Latest News in US Education
As schools in the US prepare to open, the hype for back-to-school shopping is already picking pace. There are a lot of stories to talk about the summer holiday experiences in the first few weeks after opening. Stores are already offering amazing school deals to capitalize on the season. In July, Stanford President Tessier Lavigne resigned. It was alleged that he was involved in altering images in research papers. In Texas, the A&M President resigned due to controversies over the hiring of professors. These are just some of the many issues schools have to deal with in the first month of the 2023/24 academic year.
Diversity and inclusion in hiring teachers is still a thorny issue in the US
Balancing races and color remains a contentious issue in the US. The report by Education Week says educators of color are still in a “profoundly leaky pipeline.” The report says the US states never prioritize diversity when creating recruitment guidelines. The report is based on research findings published by the NCTQ.
The report provides an analysis of state-by-state teacher diversity guidelines. In the report, it's just 7 states that have goals to raise teacher diversity. Surprisingly, this is still a big issue 246 years after the USA's independence. The report suggests quick action to pinpoint the leaky areas and seal them.
As a new academic year begins, students expect to write papers on different topics. The teacher may assign you topics or let you choose the one you feel comfortable with. You should explore free informative essay examples at StudyMoose to gather necessary information and take some inspiration. When you read them, you will develop skills to write like a professional.
The president of Texas A&M University resigns due to a hiring controversy
In late July, the president of Texas A&M University resigned following a diversity and inclusion issue. It is alleged that President M. Katherine didn’t follow the right hiring procedures. She hired Por. Kathleen McElroy and then suddenly changed her employment terms. The report by CNN says this left McElroy with no option but to resign. She was informed there was a hiring backlash on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
McElroy felt she was being targeted because she is black and a woman. CNN reports that a law banning diversity and inclusion in Texas will become effective next year. At first, McElroy signed a five-year non-tenured contract. It was suddenly changed to a one-year contract. In the new conditions, the contract could be changed without notice. Hart Blanton, of the Department of Communication and Journalism, called for an investigation. He said he was surprised to hear about the sudden changes yet he was never informed.
Biden government begins website trials as part of the Save student loan plan
Joe Biden’s administration has launched a website testing phase for the Save Student loan scheme. The website will offer a loan repayment plan for students based on income. The website is part of the Save (Saving on a Valuable Education) plan. Biden announced the Save plan after his initial loan forgiveness plan was stopped by the Supreme Court.
The plan is expected to reduce monthly installments paid by students significantly. Biden said he is committed to making the student loan system in the county better. The report was sent to media houses in a statement by a senior member of the Whitehouse. The report said signing up for a student loan on the website will take only 10 minutes.
Borrowers will be able to view the exact monthly installments they should pay. They will be allowed to choose favorable installments based on income. The Biden administration expects to launch the website before schools open in September. The Save plan will however become effective in July 2024.
Students go through an intensive K-12 education system before joining higher education. In higher education, a student writes essays, research papers, and does several exams. In the forgiveness plan, Biden had planned to forgive needy students a $430 bn loan.
New teaching guidelines on slavery in Florida criticized
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina recently criticized Governor Ron DeSantis due to new teaching guidelines that he supported. Florida okayed middle school teachers to instruct students that slaves benefited from slavery. The educators are required to teach students the slaves learned skills that they could use for their benefit.
Scott insisted that slavery was all about mutilating humans. It was about separating families and raping women. The report by AP News said that Scott regretted the position taken by the Governor. He said Ron is in the presidential race and should come clean and clarify his position.
It is not the first time that Ron is dealing with criticism. He has faced a lot of criticism from teachers, civil rights activists, and Black Republicans. President Joe Biden’s administration has also criticized him on school standards. Students in the US have written a lot of essays on slavery.
A student is free to support any side when writing a research paper. Some of the essays can be published as examples for other students to read. However, when a politician takes a stand, it is prone to attract great criticism. A week ago, Vice President Kamara Harris visited Florida to condemn the state’s curriculum. Ron defended himself by saying he was free to speak the truth. He said Americans have for many years believed in a lie.
Conclusion
As schools prepare to open for the 2023/24 academic year, many issues still need to be addressed. There have been concerns about cyberattacks on school data. Concerns about inclusivity and diversity in educators remain a major concern. Being a presidential election year, presidential candidates are making many promises to change the education sector. Teachers on the hand are pushing for empowerment. They also want the curriculum empowered to fit a STEM-driven world. Stakeholders can only hope that the promises will be implemented to make schools a better place.
