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Using
NewsHour Extra Feature Stories
Overview:
NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret
key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period,
but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.
Warm Up: Use
initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your
students know.
Main Activity:
Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions
on the reading comprehension handout.
Discussion:
Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the
issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate
different opinions.
Follow-up: Students
can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and
send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]
for possible publication.
Evaluation:
Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions
and/or their editorial.
Story: Paying More
for College, Getting Less, 9/15/03
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec03/collegetuition.html
Initiating Questions:
1. What do state
governments spend money on? Where does the money come from?
2. Do you think it is a good idea for state governments to support public
colleges that offer low tuition rates for in-state applicants? Why or
why not?
3. States across the country are having to cut their budgets. Why do you
think that is happening?
Reading Comprehension
Questions: (click
here for printout)
1. Why are states
cutting the budgets of public universities?
Because of the
sluggish economy, states have had to increase spending on programs such
as welfare and health care, while taking in less tax revenue due to
the high level of unemployment and the slowdown in the business sector.
2. Which state universities
are raising their tuition the most?
The highest percentage
tuition increase of the 75 schools surveyed was at Northern Arizona
University, where tuition for in-state residents rose from $2,583 to
$3,593. At the City University of New York, tuition for residents increased
from $3,200 to $4,000.
3. Give three examples
of changes students may encounter when they return to school this fall.
The University
of California system will have to wait until 2005 to open their new
campus -- a year later than planned. At the University of Missouri,
students can expect larger classes, limited course availability and
restricted library and recreation center hours as a result.
Many schools
have reduced costs by offering fewer sections of certain classes, making
it harder for students to take the classes they need to graduate on
time.
4. What is the relationship
between financial aid and tuition increases?
While financial
aid has offered relief to many students in the past, 17 states decreased
their total aid, according to a report released by the National Center
for Public Policy and Higher Education.
At the same time
Massachusetts decreased its aid by 24 percent, tuition went up by 24
percent. In Missouri, tuition increased by 20 percent, but the state
decreased financial aid by 5 percent.
"The cumulative
effect is a major assault on college affordability," said Callan.
"This comes at a time when unemployment is high, personal income
is basically flat, and college-level education and training is a requirement
for most well-paying jobs."
Discussion Activity
(more research might be needed):
- What are the possible
consequences of this rise in tuition costs?
- How do people pay
for college if their families cannot afford the tuition?
- How important is
a college degree? What opportunities does it open up? What are some
other options?
- Write an essay
about why you want to go to college and address any concerns you might
have about paying for it.
Send your completed
editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org).
Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.
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