MPT Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Colleen Wright
August 24, 2001 Marketing Communications Account Executive
Telephone: (410) 581-4293
E-mail: colleenwright@mpt.org
MPT. This is bigger than television.

MPT resumes full schedule of education programming

OWINGS MILLS, MD: How appropriate that September, the start of the school year, on Maryland Public Television (MPT) is the month for teachers, students, parents, and anyone interested in education, to see what's going on in our education system today. Standard Deviants TV appeals to viewers of all ages; In The Mix "manages to be both hip and responsible"; Charter Schools That Work shows how parents and teachers are held accountable; and SCHOOL: The Story of American Public Education chronicles the story of a great American experiment. These are just a few of the riveting and diverse programs airing each weeknight in September on MPT, many of which will re-air on the K-12 Educational Video Service to give teachers a second chance to record them.
Brick City Lessons: In 1995, after years of declining test scores and increasing drop-out rates, the New Jersey educational department — responsible for educating nearly 45,000 children each year — seized control of the Newark public school system with a mandate to turn the schools around. The award-winning program introduces the passionate and dedicated teachers and administrators who are empowering students to take charge of their education and future as it presents an anthology of success stories, both large and small. Brick City Lessons airs Monday, September 3, at 1:00 a.m.
SCHOOL: The Story of American Public Education: Narrated by Meryl Streep, School: The Story of American Public Education chronicles the sweeping, often turbulent, story of a great American experiment: universal public education. Journey through history and across the nation to recapture the idealism of our education pioneers, the remarkable revolution that ensued and the turmoil that marks our public schools today. Walter Amprey, former superintendant of Baltimore City Public Schools, is one of the educators included in the series. School: The Story of American Public Education airs Tuesdays, Starting September 4, at 1:00 a.m.
Frontline: "Secrets of the SAT": How fair are standardized tests? What do they measure? What's their impact on racial diversity in America's college campuses? Frontline examines the debate over fairness in college admissions, looking at the national obsession with test scores, the multimillion dollar test prep industry, and the legal challenges to race-sensitive admissions policies. "Secrets of the SAT" airs Wednesday, September 5, at 1:00 a.m.
The First Year: This documentary follows five teachers, new to the profession, through their first school year in Southern California. The experiences of the teachers reflect the diverse community they serve as they work with children, teenagers and adults, spending hours of extra time reaching out to troubled students, dealing with recent immigrants who are learning English as a second language or struggling against an unresponsive system. The First Year airs Thursday, September 6, at 9:00 p.m.
No Place to be Smart: The final program of an educational trilogy profiling the New Jersey public school system, No Place to be Smart examines alternatives outside mainstream public education that aid one of America's least-appreciated national resources — intellectually talented students. No Place to be Smart airs Thursday, September 6, at 1:00 a.m.
Standard Deviants TV: Standard Deviants TV is the first series designed to appeal to viewers of all ages. Middle School, high school, college students, continuing education students, knowledge seekers, teachers and professors all love the approachable and enjoyable teaching style of the Standard Deviants. Standard Deviants TV airs Fridays, at 1:00 a.m.
In The Mix: In the Mix "manages to be both hip and responsible." Frank, issue-oriented investigative reports provide teens with information they need to make thoughtful decisions; high-profile celebrity interviews present refreshing angles on favorite personalities; "student shorts" showcase videos created by teenagers nationwide; and "teens who make a difference" highlight positive messages about the accomplishment of young people of diverse backgrounds, providing viewers with positive role models. In The Mix airs Fridays, at 1:30 a.m.
Saving Our Schools: Saving Our Schools is a dynamic new youth-centered video series which provides educators with an immediate and powerful tool for preventing school crisis and building critical lines of communication within our school communities. This program is designed to build bridges between students, teachers and counselors and spark honest and direct conversations about violence, hate and cruelty. Hosted by youth counselor, humorist, and PBS host Michael Pritchard, Saving Our Schools airs Monday, September 10, at 1:00 a.m.
No Greater Calling: This program profiles teachers from six different parts of the country, each of them recognized for exhibiting excellence in the classroom. Each teacher presents a unique teaching style and an extraordinary level of dedication to education. No Greater Calling airs Wednesday, September 12, at 1:00 a.m.
Merrow Report: "Teacher Shortage: False Alarm": Why do 30% percent of new teachers, 50% in urban areas, leave teaching within five years? Is the problem one of recruitment or retention? This probing documentary examines several areas that are the result of or may be the cause of the so-called "teacher shortage." "Teacher Shortage: False Alarm" airs Thursday, September 13, at 1:00 a.m. Merrow Report Web site: www.pbs.org/merrow/index2
Merrow Report: "Lost in Translation": This program explores the many reasons why 30% of Latino youth drop out of or never even enroll in school. If nothing changes, the number of Latino dropouts will only increase because Latinos under the age of 18 represent the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States. "Lost in Translation" airs Monday, September 17, at 1:00 a.m. Merrow Report Web site: www.pbs.org/merrow/index2
Merrow Report: "School Sleuth: The Case of an Excellent School": In this program, Merrow becomes "John Merrow, School Sleuth," a veteran private detective trying to solve "The Case of an Excellent School." He confronts the case head-on and discovers there are three kinds of schools: bad, good enough and excellent. "Detective" Merrow explores five aspects of schooling: safety, curriculum, physical environment, adults in the building and the school's sense of community. "School Sleuth: The Case of an Excellent School" airs Wednesday, September 19, at 1:00 a.m. Merrow Report Web site: www.pbs.org/merrow/index2
Merrow Report: "A Tale of Three Cities": Several major American cities have accepted the challenge of school reform, but none with more energy, commitment and public attention than Philadelphia, Chicago and Seattle. These cities have taken dramatically different approaches to solving the problems of urban public education: Philadelphia brought in a minister/lawyer as superintendent; Seattle turned its schools over to a retired four-star Army General; and in Chicago, the mayor took what some have called "a businessman's approach" to school reform. "A Tale of Three Cities" airs Thursday, September 20, at 1:00 a.m. Merrow Report Web site: www.pbs.org/merrow/index2
P.O.V.: "School Prayer: A Community at War": The battle cry on both sides is "religious freedom" when a Mississippi mother takes a stand on prayer in her children's public school. Raising complex issues about tolerance, filmmakers Slawomir Grunberg and Ben Crane chronicle an impassioned clash of principles in which the Constitutional right of an individual collides with the deep-rooted tradition of a community. "School Prayer: A Community at War" airs Monday, September 24, at 1:00 a.m. www.pbs.org/pov/pov1999/schoolprayer.
Charter Schools That Work: Charter schools are public schools that are organized by parents and teachers and are held accountable for student achievement. If those achievement goals are not met, the charter is revoked and the schools are shut down. In exchange for accountability, charter schools are given greater flexibility and autonomy — they operate mainly as their own school district, freed from many rules and regulations that apply to traditional schools: they have control over hiring, curriculum design and their budget. Clarence Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Chicago Tribune, hosts this examination of the emergence, perspective and practice of this relatively young education reform movement. Charter Schools That Work airs Wednesday, September 26, at 1:00 a.m.
Only a Teacher: The documentary series Only a Teacher explores the diverse faces and many roles of the American teacher from the 1830s to the present. In three one-hour episodes, Only a Teacher presents historical background about the profession and how it developed, while giving voice to contemporary teachers and their concerns. Only a Teacher airs Thursday, September 27, at 1:00 a.m. Web site: www.pbs.org/onlyateacher.
Maryland Public Television is a not-for-profit, state-licensed public television station which serves the citizens and communities of Maryland and beyond through a variety of broadcast and nonbroadcast activities.
MPT is a national leader in the production of broadcast programming for public television. MPT's local/regional television credits include public affairs, original performance, documentary, and entertainment programs for the citizens of Maryland.
Beyond broadcast, MPT creates instructional videos, develops training, and builds Internet sites that serve tens of thousands of students, teachers, and child-care providers annually. MPT outreach activities, especially relating to arts, culture, and history, take place in all areas of the state to further fulfill MPT's mission to engage, enlighten, and entertain.
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