Flint Journal

FLINT - Student Tiana Dudley describes last year's return to school "pretty chaotic."

In virtually every school, we'll hazard to guess, the teachers know who among them are the hardest working and most effective, yet the nation's largest teachers union continues to throw cold water on the notion of merit pay for its members.

Boosting fed help benefits people, country
Making college more affordable for young people must be a priority if our country is to compete globally. Therefore, Washington lawmakers must keep the best interests of students - and the nation - in mind as they mull bills in the U.S. House and Senate to cut the cost of college via various grant and loan programs.

Parents must act on his wise words Flint has once again been honored and delighted by a visit from Bill Cosby - that gentle but powerful comedian who makes us laugh even while he is scolding with razor-sharp social criticism.

Comedian-activist returns to Flint to get black parents on target
FLINT - Bill Cosby's second Flint visit in four months had its share of humorous moments, but the frank talk was dominated by a sober message for parents who fail to raise their children toward becoming successful adults.

Problems with money
They decide how to spend millions of taxpayer dollars, but many area school board members - plus Flint's interim school chief - have experienced serious personal finance problems or have failed to pay their own taxes on time.

Lansing's disinvestment shows disinterest in state's future
Michigan lawmakers give lip service to all kinds of programs and causes, but what they spend the public's money on tells their true priorities. And based on the latest budget finagling, the state's public colleges and universities don't rate very high with them.

WASHINGTON -- Michigan's schoolchildren used to be among the top 10 in the nation when it came to the public's investment in K-12 education. Not any more. Despite increases in per-pupil spending in Michigan, other states are pulling ahead of Michigan in education spending, according to a new report released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Aneesha Rawls' eyes sparkled as she faced a panel of three adults and talked about a future she expects will be fulfilled with the rewards of helping others as a registered nurse or medical assistant.

BEECHER -- It's Tuesday and Family Court Judge Duncan Beagle is listening intently as the grandmother of a fourth-grader at Dailey Elementary School pleads her case.

GENESEE COUNTY - Superintendent Kimberley Hart knows firsthand how good the health insurance is in the Goodrich School District.

Nick Piazza was studying physical education at Saginaw Valley State University just as he learned that the Michigan market wasn't so hot for teachers.

FLINT - Even though his 18-month tenure was rocky and filled with controversy, neither friends nor foes of former Flint Superintendent Walter Milton Jr. recall seeing him show signs of anger.

FLINT - Board of Education President Stephanie Robb Martin's district-issued cellphone has cost the cash-strapped Flint School District $3,055 this school year, an analysis of school cellphone records shows.

Buying school supplies that get flushed down the toilet is part of a larger problem of parents and teachers buying items that should be provided by schools, members of a concerned parents group said.