This episode of This American Life discusses how one Oklahoma legislator used political chicanery to pass expanded access to preschool. (21 minutes)
Education Reform
Sen. Isakson (R-GA) Speaks Favorably Of Universal Preschool
Sen. Isakson (R-GA) Speaks Favorably Of Universal Preschool
Wonky MSNBC Host Chris Hayes interviews Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, on his show Up w/ Chris Hayes. Isakson calls universal pre-K “a great idea,” while questioning how such a program would be funded.
The video runs about five and a half minutes.
This American Life: Where Guns and Gangs Come From
This American Life: Where Guns and Gangs Come From
Part II of This American Life‘s look at Harper High School.
This story has six acts.
- Act One: “The Eyewitnesses” (discusses the psychological toll of witnesses gun violence first hand, 10 mins)
- Act Two: “Your Name Written On Me” (explores the origin of a Chicago gang, 15 mins)
- Act Three: “Get Your Gun” (teenagers explain where the get their guns, 6 mins)
- Act Four: “Devonte, Part Two” (aftermath of 14 year old who accidentally shoots his brother, 8 mins)
- Act Five: “Reverse Turnaround Backflip” (principal discusses balancing budget cuts in inner-city school, 7 mins)
- Act Six: “We Are Harper High School” (chronicles how schools in other cities struggle with gun violence, 3 mins)
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/488/harper-high-school-part-two (63 mins total)
Fareed Zakaria: In Defense of Head Start
Fareed Zakaria: In Defense of Head Start
Fareed Zakaria argues for expanded access to early childhood education for low-income Americans. Fareed contends that preschool can not only held improve test scores but also increase social mobility. He also takes on the criticisms of programs like Head Start, explaining that the conventional wisdom is empirically unfounded.
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/24/the-myth-of-americas-social-mobility/ (3.5 mins)
“This American Life”: Everything You Know About Gangs Is Wrong PART I
“This American Life”: Everything You Know About Gangs Is Wrong PART I
After spending five months at Chicago’s Harper High School, the “This American Life” staff takes a fresh and engaging look at gangs, guns, and inner cities schools.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/487/harper-high-school-part-one