School
School lunch fruits and veggies unappetizing, say teens
Deep-fried food is no longer served at Central Senior High in St. Paul.
“The food nutrition people came and took out all our deep fryers! Did you know,” asked Wanda Christensen, the high school’s cafeteria supervisor. “Everything from now on, including our fries, (is) baked now.”... Read more >>
Teen writers from LA, New York and ThreeSixty examine the challenges of staying in school
Inspired by President Obama’s challenge to teens – “dropping out is no longer an option” – ThreeSixty collaborates this month with youth journalism programs in Los Angeles and New York to examine that challenge from multiple perspectives.
Teens write about dropping out of school and returning. About aiming high and achieving. About schools that failed them and schools that saved them. About testing mania and good jobs that don’t require four years of college.... Read more >>
Minneapolis student learns for the love of it
In a school district where only 52 percent of students graduate in four years with a regular diploma, Rattana Sengsoulichanh, 17, is an academic star with a 3.7 GPA in the rigorous International Baccalaureate program at Patrick Henry High School.... Read more >>
Hmong graduation parties given for Ph.Ds, not high school diploma
It wasn’t hard for me to hear my great-uncle, even with dozens of relatives surrounding him, in his small backyard in Sacramento last summer. This was his celebration for my aunt, Mao Vang, who had received her doctoral degree the day before.
My great uncle waved his arms to get our attention. Then he looked at the young people, including me, and asked: “Who’s the next one to get a Ph.D?”... Read more >>
Friends' support got student back to school
A year ago, Nico came to school wearing dress shirts, a Mohawk and double chains around his hips. In class, when he was there, he was texting and talking constantly.
“Let’s just do our work,” I’d say.
“Party-pooper,” Nico would answer. Six months later, he gave up on school and dropped out.... Read more >>
Special Report: no more drop-outs
Nobody gets through high school alone. ThreeSixty writers Julie Nguyen, Matthew Aguilar and YungJen Vang examine how friends, family and one caring counselor helped three Twin Cities’s teens achieve their goals.... Read more >>
- Friends' support got student back to school, A year ago, Nico came to school wearing dress shirts, a Mohawk and double chains around his hips. In class, when he was there, he was texting and talking constantly. "Let's just do our work," I'd say. "Party-pooper," Nico would answer. Six months later, he gave up on school and dropped out.
- Hmong graduation parties given for Ph.Ds, not high school diploma, It wasn’t hard for me to hear my great-uncle, even with dozens of relatives surrounding him, in his small backyard in Sacramento last summer. This was his celebration for my aunt, Mao Vang, who had received her doctoral degree the day before. My great uncle waved his arms to get our attention. Then he looked at the young people, including me, and asked: "Who's the next one to get a Ph.D?"
- Minneapolis student learns for the love of it, In a school district where only 52 percent of students graduate in four years with a regular diploma, Rattana Sengsoulichanh, 17, is an academic star with a 3.7 GPA in the rigorous International Baccalaureate program at Patrick Henry High School.
Divide to conquer achievement gap
Principal separates students by race to expose difference in test scores
When the daily announcements started one day in early April, students in Robbinsdale Cooper High School’s orchestra class were zoning out like usual until they heard their principal say he would be breaking up the student body by race to speak to them about upcoming assessment testing.
Principal Michael Favor announced that the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment, or MCA-II, was coming up and he wanted each student to know its importance.
The room got silent. The students looked at each other with nervous smiles or just plain shock. Even the teacher was shocked. As students started their scales, a student muttered that Favor’s idea was stupid.... Read more >>
Obama: dropping out of high school no longer an option
President Barack Obama is challenging students this year to get serious about school not just for their own good, but for the good of the country. Dropping out of high school? It’s not an option, but also Obama said all Americans need at least one or two years of schooling or training after high school. ThreeSixty interviewed area teens and educators about their reactions to the president’s statement.
Schools see growth in GLBT support groups
Homophobia hurts, which Helen Sarka knows first-hand. One day, Helen’s mother came to pick her up from school and her girlfriend gave her a goodbye kiss.
“These girls were, like, ‘Oh my god, ew! You’s lesbians! Ugh. You’re going to hell, dykes!’ and they didn’t stop yelling ‘till I got in the car,” Helen said.... Read more >>
Discussion -- Obama's speech to students: There is no excuse for not trying
On Sept. 8, President Barack Obama challenged all students in America to “get serious” about their education. Obama said he’d already talked about government’s, and parents’ and teachers’ responsibilities to students, but that students need to take responsibility for their performance, too. He said no matter what, there is no excuse for not trying in school.
ThreeSixty Journalism wants to hear your reaction!... Read more >>
