skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Louisiana teachers' union concerned about educators' future; Supreme Court hears arguments in Trump immunity case; court issues restraining order against fracking waste-storage facility; landmark NE agreement takes a proactive approach to CO2 pipeline risks.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Speaker Johnson accuses demonstrating students of getting support from Hamas. TikTok says it'll challenge the ban. And the Supreme Court dives into the gray area between abortion and pregnancy healthcare, and into former President Trump's broad immunity claims.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The urban-rural death divide is widening for working-age Americans, many home internet connections established for rural students during COVID have been broken, and a new federal rule aims to put the "public" back in public lands.

Teachers, Leaders Respond to Criticisms of K-12 Schools

play audio
Play

Monday, July 24, 2023   

With a new school year a little more than a month away, educators remain steadfast in fending off attacks from some parent groups and conservative lawmakers over what's taught in classrooms.

The recent tension was addressed at a major conference over the weekend.

Members of the American Federation of Teachers gathered for professional development sessions. But there were fiery speeches, too, in light of attempts in many states to ban books and certain curriculum.

AFT President Randi Weingarten noted these attacks on the public school system are being carried out in the face of decades of trust educators have built in the U.S.

"Parents know we have children's best interests at heart," said Weingarten. "We teach, we help young people learn how to think critically, to discern fact from fiction."

Those who want to see public school systems reined in argue teachers are given too much leeway to handle sensitive topics such as race and gender.

While many of the culturally divisive issues affecting schools haven't been as noticeable in Minnesota, controversial groups such as Moms for Liberty have a number of local chapters around the state.

Complicating matters are test-score declines tied to the pandemic, as well as growing mental-health needs among students. In response, the union announced a large campaign to help foster solutions.

Literacy was a focal point of a panel discussion at the conference, and Roseville Area Schools teacher Alonso Jaque Pino talked about the broader challenges in achieving reading success in the classroom.

"And it's a little bit frustrating," said Weingarten. "You know why? Because there are not enough resources out there."

This past spring, the Minnesota Legislature did approve a range of added support for public schools. With their majorities and a large budget surplus, Democrats boosted funding and added policies such as the READ Act, which incorporates literacy screening tools.

Republican lawmakers criticized many of the moves, saying they come with a lot of unnecessary mandates.



Disclosure: American Federation of Teachers contributes to our fund for reporting on Education, Health Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
The United Nations experts also expressed concern over a Chemours application to expand PFAS production in North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

United Nations experts are raising concerns about chemical giants DuPont and Chemours, saying they've violated human rights in North Carolina…


Social Issues

play sound

The long-delayed Farm Bill could benefit Virginia farmers by renewing funding for climate-smart investments, but it's been held up for months in …

Environment

play sound

Conservation groups say the Hawaiian Islands are on the leading edge of the fight to preserve endangered birds, since climate change and habitat loss …


Jane Kleeb is director and founder of Bold Alliance, an umbrella organization of Bold Nebraska, which was instrumental in stopping the Keystone Pipeline. Kleeb is also one of two 2023 Climate Breakthrough Awardees. (Bold Alliance)

Environment

play sound

CO2 pipelines are on the increase in the United States, and like all pipelines, they come with risks. Preparing for those risks is a major focus of …

Environment

play sound

April has been "Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month," but the pests don't know that. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's the …

David Coon designs and evaluates interventions for families and caregivers of adults with chronic illnesses, including dementia, cancer and depression. (Arizona State University)

Health and Wellness

play sound

The 2024 Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium Public Conference kicks off Saturday, where industry experts and researchers will share the latest scientific …

Environment

play sound

Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people's health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary …

Social Issues

play sound

Orange County's Supreme Court reversed a decision letting the city of Newburgh implement state tenant protections. The city declared a housing …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021