Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
09/17/2018
DeVos loses student loan lawsuit
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos lost a lawsuit that claimed her department illegally delayed student loan relief protections from going into effect. Known as borrower defense rules, the Obama-era regulations are meant to protect students who are cheated by so-called predatory colleges. They were set to take effect in July 2017 following an influx of fraud claims against schools like Corinthian Colleges and ITT Tech. But under the Trump administration, the Education Department postponed the program two years and pushed rules to make it harder for defrauded students to get loan relief. DeVos is challenging the lawsuit ruling.
■Class discussion: Do you know anyone who has been loaded up with student debt by a school falsely promising “great careers” for their graduates? Should students who willingly signed up for dodgy school courses be required to pay off their student loans? Why or why not? What happened in the lawsuit against “Trump University”? Should all schools and colleges be required to show how well their students perform later both professionally and academically? DeVos also is a big supporter of charter schools and tax-funded vouchers for private schools. Should those schools have the same tests and meet the same requirements as public schools?