Topic: Education

Kings Konnection searching for their next Mr. Tennessee

By Terry McMoore | October 28, 2009 |

Kings Konnection announces the state-wide search for the next Mr. Tennessee.

D'Errico Wylie

Nashville – Kings Konnection, a national male competition system, has begun the state-wide search for the next Mr. Tennessee. The Competition, that is set to take place January 31, 2010 at Tennessee State University’s Humanities Building, will promote scholarships for education or to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. The winner will receive $1,500 along with other prizes and trophies.

The idea of the Mr. Tennessee Competition was created to advance educational and professional opportunities for men within the state of Tennessee and will provide scholarships allowing the participants to achieve their educational, career and personal goals. The competition is open for men aged 18-27 of all races, ethnicities, religious affiliations and origins. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | No Comments

Kids & Cops community event Saturday

October 8, 2009 |

The Clarksville Police Department, Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Campbell MP’s, and TWRA officers are holding their 3rd Annual Kids and Cops event at Kmart (2780 Wilma Rudolph Blvd) on Saturday, October 10, 2009 from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm.    It offers residents of all ages to meet local law enforcement in a social type environment.  It also offers law enforcement an opportunity to showcase some of their equipment and to interact with children and adults alike. Officers will also be on hand conducting free Car seat inspections.

Mounted Officer Cristel Patterson with one of her fans at "Kids and Cops"

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Sections: Events | No Comments

Are large maximum class size laws giving your child a fair chance?

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | September 13, 2009 |

According to the National Education Association, research shows that the ideal number of students in a class is 13 to 17. In Tennessee, class sizes are allowed as follows (data from the Tennessee Department of Education Web site): Kindergarten through third grade: average 20; maximum 25; fourth through sixth grade: average 25; maximum 30. This may appear to be reasonable to some politicians, educators and parents. Teachers will tell you that maximum class loads reduce the one critical need of every student: individual attention.

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Sections: Commentary | 2 Comments

Back-to-School Tax Breaks; New $2,500 College Credit Available

September 10, 2009 |

Video: English | Spanish | ASL Podcast: English

Washington — In support of the Administration’s efforts to promote access and affordability of college education, the Internal Revenue Service today launched a new Web section highlighting various tax breaks and 529 plan changes designed to help parents and students pay for college.

The new Tax Breaks for Education section on IRS.gov includes tips for taking advantage of long-standing education deductions and credits. The “one-stop” location for higher education information includes a special section highlighting 529 plans and frequently asked questions. The web section also features two key changes that will be in effect during 2009 and 2010 that were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), enacted earlier this year.

One change allows families saving for college to use popular 529 plans to pay for a student’s computer-related technology needs. Under the other change, more parents and students will be able to use a federal education credit to pay part of the cost of college using the new American opportunity credit.

“With many families struggling to afford college, we want every eligible taxpayer to know about their options and take advantage of all the tax breaks they can,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “529 plans have become a very attractive way to save for college, and our web section is designed to help people get information about these plans. In addition, the new American opportunity credit can help many parents and students pay part of the cost of the first four years of college.”

Here are further details on the expanded 529 plans and the new American opportunity credit. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education | No Comments

Hope vs Fear & Ignorance: Which will win?

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | September 7, 2009 |

Our society is at war with itself. The downturn in the economy has brought great fears to many citizens. People who focus on their fears have little chance of seeing a solution. Fear is a paralyzing emotion. Mix that with ignorance of some basic facts that are misconstrued by devious politicians seeking their own aggrandizement and you get demonstrations that defy logic.

With citizens in all walks of life losing their jobs and needing hope, some officials more concerned about grandstanding they hope will lead themselves to higher political office than to addressing the suffering of the people who elected them.

When people need hope, more money in their pockets, possibility of new jobs opening up for which they are qualified, we are unfortunately faced with some politicians who are more interested in spreading lies than in solving problems.

Yes, we all have to support our government through taxes. Yes, we need to be as frugal as possible with public money. Yes, we need to cut pork out of all budgets—federal, state, local or personal.

But first we need to bail ourselves out of the mess we’re in. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Commentary | 2 Comments

Choosing a career based on salary can be tricky

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | September 6, 2009 |

Charlie Chaplin is a cog in the machine in the 1936 movie Modern Times.

One of the fun experiences I have is researching odd facts on the Internet. I recently looked at some statistics on the “top 10 jobs in America.” Here are a few bits of information I learned:

Lists vary on the top two jobs. Some say Surgeon and others say Anesthesiologist. Salaries for each range from roughly $175,000 to $185,000 on average. (Note: This means that some of these people make much more and some make much less.) At least one list stated that Investment Bankers were second. The most common list of the top 10 highest paying jobs follows. «Read the rest of this article»

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Three keys to improving the literacy of Tennessee children

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | August 10, 2009 |

The absolute essential for success in school and in life is the ability to read. Literacy is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity.

In Tennessee, currently one-fifth (twenty per cent) of adults do not have a high school diploma. I suspect that many of these people also have difficulty reading, whether from a learning disability or from not being able to attend school on a regular basis.

How can we prevent this problem? I think the following three changes could make a huge difference in the lives of our children and their success rate. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education | No Comments

A legislative report from State Representative Joe Pitts

By State Representative Joe Pitts | July 12, 2009 |

NASHVILLE – In an effort to help you keep more informed about issues important to you, State Representative Joe Pitts will be issuing a series of reports over the next several months. If you have questions or need additional information about any of the issues discussed in these reports, please let him know. This report is on education in Tennessee.

Rep. Joe Pitts (D) House, District 67

In a difficult economy, many state governments have turned to cutting education funds in order to make up the difference in revenue shortfalls. In Tennessee, we recognize that a child’s ability to receive a quality education is potentially the most important event in their lives and that opportunity must be protected, even in difficult financial times.

This year, the General Assembly passed the budget keeping the Pre-K funds in place on a recurring basis, instead of the risky ruse of using lottery reserves for this necessary program. The state is required to continue paying for the program in future years and not be subject to cuts based on limited resources. Also included in our budget was funding for scholarships for our National Guard veterans. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | 1 Comment »

New Tennessee laws are in effect

July 7, 2009 |

Despite tight revenues, state finishes fiscal year on schedule, lawmakers save jobs, education programs. (See complete text below of newly published Public Chapters of the Tennessee Code Annotated.)

NASHVILLE – While several other states struggle to close out the fiscal year ending Wednesday, Tennessee has already published new laws passed during its recently completed legislative session.

“We didn’t have a $24 billion shortfall in revenue like the legislators in California are struggling with, but it was still a tight budget year in Tennessee,” Senator Lowe Finney of Jackson, incoming chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said.

Still, we were able to protect our better schools program – pre-K in particular – and we can move ahead with projects that will put Tennesseans back to work.

That’s good for our families, our hometown economies and our state revenue. As more jobs begin to open up – thanks to projects like the West Tennessee industrial megasite – we can build a stable tomorrow for Tennesseans.

Among the laws now in effect:

• Increased energy efficiency is now required in state buildings and vehicles.
• Sex offenders are prohibited from being within 1,000 feet of certain places where children are likely to gather.
• Tennessee driver’s licenses now print birthdates larger to make them easier for retailers to read.
• Vending machines installed on state property after July 1 must use energy efficient lighting, and the new lighting must be installed on any that are repaired.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Community leader has scholarship named in his honor.

June 11, 2009 |

Faith & Work According to His Purpose

Daniel Lee Stevens Jr.

Nia Association announced the awarding of the first annual Daniel Stevens Youth Build Scholarship Award, to the Tabernacle Christian School (TCS).  Daniel Stevens was the Co-founder of Nia, and a staunch advocate of youth achievement. Mr. Stevens taught youth in varying capacities for over 24 years, after retiring from the US Army.

His last public school period of instruction was at TCS where he was invited by Principal Katobwa Stallworth to teach students about the American Flag, its value, its meaning, its colors, how to hoist and retire the colors, and how it is to be folded and stored. It is befitting that this first award be given to benefit a student who merits financial support and exhibits strong potential to excel. At the 2009 TCS graduation ceremonies, Mr. Stevens’ youngest granddaughter, Kampbell Mack, a Pre-K 4 student, boldly and proudly exclaimed the TCS mantra, “If Excellence is a Possibility, then Good is Not Good Enough!”

The Kids at Tabernacle Christian School exemplify the ideals of this award, as made evident by the many sucessful graduates from the school.

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