Donald E. Heller We recently received the results of our students’ performance on the Michigan Department of Education’s Professional Readiness Examination. The department requires students to pass all three parts of the PRE test – reading, writing, and math – before they are allowed to do their student teaching. In our college, we require students […]
A new day for Michigan teaching programs
Posted inTalent & Education
Outdated spending cap keeps state from screening out less-qualified teachers
Comparison of teacher certification costs by state Lower costs, simpler tests – Michigan charges less for teacher certification tests than surrounding states. Lower fees mean Michigan has less money to pay for tests rigorous enough to screen out less-prepared aspiring teachers. State General test Content-specific test Total Michigan $50 $75 $125 Indiana $114 $150 $264 […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Deck slanted toward one-party government in Michigan
Last Sunday, the New York Times published an in-depth article on the rapidly growing number of states in which one political party – usually the GOP – controls all of state government. That’s now the case in Michigan, where Republican Rick Snyder is governor and the GOP runs both houses of the legislature, and has […]
Posted inBrunch with Bridge
Fight against invasive species requires many soldiers, and maybe you
SPACE INVADERS: Lake Michigan’s dunes comprise the largest freshwater system in the world, which means the battle against invasive plant species requires every set of informed eyes we can muster. (Photo by Flickr user Ken Bosma; used under Creative Commons license) I love winter for a lot of reasons – the beauty of snow, going […]
Posted inBrunch with Bridge
As ice fishing starts, a cautionary tale for ‘hard water’ anglers
COLD-WATER CATCH: Ice fishing is one of Michigan’s most popular winter sports, but one that is fraught with peril. (Photo by Flickr user Corvair Owner; used under Creative Commons license) I must have been 6 or 7 – old enough to go ice fishing with my father, but small enough to fly over four feet […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Bike-share programs rolling out across Michigan
click to enlarge When people think of getting around Michigan, it’s safe to say that bicycles are not the first things that come to mind. But bicycles, and specifically the urban bike-rental programs known as bike sharing, are starting to bubble into the conversation in cities across Michigan, from Detroit to Ann Arbor and Lansing […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail rolls through “America’s Most Beautiful Place”
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in the pinky finger of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is already a well-known destination for hiking, sunbathing and beholding the majestic vistas over Lake Michigan’s blue waters. It is also becoming a hot spot for bicyclists. This July, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, which currently stretches five miles from the […]
Posted inQuality of Life
How bike sharing works
Bike-share programs in a handful of Michigan cities each have their own rules, but most share a few common traits Bikes are available for rental by the hour, day or week. Bike-sharing participants generally get a discount by purchasing an annual membership, costing anywhere from $60 to $90. Members are issued a key tag to […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Is bike sharing right for your community?
Bike-share programs are becoming more popular in communities across the world. What would make a bike share right for your city or town? Consider these factors: An active bicycling community, coupled with bike lanes or paths – Cyclists are often the first ambassadors for bike sharing, and bicycling organizations frequently get involved in hosting “how […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
I want to ride my bicycle, and you might try it, too
Amber Hunt I’ve been riding my bike to work from Ferndale to Detroit for a while now. Three years ago, people thought this sounded crazy. But as bicycle ridership has increased across the country, fewer people give me weird looks when I walk into the office holding my helmet these days. Part of the reason […]
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