The so-called conservative "hostile takeover" of a small, progressive liberal arts college in Florida is seeing some resistance from former students and faculty who ve developed and launched Alt New College. The goal is preserving the traditional values it built as an online institution for academic freedom. Claiming one-third of faculty have left or been forced out, Alt New College is bringing back some of those instructors to teach online, free from political interference. .
Nearly 100 school board elections are coming up in Minnesota this fall, with some gaining attention because of the candidates who are running. There s concern the push around the United States to infuse school boards with "culture war" issues is becoming a factor regionally. On Thursday, labor and advocacy groups gathered to speak out about certain board races, mainly in the Twin Cities suburbs, and how some candidates have controversial platforms, such as limiting curriculum about race. .
In a growing backlash since the nation was rocked by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, five states have now passed anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion laws targeting colleges and universities - Florida, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. Rosalie Rodriguez - associate vice president of institutional equity and belonging at Colorado College - said for the next two academic years, students from these states can transfer and find a safe haven on their Colorado Springs campus. "None of us learns well in an environment where we are feeling unsafe, where we are feeling harm, we re feeling oppressed, we re feeling scared," said Rodriguez. " .
This weekend marks the kickoff of National Bullying Prevention Month. Those raising awareness hope schools in South Dakota and elsewhere work toward establishing a more inclusive environment, and that parents take action when needed. According to the Midwest-based PACER organization, one in five students reports being bullied - and being targeted can directly affect their ability to learn. .
Unlike childish teasing or miscommunication, bullying causes hurt at a whole other level and has been described as the single most important threat to the mental health of children and adolescents.