Notes in the Margins: Early classes, 14th grade and NCAA scholarship changes

Boomer Parent’s Lament I was struck by a failing of many fellow parents of recession-whacked Millennials. For all the efforts to raise hyper-achievers, we didn’t teach enough of a basic survival skill — to find joy in simple things not connected to a grade, a trophy or a job.  (The New York Times)

Early classes equal higher college grades, study confirms A study confirms that college students enrolled in early classes earn higher grades.  The researchers– a pair of psychology professors at New York’s St. Lawrence University– literally found a slight drop in student grade point averages for each hour a class starts later. (USA Today)

Making school free through 14th grade In intellectual terms, the freshman year of college is little more than grade 13. Starting around grade 10 and continuing through roughly the first two years of college, students make the transition from acquiring foundational skills to applying them in pursuit of broader knowledge in math, language, the humanities and the physical and social sciences. (The Washington Post)

NCAA approves major scholarship changes at meeting The scandal-plagued NCAA is moving swiftly to clean up its image. The Division I Board of Directors approved a package of sweeping reforms that gives conferences the option of adding more money to scholarship offers, schools the opportunity to award scholarships for multiple years, imposes tougher academic standards on recruits and changes the summer basketball recruiting model. (The Boston Globe)

Halloween weekend highlights student movement on alcohol policy Advocates across the country are attempting to make the decision easier for students to seek medical attention for drunk classmates by invoking medical amnesty policies. The policies, cropping up on campuses and even in entire states, diminish legal consequences when seeking help for someone experiencing an alcohol emergency. (USA Today)

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