Americans Work Hard, But Their Kids Are Lazy

Arne Duncan: Minorities suffer 'harsher discipline'

(NEWSER) - African-American students are arrested much more frequently than whites in America's large public schools, according to the government's largest-ever study of the subject. Among school systems with more than 50,000 students, 35% of arrests involved African-Americans, though they represent just 24% of the student body. White students represented 21% of arrests and 31% of the population, the Washington Post reports. Hispanic students accounted for 37% of arrests and 34% of enrollment. More»

(NEWSER) - Wondering where’s the best place to educate your children? Compiling scores from various criteria--strength of the public school system, options for private schools, library popularity, the abundance of higher-learning institutions—Forbes magazine made a list of the best educational environments. Here’s the top ten:

1. Washington, DC-Arlington, VA
2. Madison, WI
3. Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA

Old-world schools hear footsteps from China, India in college rankings

(NEWSER) - Top-tier European universities like Oxford, Cambridge and the Sorbonne will fall behind competitors in China and India within 10 years, the EU's education commissioner warns. The Times of London reports underfunding and outmoded curricula could cost the mossier Western schools their international reputations, and international enrollments with them. More»

Brings in extra $1M in funding

(NEWSER) - Berkeley schools' superintendent had enough cash in hand to hire three new teachers a year ago—but he chose to take a risk. Bill Huyett opted to spend $250,000 on new administrative staff dedicated to making sure kids showed up at school. Looks like it worked: After nine months, 150 more students are attending each day, on average, bringing in some $1 million in extra funding, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. In March, the school warned 148 teachers of layoffs; now, their jobs are secure. More»

Rep. Jerry Bergevin says it's key to understanding American history

(NEWSER) - A bill being pushed in New Hampshire would force schools to offer an elective Bible studies class—because the Bible is an inescapable part of American history, according to the bill's sponsor. "The Holy Bible is the bedrock of Western civilization," and it was essential to the Founding Fathers' philosophy, says GOP state Rep. Jerry Bergevin. "The issue is not trying to teach religion, but to talk about what is the true history of America whether some people like it or not," notes a supporter. More»