Daniel Connolly of the Memphis Commercial Appeal for EWA
I spent an academic year as an embedded reporter inside a Memphis
high school that enrolled hundreds of children of Mexican
immigrants. Many of the young people I met that year had lived
most of their lives in the United States, and in some cases
were born here. Most spoke fluent English.
As I followed these English-speaking students around the school,
I paid much less attention to another group of young people: kids
who had recently arrived from other countries and spoke little
English.
If you haven’t yet heard of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to
uphold the use of race as a factor in college admissions, you may
have at least seen the #BeckyWithTheBadGrades buzz
on Twitter and wondered what it meant.
Though it is in part a reference to Beyoncé’s “Lemonade”
sensation, the hashtag has more to do with higher education than
pop culture.
Undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children
are often known as “DREAMers,” for the failed Development,
Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act. In the face of
instability, many DREAMers have turned to advocacy. DREAMers
share their immigration stories and discuss the media’s approach
to reporting on the undocumented.
It’s been a month since a proposed textbook for Mexican-American
studies courses in Texas spurred
widespread controversy over allegations of racism and
inaccuracy, and ethnic studies advocates who convened at a
200-person summit in San Antonio Saturday are prepared to fight
the book’s presence in the state’s public schools.
It feels like we were just in Orlando at Valencia College,
sharing a campus with seven students who lost their lives early
Sunday morning in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American
history.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil
Rights released its latest Civil
Rights Data Collection, a comprehensive database with
information from just about every public school in the nation
from the 2013-14 school year. Most of the information
is disaggregated by race and ethnicity, sex,
English-language proficiency and disability.
Divisive dialogue erupted last year after students from the
University of Missouri formed a wall to prevent reporters from
entering a public space — an area that the students who were
protesting racism on campus wanted to designate as a “safe
space.” But for Mizzou student journalist Caroline Bauman, the
incident revealed a disconnect between reporters and the
communities they cover.
Laura Isensee of KUHF Houston Public Radio for EWA
The issue of race and diversity in college admissions once again
is front and center, as the U.S. Supreme Court will rule soon on
the high-profile affirmative action case, Fisher v. University of
Texas.
Panelists during a discussion at the Education Writers
Association’s national conference in May offered mixed
predictions about how the court will rule on whether the use of
race in admissions is constitutional and how far the effects of
the ruling could reach.
Schools in New York City are being asked to
consider voluntary diversity plans in an effort to
combat widespread segregation in the city’s schools.
According to its online call
for proposals under the Diversity in Admissions Initiative, the
city’s education department ”seeks to empower schools to
strengthen diversity among their students through targeted
efforts to change their admissions process.”
This election season, it has become common to read about
candidates’ anti-immigrant rhetoric trickling down into schools
and, in many cases, being used to
insult Latino students. Over the past several
days, the polarizing phrase “build a wall” — presumed to be
inspired by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s
immigration plan to curb illegal immigration across the
U.S.-Mexico border — has been making headlines in Oregon,
as it has inspired hundreds of studen
Texas advocates of ethnic studies in public
schools celebrated two years ago when the State Board of
Education voted to create instructional materials for classes
like Mexican-American and African-American studies that
school districts could choose to offer as
electives in the state. The decision wasn’t exactly
what proponents of Mexican-American studies had asked for — to
establish a statewide curriculum — but it was something.
Educating Immigrant Students: A Story in Every Community
I spent an academic year as an embedded reporter inside a Memphis high school that enrolled hundreds of children of Mexican immigrants. Many of the young people I met that year had lived most of their lives in the United States, and in some cases were born here. Most spoke fluent English.
As I followed these English-speaking students around the school, I paid much less attention to another group of young people: kids who had recently arrived from other countries and spoke little English.
Affirmative Action, #BeckyWithTheBadGrades and Latino Students
If you haven’t yet heard of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the use of race as a factor in college admissions, you may have at least seen the #BeckyWithTheBadGrades buzz on Twitter and wondered what it meant.
Though it is in part a reference to Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” sensation, the hashtag has more to do with higher education than pop culture.
Interviewing DREAMers
Video Resources from the 69th EWA National Seminar
Undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children are often known as “DREAMers,” for the failed Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act. In the face of instability, many DREAMers have turned to advocacy. DREAMers share their immigration stories and discuss the media’s approach to reporting on the undocumented.
After ‘Racist’ Textbook Debate, Mexican-American Studies Educators, Advocates Convene in Texas
It’s been a month since a proposed textbook for Mexican-American studies courses in Texas spurred widespread controversy over allegations of racism and inaccuracy, and ethnic studies advocates who convened at a 200-person summit in San Antonio Saturday are prepared to fight the book’s presence in the state’s public schools.
Recent Tragedies Hit Home for EWA
It feels like we were just in Orlando at Valencia College, sharing a campus with seven students who lost their lives early Sunday morning in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.
What Federal Civil Rights Data Reveal About Hispanic Students
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights released its latest Civil Rights Data Collection, a comprehensive database with information from just about every public school in the nation from the 2013-14 school year. Most of the information is disaggregated by race and ethnicity, sex, English-language proficiency and disability.
Coverage of Campus Racism Sparks Debate About Media’s Editorial Process
Divisive dialogue erupted last year after students from the University of Missouri formed a wall to prevent reporters from entering a public space — an area that the students who were protesting racism on campus wanted to designate as a “safe space.” But for Mizzou student journalist Caroline Bauman, the incident revealed a disconnect between reporters and the communities they cover.
What the Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action Could Mean for College Admissions
The issue of race and diversity in college admissions once again is front and center, as the U.S. Supreme Court will rule soon on the high-profile affirmative action case, Fisher v. University of Texas.
Panelists during a discussion at the Education Writers Association’s national conference in May offered mixed predictions about how the court will rule on whether the use of race in admissions is constitutional and how far the effects of the ruling could reach.
Students Stage Walkout, Want More Teachers of Color at Conn. Charter School
“Diversity — (noun) the state of being diverse; variety”
NYC Schools Initiative Aims to Improve Student Diversity
Schools in New York City are being asked to consider voluntary diversity plans in an effort to combat widespread segregation in the city’s schools.
According to its online call for proposals under the Diversity in Admissions Initiative, the city’s education department ”seeks to empower schools to strengthen diversity among their students through targeted efforts to change their admissions process.”
Student Protests Spread in Oregon After Latest ‘Build a Wall’ Clash
This election season, it has become common to read about candidates’ anti-immigrant rhetoric trickling down into schools and, in many cases, being used to insult Latino students. Over the past several days, the polarizing phrase “build a wall” — presumed to be inspired by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s immigration plan to curb illegal immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border — has been making headlines in Oregon, as it has inspired hundreds of studen
Proposed Mexican-American Studies Textbook in Texas Called Racist, Inaccurate
Texas advocates of ethnic studies in public schools celebrated two years ago when the State Board of Education voted to create instructional materials for classes like Mexican-American and African-American studies that school districts could choose to offer as electives in the state. The decision wasn’t exactly what proponents of Mexican-American studies had asked for — to establish a statewide curriculum — but it was something.