McDonald's: A Microcosm of American Life

2024-12-16

Author Chris Arnade offers a unique perspective on American society by observing McDonald's restaurants across the US. From Trump's political stunt at a McDonald's to its role as a refuge for the mentally ill and a de facto community center, Arnade argues that McDonald's transcends its fast-food identity, reflecting the connections between people and the yearning for belonging in American society. He highlights the elite's tendency to overlook the value of these grassroots communities, emphasizing that these organically formed social hubs are a testament to the resilience of American society.

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Newton Public Schools' 'Equity' Experiment Fails

2024-12-14

In the fall of 2021, Newton Public Schools in Massachusetts implemented a complex initiative called "multilevel classrooms" aimed at improving educational equity. This model mixed students of varying academic abilities into single classrooms with one teacher. Three years later, the results are troubling. Teachers report the model fails to meet the needs of diverse learners; high-achieving students are stifled, while lower-achieving students are hesitant to ask questions. Lack of adequate training and support for teachers led to poor outcomes, with students in multilevel classes often underperforming their single-level counterparts. The school lacked metrics for success, and no data supported the model's efficacy. A teacher's council petitioned to roll back multilevel classes in STEM and world languages, urging the district to find better solutions for addressing educational equity. The failure highlights the need for data-driven approaches and a focus on student needs in educational reform.

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