Extra Credit

U.S. News: College Rank Stuff

Everybody loves college ratings, at least if their school is on top.

U.S. News & World Report's latest graduate rankings are in. Some highlights from UT-Austin:

Also: UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas and the University of North Texas got some love in the U.S. News rankings for their graduate public affairs programs. The trio tied for 57th place. UT-Arlington's School of Urban and Public Affairs was up 19 places from the previous rankings, according to the university. And the Aggies public affairs program won some bragging rights. Texas A&M ranked 36th of the 269 programs graduate public affairs programs evaluated.   

-John Austin

America's Promise: Graduate from high school?

A major study set for midnight release is expected to show the odds are not good you're going to graduate from high school if you are a Fort Worth public school student. The study was commissioned by America’s Promise Alliance, a nonprofit founded a few years back by General Colin Powell. More details to come early Tuesday. Check www.star-telegram.com.

- Kristin Sullivan

Preschool milestones

Today was a bit of a milestone for my preschooler, Jack. Beginning today, he and his fellow pre-kindergarten students were required to haul all of their belongings (backpack, lunchbox, nap mat, in/out folders) to their classrooms. Alone. Without Mom or Dad. 

Jack was nervous about the new "rule," which the director says will help him and the other kids get ready for kindergarten, when Mom and Dad can't help out as much. (Jack is being redshirted in the fall, but he still has to follow this rule.)

But, he did just fine -- and without tears. He's getting to be more independent as the months pass, something that's a little bittersweet for me.

-- Julie Sobczyk Mitchell

Texas exes: California post is pay dirt

d  OK, I know former Mark Yudof's announcement that he's leaving his chancellor's office at the UT System in Austin for California came down last week. But today's the first day I got to zero in on the number: it's $828,024. That's his new annual income as president of the University of California system. And he was already making almost $800,000 running Texas colleges. That's rich, which of course is what a lot of current and former Texas college students are thinking as they prepare to pay ever-increasing tuition bills.

- Kristin Sullivan

Plagiarizing the definition of plagiarsim

At the University of Texas at San Antonio, students drafting a school honor code somehow wound up using one adopted by another school. Problem was, there was no attribution, the San Antonio Express-News reports.

Oversight or not, experts say this sloppiness is typical of today's students.

"Young people today have a different understanding of what in the way of ideas and words is property that can be taken without authorization," said Daniel Wueste, director of the Rutland Center for Ethics at Clemson University in South Carolina, which also houses the Center for Academic Integrity. "That's the consequence of the Internet and the availability of things. It doesn't feel like what would be in a book. You Google it and here it comes."

-Patrick M. Walker

Exam cheating goes ever higher tech

From the Los Angeles Times:

A 2006 national survey found that more than 60% of high school students said they had cheated on a test, and the number of self-admitted cheaters has steadily risen over the years.

Students today can use an array of high-tech gadgetry, challenging schools to keep pace. One click of the Internet opens a world of possibilities and temptations, devious and ingenious, with Web sites devoted to the best cheating practices, and cheating tutorials on YouTube.

-Patrick M. Walker

First "Worst Teacher" nominee is from Texas

The Center for Union Facts listed an unnamed Texas teacher as its first nominee for the 10 worst teachers in America. The group says this teacher has been caught several times playing on the computer while her students run free. The release also states that the teacher gave students a test answer key. The group is looking for the 10 worst teachers to pay them to quit the profession.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Rock stars in high demand at schools

The Christian Science Monitor reports that the demands of No Child Left Behind have created a high need for "rock star" superintendents who can really take the pressure and turn failing schools around.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Your A.M. roundup

Today on star-telegram.com:

At the University of North Texas,  John Austin reports, some soon-to-be master's degree graduates want school officials to resume the practice of putting academic hoods on graduate students during commencement exercises

Guests at a TCU dinner get a taste of what life is like for the disabled, by Melody McDonald

Shirley Jinkins introduces us to an Arlington high school student who has no room for improvement on the SAT

Todd L. Davis takes us around the world at a Keller school

And columnist Bob Ray Sanders weighs in on the lesson from TCU and the Brite Divinity School in the wake of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright events

-Patrick M. Walker

Around Texas and the U.S.

Board doesn't change practice for Bible classes, by R.A. Dyer

Former Fort Worth elementary teacher is given probation for fondling, by Melody McDonald

UTA students receive a bigger place to play, by John Austin

Arlington students get a dose of puppy love, by Shirley Jinkins

New special-ed TAKS generates few ripples among districts, by Katherine Cromer Brock

The New York Times: Schools requiring students to pass Breathalyzer test to get in school dances

The New York Times Magazine: Joining the campus chastity club at Harvard

The Washington Post: Gay youth's slaying spurs call for tolerance

The Washington Post: Many potential leaders of tomorrow reject the role

-Patrick M. Walker