Adults often complain they are “stressed out.” Increasingly, statistics show American children are stressed out as well, and the effects on their health, emotional state, and cognitive ability can be significant. It’s well-documented that adult stress can lead to serious illnesses. But many researchers believe that ongoing stress during childhood — from poverty, parents fighting […]
Education
A space for local and national stories about issues surrounding education, especially as they relate to African Americans.
Posted inEducation
Help your child get college-ready
Taking steps to help your child prepare for college can be overwhelming for parents. From visiting schools to taking entrance exams, it can be a costly experience, but with some early planning and parental guidance, your child can be set to take the leap in a timely manner. Here are some things to consider to […]
Posted inBulletin, Education
Minneapolis graduation rates stay strong
For the first time in six years, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) saw graduation rates rise above 70 percent. Nearly 73 percent of Minneapolis students graduated within seven years. It is the highest seven-year graduation rate on record for the school system, which is substantial given the diverse student populations MPS serves. The average four-year graduation rate across the district’s 10 largest high schools rose to 72 percent. District-wide, the four-year graduation rate was […]
Posted inEducation
Five reasons pre-school years are a prime time for learning
Much of the discussion about education focuses on the K-12 years, but some early childhood education experts suggest serious learning can start even earlier and pay dividends for the child in years to come. “Young children have the capacity at a very young age to be academically challenged, and we need to educate them strongly […]
Posted inBooks, Education
Readers are leaders: Buy your children more books
We are our children’s first teachers, and what we teach them makes a difference. According to research by Betty Hart of the University of Kansas and Todd Risley of the University of Alaska, by age three, poor children have an accumulated experience with 30 million fewer words than their wealthier counterparts; a greater percentage of […]
Posted inEducation
United Negro College Fund helps students across the nation attend college
It’s been doing so since 1944 “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” is the signature slogan at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), led by President and CEO Michael L. Lomax. Local UNCF offices across the country are mandated to raise funds for the Washington, D.C. office where scholarship funding for students is […]
Posted inEducation
Age-appropriate responsibilities for kids
Even though we want kids to grow up to become independent and accountable for themselves, when should parents trust their children with common things that kids and teenagers ask for? Bicycles, computers and cars are just a few. Let’s take a closer look at this dilemma. “Ingraining responsibility in children is not a trick, but […]
Posted inEducation
Play ‘serve and return’ with your child
The interplay promotes brain development, long-term growth Did you know making faces and smiling at your baby, responding to gestures, or playing “peek-a-boo” during the first, crucial years of life have a profound effect on your baby’s overall growth, brain development and educational achievement? Your playful interactions, which may seem insignificant to you, actually are […]
Posted inEducation
Be an active, present, participating parent
A new school year has started and the end of the first quarter is fast approaching. Ideally, the best approach when school starts is to monitor your child’s academic performance each week and ask them how things are going at school. As a parent, you should know what is going on at all times. Yes, […]
Posted inEducation
Managing your child’s holiday expectations on a tight budget
With the gift-giving holidays coming up, many parents start to worry about money. Kids can be demanding and you want to do everything you can to make them happy, but spoiling them isn’t good for you or them in the long run. Below are some tips to help parents be proactive this holiday season. How […]
Posted inEducation
Parents, the time to have ‘that talk’ is now
Kids who talk with parents about sex and relationships are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior From “Where do babies come from?” to discussing teenage relationships, talking about sex is an important part of parenting that can make for some pretty interesting stories. The Minnesota Department of Health wants to turn some of […]
Posted inEducation
Imagine giving all kids a fair chance — that’s a core mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters
Born in South Korea to a Korean woman and an African American man, Michael Goar was placed in an orphanage where he was unable to mingle with the Korean children due to his mixed race. At age 12, Goar was adopted by a Caucasian couple in South Minneapolis and attended Anthony Middle School and Washburn […]
Posted inEducation
New Hopkins super on a ‘world class trajectory’
It has been little more than a month on the job for students returning to or starting school in Hopkins School District #270; it has been about four months for the district’s new superintendent, Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed. The first few weeks in her new job have been very busy, scheduling meetings with faculty and parents […]
Posted inEducation
Reshaping academic achievement for Black children
Introduction As summer lingers on, many Black youths are enjoying their breaks from school. The two-to-three-month break from school has been linked to many Black children falling behind their peers. The summer break can lead to a stagnation of academic development. However, this is not the core reason for the academic struggles of Black youth. […]
Posted inEducation
Bedtime routines for school-aged children
As a child, I remember coming in the house when the street lights came on and going to bed at 7 pm. My siblings and I thought this time was too early, especially when it was bright and sunny outside. I would toss and turn, then would eventually doze off to sleep. Of course, my […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Food-insecure children more likely to have social and behavioral problems
Throughout the school year, children are guaranteed access to balanced meals; those children go without adequate nutrition over the summer. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 13.1 million children under age 18 are living in “food-insecure families.” Not all of those families are eligible for Federal Assistance. Moreover, a food-insecure child is more […]
Posted inEducation
How doing chores can help your kids — and you
As an adult, I have had moments when I struggled to stay on top of housework. I reflected on how my parents got it all done, and then I remembered that they had lots of help. My siblings and I had chores to do each week, and that experience gave me the knowledge to take […]
Posted inEducation
A guide to summer fun for your children
As summertime approaches and the weather gets warmer, children become more eager to get out of the house and play outside. Summer is definitely a fun time of the year for kids, but for parents summer can be a challenging time, especially when it comes to finding things for your children to do if they […]
Posted inEducation
Help children stave off summer hunger
Be sure your community has enough meal sites The Summer Food Service Program tries to meet the need and helps to deliver the dollars to pay for the basic nutrition every child needs every day. For communities that use it, the benefits are enormous. It not only feeds children but also provides much-needed summer jobs […]
Posted inEducation, MSR Legacy Archives
My parents’ pursuit of education has inspired me to succeed
Morgan Bettin-Coleman is a 2017 Cecil E. Newman Scholarship recipient. Her scholarship-winning essay appears below. Even when I was a little girl, I would often pass time sprawled on the floor, usually reading a book. Close by, both of my parents sat at desks, spending hours typing up documents or highlighting pages in long, seemingly boring […]