Editorial: Crash-course teachers set up for failure

January 23rd, 2012

There is a surface allure to the idea of offering a six-week teacher training programme to university graduates and then getting them straight into the classroom to learn on the job. Many people who would never have considered teaching because of the extent of the training may be attracted to the profession. More importantly, pupils in low-decile schools, the target of the incentive, stand to benefit from an influx of teachers in subjects such as science that are usually hard to fill. If only it were so simple. Unfortunately, classroom realities mean this is all very likely to be too good to be true.

The fast-track course has been proposed by the University of Auckland and Teach First NZ. If they receive Teachers Council sign-off, they want to recruit their first 20 candidates, who must hold degrees in the subject they will teach, at the end of this year. The graduates would be placed in low-decile schools, especially in South Auckland, or in schools needing teachers in subjects that have shortages.

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Miami’s Peter O’Brien Cleared To Play

January 20th, 2012

 

Miami catcher Peter OBrien has finally been cleared to play in 2012 by the NCAA, according to Hurricanes coach Jim Morris.

OBrien slugged 34 homers over the last two years at Bethune-Cookman and was drafted by the Rockies in the third round last June. He did not sign, instead transferring to Miami for his senior year. He applied for an eligibility waiver from the NCAA on the grounds that the Miami Gardens native was transferring to be near his mother, who was battling health problems. It took several months and a lot of paperwork, but his request was eventually granted this morning.

OBrien is a key piece for the Hurricanes. He will join with Rony Rodriguez to give Miami a powerful one-two punch in the middle of the lineup. His receiving has also improved during his college career, and he has a strong arm behind the plate. But his best tool is his well above-average raw power—during his 2010 summer with Team USA, scouts marveled at his strength. Hell make a major impact for the Canes.

Tags: Play

Why College Graduates Are Unemployed

January 17th, 2012

Tony Carnevale, Ban Cheah, and Jeff Strohl’s new publication: HardTimes: College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings, states that unemployment for new BA graduates is “an unacceptable 8.9 percent,” acknowledging that it is an even worse 22.9 percent for recent high school graduates. Their publication showcases the reality that different BA degrees have different unemployment rates, with Architecture among the worst and Law and Public Policy among the best percent.

But why the high unemployment rates for recent graduates?

Here are my four non-empirical suggestions :

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One Response to Why College Graduates Are Unemployed

  1. kymillia barnes Says: January 16th, 2012 at 4:29 am

    I agree. Definitely the numbers of graduates are overflowing but we need better graduates. It is not just graduating but learning and to know what to contribute on the future. They should know and learn what is needed. Choos

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Tags: Graduates, Graduates Unemployed

Survey reveals strange places students study

January 16th, 2012

Where do students study? A new survey has some interesting answers.

When asked by folks at Follett Higher Education Group to identify where they study, more than 9 out of 10 students said theyve studied on the way to class, just minutes before the test.

OK, maybe thats not strange or even surprising. But check out the progessively odd places on the rest of the list:

  • as a passenger in a car (87.6%)
  • while waiting in a line (63.4%)
  • at work (60.9%)
  • while working out (46.1%)
  • in the restroom (44.1%)
  • at a party (27.5%)
  • at a late night restaurant/bar (25.8%), and
  • on a date (9.8%).

More than 61% of students said they begin studying just a few days before a big test. Roughly 20% wait until the night before, while only about 13% said they get going with studying a few weeks before the test date.

Surprised? Please leave your comment below.

Tags: Students Study, Study

Nontraditional Students Are The Most Prevelant

January 13th, 2012

Full-time, 18 to 22-year-old students who live on campus and attend four year institutions are increasingly in the minority in the United States, with just 15% of students fitting this description. Instead, the fastest growing group of students in higher education are adults. Thirty-eight percent of those enrolled in higher education are over the age of 25 and one-fourth are over the age of 30. The share of all students who are over age 25 is projected to increase another twenty-three percent by 2019. theatlantic.com

Tags: Nontraditional Students, Students

Minnesota State Baseball Names Captains for 2012

January 8th, 2012

   Mankato, Minn. —  Head coach Matt Magers has announced that senior infielder Matt Kuchenbecker, senior third baseman Pat Dockendorf and senior outfielder/1b Jeremy Sudbeck have been named captains for Minnesota State’s baseball team for the 2012 season.

Kuchenbecker, a native of Burlington, Wis., led the Mavericks in doubles (18), RBI (56) and sacrifice flies (7) in 2011 and was the owner of a .320 batting average.  Named to 2011 NSIC All-Conference First Team, 2011 NSIC Gold Glove Team, 2011 Daktronics Central All-Region First Team, 2011 NCBWA All-Region First Team, 2011 Rawlings/ABCA Central All-Region Second Team and 2011 Rawlings/ABCA Central Region Gold Glove Second Team, he was also named was named honorable mention All-America by the NCBWA and Daktronics.

Dockendorf (Eagan, Minn.) played in 51 games and ranked second on the team with a 369 batting average as a junior in 2011. Doc Read more…