By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B In 1968, Jack Singley scheduled middle-school classes for a living. “In all your core classes, you were lucky if you only had 33 kids in a classroom,” he said. “Thirty, 35 – that was the standard.” In 1984, a new state law required that every Texas classroom from […]
Category: DMN | Education
Held back to get ahead; Some say school success is a question of timing Critics warn delaying kindergarten doesn’t guarantee advantage
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A “Giraffe!” Sarah Nelson, 4 years old and resplendent in a pink Barbie dress, has been asked to name all the animals she can. “Zebra! Um … lamb! Pigs! And … crocodiles!” Her eyes scan the room’s plain walls in search of inspiration. She sticks out her tongue, tilts […]
School officials are angling for more nutritious meals; Some South Texas districts may soon fortify fatty lunch fare with healthy fish oil to lure kids, but critics aren’t biting
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A Forget “Would you like fries with that?” In some Texas schools, the question might soon be: “Would you like fish oil with that?” Last week, Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs announced new rules aimed at making school lunches healthier – in part by cutting back on fatty fare such […]
School ratings tougher; New system to winnow top-ranked campuses, but flexibility added
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A Schools have a new set of hoops to jump through. The Texas Education Agency announced a preliminary version of its new school ratings system Friday. It outlines the new set of standards schools must meet to earn the state’s coveted ratings. The bottom line: It’ll be much harder […]
Storm pelts North Texas, causes damage; Wind makes most trouble, but no serious injuries reported
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 6B For about half an hour Thursday afternoon, North Texas was under intense aquatic assault. Sheets of rain pelted anyone foolish enough to be outside, wind gales slammed into buildings, and creeks ran angry and full. But like March’s own cliched path – in like a lion, out like […]
TAAS’ time isn’t up; For about 10,000 seniors, test very much in the here and now
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B For more than a decade, it roamed the Texas countryside, threatening doom for the state’s children. The scrawniest 8-year-old to the burliest teenager alike feared its wrath. It could suck the very future out of a child! Finally, after years of struggle, the mighty monster fell. Parents across […]
Read More… from TAAS’ time isn’t up; For about 10,000 seniors, test very much in the here and now
Schools in dark on rating system; As TAKS nears, delay of state’s accountability plan worries educators
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A Are Texas schools supposed to be running a sprint or a marathon? Hurdles or a relay race? That’s the analogy some area superintendents are using to decry an unexpected delay in the creation of the state’s new school ratings system. Their schools will be expected to meet a […]
Column: Education experiment reveals power of great expectations
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B When the first talking Barbie doll debuted in 1992, she enraged women’s groups – and not just because of her impossible figure. If you pressed a button on Teen Talk Barbie’s back, she proclaimed: “Math class is tough!” The American Association of University Women demanded (and received) a […]
Read More… from Column: Education experiment reveals power of great expectations
Alums doing homework; Local interviews help elite colleges identify standouts among applicants
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A It was more than a decade ago that Bob Taylor, Dallas lawyer and proud alumnus of Duke University, met the high school senior with a love of blue water. Mr. Taylor interviewed the boy to see if he was worthy of admission to Duke. The boy said his […]
School proposal criticized; Perry defends incentives derided by teachers, poorer districts
By Terrence Stutz and Joshua Benton Staff Writers Page 1A Gov. Rick Perry spelled out more of his $500 million plan to improve public schools Tuesday as key parts of his proposal came under fire from teacher groups, property-poor school districts and the state comptroller. The governor’s latest school funding ideas, unveiled before an expected […]