Monday, November 5, 2007

Not as Good as You Think 

Utah "ranks last" when compared to similar states

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

If your schools are operating reasonably well, it's common to trump them as being at the head of the class. But a closer look may reveal some surprises.

A group in Utah has compared the state to similar states, and finds that it ranks lmore »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 4:12 pm
• 0 comment

Monday, November 5, 2007

Colordblind Policies At One Year 

Michigan's Prop 2

Filed As:  Education (higher)

Last year Michigan voters approved a measure to eliminate the use of race in determining university

The Detroit News has looked at what has happened since, and what has happened in the state is ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 6:18 am
• 0 comment

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Get Off the Bus, Gus 

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

This is troublesome on so many levels. An "anti-sprawl" group (those who want everyone to live in densely settled neighborhood) says that too many kids in Maryland ride on the school bus for too long. ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 6:04 am
• 0 comment

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Water Down Those Standards, Please! 

Tests too demanding in Louisiana

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

A group of superintendents in Louisiana is set to make it easier for failing students to move from eighth grade to high school:

The Louisiana Educational Assessment Program is given to eighth-graders (and others) in math and English. It's been used as a way of judging whether students are ready ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 5:06 am
• 0 comment

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Bad Appples Can Run But Not Hide 

New database for Ohio teachers

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

The Ohio Department of Education has unveiled a new database that sheds some light on "conduct unbecoming " when it involves public school personnel.

The more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 7:09 am
• 0 comment

Friday, November 2, 2007

Voucher Defeat in Utah? 

The blog fights back

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

Next Tuesday is election day, and unfortunately, that means that may be good news for the education blob.

Utah enacted the first universal (all-comers) voucher plan in the nation. The teachers union and some members of the state board of education fought back, forcing a more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 1:45 pm
• 0 comment

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Excellence in State Health Care? 

Filed As:  Health Care

From Minnesota: "A history of problems at the state-owned Minneapolis Veterans Home shows that the state Veterans Homes Board can't effectively manage the facility and four other homes and should be relieved ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 5:05 am
• 1 comment

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Two-Headed Sloths, yes; People no 

The problem with environmentalism

Filed As:  Environment

In the abstract, environmentalism is a good thing. Who can be against clean air, clean water, and good food? But lately, being green means being anti-human development.

That's a point made in an interview with the creators of the film more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 1:00 pm
• 0 comment

Friday, November 2, 2007

Teacher Union Boss: Don't Hurt Our Feelings! 

Disparages reprimand of teacher

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

A teacher in Wisconsin refused to do his job--in this case, administer a state assessment. What was most interesting, though, was the statement made by the boss of the city's teacher union.

David Wasserman, a teacher in the state capital of Madison, has some beefs with the state assessment. ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 12:23 pm
• 0 comment

Friday, November 2, 2007

What Does Congress Have Against Children? 

Shoving kids into government programs

Filed As:  Health Care

Does Congress have it out for children? "The world's greatest deliberative body" voted, again, to scoop up more kids into the government-care program known as SCHIP. The action is supposed to ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 9:30 am
• 0 comment