Kid Reporters On Assignment!

Trip to New York, hard work, great fun, new friends.

My greatest experience ever has to be my trip to New York with Scholastic as a Kid Reporter. Along with four other kids, I covered panel discussions during the NBC Education Nation conference at 30 Rock, the international headquarters for NBC Universal.

I flew in on Friday night and since the other kids had not arrived yet, I had some downtime with just my parents. We visited the Empire State Building at midnight, then the next day we traveled around the city, to Wall Street, the Statue of Liberty, and even to the Majestic Theater in Broadway where we watched the Phantom of the Opera. Then, on Sunday, it was work time.

I met with my editor and the kid reporters and we got started on our stories and videos. Kid Reporters Mariam El Hasan, Kenny Figueroa, Grace McManus, and I split up into two groups.

Mariam and I went to the Teacher Town Hall, which was moderated by Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News. I interviewed National Education Association President Dennis van Roekel and also the Executive Producer of the Town Hall. Then I met Brian Williams, who had already been interviewed by Mariam. I said I was his biggest fan. He replied, “It’s nice to have such a big fan in someone so young!”

That night the kid reporters had dinner together at the Barking Dog, where Kid Reporter Cecilia Gault joined us. Kenny entertained us with his magic tricks. We all watched with a critical eye, looking for the trick behind the magic, even my editors Ms. Freeman and Mr. Dante. Kenny told us he wants to be a skateboarder, CEO, and magician when he grows up.

Mr. Dante said, “I can imagine Kenny being a CEO and holding a meeting at the bottom of the Empire State Building and then right as it starts, he jumps on his skateboard and takes off up the side of the building!”

Kenny was the group clown, often joking and showing us his tricks, but he worked hard and flawlessly. He interviewed the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and then tried to get a representative of Research in Motion to reveal his secrets about a new computer tablet that will soon be competing with the iPad. He should add reporter to his list of careers!

Mariam and I teamed up again and went to the eighth floor of 30 Rock where we covered the Job One panel. She interviewed Sally Ride and I talked to Dick Parsons, Chairman of Citigroup and former Time Warner CEO.Grace was at a lunch where Top Chef competitors were trying to cook healthy and delicious meals on a school lunch budget.

On the last day, Tuesday, Kenny interviewed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, while Cecilia was at a conference called “The Parent and the Village.” She interviewed Caroline Kennedy and others.

I left with Mariam to go to the Today Show where we were interviewed by anchors Ann Curry and Al Roker. We also met California Representative George Miller, who was also on the show. I told him that I was going to get a college degree in political science. He asked, “Are you running against me?” That punch line is something I’ll never forget.

The kid reporters reunited at Starbucks, which we adopted as a temporary office because it had wireless Internet, air conditioning, and (for the editors) coffee! The Kid Reporters made frequent trips to the press room for free potatoe chips, pretzels, and water.

With about two hours left together, we were working hard on completing our stories. This trip turned out to be a blast and I learned so much on the current state of education in America.

—Andrew Liang

PHOTO: Scholastic Kid Reporters line up at the Starbucks in the basement of 30 Rock in New York City, where they worked for three days covering the NBC Education Nation conference. (Photo Courtesy Scholastic, Inc.)

The Today Show Appearance

It's rough, but you get the idea.

Here's a video of the Today Show appearance by Kid Reporters Mariam El Hasan and Andrew Liang. They were interviewed by Today Show hosts Ann Curry and Al Roke and were asked about their experiences covering the NBC Education Nation summit this week.

This footage was taken by one of the Kid Reporters' beaming proud editors witha small handheld camera. We were standing just off the set and filmed it as it happened. Our apologies for the poor sound! We thought it would be interesting to see what it's like to be on the show!

Click on play to find out!

—Editor Suzanne Freeman

VIDEO: Scholastic Inc.

Kids Count, Even if They Can't Vote

Head of NYC schools and head of former Secretary of Education speak out.

On Monday, I attended a panel called "Kids Can't Vote," which was a conversation among education officials on how to run our public school system in the best interests of the kids who attend, rather than the politicians who set budgets and determine policies. The panel was part of NBC's Education Nation conference held in New York City this week.

David Gregory, MSNBC anchor and host of Meet the Press on NBC, moderated. Afterward, I chatted with two of the panelists—Joel Klein, Chancellor of the New York Department of Education, and Margaret Spellings, former Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush. They both spoke about student involvement and the government's role in the American education system. Click on the play buttons to hear what they had to say! 

—Andrew Liang

VIDEO: Scholastic, Inc. 

 

VIDEO: Scholastic, Inc.

The Man in Charge of School Lunches

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack talks about nutritious—and delicious—food at school

We keep hearing: You can’t learn if you are hungry. That’s why the federal government started breakfast and lunch programs for public schools.

So why aren’t those lunches healthy? And more important, why don’t they taste better?

Kid Reporter Grace McManus asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the person in charge of the school lunch program nationwide, about his job and what he’s doing to make things better in your school cafeteria.

Click on play to find out what he had to say.

And send in your comments about your school lunch? Is what you eat everyday nutritious and delicious? How would you improve things if you could?

VIDEO: Courtesy Scholastic Inc.

The Today Show Spotlight!

Kid Reporters sit down with Al Roker and Ann Curry on live TV!

Being on the NBC Today Show was like being in Candy Land: it was a dream come true!

Kid Reporter Andrew Liang and I were interviewed on the Today Show about our experiences at Education Nation, a conference held in New York this week. The conference was put on by NBC and Scholastic, among others.

Not only did we get to see behind the scenes, but we were interviewed by Ann Curry and Al Roker! It was absolutely remarkable!

When Andrew and I got to the studio, they took us to fix our hair and makeup. Once they had made sure that we were gorgeous and camera ready, we were brought to the green room.

The green room isn’t really green—it’s where everyone who is about to appear on the show can go an wait comfortably for their appointment time. Kind of like a doctor's waiting room, only with snacks! But we were too excited to eat.

We met some really friendly people, including California Representative George Miller!

When It was time for Andrew and I to go on, we were taken to the actual Today Show set. The tech crew hooked us up with lapel microphones and we were ready to go.

Before the interview, Ann Curry introduced herself to us. She was very kind and told us an inspiring story about a school where 61 percent of the students come from low income families. The school began to hire teachers who loved the students and had the passion to teach them. In the course of seven years, student test scores improved over 30 percent!

At a commercial break, we were lead to the couches on the set to sit down for the interview.

Being interviewed by Al Roker and Ann Curry was really cool. Andrew and I had a lot of fun. Everyone was joking around at the end, saying we would probably take their jobs one day. Don't worry Anne and Al! I still have to finish school.

—Mariam El Hasan

PHOTO: NBC Today Show reporters Ann Curry and Al Roker with Scholastic Kid Reporters Andrew Liang and Mariam El Hasan on Tuesday, September 28, 2010. (Photo Courtesy Scholastic Inc.)

In the Today Show Greenroom

You never know who you might meet on the Today Show!

The NBC Today Show is one of the most famous morning shows ever, hosted by Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, Meredith Vieira, and Al Roker. The headquarters are in New York City, where I was this week, along with other Kid Reporters, covering the NBC Education Nation Summit.

One of these Kid Reporters was Mariam El Hasan, whom I had teamed up with during several panel discussions during the summit. We were scheduled to both appear on the Today Show  to talk about our experiences.

We all met in a coffee shop in the basement of 30 Rock, home of NBC's world headquarters. At the Today Show set, we were put in the green room (which isn't actually green). The green room is where guests on the show wait before they go on live TV.

We waited there with another guest, Congressman George Miller from California. Miller has been in the House of Representatives since 1975 and is also the Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee.

He is a tall, nice man. He made us feel very comfortable talking to him.  Once he introduced himself, Mariam and I both jumped up and shook his hand. He launched us into a conversation.

Mariam quickly found a common topic. When he asked where we were from, she said, “Orange County, California.” He said that he was from California too and she said, “No way!”

“You know that there’s another part of California, right?” he said as we started laughing. Representative Miller represents a part of northern California. Mariam lives in southern California.

The Congressman then talked to us about school and covering the panels in the Education Nation. He asked us what we thought about journalism.

Mariam said it was her future career. I had a different answer.

“I want to have a degree in political science,” I said. 

He jokingly asked, “Are you running against me?”

Then I told him I wanted to become a CEO when I grew up, which my experiences in journalism should help with. He seemed to relax a bit.

My dad asked for a picture with him as Mr. Miller was told to enter the studio for his own segment. He went on right before we did.

“No company will turn you down when you have a picture with me,” Miller joked as we all posed for the cameras. I think that he is one of the funniest people I have ever met.

We walked up a few minutes later and saw his interview on education with Al Roker and Ann Curry. Those two would later interview us!

After he was done, I shook his hand one last time before he left. Then it was time for our interview! But that’s another story that my colleague Mariam is writing right now at a table in Starbucks. When I have memories of my appearance on the Today Show in the future, I won’t forget about Congressman George Miller.

—Andrew Liang

PHOTO: Representative George Miller with Kid Reporters Andrew Liang and Mariam El Hasan in the "green room" at the NBC Today Show on Tuesday, September 28, 2010. (Photo Courtesy Scholastic Inc.)

Even Astronauts Are Scared

Astronaut Sally Ride:  Sometimes it's smart to be to be afraid, it's never smart to be dumb.

The first American woman in space, Sally Ride, says science and math are important subjects in a well rounded education even if you don't want to blast off into outer space.

Kid Reporter spoke to Ms. Ride after a panel on how to increase the emphasis and interest in the two subjects in schools. Click on the play button to find out about what it was like to ride on the space shuttle and what that has to do with education.

—Mariam El Hasan

 

VIDEO: Scholastic Inc.

How to Use an iPod for School

Change your thinking about schools and get students excited about school again!

Milton Chen wrote a book called Education Nation. The title is now being used for an education conference put on by NBC News, Scholastic and others. Chen, who is head of the George Lucas Educational Foundation, was part of a panel about how technology can help improve education.

"My fantasy school doesn't look much like a school, I wouldn't even call it a school," Chen said. "I would call it a learning center. and it would be open all year around."

Click on the play button to find out what Chen means by a community-based, year-around school! He may change your way of thinking about schools.

—Grace McManus

 

VIDEO: Scholastic, Inc.

 

 

Teacher Shortage No Joke

There is a crisis in the country, said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at a live broadcast at NBC's Education Nation today.

"We need more teachers in schools," he said from the stage of NBC's comedy sketch program Saturday Night LIve. The stage, which normally looks like Grand Central Station, took on a more serious look and feel for the education conference.

Seated with Duncan was NBC newscaster Tom Brokaw. Together they took questions from the audience of education experts as well as from college students in Florida, Arizona, and Washington, D.C., via satellite.

The room was cold and industrial looking except for the stage, which was a blaze of lights.

Secretary Duncan began his remarks with a plea to the college students listening via satellite: please consider becoming teachers!

"We are going to travel the country to recruit the next generation of teachers," he said. "This is going to be the largest teacher recruiting effort ever in this country."

Math and science teachers are especially needed, he continued. He also made a plea for more men and minorities to get into the profession. He called on the education departments at colleges to work on recruiting more teaching candidates.

Teachers need to be valued more in this society, he said. This happens when you pay teachers more and when you understand that teaching is the most important job in the country.

I got to talk to Secretary Duncan after the press conference. I asked him about paying teachers more.

"People have been saying that for years," I said. "Realistically, how are you going to that?"

He had a ready—and passionate—answer, at least for providing incentives for college students to get education degrees.

"With 10 years of public service, all your college loans are forgiven," he said. " Up to that point, it's reduced to 50 percent of your income. That's a huge, huge financial incentive."

He also pointed out that all of the work can't be done by the Department of Education, or the administrators, or even the teachers. It's a community problem with a community solution.

"We have to promote parental engagement," he said. "Schools have to be open longer hours. They have to open up their doors more to the community."

—Kid Reporter Kenny Figueroa

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Kenny Figueroa at a press conference with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

 

Nutritious and Delicious!

At Education Nation, it’s all about helping kids learn.  But kids can’t learn if they don’t have nutritious food.

When I went to the Education Nation summit at NBC’s Rockefeller Plaza, I found out that there was going to be a cook off to find the healthiest — and tastiest —  school lunches. Four past competitors from the reality cooking show Top Chef were given a budget of $1.31 — the price of a regular, unhealthy, school lunch — to spend on the ingredients of healthier, tastier alternatives. Four children from local New York schools were appointed as judges. After all, kids are the ones who will be eating the food! Their names were Maya, Lila, Ryan, and Maliq.

"My first thought was that I wasn’t going to like it, but I was going to try it anyway, and if I didn’t like it, I’d probably feel like vomiting," said Maya.

Lila said that after she first saw the food, she thought, "it looks not so healthy and very disgusting. But it tastes good, and it’s very healthy." 

I also interviewed Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture. He was at the competition because the Agriculture Department is responsible for making sure kids in public schools get nutritious lunches while at school. As part of his job, he has committed himself to making sure every student in America has access to great tasting, healthy lunches.

"Thirty-one million children, every day go to the school lunch room for school lunch," Secretary Vilsack told me after the contest. “A lot of children today don’t get the right kind of food for lots of different reasons, and we need to improve on our school lunch program."

"It’s helping youngsters eat well, so they can learn well," he added.

The dishes the kids taste-tested were chicken stir-fry, vegetable pizza, meatloaf sandwich, and Mexican chicken.  After trying the food, the kids voted and in the end the chicken stir-fry won. It was made by Ariane Duarte, and she won $1,000 to donate to a charity of her choice.

The school lunches competition was a lot of fun! And when it was over I learned that — to quote mothers around the world — even if the food looks bad, eat it anyway!  It could be delicious, and even healthy!

                                                                                                            —Kid Reporter Grace McManus

PHOTO: The kid taste testers bite into the four school lunches created by past Top Chef contestants. (Photo: Dante A. Ciampaglia)