In praise of journalists and good journalism

by David Safier I gather most of my information sitting here behind my MacBook. If Google Search, Google Alerts and the newspapers somehow disappeared from the web, I'd probably fold up my laptop and go home. Except that I'm already home. So I'd just fold up my laptop and do something else. From this vantage … Read more

Court decision deals blow to tuition tax credits

by David Safier Wednesday's ruling by the 9th Circuit Court could hurt the tuition tax credit program, but since the wheels of justice turn slow, it could still be years before it has any effect. Basically, the 9th Circuit agreed with a previous ruling which said the tuition tax credit scholarships are too heavily weighted … Read more

Disturbing finding

by David Safier As always, I preface discussions about findings from educational studies by saying they should be taken with generous helpings of salt. That being said, studies covered in the NY Times and the LA Times indicate: . . . children of Hispanic immigrants tend to be born healthy and start life on an … Read more

Pretty much says it all

by David Safier This isn't fair, I know. It's a single incident. But for me, it's the whole Republican "I care so much about children and poor people" song and dance wrapped up in a pretty little package with a bow on top. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) runs the Frontier Foundation. It's been around for … Read more

Notes from the Grijalva/Duncan meeting at Ochoa

by David Safier I went to the "Listening and Learning" meeting with Grijalva and Arne Duncan this morning at Ochoa Elementary. Something like 20 local educational heavy hitters — superintendents, other district staff, college ed profs, etc. — sat at a round table with Grijalva and Duncan. Mainly, the local people talked while Duncan listened … Read more