EWA's blog about education issues and topics from a journalist's perspective. The Educated Reporter is anchored by Emily Richmond with contributions from EWA staff and guests.
EWA’s blog about education issues and topics from a journalist’s
perspective. The Educated Reporter is anchored by Emily Richmond with contributions
from EWA staff and guests.
In a new national survey, concern about the February shootings at
a high school in Parkland, Fla., was the top reason cited by
eligible teen voters as motivating them to cast a ballot. And
students who said they had taken civics classes were also more
likely to say they planned to exercise their right to vote in the
midterm elections.
By Andrea Eger of the Tulsa World for EWAand Kim Clark, EWA
Here’s some rare good financial news for education journalists:
If you have an idea for an ambitious education-related story -
and a realistic plan for executing it – a growing number of
organizations will provide grants or other resources to support
your reporting.
Representatives from several of the organizations, and some
fellowship winners, shared tips and strategies for getting
help to make reporting dreams a reality at EWA’s
2018 National Seminar, held on the campus of the University of
Southern California.
Visiting a classroom while reporting on education issues is a
core part of understanding how instruction takes place. But it
can also be a missed opportunity, without careful thought and
planning.
If reporters don’t ask for a lesson plan in advance, for
instance, stick around after students leave to speak
with the teacher, or even make plans for a return
visit, they risk failing to make the most of this on-the-ground
reporting.
Educating Americans in the liberal arts – teaching them to write,
understand history, and philosophize – was traditionally a main
purpose of college.
But today’s students are shunning that tradition. The number of
undergraduates earning bachelor’s degrees in some of the mainstay
liberal arts subjects – English, history and philosophy – fell by
at least 15 percent between 2008 and 2016, even though the total
number of bachelors rose 31 percent during that time,
one recent study found.
Journalists from across the Great Lakes region and the U.S. gathered in Chicago Oct. 18-19 to learn more about the teaching profession during a time of transition for the field, and to get story ideas and inspiration.
The event explored the recent surge of teacher activism across the country and the growing mismatch between teacher diversity and student diversity. Reporters also explored teacher prep, teacher evaluation, and dived into data on teacher pensions, salaries, and absenteeism.
In his recent book, “Spy Schools,” veteran higher education journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Golden builds a compelling case that the globalization of American universities has made them fertile territory for espionage. Using case studies and sometimes stunning revelations, he shows how foreign operatives are exploiting access to get a better understanding of U.S. policies and practices, and, in some cases, to steal valuable scientific research.
Once more common to rural communities, the four-day school week is growing in popularity in suburban and urban districts as a way to reduce costs, boost student engagement, and even retain staff. Tawnell Hobbs of The Wall Street Journal found the number of school systems following a four-day academic week has skyrocketed in the past decade, from about 120 districts in 17 states to at least 600 districts in 22 states this year.
It’s hard to overstate the potential implications for education in the 2018 elections. The reasons have less to do with the high-profile battle for control of Congress. It’s really about the volume of state-level contests in November.
Thousands of migrant children have been taken into custody while crossing the border into the U.S., either on their own or while traveling with family members. While they await a court date, the federal government is required to provide school-age detainees—being held in facilities across the country—with daily schooling. In a new investigation, Lauren Camera of U.S.
Delece Smith-Barrow of The Hechinger Report for EWA
Federal education officials say they want to help students make
more informed decisions about where to go to school, what college
will cost, and what return on investment to expect – reflecting
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s vision for reducing
regulation of higher education while improving the public’s
ability to exercise school choice.
Social and Emotional Learning: From Theory to Practice
At Hazel Wolf STEM K-8 School in Seattle, academics don’t start on the first day of school.
“We haven’t yet built community,” teacher Tamara Alston said. “We haven’t figured out how we work together.”
What’s Motivating Teens to Vote?
Education Week survey, national polls offer insights into young voters
In a new national survey, concern about the February shootings at a high school in Parkland, Fla., was the top reason cited by eligible teen voters as motivating them to cast a ballot. And students who said they had taken civics classes were also more likely to say they planned to exercise their right to vote in the midterm elections.
How to Fund Your Dream Reporting Project
Seven organizations will provide financial and editorial support to education journalists.
Here’s some rare good financial news for education journalists: If you have an idea for an ambitious education-related story - and a realistic plan for executing it – a growing number of organizations will provide grants or other resources to support your reporting.
Representatives from several of the organizations, and some fellowship winners, shared tips and strategies for getting help to make reporting dreams a reality at EWA’s 2018 National Seminar, held on the campus of the University of Southern California.
How to Make the Classroom Part of the Story
Visiting a classroom while reporting on education issues is a core part of understanding how instruction takes place. But it can also be a missed opportunity, without careful thought and planning.
If reporters don’t ask for a lesson plan in advance, for instance, stick around after students leave to speak with the teacher, or even make plans for a return visit, they risk failing to make the most of this on-the-ground reporting.
Declining Demand for Liberal Arts Has Surprising Causes and Repercussions
Shifting humanities landscape should raise questions for education journalists
Educating Americans in the liberal arts – teaching them to write, understand history, and philosophize – was traditionally a main purpose of college.
But today’s students are shunning that tradition. The number of undergraduates earning bachelor’s degrees in some of the mainstay liberal arts subjects – English, history and philosophy – fell by at least 15 percent between 2008 and 2016, even though the total number of bachelors rose 31 percent during that time, one recent study found.
The Zombie Apocalypse is Here (and It’s Now Called ‘English Class’)
Student-centered learning and 'The Walking Dead' at Revere High School
(EWA Radio: Episode 187)
What happens when a teacher takes a student up on his dare to watch a TV series about zombies?
What You Missed at the #ewaTEACH18 Seminar in Chicago
Journalists from across the Great Lakes region and the U.S. gathered in Chicago Oct. 18-19 to learn more about the teaching profession during a time of transition for the field, and to get story ideas and inspiration.
The event explored the recent surge of teacher activism across the country and the growing mismatch between teacher diversity and student diversity. Reporters also explored teacher prep, teacher evaluation, and dived into data on teacher pensions, salaries, and absenteeism.
Tinker Tailor Student Spy
New book digs into espionage in U.S. higher education
(EWA Radio: Episode 186)
In his recent book, “Spy Schools,” veteran higher education journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Golden builds a compelling case that the globalization of American universities has made them fertile territory for espionage. Using case studies and sometimes stunning revelations, he shows how foreign operatives are exploiting access to get a better understanding of U.S. policies and practices, and, in some cases, to steal valuable scientific research.
Why Four-Day School Weeks Are Gaining Ground
Districts use shorter schedule to cut costs, recruit teachers
(EWA Radio: Episode 185)
Once more common to rural communities, the four-day school week is growing in popularity in suburban and urban districts as a way to reduce costs, boost student engagement, and even retain staff. Tawnell Hobbs of The Wall Street Journal found the number of school systems following a four-day academic week has skyrocketed in the past decade, from about 120 districts in 17 states to at least 600 districts in 22 states this year.
By the Numbers: Big Stakes for Education in State Races
It’s hard to overstate the potential implications for education in the 2018 elections. The reasons have less to do with the high-profile battle for control of Congress. It’s really about the volume of state-level contests in November.
The Feds Have 13,000 Migrant Kids in Custody. Who’s Teaching Them?
Investigation finds little oversight of private companies providing required academic instruction inside detention facilities
(EWA Radio: Episode 184)
Thousands of migrant children have been taken into custody while crossing the border into the U.S., either on their own or while traveling with family members. While they await a court date, the federal government is required to provide school-age detainees—being held in facilities across the country—with daily schooling. In a new investigation, Lauren Camera of U.S.
Education Dept. to Change College Scorecard, Be Less ‘Prescriptive’ With Accreditors, Officials Say
Federal education officials say they want to help students make more informed decisions about where to go to school, what college will cost, and what return on investment to expect – reflecting U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s vision for reducing regulation of higher education while improving the public’s ability to exercise school choice.