AZ University students to protest cuts

by David Safier From the Citizen: University students at the state's three public universities plan to protest the budget options laid out last week by the Joint Legislative and Budget Council that call for cutting $243 million immediately from the state's higher education budget. The hit to the University of Arizona would be $103 million, … Read more

AZ Senate Republicans’ budget options, budget choices

by David Safier Arizona's Senate Democratic Caucus has created its own blog, and it has a few video clips of Senate Republicans discussing what to do about school funding. Senator Jack Harper asks, "The Constitution requires the state to offer first through twelfth grade — kindergarten, no?" The answer given him was, no. I guess … Read more

The Inauguration in the schools, and beyond

by David Safier Schools across the country are going to suspend business as usual during the Inauguration ceremonies and participate by watching and discussing and writing about the historic event. It's a sign of the times that anyone should have to justify taking students away from their normal tasks to focus on the Inauguration. Here's … Read more

Kurt Vonnegut reflects on Barack Obama

by David Safier Kurt Vonnegut died awhile ago, but a scene from Slaughterhouse 5 came to me as I watched the Concert on the Mall this afternoon and listened to Obama's short talk at the end, tears in my eyes. I don't have a copy of the novel at hand, so I'll have to relate … Read more

Who wudda thunk . . .

by David Safier You mean it's possible that "throwing money at education" can result in better educated students? Five years after Maryland increased spending by $2 billion to provide greater academic equity, students have made remarkable gains in reading and math, according to a report given to the Maryland General Assembly yesterday by an outside … Read more