Archive for August, 2007
Education priorities in Texas
New state law bolsters use of Bibles in classrooms But if just 15 students at any school request such a course, according to the new law, the district must find a way to offer an elective focusing on the Bible’s historic or literary value, said state Rep. Wayne Christian, who co-wrote the bill. Too bad [...]
Because a real solution would require money
Tricky Times for the Top 10 Percent Program Leicht says Texas has widened access to its elite flagship schools so much that UT-Austin has been overwhelmed. “The Texas problem is a big population, two flagship campuses, and far too few slots,” he says. “What the university system needs to do is figure out ways to [...]
What a difference a few months can make
Excellent column on how birthdays affect education performance. A year’s wait can make all the difference in kids’ academic performance | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Education Columnist Joshua Benton If some significant portion of a kid’s high school grades is based on his birthday, how much of it do you [...]
Schools–education and so much more
Another example of education not being the only concern of public schools: Mexia Daily News – District pulls 4-day school week proposal The Lancaster school board voted 5-1 last month to allow Lewis to seek a waiver exempting the district from the required 180-day school calendar. Under the proposal, the 6,000-student district south of Dallas [...]
No more dropping college courses
I don’t get it. Legislation limits college courses that may be dropped The 80th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1231 limiting the number of courses an institution of higher learning may allow an undergraduate student to drop. SB 1231 will affect any student enrolled as a first-time freshman at Lamar University and all other Texas [...]
Making Texas schools safe for conservative dogma
Critics assail Perry’s pick to head state education board Gov. Rick Perry named Bryan dentist Don McLeroy as chairman of the State Board of Education on Tuesday, a choice that created immediate controversy. The Texas Freedom Network, which is often critical of social conservatives in government and politics, quickly pointed out that Republican McLeroy was [...]