by Devon Chipman | 23 Feb 2024 | Contest winners, Education, Educators' Catalog, Student Posts, Tatnall School, Youth Voices
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.
by Daphne Chandler | 13 Feb 2024 | Economy, Student Posts, Tatnall School, Youth Voices
You don’t get a friendly face when you “buy now with 1-click” on Amazon. But the value of that friendly face keeps people shopping local all over the world. A sign in a small business says “Support Local Business”. Credit: lakshmiprasad S...
by Ramanpreet Syan | 8 Feb 2024 | Contest winners, Culture, Human Rights, Religion, Student Posts, Tatnall School, Youth Voices
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....
by Gabe Stryker | 5 Feb 2024 | Sports, Student Posts, Tatnall School, Youth Voices
To succeed in the “beautiful game” in much of the world, you just need to prove yourself on the field. Not so in the United States, where you pay to play. The author driving the ball during a soccer game. (Photo courtesy of Gabe Stryker) This article, by...
by Kaja Andrić | 26 Jan 2024 | Journalism, Youth Voices
Can we explain mass shootings in places like the Czech Republic or Serbia as American-influenced phenomena or is something else going on? We turned to one expert to learn more. Jason Silva. (Photo courtesy of Jason Silva) On 21 December 2023, Charles University in...
by Ama Okigbo | 23 Jan 2024 | Education, Student Posts, Technology, Thacher School, Youth Voices
We turn to technology to solve our problems but most of it is designed by men. One woman believes girls can program their own solutions. Girls sit in front of computers as they learn to code. (Photo illustration by News Decoder) This article, by high school student...
by Miquéla Thornton | 19 Jan 2024 | Environment, Student Posts, University of Wisconsin, Youth Voices
Making sure wealthy countries can’t dump their plastic waste on poor nations is important. But how can we stop producing it in the first place? A man walks on a mountain of plastic bottles as he carries a sack of them to be sold for recycling after weighing them...
by Ella Gorodetzky | 18 Jan 2024 | Educators' Catalog, Human Rights, Israel-Palestine, Media Literacy, Middle East, University of Wisconsin, Youth Voices
From Gaza to Israel to the United States some people are turning to social media for civil discussion. Can we stop disinformation about the Middle East? Posts on an imaginary social media page calling for civil dialogue about the Middle East. (Illustration by News...
Social media can be a double-edged sword — with the power to unite and to divide. How can students differentiate between disinformation and credible content? Journalism undergraduate student Ella Gorodetsky from the University of Wisconsin-Madison looks at social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war to investigate.
Exercise: After reading the article together, have students come up with a social media campaign to stop the spread of disinformation. In 160 characters or less, students should invent a catchy slogan to help others distinguish between credible and fake content. This activity should be done in groups of 2-3.
by Joseph Katusabe | 17 Jan 2024 | Africa, African Leadership Academy, Catholicism, Decoder Replay, Human Rights, Religion, Student Posts, Youth Voices
One parishioner argues that the Church should welcome gay members. The Pope is just now cracking open the door by offering a small blessing. Vatican City with an LGBT flag superimposed to seem waving in welcome. Photo illustration by News Decoder. Editor’s note:...
by Thomas Hickey | 4 Jan 2024 | Middle East, Politics, Syria, University of Wisconsin, Women, Youth Voices
The Kurdish people in North Syria are attacked by Turkey to the north and Syria to the south. No one wants them there but they have nowhere to go. People attend the funeral of four Kurds in the town of Jinderis, Syria, 21 March 2023. The assailants shot the Kurdish...
