October 23rd, 2012
04:36 AM ET

H.S. football player punished for pink

(CNN) - A high school football coach punished a player for violating the dress code when he wore pink on the field.


Filed under: High school • On air • Sports • video
October 22nd, 2012
02:13 PM ET

Homecoming queen breaks barriers

(CNN) - CNN's Don Lemon talks to Courtney Pearson, who became the first African American homecoming queen at Ole Miss.

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Filed under: College • History • On air • video
September 13th, 2012
04:00 AM ET

My view: From the picket lines

Courtesy NAMEBy Xian Barrett, Special to CNN
Editor’s note: Xian Barrett teaches law and Chicago history at Gage Park High School in Chicago. In 2010 he was selected one of 10 Classroom Teaching Ambassador Fellows by the U.S. Department of Education. He can be found on Twitter at @xianb8.

Sunday night, as Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis announced the first Chicago teachers’ strike in 25 years, I posted a short piece explaining why I felt striking was the right decision.

I understood, especially in these tough economic times, that striking can be an unpopular choice, but I wrote it with some rage at the lack of empathy and understanding I felt as an educator. I wrote it with the hope people would understand that we made this tough choice in the interests of our students.

As I reflect back on the first day of the Chicago Teachers Union strike, I know many are still angry. I hope that those who are angry with us would put aside their party affiliation and personal opinions on unions. Some critics reminded me that this needs to be about the students. They are 100% correct. So I ask you to think of your own son or daughter or sister or brother sitting in a Chicago Public Schools classroom.

You wouldn’t want your kids in 96-degree classrooms. You wouldn’t want them without books or teachers for the first month of the year. You wouldn’t want them tested over and over again instead of taught. You would want their teachers evaluated, but you wouldn’t want their favorite teacher bullied or fired due to an inaccurately measured test.
FULL POST

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Filed under: On air • Policy • Politics • teacher unions • Teachers • video • Voices
September 12th, 2012
04:10 AM ET

Actor becomes real-life teacher

Tony Danza talks about the Chicago teachers strike and his new book, "I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had" that chronicles his year as a high school English teacher in Philadelphia. (From Starting Point)

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Filed under: On air • Practice • Teachers • video
July 16th, 2012
04:00 PM ET

Overheard on CNN.com: Readers debate linking teacher pay to student performance

Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.

(CNN) - A new law in Ohio links teacher pay to student performance on standardized tests. Traditionally, teachers are assessed through direct observation, and student outcomes in the classroom don't usually affect their pay. Ohio public school districts will now give each teacher a grade, and half of that grade will be based on students’ test scores. These grades, and thus the exam results, could lead to salary decisions, promotions and terminations.

Pay for performance isn’t new, but it certainly is controversial. Judging from readers’ responses to our story, there aren’t just two sides to this issue, but many.

Even commenters who identified themselves as educators have a variety of opinions:
(Note: Some comments have been edited for space or clarity.)

Thor Mentor
In the ISD where I work as a teacher in an inner city school (in a state where they say everything is bigger), similar policy will be implemented starting this 2012-2013. It's a year ahead than in Ohio. There are many variables which account for students' achievement aside from teachers – parents, administrators, politicians, and students themselves, to name a few. I do my job well and work hard but I am not a miracle worker. Let all the stakeholders be accountable for the sake of fairness.

Teach12
I am a teacher and I agree with this new law! I am a teacher in one of the lowest states in the US. I teach at the lowest school in the state and every year I have scores that are some of the highest in the school, district, and the state. Great teachers should be compensated for their hard work. There is no excuse for such a high percent of minimal performing students. I don't care how awful my students' parents are. It's my job to work with what I have and ensure they learn too. Education and a few others is the only job where employees are not paid based on performance. Some of us work extra hard and should be paid accordingly. Those who don't or can't should find something else to do.
FULL POST

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Filed under: Issues • On air • Policy • Teachers • Testing • video • Your comments
July 3rd, 2012
02:28 PM ET

Video captures teacher pummeling student

by John Martin, CNN

(CNN) - Brooklyn teacher and security dean Stephan Hudson faces possible dismissal after a security tape shows Hudson grabbing and punching a 15-year-old student repeatedly. According to the New York Daily News, the incident occurred on March 6 at Brooklyn's George Westinghouse Technical Education High School.

Principal Janine Kieran issued Hudson a disciplinary letter for his permanent file.

After watching the footage recently, New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said he was "disturbed" by what he saw. In a statement given to CNN, Walcott says that the New York City Department of Education will begin the process of terminating the accused teacher, Hudson. Principal Kieran's role in the matter will also be investigated, according to the schools spokeswoman.

The boy's mother says that Hudson told her that her son started the scuffle. Three months later, she saw the incident on a tape supplied by the Daily News and is now considering a lawsuit against the school system. The boy's mother told the Daily News, "I’d love to hear [Hudson’s] side of the story for real, and not some bogus lies."

CNN left messages for Hudson, but he has not responded yet. The Daily News says that the principal, Kieran, refused requests for an interview.

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Filed under: Behavior • High school • Legal issues • On air • Policy • video
June 27th, 2012
02:13 PM ET

House GOP leaders to discuss deal on student loans

By Ted Barrett and Deirdre Walsh, CNN

(CNN) - House GOP leaders are expected to discuss whether or not to extend a rate cut on student loans at a meeting Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday, top Senate leaders from each party indicated they had reached an agreement but were waiting to hear whether House Republicans would accept the deal.

The White House issued a statement praising the Senate deal and pressed House Republicans to accept it.

"We're pleased that the Senate has reached a deal to keep rates low and continue offering hardworking students a fair shot at an affordable education," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. "We hope Congress will complete the legislative process and send a bill to the president as soon as possible."

House GOP leaders were still looking at the details, said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner. He also declined to say whether they would bring the deal up for a vote in the House.

FULL STORY
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Filed under: College • Financial aid • On air • Policy • Politics • video
June 19th, 2012
02:05 PM ET

Revenge of the Nerds: The best jobs

Engineering and IT professions have achieved rock star status. Ainissa Ramirez explains how to get children interested. From Smart is the New Rich with Christine Romans.

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Filed under: On air • Practice • STEM • video
June 12th, 2012
12:30 PM ET

Perry on tough love for students

(CNN) - CNN education contributor Steve Perry responds to an English teacher's commencement speech that has gone viral.

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Filed under: Graduation • On air • Starting Point • video
June 11th, 2012
03:14 PM ET

ACHIEVEability: Breaking the cycle of poverty

One program attempts to break the cycle of poverty for poor and homeless Philadelphians by offering them housing and a path to education.

From Your Bottom Line with Christine Romans. Join us every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET on CNN.

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Filed under: College • Economy • On air • Practice • video • Your Bottom Line
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