Owatonna, MN Correspondent- Three issues are at play here: free speech, the rights of individual school districts to teach children the way they think is best, and political correctness. It has always been my belief that freedom of expression is the most important Constitutional right in America. Everything else stems from that core right. I also believe that local government should be the most important level of government. Each locality should have the freedom to govern in the best interest of their constituents. Political correctness is the 800-pound gorilla in the room that casts a cloud over race relations because far too many people are trying to legislate morality by controlling what words can, can’t, should, or shouldn’t be spoken in public. Continue reading
Education
Symposium 2016: The costs of attending college have skyrocketed while actual learning has declined. Are these costs legitimate and has learning simply become a big business?
Owatonna, MN Correspondent- Since 1980, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average college tuition increases have more than doubled the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The strange accompanying fact is that enrollments in post-secondary schools have also increased significantly, nearly doubling in that time. Continue reading
A judge in Texas recently ordered a school to restore a Charlie Brown Christmas decorative display that had been ordered taken down by the school principal and local school district. Should schools be allowed to incorporate Christmas-related displays during the holidays?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-The continual hand-wringing over Christmas in the schools is getting quite tiresome. It’s not as if there are any punishments handed out for failing to participate in the rituals, and no one’s forcing a non-observant child to dress in swaddling clothes and lay in a manger. I have one child in elementary school and another in middle school, both in quite “liberal” schools, and both have a variety of seasonal observances throughout December. Continue reading
Anti-bullying legislation has been passed in a number or states and has been instituted in schools to prevent bullying of students. Should these laws be extended outside of school premises and provide protection from bullying through the internet and social media?
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-Protection from bullying should not only be instituted in schools but it should extend beyond school grounds as well as into internet and social media occurrences (cyberbullying). Far too many young people and others have been repeatedly bullied in and outside of school and through the internet, which has caused family tragedies and other repercussions. Many students have committed suicide to escape the taunts of bullies. Continue reading
Are school bus cameras worthwhile for safety or will they wind up causing privacy problems and higher traffic accident rates similar to traffic cameras?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-The city of Austin, Texas, long one of my favorite places on earth, made the national news recently over its implementation of cameras on school buses which are designed to catch those who refuse to heed the myriad of things that blink and beep to tell you the bus is stopped and speed blithely by, frequently mowing down a tot or two in the process. Continue reading
When more kids can list the cast of Jersey Shore than name the Vice President, is it time to institute exit exams from high school and stringent entrance exams for college so that we ensure American youth are versed in basic American history and civics?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL February 11, 2016
Sheffield, Jamaica Correspondent-History is important to the American society. Too often kids are able to list TV show casts such as Jersey Shore, but aren’t able to name the Vice President. That is quite sad. However, this problem can be tackled if educational facilities were to institute stringent examinations. These exams should be set and taken by students who are leaving high schools and those to be admitted in colleges. Continue reading
Symposium 2015: Is year round education good for student learning?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-As the brother of a career middle school teacher and the son of a college professor, I am deeply suspicious of “fads” in education. From New Math to Common Core, periodically some well-meaning idiot comes up with a fantastic new idea that’s going to make our kids smarter, our country stronger, our whites whiter and our colors brighter…or something like that. Continue reading
Is Common Core Helping Or Hurting American Education?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL, March 23, 2015
Asheville, NC Correspondent- The Common Core standards began from a place of serious concern. Wide disparities between states in educational achievement are a grave problem of national scope. Differences in educational standards between Florida, Nebraska and New York create difficulties in an increasingly mobile society. Children who move with parents may find themselves ahead in some subjects, behind in others, and confused about terminology that’s vital to their education. Continue reading
2014 Symposium: Is it time to audit lottery monies used for state programs?
Asheville: On paper, lotteries sound like a dream come true for states struggling with budget problems. They raise considerable revenue, which can be used to fund education, health care, and other budget priorities. They are funded voluntarily by people who choose to gamble, which means they avoid the political pitfalls of increased taxation. They’re popular, they’re fun, and they’re easy. Nothing could go wrong. Continue reading
2014 Symposium: Should we re-negotiate student debt? If so, why? Does this create a moral hazard?
Raleigh: It is well-known that getting college education in the U.S.A. is an expensive endeavor. While most people strive to get college education because it opens many more doors for them in the future and potentially allows to earn more money compared to counterparts without college education, the very cost of college education is becoming prohibitive. According to the College Board, college cost for an in-state public college for the 2013–2014 academic year was about $22,826, while average yearly cost for a private college was about $44,750. Add to that the cost of living, and the sum can truly be too high to carry for vast majority of American families. Continue reading
Thinking Outside The Boxe 