Education

Proposed Board Splits Charter Advocates

Dave DeWitt — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:26:00 +0000

Charter schools have been around in North Carolina for about a decade and a half, and for most of that time, the relationship between charters and traditional public schools has alternated between frosty and hostile.

VIDEO: Gwen Ifill Delivers Address To Wake Forest Graduates

Gurnal Scott — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:31:59 +0000

About 1,000 undergraduates and 600 graduate students received degrees at Wake Forest University's commencement exercises today. The school's Class of 2013 includes 11 recipients of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship. Those students will be taking on post-graduate work ranging from researching regenerative medicine in Sweden to teaching Vietnamese children.

PBS journalist Gwen Ifill delivered the commencement address and urged the graduates to keep several promises.

Education Power Grab In Wake County

Nicole Campbell and Frank Stasio — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:52:31 +0000

County School Boards have long since been in charge of school construction. However, the Senate recently passed a bill that would hand over school construction to county commissioners in 10 North Carolina counties. Many people who oppose the bill argue that county commissioners may have experience building prisons but not schools. This is one bill out of many that have been progressing through the Senate recently.

Promise, Scandal, And Resolution: The Thorp Era At UNC

Dave DeWitt — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:55:00 +0000

It’s commencement weekend across North Carolina. Thousands of college students will get their degrees and begin their professional lives. This year, they’re not the only ones who will get a fresh start. After five years as the chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill, Holden Thorp is leaving to become the provost at Washington University in Saint Louis.

Tens Of Thousands Descend On Area For Graduations

Dave DeWitt — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:19:00 +0000

If you live anywhere near a college campus and don’t have a compelling reason to attend the half-dozen or so graduations going on in the Triangle and Triad, this might be a good weekend to get out of town. Tens of thousands of family and friends are set to descend on Durham, Raleigh, and Greensboro for commencement events throughout the weekend.

Campbell University To Offer Homeland Security Degree

Gurnal Scott — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:11:36 +0000

Campbell University students will become the first in North Carolina to take courses toward a major in Homeland Security. About 50 students are already on the path to the four-year undergraduate degree. The courses will familiarize them with domestic and international terrorist groups and delve into the background of countries where terror organizations have historically formed.

Want To Hang Out With Lemurs? Duke Lemur Center Invites Visitors

Laura Candler — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:00:00 +0000

A Walking with Lemurs tour at the Duke Lemur Center might just seem like an ordinary walk through the woods at first. But at the rustle of a food bucket, tiny, energetic animals begin to descend from the treetops, and you know you’re not walking in any normal forest. Lemurs zip past you at will, some of them with tiny infants clinging to their backs, and there are no barriers between you and the furry primates.

Legislators Take Aim At Local School Boards

Dave DeWitt — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:40:00 +0000

Being on a school board is a little like being the head chef at the local Applebee’s. You don’t get to choose the ingredients and it’s not your recipe, but if someone doesn’t like the Bourbon Street Steak, you’re going to hear about it.

In other words, school boards in North Carolina have relatively little power but plenty of responsibility. And it’s been that way for a long time.

Charter Board Debate Intensifies

Dave DeWitt — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:15:00 +0000

The State Senate is scheduled to debate a bill tomorrow that creates a separate board to oversee the growing number of charter schools in North Carolina.

Senate Bill 337 has gone through several revisions since it was introduced by Republican lawmakers two months ago. One of the provisions in an earlier bill, for example, removed the requirement that charter school teachers be college graduates. That requirement has since been re-instated.

Duke Puts Brakes On Online Courses

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:04:31 +0000

Duke University has dropped out of a consortium of schools that will offer for-credit online courses. Duke faculty made the decision last week in a close vote.