 Dear reader,
Terrifying images of war in Ukraine are tearing at our hearts these days, and many educators and parents must find ways to discuss the disturbing news. Some will, while others may shy away, perhaps in part because classroom conversations about uncomfortable topics have become so fraught. In recent weeks, an array of new legislation has been introduced that aims at limiting discussion of race and gender, all in the name of parental rights, a subject I heard a great deal about while at the SXSW EDU conference in Austin, Texas, last week. I’m fearful these new censorship movements are damaging to public education, at a time when the pandemic has caused some parents to consider other schooling options. This week, we take a close look at what happened in Omaha, Nebraska, where more than 1,600 white students abandoned the city’s public school system for neighboring districts and other alternatives, accelerating a major demographic upheaval in this diversifying Midwestern city.
Similar movements are playing out nationally, one reason we’d love to hear more from readers about what is happening in your districts. This week, we also have the latest research on how college students learn, and report on troubling trends in childcare, one of our signature topics. It’s another reason why we urge you to remind all those interested in education to sign up for our newsletters, and never miss a story.
Liz Willen, Editor
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