Education
Commentary: Educators will continue to teach the truth of America’s racial history
As a West Tennessee public school teacher of 18 years, my life has taken on a rhythmic pattern – pedal to the floor, hair on fire for ten months and then two months of rest during the summer. The same process year in and year out. June and July have always afforded me a time […]
Commentary: In Williamson County, a public education PAC takes shape
In late 2014, a good friend texted me with something along the lines of, “Are you watching this School Board nonsense?” I think my response was, “Who watches the School Board?” My oldest daughter was in 1st grade, and I was about as clueless as they come about anything beyond her immediate classrooms when it […]
Education funding lawsuit could head to new 3-judge panel
A six-year-old lawsuit over the adequacy of Tennessee’s funding of public education could head to a three-judge panel, providing immediate ramifications of a new state law passed by Republicans seeking more favorable judicial outcomes. The dispute over the state’s basic education formula dates back to 2015. The lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit had been Shelby […]
Metro Schools, MNEA launch community schools project with immigrant organizations
In Metro Nashville Public Schools, students speak more than 100 different languages and the majority of immigrants are arriving from non-English speaking countries, but many students don’t currently feel represented in their curriculum. Members of the Metro Nashville Education Association (MNEA) and representatives of immigrant organizations have found over the last year that children of […]
In litigation with national organization, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee continues to thrive
Little girls selling Girl Scout cookies in plexiglass face shields is just one example of why Middle Tennessee Girl Scouts are in financially better circumstances than many of their sisters across the country. Recently the Associated Press reported that Girl Scouts of the USA has 15 million boxes of unsold cookies and faces financial difficulties. […]
In affluent Williamson County, an uproar over critical race theory
Amid uproar over Williamson County Schools’ curriculum, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson is questioning the district’s Wit & Wisdom reading program and whether it teaches critical race theory. Johnson, a Franklin Republican whose children attend system schools, said this week he reviewed a large part of the Wit & Wisdom curriculum and found items that […]
Common Core booklets go to educational scrap heap
Less than a decade ago, Tennessee author Bill Carey couldn’t sell his historical booklets to school districts and teachers without a Common Core stamp on them. Today, he fears his publications are being trashed because of a new state law banning Common Core supplemental materials after they fell out of political favor as the state […]
U.S. House Ag leader seeks permanent scholarship funding for 1890 land-grant colleges
WASHINGTON—Leaders from 1890 land-grant colleges laid out to the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday how a fresh infusion of scholarship funding provided by Congress has helped those historically Black institutions educate and train the next generation of agriculture workers. Committee Chairman David Scott, (D-Ga.), said that their testimony would help members of the committee work to […]
Shelby Schools split with historic agency dominates county commission meeting
Shelby County Board of Commissioners addressed the dissolution of a contract between Shelby County Schools and Porter-Leath, the historic Memphis preschool agency, at Wednesday’s regular session. Last week, Porter-Leath officials learned that Shelby County Schools would not be renewing their organization’s contract to provide thousands of students with preschool classes. For decades, Porter-Leath has provided […]
Commentary: Williamson County group chooses equal and fair treatment for all children
I am a storm-tossed and weary Williamson County Schools parent. I’m weary because I’m a mother of four who would rather be making summer plans with her kids instead of writing this op-ed. I’m weary after a year of navigating a pandemic with four children in four schools, almost losing my husband to COVID-19, and […]
Teachers come under pressure as politicians, parents battle over ‘critical race theory’
WASHINGTON—Teachers from Tennessee to Iowa are swept up in a wave of outrage led by GOP politicians nationwide over how schools teach kids about race in U.S. history. Conservatives have pilloried much instruction about systemic racism as “critical race theory,” even when that academic term has never been mentioned. A half dozen states have already […]
Commentary: Fund our schools, not the police
Mayor John Cooper’s budget for fiscal year 2022 includes some important measures to mitigate damage from the pandemic, including increased funding for affordable housing, transit, and emergency management. Mayor Cooper’s budget also brings our tax rate down, to the third-lowest level in Metro Nashville’s history. We are grateful for specific parts of this budget. As members […]