If you had $100 billion to fix our schools, what would you do? A surprisingly smart list of suggestions for the education portion of the federal stimulus money is circulating in the education policy world. A group of experts claims authorship. I don't believe committees are capable of good ideas, so I doubt the alleged origins of the list. But let's put that aside for a moment and see what they've got.
Better yet, why not come up with our own ideas? My column seeking cheap ways to improve education yielded interesting results. By contrast, think of what we could do if we had enough money to buy the contract of every great quarterback: guarantee the Redskins a Super Bowl victory. Many expensive school-fixing schemes proved just as insane and just as useless. But Barack Obama is president, and we are supposed to be hopeful.
"Posted at 04:30 PM ET, 10/14/2011
STEVE JOBS SMACKDOWN: Matt Bors delivers our Cartoon of the Day
By Michael Cavna
[comic]
Last Sunday night, Comic Riffs first reported on a curious trend we noticed among editorial artists: Despite Steve Jobs's declared Buddhism, obituary cartoons were rendering unto him an afterlife at the gates of an iPad-happy St. Peter.
Throughout the week, other cartoonists noted the odd trend, as well. But one artist - Portland's Matt Bors - has now rendered perhaps the most inspired response. ..."
six hours a day of academics are enough, and kids should have the chance after school to explore other interests and develop in other ways — or be able simply to relax in the same way that most adults like to relax after work;
FDR's private school president listed these four missions for his students ranked by importance.
1) Religion 2) Character 3) Athletics 4) Academics
His president at Harvard felt and required a few basic courses and then students should take what they want.
The social science and math teachers created well rounded to keep their jobs, I could care if my layer or doctor is well rounded, me, I want success!
"The most innovative country on the planet is blowing it. As we move full swing into an era of innovation, the United States should be educating to our creative strengths, but instead we're eroding the very characteristics that will enable our kids to thrive. We're setting kids up for a life without passion, purpose, or meaningful employment. Absent profound change, our country is a decade away from having 50 million chronically-unemployed young adults, adrift in life and awash in debt."