Embracing the spirit of its name (The Green in Dover and the New Castle Green), The Green will provide an open-air meeting place for Delawareans to discuss events, consider issues and share ideas. This radio and online magazine will present the highest quality Delaware news and information. Through informed reporting, nuanced storytelling and in-depth interviews, The Green reaches past stereotypes and knee-jerk reactions to encourage a fuller, more robust discovery of Delaware, today.
Salesianum attempts to set the pace on baseline testing for concussions
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Concussions have become a major sports issue these days. The majority of attention is on the professional level, specifically the NFL, where a number of ex-players are being diagnosed with CTE , a degenerative brain disorder, linked repeated blows to the head.
But a recent study by the National Academy of Sciences, partially funded by the NFL, found scholastic athletes face a significant risk of concussion as they play.
In Delaware – some efforts have been made to address concussions in scholastic sports though new Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Assoc. (DIAA) rules and 2010 state law.
But those changes can’t keep concussions from happening – so schools are looking to do more and Wilmington’s all-boys Catholic high school Salesianum appears to be at the forefront. (More)
Tackling veterans issues
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Veterans Day was this week- an opportunity to pause and recognize the work and sacrifice of all those who’ve served in the nation’s armed forces.
And we thought one way to do that would be to put the spotlight on veterans’ issues and ask some state leaders what is the biggest issue facing the country’s vets and how to address it. (More)
Teachers have questions about system used to evaluate their work
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The State Department of Education recently released the first results from a revised DPAS II teacher evaluation system.
The report gave strong marks to Delaware educators – rating 99 percent of teachers were rated “effective” or “highly-effective” in the majority of the components used to measure performance.
But the state education officials said they are worried that’s not a completely accurate picture.
Digger deeper – they said they see in school evaluators – mainly principals – regularly using the discretion they have in some part of the evaluation to bump teachers’ grades.
This week -WDDE contributor April Hall followed up on this story –talking to teachers around the state about the evaluation system and the DOE’s interpretation of the results. (More)
Independent grocers carve out a niche in Delaware
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When the Walmarts, Targets and Walgreens of the world started more aggressively getting into the grocery business – many thought that would be the end of independent grocery store.
But it turns out in Delaware they’re doing just fine. From Janssen’s Market in Greenville to Lloyd’s Market in Lewes, the First State’s 39 indie grocers are maintaining their share of the market, ringing up nearly 360 million in sales last year according to National Grocers Association.
WDDE contributor Eileen Dallabrida examined how these stores – including the state’s ethnic markets - are staying competitive. (More)
Enlighten me: Wilmington STIR
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This week’s Enlighten Me comes from WDDE producer Karl Malgiero, who brings to our attention a fascinating exercise in brainstorming earlier this month in Wilmington.
It’s called Wilmington STIR. The idea: bring people and their ideas together over a meal. The money everyone pays for the meal becomes a grant, and over dinner you make the case for your idea or project.
When all is said and done, everyone votes on the ideas and the winner or winners take home the grant money – and hopefully everyone gets some food for thought along the way.
(More)
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