It's time for education to start at birth, not kindergarten
After teaching high school and middle school for 13 years, Tim Munkeby knows there's nothing more important in a child's development than the ability to read, and read proficiently. Munkeby says without literacy the problems that plague our society will only worsen. That's why he proposes for education to start not at kindergarten, but at birth.
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Time to make universal pre-K a national reality
"The term 'universal' tweaks a nerve. I’ve been getting more and more frustrated with the seemingly nonstop whining I hear in the media about poverty, wage disparities, violence and guns, and achievement gaps—as if there’s no solution to these issues." But writer Tim Munkeby thinks there IS a solution: Universal Pre-K for all children.
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Advocates innovate to keep kids learning
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, some say it's been unsafe for children to go to school. But shoddy WiFi and outdated devices make it nearly impossible for some families to attend online classes. Esperanza Lee shares how a Minneapolis-based organization shifted literacy-focused "Learning in Community" online to address disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.
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Stories and wisdom from a formerly depressed teen
When Ruby Walker was 15, she went from a numb, silent, miserable high school dropout to a joyous loudmouth in one year flat. And now, she's written about it! Advice I Ignored: Stories and Wisdom from a Formerly Depressed Teen answers the question everyone has been asking her since: What happened? The Reporters Inc. is pleased to present excerpts from Walker's book along with an exclusive Q&A.
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Teenagers share their political insights and concerns for 2020
The Reporters Inc.'s Kim Whiting interviews nine teenagers from the Tulsa, Oklahoma area to find out how aware and affected they are by the current state of America's politics. They come from different backgrounds and households with parents who have both liberal and conservative political viewpoints. Whiting concludes, "If their responses are indicative of teens nationwide, then the general consensus of our youth is that we adults need to chill out, grow up and do what's right."
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Pediatrician offers tips to help kids combat school harassment
"As children across the U.S. head back to school this fall, it's safe to assume many parents, with good reason, still worry about bullying," writes pediatrician Peter Karofsky. He's compiled a list of some back-to-school reminders to help kids, parents and teachers be proactive in case bullying becomes an issue.
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When a child claimed to see abuse at my day care, my life was nearly destroyed
In March 2010, 49-year-old Lynn Moller, a day care provider in Madison, Wisconsin, was found guilty of three counts of child abuse involving two children in her care. Moller had run her day care without incident for 16 years when the allegations first surfaced; she has never wavered in her claims of innocence despite losing every appeal.
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Brother's disability changes perspective on life, normalcy
A.J. Zender's normal isn't the same as everyone else's. When his younger brother was diagnosed with a physical disability, his family didn't faltered on giving his brother a good life. He says "it just meant that we had to work that much harder to do so."
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How police corralled a 10-year-old boy into falsely confessing to murder
In 1994, The Reporters Inc.'s Mark Saxenmeyer reported the verdict: A 10-year-old Chicago boy had been convicted of killing his neighbor, an 84-year-old woman. Even though the boy had confessed to the crime, Saxenmeyer kept thinking to himself "This kid didn't do it."
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Victim of sex trafficking reveals his 40-year secret
The Reporters Inc. is pleased to present an excerpt from the new book, Faraway: A Suburban Boy's Story as a Victim of Sex Trafficking, by R. Kevin Kline and Daniel D. Maurer. It's the shocking true story of what happened to Kline when he was just 14-years-old--a story he kept hidden for years.
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Consumers are switching to community news
"At a time when Americans have more choices for news than ever," reporter Ashley McMahon writes, "surprisingly it's the smaller venues that are gaining steam." McMahon says community online news sites give people access to what directly matters, and truly affects them most.
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He was knocked down for being different
Jeffrey Fehr was different, and he was bullied for it. "It damaged him. It wore on him," his father said. "He could never fully believe how wonderful he was." In 2012, Jeffrey had just finished his first semester at college when he hung himself in the front foyer of his family's California home.
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Mother questions competitive youth sports culture
Studies abound touting the benefits of youth sports participation, but there are dangers that counter these benefits, such as serious injuries, stress and burnout. After hearing a mother lament about following doctor's orders after her child received a concussion playing basketball, writer Lori Aoki questions the uber competitive culture she sees in youth sports. Are the risks starting to outweigh the benefits?
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A little boy who can't eat anything
Jennifer Gonzalez says she knew something was truly wrong when her newborn son, Michael, started getting sick every time he ate. He seemed to be rejecting any and all food. Now, at age five, virtually nothing has changed for Michael and his family. It's a daily struggle to keep him fed and nourished, and the options to cure his condition are few. It's a case that has baffled doctors nationwide.
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How positive energy can solve bullying
When Pirkko Tavaila learned her child was being bullied at school, she took all the necessary steps to help. But when moving her daughter to a different class and arranging meetings with the school counselor, teachers and principal didn't work, Tavaila found an alternative method: positivity.
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