CNN Student News Transcript: August 21, 2008

(CNN Student News) -- August 21, 2008

Quick Guide

Top Headlines - Review some of today's top stories, including a tragic plane crash in Spain.

No Credit - Explore a legal battle involving a university system and Christian grade school.

Lower Drinking Age? - Examine the controversy surrounding a movement to lower the U.S. drinking age.

Transcript

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

Teachers: Please preview the "Lower Drinking Age?" story, as it may not be appropriate for all students.

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: This Thursday, August 21st, there's lots of ground to cover in today's edition of CNN Student News. I'm your host, Carl Azuz. Let's get right to what's first up!

First Up: Top Headlines

AZUZ: A major tragedy in Spain leads off our rundown of the headlines. Shortly after takeoff, a passenger jet went down in flames Wednesday, killing at least 153 people. Officials say a group of survivors was hospitalized as of last night. The weather was hot and clear when Spanair Flight 5022 took off in Madrid. It was headed to the Canary Islands, part of Spain that's actually located off the west coast of Africa. A local newspaper reported that the takeoff had been an hour late, though we're not sure yet why. One survivor said she heard a loud explosion as the plane took off, and that it droped altitude little by little; it didn't crash straight down. This was Spain's deadliest air disaster in 20 years.

Across the Atlantic, Floridians are still weathering a tropical storm named Fay. This thing just won't let up. It literally sat over Cape Canaveral yesterday, dumping water, water everywhere. Hundreds of homes were flooded in Fay's wake, as you see in these pictures from Port Saint Lucie. Officials say at least one person has died. The National Hurricane Center said rainfall could top out at 30 inches. And Fay could actually make its fourth landfall in Florida today, this time targeting the Daytona Beach area.

To politics now. Barack Obama is campaigning in Virginia today. That's the home state of one of several potential vice presidential picks, according to CNN's political team. Obama is expected to choose his running mate sometime this week, maybe as soon as today. And here's a 21st century twist: he's going to announce his selection via text message. The Democratic convention starts next week in Denver, Colorado.

On the Republican side, as John McCain campaigned in New Mexico, there was news about who will address the Grand Old Party's convention in September. Among the dignitaries set to speak as McCain officially becomes the nominee of the Republican Party: President George Bush. He'll speak on the first night of the convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will make the keynote speech. A keynote address is one that lays down the tone for the entire convention. Also expected to address the Republican convention: former Democratic vice presidential candidate and current independent Senator Joe Lieberman.

An Ohio congresswoman died yesterday after she suffered what doctors say was a "serious aneurysm." Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones was driving in her home district of Cleveland when the aneurysm struck. It's a swelling of a blood vessel in her brain. The 58-year-old congresswoman was the first black female representative from Ohio. She was scheduled to attend the Democratic National Convention as a superdelegate.

And another record in Beijing. You've heard us talk a lot about American swimmer Michael Phelps. On land, it's all about Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who has the coolest name ever for a runner. Bolt bolted across 200 meters in 19.30 seconds, beating Michael Johnson's previous record by two-hundredths of a second! Bolt is the first man ever to break the 100-meter and 200-meter world records in the same Olympics. His average speed in the 200: about 23 miles per hour!

No Credit

AZUZ: With school back in session, many of you seniors are probably working on college applications. One thing a lot of schools consider is your high school course-load. Well, a federal judge recently ruled that universities in California can deny some high school credits based on what's in the students' textbooks. And the schools are fighting back. Kara Finnstrom takes us to court.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEACHER: That's not really. If you are a Christian, remember now, you have your testimony.

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN REPORTER: Calvary Chapel Christian School in Southern California.

TEACHER: Are there parents that can abuse their authority?

FINNSTROM: What's taught to the 1,300 students here...

TEACHER: Parents, schools, we have rules and regulations.

FINNSTROM: Is now at the center of a culture war over religion and education.

ROBERT TYLER, ATTORNEY, ADVOCATES FOR FAITH AND FREEDOM: Our teachings reflect that God exists, whereas the U.C. wants courses to be taught from a perspective that there is no God.

FINNSTROM: The University of California is denying credit for some Calvary Chapel courses, saying some textbooks instruct that the bible is an "unerring source," ignore important topics in science and history, and do not teach critical thinking. The Association of Christian Schools sued. This week, a federal judge ruled U.C. has the right to refuse credits. And now, the Christian schools are appealing.

DAVID MASCI, PEW FORUM ON RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE: It could have potentially a chilling effect on religious schools and the kinds of courses that they offer students.

FINNSTROM: U.C. school officials declined an interview, but released a statement saying, "There is essentially no difference between the course approval rate for religious and secular schools." And the university system says it does not consider whether courses "have religious content, but whether they provide adequate instruction." At the crux of the debate: whether this school's Christian viewpoint distorts certain curriculum or adds to it.

DANIELLE HATT, STUDENT: When you look at our science curriculums, we're given every theory from intelligent design to evolution, whereas it's more narrowed in a public school system. So, I think we're given a broader spectrum.

FINNSTROM: Senior Danielle Hatt hopes to attend a U.C. school. Right now, the few classes being refused credits shouldn't hold her back. The fear of Christian school leaders: more classes could be refused credit, handicapping students in Christian schools and Christian education.

PASTOR DES STARR, CALVARY CHAPEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: I think that we are moving towards a more secular time, and we will fight for the right to continue to teach from a Christian viewpoint.

FINNSTROM: It's a fight students at private religious schools are watching closely, especially those with their sights set on campuses like UCLA. Attorneys say the appeals could drag on for years. Kara Finnstrom for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Is this legit?

GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Is This Legit? The legal drinking age in all 50 states is 21 years of age. This is true! The National Minimum Drinking Age Act, passed in 1984, effectively established 21 as the minimum legal drinking age.

Lower Drinking Age?

AZUZ: Since that law was passed, teen drinking is down 25 percent among high school seniors. That's according to a government site on the issue. But there's a push to lower the drinking age back down again, and it's getting support from an unlikely group. Carol Costello examines the debate. Teachers, you may want to preview this story before showing it to your class.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN REPORTER: The quiet move to lower the drinking age just got a lot louder. More than 100 university presidents -- including those at Duke, Johns Hopkins and Ohio State -- have signed the "Amethyst Initiative," urging "21 is not working" because it fosters "a culture of dangerous, clandestine binge drinking conducted off campus."

DENNIS O'SHEA, JOHNS HOPKINS: The conclusion of these presidents is that it's important to find a way to take the underground drinking that is forced by the 21-year-old drinking age, find a way to bring that back above ground, to confront it, and to talk to our students about drinking responsibly.

COSTELLO: Johns Hopkins says that's difficult to do when you're acting as the enforcer, something Hopkins hasn't shied away from. 350 of its 4,000 students faced disciplinary charges last year for underaged drinking. But Mothers Against Drunk Driving says the Amethyst Initiative is irresponsible; one third of accidents involving teenagers are alcohol-related. MADD adds these college presidents are looking for an easy way out of an inconvenient problem.

LAURA DEAN-MOONEY, MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING: As the mother of a high school senior, it alarms me personally as well. Because I would not want my daughter to even contemplate going to a college where a university president has signed on to this initiative.

COSTELLO: The university presidents say they're not looking for an easy way out, but taking on a difficult fight against a culture that celebrates secretive, underaged drinking. Pictures of underaged drunken students partying away from the prying eyes of adults litter FaceBook. It begs the question: What's better, drinking legally on campus at 18, or off-campus illegally?

ERIN WAGNER, 19-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT: I think it would be a good idea. I think it's better that young people, if they're allowed to drink, let's say in a bar or an open area, they'll be more controlled.

OREN MARGOLIS, 20-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT: I think a lot of students wouldn't be urged to drink as much if the drinking age was lower.

COSTELLO: Others clearly don't agree, and that's fine with those who've signed the Amethyst Initiative. If you've got a better idea, they say, they'd like to hear it. And just so you know, 34 percent of colleges have banned alcohol all together on campus, and 43 percent of universities ban drinking in college residence halls. But the problem still persists. Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Promo

AZUZ: We're going to bet that these last couple of stories will have you talking after the show. They had us talking all day. How about you continue that conversation on our blog! What do you think about lowering the drinking age to 18? Good idea? Bad idea? How about the California court's ruling on some religious school courses? Got an opinion? Let us know at CNNStudentNews.com!

Goodbye

AZUZ: Here's an opinion: We're out of time. Well, actually, that's a fact. I'll see you here tomorrow.