A new laws suit is challenging teacher job protections. How could this change the landscape of California public education? Is the current education system leaving gifted students behind? Music's biggest day is almost here and we're talking Grammy's. During Filmweek, Steve Coogan joins Larry to discuss acting, writing, and "Philomena."
Lawsuit challenges California teacher job protections
A groundbreaking lawsuit that seeks to undo teacher job protections is scheduled to kick off Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit was filed two years ago on behalf of a then-student Beatriz Vergara and eight other public school students.
Their suit alleges that teacher job protections are creating inequality by using seniority rather than teacher quality to determine layoffs.
The non-profit group Students Matter has hired well-known lawyer Ted Boutrous to represent the plaintiffs. He plans to argue that job protections reduce the quality of the pool of state teachers and leaves ineffective teachers on the job only because of seniority.
The teachers unions argue that job protections are good for kids and is an incentive to attract quality teachers. Arguments in the case open on Monday.
Should seniority be a factor in teacher layoffs? Do job protections improve the quality of education? How could this change the landscape of California public education?
Guest:
Ben Austin, Executive Director of Parent Revolution and he is on the board of Students Matter
Eric Heins, Vice President of the California Teacher’s Association
Are 'gifted' students being hurt by a race to the middle?
It's no secret that the United States could do a better job of educating our children.
The U.S. routinely comes in well below other world leaders when it comes to ranking kids' abilities in reading, science and math. Now a decades-long study that started in 1971 tracks some of our country's best and brightest students.
It's found that these 'gifted' kids, who went on to become successful professionals in a wide range of fields, succeeded despite their education. The researchers argue that these students received less time and attention than kids who were in remedial classes, and therefore were more or less 'ignored' by their teachers.
The controversial No Child Left Behind law did help low-achieving students do better in the classroom, but a 2008 report found that it actually caused teachers to pay even less attention to high achieving students.
Weigh In:
What is your experience with 'gifted' programs? Are 'gifted' students being hurt by a race to the middle? Because higher achieving students are capable of keeping themselves on track, should they be the focus of teachers' limited time and attention? Should grouping students by ability rather than age help keep kids mentally stimulated?
Guests:
Christopher Weller, staff reporter for Medical Daily and freelance contributor to Newsweek. His latest piece for Newsweek is titled, "America Hates Its Gifted Kids"
David Lubinski, professor of psychology and human development at Vanderbilt University. He oversees the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) project, a longitudinal study on gifted students, at the university
From Lorde and Drake to Kanye and Kendrick: 2014 Grammy Awards
The world of film has the Golden Globes and the Oscars, but Sunday night musicians get their time to shine. The 56th Grammy Awards offers a smorgasbord of sound with rap and hip-hop featuring prominently.
Jay-Z, who has refused to attend the Grammys in the past, leads the way with nine nominations, followed by seven nods apiece for acts including L.A.'s Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Pharrell Williams.
Newcomer, Kacey Musgraves represents country crooners, while New Zealand's Lorde continues to dine out on her hit, 'Royals'.
What are your top hits of 2013? Who would you like to see walk away with an award on Sunday? Are the Grammys a good indicator of what people are really listening to?
Guest:
Lorraine Ali, Music Editor, Los Angeles Times
Simon Vozick-Levinson, Senior Editor, Rolling Stone
Filmweek: Gloria, Like Father, Like Son, Run & Jump and more
Larry and KPCC film critics Wade Major and Tim Cogshell review this week’s releases, including Gloria, Like Father, Like Son, Run & Jump and more. Then, Larry checks in with critic Claudia Puig to hear about the films most deserving of attention at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. TGI-Filmweek!
Gloria
Like Father, Like Son
Run & Jump
Guests:
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and Alt Film Guide
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and producer and host for IGN’s DigiGods.com
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA Today
Steve Coogan on adapting 'Philomena' for the big screen
The Academy is acknowledging Steve Coogan’s serious side. The comedian’s film "Philomena," in which he stars alongside Dame Judi Dench, has received four Oscar nods, including nominations for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Coogan and co-writer Jeff Pope adapted the film from the book (based on a true story) "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee," by Martin Sixsmith, who Coogan plays in the movie. The story tells the story of Philomena’s 50-year search for her son and Sixsmith’s investigation into his whereabouts.
EVENT: FilmWeek 2014 Oscar Preview at the Egyptian Theatre
The film has been critically lauded and has been nominated for several awards this season. What goes into a comedy-drama? How has Coogan’s style adapted and expanded as he takes on new work?
Guest:
Steve Coogan, English actor, stand-up comedian, impressionist, writer and producer. Coogan co-wrote and stars in “Philomena”
AirTalk Live Event: FilmWeek 2014 Oscar Preview at the Egyptian Theatre
Larry Mantle and the KPCC film critics are ready for their close-ups. The 11th annual “FilmWeek on AirTalk” Academy Awards preview is coming to the historic Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard at 1:00pm on Sunday, February 23rd.
Larry will be joined by Andy Klein of the L.A. Times Community Papers chain, Wade Major of IGN's DigiGods.com, Claudia Puig of USA Today, Tim Cogshell of Alt Film Guide, Alynda Wheat of People Magazine, Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor, Henry Sheehan of CriticsAGoGo.com, Charles Solomon of Amazon.com and Lael Loewenstein, KPCC Film Critic.
KPCC 89.3 FM'S "FilmWeek" Oscar Preview 2014 is co-presented by KPCC 89.3 FM and the American Cinematheque.
Purchase tickets at Fandango.com.
AirTalk Live Event: Is there bias against Asian-Americans in university admissions?
Studies suggest that Asian-American students at highly selective universities have mean SAT scores considerably higher than their classmates yet are rejected at a disproportionate rate. Enrollment at the Ivies remains stagnant as the number of Asian students in the US has more than doubled in that period.
Is there a benign explanation for these numbers? Rumors of discriminatory quotas abound -- what’s really happening?
Join us for an AirTalk special event on Wednesday February 12, 2014. 6:30 PM-8:00 PM at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy downtown (Across the Plaza from the Japanese American National).