve as the economy contracts.
The biennial study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, which evaluates how well higher education is serving the public, handed out "F"s for affordability to 49 states, up from 43 two years ago. Only California received a passing grade in the category, a "C," thanks to its relatively inexpensive community colleges.
The report card uses a range of measurements to give states grades, from "A" to "F," on the performance of their public and private colleges. The affordability grade is based on how much of the average family's income it costs to go to college.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
An independent report on American higher education flunks all but one state when it comes to affordability — an embarrassing verdict that is unlikely to improve as the economy contracts.
The biennial study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, which evaluates how well higher education is serving the public, handed out "F"s for affordability to 49 states, up from 43 two years ago. Only California received a passing grade in the category, a "C," thanks to its relatively inexpensive community colleges.
The report card uses a range of measurements to give states grades, from "A" to "F," on the performance of their public and private colleges. The affordability grade is based on how much of the average family's income it costs to go to college.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
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