Free Republic

Whether she's walking the halls at Hillcrest High School in Dallas, or catching up with the other athletes on the basketball court, Andrea Tchinda exudes star quality. Wednesday was her first time back on campus since the graduating senior found out she was named valedictorian. Proud principal T.J. Florie called to give her the news. "It was just a moment that made me emotional," Florie said. "That means a lot for somebody that looks like her to look up to her and say, ‘She can do this, I can do this.’" It's another crowning achievement for a girl who was...

When I first saw the letter reproduced here from something called “Dallas Justice Now,” calling on wealthy whites living in the affluent Highland Park neighborhood of Dallas not to have their kids apply to elite colleges so that there would be more room for minority applicants, I assumed that it was a satire or a hoax. But it turns out to be authentic. And there’s actually much to recommend this if you think about it for a moment: what Dallas Justice Now is doing is calling out the smug virtue-signaling of liberal “white allies” and demanding that they put their...

When Students Run the Classroom Here’s an easy question: What would happen if children were allowed to come up with their own grading rules? Common sense — not an immediate recollection of the plot of Lord of the Flies — is all one needs to possess in order to know that rudderless kids just might come up with a system that puts immediate gratification before, say, scholarship. It’s not unlikely, for example, that 20 5th graders could put aside their feuds to agree on the following: Homework grades should be given only when the grades will “raise a student’s average,...

Teachers give Dallas ISD's new grading rules an F 12:00 AM CDT on Friday, August 15, 2008 By KENT FISCHER / The Dallas Morning News / The Dallas Morning News Tawnell D. Hobbs, Stella M. Chávez and Karin Shaw Anderson contributed to this report. Dallas public school students who flunk tests, blow off homework and miss assignment deadlines can make up the work without penalty, under new rules that have angered many teachers. The new rules will be distributed when teachers return to their campuses next week. But many who have already seen the regulations say they are too lenient...

DISD superintendent resigns11:38 AM CDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2004By TOYA LYNN STEWART and JOSHUA BENTON / The Dallas Morning News Mike Moses announced Wednesday he is leaving the Dallas school district after 3 1/2 years leading Texas' second-largest school district. During a news conference at DISD headquarters, Dr. Moses said he informed board members in a letter early Wednesday morning. His last day will be Aug. 31. "Here's the deal: I'm tired," he said. Dr. Moses said the job of DISD superintendent is "enjoyable and exhilarating, I think, but only for a period of time." "I really thought when...

School guard moved amid drug inquiry 02/08/2003 BY JAIME JORDAN / The Dallas Morning News An assistant freshman coach and security guard at Adamson High School has been reassigned, pending an investigation into allegations that he was selling drugs to students. The security guard, Nickey Martin, was reassigned to a position in Nolan Estes Plaza, which houses several departments. Mr. Martin will work in a position where he has no contact with students until the district concludes its investigation, said Donald Claxton, Dallas Independent School District spokesman. Mr. Martin, who has been with the district five years, was unavailable...