Category Archives: Education

Should schools be required to teach about real news?

Education, Legislature, Media, Politics
Julie Mayberry
Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, has pre-filed a bill that would require Arkansas high schools to offer journalism as an elective.

By Steve Brawner, © 2018 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Society needs people who can produce real news, so should Arkansas high schools be required to offer a class teaching those skills?

Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, says yes, which is why her House Bill 1015 would require high schools to offer journalism as an elective. That’s the way it was until July 2018, when the Arkansas Board of Education voted to instead allow school districts the option of providing the class.

Mayberry believes that was a mistake for several reasons. Journalism has always been a critical check and balance on the government. In fact, she said, it’s so important that the Founding Fathers listed freedom of the press in the very First Amendment. She as a legislator relies on the newspaper to inform her about meetings she can’t attend. Continue reading Should schools be required to teach about real news? →

For one teacher, following her calling has its rewards

Education, Inspirational
Tasha Wilson
Tasha Wilson reacts to receiving a Milken Educator Award.

By Steve Brawner, © 2018 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Kingsland Elementary second grade teacher Tasha Wilson received an early Christmas present Nov. 30 – $25,000 for doing her job well.

The award came from the Milken Family Foundation, which this year recognized 40 mid-career educators nationwide. Seventy-four Arkansans have received the award since its creation in 1987. Wilson was the only one this year.

Dr. Jane Foley, Milken Educator Awards senior vice president, made the surprise announcement after traveling from California to Kingsland, a south Arkansas town that’s also the birthplace of Johnny Cash. Students and teachers had been told they were assembling to celebrate Kingsland Elementary being one of three Arkansas schools named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Then Foley made the big reveal. Continue reading For one teacher, following her calling has its rewards →

Fort Smith college students Fix the Debt

Debt and deficits, Education

By Steve Brawner, © 2018 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

At the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Friday, more than 220 college students, including sophomore Garrett Spain from Greenwood, tried to do what Congress is unwilling to do – get the government’s debt under control.

The students gathered at two dozen tables, each with a laptop, and worked together using the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget’s (CRFB) Debt Fixer tool. That’s an online resource that lets users see how the federal budget would be affected by selecting various spending cuts and tax increases.

The goal of Friday’s exercise was not to pay down the $21.6 trillion national debt. Instead, it was to get the red ink under control. The $15.8 trillion public debt (what the government owes everyone but itself) is 77 percent of the gross domestic product and growing rapidly. By 2028, it is projected to be 97 percent, meaning it will be the same size as the economy. The goal for the students was to stabilize it at 70 percent by 2028, and 40 percent by 2050. Continue reading Fort Smith college students Fix the Debt →

Head Hog’s must-do list: revenues, wins

Business, Business and economics, Education

By Steve Brawner, © 2018 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

The University of Arkansas athletic director has two must-accomplish responsibilities: first, keep the money flowing, and second, keep the fans happy by winning football games. Hunter Yurachek knows as well as anyone he’ll have to succeed at both.

Yurachek, who was hired last December, spoke Monday before a capacity crowd at the Little Rock Touchdown Club. His predecessor, Jeff Long, spoke to that same group nine times before being fired because he succeeded only at the first responsibility. Continue reading Head Hog’s must-do list: revenues, wins →