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Archive for the ‘education’ Category

Four- and Six-Year-Old “Sex Offenders”; Middle School Midol Dealers

Sunday, April 13th, 2008

Zero tolerance reaches new heights of absurdity when kids who cannot possibly understand a sexual move (unless they are victims of sexual abuse) are being disciplined in school as “sex offenders,” and the school is calling in the cops — as with six-year-old Randy Castro who patted a fellow student on the behind. The officers in their report described the lad’s behavior as “Sexual Touching Against Student, Offensive”. And to my sheer astonishment, while reading his column addressing this matter I find that I agree with Mark Steyn in at least one area: (more…)

Posted in abuse of power, education, police | 6 Comments »

If only Scalia had been right

Friday, April 4th, 2008

In an article this week for TNR entitled Legal Bondage, Jeffrey Rosin gives moral legislation in the US a clean bill of health, despite Justice Scalia’s alarmist dissent five years ago in Lawrence v. Texas warning that the majority’s decision to decriminalize sodomy would send the country down the “slippery slope” of unchecked moral degeneration: (more…)

Posted in GOP morons, abuse of power, education, feminism, gay rights, neoconservatives, religion in politics, sex work | 79 Comments »

Damned Out of Their Own Mouths

Monday, March 17th, 2008

Angelica already beat me to the scoop with the California homeschooling story. One thing I thought especially interesting about it was the judge’s own rationale, based on his understanding of the central purpose of public education. (more…)

Posted in education | 10 Comments »

George Washington vs. the Licensing Cartels

Wednesday, March 12th, 2008

The economic effects of licensing and certification regimes have been the subject of a couple of recent posts by Angelica, and of extensive discussion in the comments: “Call Me Street Food Libertarian” and “The Rats of El Toro.”

(more…)

Posted in corporate state, economics, education | 8 Comments »

Homeschooling all but outlawed in CA

Sunday, March 9th, 2008
A California appeals court ruling clamping down on homeschooling by parents without teaching credentials sent shock waves across the state this week, leaving an estimated 166,000 children as possible truants and their parents at risk of prosecution.

(more…)

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Posted in education | 8 Comments »

NYC charter school will offer teachers $125,000 salary

Friday, March 7th, 2008

I read this in today’s New York Times, and all I can say is it’s about time! Finally someone is willing to take a risk to see what happens when we treat teachers as though they actually have one of the most important (and challenging) jobs in this country. A new charter school is set to open in New York City and what makes it different is the salary it will offer in order to attract top notch teachers: (more…)

Posted in economics, education, news seen elsewhere | 7 Comments »

Paying kids to raise their grades

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

In public schools throughout New York City an experiment is taking place using
incentive programs to encourage students and teachers to aim for higher scores on standardized tests, reports Jennifer Medina in today’s New York Times. The programs vary in what types of awards are offered, from pizza parties and McDonald gift certificates to teacher bonuses and student monetary awards. The idea was developed by Roland G. Fryer, a Harvard economist, and while it is still in its infancy, there is some indication that these programs are effecting positive changes in the classroom: (more…)

Posted in economics, education, news seen elsewhere | 4 Comments »

School Choice: Because children are not mere creatures of the state

Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the State to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.

(more…)

Posted in education, libertarianism | No Comments »