Across the country, failing students are gifted graduation

After NPR's investigation into how one high school inflated its graduation rate, teachers from across the country wrote in, describing all the ways they're forced to pass students who didn't earn it – or who didn't show up at all.

Ilana Panich-Linsman Life and death: Every year, tens of thousands of American women nearly die giving birth The U.S. has the industrial world’s highest rate of maternal mortality, but for every death in childbirth — 700 to 900 per year — 70 more women suffer hemorrhages, organ failure or other life-threatening complications. That’s more than 1 percent of births, in a country with the highest health care costs in the world. Mark Wilson/Getty Images For middle class, this tax cut will pay for a nice laptop. For the average millionaire, it’ll buy a luxury SUV. Every year. And that’s before the middle-class benefits evaporate, just after President Trump’s prospective second term. After that, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the wealthiest Americans would reap four-fifths of the benefits of this week’s GOP bill. All while adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit. Kate McGee/WAMU Pomp and fraudulence: Across the country, teachers say they are blocked from failing even the worst students Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., trumpeted it loud: Every one of their 164 graduates had been accepted to college. But an investigation by NPR and WAMU found many of those seniors missed far too many days of school to qualify for a diploma. Teachers in many school districts wrote in about all the ways students get pushed across the finish line: "So much nonsense, accepting garbage work, 'adjusting' grades, pressure to 'work with students', etc." Raj K. Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images Why do rapists do it? For one, most feel no guilt about it An Indian psychology student set out to understand their mindset, and in a series of prison interviews found some patterns: justification, excuses, victim-blaming, remorselessness. Not so with the murders she interviewed, who "clearly blamed themselves for their crimes." "They regretted it and realized how their actions had affected other people or destroyed lives. This was not the case with the rapists." Rahmat Gul/AP In hopes of helping some of the world’s most traumatized children, Muppets are headed to the Middle East The $100 million program will launch a regional version of Sesame Street geared toward Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and their home country. The company hopes to provide kids with both academic skills and coping mechanisms, while reflecting their displaced lives. “One of the Muppets may have had to leave home. She may live in a tent. She may become best friends with her new neighbors.” You received this message because you're subscribed to our Best of NPR emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002