REX, Ga. — The third-grade students at Roberta T. Smith Elementary School had only a few days until summer vacation, and an hour until lunch, but there was no struggle to focus as they filed into the classroom. They were ready for one of their favorite parts of the day. The children closed their eyes … Read more
A group of families are working to block the new Louisiana law that mandates educators to display the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, according to a lawsuit filed Monday. “Permanently posting the Ten Commandments in every Louisiana public-school classroom–rendering them unavoidable– unconstitutionally pressures students into religious observance, veneration, and adoption of the state’s … Read more
Donald Trump vowed at a rally Tuesday that if reelected, he’ll cut funding to every school with a vaccine mandate ― even though all 50 states have such laws on the books. “I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate,” he declared at his rally … Read more
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Tuesday he would support efforts to remove smartphones from schools, a day after the U.S. surgeon general called for a warning label to be applied to social media platforms. “As the Surgeon General affirmed, social media is harming the mental health of our youth,” Newsom said in a statement … Read more
PHILADELPHIA — Bryant Fleming was looking forward to the fall semester at the University of the Arts, where the rising senior was to choreograph a production of “Sister Act” — the same musical comedy that led him to fall in love with theater in high school. Instead, the musical theater major was left heartbroken and … Read more
WESTPORT, Conn. — Kate Bulkeley’s pledge to stay off social media in high school worked at first. She watched the benefits pile up: She was getting excellent grades. She read lots of books. The family had lively conversations around the dinner table and gathered for movie nights on weekends. Then, as sophomore year got underway, … Read more
MARSEILLE, France — Brought into the international spotlight by the ban on hijabs for French athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics, France’s unique approach to “laïcité” — loosely translated as “secularism” — has been increasingly stirring controversy from schools to sports fields across the country. The struggle cuts to the core of how France approaches … Read more
SAN FRANCISCO — Wearing a bright safety vest with the words “Safe Passage” on the back, Tatiana Alabsi strides through San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood to its only public elementary school, navigating broken bottles and stained sleeping bags along tired streets that occasionally reek of urine. Along the way in one of America’s most notorious neighborhoods, … Read more
At 78, John Lithgow’s acting career is not slowing down. He appeared in the best picture nominee “Killers of the Flower Moon” and starred with Jeff Bridges in the FX series “The Old Man.” Recently, the two-time Academy Award nominee and multiple Emmy, Tony and Golden Globes-winning actor played the new kid in school. He … Read more
PAYSON, Utah — Actor Kevin Bacon on Saturday returned to the Utah high school where the cult classic movie “Footloose” was filmed more than 40 years. Bacon danced his way to a stage on a Payson High School athletic field Saturday to greet students before what likely was the final prom held at the school, … Read more
