The show for June 17, 2012. Click "Listen" to hear the entire show; see below for individual stories:
District Schools Back Off "Student-Centered Learning"
Kansas City Public School officials had been continuing to implement a "transformation plan" set in motion by the previous superintendent. Until the end of the school year, that plan included a radical new approach to teaching called "student-centered learning." The current administration had kept that program running in 10 schools, but this summer, just decided to put it on hold.
Local Pastor Comes Out And Speaks Out
Probably the most volatile fault line in this country’s shifting opinion on gay rights is in churches. Those who support gay rights and those who don’t claim that their beliefs are support by their church’s teachings. At the same time, many of the faithful are just trying to keep the issue from splintering church communities. In Parkville, these issues came up when the pastor of a Presbyterian church recently came out as gay. And he told his congregation he would be leaving to head an LGBT advocacy organization.
Cumbia In Kansas City Is Alive, And Well, And Shakin’
Kontrolando Show is a cumbia band based out of Kansas City, Kansas. The ten member group has been playing together under that name for the past 3 years, and they have regular gigs around town nearly every week. Kontrolando Show are one of 30 local bands, dance groups, and djs- in addition to some national acts- that will be playing at Fiesta KC in Crown Center next weekend.
Open Records Not So Open in Missouri, Kansas
"Missouri's 'open records are effectively closed to the public,” is the opening sentence of a recent article in the “Missouri Watchdog.” And the director of the Kansas Press Association says the same is true across the state line. But both states have open records laws, often called “Sunshine Laws,” so what is the problem?
Blood And Sonnets Fuel The Living Room's 'Titus Andronicus'
For twenty years, Shakespeare in the Park has been as much a part of a Kansas City summer as the heat and humidity. And while the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival is opening two shows in repertory this week, another Shakespeare play has snuck into town. It's the Bard's goriest play, Titus Andronicus, which is being staged with a minimal set and a band at the downtown performance space The Living Room.
