The Taliban have reversed a decision to allow teenage girls back to secondary school despite repeated assurances they could resume classes from Wednesday.

Taliban reverses decision to allow girls to attend secondary schools in Afghanistan

In a major setback for girls' education in war-torn Afghanistan, the Taliban has gone back on its promise of allowing girls to attend schools. Now, U.S, allies call on the Taliban to reopen schools in Afghanistan.

U.S, allies call on Taliban to reopen girls' schools in war-torn Afghanistan

Taliban backtracks its own announcement of reopening schools for girls in Afghanistan. The groups says that the school will remain closed until the plan was laid out in accordance with Islamic laws

Taliban backtracks on announcement of reopening schools for girls in Afghanistan

A school in the US has apologised after a video surfaced in which a teacher was teaching 5-year-olds to raise anti-Biden slogans, reported Associated Press. The video was obtained by ABC News' Rob McMillan and posted on Facebook.

In this video, the teacher asks the students, "Who's our President?". The students say,"Biden!"

The teacher then proceeds to ask "What do we want to do with him?", to which the students respond "We want him OUT!"

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The incident reportedly took place at Turning Point Christian School in Norco, California. The video was first posted on the school's messaging app and was later taken down. But it ultimately found its way on the social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

The school has since apologised, and school officials said that the school was “sorry for any misunderstanding”

“Earlier today a video was posted that has since been deleted as it did not share our school and church philosophy of honoring and respecting authority including those in government positions,” the school statement said, as reported by The Associated Press.

The video has drawn anger online which some social media users even calling this "indoctrination".

"Teachers no matter which way they vote should NEVER push their political views onto any of their students. EVER," says a Facebook user.

"This type of activity has no place in a classroom. Given that this is a private school they are within their rights to have their own activities and it behooves parents to carefully check what goes on in their child's classroom. I speak as a retired elementary teacher," says another user

<img alt="Facebook comments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="defe7a87-c0aa-4000-81af-ae36602cfc7b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/school.png" />

 
It is yet unclear whether any sort of action has been initiated against the teacher who was encouraging students to raise the slogans.

A school in the US has apologised after a video surfaced in which a teacher was teaching 5-year-olds to raise anti-Biden slogans, reported Associated Press. The video was obtained by ABC News' Rob McMillan and posted on Facebook.

A school in the US has apologised after a video surfaced in which a teacher was teaching 5-year-olds to raise anti-Biden slogans, reported Associated Press. The video was obtained by ABC News' Rob McMillan and posted on Facebook. In this video, the teacher asks the students, "Who's our President?". The students say,"Biden!" The teacher then proceeds to ask "What do we want to do with him?", to which the students respond "We want him OUT!" × The incident reportedly took place at Turning Point Christian School in Norco, California. The video was first posted on the school's messaging app and was later taken down. But it ultimately found its way on the social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. The school has since apologised, and school officials said that the school was “sorry for any misunderstanding” “Earlier today a video was posted that has since been deleted as it did not share our school and church philosophy of honoring and respecting authority including those in government positions,” the school statement said, as reported by The Associated Press. The video has drawn anger online which some social media users even calling this "indoctrination". "Teachers no matter which way they vote should NEVER push their political views onto any of their students. EVER," says a Facebook user. "This type of activity has no place in a classroom. Given that this is a private school they are within their rights to have their own activities and it behooves parents to carefully check what goes on in their child's classroom. I speak as a retired elementary teacher," says another user It is yet unclear whether any sort of action has been initiated against the teacher who was encouraging students to raise the slogans.

School apologises after teacher tells 5-year-olds to raise anti-Biden slogans: Report

A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) arrived at the Michaelpatti village in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district to probe the suicide of a minor schoolgirl. In a video, the victim was seen mentioning about the attempts of her school staff to forcibly convert her to Christianity and having troubled, overburdened her with work. The investigation of this case, which was initially being carried out by the Tamil Nadu Police was handed over to the CBI, as per directions from the Madras High Court. The parents had approached the Court, expressing apprehensions over the credibility of the Police probe.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-court-sentences-indian-politician-lalu-prasad-to-five-years-in-prison-in-fodder-scam-case-455047">CBI court sentences Indian politician Lalu Prasad to five years in prison in fodder scam case</a>

The case pertains to a 17-year old girl from a poor background, who studied in a Christian Missionary School in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district. According to Police, the victim had consumed poisonous material on 9th January and had succumbed ten days later. In a video, the victim is seen saying, “In front of me also they asked my parents about converting me to Christianity, so that she would make me study. She would also keep scolding me and not let me stay there”. When asked who she was referring to, the victim is heard saying "Sister Rachel Mary”. When asked if she was tortured because she refused to convert to Christianity, the victim is heard saying “it could be possible”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/stepping-into-5th-year-in-politics-kamal-haasan-says-next-target-is-2024-parliamentary-polls-455043">Stepping into 5th year in Politics, Kamal Haasan says next target is 2024 Parliamentary Polls</a>

As per the Legal Rights Protection Forum’s(LRPF) complaint to India’s National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR), the victim’s school had been illegally converting children into Christianity and was imposing corporal punishments on those who resisted. It added that this was causing mental agony to students and driving them to extreme steps. “The victim was forced to convert into Christianity and when she refused the same, she was refused permission to return home from hostel. She was made to clean toilets and wash dishes” reads the complaint. It also adds that the child tried to end her life owing to the atrocities inflicted upon her(following which, she eventually succumbed).

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-prime-minister-modi-inaugurates-asias-biggest-gobar-dhan-plant-in-indore-454538">&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister Modi inaugurates Asia's biggest 'gobar-dhan' plant in Indore</a>

The bereaved family had initially approached the Court seeking a CB-CID probe into the case. This was after, Thanjavur SP, Ravali Priya,IPS, had blatantly denied any 'forced&nbsp;conversion&nbsp;angle' in the case, even before the investigation began to take shape. Later, even influential Ministers in Tamil Nadu had denied the Conversion angle. Following the Court order for a CBI probe, the Tamil Nadu Government had challenged the same in the Supreme Court. However, the apex court directed the CBI to continue its probe in the case.

A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) arrived at the Michaelpatti village in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district to probe the suicide of a minor schoolgirl.

A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) arrived at the Michaelpatti village in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district to probe the suicide of a minor schoolgirl. In a video, the victim was seen mentioning about the attempts of her school staff to forcibly convert her to Christianity and having troubled, overburdened her with work. The investigation of this case, which was initially being carried out by the Tamil Nadu Police was handed over to the CBI, as per directions from the Madras High Court. The parents had approached the Court, expressing apprehensions over the credibility of the Police probe. Also read | CBI court sentences Indian politician Lalu Prasad to five years in prison in fodder scam case The case pertains to a 17-year old girl from a poor background, who studied in a Christian Missionary School in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district. According to Police, the victim had consumed poisonous material on 9th January and had succumbed ten days later. In a video, the victim is seen saying, “In front of me also they asked my parents about converting me to Christianity, so that she would make me study. She would also keep scolding me and not let me stay there”. When asked who she was referring to, the victim is heard saying "Sister Rachel Mary”. When asked if she was tortured because she refused to convert to Christianity, the victim is heard saying “it could be possible”. Also read | Stepping into 5th year in Politics, Kamal Haasan says next target is 2024 Parliamentary Polls As per the Legal Rights Protection Forum’s(LRPF) complaint to India’s National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR), the victim’s school had been illegally converting children into Christianity and was imposing corporal punishments on those who resisted. It added that this was causing mental agony to students and driving them to extreme steps. “The victim was forced to convert into Christianity and when she refused the same, she was refused permission to return home from hostel. She was made to clean toilets and wash dishes” reads the complaint. It also adds that the child tried to end her life owing to the atrocities inflicted upon her(following which, she eventually succumbed). Also read | Indian Prime Minister Modi inaugurates Asia's biggest 'gobar-dhan' plant in Indore The bereaved family had initially approached the Court seeking a CB-CID probe into the case. This was after, Thanjavur SP, Ravali Priya,IPS, had blatantly denied any 'forced conversion angle' in the case, even before the investigation began to take shape. Later, even influential Ministers in Tamil Nadu had denied the Conversion angle. Following the Court order for a CBI probe, the Tamil Nadu Government had challenged the same in the Supreme Court. However, the apex court directed the CBI to continue its probe in the case.

Tamil Nadu: CBI visits school, begins probe in alleged forced Conversion, suicide of minor girl

Under the new guidance, UK schools are being asked to teach sensitive issues in a non-biased way. The aim is to help teachers cover complex topics, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.&nbsp;

As per Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, no subject should be off-limits.&nbsp;

A warning has also been given against teachers expressing their personal views.

The political impartiality in schools guidance, which has been published by the Department for Education has urged schools to think carefully while planning lessons and choosing class materials.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-ceo-parag-to-go-for-parental-leave-decision-appreciated-by-fellow-dads-454074">Also read |&nbsp;Twitter CEO Parag to go for parental leave, decision appreciated by fellow dads</a>

Schools have also been asked to try to resolve concerns raised by parents who feel that their children have been exposed to an 'uncontested political view.'

Ben Miskell, a citizenship and politics teacher, in a report by BBC said, "Teachers I come into contact with across the country in my role as an ambassador for the Association for Citizenship Teaching (Act) are all doing the same thing. It is rare for impartiality not to be seen, and where it is this is normally down to lack of training."

Promoting partisan political views in class is unlawful under the 1996 education act. This implies that if teachers present controversial political views in a lesson, they must also offer a balanced overview.

(With inputs from agencies)

Under the new guidance, UK schools are being asked to teach sensitive issues in a non-biased way. The aim is to help teachers cover complex topics, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Under the new guidance, UK schools are being asked to teach sensitive issues in a non-biased way. The aim is to help teachers cover complex topics, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As per Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, no subject should be off-limits. A warning has also been given against teachers expressing their personal views. The political impartiality in schools guidance, which has been published by the Department for Education has urged schools to think carefully while planning lessons and choosing class materials. Also read | Twitter CEO Parag to go for parental leave, decision appreciated by fellow dads Schools have also been asked to try to resolve concerns raised by parents who feel that their children have been exposed to an 'uncontested political view.' Ben Miskell, a citizenship and politics teacher, in a report by BBC said, "Teachers I come into contact with across the country in my role as an ambassador for the Association for Citizenship Teaching (Act) are all doing the same thing. It is rare for impartiality not to be seen, and where it is this is normally down to lack of training." Promoting partisan political views in class is unlawful under the 1996 education act. This implies that if teachers present controversial political views in a lesson, they must also offer a balanced overview. (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Schools asked to focus on sensitive issues and avoid biased teaching

A year since the discovery of the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children that exposed Canada’s history of “cultural genocide”, more than 90 “potential” graves are said to have been unearthed at a former residential school in the western province of British Columbia.

The Williams Lake First Nation— a community of around 800 Indigenous people—on Tuesday said that the preliminary results of the first phase of a geophysical search at St Joseph Mission Residential School unearthed 93 “reflections” with characteristics “indicative of potential human burials”.

Thousands of Indigenous children were said to have attended St. Joseph's Mission between 1886 and 1981 when it operated as a residential school run by various religious sects as part of a Canadian government system, according to WLFN.

“There is much more work to do on the St. Joseph's site, and we have every intention of continuing with this work,” WLFN Chief Willie Sellars said in a statement.

In early January, the Ottawa administration had announced $1.9 million Canadian dollars (US $1.5 million) in funding for the investigation at St. Joseph's mission.

“To date, $116.8 million has been committed to support First Nation, Inuit and Metis Survivors, their families and communities and go toward locating and commemorating missing children who attended residential schools,” the government said in a statement at the time.

Numerous investigations into former residential schools are underway across the country, with between 4,000 and 6,000 children believed to be missing, according to authorities.

In total, about 150,000 Indigenous children were enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 of the residential schools across Canada, spending months or years isolated from their families, language and culture.

The policy traumatised generations of Indigenous children, who were forced to abandon their native languages, speak English or French and convert to Christianity.

Christian churches were essential in the founding and operation of the schools. The Roman Catholic Church in particular was responsible for operating up to 70 per cent of residential schools, according to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

(With inputs from agencies)

A year since the discovery of the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children that exposed Canada’s history of “cultural genocide”, more than 90 “potential” graves are said to have been unearthed at a former residential school in the western province of British Columbia.

A year since the discovery of the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children that exposed Canada’s history of “cultural genocide”, more than 90 “potential” graves are said to have been unearthed at a former residential school in the western province of British Columbia. The Williams Lake First Nation— a community of around 800 Indigenous people—on Tuesday said that the preliminary results of the first phase of a geophysical search at St Joseph Mission Residential School unearthed 93 “reflections” with characteristics “indicative of potential human burials”. Thousands of Indigenous children were said to have attended St. Joseph's Mission between 1886 and 1981 when it operated as a residential school run by various religious sects as part of a Canadian government system, according to WLFN. “There is much more work to do on the St. Joseph's site, and we have every intention of continuing with this work,” WLFN Chief Willie Sellars said in a statement. In early January, the Ottawa administration had announced $1.9 million Canadian dollars (US $1.5 million) in funding for the investigation at St. Joseph's mission. “To date, $116.8 million has been committed to support First Nation, Inuit and Metis Survivors, their families and communities and go toward locating and commemorating missing children who attended residential schools,” the government said in a statement at the time. Numerous investigations into former residential schools are underway across the country, with between 4,000 and 6,000 children believed to be missing, according to authorities. In total, about 150,000 Indigenous children were enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 of the residential schools across Canada, spending months or years isolated from their families, language and culture. The policy traumatised generations of Indigenous children, who were forced to abandon their native languages, speak English or French and convert to Christianity. Christian churches were essential in the founding and operation of the schools. The Roman Catholic Church in particular was responsible for operating up to 70 per cent of residential schools, according to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. (With inputs from agencies)

More than 90 ‘potential’ graves of Indigenous kids unearthed at Canada school

Seven school districts in Virginia sued Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday, objecting to his executive order overruling their mask policies and making the wearing of masks optional in public schools.

The school districts include the Fairfax County Public Schools, the state’s largest with more than 178,000 students, as well as the school systems in Prince William County, Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Hampton and Richmond. Together, the districts serve more than 350,000 students.

The school districts said in a statement on Monday that the suit “defends the right of school boards to enact policy at the local level, including policies that protect the health and well-being of all students and staff.” The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for the County of Arlington.

The school officials questioned whether an executive order “can unilaterally override” the authority given to local boards by the state constitution. The suit also disputes whether the governor’s order can override legislative action taken in 2021 that allowed students to attend classes in person while local school boards follow recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Without today’s action, school boards are placed in a legally untenable position — faced with an executive order that is in conflict with the constitution and state law,” the lawsuit says.

A spokeswoman for the governor, Macaulay Porter, said in a statement that the governor’s office was “disappointed that these school boards are ignoring parent’s rights.” She said Youngkin and the state attorney general were committed to fighting the lawsuit.

Youngkin issued an executive order on Jan&nbsp;15, the day he took office, that said parents could decide for themselves whether to follow school mask mandates. The order aimed to end a mandate imposed by Youngkin’s predecessor, Ralph Northam.

Youngkin ordered that the parents of any child enrolled in a school or a school-based early child care and educational program “may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect” at the facility.

“Parents should have the ability to decide whether their child should wear masks for the duration of the school day,” it reads.

The schools’ lawsuit said, in part, that the plaintiff’s schools “have students and staff members who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, and for whom an infection with the virus could lead to serious illness or death” and that masks were among the mitigation measures the schools have taken for the 2021-22 school year.

Seven school districts in Virginia sued Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday, objecting to his executive order overruling their mask policies and making the wearing of masks optional in public schools.

Seven school districts in Virginia sued Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday, objecting to his executive order overruling their mask policies and making the wearing of masks optional in public schools. The school districts include the Fairfax County Public Schools, the state’s largest with more than 178,000 students, as well as the school systems in Prince William County, Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Hampton and Richmond. Together, the districts serve more than 350,000 students. The school districts said in a statement on Monday that the suit “defends the right of school boards to enact policy at the local level, including policies that protect the health and well-being of all students and staff.” The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for the County of Arlington. The school officials questioned whether an executive order “can unilaterally override” the authority given to local boards by the state constitution. The suit also disputes whether the governor’s order can override legislative action taken in 2021 that allowed students to attend classes in person while local school boards follow recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Without today’s action, school boards are placed in a legally untenable position — faced with an executive order that is in conflict with the constitution and state law,” the lawsuit says. A spokeswoman for the governor, Macaulay Porter, said in a statement that the governor’s office was “disappointed that these school boards are ignoring parent’s rights.” She said Youngkin and the state attorney general were committed to fighting the lawsuit. Youngkin issued an executive order on Jan 15, the day he took office, that said parents could decide for themselves whether to follow school mask mandates. The order aimed to end a mandate imposed by Youngkin’s predecessor, Ralph Northam. Youngkin ordered that the parents of any child enrolled in a school or a school-based early child care and educational program “may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect” at the facility. “Parents should have the ability to decide whether their child should wear masks for the duration of the school day,” it reads. The schools’ lawsuit said, in part, that the plaintiff’s schools “have students and staff members who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, and for whom an infection with the virus could lead to serious illness or death” and that masks were among the mitigation measures the schools have taken for the 2021-22 school year.

Seven school boards sue Virginia governor over mask policy

During the COVID-19 lockdown around the country, online classes for schools and universities became a necessity.&nbsp;

But according to recent research, online schooling remains "woefully insufficient" across the country, with 40-70 percent of children living without access to a gadget.&nbsp;

According to research published by Boston Consulting Group, over 80% of teachers said it was "impossible" to maintain an emotional connection in the online mode of education.

According to the study, India should adopt a mentality of "last to close, first to open," rather than the other way around, and focus on four critical areas.

According to the study, 90% of children have lost at least one language ability.A student who has missed a year of school will only be able to catch up in 9–14 years.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Online Education: Challenges and Opportunities

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Other drawbacks to online education: 490% increase reported in child rescue requests during school closures. Globally, 9 million extra children are in danger of child labour.

Nutrition/middle-of-the-day meals: During school closures, 35% of children did not receive midday meals, perhaps leading to an increase in the number of underweight children.Since the beginning of the pandemic, 39 billion in-school meals have been missed due to school closures around the world.

Social and emotional problems: Since May 2020, one-third of elementary children and half of secondary students have had poor mental and socio-emotional health.&nbsp;

For the past two years, India has seen pandemic-related school closures.

From March 2020 to the end of the year, schools were primarily closed, with minor periods of reopening in 2021.

While secondary schools were open for 40-50 percent of the time in 2021, elementary schools were mostly closed in 12 of India's 22 major states.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

During the COVID-19 lockdown around the country, online classes for schools and universities became a necessity. But according to recent research, online schooling remains "woefully insufficient" across the country, with 40-70 percent of children living without access to a gadget.

During the COVID-19 lockdown around the country, online classes for schools and universities became a necessity. But according to recent research, online schooling remains "woefully insufficient" across the country, with 40-70 percent of children living without access to a gadget. According to research published by Boston Consulting Group, over 80% of teachers said it was "impossible" to maintain an emotional connection in the online mode of education. According to the study, India should adopt a mentality of "last to close, first to open," rather than the other way around, and focus on four critical areas. According to the study, 90% of children have lost at least one language ability.A student who has missed a year of school will only be able to catch up in 9–14 years. Watch | Online Education: Challenges and Opportunities Other drawbacks to online education: 490% increase reported in child rescue requests during school closures. Globally, 9 million extra children are in danger of child labour. Nutrition/middle-of-the-day meals: During school closures, 35% of children did not receive midday meals, perhaps leading to an increase in the number of underweight children.Since the beginning of the pandemic, 39 billion in-school meals have been missed due to school closures around the world. Social and emotional problems: Since May 2020, one-third of elementary children and half of secondary students have had poor mental and socio-emotional health. For the past two years, India has seen pandemic-related school closures. From March 2020 to the end of the year, schools were primarily closed, with minor periods of reopening in 2021. While secondary schools were open for 40-50 percent of the time in 2021, elementary schools were mostly closed in 12 of India's 22 major states. (With inputs from agencies)

Online education 'woefully inadequate', teachers fail to make emotional connect: Study

With the omicron variant depleting school staffs as it sweeps across the country, some states are resorting to increasingly creative measures to find the substitute teachers needed to keep schools open, in one case even calling on the National Guard.

State workers can now serve as substitute teachers in some hard-hit districts, while other states are loosening rules to speed up the hiring of substitutes or draw retirees back into the classroom.

In New Mexico, where new cases have more than tripled over the past two weeks, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has asked the National Guard and state workers to fill in as substitute teachers.

“Our kids, our teachers and our parents deserve as much stability as we can provide during this time of uncertainty,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said in a statement Wednesday, “and the state stands ready to help keep kids in the classroom.”

Under New Mexico’s initiative, National Guard members and state workers must become licensed as substitute teachers or child care workers and fulfill the usual requirements for substitute teachers, such as background checks and a teaching workshop.

In recent weeks, about 60 school districts and charter schools in New Mexico have moved to remote learning, and 75 child care centers have partially or completely closed because of staffing shortages, state officials said.

Keeping schools open during the omicron wave has become a fiercely debated issue nationally, especially among parents. President Joe Biden was asked about school closings at a White House news conference on Wednesday, and he was quick to point out that most schools were open.

“Let’s put it in perspective: 95%, as high as 98%, of the schools in America are open, functioning and capable of doing the job,” Biden said, adding that he encouraged states and school districts to use funding to keep schools open.

According to Burbio, a data company that has tracked how schools are responding to the pandemic, for the past five schools days an average of 3,631 of the 98,000 public schools have been disrupted each day, a relatively low figure.

Whitney Holland, president of the American Federation of Teachers in New Mexico, said Wednesday that the teacher staffing shortage was a “nationwide crisis.”

“I think ‘dire’ is an appropriate word,” Holland said, adding that she supported Grisham’s initiative to keep schools open for students.

“As long as there’s a positive adult that they can build connections with — whether it’s a National Guard member or a state employee or a substitute — and we’re keeping our schools open, that’s our top priority,” she said.

In Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order on Tuesday which allows state agencies to let their workers serve as substitute teachers without affecting their regular job, pay or benefits.

“I’ve said from the beginning that our students deserve an in-person education and our schools need to stay open,” Stitt said. “The state has a responsibility to do what we can to help make that happen.”

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order last week that loosened rules for substitute teachers, citing the omicron surge. Set to run through March, the order speeds up hiring for qualified short-term substitutes, lets current substitutes have their assignments extended, and makes it easier for retired teachers to return.

Teachers are not the only school employees in short supply. Last year in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker activated the National Guard to help with a shortage in bus drivers. And in North Carolina, legislators gave districts federal funding to cover signing bonuses to help ease a shortage of cafeteria workers.

With the omicron variant depleting school staffs as it sweeps across the country, some states are resorting to increasingly creative measures to find the substitute teachers needed to keep schools open, in one case even calling on the National Guard.

With the omicron variant depleting school staffs as it sweeps across the country, some states are resorting to increasingly creative measures to find the substitute teachers needed to keep schools open, in one case even calling on the National Guard. State workers can now serve as substitute teachers in some hard-hit districts, while other states are loosening rules to speed up the hiring of substitutes or draw retirees back into the classroom. In New Mexico, where new cases have more than tripled over the past two weeks, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has asked the National Guard and state workers to fill in as substitute teachers. “Our kids, our teachers and our parents deserve as much stability as we can provide during this time of uncertainty,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said in a statement Wednesday, “and the state stands ready to help keep kids in the classroom.” Under New Mexico’s initiative, National Guard members and state workers must become licensed as substitute teachers or child care workers and fulfill the usual requirements for substitute teachers, such as background checks and a teaching workshop. In recent weeks, about 60 school districts and charter schools in New Mexico have moved to remote learning, and 75 child care centers have partially or completely closed because of staffing shortages, state officials said. Keeping schools open during the omicron wave has become a fiercely debated issue nationally, especially among parents. President Joe Biden was asked about school closings at a White House news conference on Wednesday, and he was quick to point out that most schools were open. “Let’s put it in perspective: 95%, as high as 98%, of the schools in America are open, functioning and capable of doing the job,” Biden said, adding that he encouraged states and school districts to use funding to keep schools open. According to Burbio, a data company that has tracked how schools are responding to the pandemic, for the past five schools days an average of 3,631 of the 98,000 public schools have been disrupted each day, a relatively low figure. Whitney Holland, president of the American Federation of Teachers in New Mexico, said Wednesday that the teacher staffing shortage was a “nationwide crisis.” “I think ‘dire’ is an appropriate word,” Holland said, adding that she supported Grisham’s initiative to keep schools open for students. “As long as there’s a positive adult that they can build connections with — whether it’s a National Guard member or a state employee or a substitute — and we’re keeping our schools open, that’s our top priority,” she said. In Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order on Tuesday which allows state agencies to let their workers serve as substitute teachers without affecting their regular job, pay or benefits. “I’ve said from the beginning that our students deserve an in-person education and our schools need to stay open,” Stitt said. “The state has a responsibility to do what we can to help make that happen.” In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order last week that loosened rules for substitute teachers, citing the omicron surge. Set to run through March, the order speeds up hiring for qualified short-term substitutes, lets current substitutes have their assignments extended, and makes it easier for retired teachers to return. Teachers are not the only school employees in short supply. Last year in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker activated the National Guard to help with a shortage in bus drivers. And in North Carolina, legislators gave districts federal funding to cover signing bonuses to help ease a shortage of cafeteria workers.

States taking desperate measures to avoid closing schools

One of the main concerns of the parents is to ensure that their children remain safe. It becomes especially tough for them to keep track of their kids whenever they go to school or play outside.

But a small tracker that can monitor their kids’ activities can make bring a major sigh of relief.

Over the past decade, the scale of technological innovation has grown leaps and bounds. So much so, that parents can now even keep track of their children’s location without having to be physically present.

From the era of smartphones and smartwatches, now comes the era of smart school bags equipped with many hi-tech features, including GPS technology.

What is a ‘smart bag’?

Named as ‘Smart Positioning Children Schoolbag’, the smart bag functions exactly like a smartphone, except without the functions of a dialler phone.

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It has an operating system, GPS tech, LCD panel, among other things.

Who made the smart bag?

Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei has designed the new smart school bag for kids that features many advanced features.

The school bag has app controls and comes with HarmonyOS Connect support.

This bag will prove useful in places where children are not allowed to carry smartphones and smartwatches, such as schools.

What kind of features does the smart bag have?

Apart from GPS tracking technology, the bag has a 1.54-inch display, which is IP67 dust and waterproof. Parents can schedule class, set theme clock, etc..

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With the help of the smart positioning function fitted on the bag, parents will be able to keep an eye on the real time location of their children. It runs on BeiDou Navigation Satellite System—a Chinese satellite navigation system and GPS with 5CEP accuracy.

How can parents track their kids using the smart bag?

The bag comes with the “Smart Life” app which is connected to a phone. Once connected to the app, parents can set up to three-guard areas which will include home, school and other places.

As soon as the child reaches/leaves the set location with this bag, the parents would get an alert notification on their phone. They would get a real-time update of their children every 2 minutes.

How much does the bag weigh?

Surprisingly, it is lightweight compared to traditional school bags.

The structural design of the horizontal schoolbag is about 6-7 cm shorter than the height of the general schoolbag.

The strap design is made in such a way as to ensure that the bottom of the schoolbag is not dragged below the waist to avoid damage to the waist due to force. Thus, it is more suitable for children under 135cm.

There is also a U-shaped shoulder strap fitted on the schoolbag to provide comfort to the child’s shoulder and neck.

When will the smart bag be available?

At present, the bag is undergoing some tests before it can be launched commercially worldwide, as Huawei is currently recruiting public testers to check the functionalities of the bag.

(With inputs from agencies)

One of the main concerns of the parents is to ensure that their children remain safe. It becomes especially tough for them to keep track of their kids whenever they go to school or play outside.

One of the main concerns of the parents is to ensure that their children remain safe. It becomes especially tough for them to keep track of their kids whenever they go to school or play outside. But a small tracker that can monitor their kids’ activities can make bring a major sigh of relief. Over the past decade, the scale of technological innovation has grown leaps and bounds. So much so, that parents can now even keep track of their children’s location without having to be physically present. From the era of smartphones and smartwatches, now comes the era of smart school bags equipped with many hi-tech features, including GPS technology. What is a ‘smart bag’? Named as ‘Smart Positioning Children Schoolbag’, the smart bag functions exactly like a smartphone, except without the functions of a dialler phone. It has an operating system, GPS tech, LCD panel, among other things. Who made the smart bag? Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei has designed the new smart school bag for kids that features many advanced features. The school bag has app controls and comes with HarmonyOS Connect support. This bag will prove useful in places where children are not allowed to carry smartphones and smartwatches, such as schools. What kind of features does the smart bag have? Apart from GPS tracking technology, the bag has a 1.54-inch display, which is IP67 dust and waterproof. Parents can schedule class, set theme clock, etc.. With the help of the smart positioning function fitted on the bag, parents will be able to keep an eye on the real time location of their children. It runs on BeiDou Navigation Satellite System—a Chinese satellite navigation system and GPS with 5CEP accuracy. How can parents track their kids using the smart bag? The bag comes with the “Smart Life” app which is connected to a phone. Once connected to the app, parents can set up to three-guard areas which will include home, school and other places. As soon as the child reaches/leaves the set location with this bag, the parents would get an alert notification on their phone. They would get a real-time update of their children every 2 minutes. How much does the bag weigh? Surprisingly, it is lightweight compared to traditional school bags. The structural design of the horizontal schoolbag is about 6-7 cm shorter than the height of the general schoolbag. The strap design is made in such a way as to ensure that the bottom of the schoolbag is not dragged below the waist to avoid damage to the waist due to force. Thus, it is more suitable for children under 135cm. There is also a U-shaped shoulder strap fitted on the schoolbag to provide comfort to the child’s shoulder and neck. When will the smart bag be available? At present, the bag is undergoing some tests before it can be launched commercially worldwide, as Huawei is currently recruiting public testers to check the functionalities of the bag. (With inputs from agencies)

Now, parents can track children’s location with this smart school bag

Taliban rulers have said that they are hoping to open all schools for girls across the country after the Afghan New Year, which starts on March 21, reports the Associated Press. Zabihullah Mujahid, who is also the Taliban's deputy minister of culture and information has said that the nation's education departments are looking to open classrooms for all girls and women.&nbsp;

In an interview, he said that education for girls and women “is a question of capacity."&nbsp;

He further mentioned that girls and boys should be completely segregated in schools.&nbsp;

Speaking about the problems that the Taliban regime has been facing, he said that finding or building enough dorms, hostels, where girls could stay while going to school is one major issue.&nbsp;

"We are not against education,” Mujahid stressed.

This comes after a group of women protesters demanding rights to work and education in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul were attacked with pepper spray gas by the Taliban forces.

As many as 20 women gathered in front of Kabul University, chanting “equality and justice” and carried banners that read “Women's rights, human rights”, news agency AFP reported.

Despite giving assurances, the Taliban has curbed liberty and equality in access to education and work to women.

Since taking over Afghanistan in mid-August last year, the Taliban have blocked women public sector employees, from returning to work, prevented girls to attend secondary schools, and have shut public universities.

(With inputs from agencies)

Taliban rulers have said that they are hoping to open all schools for girls across the country after the Afghan New Year, which starts on March 21, reports the Associated Press.

Taliban rulers have said that they are hoping to open all schools for girls across the country after the Afghan New Year, which starts on March 21, reports the Associated Press. Zabihullah Mujahid, who is also the Taliban's deputy minister of culture and information has said that the nation's education departments are looking to open classrooms for all girls and women. In an interview, he said that education for girls and women “is a question of capacity." He further mentioned that girls and boys should be completely segregated in schools. Speaking about the problems that the Taliban regime has been facing, he said that finding or building enough dorms, hostels, where girls could stay while going to school is one major issue. "We are not against education,” Mujahid stressed. This comes after a group of women protesters demanding rights to work and education in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul were attacked with pepper spray gas by the Taliban forces. As many as 20 women gathered in front of Kabul University, chanting “equality and justice” and carried banners that read “Women's rights, human rights”, news agency AFP reported. Despite giving assurances, the Taliban has curbed liberty and equality in access to education and work to women. Since taking over Afghanistan in mid-August last year, the Taliban have blocked women public sector employees, from returning to work, prevented girls to attend secondary schools, and have shut public universities. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban to allow Afghan girls to attend school after the Afghan New Year

A school&nbsp;in the US&nbsp;seems to have told its teachers to not inform the parents of children, who come out as transgender and non-binary, about it, said a report.&nbsp;

Walsh Middle School, which is a part of Round Rock Independent School District, gave an instruction to its teachers about how to deal with such students. &nbsp;

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The school, which is located in a suburb of Austin, in the state of Texas, told them not to "contact their parents and out them to their families." &nbsp;

The school district has said that this training material for the teachers of this institution was not approved by it and cannot be used in the area, reported The Daily Caller. &nbsp;

The district was also "reviewing this incident and ensuring protocols are in place that such presentations are reviewed and approved in advance." &nbsp;

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In the material, the teachers have also been guided on how to interact with transgender and non-binary students. It also included about how to correct oneself after misgendering someone. &nbsp;

Not just this, it also told them to correct students, who misgendered a transgender or non-binary individual. They were also asked to avoid using gendered language in general. &nbsp;

After learning about the incident, several parents have sued school officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A school in the US seems to have told its teachers to not inform the parents of children, who come out as transgender and non-binary, about it, said a report. Walsh Middle School, which is a part of Round Rock Independent School District, gave an instruction to its teachers about how to deal with such students.

A school in the US seems to have told its teachers to not inform the parents of children, who come out as transgender and non-binary, about it, said a report. Walsh Middle School, which is a part of Round Rock Independent School District, gave an instruction to its teachers about how to deal with such students. Also Read: Time for security? FedEx looks to get missile-defence system for cargo planes The school, which is located in a suburb of Austin, in the state of Texas, told them not to "contact their parents and out them to their families." The school district has said that this training material for the teachers of this institution was not approved by it and cannot be used in the area, reported The Daily Caller. The district was also "reviewing this incident and ensuring protocols are in place that such presentations are reviewed and approved in advance." Also Read: Robert F Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan denied parole by California governor In the material, the teachers have also been guided on how to interact with transgender and non-binary students. It also included about how to correct oneself after misgendering someone. Not just this, it also told them to correct students, who misgendered a transgender or non-binary individual. They were also asked to avoid using gendered language in general. After learning about the incident, several parents have sued school officials. (With inputs from agencies)

US school tells teachers to hide student's transgender or non-binary identity from parents, says report   

A school in the United States seems to have gone overboard with regards to parenting in suggesting shapewear for middle school girls with an aim to address body image issues.&nbsp;

In a letter to the parents, the middle school in the US state of Mississippi made the suggestion.&nbsp;The letter was titled, "Why Do Girls Suffer from Body Image?"

The attempt&nbsp;seems to have not gone down well with parents as several of them are outraged. &nbsp;

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The criticism has also forced the school to backtrack. &nbsp;

Discussing body images issues among females, the letter asked parents to consent to their daughters getting 'healthy literature' and shapewear clothing items from school. &nbsp;

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"We, the counselors of Southaven Middle School, would like to have an opportunity to offer some healthy literature to your daughter on maintaining a positive body image," the letter said. &nbsp;

Ashley Heun, who belongs to Southaven, Mississippi, was enraged when her 13-year-old daughter, Caroline, got the letter from the school on Tuesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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"I had to reread it a few times. My first instinct was to go up to the school and yell at every person I could find," Heun told CNN. &nbsp;

In a written statement, Lauren Margeson, DeSoto County School's executive administrative assistant to the superintendent, said, "The district has been made aware of the parental permission form sent to parents by Southaven Middle School. District officials understand how this type of information causes serious concern from parents." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A school in the United States seems to have gone overboard with regards to parenting in suggesting shapewear for middle school girls with an aim to address body image issues.

A school in the United States seems to have gone overboard with regards to parenting in suggesting shapewear for middle school girls with an aim to address body image issues. In a letter to the parents, the middle school in the US state of Mississippi made the suggestion. The letter was titled, "Why Do Girls Suffer from Body Image?" The attempt seems to have not gone down well with parents as several of them are outraged. Also Read | US Capitol riot: Who are oath keepers? Founder of far-right group charged with seditious conspiracy The criticism has also forced the school to backtrack. Discussing body images issues among females, the letter asked parents to consent to their daughters getting 'healthy literature' and shapewear clothing items from school. × "We, the counselors of Southaven Middle School, would like to have an opportunity to offer some healthy literature to your daughter on maintaining a positive body image," the letter said. Ashley Heun, who belongs to Southaven, Mississippi, was enraged when her 13-year-old daughter, Caroline, got the letter from the school on Tuesday. Also Read | 'Disappointed': US Supreme Court blocks Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses "I had to reread it a few times. My first instinct was to go up to the school and yell at every person I could find," Heun told CNN. In a written statement, Lauren Margeson, DeSoto County School's executive administrative assistant to the superintendent, said, "The district has been made aware of the parental permission form sent to parents by Southaven Middle School. District officials understand how this type of information causes serious concern from parents." (With inputs from agencies)

US school suggests shapewear for middle school girls, faces backlash

In response to rising Covid cases in Nepal, the COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC), the government body on Sunday proposed a ban on gatherings of more than 25 people in public spaces.

In response to rising Covid cases in Nepal, the COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC), the government body on Sunday proposed a ban on gatherings of more than 25 people in public spaces. They also announced the closing down of schools till January 29. A meeting of CCMC summoned in wake of rising COVID infection in the nation proposed suggestions which would need to undergo cabinet approval to be implemented. With schools closing down, the body has requested the Ministry of Health and Population to supply vaccines for students in the age group of 12-17. The body has also decided to make vaccination cards compulsory to enter public places such as government offices, hotels, cinema halls, stadiums and domestic flights, effective from January 17. As neighbouring country, India is witnessing a spike in Covid cases, authorities have said that necessary arrangements will be made to make the process of testing effective at border points. Also read | Despite low carbon emission, Nepal bears brunt of climate change, says PM Deuba Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has been recommended to reduce the congestion in flights at both domestic and international airports. The body has made it mandatory for the passengers to carry negative RT-PCR reports. Quarantine has been made mandatory for passengers arriving from and transiting South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi and Hong Kong. Earlier, CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal along with nearly a dozen senior leaders have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus which has forced major political figures including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to isolate. For the first time in four months, Nepal recorded over 1,000 daily new Covid cases on Sunday, as many as 24 new Omicron cases have been confirmed in the country so far.

Nepal schools to shut down for three weeks amid a surge in Covid cases

In what can be called going way too far in following a directive, a primary school in Hong Kong showed young children an unsettling video of the Nanjing massacre. &nbsp;

This comes as the Education Bureau had asked local schools to hold activities to commemorate the massacre last month. &nbsp;

After facing backlash over the development, the school has apologised. On watching the video, the students, who were as young as six, were left in tears. &nbsp;

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These developments come as the country is look to mark Nanjing massacre’s 84th anniversary on Monday. &nbsp;

In the footage shown by the Po Leung Kuk Hong Kong Taoist Association Yuen Yuen primary school, executions were being held during the Nanjing massacre. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The five-minute clip was shown during a class on moral and civic education, as per local media reports. &nbsp;

The clip was taken from an RTHK documentary on the massacre. It showed how Japanese soldiers executed civilians. Piles of corpses, including babies, were also seen. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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This clip was also included in the suggested teaching materials for marking the massacre by Education Bureau. &nbsp;

Over the incident, the school “expressed regret” after getting complaints from parents. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“We have learned that some children felt disturbed. Our school from now on will be much more cautious, carefully consider children’s feelings, and adjust the teaching materials according to each grade,” the school said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In what can be called going way too far in following a directive, a primary school in Hong Kong showed young children an unsettling video of the Nanjing massacre.

In what can be called going way too far in following a directive, a primary school in Hong Kong showed young children an unsettling video of the Nanjing massacre. This comes as the Education Bureau had asked local schools to hold activities to commemorate the massacre last month. After facing backlash over the development, the school has apologised. On watching the video, the students, who were as young as six, were left in tears. Also Read: China's e-commerce firm Alibaba fires woman who accused two men of sexual assault These developments come as the country is look to mark Nanjing massacre’s 84th anniversary on Monday. In the footage shown by the Po Leung Kuk Hong Kong Taoist Association Yuen Yuen primary school, executions were being held during the Nanjing massacre. The five-minute clip was shown during a class on moral and civic education, as per local media reports. The clip was taken from an RTHK documentary on the massacre. It showed how Japanese soldiers executed civilians. Piles of corpses, including babies, were also seen. Also Read: Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 13 months in prison This clip was also included in the suggested teaching materials for marking the massacre by Education Bureau. Over the incident, the school “expressed regret” after getting complaints from parents. “We have learned that some children felt disturbed. Our school from now on will be much more cautious, carefully consider children’s feelings, and adjust the teaching materials according to each grade,” the school said. (With inputs from agencies)

Outrage as school shows Nanjing massacre’s unsettling video to young kids in Hong Kong

On Saturday, the Michigan school district of Oxford High School, Oxford Community Schools, announced in a letter to parents and staff members that it would seek an outside party to investigate Tuesday's shootings that left four students dead and many wounded. The shooting suspect, Ethan Crumbley, 15, has been charged with murder and terrorism, and his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter. Each of them has pleaded not guilty.

In addition to releasing information about an investigation, Tim Throne, the district superintendent, revealed details in his letter about what happened before the shootings, including two meetings school officials had with Ethan Crumbley, the first time that the district had given its version of events.

Here are five questions the school addressed in the letter.

Q: What will the investigation look at?

A: Throne said the outside party would examine any communication the school has received as well as “any and all interaction” Ethan Crumbley had with staff and students. Throne also said the district plans to ask an independent security consultant to review the district’s safety practices and procedures.

Q: What was the first meeting about?

A: On Nov. 29, Throne wrote, a teacher saw Crumbley viewing images of bullets on his cellphone during class. A counselor and a staff member met with him, and he indicated that shooting sports were a family hobby, the letter said. The school tried to contact Jennifer Crumbley but did not hear back right away. The next day, Crumbley’s parents confirmed his account, the letter said.

Q: What occurred during the second meeting?

A: On Tuesday morning, the day of the shootings, a teacher observed drawings by Crumbley that raised concerns. Karen D. McDonald, the prosecutor in Oakland County, Michigan, has said that the drawing featured images of a gun, a person who had been shot, a laughing emoji and the words, “Blood everywhere,” and, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.”

The teacher, Throne said, notified school counselors and the dean of students. Crumbley was immediately removed from the classroom and taken to the guidance counselor’s office, where he claimed the drawing was part of a video game he was designing, Throne said.

According to the letter, the school had difficulty reaching Crumbley’s parents, and he remained in the office for an hour and a half before they arrived. During that time, school officials observed Crumbley and spoke with him.

After his parents arrived, school officials asked “specific probing questions” regarding Crumbley’s potential to harm others or himself, Throne said. Crumbley’s answers, which were confirmed by his parents, led counselors to conclude that he did not intend to hurt anyone, the superintendent said.

“At no time did counselors believe the student might harm others based on his behavior, responses and demeanor, which appeared calm,” wrote Throne, referring to both meetings.

Counseling was recommended for Crumbley, and his parents were told they had 48 hours to seek counseling for their child or the school would contact Children’s Protective Services, Throne wrote.

“When the parents were asked to take their son home for the day,” he wrote, “they flatly refused and left without their son, apparently to return to work.”

Because their son had no previous disciplinary infractions, “the decision was made he would be returned to the classroom rather than sent home to an empty house.”

Q: Was the principal consulted?

A: According to the letter, the decisions related to both meetings remained at the guidance counselor level and were never elevated to the principal’s or assistant principal’s offices. The counselors made judgments based on their training and clinical experience, Throne said, “and did not have all the facts we now know.”

Q: Did Ethan Crumbley have a gun in his backpack during the second meeting?

Throne said that whether Crumbley had a firearm in his backpack during the meeting “has not been confirmed by law enforcement at this time nor by our investigation at this time.” But Throne wrote that, “The student’s parents never advised the school district that he had direct access to a firearm or that they had recently purchased a firearm for him.”

On Saturday, the Michigan school district of Oxford High School, Oxford Community Schools, announced in a letter to parents and staff members that it would seek an outside party to investigate Tuesday's shootings that left four students dead and many wounded.

On Saturday, the Michigan school district of Oxford High School, Oxford Community Schools, announced in a letter to parents and staff members that it would seek an outside party to investigate Tuesday's shootings that left four students dead and many wounded. The shooting suspect, Ethan Crumbley, 15, has been charged with murder and terrorism, and his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter. Each of them has pleaded not guilty. In addition to releasing information about an investigation, Tim Throne, the district superintendent, revealed details in his letter about what happened before the shootings, including two meetings school officials had with Ethan Crumbley, the first time that the district had given its version of events. Here are five questions the school addressed in the letter. Q: What will the investigation look at? A: Throne said the outside party would examine any communication the school has received as well as “any and all interaction” Ethan Crumbley had with staff and students. Throne also said the district plans to ask an independent security consultant to review the district’s safety practices and procedures. Q: What was the first meeting about? A: On Nov. 29, Throne wrote, a teacher saw Crumbley viewing images of bullets on his cellphone during class. A counselor and a staff member met with him, and he indicated that shooting sports were a family hobby, the letter said. The school tried to contact Jennifer Crumbley but did not hear back right away. The next day, Crumbley’s parents confirmed his account, the letter said. Q: What occurred during the second meeting? A: On Tuesday morning, the day of the shootings, a teacher observed drawings by Crumbley that raised concerns. Karen D. McDonald, the prosecutor in Oakland County, Michigan, has said that the drawing featured images of a gun, a person who had been shot, a laughing emoji and the words, “Blood everywhere,” and, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.” The teacher, Throne said, notified school counselors and the dean of students. Crumbley was immediately removed from the classroom and taken to the guidance counselor’s office, where he claimed the drawing was part of a video game he was designing, Throne said. According to the letter, the school had difficulty reaching Crumbley’s parents, and he remained in the office for an hour and a half before they arrived. During that time, school officials observed Crumbley and spoke with him. After his parents arrived, school officials asked “specific probing questions” regarding Crumbley’s potential to harm others or himself, Throne said. Crumbley’s answers, which were confirmed by his parents, led counselors to conclude that he did not intend to hurt anyone, the superintendent said. “At no time did counselors believe the student might harm others based on his behavior, responses and demeanor, which appeared calm,” wrote Throne, referring to both meetings. Counseling was recommended for Crumbley, and his parents were told they had 48 hours to seek counseling for their child or the school would contact Children’s Protective Services, Throne wrote. “When the parents were asked to take their son home for the day,” he wrote, “they flatly refused and left without their son, apparently to return to work.” Because their son had no previous disciplinary infractions, “the decision was made he would be returned to the classroom rather than sent home to an empty house.” Q: Was the principal consulted? A: According to the letter, the decisions related to both meetings remained at the guidance counselor level and were never elevated to the principal’s or assistant principal’s offices. The counselors made judgments based on their training and clinical experience, Throne said, “and did not have all the facts we now know.” Q: Did Ethan Crumbley have a gun in his backpack during the second meeting? Throne said that whether Crumbley had a firearm in his backpack during the meeting “has not been confirmed by law enforcement at this time nor by our investigation at this time.” But Throne wrote that, “The student’s parents never advised the school district that he had direct access to a firearm or that they had recently purchased a firearm for him.”

5 questions about the Michigan shooting addressed by school Officials

In a bizarre move, a US county school admin seems to have charged an exorbitant fee of $36,000 from a woman to provide information on sexual assault and rape. &nbsp;

Now, the parent, Michelle Mege, has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Loudon County Public School District. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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In the district, the mother wanted to search for any kind of communication, such as press releases, statements or emails, that used the words "sexual assault" or "rape" from May 1 to October 18 this year. &nbsp;

According to an official of the school, the exorbitant fee needed to review documents derived from the hourly rate of around $72.15. &nbsp;

In an email reviewed by the ‘Daily Caller', Loudoun County Public Schools public information officer Wayde Byard, said, "Retrieving these documents would take a half hour’s work by the supervisor of information technology at a cost of $36.08. Review of these documents – at the rate of 200 per hour – is estimated to take 500 hours." &nbsp;

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"This work would be performed by the public information officer at the rate of $72.15 per hour. Loudoun County Public Schools estimates it would cost $36,111.68 to fulfill this request," he explained. &nbsp;

There may be a little over 100,000 documents, which could possibly relate to the request, claimed Byard. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a bizarre move, a US county school admin seems to have charged an exorbitant fee of $36,000 from a woman to provide information on sexual assault and rape. Now, the parent, Michelle Mege, has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Loudon County Public School District.

In a bizarre move, a US county school admin seems to have charged an exorbitant fee of $36,000 from a woman to provide information on sexual assault and rape. Now, the parent, Michelle Mege, has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Loudon County Public School District. Also Read | Changing with times: US creditors can now DM loan defaulters In the district, the mother wanted to search for any kind of communication, such as press releases, statements or emails, that used the words "sexual assault" or "rape" from May 1 to October 18 this year. According to an official of the school, the exorbitant fee needed to review documents derived from the hourly rate of around $72.15. In an email reviewed by the ‘Daily Caller', Loudoun County Public Schools public information officer Wayde Byard, said, "Retrieving these documents would take a half hour’s work by the supervisor of information technology at a cost of $36.08. Review of these documents – at the rate of 200 per hour – is estimated to take 500 hours." Also Read: Michigan shooting suspect’s parents charged with involuntary manslaughter "This work would be performed by the public information officer at the rate of $72.15 per hour. Loudoun County Public Schools estimates it would cost $36,111.68 to fulfill this request," he explained. There may be a little over 100,000 documents, which could possibly relate to the request, claimed Byard. (With inputs from agencies)

US county school admin charges $36,000 from woman to give info on ‘sexual assault,’ ‘rape’

The 15-year-old student who opened fire at Oxford High School, in Michigan, on Tuesday will face charges of terrorism, first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm. The suspect, Ethan Crumbley, will be tried as an adult.&nbsp;

Currently detained in Oakland County Children’s Village, Crumbley will be facing one count of terrorism which caused death, four counts of first-degree murder for the four students who died due to gunshot wounds, seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm.&nbsp;

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Yesterday's tragedy in Oxford left our communities dealing with indescribable pain. Support is available for anyone who needs it. 
 
Please know you are not alone.<a href="https://t.co/6t8qvzuW5B">https://t.co/6t8qvzuW5B</a>
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Police are yet to identify a motive for the attack.

Crumbley had recorded a video on his phone stating that he was planning to launch an attack at the school. The local sheriff described the 15-year-old as "absolutely cold-hearted" who went to school with "the intent to kill people."

"It's clear that he came out with the intent to kill people. He was shooting people at close range, oftentimes towards the head or chest," said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

In what is being termed as the deadliest US school shooting so far this year, Crumbley opened fire at his high school in Michigan, killing four people and injuring several others.&nbsp;

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For Hana, Tate, Madisyn, Justin, and their families. For the entire Oxford community. 
 
Michigan stands together. <a href="https://t.co/gbsRdK58qO">pic.twitter.com/gbsRdK58qO</a>
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovWhitmer/status/1466097638865096710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in a press briefing, said, "I think this is every parent's worst nightmare."&nbsp;

President Joe Biden was informed about the deadly shooting on his visit to Minnesota. He said, "My heart goes out to the families enduring the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one. That whole community has to be just in a state of shock right now."

(With inputs from agencies)

The 15-year-old student who opened fire at Oxford High School, in Michigan, on Tuesday will face charges of terrorism, first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm.

The 15-year-old student who opened fire at Oxford High School, in Michigan, on Tuesday will face charges of terrorism, first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm. The suspect, Ethan Crumbley, will be tried as an adult. Currently detained in Oakland County Children’s Village, Crumbley will be facing one count of terrorism which caused death, four counts of first-degree murder for the four students who died due to gunshot wounds, seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm. Yesterday's tragedy in Oxford left our communities dealing with indescribable pain. Support is available for anyone who needs it. Please know you are not alone.https://t.co/6t8qvzuW5B — Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) December 1, 2021 × Police are yet to identify a motive for the attack. Crumbley had recorded a video on his phone stating that he was planning to launch an attack at the school. The local sheriff described the 15-year-old as "absolutely cold-hearted" who went to school with "the intent to kill people." "It's clear that he came out with the intent to kill people. He was shooting people at close range, oftentimes towards the head or chest," said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. In what is being termed as the deadliest US school shooting so far this year, Crumbley opened fire at his high school in Michigan, killing four people and injuring several others. For Hana, Tate, Madisyn, Justin, and their families. For the entire Oxford community. Michigan stands together. pic.twitter.com/gbsRdK58qO — Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) December 1, 2021 × Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in a press briefing, said, "I think this is every parent's worst nightmare." President Joe Biden was informed about the deadly shooting on his visit to Minnesota. He said, "My heart goes out to the families enduring the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one. That whole community has to be just in a state of shock right now." (With inputs from agencies)

Michigan school shooting: 15-year-old student, Ethan Crumbley, charged as an adult

A viral video doing rounds on social media has captured a shocking incident in which a white student can be seen hitting a Black teacher. The incident took place in a school named Castleberry High School in Texas, USA.

In the video, the student can be seen walking towards the teacher who appears to be making a call. The female student comes and takes the receiver from teacher's hands and hits her on her left arm.

The two of them appear to be in altercation in which the teacher keeps her calm while the student can be heard hurling abuses like 'b****'

The student then can be heard talking to her mom and asks her to speak with the teacher 'because she is black'.&nbsp;

Castleberry Independent School District officials have put out a statement and praised the teacher who kept her calm even in the face of literal assault. The statement said that teacher's handling of the incident was exemplary 'throughout the entirety of the incident even when the situation turned violent and offensive.'

“Harassment, racism and violence against our teachers will not be tolerated at Castleberry ISD, and we will take swift and effective action to protect our teachers so that they can perform their duties and educate students in a safe environment," the statement said.

As per media reports the school will hold an internal investigation into the matter and as physical assault was involved, the matter will be reported to law enforcement authorities as well.

A viral video doing rounds on social media has captured a shocking incident in which a white student can be seen hitting a Black teacher. The incident took place in a school named Castleberry High School in Texas, USA.

A viral video doing rounds on social media has captured a shocking incident in which a white student can be seen hitting a Black teacher. The incident took place in a school named Castleberry High School in Texas, USA. In the video, the student can be seen walking towards the teacher who appears to be making a call. The female student comes and takes the receiver from teacher's hands and hits her on her left arm. The two of them appear to be in altercation in which the teacher keeps her calm while the student can be heard hurling abuses like 'b****' The student then can be heard talking to her mom and asks her to speak with the teacher 'because she is black'. Castleberry Independent School District officials have put out a statement and praised the teacher who kept her calm even in the face of literal assault. The statement said that teacher's handling of the incident was exemplary 'throughout the entirety of the incident even when the situation turned violent and offensive.' “Harassment, racism and violence against our teachers will not be tolerated at Castleberry ISD, and we will take swift and effective action to protect our teachers so that they can perform their duties and educate students in a safe environment," the statement said. As per media reports the school will hold an internal investigation into the matter and as physical assault was involved, the matter will be reported to law enforcement authorities as well.

Investigation on after white student hits black teacher in Texas school

A soldier from the Montana National Guard has become the first woman ever to graduate from the US Army's elite sniper school since its establishment in 1987.

The infantry soldier, who has not been identified by the army, completed a “gruelling” seven-week course on November 5 from the United States Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

“We are extremely proud of this soldier's achievement and recognize that this is a milestone for not only Montana, but the entire National Guard and Army,” said Maj. Gen. J. Peter Hronek, the adjutant general for Montana, in a statement.

The sniper course tests participants in marksmanship and mission planning and has a “high attrition rate”, according to Finnegan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-army-changes-uniform-rules-for-women-to-allow-ponytails-and-nail-polish-359810">US Army changes uniform rules for women to allow ponytails and nail polish</a>

“She arrived prepared for training and physically conditioned to succeed. We are proud of the results of her efforts and the quality training provided by the Sniper Course Cadre,” CNN quoted Capt. David Wright, a battalion commander at the sniper school, as saying.

The soldier will now join her unit in Montana.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/womens-day-biden-creates-gender-policy-council-names-two-women-generals-to-lead-military-commands-369094">Women’s Day: Biden creates gender policy council, names two women generals to lead military commands</a>

“Her next step is to join her unit here in Montana and take the skills and knowledge and abilities that she gained there, inspect the course and put them to full use in the training and operations that we have here,” Finnegan said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-kuwaiti-women-can-now-serve-military-in-combat-roles-420270">In a first, Kuwaiti women can now serve military in combat roles</a>

According to the course’s description, the army’s sniper course, meant to form “the most feared weapon on the battlefield” out of a soldier, tests students on “field craft, marksmanship, mission planning, advanced situational awareness, urban operations, complex engagements and building collective lethality to create an unfair fight in favour of the sniper team,” according to&nbsp;the course’s description.

In 2015, the US military opened all combat jobs to women. Since then, several female soldiers have made history by becoming the first to graduate from the Army’s intense Ranger School, or complete the Army’s elite Special Forces course and join the Green Berets, according to reports.

(With inputs from agencies)

A soldier from the Montana National Guard has become the first woman ever to graduate from the US Army's elite sniper school since its establishment in 1987. The infantry soldier, who has not been identified by the army, completed a “gruelling” seven-week course on November 5 from the United States Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

A soldier from the Montana National Guard has become the first woman ever to graduate from the US Army's elite sniper school since its establishment in 1987. The infantry soldier, who has not been identified by the army, completed a “gruelling” seven-week course on November 5 from the United States Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Georgia. “We are extremely proud of this soldier's achievement and recognize that this is a milestone for not only Montana, but the entire National Guard and Army,” said Maj. Gen. J. Peter Hronek, the adjutant general for Montana, in a statement. The sniper course tests participants in marksmanship and mission planning and has a “high attrition rate”, according to Finnegan. Also read | US Army changes uniform rules for women to allow ponytails and nail polish “She arrived prepared for training and physically conditioned to succeed. We are proud of the results of her efforts and the quality training provided by the Sniper Course Cadre,” CNN quoted Capt. David Wright, a battalion commander at the sniper school, as saying. The soldier will now join her unit in Montana. Also read | Women’s Day: Biden creates gender policy council, names two women generals to lead military commands “Her next step is to join her unit here in Montana and take the skills and knowledge and abilities that she gained there, inspect the course and put them to full use in the training and operations that we have here,” Finnegan said. Also read | In a first, Kuwaiti women can now serve military in combat roles According to the course’s description, the army’s sniper course, meant to form “the most feared weapon on the battlefield” out of a soldier, tests students on “field craft, marksmanship, mission planning, advanced situational awareness, urban operations, complex engagements and building collective lethality to create an unfair fight in favour of the sniper team,” according to the course’s description. In 2015, the US military opened all combat jobs to women. Since then, several female soldiers have made history by becoming the first to graduate from the Army’s intense Ranger School, or complete the Army’s elite Special Forces course and join the Green Berets, according to reports. (With inputs from agencies)

‘A milestone': US Army’s elite sniping school gets its first woman graduate

With Chennai witnessing heavy downpour for the past few days, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday declared two-day holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts on Monday and Tuesday. 
 
On Saturday night, Chennai recorded the highest rainfall since 2015 as incessant showers lashed the city overnight. Non-stop rain from 8.30 pm&nbsp;on Saturday till 5 am&nbsp;on Sunday left the city inundated with water entering homes in several low-lying areas.

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With each passing hour, the pictures are getting more worrisome in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a>. This one is by A Prathap for <a href="https://twitter.com/TOIChennai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TOIChennai</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiRains?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiRains</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiRain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiRain</a> <a href="https://t.co/N4ZQln9bRo">pic.twitter.com/N4ZQln9bRo</a>
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Years have gone by 
The situation is the same 
Heavy overnight rains and its water flooding everywhere 
More Rains expected today <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiRains?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiRains</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiRain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiRain</a> <a href="https://t.co/qbTPUFIU3B">pic.twitter.com/qbTPUFIU3B</a>
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Addressing media persons after visiting Padi, Purasawalkam and Kolathur areas in Chennai, Stalin said that men and machinery were kept ready for any emergency operations following heavy rains.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-reports-single-day-rise-of-10853-covid-19-infection-active-cases-lowest-in-260-days-427349">Also read |&nbsp;India reports single-day rise of 10,853 COVID-19 infection, active cases lowest in 260 days</a> 
 
Stalin said that four teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Madurai and Cuddalore districts for any emergency service. He also said that 50,000 food packets have been distributed in 44 rehabilitation centres since Sunday morning. 
 
The Chief Minister called upon the people to hold their travel plans as the weathermen have predicted heavy rains for the next three days. 
 
He said that officials have been put on high alert and all the state government departments are working in coordination with each other. 
 
The regional centre of the India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rains in Chennai and other parts of the state in the next few days.

With Chennai witnessing heavy downpour for the past few days, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday declared two-day holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts on Monday and Tuesday.

With Chennai witnessing heavy downpour for the past few days, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday declared two-day holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts on Monday and Tuesday. On Saturday night, Chennai recorded the highest rainfall since 2015 as incessant showers lashed the city overnight. Non-stop rain from 8.30 pm on Saturday till 5 am on Sunday left the city inundated with water entering homes in several low-lying areas. With each passing hour, the pictures are getting more worrisome in #Chennai. This one is by A Prathap for @TOIChennai #ChennaiRains #ChennaiRain pic.twitter.com/N4ZQln9bRo — Prasad Ramasubramanian (@PrasadrsTOI) November 7, 2021 × Years have gone by The situation is the same Heavy overnight rains and its water flooding everywhere More Rains expected today #ChennaiRains #ChennaiRain pic.twitter.com/qbTPUFIU3B — Dr.Ravi (@imravee) November 7, 2021 × Addressing media persons after visiting Padi, Purasawalkam and Kolathur areas in Chennai, Stalin said that men and machinery were kept ready for any emergency operations following heavy rains. Also read | India reports single-day rise of 10,853 COVID-19 infection, active cases lowest in 260 days Stalin said that four teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Madurai and Cuddalore districts for any emergency service. He also said that 50,000 food packets have been distributed in 44 rehabilitation centres since Sunday morning. The Chief Minister called upon the people to hold their travel plans as the weathermen have predicted heavy rains for the next three days. He said that officials have been put on high alert and all the state government departments are working in coordination with each other. The regional centre of the India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rains in Chennai and other parts of the state in the next few days.

Schools, colleges shut after non-stop rain inundates Chennai

Zanziman Ellie, dubbed the "real-life Mowgli," who was ostracised by his village and spent years of his childhood in the forest, now wears a suit every day and attends a local school.

Ellie escaped Rwanda to live in the woods, and his tale became well-known after Afrimax TV published a video about his life on YouTube in February of last year.

He was born in 1999 and was almost immediately rejected by his society due to his physical appearance, which is influenced by his ailment, microcephaly, which causes a baby's head to be substantially smaller than usual at birth.&nbsp;

He was also refused access to school because he lacked the mental capacity to pay attention in class.

However, according to reports, donations have enabled him to attend a special needs school.

Following the programme, Afrimax TV established a GoFundMe website, where money poured in from fans all over the world trying to assist Ellie and his mother start a new life.

The funds were used to send Ellie to a special needs school at the Ubumwe Community Center in Gisenyi, Rwanda, according to the news site Atinkanews.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Zanziman Ellie, dubbed the "real-life Mowgli," who was ostracised by his village and spent years of his childhood in the forest, now wears a suit every day and attends a local school.

Zanziman Ellie, dubbed the "real-life Mowgli," who was ostracised by his village and spent years of his childhood in the forest, now wears a suit every day and attends a local school. Ellie escaped Rwanda to live in the woods, and his tale became well-known after Afrimax TV published a video about his life on YouTube in February of last year. He was born in 1999 and was almost immediately rejected by his society due to his physical appearance, which is influenced by his ailment, microcephaly, which causes a baby's head to be substantially smaller than usual at birth. He was also refused access to school because he lacked the mental capacity to pay attention in class. However, according to reports, donations have enabled him to attend a special needs school. Following the programme, Afrimax TV established a GoFundMe website, where money poured in from fans all over the world trying to assist Ellie and his mother start a new life. The funds were used to send Ellie to a special needs school at the Ubumwe Community Center in Gisenyi, Rwanda, according to the news site Atinkanews. (With inputs from agencies)

Man dubbed as 'real-life Mowgli' now wears a suit and goes to school

The mural, showing a rising sun and two children of color wearing crowns, was intended to promote racial equity at a school building in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Fifth graders from PS 295 spent months designing the artwork, which was spread across the cafeteria wall that their school shares with MS 443, a middle school, with the help of Groundswell, a longtime community arts organization.

As the project came together in July, the elementary school principal, Lisa Pagano, became uncomfortable with the slogans that had been added — “Black Lives Matter” and “Black Trans Lives Matter” — as well as a quote by Black gay feminist writer Audre Lorde, which read, “Your Silence Will Not Protect You.”

Pagano asked Groundswell in an email to substitute a broader message, such as “Hate has no home here,” to reflect the schools’ recognition of many different marginalized groups who make up the student body. “This will assist us in building more inclusivity for all viewers in our school and the middle school we are co-located with,” Pagano wrote.

Groundswell pushed back, and the mural went up unchanged in July.

But days later, a custodian was ordered to take the thin mural — attached with an adhesive — off the wall. It’s not clear who ordered the removal, which staff and parents say destroyed the mural.

The events, from the mural’s installation to its removal, have created a rift among teachers, parents and school administrators that has rattled the school community.

Parents who are upset that the mural was put up in the first place have squared off against parents who supported it. Pro-mural parents and students have protested by writing the mural’s messages in chalk on the sidewalk. At least one elementary school staff member, upset about the removal, left the school.

The Department of Education is now investigating, and both principals could face disciplinary action, a spokesperson said.

“Our schools must be safe and inclusive environments, and this should not have happened, and we’re very sorry this happened to our students,” said Nathaniel Styer, the deputy press secretary for the department. “We are assisting the school communities to come to a resolution, convening mediations and will take disciplinary action as appropriate following the outcome of the investigation.”

The discord reflects a wider debate roiling schools across the country over race and how it manifests itself in curriculum and school life. Interviews with dozens of parents at both schools, as well as former and current teachers, paint a picture of two schools grappling with the complexities of race, ethnicity, inequality and diversity.

PS 295, also known as the Studio School of Arts and Culture, and MS 443, known as New Voices, are on the southern edge of Park Slope, a largely white neighborhood, not far from the heavily Latino and Asian neighborhood of Sunset Park, and share common spaces, including the cafeteria. Pagano, formerly the assistant principal, was promoted to principal of the elementary school a year ago, while Frank Giordano has been the principal of the middle school for nearly two decades.

In the two schools, the largest contingent of students is Hispanic, with a sizable number of white students; Asian students make up 9% of the elementary school and 13% of the middle school; Black students account for less than 10% of the student body. Overall, half of all students receive free or reduced-price lunches. Although the group of muralists included children of Latino, Asian and Black heritage, some school leaders and parents said the mural did not capture the racial, religious and ethnic dynamics of the school.

Some parents did not believe their children were represented by the children depicted in the mural.

“What happened to the Hispanics, to the Asians?” Karen Rafael, who is Latina and the mother of an eighth grader, asked.

She questioned why images of front-line workers during the pandemic, many of whom are Hispanic, were not featured on the mural. The transgender slogan may also not resonate as widely with Hispanic and Arab families, she added, many of whom come from religiously conservative backgrounds.

Her daughter, she said, told her recently: “Hispanics are the middle child of the races — usually forgotten.”

Some students involved in creating the mural are upset and confused by its removal.

“I was really, really sad and angry to hear that the mural was taken down and destroyed,” one of the muralists, Kai Gelber-Higgins, 11, said. “I still don’t fully understand why it was taken down and destroyed.”

Hollis Albaeck, 11, another muralist, said: “I feel like people of color need more respect because they are just as important as white folks, but our country is not showing that, so now we need to bring back their trust in us as being kind people.”

The schools are within District 15, which spearheaded a diversity and equity initiative that involved making admissions lottery-based and is seen as a template for the rest of the city.

Some parents and teachers questioned whether Pagano and Giordano, who are both white, are culturally equipped to manage the evolving culture of a majority nonwhite school. Some staff members have lauded the two school leaders as being devoted to achieving academic excellence.

Under Giordano’s leadership, New Voices has developed a reputation as one of the best schools in Brooklyn. Parents and staff described him as an affable leader who endears himself to students with practical jokes, but can be brusque. Some parents and staff find his jokes off-putting.

Pagano, Giordano and Anita Skop, superintendent of District 15, did not respond to requests for comment. But in several meetings with parents and teachers, the three administrators explained how the events unfolded.

Before the mural, there were rumblings about racial and cultural insensitivity: Several parents at the elementary school said they spent more than $1,000 of their own money to buy books by authors of color for the school library. During a “Colonial Day,” students at the elementary school were made to play roles on settler ships, something that made students of color and their parents uncomfortable.

“By the time our second child was in that school, I said, ‘No, I’m not going to put my kid in a Pilgrim dress and take on the persona of white settler colonizer,’” said Victor Quiñonez, who is of Mexican descent and whose daughter was one of the muralists.

Doug Hecklinger, a fifth grade teacher at PS 295 who came out as queer to his students a few years ago, blamed the school administrators for creating an environment that has failed to nurture cultural understanding. “It was not uniform,” Hecklinger said. “Some teachers didn’t feel comfortable using a diversity of books without more training.” He recalled a colleague complaining, “Why can’t we read normal children’s books?”

And then came the mural.

Carlos Menchaca, a Democratic council member who represents Sunset Park, Red Hook and Greenwood Heights, allocated a $20,000 grant to Groundswell for the mural, which he had done for more than a dozen other schools in the past.

Groundswell, which has completed more than 200 pieces of public art at 128 schools around the city in its 25-year history, recruited students from the elementary school to brainstorm on the content and design.

The Park Slope mural diverged from artwork at other schools. A number of Groundswell works in the district used slogans like “Resilience” and “You Are Welcome Here,” none of which referred explicitly to current events.

But the mural that would be spread across the cafeteria wall during the summer tapped into a reckoning of 2020, when the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer set off worldwide protests. Those demonstrations included a march in Brooklyn that drew an estimated 15,000 supporters of Black transgender people, who are disproportionately the victims of police violence. Though Pagano had urged Groundswell to broaden the mural’s message, Sarah Katz, a Groundswell official, told her in an email that the mural was inclusive in its specificity.

“We believe that naming and supporting communities most impacted by oppressive systems is essential to cultivating authentic inclusion,” Katz said in the email. Using the phrase “Black Trans Lives Matter,” as opposed to a more generalized message, “acknowledges a truth that certain communities have been historically undervalued, and seeks to center those communities to move closer to justice. It is for these reasons that our hope would be for this statement to remain unchanged.”

When Giordano saw the mural for the first time, days later, he reached out to Skop. The mural was removed.

This fall, Giordano later told parents and staff that the mural had violated Department of Education rules around shared space. It was not approved by a building committee or by the legal department. (The Department of Education is looking into the rules as part of its investigation.)

Giordano’s main concern, however, was the lack of inclusivity and what he believed was an infusion of political beliefs.

“We needed to create a mural that encompasses all of our communities, and was not political in any sense,” Giordano said in a call to parents in September.

“We’ve gotten to this point in society,” he added, where “I don’t even want to watch the news, especially with my kids, because I want them to think that the world that they’re going to be inheriting isn’t so bad.”

Skop said at a recent virtual PTA meeting that she worried that the Audre Lorde quote “was not student-generated,” and several parents also were dubious.

“Who actually did the work?” Angela Sheldon, the head of the Parents Association at New Voices, asked. “There is a political agenda here.” The quote, she added, could be hurtful to Hispanic families in the school, some of whom lack legal protections and fear deportation. “They actually need our silence for their protection,” she argued.

Lexy Ho-Tai, a Groundswell employee who guided the students twice a week for months on the project, said she introduced the Audre Lorde quote herself and was taken aback by the furor it ignited. “I was under the impression that what I was sharing was also aligned with their school values.”

Since the controversy erupted after first being reported in The New York Daily News, the Department of Education has emphasized that the entire public school system is trying to take more steps to give students a more diverse educational experience. Under what it is calling “the Universal Mosaic Curriculum,” the department has a goal “to ensure that the materials used better reflect the myriad identities contained in each school and classroom,” Styer said in a statement.

In Park Slope, Skop and Pagano have tried to find some middle ground and have apologized for removing the artwork and hurting students’ feelings.

Skop told parents she would “bring very strong people to talk with Mr. Giordano about these things.” She told them that “this isn’t going to be glossed over,” adding that the head of a “districtwide diversity initiative” would talk to them “in a way that I, as an old white lady, can’t. I am honest enough to say that I cannot speak that way because of the color of my skin.”

She also agreed to a proposal: Maybe PS 295 could be renamed the Audre Lorde School.

The mural, showing a rising sun and two children of color wearing crowns, was intended to promote racial equity at a school building in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Fifth graders from PS 295 spent months designing the artwork, which was spread across the cafeteria wall that their school shares with MS 443, a middle school, with the help of Groundswell, a longtime community arts organization.

The mural, showing a rising sun and two children of color wearing crowns, was intended to promote racial equity at a school building in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Fifth graders from PS 295 spent months designing the artwork, which was spread across the cafeteria wall that their school shares with MS 443, a middle school, with the help of Groundswell, a longtime community arts organization. As the project came together in July, the elementary school principal, Lisa Pagano, became uncomfortable with the slogans that had been added — “Black Lives Matter” and “Black Trans Lives Matter” — as well as a quote by Black gay feminist writer Audre Lorde, which read, “Your Silence Will Not Protect You.” Pagano asked Groundswell in an email to substitute a broader message, such as “Hate has no home here,” to reflect the schools’ recognition of many different marginalized groups who make up the student body. “This will assist us in building more inclusivity for all viewers in our school and the middle school we are co-located with,” Pagano wrote. Groundswell pushed back, and the mural went up unchanged in July. But days later, a custodian was ordered to take the thin mural — attached with an adhesive — off the wall. It’s not clear who ordered the removal, which staff and parents say destroyed the mural. The events, from the mural’s installation to its removal, have created a rift among teachers, parents and school administrators that has rattled the school community. Parents who are upset that the mural was put up in the first place have squared off against parents who supported it. Pro-mural parents and students have protested by writing the mural’s messages in chalk on the sidewalk. At least one elementary school staff member, upset about the removal, left the school. The Department of Education is now investigating, and both principals could face disciplinary action, a spokesperson said. “Our schools must be safe and inclusive environments, and this should not have happened, and we’re very sorry this happened to our students,” said Nathaniel Styer, the deputy press secretary for the department. “We are assisting the school communities to come to a resolution, convening mediations and will take disciplinary action as appropriate following the outcome of the investigation.” The discord reflects a wider debate roiling schools across the country over race and how it manifests itself in curriculum and school life. Interviews with dozens of parents at both schools, as well as former and current teachers, paint a picture of two schools grappling with the complexities of race, ethnicity, inequality and diversity. PS 295, also known as the Studio School of Arts and Culture, and MS 443, known as New Voices, are on the southern edge of Park Slope, a largely white neighborhood, not far from the heavily Latino and Asian neighborhood of Sunset Park, and share common spaces, including the cafeteria. Pagano, formerly the assistant principal, was promoted to principal of the elementary school a year ago, while Frank Giordano has been the principal of the middle school for nearly two decades. In the two schools, the largest contingent of students is Hispanic, with a sizable number of white students; Asian students make up 9% of the elementary school and 13% of the middle school; Black students account for less than 10% of the student body. Overall, half of all students receive free or reduced-price lunches. Although the group of muralists included children of Latino, Asian and Black heritage, some school leaders and parents said the mural did not capture the racial, religious and ethnic dynamics of the school. Some parents did not believe their children were represented by the children depicted in the mural. “What happened to the Hispanics, to the Asians?” Karen Rafael, who is Latina and the mother of an eighth grader, asked. She questioned why images of front-line workers during the pandemic, many of whom are Hispanic, were not featured on the mural. The transgender slogan may also not resonate as widely with Hispanic and Arab families, she added, many of whom come from religiously conservative backgrounds. Her daughter, she said, told her recently: “Hispanics are the middle child of the races — usually forgotten.” Some students involved in creating the mural are upset and confused by its removal. “I was really, really sad and angry to hear that the mural was taken down and destroyed,” one of the muralists, Kai Gelber-Higgins, 11, said. “I still don’t fully understand why it was taken down and destroyed.” Hollis Albaeck, 11, another muralist, said: “I feel like people of color need more respect because they are just as important as white folks, but our country is not showing that, so now we need to bring back their trust in us as being kind people.” The schools are within District 15, which spearheaded a diversity and equity initiative that involved making admissions lottery-based and is seen as a template for the rest of the city. Some parents and teachers questioned whether Pagano and Giordano, who are both white, are culturally equipped to manage the evolving culture of a majority nonwhite school. Some staff members have lauded the two school leaders as being devoted to achieving academic excellence. Under Giordano’s leadership, New Voices has developed a reputation as one of the best schools in Brooklyn. Parents and staff described him as an affable leader who endears himself to students with practical jokes, but can be brusque. Some parents and staff find his jokes off-putting. Pagano, Giordano and Anita Skop, superintendent of District 15, did not respond to requests for comment. But in several meetings with parents and teachers, the three administrators explained how the events unfolded. Before the mural, there were rumblings about racial and cultural insensitivity: Several parents at the elementary school said they spent more than $1,000 of their own money to buy books by authors of color for the school library. During a “Colonial Day,” students at the elementary school were made to play roles on settler ships, something that made students of color and their parents uncomfortable. “By the time our second child was in that school, I said, ‘No, I’m not going to put my kid in a Pilgrim dress and take on the persona of white settler colonizer,’” said Victor Quiñonez, who is of Mexican descent and whose daughter was one of the muralists. Doug Hecklinger, a fifth grade teacher at PS 295 who came out as queer to his students a few years ago, blamed the school administrators for creating an environment that has failed to nurture cultural understanding. “It was not uniform,” Hecklinger said. “Some teachers didn’t feel comfortable using a diversity of books without more training.” He recalled a colleague complaining, “Why can’t we read normal children’s books?” And then came the mural. Carlos Menchaca, a Democratic council member who represents Sunset Park, Red Hook and Greenwood Heights, allocated a $20,000 grant to Groundswell for the mural, which he had done for more than a dozen other schools in the past. Groundswell, which has completed more than 200 pieces of public art at 128 schools around the city in its 25-year history, recruited students from the elementary school to brainstorm on the content and design. The Park Slope mural diverged from artwork at other schools. A number of Groundswell works in the district used slogans like “Resilience” and “You Are Welcome Here,” none of which referred explicitly to current events. But the mural that would be spread across the cafeteria wall during the summer tapped into a reckoning of 2020, when the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer set off worldwide protests. Those demonstrations included a march in Brooklyn that drew an estimated 15,000 supporters of Black transgender people, who are disproportionately the victims of police violence. Though Pagano had urged Groundswell to broaden the mural’s message, Sarah Katz, a Groundswell official, told her in an email that the mural was inclusive in its specificity. “We believe that naming and supporting communities most impacted by oppressive systems is essential to cultivating authentic inclusion,” Katz said in the email. Using the phrase “Black Trans Lives Matter,” as opposed to a more generalized message, “acknowledges a truth that certain communities have been historically undervalued, and seeks to center those communities to move closer to justice. It is for these reasons that our hope would be for this statement to remain unchanged.” When Giordano saw the mural for the first time, days later, he reached out to Skop. The mural was removed. This fall, Giordano later told parents and staff that the mural had violated Department of Education rules around shared space. It was not approved by a building committee or by the legal department. (The Department of Education is looking into the rules as part of its investigation.) Giordano’s main concern, however, was the lack of inclusivity and what he believed was an infusion of political beliefs. “We needed to create a mural that encompasses all of our communities, and was not political in any sense,” Giordano said in a call to parents in September. “We’ve gotten to this point in society,” he added, where “I don’t even want to watch the news, especially with my kids, because I want them to think that the world that they’re going to be inheriting isn’t so bad.” Skop said at a recent virtual PTA meeting that she worried that the Audre Lorde quote “was not student-generated,” and several parents also were dubious. “Who actually did the work?” Angela Sheldon, the head of the Parents Association at New Voices, asked. “There is a political agenda here.” The quote, she added, could be hurtful to Hispanic families in the school, some of whom lack legal protections and fear deportation. “They actually need our silence for their protection,” she argued. Lexy Ho-Tai, a Groundswell employee who guided the students twice a week for months on the project, said she introduced the Audre Lorde quote herself and was taken aback by the furor it ignited. “I was under the impression that what I was sharing was also aligned with their school values.” Since the controversy erupted after first being reported in The New York Daily News, the Department of Education has emphasized that the entire public school system is trying to take more steps to give students a more diverse educational experience. Under what it is calling “the Universal Mosaic Curriculum,” the department has a goal “to ensure that the materials used better reflect the myriad identities contained in each school and classroom,” Styer said in a statement. In Park Slope, Skop and Pagano have tried to find some middle ground and have apologized for removing the artwork and hurting students’ feelings. Skop told parents she would “bring very strong people to talk with Mr. Giordano about these things.” She told them that “this isn’t going to be glossed over,” adding that the head of a “districtwide diversity initiative” would talk to them “in a way that I, as an old white lady, can’t. I am honest enough to say that I cannot speak that way because of the color of my skin.” She also agreed to a proposal: Maybe PS 295 could be renamed the Audre Lorde School.

A school mural was supposed to celebrate Black Lives. Instead, it was destroyed.

A London school has introduced a module on 'white privilege in the curriculum in an apparent move to sensitise the students about a social issue that still creates tension in western societies.

The course will reportedly include Meghan Markle experience with the British Royal Family and will also discuss themes in popular media that'll include all James Bond actors having been white.

The school, St Dunstan's charges 18,000 Pounds a year in fees.

The new element in the curriculum has reportedly been inspired by Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

The lessons on white privilege will start from Year Nine, when students are usually 13 to 14 years of age.

The course will “help all our young people... to unpick and better understand the complexities and sensitivities of a real and live issue that matters to them and to so much of the society they occupy,” said school headmaster Nicholas Hewlett as quoted by The Times.

"Thanks to @SianGriffiths6 for highlighting the new bespoke strand to our curriculum @StDunstansColl. Children need to unpick, explore and talk about social issues that matter. White privilege is an important topic that needs to be discussed openly, maturely and intelligently," he tweeted.

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Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/SianGriffiths6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SianGriffiths6</a> for highlighting the new bespoke strand to our curriculum <a href="https://twitter.com/StDunstansColl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StDunstansColl</a>. Children need to unpick, explore and talk about social issues that matter. White privilege is an important topic that needs to be discussed openly, maturely and intelligently.
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Actress Meghan Markle, who is married to Prince Harry said in a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey that an unnamed member of the British royal family enquired about skin colour of her then-unborn son, Archie. Markle and Prince Harry have since appeared to have been distant from the royal family.

A London school has introduced a module on 'white privilege in the curriculum in an apparent move to sensitise the students about a social issue that still creates tension in western societies.

A London school has introduced a module on 'white privilege in the curriculum in an apparent move to sensitise the students about a social issue that still creates tension in western societies. The course will reportedly include Meghan Markle experience with the British Royal Family and will also discuss themes in popular media that'll include all James Bond actors having been white. The school, St Dunstan's charges 18,000 Pounds a year in fees. The new element in the curriculum has reportedly been inspired by Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. The lessons on white privilege will start from Year Nine, when students are usually 13 to 14 years of age. The course will “help all our young people... to unpick and better understand the complexities and sensitivities of a real and live issue that matters to them and to so much of the society they occupy,” said school headmaster Nicholas Hewlett as quoted by The Times. "Thanks to @SianGriffiths6 for highlighting the new bespoke strand to our curriculum @StDunstansColl. Children need to unpick, explore and talk about social issues that matter. White privilege is an important topic that needs to be discussed openly, maturely and intelligently," he tweeted. Thanks to @SianGriffiths6 for highlighting the new bespoke strand to our curriculum @StDunstansColl. Children need to unpick, explore and talk about social issues that matter. White privilege is an important topic that needs to be discussed openly, maturely and intelligently. — Nicholas Hewlett (@StDunsHead) October 17, 2021 × Actress Meghan Markle, who is married to Prince Harry said in a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey that an unnamed member of the British royal family enquired about skin colour of her then-unborn son, Archie. Markle and Prince Harry have since appeared to have been distant from the royal family.

London school adds 'white privilege' course, will discuss Meghan Markle, James Bond

Facial recognition technology have been rolled out by a group of nine schools in the UK to verify children's payments for school meals, acording to media reports.

 
Instead of conventional payment methods like cards or fingerprint scanners, the technology is faster and more hygienic than claimed the schools in North Ayrshire in Scotland, the Verge reported.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-reports-surge-in-coronavirus-cases-as-govt-keeps-close-watch-421903">UK reports surge in coronavirus cases as govt keeps 'close watch</a>

However, privacy advocates warned that the move is normalising biometric surveillance.

"With Facial Recognition, pupils simply select their meal, look at the camera and go, making for a faster lunch service whilst removing any contact at the point of sale," read a flyer distributed to parents by the schools.

As per an FAQ sheet by the schools children's biometric data is stored in an encrypted form and deleted when a child leaves the school. Parents have to opt-in for children to use the technology, and can alternatively use PIN to verify payments, the report said.

Facial recognition cut payment time per pupil to five seconds on average, David Swanston, managing director of CRB Cunninghams, was quoted as saying to The Financial Times. Swanston`s firm was responsible for installing the technology

He noted that the system underwent a pilot run in 2020, and that 65 more schools were signed up to introduce the technology.

According to the North Ayrshire council, 97 per cent of children or parents consented to be enrolled, the FT report said. But some parents said they were not sure if children fully understood what they were signing up for, and were influenced by peer pressure.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-records-more-than-40000-covid-cases-for-fourth-day-in-a-row-421421">&nbsp;UK records more than 40,000 Covid cases for fourth day in a row</a>

Facial recognition systems of various types are becoming more common throughout the world. Schools in the US have been installing such systems for years, though usually as a security measure. However, it is banned in various states and cities, arguing that the technology is frequently biased across racial or gender lines.

Last week, Russia introduced facial recognition payments in its metro system, with activists warning that the technology could be used to track and identify protestors.

In the European Union, politicians and advocacy groups are calling for a ban on the technology, arguing that the downsides of its introduction outweigh potential benefits.

The Ayrshire school scheme was unnecessary, Silkie Carlo of the UK campaign group Big Brother Watch was quoted as saying to the FT.

"It's normalising biometric identity checks for something that is mundane. You don't need to resort to airport style [technology] for children getting their lunch," Carlo said.

Facial recognition technology have been rolled out by a group of nine schools in the UK to verify children's payments for school meals, acording to media reports.

Facial recognition technology have been rolled out by a group of nine schools in the UK to verify children's payments for school meals, acording to media reports. Instead of conventional payment methods like cards or fingerprint scanners, the technology is faster and more hygienic than claimed the schools in North Ayrshire in Scotland, the Verge reported. Also Read | UK reports surge in coronavirus cases as govt keeps 'close watch However, privacy advocates warned that the move is normalising biometric surveillance. "With Facial Recognition, pupils simply select their meal, look at the camera and go, making for a faster lunch service whilst removing any contact at the point of sale," read a flyer distributed to parents by the schools. As per an FAQ sheet by the schools children's biometric data is stored in an encrypted form and deleted when a child leaves the school. Parents have to opt-in for children to use the technology, and can alternatively use PIN to verify payments, the report said. Facial recognition cut payment time per pupil to five seconds on average, David Swanston, managing director of CRB Cunninghams, was quoted as saying to The Financial Times. Swanston`s firm was responsible for installing the technology He noted that the system underwent a pilot run in 2020, and that 65 more schools were signed up to introduce the technology. According to the North Ayrshire council, 97 per cent of children or parents consented to be enrolled, the FT report said. But some parents said they were not sure if children fully understood what they were signing up for, and were influenced by peer pressure. Also Read | UK records more than 40,000 Covid cases for fourth day in a row Facial recognition systems of various types are becoming more common throughout the world. Schools in the US have been installing such systems for years, though usually as a security measure. However, it is banned in various states and cities, arguing that the technology is frequently biased across racial or gender lines. Last week, Russia introduced facial recognition payments in its metro system, with activists warning that the technology could be used to track and identify protestors. In the European Union, politicians and advocacy groups are calling for a ban on the technology, arguing that the downsides of its introduction outweigh potential benefits. The Ayrshire school scheme was unnecessary, Silkie Carlo of the UK campaign group Big Brother Watch was quoted as saying to the FT. "It's normalising biometric identity checks for something that is mundane. You don't need to resort to airport style [technology] for children getting their lunch," Carlo said.

Facial recognition system to speed up lunch payments in UK schools

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban as a schoolgirl, has urged Afghanistan's new rulers to let girls return to school.

It has been one month since the hardline Islamist Taliban, which seized power in August, excluded girls from returning to secondary school while ordering boys back to class.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-should-first-seek-internal-legitimacy-to-receive-international-recognition-ex-afghan-president-karzai-421686">Taliban should first seek internal legitimacy to receive international recognition: Ex-Afghan president Karzai</a>

The Taliban have claimed they will allow girls to return once they have ensured security and stricter segregation under their interpretation of Islamic law -- but many are sceptical.&nbsp;

"To the Taliban authorities reverse the de facto ban on girls' education and re-open girls' secondary schools immediately," Yousafzai and a number of Afghan women's rights activists said in an open letter published on Sunday.

Yousafzai called on the leaders of Muslim nations to make it clear to the Taliban that "religion does not justify preventing girls from going to school".

"Afghanistan is now the only country in the world that forbids girls' education," said the writers, who included the head of the Afghan human rights commission under the last US-backed government Shaharzad Akbar.

The authors called on G20 world leaders to provide urgent funding for an education plan for Afghan children.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/thousands-of-afghans-receive-assistance-un-agency-419569">Thousands of Afghans receive assistance: UN agency</a>

A petition alongside the letter had on Monday received more than 640,000 signatures.

Education activist Yousafzai was shot by militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an offshoot of the Afghan Taliban, in her home town in the Swat valley while on a school bus in 2012.

Now 24 years old, she advocates for girls’ education, with her non-profit Malala Fund having invested $2 million in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban as a schoolgirl, has urged Afghanistan's new rulers to let girls return to school.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban as a schoolgirl, has urged Afghanistan's new rulers to let girls return to school. It has been one month since the hardline Islamist Taliban, which seized power in August, excluded girls from returning to secondary school while ordering boys back to class. Also Read | Taliban should first seek internal legitimacy to receive international recognition: Ex-Afghan president Karzai The Taliban have claimed they will allow girls to return once they have ensured security and stricter segregation under their interpretation of Islamic law -- but many are sceptical. "To the Taliban authorities reverse the de facto ban on girls' education and re-open girls' secondary schools immediately," Yousafzai and a number of Afghan women's rights activists said in an open letter published on Sunday. Yousafzai called on the leaders of Muslim nations to make it clear to the Taliban that "religion does not justify preventing girls from going to school". "Afghanistan is now the only country in the world that forbids girls' education," said the writers, who included the head of the Afghan human rights commission under the last US-backed government Shaharzad Akbar. The authors called on G20 world leaders to provide urgent funding for an education plan for Afghan children. Also Read | Thousands of Afghans receive assistance: UN agency A petition alongside the letter had on Monday received more than 640,000 signatures. Education activist Yousafzai was shot by militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an offshoot of the Afghan Taliban, in her home town in the Swat valley while on a school bus in 2012. Now 24 years old, she advocates for girls’ education, with her non-profit Malala Fund having invested $2 million in Afghanistan.

Malala sends letter to Taliban one month after girls school ban

Afghan teenager Amena saw dozens of classmates killed when her girls' school was targeted by an Islamic State bomb attack in May, but she was determined to continue her education.

Now, like most secondary school girls in the country, she is banned from lessons altogether after the Taliban's hardline government excluded them from returning to class one month ago.

"I wanted to study, see my friends and have a bright future, but now I am not allowed," 16-year-old Amena told AFP at her home in western Kabul.&nbsp;

"This situation makes me feel awful. Since the Taliban arrived, I am very sad and angry."

On September 18, Afghanistan's new Islamist rulers ordered male teachers and boys aged 13 and over back to secondary schools, picking up an academic year already cut short by violence and the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, there was no mention of women teachers or girl pupils.

The Taliban later said older girls can return to secondary schools, which were already mostly split by gender, but only once security and stricter segregation under their interpretation of Islamic law could be ensured.

Reports have emerged of girls going back to a few high schools -- such as in Kunduz province where the Taliban promoted the return with a stage-managed rally.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="Thousands of Afghans receive assistance: UN agency">Thousands of Afghans receive assistance: UN agency</a>

The de facto Taliban education minister told the UN children's body that a framework to allow all girls to go to secondary school will be announced soon, a senior UNICEF executive said Friday.

But for now, the vast majority are barred from lessons across the country of about 39 million people, including in the capital Kabul.&nbsp;

Primary schools, meanwhile, have reopened for all children and women can go to private universities, though with tough restrictions on their clothes and movement.

'No hope'&nbsp;

Amena lives just a short walk from her Sayed Al-Shuhada High School, where 85 people -- mainly young girls -- perished in the May bomb attack.

"Innocent girls were killed," Amena said, her eyes welling up.

"I saw with my own eyes the dying and wounded girls.

"However, I still wanted to go to school again."

Amena would be in Grade 10 studying her favourite subjects such as biology, but instead is stuck inside with a handful of books doing "nothing special".

Also Read |<a href="Nothing changed between Taliban of 1990s and 2021: Report">&nbsp;Nothing changed between Taliban of 1990s and 2021: Report</a>

The teenager said she dreamt of becoming a journalist, but now has "no hope in Afghanistan".

Her siblings help her at home, and occasionally she gets lessons from a psychologist who comes to see her younger sister, still traumatised by the school attack.

"They say: 'Study if you cannot go to school -- study at home so that you may become someone in the future.'"

"My brother brings home storybooks and I read them," Amena said. "And I always watch the news."

But she does not understand why boys are allowed to study and girls are not.

"Half of the society is made up of girls and the other half is made up of boys. There is no difference between them," she said.

"Why can't we study? Are we not part of society? Why should only boys have a future?"

Recent progress&nbsp;

After US-led forces ousted the Taliban in 2001, progress was made in girls' education.

The number of schools tripled and female literacy nearly doubled to 30 percent, but the change was largely limited to the cities.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/isis-claims-responsibility-of-mosque-blast-that-killed-at-least-60-people-419339">ISIS claims responsibility of mosque blast that killed at least 60 people</a>

"Afghan women have made great achievements in the past 20 years," said Nasrin Hasani, a 21-year-old teacher at a Kabul secondary school who now helps out with primary pupils.

But the current situation has "lowered both our and the students' morale", she said, questioning the Taliban's reasoning.

"As far as we all know, the religion of Islam has never hindered the education and work of women."

Hasani said she has not experienced any direct threats from the Taliban.

But Amnesty International reported that one high school teacher received death threats and was summoned for prosecution because she used to teach co-educational sport.

Hasani said she was clinging to hope that the Taliban will be "a little different" from their brutal 1996-2001 regime, when women were not even allowed out of their homes unchaperoned.

Buried dreams&nbsp;

Born years after 2001, Zainab has no memories of that period and loved going to school until the Taliban directive.

The 12-year-old was stuck looking out of the window with a "terrible feeling" last month when boys went back to school.

"It is quite obvious that things get worse day by day", said Zainab, whose name has been changed to protect her identity.

Her 16-year-old sister Malalay said tearfully that she had "feelings of despair and fear".

Malalay, whose name has also been changed, passes her time helping around the house, cleaning, washing dishes and doing laundry.

She said she tries not to cry in front of her mother "because there are a lot of pressures on her".

The teen had dreams of promoting women's rights and speaking out against the men depriving her of her rights.

"My rights are to go to school and university," she said.

"All my dreams and plans are now buried."

Afghan teenager Amena saw dozens of classmates killed when her girls' school was targeted by an Islamic State bomb attack in May, but she was determined to continue her education.

Afghan teenager Amena saw dozens of classmates killed when her girls' school was targeted by an Islamic State bomb attack in May, but she was determined to continue her education. Now, like most secondary school girls in the country, she is banned from lessons altogether after the Taliban's hardline government excluded them from returning to class one month ago. "I wanted to study, see my friends and have a bright future, but now I am not allowed," 16-year-old Amena told AFP at her home in western Kabul. "This situation makes me feel awful. Since the Taliban arrived, I am very sad and angry." On September 18, Afghanistan's new Islamist rulers ordered male teachers and boys aged 13 and over back to secondary schools, picking up an academic year already cut short by violence and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there was no mention of women teachers or girl pupils. The Taliban later said older girls can return to secondary schools, which were already mostly split by gender, but only once security and stricter segregation under their interpretation of Islamic law could be ensured. Reports have emerged of girls going back to a few high schools -- such as in Kunduz province where the Taliban promoted the return with a stage-managed rally. Also Read | Thousands of Afghans receive assistance: UN agency The de facto Taliban education minister told the UN children's body that a framework to allow all girls to go to secondary school will be announced soon, a senior UNICEF executive said Friday. But for now, the vast majority are barred from lessons across the country of about 39 million people, including in the capital Kabul. Primary schools, meanwhile, have reopened for all children and women can go to private universities, though with tough restrictions on their clothes and movement. 'No hope' Amena lives just a short walk from her Sayed Al-Shuhada High School, where 85 people -- mainly young girls -- perished in the May bomb attack. "Innocent girls were killed," Amena said, her eyes welling up. "I saw with my own eyes the dying and wounded girls. "However, I still wanted to go to school again." Amena would be in Grade 10 studying her favourite subjects such as biology, but instead is stuck inside with a handful of books doing "nothing special". Also Read | Nothing changed between Taliban of 1990s and 2021: Report The teenager said she dreamt of becoming a journalist, but now has "no hope in Afghanistan". Her siblings help her at home, and occasionally she gets lessons from a psychologist who comes to see her younger sister, still traumatised by the school attack. "They say: 'Study if you cannot go to school -- study at home so that you may become someone in the future.'" "My brother brings home storybooks and I read them," Amena said. "And I always watch the news." But she does not understand why boys are allowed to study and girls are not. "Half of the society is made up of girls and the other half is made up of boys. There is no difference between them," she said. "Why can't we study? Are we not part of society? Why should only boys have a future?" Recent progress After US-led forces ousted the Taliban in 2001, progress was made in girls' education. The number of schools tripled and female literacy nearly doubled to 30 percent, but the change was largely limited to the cities. Also Read | ISIS claims responsibility of mosque blast that killed at least 60 people "Afghan women have made great achievements in the past 20 years," said Nasrin Hasani, a 21-year-old teacher at a Kabul secondary school who now helps out with primary pupils. But the current situation has "lowered both our and the students' morale", she said, questioning the Taliban's reasoning. "As far as we all know, the religion of Islam has never hindered the education and work of women." Hasani said she has not experienced any direct threats from the Taliban. But Amnesty International reported that one high school teacher received death threats and was summoned for prosecution because she used to teach co-educational sport. Hasani said she was clinging to hope that the Taliban will be "a little different" from their brutal 1996-2001 regime, when women were not even allowed out of their homes unchaperoned. Buried dreams Born years after 2001, Zainab has no memories of that period and loved going to school until the Taliban directive. The 12-year-old was stuck looking out of the window with a "terrible feeling" last month when boys went back to school. "It is quite obvious that things get worse day by day", said Zainab, whose name has been changed to protect her identity. Her 16-year-old sister Malalay said tearfully that she had "feelings of despair and fear". Malalay, whose name has also been changed, passes her time helping around the house, cleaning, washing dishes and doing laundry. She said she tries not to cry in front of her mother "because there are a lot of pressures on her". The teen had dreams of promoting women's rights and speaking out against the men depriving her of her rights. "My rights are to go to school and university," she said. "All my dreams and plans are now buried."

Why can't we study ? - Afghan girls still barred from school

When Lizzie Rothwell, an architect in Philadelphia, sent her son to third grade this fall, she stocked his blue L.L. Bean backpack with pencils, wide-ruled paper — and a portable carbon dioxide monitor.

The device gave her a quick way to assess how much fresh air was flowing through the school. Low levels of CO2 would indicate that it was well ventilated, reducing her son’s odds of catching the coronavirus.

But she quickly discovered that during lunch, CO2 levels in the cafeteria rose to nearly double those recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She shared what she’d learned with the principal and asked if students could eat outside instead.

“He expressed surprise that I had any data at all,” she said.

Rothwell is one of a growing number of parents who are sneaking CO2 monitors into schools in a clandestine effort to make sure their children’s classrooms are safe. Aranet, which makes a monitor popular with parents, says orders have doubled since the new school year began.

Some school systems have made the monitors part of their official pandemic precautions. New York City has distributed the devices to every public school, and the British government has announced plans to do likewise.

But elsewhere, parents are taking matters into their own hands, sneaking in the monitors — which can cost $100 or more — in their children’s backpacks or pants pockets.

Although the devices, which can be set to take readings every few minutes, work best when exposed to the open air, they can generate informative data as long as they are not completely sealed away, said Dr. Alex Huffman, an aerosol scientist at the University of Denver who has sent the monitors to school with his children. (He recommended leaving backpacks or pants pockets unzipped, or tucking the monitor into the mesh water-bottle pouch that is now standard on many backpacks.)

Many of these parents have forged a community on Twitter, where they are using the hashtag #CovidCO2 to trade tips about how to smuggle the monitors into the classroom, how to interpret the data they are collecting and how to approach the school with their findings.

Some school officials have frowned upon these guerrilla air-monitoring efforts, but parents say the devices have armed them with data to advocate for their children.

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“It’s possible that the school district may not be all that happy with this because I think it gives us a window into the fact that they may not actually be treating ventilation as seriously as they should be,” Huffman said.

A Window Into Indoor Air

The coronavirus spreads through tiny, airborne droplets known as aerosols. Improving indoor ventilation reduces the concentration of these aerosols and the risk of infection in an indoor space, but there is no easy way for members of the public to measure the ventilation rate — let alone the accumulation of viral aerosols — in shared spaces.

“Ideally there’d be some machine that cost $100, and it starts beeping if the virus is in the air,” said Jose-Luis Jimenez, an aerosol scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, who is sending a carbon dioxide monitor to school with his son. But in the absence of such a device, he said, “CO2 is something that provides an affordable and very meaningful shortcut.”

Every time we exhale, we expel not just aerosols but also carbon dioxide; the worse the ventilation, the more carbon dioxide builds up in an occupied room.

“If we see the CO2 rising, then that also implies that the concentration of aerosols are rising,” Huffman said. “Even just bringing sensor for a day or two can give you a really interesting and useful window into the world of the ventilation of that space.”

Jeanne Norris, who lives in the St. Louis area, said that she bought her monitor after losing confidence in officials in her son’s school district.

“They just hadn’t been very transparent about their ventilation,” she said. “They say that it’s fine and that they did their own testing, but then they wouldn’t share that data with me.”

Norris and her husband are both science teachers, and so far their data suggest that the ventilation is excellent in both of their classrooms. But CO2 levels in her son’s classroom sometimes surpass 1,300 parts per million. The CDC recommends that indoor carbon dioxide levels remain below 800 ppm.

After she collects more data, she plans to take her findings to school officials and ask them to improve the ventilation. “I’m willing to be creative and brainstorm with them,” she said.

Also read |&nbsp;

Some parents have gotten results. When Jeremy Chrysler, of Conway, Arkansas, sent a monitor in with his 13-year-old daughter this fall, the CO2 readings were a sky-high 4,000 ppm.

He brought his findings to district officials, who discovered that two components of the school’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system were not working properly. After the units were fixed, CO2 levels plummeted.

“What my measurements showed was, hey, measuring CO2 can identify problems, and sometimes those problems are easy to fix,” he said.

Although Rothwell has not persuaded her son’s school to move lunch outdoors, the principal has said he is committed to improving the ventilation in the cafeteria, she said.

Results May Vary

“There are some success stories,” said Kimberly Prather, an atmospheric chemist at the University of California, San Diego. “Unfortunately I’ve heard more parents rejected.”

After Shanon Kerr, of Waterloo, Ontario, found high CO2 levels in some of her daughter’s school spaces, she asked district officials to monitor indoor air quality throughout the building, even offering up her own CO2 monitor. “They’ve been very dismissive,” she said.

In an email to The New York Times, Loretta Notten, director of education of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, said that follow-up testing in the classrooms Kerr identified revealed that carbon dioxide levels “were within acceptable parameters.”

Air quality testing is done on an as-needed basis, she said: “The Board does not intend on performing ongoing monitoring of carbon dioxide.”

Graham Freeman, the father of two boys in Santa Cruz, California, said his request to send CO2 monitors to school with his sons was denied.

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Kris Munro, superintendent of Santa Cruz City Schools, said she is confident in the ventilation upgrades the district performed last winter and that it would be inappropriate to put individual students in the position of monitoring school air quality.

“It’s our responsibility to assure every space is safe,” she said. “Not just to have individuals coming on campus to find out: Is a specific space safe?”

Freeman has been sending the monitors into school anyway, tucked into the pockets of his sons’ cargo pants. He’s been pleasantly surprised by the readings, which have remained under 700 ppm as long as the classroom doors and windows have been open.

But the monitors did capture a small spike, when CO2 rose above 900 ppm, during a lockdown drill at his son’s middle school, when the teacher closed the classroom door.

So his sons will continue taking the devices to school for the indefinite future. “We’re going to be wearing a lot of REI cargo pants and CO2 monitors in the pockets,” he said.

A Monitor in Every Classroom

There are limitations to the monitoring. Some devices are more reliable than others, and the readings can be skewed by a variety of factors, including where the monitor is placed.

Children can still catch the virus in spaces with low CO2 levels and good ventilation. And high-quality air filters can trap viral aerosols but have no effect on carbon dioxide levels. So in schools that have installed these filters, CO2 readings alone may overestimate the risk of viral transmission.

But even in the absence of the virus, reducing indoor carbon dioxide levels can have benefits. Studies show that even moderately high levels of the gas may muddle thinking and that improving ventilation can boost performance on cognitive tasks.

Of course, many families cannot afford a $100 air quality monitor — and they should not have to, parents and scientists said.

Chrysler, whose CO2 readings prompted his Arkansas district to repair its HVAC system, is now lobbying officials to buy air quality monitors for every classroom in the district.

Pointing to Belgium, which has mandated CO2 monitors in restaurants, gyms and other buildings, Jimenez said he would like all public indoor spaces to provide permanent real-time displays of the carbon dioxide levels: “This is something that we should do permanently in schools but also in all places where we share air.”

When Lizzie Rothwell, an architect in Philadelphia, sent her son to third grade this fall, she stocked his blue L.L. Bean backpack with pencils, wide-ruled paper — and a portable carbon dioxide monitor.

When Lizzie Rothwell, an architect in Philadelphia, sent her son to third grade this fall, she stocked his blue L.L. Bean backpack with pencils, wide-ruled paper — and a portable carbon dioxide monitor. The device gave her a quick way to assess how much fresh air was flowing through the school. Low levels of CO2 would indicate that it was well ventilated, reducing her son’s odds of catching the coronavirus. But she quickly discovered that during lunch, CO2 levels in the cafeteria rose to nearly double those recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She shared what she’d learned with the principal and asked if students could eat outside instead. “He expressed surprise that I had any data at all,” she said. Rothwell is one of a growing number of parents who are sneaking CO2 monitors into schools in a clandestine effort to make sure their children’s classrooms are safe. Aranet, which makes a monitor popular with parents, says orders have doubled since the new school year began. Some school systems have made the monitors part of their official pandemic precautions. New York City has distributed the devices to every public school, and the British government has announced plans to do likewise. But elsewhere, parents are taking matters into their own hands, sneaking in the monitors — which can cost $100 or more — in their children’s backpacks or pants pockets. Although the devices, which can be set to take readings every few minutes, work best when exposed to the open air, they can generate informative data as long as they are not completely sealed away, said Dr. Alex Huffman, an aerosol scientist at the University of Denver who has sent the monitors to school with his children. (He recommended leaving backpacks or pants pockets unzipped, or tucking the monitor into the mesh water-bottle pouch that is now standard on many backpacks.) Many of these parents have forged a community on Twitter, where they are using the hashtag #CovidCO2 to trade tips about how to smuggle the monitors into the classroom, how to interpret the data they are collecting and how to approach the school with their findings. Some school officials have frowned upon these guerrilla air-monitoring efforts, but parents say the devices have armed them with data to advocate for their children. Also read | Jeff Bezos shares an old article predicting Amazon's failure, Elon Musk replies “It’s possible that the school district may not be all that happy with this because I think it gives us a window into the fact that they may not actually be treating ventilation as seriously as they should be,” Huffman said. A Window Into Indoor Air The coronavirus spreads through tiny, airborne droplets known as aerosols. Improving indoor ventilation reduces the concentration of these aerosols and the risk of infection in an indoor space, but there is no easy way for members of the public to measure the ventilation rate — let alone the accumulation of viral aerosols — in shared spaces. “Ideally there’d be some machine that cost $100, and it starts beeping if the virus is in the air,” said Jose-Luis Jimenez, an aerosol scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, who is sending a carbon dioxide monitor to school with his son. But in the absence of such a device, he said, “CO2 is something that provides an affordable and very meaningful shortcut.” Every time we exhale, we expel not just aerosols but also carbon dioxide; the worse the ventilation, the more carbon dioxide builds up in an occupied room. “If we see the CO2 rising, then that also implies that the concentration of aerosols are rising,” Huffman said. “Even just bringing sensor for a day or two can give you a really interesting and useful window into the world of the ventilation of that space.” Jeanne Norris, who lives in the St. Louis area, said that she bought her monitor after losing confidence in officials in her son’s school district. “They just hadn’t been very transparent about their ventilation,” she said. “They say that it’s fine and that they did their own testing, but then they wouldn’t share that data with me.” Norris and her husband are both science teachers, and so far their data suggest that the ventilation is excellent in both of their classrooms. But CO2 levels in her son’s classroom sometimes surpass 1,300 parts per million. The CDC recommends that indoor carbon dioxide levels remain below 800 ppm. After she collects more data, she plans to take her findings to school officials and ask them to improve the ventilation. “I’m willing to be creative and brainstorm with them,” she said. Also read | Some parents have gotten results. When Jeremy Chrysler, of Conway, Arkansas, sent a monitor in with his 13-year-old daughter this fall, the CO2 readings were a sky-high 4,000 ppm. He brought his findings to district officials, who discovered that two components of the school’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system were not working properly. After the units were fixed, CO2 levels plummeted. “What my measurements showed was, hey, measuring CO2 can identify problems, and sometimes those problems are easy to fix,” he said. Although Rothwell has not persuaded her son’s school to move lunch outdoors, the principal has said he is committed to improving the ventilation in the cafeteria, she said. Results May Vary “There are some success stories,” said Kimberly Prather, an atmospheric chemist at the University of California, San Diego. “Unfortunately I’ve heard more parents rejected.” After Shanon Kerr, of Waterloo, Ontario, found high CO2 levels in some of her daughter’s school spaces, she asked district officials to monitor indoor air quality throughout the building, even offering up her own CO2 monitor. “They’ve been very dismissive,” she said. In an email to The New York Times, Loretta Notten, director of education of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, said that follow-up testing in the classrooms Kerr identified revealed that carbon dioxide levels “were within acceptable parameters.” Air quality testing is done on an as-needed basis, she said: “The Board does not intend on performing ongoing monitoring of carbon dioxide.” Graham Freeman, the father of two boys in Santa Cruz, California, said his request to send CO2 monitors to school with his sons was denied. Also read | Richest 1 per cent of Americans now own more wealth than the entire middle class Kris Munro, superintendent of Santa Cruz City Schools, said she is confident in the ventilation upgrades the district performed last winter and that it would be inappropriate to put individual students in the position of monitoring school air quality. “It’s our responsibility to assure every space is safe,” she said. “Not just to have individuals coming on campus to find out: Is a specific space safe?” Freeman has been sending the monitors into school anyway, tucked into the pockets of his sons’ cargo pants. He’s been pleasantly surprised by the readings, which have remained under 700 ppm as long as the classroom doors and windows have been open. But the monitors did capture a small spike, when CO2 rose above 900 ppm, during a lockdown drill at his son’s middle school, when the teacher closed the classroom door. So his sons will continue taking the devices to school for the indefinite future. “We’re going to be wearing a lot of REI cargo pants and CO2 monitors in the pockets,” he said. A Monitor in Every Classroom There are limitations to the monitoring. Some devices are more reliable than others, and the readings can be skewed by a variety of factors, including where the monitor is placed. Children can still catch the virus in spaces with low CO2 levels and good ventilation. And high-quality air filters can trap viral aerosols but have no effect on carbon dioxide levels. So in schools that have installed these filters, CO2 readings alone may overestimate the risk of viral transmission. But even in the absence of the virus, reducing indoor carbon dioxide levels can have benefits. Studies show that even moderately high levels of the gas may muddle thinking and that improving ventilation can boost performance on cognitive tasks. Of course, many families cannot afford a $100 air quality monitor — and they should not have to, parents and scientists said. Chrysler, whose CO2 readings prompted his Arkansas district to repair its HVAC system, is now lobbying officials to buy air quality monitors for every classroom in the district. Pointing to Belgium, which has mandated CO2 monitors in restaurants, gyms and other buildings, Jimenez said he would like all public indoor spaces to provide permanent real-time displays of the carbon dioxide levels: “This is something that we should do permanently in schools but also in all places where we share air.”

The hot new back-to-school accessory? An air quality monitor.

The 18-year-old arrested for shooting three people at Timberview High School in Arlington, Texas has been released on a $75,000 bail.

Timothy George Simpkins walked out of the jail on Thursday, straight to a white Mercedes sedan, without talking to reporters. Simpkins was released by County Magistrate Judge Brooke Panuthos into house arrest enforced by a GPS monitor.&nbsp;

Also, it was told that he had to undergo drug and alcohol testing and stay away from the victims.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-high-schools-falls-prey-to-yet-another-shooting-at-least-4-injured-418710">Also read |&nbsp;Texas high schools falls prey to yet another shooting; at least 4 injured</a>

On Wednesday, the Timberview High School was targeted by Simpkins as he opened fire in the school premises after a fight broke out in the school.&nbsp;

At least four people have been injured.&nbsp;Two of the victims were still in the hospital as of Thursday. The victims include a 15-year-old boy in critical condition and a 25-year-old man in good condition, the authorities said.

The latter has been identified as Calvin Pettitt, an English teacher who jumped in to break up the fight between Simpkins and another teen.

The school was immediately out on a lockdown as the students and all staff members were rushed to safe spots in the premises.

The authorities were able to quickly set up a parent reunification point at the Center for Performing Arts located at 1110 W. Debbie. "Officers will be at that scene. Students will eventually be bused to that location after the school is completely secured," the police department informed all concerned parents through a tweet.

The 18-year-old arrested for shooting three people at Timberview High School in Arlington, Texas has been released on a $75,000 bail. Timothy George Simpkins walked out of the jail on Thursday, straight to a white Mercedes sedan, without talking to reporters.

The 18-year-old arrested for shooting three people at Timberview High School in Arlington, Texas has been released on a $75,000 bail. Timothy George Simpkins walked out of the jail on Thursday, straight to a white Mercedes sedan, without talking to reporters. Simpkins was released by County Magistrate Judge Brooke Panuthos into house arrest enforced by a GPS monitor. Also, it was told that he had to undergo drug and alcohol testing and stay away from the victims. Also read | Texas high schools falls prey to yet another shooting; at least 4 injured On Wednesday, the Timberview High School was targeted by Simpkins as he opened fire in the school premises after a fight broke out in the school. At least four people have been injured. Two of the victims were still in the hospital as of Thursday. The victims include a 15-year-old boy in critical condition and a 25-year-old man in good condition, the authorities said. The latter has been identified as Calvin Pettitt, an English teacher who jumped in to break up the fight between Simpkins and another teen. The school was immediately out on a lockdown as the students and all staff members were rushed to safe spots in the premises. The authorities were able to quickly set up a parent reunification point at the Center for Performing Arts located at 1110 W. Debbie. "Officers will be at that scene. Students will eventually be bused to that location after the school is completely secured," the police department informed all concerned parents through a tweet.

Texas school shooting suspect released on bail

Women teachers, who were teaching in all-boys-school in Kabul, are facing an uncertain future after a ban was imposed on them from going to work by the Taliban-led Ministry of Education.

Aziza, who is a chemistry teacher in Ghulam Haidar Khan high school in Kabul and is teaching for the last 33 years said, "I have taught chemistry for 33 years and now I am home with an uncertain fate. It has been over a month that I have been worried about my future."

Asadullah Kohistani, who is the Principal of Ghulam Haydar Khan high school said that the Taliban-led government has decided to ban female teachers from work and now the schools are struggling with a shortage of teachers.

"Women teachers do not come to schools, and we are facing a shortage of teachers," Kohistani said.

Students also voiced their concerns by saying that the ban on female teachers from going to work is creating a lot of problems, in education.

"We are facing a serious problem. Male teachers are unable to teach all the classes."

Meanwhile, Noor Mohammad Mutawakil, who is a member of the Taliban cultural commission under the Taliban-led Ministry of Information and Culture said, "The government is discussing these issues to find out how female teachers can continue their work and girl students can continue their education.

"On Friday, a group of women in Kabul protested against the closing of schools and colleges for female students, saying that this is a violation of their fundamental rights in Afghan society.

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan once again after 20 years, experts also believe that Afghan women are most likely to face an uncertain future under the terrorist group regime.

Women teachers, who were teaching in all-boys-school in Kabul, are facing an uncertain future after a ban was imposed on them from going to work by the Taliban-led Ministry of Education.

Women teachers, who were teaching in all-boys-school in Kabul, are facing an uncertain future after a ban was imposed on them from going to work by the Taliban-led Ministry of Education. Aziza, who is a chemistry teacher in Ghulam Haidar Khan high school in Kabul and is teaching for the last 33 years said, "I have taught chemistry for 33 years and now I am home with an uncertain fate. It has been over a month that I have been worried about my future." Asadullah Kohistani, who is the Principal of Ghulam Haydar Khan high school said that the Taliban-led government has decided to ban female teachers from work and now the schools are struggling with a shortage of teachers. "Women teachers do not come to schools, and we are facing a shortage of teachers," Kohistani said. Students also voiced their concerns by saying that the ban on female teachers from going to work is creating a lot of problems, in education. "We are facing a serious problem. Male teachers are unable to teach all the classes." Meanwhile, Noor Mohammad Mutawakil, who is a member of the Taliban cultural commission under the Taliban-led Ministry of Information and Culture said, "The government is discussing these issues to find out how female teachers can continue their work and girl students can continue their education. "On Friday, a group of women in Kabul protested against the closing of schools and colleges for female students, saying that this is a violation of their fundamental rights in Afghan society. As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan once again after 20 years, experts also believe that Afghan women are most likely to face an uncertain future under the terrorist group regime.

Women teachers face uncertain future after Taliban bans them from schools

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