Students are headed back to school. For many, that’s in a virtual way. For almost all, it’s different than last fall. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Student
Texas Standard: July 13, 2020
5 years after the death of Sandra Bland, how much has and hasn’t changed? A conversation with two top Texas lawmakers on the changes to criminal justice in Texas since the death of Sandra Bland and what more needs to be done. Also, how Texas colleges and universities are trying to address changes in student visa rules. And as organizers push for greater Latino representation at the polls, a parallel initiative to preserve the history of one of the groups that led the push. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Homeschooling
Most Texas students are finishing the 2019-2020 school year online — at least as much as possible. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: October 29, 2019
The house prepares for a Thursday impeachment vote. We’ll take a look at what that means. Also, a state board designed to keep spending in check has been working without a director, losing all its executive team and is shedding staff. The rotting away may be part of a plan by the Lt. Governor, we’ll explore. And after a threat from the Governor, Austin is clearing out some of its homeless camps, we’ll have details. Plus, it’s a part of New Mexico rich with roughnecks. Now some are saying they wish they could secede and join Texas, and they may be only half kidding. All of that and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: August 19, 2019
A partial win for the Trump administration’s new rule for asylum is affecting thousands of people on the other side of the Texas Mexico divide. We’ll take a look at whats happening. Other stories we’re covering: a ransomware attack paralyses 23 government computer systems statewide. Could it have been prevented? One expert says absolutely. Also, a man set to be executed by Texas this week. It’s his sixth scheduled execution date. Why questions about his actual innocence have haunted the courts for almost two decades. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Back To School Supplies
It’s that time of the year — students are heading back to class and so is their stuff. That’s the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Standards
The Texas Legislature is considering changes to school standards. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: March 7, 2019
Alarming figures from the border show an 11 year high in the number of migrant families apprehended. But do the numbers add up? Just a few weeks ago, we were hearing that the claim of a border emergency was overblown, but now mainstream news outlets report what sounds like, at the very least, a crisis overwhelming customs and border patrol. We’ll try to get a better sense of what’s happening. Also, a first of its kind effort in Texas to be prepared for wildfire season. And a top doctor warns of a looming crisis in Texas health care. All of those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Higher Ed: Taking Skills Learned In The Classroom To The Voting Booth
One reason often cited by non-voters for their lack of participation goes something like this: “my vote doesn’t really count” or “how can my one vote make any difference?” Voter turnout among college-aged students is traditionally low in midterm election years. But this year is shaping up to be different. In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton discuss how to sustain that interest even when national politics are not so charged.
Ed believes that getting voting-aged students to the polls is half the battle. The other half? Making sure they are informed voters.
“You just don’t want to have voters going in there and taking out a die and rolling it and then whatever it lands on that’s how you feel on the issue or who you decide to vote for,” says Ed. He hopes that voters will not make their voting decisions only influenced by “sound bites or 160 characters or generic Facebook posts where we don’t even know exactly where they’re actually emanating from.”
Ed believes that student can and should take the “best practices” of learning they have acquired in classrooms over the years and apply that to the act of voting.
“Articulate what are the issues that matter to you, that are important to you,” says Ed. “And then for each one of them, try to explain why. Is it an emotional response? Is it a logical response? Am I responding because I don’t like the other side, or because I like this side?”
Ed believes that student can making voting a practice – part of the way they live their lives – by getting interested and engaged early.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about using skills honed in the classroom to make decisions in the voting booth. The puzzler is taking a break for a little while to make way for some lighter riddles. These first two are pretty easy; see if you can get them right away.
This episode was recorded on Oct. 30, 2018.
Back To School From The Teacher’s Perspective
School is about to start up again. Parents feel one way about that, students feel another, and teachers feel yet another. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Theatre Kids
This Typewriter Rodeo poem was requested in memory of a school theatre teacher.
STAAR Testing
Some students in Texas are taking the state’s standardized tests. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Higher Ed: The Teacher-Student Relationship
A college student requested a “Higher Ed” discussion about meaningful student-teacher relationships – both how to form them, and how those relationships could impact grades and behavior. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss how students and teachers can best engage each other to insure that dynamic goes well. The relationship between teacher and student can be complex. Teachers can be mentors, advisors and role models to students. But teachers also grade students’ work and are thus in an assessor role as well. And, as Ed points out, those two roles can sometimes be in conflict. Ed and Jennifer discuss ways that students and teachers can build relationships that go well for both sides. Ed’s tips for teachers: don’t play mind games or play favorites with students. His tips for students: engage teachers about the material and show enthusiasm and curiosity. Listen to the full episode to hear more about teacher-student relationships and the one student behavior Ed won’t tolerate. It is also time to solve the mystery from the last episode about the scarf, carrot and coal.
This episode was recorded Feb. 28, 2018.
Texas Standard: March 28, 2018
A controversial change already facing a legal challenge: how might Texas be affected by a new citizenship question in the next US census? We’ll explore. Also, five months after a massacre in Sutherland Springs, church officials announce new plans to rebuild, we’ll hear the latest. And what if you could compare the earnings potential of one college degree against another? Despite a federal ban on collecting such data, Texas’ flagship university is doing the numbers, we’ll explore the implications. And it was James Dean’s final film, and a larger than life commentary on Texas as a microcosm of America. The editor of Kirkus Review calls a new book the definitive account of the movie ‘Giant’. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
How Long Until Spring?
It’s mid-January, it’s cold, and it’s the time of year when we begin to ask the question: how long until spring? That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Cleaning Out Your Backpack
School is over for most Texas kids. It’s time to take stock of the year past. One way to do that is with a good cleaning and disinfection of that ubiquitous part of the school uniform – the faithful backpack.
Texas Standard: May 3, 2017
Southwest says no more overbooking. But what about everyone else? Public outrage becomes political baggage for the airlines, we’ll have the story. Also some legal experts call it one for the ages: a federal court in Texas issues a ruling that could tilt the scales for the poor accused of low-level crimes. So why haven’t you heard about it? You will today. Plus, something dangerous in the water? Concerns mount in a Texas city known round the world for its fixer uppers. And a bill to crackdown on cyberbullying: why suicide prevention groups are raising red flags. And can you live stream an open public hearing in Texas? You sure about that? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 7, 2017
The so called bathroom bill purports to head off potential predators, but a new report suggests a more clear and present danger. The story today. Plus a nasty battle over so called sanctuary policies shows more than one way to raise public money…we’ll hear how protesters are trying to take matters into their own hands. Also New York, Chicago, LA, san Antonio—whats the most dangerous city to walk, and why might that change? Plus bucking the bust: not all unemployed oil hands left Midland when things hit bottom. And now, for those who stuck it out, things are looking up. We’ll hear what’s happened. And do you have a bad connection? For a lot of rural Texans the fix is jumping on the bus. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 23, 2016
Signals from space telegraph warnings for Texas about the source of those earthquakes we’ve been worried about. We’ll explore. Also when doctors can’t offer infants life saving technology because its too expensive: what then? A Doctor at Rice has been working on solutions, and she’s just been awarded a MacArthur genius grant for her efforts: we’ll meet her. And when in Rome, do as the Romans. When in college do you dare go with the Greek system? Hazing rituals back in the spotlight. Plus: it’s a beloved symbol in the Lone Star State, and yet its getting bulldozed out of Texas, almost literally. Can anyone save the Houston Toad? Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 17, 2016
A Texas Police officer charged with murder after an off-duty encounter. So what should you do if approached by a plain-clothed person who says they’re a cop? We’ll explore. Also Merrick Garland: The SCOTUS nominee may have the name of a cowboy but does he have other Texas ties? He does when it comes to the people he’s helped over the years. Plus are electronic bikes a viable alternative to the cars stuck in traffic across Texas cities? And a film explores the complicated trials of border patrol agents. And we’ll take a lesson in Jay Z 101. All that and more today on the Texas Standard: