Education

Gap Year Gains Favor Among High School Graduates

Wall Street Journal  |  Dec 30, 08 7:08 PM CST

(Newser) - As more high school graduates decide to take a so-called “gap-year” before college, a veritable industry has sprung up to offer these seekers advice on how to go about it, the Wall Street Journal reports. Given the increased popularity of a year off, which some educators advocate because “not every 17-year-old is ready to enter college,” even universities are getting into the game. Next year, Princeton will become the first school to offer a gap-year pilot program for accepted students. More »

What Did Caroline Actually Do for Schools?

Politico  |  Dec 23, 08 1:03 PM CST

(Newser) - Caroline Kennedy’s $1-a-year gig raising funds for the New York City public schools is being touted as evidence that she's qualified for the Senate. But that seems odd, writes Glenn Thrush in Politico, given the amount of vagueness about what, and how much, she actually did there. Says one person who worked with her, “I’d get it all the time—‘Why isn’t Caroline at her desk?' ” More »

Applicant Pool Down, Private Colleges Begin to Panic

New York Times  |  Dec 22, 08 7:19 AM CST

(Newser) - Private colleges are receiving notably fewer regular applications this year, sparking widespread concern among the schools that enrollment will plunge, the New York Times reports. Reasons for the drop may include families’ worries about soaring tuition and a general decline in the number of schools to which each student applies. A survey of 371 private colleges released last week showed two-thirds feared sinking enrollment. More »

Obama on Ed Pick: Gifted Leader (and Great Jump Shot)

The Hill  |  Dec 16, 08 1:29 PM CST

(Newser) - Barack Obama introduced Arne Duncan as his secretary of education pick today, lauding the Chicago educator's accomplishments in reforming the country's third-largest school district, and noting that he's also a longtime basketball buddy who has a better jump shot than the president-elect. “I didn't pick Arne because he's a great basketball player,” Obama said, “but I will say that we’re putting together probably the best basketball-playing Cabinet in American history.” More »

Out-of-Whack Body Clocks Keep Teens Sleepy: Study

CNN  |  Dec 15, 08 2:06 PM CST

(Newser) - Sleepy high-school students slumped over their desks just can’t help it, CNN reports. Most school start times play havoc with teens’ circadian rhythms: Teens naturally go to bed later than adults, and need more sleep. A new study finds pushing the high-school start time from 7:30am to 8:30 increased the number of students getting 8 hours of sleep dramatically. More »

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