The Book Arch Today The recent upsurge in recycling has inspired a creative new art form: book arches. My son-in-law crafted the first book arch at Sandman Books in Punta Gorda, FL (owned by my daughter Heidi and son-in-law Scott). The original version of his arch represented a Roman aqueduct. Soon after Scott completed the project, other bibliophiles followed suit, including those at The…The … Continue reading The 9 Lives of Books — Write to think
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There is nothing like a South Florida childhood
We have logged many hours at Fort Myers Beach and the beaches on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Our new favorite beaches to hang out at, however, are the Causeway Islands on the way out to Sanibel. They are called the Causeway Islands because they are natural landing spots for the series of bridges that carry … Continue reading There is nothing like a South Florida childhood
Montana is dropping federal unemployment benefits to force people back to work
We eat out all the time here, so it has been difficult to miss the employment shortage in restaurants. At one sports bar, they were serving everything with plastic picnicware. Plastic cups, plastic plates, plastic forks... This is something you typically do not see in Florida by the ocean, as we try to protect marine … Continue reading Montana is dropping federal unemployment benefits to force people back to work
California is destroying math education in its public schools
GET YOUR CHILDREN OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS! I can't shout it any louder. We have gone from "No Child Left Behind" to "All Children Left Behind." In the name of "equity" - which Democrats define as equality of outcomes not equal opportunity, in true Soviet fashion - California is planning to eliminate "tracking" in math … Continue reading California is destroying math education in its public schools
One-third of college graduates work in positions that do not require a degree
Photo by cottonbro Since the Democratic Party is trying to triple the federal budget with new government spending legislation, one topic that keeps coming up is making college "free." Of course, nothing is ever "free" - someone is going to pay for it; the beneficiaries just don't want it to be them. Here's an interesting … Continue reading One-third of college graduates work in positions that do not require a degree
Why universal day care is terrible public policy
Photo by Alexandr Podvalny It is somewhat amusing to watch Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance emerge as the post-Trump cultural observer most reliably capable of driving the political left insane. Unlike Trump, Vance does not lend himself to ad hominem attacks. When Vance questions the efficacy of welfare programs, he brings with him a multi-generational connection to … Continue reading Why universal day care is terrible public policy
Where have all the students gone?
Before we moved to Florida, I was part of the finance and economics staff for a state legislature. I drafted proposed legislation and was responsible for quantifying the cost / budget impact of it. I have found the wholesale destruction of public education in this country fascinating not only from a political standpoint, but from … Continue reading Where have all the students gone?
Most states have spent hardly any of the Covid-related education funding
The federal government demanded that American taxpayers borrow trillions of dollars to fund emergency spending for education, among other things. Schools need immediate funding to pay teachers, to prison-up their classrooms with plexiglass and bleach, etc. You can't send your kid back to school until everything is "safe." Yeah... about that. Most states have spent … Continue reading Most states have spent hardly any of the Covid-related education funding
Critical theory in schools (links)
As I have mentioned before, we attended Baylor University, a Baptist school in Texas. We had segregated men's and women's dorms, which I believe is an excellent policy for all colleges for many reasons that have nothing to do with religion. (I'm old enough to remember the valid concern over "rape culture" on college campuses. … Continue reading Critical theory in schools (links)
Virginia plans to eliminate virtually all accelerated math classes because “equity”
It would seem Virginia's far-left Department of Education is radically restructuring what is taught in public schools. They have failed at reducing achievement gaps, so now they want everyone to receive a mediocre education. It started with eliminating advanced studies diplomas so that all students would receive a standard diploma: Leslie Sale, director of the … Continue reading Virginia plans to eliminate virtually all accelerated math classes because “equity”
