Education
I’m sure there are arguments that it’s financially efficient. That it preserves human capital. That it’s better than alternatives. But when all th talking is done, this is just outrageous: They left the state college system in droves in recent months to avoid paying more for their health insurance or losing it entirely, and they…
My response to Richard Joslin made it into this week’s print edition of the Sakonnet Times (as did TCC President David Nelson’s), and I’m sure it’ll spark an angry response or two from unionists. Who knows but that ringleader Crowley will pen a guest letter from across the state. Given the extent of his so-called…
Considering everything, Arne Duncan looks like a decent selection for Education Secretary. Dan Lips explains: Mr. Duncan is known as one of a handful of innovative, reform-minded big city schools chiefs. How that will translate to the national level remains to be seen. Conservatives should be heartened that Mr. Duncan recognizes the need for local…
So, over about seven years, Robert Felner, a director of an independent center at the University of Rhode Island, was apparently able to siphon $1.7 million in funding away from its intended purpose: Two months after a former administrator at the University of Rhode Island was indicted on 10 federal fraud charges, URI officials say…
As East Bay scribe can attest who’s spent a late-night hour or two trimming words and sentences from a letter to make it of acceptable length, the Sakonnet Times has a 500-word limit on missives. Yet, by the time Richard Joslin got around, last week, to challenging Tiverton Citizens for Change (TCC) to “prove they…
Here’s a mild head-shaker of a story on page A12 of today’s Providence Journal: … when he retired in June at the age of 75, the [Rhode Island College] gave [former President John] Nazarian something back: a $205,008 severance check. The check included $67,890 for unused vacation time, $31,366 for unused sick time and $29,902…
In the midst of a very edifying conversation in the comments section of my “Powers and Victims” post, Tiverton teacher Ed Davis offers the following significant perspective: You’re right, no one is forcing us to work here. Unfortunately, I saw this philosophy take hold in the school system my son attended. Many of the good…
It’s maximally conspicuous that Louis Gerstner omits a key detail while enumerating his recommendation for public school reform: I recommend that President-elect Barack Obama convene a meeting of our nation’s governors and seek agreement to the following: – Abolish all local school districts, save 70 (50 states; 20 largest cities). Some states may choose to…
Here is another set of recommendations made by the Governor’s Urban Education Task Force that Justin discussed yesterday, as relayed by Linda Borg of the Projo…The report recommends that urban elementary schools offer 20 minutes of daily phonics instruction, set aside time every day for children to read individually and in small groups, and test…
Yet another task force, this time addressing education in Rhode Island, has convened and tossed some suggestions out into the public breeze: Expand the school day. Offer preschool to all students. Allow students to earn a high school diploma by taking night classes or enrolling online. … The task force also recognized that the state,…
