Editor’s note: Last Tuesday was New Year’s Day, but for many it is also known as Freedom Day, marking the anniversary of the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jauary 1, 1863.

The Emancipation Proclamation

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

“That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. More »

Steve Peha & Margot Carmichael Lester

What gets tested, gets taught. That’s a guiding principle of education reform. And it appears to be working. But is it working the way we want it to in reading?

In a New York Times article (“Mission: Making a Love of Reading Happen,” October 14, 2007), a parent wrote of his surprise at learning that his middle school-aged children weren’t reading in reading: “Not until back-to-school night did I realize what was actually going on. The ‘reading’ teacher had a stack of workbooks. They were going to be reading short essays and answering questions: a full year of test prep.” More »

Chris Fitzsimon

There were a few stories that didn’t make it into the year-end stories, news that you might have missed during the holiday break. One of them involves North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who is also up for re-election in November.

Dole is among a group of senators who recently signed a letter to Interior Secretary Dick Kempthorne urging him to end the ban on firearms in National Parks. It is currently not against the law to have an unloaded gun in the park, but that’s not enough for Dole and the NRA. More »

Ian Palmquist

Earlier this fall, I met an incredible woman. Elke Kennedy approached me at an event. She was friendly, but I could see a sadness in her eyes.

Elke’s son Sean Kennedy was murdered on May 17 in Greenville, South Carolina. He was targeted because he was gay.  More »

Kids
Preschool Story Time – At the Carrboro Branch Library. Every Saturday at 10:30am. Miz Moon will start off a new year of Toddler Times with an Anansi story and The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett at the Carrboro Branch Library on Thursday, Jan 3. All preschoolers are invited to this free program. For more info, call 969-3006.

ComedySportz 4 Kidz - Games & improv for the 12 & under crowd. Saturdays, 5pm. $10, students $8, kids under 5 $5. DSI Comedy Theater, 200 N Greensboro St, Ste B-11, Carr Mill Mall, Carrboro, 338-8150, www.dsicomedytheater.com. More »

The Orange County Literacy Council will hold an English as a Second Language training Tuesday, January 8, 2008 from 9:00 a.m to noon at the Seymour Center at 2551 Homestead Rd. in Chapel Hill.  Attendees will learn how to help non-native English speakers improve their conversational, reading and writing skills in order to become better informed and able to participate in the community.  No experience is necessary. More »

The Make-A-Wish foundation of Eastern North Carolina is granting the wish of 18-year-old Katherine Somerville to see a Tar Heel basketball game in person. Katherine, a triplet born at UNC Hospitals, uses a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy. She lives with her family in Michigan and is a huge Carolina basketball fan. She went to last night’s game against Kent State to see personal heroes Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Williams. More »

The American Red Cross will be holding several Blood Drives in the month of January at the following locations and times:

• Sunday, January 6 at Berrys Grove Baptist Church in Timberlake from 1-5 p.m. Call 336-364-8158.
• Wednesday, January 9 at Piedmont Electric in Hillsborough from 1-5:30 p.m. Call 732-2123. More »