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University of Chicago Appoints First Banned Books Postdoctoral Scholar, Dulcey Hunter

University of Chicago Appoints First Banned Books Postdoctoral Scholar, Dulcey Hunter

The University of Chicago Library has appointed Dulcey Hunter as its first banned books postdoctoral scholar. This initiative follows Illinois becoming the first state in 2023 to enact a law allowing the secretary of state's office to withhold grant funding from libraries that do not adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which opposes the proscription or removal of materials due to partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Concurrently, the University of Chicago Library launched its Banned Books Initiative, collecting banned and challenged books in the U.S. and making them accessible digitally and through interlibrary loan. Hunter, an English language arts educator with over two decades of experience teaching middle and high school students in Florida, will dedicate the upcoming academic year to developing a pedagogical framework. This framework aims to help teachers understand the reasons behind the censorship of narratives depicting difficult life experiences and painful truths. Her r...
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RAND Survey Reveals U.S. K-12 Public School Teachers Work 53 Hours Weekly, 15 Hours Beyond Contract

RAND Survey Reveals U.S. K-12 Public School Teachers Work 53 Hours Weekly, 15 Hours Beyond Contract

A 2024 'State of the American Teacher' survey conducted by the RAND Corporation indicates that U.S. K-12 public school teachers work an average of 53 hours per week. This figure, based on a nationally representative survey of 1,479 teachers in January and February 2024, is significantly higher than the 44 hours reported by other working adults. Approximately 15 of these hours, roughly a quarter of their total work time, fall outside of their contracted hours. This additional time is often dedicated to tasks such as grading, lesson planning, and communicating with parents, frequently extending into the evenings. The survey highlights the substantial time commitment required from educators beyond their official work schedules.
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Largest US Muslim advocacy group suspends Florida operations over 'terrorist' designation law

Largest US Muslim advocacy group suspends Florida operations over 'terrorist' designation law

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations has suspended operations in Florida after the enforcement of a law that gave state officials power to designate groups ‌as "terrorist organizations," state officials and CAIR said.
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Ukrainian Poet Olena Boryspholets to Present Work at Cornell University on November 10

Ukrainian Poet Olena Boryspholets to Present Work at Cornell University on November 10

Ukrainian Poet Olena Boryspholets to Present Work at Cornell University on November 10
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McGraw Hill Integrates K-12 Curriculum with Anthropic's Claude for Teachers to Enhance Educational Tools

McGraw Hill Integrates K-12 Curriculum with Anthropic's Claude for Teachers to Enhance Educational Tools

McGraw Hill Integrates K-12 Curriculum with Anthropic's Claude for Teachers to Enhance Educational Tools
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Bookstore Owned by Senator Wyden's Wife to Pay $1.5 Million for Improper Pandemic Loan

Bookstore Owned by Senator Wyden's Wife to Pay $1.5 Million for Improper Pandemic Loan

The Strand Book Store, a New York City establishment owned by Nancy Bass Wyden, wife of U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), has agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million to the federal government. This settlement comes after the store improperly received a second round of pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. According to Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, the store received over $930,000 in the second round of funding, despite a December 2020 law explicitly barring businesses with significant direct or indirect stakes held by members of Congress or their spouses from receiving these funds. Bass Wyden had certified at the time that she met the necessary qualifications for the loan, a certification Pirro's office described as 'knowingly and materially false.' The initial PPP loan program in 2020 did not exclude businesses owned by members of Congress or their immediate families, and the Strand Book Store had previously received $1.7 million under those initial terms.
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New York Lawmakers Poised to Lead Congress Following Democratic Midterm Sweep

New York Lawmakers Poised to Lead Congress Following Democratic Midterm Sweep

Following a sweep in the midterm elections, two New York lawmakers, Representative Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Chuck Schumer, are expected to assume leadership roles in the House and Senate, respectively. This development would mark the first time since the 1950s and 1960s that both House and Senate leaders hail from the same state, and notably, both Jeffries and Schumer are from Brooklyn. Representative Jeffries is set to make history as the first House speaker from New York state in nearly 160 years, the first from New York City, and the first Black speaker. Senator Schumer described the election outcome as a 'generational remake of the Senate map,' with Democrats securing a comfortable double-digit majority in the House and flipping key Senate seats. Representative Gregory Meeks of Queens expressed pride in Jeffries' potential leadership, citing his character and ability.
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María Corina Machado renews call for the release of political prisoners outside a Venezuelan prison

María Corina Machado renews call for the release of political prisoners outside a Venezuelan prison

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is calling on acting President Delcy Rodríguez's government to release all political prisoners
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Federal Court Blocks DHS Rule Ending Duration of Status for International Students; Congress Considers Permanent Rejection

Federal Court Blocks DHS Rule Ending Duration of Status for International Students; Congress Considers Permanent Rejection

A federal court has temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from implementing its rule to end 'Duration of Status' (D/S) for international students nationwide, while litigation continues. This ruling is a significant, though not permanent, victory for international students, scholars, and educational institutions. The DHS rule aimed to replace the long-standing D/S policy, which allows international students to remain in the U.S. for the duration of their academic programs, with fixed admission periods, typically limited to four years. This change would introduce increased bureaucracy, costs, and potential delays, particularly affecting PhD students whose programs often exceed four years. DHS has appealed the court's decision, indicating that the legal battle is ongoing.
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U.S. Historical Events Shaped by Geographic Factors, According to Educational Resources

U.S. Historical Events Shaped by Geographic Factors, According to Educational Resources

Educational materials for 8th-grade social studies in the U.S. are focusing on how physical and human geographic factors have influenced major historical events. This curriculum, aligned with TEKS.113.20.10C, aims to help students understand the connection between geography and historical outcomes. Physical factors include landforms like mountains and rivers, and weather patterns, which affected settlement, travel, and military campaigns. For instance, the Appalachian Mountains acted as barriers to early colonial expansion, while rivers like the Mississippi were crucial for transportation during westward expansion. Human geographic factors, such as transportation networks (roads, railroads, canals) and communication systems (telegraph, postal routes), also played a significant role by enabling or restricting movement and information flow. The development of railroads, for example, accelerated westward expansion and economic growth in the 19th century. Students are encouraged to analyze maps and primary sou...
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MSG Entertainment Disputes Macklemore's Arena Booking Claims, Citing Artist's Market Level

MSG Entertainment Disputes Macklemore's Arena Booking Claims, Citing Artist's Market Level

MSG Entertainment Disputes Macklemore's Arena Booking Claims, Citing Artist's Market Level
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Meet the democratic socialists leading major US cities

Meet the democratic socialists leading major US cities

Democratic socialists are winning mayoral races in major U.S. cities. Meet the politicians behind the growing trend.