Category: All Stories

Suicide Coverage: Prevention or Promotion?

All Storiesasnsadmin05/02/20120

Every 14.2 minutes someone in the United States dies by suicide.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website, men are four times more likely to die by suicide, even though women are more likely to attempt suicide. Marian Binder, the director of Counseling and Psych Services at The University of Arizona, said that this is because men are more likely to follow through with their attempts. Reported suicide rates are the highest between the ages of 40 and 59 years old, but that age demographic could be shifting to a younger age group.

The impact of bilingualism in education, upbringing and the community

All Storiesasnsadmin05/02/20120

When Maria Taracena moved 10 years ago from Guatemala City, Guatemala to Tucson she didn’t speak English.

“It took me awhile to become accustomed to the way of living,” Taracena said. “I’d say the biggest transition though was learning English.”

Now, after living completely immersed for 10 years in the United States, Taracena is fluent in English. She also still speaks Spanish daily at home with her family and her Spanish-speaking friends in the Tucson community.

Even though being bilingual has been shown by researchers to have certain benefits for cognitive development, there are currently only three bilingual schools to foster that development in Arizona—according to the Arizona Department of Education website.

Listen to bilingual speakers in the Tucson, Ariz. community talk about the impact of two languages on their lives and professions.

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Educators talk Quality Teaching

All StoriesRyan Kelly05/02/20120

In the trade of education, quality teaching has always been a hot button issue.

To recognize quality teachers in Arizona, the Arizona Education nominates a teacher of the year to represent excellent teachers and to give new teacher role models, said Bobby O’Boyle, the executive director of the Arizona Educational Foundation.

The Arizona Educational Foundation is a non-profit corporation which aims “to administer programs that develop and celebrate excellence in PreK-12^th grade public education in Arizona through community partnerships,” according to the AEF’s website.

Quality teachers don’t distinguish themselves by a single trait or teaching strategy, but by commitment, adaptability, and great care for students, distinguished teachers say.

Softball Struggles To Find Its Place Without The Olympics

All StoriesZach Clark04/30/20120

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While Arizona Softball freshman catcher Chelsea Goodacre seems calm and poised, she cannot hide the disappointment in her voice.

“It’s been my dream ever since I started playing softball. I always dreamed of playing for team USA, winning a gold medal,” Goodacre said. “I think that’s everyone’s dream when they first start playing.

Goodacre, the former USA Junior national team member, is one of thousands of players who had their ultimate dreams dashed when the International Olympic Committee decided to eliminate softball from the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The sport also failed to get back on the program for the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro.

With a History of Low Graduation Rates, Arizona Strives to Do Better

All StoriesTraci Huttsell04/30/20120

Despite a steady increase in graduation rates over the past five years, educators in Arizona strive to do better.

In 2009, 76 percent of high school seniors graduated in four years, opposed to 70 percent in 2006, according to the Arizona Department of Education’s website.

There has been an increase in graduation rates, but “that’s nowhere near where we want to be …,” said Ryan Ducharme, executive director of Office of Communications and Innovation at the Arizona Department of Education.

“The more students that graduate, the more opportunities there are available to them to succeed,” Ducharme said.

Ducharme said it is important to earn an education, especially in such a technology driven economy.

“They need to thrive … to be tech savvy, and develop critical thinking skills,” Ducharme said.

“Ultimately we want every child to graduate …,” Ducharme said. “We strive for 100 percent …”

Based on national data from 2008-2009, only nine states, and the District of Columbia, ranked worse than Arizona in terms of graduation rates in high school students.

Arizona had a graduation rate of 73 percent, while Wisconsin had the highest rate, 91 percent, and Nevada had the lowest, with 56 percent, according to the Department of Education’s website.