School Of Life

While Detroit public schools are among the most maligned anywhere, with dilapidated facilities and failing test scores and a reputation that repels many families, there are diamonds in the rough and students who will succeed despite the odds. Amid the turmoil, the Catherine Ferguson Academy — an “alternative” school in the district that offers middle- and high-school courses — has quietly made a national name for itself.

This year the school was named a Breakthrough High School by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. One of 12 schools nationally to win the distinction, Catherine Ferguson earned it based on the following criteria: At least 50 percent of the school is minority; 50 percent of the student body qualifies for free and reduced-price meals; and at least 90 percent of students graduate and are accepted to college.

The academy had no problem meeting the requirements — with 94 percent black students and 5 percent Hispanic, and more than 90 percent eligible for free or reduced lunches, every year Catherine Ferguson achieves a 90 percent graduation rate; 100 percent of those who graduate (85 last year) are accepted to two- or four-year colleges, most with financial aid, says the school’s principal, G. Asenath Andrews.

“Kids transform themselves here,” Andrews says. “We’re just a pot and kids jump in and turn themselves from lead into gold.”

Boston.com / News / Education / Higher education / The scoop on summer jobs and your future: "For students whose family budgets mean they're going to spend the summer flipping burgers or scooping ice cream, it can seem like a big worry: Will their applications still be taken seriously if they feature three months spent in a Brigham's uniform?
The good news is that college admission officers say yes, even if more teenagers appear to be saying no. The number of 16- to 19-year-olds entering the job market last summer slid to just over half, or 53.6 percent , the lowest percentage since 1964. The percentage of teenagers choosing to work in the summer has been largely declining since a peak of nearly 72 percent in 1978. That trend is partly fueled by a rise in teenagers enrolling in summer school, from 14.5 percent in 1989 to 37.9 percent last summer. But college admission officers say a summer job, even a menial one, doesn't have to be a drag on your application."

Millions allotted to sex education - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - November 27, 2004: "Public debates about the merits of teaching abstinence-until-marriage versus abstinence-plus-contraception are likely to continue: A national evaluation of abstinence-until-marriage programs has been delayed, with a final report not expected until 2006, said a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Bush administration has fueled this debate by steadily increasing federal funds for abstinence education, which has been outmatched for decades by funding for family planning, HIV/AIDS and other sex education that primarily teaches about birth control, condoms and disease prevention. "

17 bizarre scholarships: YOU may qualify: "The Little People of America (4-feet, 10-inches or shorter); Tall Clubs International (women 5-feet, 10-inches or better, men over 6-feet, 2-inches) and the New England chapter of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance all offer college funds for suitably-qualified candidates. A short essay on being tall can pick up a fat check of $1,000."

Herald.com | 11/21/2004 | Scholarships awarded to budding journalists: "Knight Ridder, the parent company of The Herald, will award $40,000 college scholarships nationwide to minority seniors wanting to pursue newspaper careers.

Two scholars are chosen for their interest in journalism, and two are chosen for their interest in business departments such as marketing, technology and advertising.

The students will intern at one of the 34 newspapers owned by the company each summer and upon graduation will receive work for at least one year.

The application deadline is Dec. 20. For information, contact the school's CAP advisor or call 305-376-4549.

"

Schools & Youth - StatesmanJournal.com: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Offering Minority Scholarships

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking nominations for its scholarship program aimed at low-income minority students.

Nominees are eligible if they:

# Will be attending an accredited U.S. college as a full-time student in the fall of 2005.

# Are African-American, American Indian/Alaska native, Asian-Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American students.

# Are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident or national of the United States.

# Have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.3 at the time of nomination.

# Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities.

# Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria.

The deadline for submission of nomination materials is Jan. 14.

Principals, teachers, guidance counselors and other professional educators acting in their personal capacity are invited to nominate students.

Relatives may not serve as nominators.

For information, go to www.gmsp.org or call (877) 690-4677.

Ellen Masin Persina Scholarship for Minorities in Journalism: "AMOUNT: $2,500/yr. for 4 yrs.

DEADLINE(S): FEB 1
FIELD(S): Journalism (newspapers, radio,
TV, magazine, trade paper)
Scholarships for talented minorities
planning to pursue a career in journalism
(see above fields). Must provide work samples,
an essay, letters of recommendation,
etc. Minimum 2.75 GPA required."

Congress to approve special education law - (United Press International): "The reauthorization aims to increase the possibility disabled children have the same educational opportunities as all children, including getting them help earlier and reducing the number of children labeled as disabled under the law.
In terms of funding, actual annual numbers are not set, but the measure commits congress to covering up to 40 percent of the cost of special education students -- who cost much more to teach per pupil for many reasons, including the need for more one-on-one work by teachers -- by 2011"

Newsday.com - AP Washington: Highlights of President Bush's Education Proposals: "Add $33 million to the Pell Grant program for poor students who take rigorous high school courses and then enroll full-time in college. They would earn up to an additional $1,000 per year of aid for their first two years. the maximum yearly award is now $4,050. "

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- In second term, Bush seeks to build on his education base: "We're going to find out a lot about what George Bush is really all about," said Andrew Rotherham, who directs education policy for the Progressive Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with centrist Democrats. "He would be better remembered as the president who put in place the framework for closing the achievement gap – not the one who got a multicity voucher plan passed, which is the base-pleasing stuff."

The National Assessment of Educational Progress dubbed “the nation’s report card” finds that the average African-American or Hispanic high school senior scored lower in all seven subjects tested than 80 percent of white students tested. In “No Excuses: Closing the Racial Gap in Learning” authors Abigail and Steven Thernstroms conclude from examining NAEP data that: “The college that admits the average black student is, in effect, choosing a youngster who had made it only through eighth grade.”

$1,000 College Scholarships Available to Region's Top African American and Latino Students: "McDonald's Restaurants of
Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Kent and New Castle
Counties, Delaware are searching for qualified applicants to enter the
following $1,000 scholarship competitions:
-- Ronald McDonald House Charities/African American Future Achievers,
which awards $1,000 to up to 20 African American high school seniors
(deadline January 10, 2005)
-- Ronald McDonald House Charities/Hispanic American Commitment to
Educational Resources (RMHC/HACER), which awards $1,000 to up to 20
Latino high school seniors (deadline February 15, 2005)"

USDA scholarship program now accepting applications: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications under the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program for the school year beginning in September 2005. The program offers scholarships to U.S. citizens who are seeking a bachelor?s degree at one of the 18 Historically Black 1890 Land Grant Universities.

New Ervin, Rodriguez scholarships get mixed reactions - Student Life - News: "The Ervin and Rodriguez Scholarship programs, traditionally minority scholarships, will be taking up new and different faces in the upcoming year by considering students of all races for admittance. The new application requirements have caused a variety of reactions, positive and negative, among both current and prospective program participants."

Arbiter Online - Scholarships available for Mexican-American studies: "Anyone can apply for the Mexican-American Studies Minor Scholarship. These scholarships are not limited to only people of Mexican-American decent. Applicants may apply more than once.For more details and to apply, contact professor [Richard] Baker by e-mail at rbaker@boisestate.edu or by calling his office at 426-3270."

The Seattle Times: Local News: Teaching often out of reach for minority aides: "Research suggests students perform better when taught by teachers of their own race, yet in many urban school districts such as Seattle's, where minorities account for more than half of the enrollment, most teachers are white. On the other hand, more than half the district's teacher aides are minorities. "

Ford 2004 HBCU Business Classic: "Introducing the first business plan competition designed for all currently enrolled students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Ford HBCU Business Classic is a chance for you to develop your skills in the area of entrepreneurship, while gaining valuable knowledge, experience and a head start on achieving your business goals."

Boston.com / News / Nation / Washington / Whites are a growing minority on black campuses: "Increasingly, white students are enrolling at the nation's 120 historically black colleges and universities, changing the landscape of institutions created when African-Americans were barred from attending most colleges.
In the past quarter-century, the number of white students at these campuses has risen 65 percent, from 21,000 to nearly 35,000 -- an increase driven partly by court orders aimed at desegregation and partly by interest in programs that these schools offer.
Some, such as West Virginia State University and Lincoln University in Missouri, are now majority white. Others, struggling to meet court mandates for more white students, use scant scholarship money to attract students from as far as Russia."

When I was at Howard a million years ago in the 80's it was a well kept secret that school of Pharmacy provided one of the better degree programs in the country... and it was more cost effective... and it was much easier to get into. Looks like the trend is expanding. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I will say I find it ironic that black students are voicing the same concerns that whites used at the beginning of desegregation. Can't "speak freely?"... oy - Barry

Meditation improves education, group says: "Advocates say TM can spread success at other schools, and groups promoting it recently have appeared at public schools in New York, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and other places.

But critics say Transcendental Meditation in public schools straddles the line between church and state.

'I would call it a stealth religion,' said Barry Markovsky, a University of South Carolina sociologist who researches social networks."

Ways and Means: Paying For College: "Costs are also rising at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The average costs at a four year public HBCU for in state students is about $3,419 and for out of state students, $8,452. At four year private HBCUs, tuition and fees are $8,747 on average. There are many ways for students to finance their education, including scholarships, student loans, work-study, summer and part-time jobs during college, and Pell Grants. Most college students turn to federal and private loans to foot the bill for their academic studies. College students borrowed over $47 billion in federal loans and $7.5 billion in non-federal loans during the 2002-2003 school year."