WAMU 88.5FM American University Radio

The Turnaround Man

It's a new school year and a new chance to make a difference for students in DC's public school system. Ten of DC's 15 high schools consistently fail to meet academic benchmarks. And this year organizations outside the District are stepping in to help turn some of schools around. For example, Friends of Bedford, which operates a public high school in Brooklyn, has taken control of Coolidge and Dunbar senior high schools.

Steve Barr is the founder of Green Dot Public Schools. The group operates Locke High School in Los Angeles. He helped transform a school from one where riot police had to be called in after a fight and 75 percent of the freshman class didn't re-enroll... to one of California's largest - and most successful - schools. Now, more than 80 percent of Locke High School students go to college.

Steve Barr is in the preliminary stages of talking with DC officials about working in the District. And he recently spoke with Kavitha Cardoza about why he embraces teachers unions... his plans for DC and his success at Locke.

Comparing Apples with Apples

Critics of DC's charter schools have complained that there hasn't been a good way to determine the quality of one school over another. And while systems of academic comparison are never perfect, the DC Public Charter School Board has now developed a uniform evaluation policy. We're joined by Tom Nida, Chair of the DC Public Charter School Board.

Fred Fiske: Back to School Controversy

President Barack Obama's back-to-school speaking gig generated plenty of controversy this week - a fact that left commentator Fred Fiske scratching his head.

The Right to Complain

Commentator Fred Fiske joins us on the show every week... and he often has something to complain about. DC boasts a rich history of complainers, marchers, and protesters. From the Bonus Army to the Million Man March, the right to protest and complain is embedded in the DNA of America. It's there in the first amendment. But that right was put to test when thousands of demonstrators gathered in the District for the World Bank / IMF meetings in September of 2002. And the courts are still sorting through the fall-out. Patrick Madden has more.

Log Canoes

This weekend, on Maryland's Eastern Shore, you can check out a tradition unique to the Chesapeake Bay - log canoe racing. Log canoes are historic boats on steroids. Their masts are so tall, and their sails so large that they have a tendency to tip. Reporter Tamara Keith takes us on board.

The 2009 Log Canoe 'Labor Day' race series takes place this weekend - with races on the Miles River in St. Michaels, Maryland scheduled for September 12th and 13th. (No word on why, a week after the holiday, it's called the 'Labor Day' series.)

Food with Tim Carman: Downtown Italian

When it came to dining options in downtown DC, steakhouses and French restaurants classically dominated the landscape. But several new Italian restaurants are changing the game. Washington City Paper food writer Tim Carman joins us to talk about this evolution.

DC VegFest

Every time Tim Carman comes on the show, many of you ask, 'But what about some vegetarian food?' To be fair, Tim DOES work some vegetarian options into the mix, but we're about to go whole hog. Pardon the expression. The DC VegFest takes place Saturday, September 12th, on the campus of George Washington University. And yes, there will be free samples.
We're joined by Erica Meier executive director of Compassion Over Killing.