Education
Which Schools Are Integrated?
Lisa Gooden was set on finding the right school for her children in Kansas City. The choices were complex — public, private, charter, signature — but she felt good about all the buildings she visited. There were probably a dozen or so public elementaries within a couple miles of her neighborhood, so she didn’t understand…
United Way Program Propels Students To College, Beyond
Graduating from Park University would’ve been a stretch for a child of immigrants, if not for the United Way of Greater Kansas City. That child, Wendy Medina, 25, of Kansas City, received invaluable financial assistance through United Way’s Launch program. Started six years ago, the cost-sharing program has generated approximately $670,000 for 160 students, including…
Whirring, Purring Fidget Spinners Provide Entertainment, Not ADHD Help
Fidget spinners — the trendy toy of the moment — are causing a commotion. A lot of kids love them, just as many teachers hate them and some people think they’re more than just toys. The basic fidget spinner has three prongs centered around a circle with bearings in the middle. Take one prong, give…
Where Nature and Science Meet at the Farmhouse
Eleven-year-old Jamie O’Connell Case hangs out with her classmates like any other schoolgirl, but her farm time is special, when she holds her baby goats, weaves fleece, and studies the heavens, along with many things below. Nestled along rolling hills just east of Interstate 49, at the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri, is her family’s…
Local Action Drives Education Policy
Betsy DeVos has proven to be one of the most controversial players in President Trump’s new lineup, with her conservative ideology inflaming passions as she takes the helm of the Department of Education. But, are her critics taking their eyes off the ball? Perhaps so, argued University of Missouri Political Science Professor Peverill Squire. “The…