College admissions scandal ft readers respond

Is this a surprise? Many colleges had long ago let students decide whether to take Subject Tests, but the test results were still frequently used for freshman course placement, or to fulfill language requirements. For students, the Subject Test cancellation is immediate and sudden: Refunds are available for kids already registered for winter and spring tests. There were 20 subject tests in science, history, math, English, science, and languages. … [Read more...] about Who wins and loses with the College Board’s cancellation of the SAT essay and subject tests?

It’s not only a matter of mentorship, though. Accountability is also an important part of retention, specifically when it comes to holding people responsible when their actions or words contribute to a toxic work environment for minority team members. There have been troubling reports out of companies like Pinterest and Coinbase, where former employees have reported that managers and coworkers freely made racist remarks and mistreated them without repercussions, creating a toxic environment that pushes people away rather than bringing them in. These employees need to be held accountable every time that one of these instances comes up, without fail. If not, the result is a culture of exclusion and discomfort that will prevent team members from sharing ideas, feeling heard, and ultimately staying at the company. That culture of exclusion and toxicity then becomes part of your company’s reputation, making it more unlikely that diverse workers will even want to join your team … [Read more...] about Tech’s attempts to diversify are failing. Here’s what to do instead

Another stimulus check for up to $600 for every American adult earning up to $75,000 per year. An additional $600 stimulus check per child for eligible families. Supplemental federal unemployment benefits totaling $300 a week for 11 weeks. $284 billion for forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans for struggling small businesses. $15 billion for independent movie theaters and other cultural businesses. $12 billion for minority-owned and very small businesses. $20 billion to provide vaccines for free to those who can’t pay. $82 billion for schools and colleges. $25 billion for rental assistance, including an eviction moratorium extension until January 31. $10 billion for childcare assistance. $7 billion for improved broadband access during the pandemic. While Congress has finally agreed to the aid package, it still needs to be put to an official vote, which is expected to take place sometime today. If that vote passes, Americans could start to see aid from the package by the … [Read more...] about Second stimulus checks will be worth $600: What you need to know

The barrier threatening southern Arizona’s jaguars is the U.S.-Mexico border fence. This is a series of barriers built along about a third of our 2,000-mile southern border at a cost of about $2.3 billion. (I need to say, before I go further, that I’m not talking about the fence in terms of immigration policy or human rights or the economy or electoral politics. All of that is important, but it’s for someone else’s column. I’m only talking about it in terms of ecology.) Animals are not aware of the border as they cross from Mexico to the United States of America, and they are not able to hire a coyote, of any kind, to get them across. … [Read more...] about Border Walls Aren’t Just Political Objects—They’re Ecological Barriers, Too

On the mobile front, Feedbin has an official app for iOS along with a variety of third-party options for both iOS and Android. For Android users, the best all-around choice right now is FocusReader, which connects directly to Feedbin and is free to use with an optional $7-a-year Pro subscription for extra features and options. … [Read more...] about Don’t clutter your inbox with newsletters. Use these awesome apps instead