School board member who once championed book bans now faces death threats for changing her mind - LGBTQ Nation
Former far-right Texas school board member opposes extremist Republicans' efforts to ban books and defund schools after finding no evidence of LGBTQ+ indoctrination or critical race theory in lesson plans. [ more ]
NYC to pay $2.1M in race discrimination settlement with three educators: 'Toxic whiteness'
Discrimination settlement of $2.1 million to white executives demoted under ex-Schools Chancellor Carranza for less-qualified people of color. [ more ]
Unions, Parents, and Mayor Adams Are Battling for Control of New York City Schools
If mayoral control is not renewed in June, the city's biggest teachers union will have more power than the mayor over the New York City school system.
The expiration of mayoral control could bring back what critics describe as misgovernance by local community school boards, which have been influenced by the United Federation of Teachers. [ more ]
Chronic school absenteeism in the U.S. has significantly increased since before the pandemic, affecting 26% of students in the most recent school year.
Absenteeism has become a widespread issue impacting students across all demographic groups, regardless of the school's socioeconomic status or size. [ more ]
Free lunches, brain breaks and happy teachers: why Estonia has the best schools in Europe
Students at Pelgulinna State Gymnasium in Tallinn study a variety of subjects including Blade Runner, rights and democracy, programming, and creative writing.
Estonia's educational success is attributed to highly educated teachers, focus on social and personal skills, broad curriculum, and history of foreign influence. [ more ]
Your child isn't gifted, but they still deserve a "gifted" education - Epicenter NYC
NYC public schools offer two types of Gifted & Talented education: accelerated programs and enriched programs.
The NYC public school system has changed the admission process for Gifted & Talented programs, leading to increased competition for limited spots. [ more ]
Michael Donkor: Representation feels more nuanced to me now'
Michael Donkor's novel 'Grow Where They Fall' follows Kwame, a secondary school teacher, exploring themes of racial identity and everyday interactions.
The author wanted to depict the ordinariness of teacher-student exchanges and highlight the human cost and effort in education. [ more ]
Taliban causing irreversible damage' to whole education system in Afghanistan
The Taliban is causing irreversible damage to Afghanistan's education system through the reintroduction of corporal punishment, curriculum changes, and the use of unqualified teachers.
Boys' education has also suffered under the Taliban, with a ban on female teachers leading to unqualified male teachers and a reduction in subjects being taught. [ more ]
Math Scores Dropped Globally, but the U.S. Still Trails Other Countries
The math performance of U.S. teenagers has sharply declined since 2018, with scores lower than 20 years ago.
15-year-olds in the United States scored below students in similar industrialized democracies and well behind students in high-performing countries. [ more ]
NYC Councilwoman Brands Hillcrest High Chaos as 'Terrorism'
Students at Hillcrest High School in Queens organized a violent riot after discovering a teacher's attendance at a pro-Israel rally.
Councilwoman Vickie Paladino described the incident as terrorism against a Jewish teacher expressing her support for Israel.
Paladino called for immediate suspension of faculty, expulsion and criminal prosecution for students involved, and an audit of the Department of Education's personnel and curriculum. [ more ]
South Korean educators want to teach parents a lesson | East Asia Forum
Teachers in South Korea have been protesting and rallying against the government following the tragic death of a young teacher.
The protests have led to legal reforms to provide enhanced protection for teachers and restrictions on the dismissal of teachers without justifiable reasons.
The demonstrations were unique because they were voluntary and saw teachers uniting and sharing information. [ more ]
Osama bin Laden's fan club: Letters to the Editor - Nov. 18, 2023
Young leftists on TikTok are going viral with Osama bin Laden's 'Letter to America', causing concern about their views and potential indoctrination.
The influence of teachers, media personalities, Hollywood celebrities, and entertainers is being blamed for the anti-American and anti-Western sentiment among young people.
The issue highlights the potential dangers of social media platforms like TikTok and the need for education and critical thinking skills to counteract extremist ideologies. [ more ]