Short note to the current Guv

by David Safier Um, Janet, about two weeks before the election, you said at a rally that our Republican state legislators want to cut 40% from the higher education budget. You were exaggerating for effect, right? Right? Because I know you wouldn't leave us in their hands, defenseless, veto-less, if that were really true. Would … Read more

Can some good come out of this?

by David Safier I tend to scoff at people who talk about good coming out of evil. ("Doesn't it gladden your heart to know that some Germans put their lives at risk to hide Jews in their homes during World War II?" No, it doesn't, when I balance it against the vast majority who condoned … Read more

Social promotion is not the Great Satan

by David Safier Kudos to Rhonda Bodfield for the series of investigative articles she wrote in the Star awhile back about social promotion. It's a topic worth looking into. But in today's article, which slams local school districts for not taking action on her findings, she gets a little carried away with herself. Actually, she gets … Read more

The latest right wing meme: What school for Obama’s children?

by David Safier If one conservative pundit writes a column about the hypocrisy of Obama sending his kids to private school, it's just a column. When the next day another conservative pundit writes that, to be consistent, Obama should send his kids to public school, we're seeing the creation of a new talking point from … Read more

Pay for grades?

by David Safier (TASL) I find this encouraging. Freshmen in the Sunnyside School District will get free laptops if they keep a 2.5 or better GPA and have a 95% attendance record. Will this change behavior or just reward the students who are already doing well? Single-period absences for freshmen at Desert View High School … Read more