Unraveling the Local News Together

Yarn Crafting & Community Discussion

Bring your current yarn project or learn a new skill. Free knit and crochet supplies and instruction provided. Plus, discuss recent higher education coverage in the local news.

Yarn Crafting guidelines

Our icebreaker activity before and during our discussion is to get started practicing knit or crochet - beginners welcome! 

For participants who want to begin or improve their knit or crochet skills, we will use the Each One Teach Two model.

Learn to knit and learn to crochet supplies will also be available for use during the discussion, or you can bring your own yarn project and supplies. 

Unraveling the Local News Together discussion guidelines

Read, reflect, listen and learn together in a facilitated discussion about topics in the news with a focus on Kansas or Topeka perspectives.

For this session, we will focus on recent higher education coverage from local news sources including cjonline.com, wibw.com, ksnt.com, and Kansas Reflector. 

As you skim or read local news, pay attention to how topics of college students, higher education, local universities and related issues are covered and how these issues impact us locally in Topeka and Kansas. Some common questions discussions around higher education may include:

• Is it necessary to do further education after high school these days? What other options are there, besides education?
• Why do people pursue higher education in your community? 
• How is the relationship between students and professors different from that between students and teachers at high school?
• How is university life different from high school life? How is this reflected in the local media?
• What can you learn about the higher education opportunities in our area from the local media?
• What impact do the local universities and higher education opportunities have on our communities, according to local media?
• Does being highly educated mean someone is a good person? How is this portrayed in our local media?
• What are the arguments for and against governments continuing to support higher education and students who attend college?
• Should education policy remain primarily a state and local government concern or should the federal government be involved?
• What are the arguments for the federal government to be more involved in education policy? What advantages do states have in maintaining their responsibility in this policy area? 
• What might be the root of inequitable student engagement and outcomes at your local colleges?

We will focus on being curious, listening to understand, raising questions, and identifying things we each want to learn more about.

The discussion will strive to remain nonpartisan, meaning the group does not expressly support one political party or candidate over another.

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