Each January, people who live in the small Alpine town of Davos grit their teeth as they play host to the thousands who swarm in for the World Economic Forum. Vehicles jam up on the road to Davos before the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos,...
Artificial intelligence shows promise and peril. But some people might find it more comforting to tell their problems to a machine than a human. A young man talks to a robot therapist. (Illustration by News Decoder) This article, by high school students Sienna Mamoun...
Immigrants seeking asylum in New York City struggle to get help meeting basic needs. Nonprofit organizations struggle to fill the vacuum. Migrants queue in the cold as they look for a shelter outside a migrant assistance center at St. Brigid Elementary School in lower...
When you think of France, you might picture sitting at a café. But taking to the streets to air grievances is as French as Beaujolais. Protesters in Rennes, France march over pension reforms and more, April 2023. (Photo credit: Clover Choi) This article, by high...
The fear of another Chernobyl makes nuclear energy bad for politics. But with Europe struggling to reduce carbon, is it good for the environment? The Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant in Cattenom, France, 8 September 2022. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) This...
Millions of people move from one place to another. When it isn’t just the city that changes but the language and culture, it can be difficult to feel at home. A doormat says “Home Sweet Home.” (Credit: Andy Dean Photography) This article, by high...
Psychologists call it cognitive dissonance when you disconnect beef from the killing of a cow. But some think you need to know the animal you eat. Cows look on as someone is about to eat a fat, juicy hamburger. (Photo illustration by News Decoder) This article, by...
In more regions around the world people want to keep some books out of the hands of youth. But these are the books that engage kids the most. A heavy chain and lock covers three novels at the heart of book banning controversies. (Illustration by News Decoder) This...
Book bans have historically been linked to authoritarian regimes. In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of book bans in democratic countries, too. This is a disturbing trend, and young people are noticing, too. In this piece from high schooler Emily Ireland of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in the U.S. state of Mississippi, prompt student thinking on censorship and banning books with an evidence-based reasoning activity.
Exercise: Read the article with your class. Then, launch a class discussion on whether there are book topics that should or shouldn’t be banned in public schools in your country. Be sure to get into the nuances of this complicated topic: if some topics are inappropriate for certain audiences, who should be responsible for restricting access? Should it be governments, parents, schools? How might these parameters change from country to country, depending on context? This activity is well-suited to be a complementary teaching tool on a lesson about civil liberties (e.g. in the United States, the Bill of Rights).
Some school districts across the world find that one day less of classes per week can produce more effective learning. But not everyone is convinced. Girls in school uniforms head to classes. A calendar column shows that Mondays are off. (Illustration by Kaja Andrić)...
In an excellent piece written by high schooler Devon Chipman of News Decoder partner The Tatnall School, we consider the pros and cons of a four-day school week. Develop students’ critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning skills using this youth voice story.
Exercise: Before reading the article, ask your students whether or not they support a four-day school week. Then, read the article together and see if opinions have changed. After this initial discussion, facilitate a class debate on whether or not to implement a four-day school week at your school. Students should take on different personas in the debate to argue a perspective they may not personally agree with — school administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, students, college admission officers, etc. Each student contribution during the debate should incorporate evidence from the article.
In Sikh culture, the turban is a symbol of spirituality, holiness, respect and self-honor. Why then do some people react to it with fear and anger? Members of the Sikh community walk during the Parliament of World Religion Parade of Faiths in Chicago, 13 August 2023....