Special Education: Are We All Special Even if We Don't Earn It?

Below is a letter to the editor I submitted to the Wall Street Jounal on 22 August 2007

The article by John Hechinger and Daniel Golden entitled “When Special Education Goes Too Easy on Kids” and appearing in the 21 August 2007 Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118763976794303235.html again highlights how public education has failed the most vulnerable students through a conspiracy of low expectations.

I worked as a substitute teacher and one on one aide for a disabled student for an entire semester. I have seen instances time and again where assignments, tests and quizzes were re-worked. The most egregious example of low expectations and waste that often accompanies public education was the fact that in one math class, every Friday was “Movie Day”. Over the course of an entire semester, I sat through films like Supersize Me and The Italian Job (hardly fare that in any way related to the subject of math).

I proceeded to report this to the assistant principal. Whatever became of my report, I have no idea, but the fact remains that for entire semester, 1/5 of classroom time was wasted. Added to that was the fact there was no textbook used in the class.

It is the flagrant violation of parent’s and taxpayers trust by school administrators and teachers that continue hobble the United States’ public education systems. A wholesale reevaluation of the delivery of education in this country is needed. Fundamentals, such as the length of the school day and school year need reexamination in the light of a global economy. In addition, new school models such as the charter school and most importantly, providing parents with access to alternatives to the traditional public school need serious consideration. Finally, public school districts have to be willing to cut back on those programs that are not serving the student in the classroom; interscholastic sports might be a good start.

Taxpayers are getting fed up with a public education system that is getting more and more expensive and delivering less and less, especially in the areas of special education and education for gifted students.

The global economy requires a highly skilled workforce. If the United States is to maintain leadership in that economy, education must be the foundation of that strength. If we don’t we are only kidding ourselves and it will be only a matter of time until the United States is considered a second rate economic power.

Athletes and Bad Behavior

Below is a letter I submitted to the Chicago Sun Times. An edited version appeared in the August 4, 2007 edition.

Jay Mariotti's column published on July 27, 2007 and entitled Unworthy of any Trust is at best more hand wringing and at worst hypocritical.

Mr Mariotti seems shocked at all the bad behavior going on in sports. His reaction reminds me of the reaction of Captain Renault in the movie Casablanca when he says to Rick "I'm shock..shocked to find gambling going on" and then somebody hands him his winnings from the roulette table.

What does Mr. Mariotti and others expect of sports? Who said these sports figures should be looked up to?

More importantly, the press has to take some responsibility for this. They are constantly promoting various athletes and they are getting younger and younger and being eyed by more and more people who want to make money from their skills. Then, at the first possible minute, these young people turn pro and get lots of money and maybe a shoe deal and when they don't show the maturity or responsibility required to handle new found fame and fortune, people like Mr. Mariotti start making all manner of protests as if they have been personally insulted.

At least all of Mr. Mariotti's outrage looks good in print and sells more papers for the Chicago Sun Times.

Until enough people, from university presidents to the man in the street, stop investing their resources of time, money and interest in sports will things return to the normal order where sports will be treated as what they are - only a game for leisure - nothing will change

How to Avoid Mortgage Madness

Below is the text of a Letter to the Editor I submitted to the Wall Street Journal

I wish to comment on the article entitles Mortgage Madness which was published on Friday, August 3, 2007 in the Wall Street Journal and can be found at http://aei.org/publications/pubID.26602,filter.all/pub_detail.asp.

I question the wisdom of Mr. Lindsey's contention that "the key to getting America out of its current housing and mortgage market mess is to do everything possible to maximize the availability of credit". Isn't that how we got to this situation in the first place. Does Mr. Lindsey really think that it is good for the economy to have unsophisticated buyers (like me) to purchase exotic mortgages with adjustable rates, only to have many of those mortgages end up in foreclosure?

The solution does not lie with more regulation as Senator Schumer might advocate or maintaining the status quo as Mr. Lindsey. The key is to return to a fundamental understanding of what home ownership is. Home ownership is the key to upward social mobility and key to that mobility is stability and establishing roots in a community. Consequently, a home must be looked upon as a long term investment and only secondarily as a store of wealth or value.

In addition, education is key for consumers to make correct choices. Individuals must take responsibility for their own financial futures and understand all the risks involved with a particular mortgage instrument. My wife and I are fairly risk averse, so when it came time to refinance our home, we chose a basic 30 mortgage. We were lucky enough to find a very low rate and have been able to keep our home and accelerate the amortization of the loan even during periods of prolonged unemployment.

The old conventional wisdom of putting 30% down on house and having a fixed rate mortgage may not be the most glamorous way to purchase a house, but it can bring considerable peace of mind.