Dear Indy,
Major changes are coming for Indiana high schoolers.
If all goes to plan, Indiana education officials hope to overhaul graduation requirements by 2029 at the earliest.
Under the current proposal, a student’s first two years of high school would focus on foundational skills — maybe not as much math and English, but more like work ethic and communication. (Yes, math and English would still be required, but I hope you take my point.)
And then the next two years would move students into internships, apprenticeships and college programs.
“High school education has not changed, for most, in over 100 years,” Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said yesterday. “And, yet, the world around us is changing.”
Such sweeping changes, though, will require tons of buy-in.
So consider this the beginning of a yearslong process. In the meantime, our K-12 education reporter Carley Lanich breaks down the proposal and notes how you can have a voice in what happens next.
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In other news
- To some fellow lawmakers, Sen. Jean Breaux was a sister. To others, she was a mentor. To all, she was a fierce advocate who worked to make sure that the most vulnerable Indy residents were given a voice at the Statehouse. “She loved being a legislator because she realized that she could help and was helping so many people and that’s why it was so important to her that she vocalize the positions and the issues each and every time she had the opportunity,” said Rep. Cherrish Pryor, an Indianapolis Democrat who worked with Breaux for more than 15 years. In a new profile, Mirror Indy reporters Peter Blanchard and Emily Hopkins detail the legacy that Breaux left behind when she died this month. Read it here.
- The new two-year college from Butler University now has a name, and it’s a nod to the university’s namesake: Founder’s College. Ovid Butler, an abolitionist, founded what was originally called North Western Christian University in 1855 with a vision to admit women and Black students. Learn more here.
- I don’t have solar eclipse glasses yet. Do you? No? OK, here’s where to pick up a free pair. (And please don’t look at the eclipse without proper protection!)
What’s going on around the city
- Tomorrow, March 29: GoldLeaf Savory & Sweet, 1901 E. 46th St., hosts Celestial Connections & Coffee at 4 p.m. This free event includes artists, vendors, live music, food and drinks.
- Saturday, March 30: If you’re looking for live music, The Blues is Alright Tour is the place to be. Starting at 7 p.m. at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., musicians Tucka, King George, Theodis Ealey and others will take the stage to celebrate one of the oldest forms of American music. Tickets start at $59.
- Saturday, March 30: The Irvington Group, a collection of artists from the area, will have work on display at the Irvington Historical Society, 5350 University Ave., starting at 1 p.m. The “lost murals” by Dorothy Morlan and paintings by Clifton Wheeler, among other works, are included in the gallery. Free.
— Breanna Cooper, arts and culture reporter
Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.
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What else we’re reading today
- Indiana Capital Chronicle: During a debate Tuesday night, the four leading Republican candidates for governor said they would send Indiana soldiers to the U.S. border with Mexico, and one — Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch — pledged to send migrants to “sanctuary cities” outside Indiana.
- Capital B News: With Beyoncé’s release of “Cowboy Carter” tomorrow, Capital B talked to Black women and girls involved with rodeos about her country album.
- ProPublica: When Indiana lawmakers and Gov. Eric Holcomb approved a new law designed to end the city of Gary’s decades old lawsuit against gun makers, they were also effectively ending one form of scrutiny on the large volume of illegal straw purchases that are contributing to gun violence, including shootings against police officers. “I think their motivation in many circumstances is from who’s lobbying, and unfortunately those lobbyists have proven more effective than lobbies on behalf of local government, people in cities and towns throughout the state, that are the first line that have to deal with the reality of this violence,” said Scott King, former mayor of Gary.
Arts and Culture
In the words of Star Trek actor William Shatner: “… the extraordinary events it all took in the heavenly bodies to cause this eclipse should make us ponder the mystery of existence.”
There’s so much to ponder, in fact, reporter Breanna Cooper went on a quest to find out what we needed to know to prepare for the special event.
Breanna talked to an astronomer, a psychic, a therapist, an eye doctor, outdoor enthusiasts and even Shatner himself.
The experts had a lot to say. To share it with you, illustrator Jeneca Zody turned Breanna’s interviews into a beautiful comic strip that captures great advice, as well as the moment Hoosiers of all walks of life will share on April 8.
— Jennifer Delgadillo, arts and culture editor
Want to explore more of our city’s vibrancy? Find more arts and culture coverage
Reflections
Happy Opening Day to all who celebrate. I know many of you are fans of the Pirates, the Reds or, gasp, the rotten Cubs, but unfortunately for you I’m reserving this space for the best team in the NL Central.
Let’s go Cardinals!
RyanP.S. If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at ryan.martin@mirrorindy.org. It helps us serve you better.
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