Education
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United Campus Workers Protest Highlights Growing Tension Around Department of Education Cuts
In downtown Athens it is not uncommon to be walking around and stumble upon the occasional protest, but last week’s United Campus Workers of Georgia protest at the arch on March 19 hit a little closer to home for some. UCWGA is a wall-to-wall higher education union which offers…
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Black Students at UGA Reflect on Policies of a Second Trump Term
Black students at the University of Georgia are voicing concerns over what they believe is the recent weaponization of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives by the Trump administration and the division it has created. I think DEI has taken a really dark turn, in terms of how it’s been…
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Potential NIH Funding Cuts Threaten Neurodegenerative Research
Possible National Institutes of Health funding cuts remain a concern for researchers and institutions nationwide, including those in the state of Georgia. On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump’s administration attempted to freeze NIH funding in order to review the current allocations and determine which grants and institutions will continue to…
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Q&As Reveal Community’s Sense of Hope, Worries for 2025 and Beyond
Reporting I students set out to learn more about Athens-Clarke County and their beats — business and consumer news, city-county government, diversity, local music, sustainability — by conducting research and interviews with business owners, community officials, advocates, musicians and students. The nearly 180 students in the course, which consists of…
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Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Tackles Georgia Literacy Crisis
The National Literacy Institute has declared a state of crisis as 40% of students across the country fail to read at a basic level. Here in The Peach State, this issue persists, with only 34% of Georgia’s children reaching reading proficiency at the start of the fourth grade. With research…
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Effectiveness of Scripted Curriculum in Athens Remains Unclear
Editor’s note: The Georgia elementary school principal is identified only by the state they are employed to protect the privacy of the school in which they work. Scripted curriculum is a one-size-fits-all approach to education, and its effectiveness remains unknown a year after its inception. This teaching system often requires…
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Increased Exposure to Classroom Tech Changes Development, Say Parents and Teachers
Teachers across the country are reporting the harmful effects of increased technology use in the classroom. Researchers have found that the surge of technology, including iPads, Promethean Boards, computers, and online math and literacy games, is impacting students beyond just their academic performance. “We were one of the lowest performing…
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Reading System Improves Literacy in Area Special Education Programs
Northeast Georgia elementary teachers say Wilson Reading System, a phonics literacy program for special education children, has been successful in improving literacy rates. The Wilson Reading System (WRS) has been implemented in over 40 Northeast Georgia schools to support K-12 students in special education programs. Since its introduction 17 years…
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Oconee County Schools is 70 Followers Away From Meeting Social Media Goal
The Oconee County Board of Education highlights gaining social media followers in its 2024-2025 plans to reach the community. With less than 70 followers until completing the 20,300 goal, the county is close to accomplishing one of its community engagement plans. According to a November 2024 Pew Research report, “about…
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The Unlikely Librarian: Director Makes Library a Safe Space for Pinewoods Community
It’s a cool October morning in Athens, and a light breeze stirs leaves across the freshly trimmed grass outside the Pinewoods Library. Five women step through the library’s doors, escaping the chill. The doorbell lets out a pitched chime, and they gather around a wooden table in the center of…