schools Archives

Yale students will have the chance to take a course dedicated to Beyonce soon

November 12, 2024

Queen Bey has made it to the Ivy League. As reported on Monday, Nov. 11, Yale University is getting into the groove with a course dedicated to Beyonce. The prestigious university will offer the course, “Beyonce Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, History, Culture, Theory and Politics through Music,” for the upcoming spring semester.

The course will reportedly explore Beyonce’s impact through her albums from her 2013 self-titled release to her latest, “Cowboy Carter.” The new class will incorporate her catalog into curriculum focused on Black feminist theory.

Yale is just the latest in a string of universities that have dedicated courses to the popstar over the years. Rutgers University, Cornell University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago are among a few of the schools offering feminist courses on the Grammy-award-winning artist.

Beyonce has been in headlines recently for her support of Vice President Kamala Harris in her unsuccessful campaign for president, and sang at former President Barack Obama’s inaugurations in 2009 and 2013.

She also isn’t the only popstar getting attention at schools of higher education.

Recently, schools have also offered classes focusing on Taylor Swift, which have garnered high student interest. Harvard’s Swift course saw reportedly 300 students enroll in it last year.

Federal judge blocks Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law as unconstitutional

November 12, 2024

Louisiana’s controversial new law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools will not be going into effect come January, after all. A federal judge temporarily blocked it Tuesday, Nov. 12, while the case — brought by a coalition of parents — plays out.

That judge called the law “unconstitutional” and barred the state from enforcing it. The law would have required a copy of the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school and university classrooms throughout the state.

Now, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office must notify all schools it’s been ruled unconstitutional.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said she expects the case could go to the U.S. Supreme Court, which last weighed in on the issue in 1980. The justices then ruled 5 to 4 that Kentucky’s posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools was unconstitutional.

However, the makeup of the Supreme Court has changed since then. In 1980, it was split almost evenly between conservative and liberal justices with one centrist who usually ended up the swing vote. Now, conservatives hold a majority in the Supreme Court.

Supporters of the law argue the Ten Commandments belong in public schools because they are historical and part of the foundation of United States law.

Universities create ‘coping spaces’ for students with election stress

November 5, 2024

Colleges across the U.S. are offering “coping spaces” to help students manage potential stress following the 2024 presidential election. These efforts, aimed at fostering mindfulness and relaxation, include designated spaces for activities like coloring, Lego-building and drop-in counseling.

The Free Press reports how Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, the day after the election, features an all-day “self-care suite,” where students can take part in stress-relieving activities, including a “Legos station,” coloring exercises and guided meditation.

According to Jaclyn Clevenger, Georgetown’s director of student engagement, the initiative is intended to provide a break during a tense period.

A University of Michigan student was assaulted after confirming he was Jewish. Ann Arbor Police called it a "bias-motivated assault." — Getty Images

Missouri State University’s counseling center has also set up a “no phone zone,” with calm jars, sensory fidget tools and coloring pages. The school describes this space as a quiet area where students can unplug from social media and focus on personal relaxation.

Washington University in St. Louis, as part of its “Engage Democracy 2024” program, has introduced drop-in counseling sessions where students can talk with mental health professionals individually or in small groups. The university states that this is meant to offer supportive spaces for students who may feel anxious or stressed after the election results.

These programs reflect a broader trend in higher education, as universities increasingly seek to address student mental health during national events. Schools like the University of Michigan have implemented measures like flexible deadlines and additional mental health support to ensure students have access to resources during what they say are potentially challenging times.

Judge rules school districts can sue tech giants over claims of harm to kids

October 25, 2024

A federal judge ruled that Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap must face lawsuits brought by school districts that claim the platforms are addictive to kids and harm their mental health. The school districts argue the companies designed their platforms to addict children with algorithms and features like the “like” button. The schools liken the tech companies’ societal harm to the damage done by cigarette manufacturers.

School districts in 19 states claim these social media companies fail to enforce age verification, parental controls and session timeouts on their platforms. They said this leads to kids endlessly scrolling through targeted algorithms.

According to the schools, these “addictive algorithms” are creating a mental health crisis among youth. School officials said they have to address these issues with their limited resources.

Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap have all fought to get the lawsuits thrown out. However, the judge will allow roughly 150 cases to proceed.

The judge noted that the social media companies are protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online companies from being held liable for content posted on their platforms. Because of this federal law, these social media giants will likely avoid liability for more than 600 other cases.

Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap haven’t yet commented on the judge’s ruling.

NYC’s solar school buses transport kids and power the community

October 24, 2024

New York City is rolling out a fleet of solar-powered school buses that will not only transport students but also contribute to the local energy grid. The buses, equipped with rooftop solar panels, are designed to function as large batteries capable of storing surplus energy that can be sold back to the grid by school districts when needed.

This initiative is a result of a partnership between New York’s utility company, Con Edison, and First Student, the nation’s largest school bus operator.

Con Edison said it has invested $9 million in the project, which aims to provide a cleaner alternative to traditional diesel-powered school buses, which have been linked to potential health risks in children due to their emissions output.

“We’re not only reducing emissions but also creating a smart energy hub that supports the local grid and enhances community resilience,” First Student CEO and President John Kenning said in a statement. “This demonstration project paves the way for sustainable transportation solutions that can be replicated in cities across the country, all while providing students with a cleaner, quieter, and safer ride to school.”

The project includes a smart energy hub featuring a two-megawatt battery system and a 500-kilowatt solar array located at First Student’s depot in Brooklyn.

Together, these components create a microgrid capable of storing and delivering power collected by the buses back to the local utility during periods of high energy consumption.

The first phase of the rollout includes four solar-powered buses that are already in operation.

A total of 12 buses will ultimately replace diesel models at the First Student depot, with the remaining vehicles being deployed during the next school year.

Judge weighs Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments in schools

October 21, 2024

A federal judge will hear arguments Monday, Oct. 21, over Louisiana’s new law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools statewide by Jan. 1. Lawyers for parents seeking to block the law will argue it violates the United States Constitution by infringing on students’ religious freedom.

State lawyers argue the lawsuit should be thrown out – not only because the posters haven’t even gone up yet, but because they say the Ten Commandments have historical significance and influence on American law.

The Louisiana law applies to all public K-12 schools and state-funded university classrooms and requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed on a poster or framed document at least 11 inches by 14 inches where the text is the central focus and “printed in a large, easily readable font.”

Each poster must also be paired with a four-paragraph context statement that says the Ten Commandments “were a prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries,” among other things.

School systems will not have to use public money for the posters. Instead, the displays will be paid for by donations or the posters themselves will be donated by groups or organizations. Meanwhile, questions still linger about how the requirement will be enforced if a teacher refuses to hang up the Ten Commandments and what happens if there are not enough donations to satisfy the mandate.

Teen smoking drops to lowest level in 25 years: CDC

October 18, 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released new numbers on teen smoking. It seems that progress is being made toward less young smokers, with the lowest numbers for this age group in 25 years reported.

Researchers looked at data between 2023-2024 and found that middle and high school students who used any kind of tobacco product dropped 20%. The significant drop is mostly because of a decline in e-cigarette or vape use. In 2024, 1.63 million students said they used e-cigarettes, down from 2.13 million in 2023.

Cigarette smoking rates also reached record lows. Only 1.4% of students said they smoked tobacco. CDC officials believe the overall decline is because of price increases, smoke-free policies and social media campaigns targeted at students.

Health officials said reaching a 25-year low for youth tobacco product use is a huge milestone, but emphasize there’s still work to do.

The report found some disparities by race and ethnicity. Tobacco use rose among Native Americans and Alaska Native students while current use of nicotine pouches increased among white students.

The study included 30,000 students at more than 280 schools. The response rate was about 33%.

Changes made to bid request for Bibles in Oklahoma classrooms

October 8, 2024

The Oklahoma Department of Education changed the requirements for vendors bidding to put 55,000 Bibles in public schools. The original request matched a version of the “Trump Bible.”

The amended bid request, announced Monday, Oct. 7, no longer requires Bibles to include U.S. historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Those requirements mirror the “God Bless the USA Bible” Donald Trump endorsed this year.

The historical documents may now be included together or separately.

Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters has been working to get Bibles in public school classrooms, which some of the state’s largest school districts have resisted.

Walters said in a video posted to X that the Bible belongs in classrooms because of its historical significance. He also blamed what he called “the fake news media” for lies about the program.

“The left-wing media hates Donald Trump so much, and they hate the Bible so much, they will lie and go to any means necessary to stop this initiative from happening,” Walters said.

A spokesperson for Walters said in a statement that the changes to the bid requirements were suggested by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). He said Walters agreed to the changes.

A spokesperson for OMES said the revisions were an attempt to save taxpayers money.

The “God Bless the USA bible” sells for $59.99, which would cost the state $3.3 million.

Backlash after full Chicago school board resigns, mayor appoints new members

October 8, 2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has appointed six new members to the Chicago Board of Education just days after all seven board members resigned amid a growing fight over control of the city’s schools. The move has raised concerns about maintaining continuity in governance.

“What’s being carried out right now is my authority as mayor of the city of Chicago,” Mayor Johnson said while taking questions during a news conference Monday, Oct. 7. “If you want to know, I am fulfilling the executive responsibility that is given to me by state law.”

The controversy surrounding the school board ignited when Johnson allegedly called for the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Pedro Martinez, to step down, which Johnson denied.

The seven board members — appointed by Johnson last year —resigned as negotiations between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union ramped up amid a significant budget deficit facing the city.

In response to the resignations, Johnson appointed six new members and is now facing criticism from activist groups regarding his handling of the situation. The mayor, a former teachers union organizer, is accused of attempting to consolidate power.

Over the weekend, 41 of the city’s 50 aldermen signed a letter condemning the situation, demanding a hearing before the mayor appoints new board members.

Chicago will expand its school board to 21 members next year, including 11 appointed by the mayor and 10 elected members. Chicagoans will vote in just a few weeks to elect 10 of the new board members, who will be seated in January.

State legislators are reportedly drafting legislation that would require city council approval for all Chicago Public Schools’ board appointments.

Migrant surge causes strain on schools: Survey

October 7, 2024

A new survey revealed the impact the migrant surge in the United States has had on schools. Reuters polled 75 school districts across 23 states. A third of districts said the increase in migrant children had a significant impact leading to budget issues and language barriers.

Additionally, 42 districts said they had to hire more instructors to teach students how to speak English. Another 15 districts said they had difficulties communicating with parents without proper help from interpreters.

When it came to budgets, 17 districts said they requested additional state funds to help immigrant students.

According to immigration court records, more than half a million school-age migrant children have arrived in the U.S. since 2022.

Denver has seen a major increase in migrants enrolled at its schools. During the 2022 to 2023 school year, Denver Public Schools had 1,532 migrant students. In the 2023 to 2024 school year, there were 3,935 migrant students enrolled in classes.

Survey respondents were asked whether they feel they are trained to meet the needs of migrant students. A majority said they were either well trained or partially trained.

The survey results also revealed 11 respondents said the newcomers had enriched the school community and brought new perspectives that could help other students learn.

All children in the U.S., regardless of their immigration status, have a right to free public education. But, the federal government does not cover the educational services entirely.

Yale students will have the chance to take a course dedicated to Beyonce soon

Federal judge blocks Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law as unconstitutional

Universities create ‘coping spaces’ for students with election stress

NYC’s solar school buses transport kids and power the community

Judge weighs Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments in schools

Teen smoking drops to lowest level in 25 years: CDC

Changes made to bid request for Bibles in Oklahoma classrooms

Backlash after full Chicago school board resigns, mayor appoints new members

Migrant surge causes strain on schools: Survey

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