Charter Schools: Closing the Achievement Gap or Reviving Segregation

(MintPress) – While pundits, scholars and politicians debate the effectiveness of charter schools at closing racial and economic achievement gaps in American public education, with nearly 6,000 charter schools coming into operation across the United States today in 41 states and the District of Columbia in only two short decades of the movements’ history, one […]

Carissa Wyant
By Carissa Wyant
A teacher uses flash cards to teach kindergarten students including Nailiah Harping, 6, seated at left of the front row, and Jason Moncure, also 6, next to her her during Spanish class at the charter school Oakhurst Elementary in Decatur, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)

(MintPress) – While pundits, scholars and politicians debate the effectiveness of charter schools at closing racial and economic achievement gaps in American public education, with nearly 6,000 charter schools coming into operation across the United States today in 41 states and the District of Columbia in only two short decades of the movements’

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Immigration And Civil Rights Activists Rally For The American Dream On July 4

(MintPress) – While Americans across the country will spend July 4 to celebrate freedom and independence, a diverse group will gather in San Antonio, Texas, to rally for civil rights, in the wake of recent discussions around the status of immigrants in America. The rally is one of several taking place across the country Wednesday […]

Carissa Wyant
By Carissa Wyant
immigration

(MintPress) – While Americans across the country will spend July 4 to celebrate freedom and independence, a diverse group will gather in San Antonio, Texas, to rally for civil rights, in the wake of recent discussions around the status of immigrants in America. The rally is one of several taking place across the country Wednesday in advance of

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Tribes Seek To Protect Violated Treaty Rights As Fish Populations Dwindle

(MintPress) – “The tribes’ treaty rights, the basis of their economy, culture and way of life are at stake,” said Mike Grayum, executive director of Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, speaking about dwindling salmon populations along the coastline of the Pacific northwest. Grayum’s organization, which represents 20 treaty tribes including the Hoh, Upper Skagit, Puyallup, Tulalip, […]

Carissa Wyant
By Carissa Wyant
Billy Frank Jr., Chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, poses for a photo, Friday, June 29, 2012, at Frank's Landing near Olympia, Wash. with the waters of Nisqually River captured by a partially submerged camera. Frank is one of several leaders of American Indian tribes in western Washington who say their treaty rights with the U.S. are at risk because the region is losing habitat that salmon need to survive. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

(MintPress) – "The tribes' treaty rights, the basis of their economy, culture and way of life are at stake," said Mike Grayum, executive director of Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, speaking about dwindling salmon populations along the coastline of the Pacific northwest. Grayum’s organization, which represents 20 treaty tribes including

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Army Wardrobe Changes Put Soldiers’ Lives In Danger, Cost Taxpayers Billions

(MintPress) – After spending millions of dollars to revamp the camouflage pattern on soldiers’ uniforms just a few years ago, the United States Army is now changing uniform designs again after fielding criticism from military personnel who say the initial upgrade made them more visible to hostile forces. After soldiers complained to lawmakers about the […]

Carissa Wyant
By Carissa Wyant
Spc. Eddie L. Williams, a computer detection repairer at Fort Belvoir, Va., models the new MultiCam Army Combat Uniform, which were issued to soldiers deploying to Afghanistan beginning in July 2010. (Photo by The U.S. Army via Flikr)

(MintPress) – After spending millions of dollars to revamp the camouflage pattern on soldiers’ uniforms just a few years ago, the United States Army is now changing uniform designs again after fielding criticism from military personnel who say the initial upgrade made them more visible to hostile forces. After soldiers complained to lawmakers

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Tennessee’s New Abstinence Law Sparks Debate Over Benefits Of Sex Ed

(MintPress) – The state of Tennessee has put into place a pro-abstinence sex education law, being heralded as one of the strictest in the nation, which supporters say is a step in the right direction to curb teenage pregnancy rates. Critics on the other hand, charge the new law is harmful as it causes teens […]

Carissa Wyant
By Carissa Wyant
In this Wednesday, April 18, 2012, file photo, Rep. Jim Gotto seeks recognition during a House Education Committee meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee recently enacted a pro-abstinence sex education law that is among the strictest in the nation. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

(MintPress) – The state of Tennessee has put into place a pro-abstinence sex education law, being heralded as one of the strictest in the nation, which supporters say is a step in the right direction to curb teenage pregnancy rates. Critics on the other hand, charge the new law is harmful as it causes teens to be uneducated about sexuality and

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