high school

Michigan high school bans baby bump photos from yearbook

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:52:36 +0000

Two teens were banned from showing their pregnant bellies in yearbook photos, the Associated Press reported:

A Michigan school district has barred two pregnant students from showing their baby bumps in the high school yearbook — a decision made to keep with the state's abstinence-based approach to sex education, according to the superintendent.

Deonna Harris says she was pulled aside this week by a yearbook staff member and told her photo would have to be re-taken because the previous shot displayed Harris' pregnant belly.

The top 10 high schools in Michigan (according to two magazines)

Michigan Radio Newsroom and Mark Brush — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:11:48 +0000

Seven Michigan high schools received "gold medals" from the U.S. News Best High Schools 2013 rankings. 68 high schools received "silver medals," and 131 received "bronze medals."

Here's their top ten:

Debate renews over Michigan graduation requirements

The Associated Press — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:50:00 +0000

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan lawmakers are seeking to change the state's high school graduation requirements to make it easier for students to pursue career and technical education programs.

The bills introduced in the House last month would allow students to substitute algebra II with statistics, technical math or another math relevant to their career and technical education. It would also remove the foreign language requirement.

Should foreign language be a high school requirement?

Stateside Staff — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:38:54 +0000

Michigan high schools currently require students to take foreign language in grades nine through twelve. Well, that might change soon.

Republican State Representative Phil Potvin of Cadillac is pushing a bill that would make studying a foreign language and algebra II merely an option for students.

Last year House Bill 4102 was heard in the 96th Legislature, but wasn't voted on. Potvin expects the bill to be voted on this year.

"The real reason to do this is that our kids have such a tight curriculum now. [This bill] would allow them some choices."

New program for teens with autism at EMU

Associated Press — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:54:16 +0000

Teens with autism will get the chance to learn and discuss important topics in their transition to adulthood during a new program at Eastern Michigan University's Autism Collaborative Center.

Lockdown drill: training for the unthinkable

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:45:13 +0000

School shootings explode into communities with no warning.

In the aftermath of Columbine, Sandy Hook and other school shootings, Michigan now requires schools to conduct at least two lockdown drills each year.

This is the story of how one school trains for the unthinkable.

Governor Snyder signs legislation attempting to reduce youth concussions

Jake Neher — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:10:36 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation to help schools reduce the number and severity of sports-related student concussions.

The bills require coaches to immediately remove a player from a game if they suspect a concussion.

Coaches, players, and parents will also have access to new information and training materials about serious head injuries.

Senator John Proos sponsored one of the bills. He says the state needs to be in position to provide the best and most up-to-date information to schools and parents.

“Every time we answer a question about traumatic brain injury or concussions, we learn that there are ten more questions that come up,” he said.

The bills easily made their way through the state Legislature last month.

Michigan is now one of many states that have passed anti-concussion legislation.

Study shows problems with Michigan's high school academic standards

Steve Carmody — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:54:27 +0000

A new study shows a disappointing result for Michigan’s new high school academic standards.

The Michigan Merit Curriculum was introduced in 2006. The intent was to strengthen academic performance.

Researchers say students who entered high school in 2007 with strong academic skills saw only a small improvement in their math, science and reading tests scores.

Student-led march protests stereotyping of Battle Creek Central

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:24:14 +0000

A student-led march in downtown Battle Creek this morning protested recent violence and attempts to blame the violence on Battle Creek Central High School.

Over 2,000 marchers from across Calhoun County took to the streets in support of Battle Creek Central.

From the Battle Creek Enquirer:

Governor Synder expected to sign legislation attempting to reduce concussions

Jake Neher — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:22:30 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder said he expects to sign legislation to reduce the number and severity of concussions in youth sports. The Legislature easily passed the two bills last week.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association worked with lawmakers to craft the bills. The MHSAA’s John Johnson says many coaches may not know how to spot signs of concussions.

“It’s much, much more than a kid laying unconscious on the field. That happens only 1-in-10 times when a concussion has been sustained,” he said.

Johnson said the legislation would give coaches, players, and families the information they need to help limit the damage caused by head injuries. It would also require coaches to immediately take a player out of a game if they suspect a concussion.

The lone dissenter in the House, Representative Bob Genetski, said it’s not the state’s job to protect kids from every potentially unsafe situation.

Reunion 2012

John U. Bacon — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Lots of people look forward to high school reunions, others dread them, and still others just avoid them altogether.

My brother falls squarely into the third category. As he says, “If I was that eager to see you, I wouldn’t have waited five years.”

Now that we have Facebook, we already know who gained weight and who went bald, so what else do we really need to see? Maybe that’s why reunion attendance nationwide has dropped dramatically.

Fighting for football: one Down Syndrome athlete's story

Kate Wells — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:58:52 +0000

Football practice starts up at high schools across the state this week. But for one athlete's family, the biggest day of the season is tomorrow.

That's when the Michigan High School Athletic Association will decide whether Eric Dompierre can play football his senior year. Dompierre has Down Syndrome, but that hasn't kept him from playing with Ishpeming High's team the last three years. Now nineteen, Dompierre is too old to be eligible for the team.

Howell Schools plan end of pay-to-play policy

The Associated Press — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:44:59 +0000

HOWELL, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan public school district plans to do away with fees parents pay to allow their children to participate in sports.

Michigan high school draws Chinese students, tuition dollars

Andrea Hsu — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:06:59 +0000

Lake Shore High School in St. Clair Shores, Mich., is pretty typical as American high schools go. Walking the halls, you find the quiet kids, the jocks and the artsy crowd.

But a visitor will also see what sets Lake Shore apart: The school's large number of exchange students from China.

Changing Michigan's educational focus

Steve Carmody — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:04:36 +0000

There’s a push to change Michigan's high school graduation standards to encourage more students to pursue vocational training. But state education officials oppose the proposed changes.