IndyStar.com: Education
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Education chief: Adults not helping enough
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told educators at a conference in Indianapolis today that too many adults — in classrooms, communities and state governments — are standing in the way of American children getting a good...
Purdue modifies smoking ban
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University has backed away from a total ban on smoking on its main campus and instead will limit it to specific areas while prohibiting smoking in university motor vehicles. The university sought suggestions from...
2 Indiana pupils burned in science lab fire
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two middle school students are being treated for burns received when a flash fire broke out during a science experiment. Tippecanoe School Corp. Superintendent Scott Hanback says 16 eighth-graders at Wainwright Middle School...
Indiana University report: Students' college goals, efforts don't match
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A new report by Indiana University researchers found that most high school students expect to go to college, but the work students do in high school doesn’t always match up to their perceptions or goals. The report on...
Purdue international enrollment growing
Purdue University has the second-largest number of international students among public schools in the United States, according to the Institute of International Education. The Open Doors report issued Monday also said the university ranks fifth...
Discovery of moon water excites IU researcher
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — An Indiana University geologist who spent years studying lunar soils collected by the Apollo astronauts says NASA’s discovery of water on the moon is “remarkable.” IU geologist Abhijit Basu...
Penny earns college scholarship for boy, 7
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — A 7-year-old boy from Terre Haute has won a full college scholarship thanks to a lucky penny. The Indiana State University Foundation passed out cards with pennies attached to them at a homecoming parade last month. The...
Colleges look at new ways to teach teachers
Traditional programs are adopting popular fast-track methods Indiana colleges have started re-examining how they teach the state’s future teachers, prodded by rising numbers of teachers who are trained through other programs and bypass...
Is African boarding school the answer for Indiana's inner-city kids?
Would you send your child to school halfway across the world if it meant the chance to escape the distractions of a dangerous neighborhood? A group of Indiana University professors is preparing to ask inner-city parents across Indiana to do just...
Indiana University aims for food drive record
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University and other colleges around the country will try to break the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of food gathered for the hungry in 24 hours. The attempt Thursday is part of Helping Hands...
2 colleges to tap geothermal energy
MUNCIE, Ind. — The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $6.3 million to two Indiana colleges to install environmentally friendly geothermal energy systems. Ball State University is getting $5 million to replace coal fired boilers with...
IU takes H1N1 vaccine reservations
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University is taking reservations for Bloomington students and employees who want to get a free swine flu shot once the vaccine arrives on campus. IU is taking reservations online and will give the H1N1 vaccine to...
Four school districts sign on to lawsuit
At least four school districts have signed onto a class-action lawsuit, seeking millions of dollars in health insurance credits owed to them by the Indiana State Teachers Union Insurance Trust. David Day, an attorney with the Hamilton County firm...
Schools chief expects vote on teacher training, licenses by end of year
The state’s chief schools official said today that he expected to have a final vote by the end of the year on his proposal to reform how teachers are trained and licensed. “I dare to say we are going to reform teacher licensing in this state, and my...
IU to open doors to data bunker
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University is celebrating its new $32 million data center built to protect computers from floods, power outages and even F5 tornados. Hundreds of people are expected Thursday at the IU Data Center’s formal...
Is it necessary to learn to teach?
Debate swirls over whether knowledge of subject, or of the teaching process, is best What makes a good teacher — the ability to inspire students to learn or being a master of the subject you teach? That was the crux of a debate Monday at the...
Educators criticize Ind. licensing changes
More than 300 people gave the state’s Professional Standards Board an earful today on a proposed overhaul of the way teachers and administrators are trained and licensed in Indiana. Two sides were clearly divided — those in favor of more...
Defense secretary to speak to IU grads
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Defense Secretary Robert Gates will visit Indiana University in December to speak at the school’s winter commencement. The university announced Monday that Gates also would receive an honorary degree during the Dec. 19...
Students sue school over Web free speech
Two sophomore girls have sued their school district after they were punished for posting sexually suggestive photos on MySpace during their summer vacation. The American Civil Liberties Union, in a federal lawsuit filed last week on behalf of the...
Lawsuit dropped in Butler blogger case
Butler University said today in a statement that it had dropped a lawsuit against a student who had posted comments about two administrators on his blog. The university will continue with internal disciplinary proceedings against the student, Jess...
Purdue collection awaits Earhart movie fans
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A new movie about aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart could spur renewed interest in Purdue University’s big collection of memorabilia about her life. “Amelia,” which opens Friday, stars Hillary Swank as the...
IPS fires ROTC officer accused of hitting pupils
The Indianapolis Public School Board on Tuesday voted to fire ROTC Col. Vincent Johnson, who was accused of hitting two students at Manual High School. Johnson’s dismissal came about after an incident in April at the school. Three non-ROTC...
Researcher finds drug traces in area streams
MUNCIE, Ind. — A Ball State University scientist has discovered traces of pharmaceuticals in 10 streams that flow through rural areas of central Indiana. Biology professor Melody Bernot found traces of caffeine and nicotine byproducts in the...
Arlington students face theft charges
Two Arlington Community High School students are facing school disciplinary and court proceedings after Indianapolis Public Schools Police caught them stealing 21 laptops from School 60 on Monday night and early today. Officers first responded to...
College to test wind turbine on Lake Michigan
ALLENDALE, Mich. — Grand Valley State University’s wind turbine testing project is heading into Lake Michigan. The Muskegon Chronicle reports the school’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center now is planning to put a...
Ball State steps up security after assaults
MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State University is stepping up security after several students were assaulted. The Muncie school is expanding hours for its campus escort service and police are making more foot patrols at night. Three students were assaulted...
Study: IU ranks among top Tweeting schools
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University is living the tweet life. A new survey puts IU among the top 7 percent of collegiate users of the social networking site Twitter. The September survey by UniversitiesandColleges.org ranked IU sixth for its...
A call to Arlington's male students
Some 750 Arlington Community High School students, all the males, gathered this afternoon in the auditorium to hear from business and community leaders, who urged them to continue their education through high school and beyond. Indianapolis Public...
Anderson considers closing four schools
ANDERSON, Ind. — Four elementary schools would be closed in the Anderson Community Schools under a proposal to pare down a budget deficit the central Indiana district is facing. The district’s top administrator also proposed either...
Purdue scientist receives World Food Prize
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Purdue University scientist is being honored as this year’s recipient of the World Food Prize. Gebisa Ejeta won the honor because of his breakthroughs in developing drought and disease-resistant forms of sorghum,...
