August 23, 2026

Deanna Staffo for NPR

Randy Randleman is a licensed psychologist who works with school children. Unlike many of his peers, he believes corporal punishment can be a helpful tool for schools. He's based in Oklahoma, where corporal punishment at school is legal.

Joan Durrant is a child developmental psychologist in Manitoba, Canada. She has spent her career researching corporal punishment, and she said it doesn't work the way parents and educators often hope it will. "It really fuels dishonesty," she said. "You learn how to lie. You learn to avoid punishment."

NPR Ed’s Kadin Mills spoke to both of them for his deep dive into the realities of corporal punishment in American public schools. He talked to a school official who administers paddlings, who said even if they have parent permission, they call again to be sure before administering this punishment. Other school officials said the threat of a paddling alone is often enough to curb unwanted behavior.

Kadin also talked to a parent who said her son’s school gave her a choice after he misbehaved: They could suspend him for three-days or paddle him. She and her husband chose the latter because she couldn’t take three days off from work. Now, she regrets that choice.

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Is AI keeping grads from getting jobs? NPR contributor Lee Gaines spoke with recent grads who said they think AI is part of the reason finding a job has been such a challenge. "It's hard knowing that I'm doing everything that I can to be successful and feeling like that's not enough," said Jacqueline Kline, who graduated in the spring with a master's in communications from Florida State University. But is AI really the problem? Lee asked economists what’s really at play.

Speaking of AI, students and teachers spoke to 1A about how they are using it and what it means for the future of school. ChatGPT is out with a new version for teens. And for a Yale researcher whose federal funding was canceled, $5 billion in new Trump administration funding for research related to AI, the Genesis Mission, could be a fruitful opportunity.

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Kaleigh and Cody Brendle spend time together at their parents' New Jersey home before Kaleigh's move across the country for law school. They say they have helped each other navigate life as two blind people.
Claire Harbage/NPR

Each week, Cody Brendle goes to Jersey Mike’s Subs to learn job skills. He’s also learning household tasks like doing laundry. And how to shop for groceries. And manage money. He’s 27, is blind and has autism. He lives at home while he’s learning and socializing with other adults with disabilities at a community-based program because of federal law, and a key Supreme Court ruling that says he and others like him should receive these kinds of services in their communities, not institutions. His sister Kaleigh, who is also blind, credits what is called the integration mandate as a key reason she attended college and is starting her first semester at law school.

Now, the siblings worry these protections won’t last, because the Trump administration said it will no longer enforce the integration mandate. At the same time, a group of Republican-led states is challenging the integration mandate in court. NPR Ed’s Jonaki Mehta spent time with Cody, Kaleigh and their parents to see how having this right has shaped their lives and how they fear for their futures.

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Groups sue Trump administration over new foreign student visa rule: The rule would limit the amount of time foreign students and journalists can stay in the U.S. Students could stay for four years unless they apply and pay for an extension, NPR Ed’s Elissa Nadworny reports. The lawsuit argues the government didn't follow the right procedures in issuing the rule.

Modern children’s snacking habits have changed, and not for the better: They now eat as many as three snacks a day. On top of that, Michaeleen Doucleff reports for NPR, a large portion of their snacks are ultraprocessed foods. She offers a guide for resetting kids’ eating habits. And speaking of kids’ health, more parents are opting their kids out of childhood vaccines, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. NPR’s Rob Stein unpacks the figures.

Advocates worry new bans on student IDs will trip up young voters: To cast a ballot this year, Dartmouth College student Lia Symer will be required to show a state ID, U.S. passport or another accepted form of identification now that New Hampshire has become the latest of several states to ban registered voters from using a student ID to verify their identity at the polls, NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang reports.

What we know about the Penn State cocaine trafficking ring: One parent and 13 former students have been arrested in a drug trafficking ring at the university. The defendants allegedly transported and distributed large amounts of cocaine, and fraternity pledges were involved in packaging the drugs, reports Sydney Roach, of NPR member station WPSU.

Our Student Podcast Challenge inspired a whole new contest

Tatyana Alanis for NPR

For our readers 65 and older, or with loved ones who are seniors —

Inspired by our Student Podcast Challenge, we’re trying something new this year! A podcasting contest for seniors. That’s right, anyone 65 and older living in the United States is eligible to enter for a chance to win a free trip to NPR headquarters where you can listen to your story air live on Weekend Edition! 📻

Just like we ask young people, you can make a podcast about anything you’re passionate about. Stories about retirement, family or romantic relationships, new adventures, health, finances: We’re all ears!

Please don’t worry about the technical stuff! We’re here to help. You can start by checking out our Sound Advice podcasting guide, and if you have any questions, reach out to the contest team at seniorpodcastchallenge@npr.org.

Read more about the new Senior Podcast Challenge. And when you’re ready, you can enter the challenge here.

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