Back to School

We cover education stories throughout the year in WORLD and on worldmag.com, but once a year we take a longer look—so the articles that follow include 12 stories about the bad, the good, and the just plain interesting.

First come four bad news stories (see "Troubling trends"). Our reporter at the National Education Association convention saw that the left still rules it. We look at the Golden State’s now-tarnished public schools and examine new science curricula that promote Darwinism and diminish local control. We update our reporting on the movement at some colleges to ban Christian groups.

Next come four good news stories (see "Fighting back"). We report on some brave California teachers who are fighting back. We note the continued growth of homeschooling and describe some teachers who do not check their Christian beliefs at the schoolhouse door. We describe the survival strategies of some science professors and students who have not embraced Darwinism.

Our third set of four tells of “success, but. …” Charter schools improve public education but put some Christian schools out of business (see "Split decisions"). Homeschooling grows around the world but so does prejudice against the practice. More college students gain classical educations, but for what kinds of jobs are they prepared? Finally, fast-growing Liberty University faces new questions.