Calvin Wolf
I am a professional educator and aspiring writer. I have lived in Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming and have been both a professional backpacking guide and cartoonist in the past.
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Bachelor s degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice; Master s degree in Public Administration; secondary education certificationInterests
Education, teaching, backpacking, camping, art, writing, literature, Boy Scouts of America, runningMotto
"Whether you think you can or you can't, you're usually right," - Henry FordFavorites
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I Welcome Mitt Romney Using Education as a New Campaign FrontRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has deviated from course in his focus-on-the-economy offensive against president Barack Obama, claiming that Obama is weak on education. I disagree with Romney but welcome the attention he brings to the issue.
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College No Guarantee, but Still the Only Key: A High School Teacher SpeaksA college degree used to be a shiny, crisp key that easily opened the lock to middle class security. Today the key is worn and rusty and opening the lock takes lots of work and strain. But, for better or worse, there is no substitute for the key.
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Evolving Witness Statements in Trayvon Martin Case SuspectA woman changes her testimony after "seeing the TV of what's happening." It seems that anti-Zimmerman public opinion may be altering witness testimony weeks after original statements.
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Black Pastor William Owens Wrong About Civil Rights, HistoryCAAP (Coalition of African American Pastors) leader William Owens said that he and his fellows, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., did not march "one inch or one mile to promote same-sex marriage." He is wrong.
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Don't Swap Horses in Midstream: Obama Must Stick with BidenFDR's 1944 campaign slogan highlights the importance of loyalty.
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Calm the Uproar Over School Suspensions. They're NecessaryIf school suspensions are a problem, improving student behavior is the solution. Don't punish schools and teachers for not catering to the whims of miscreants.
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Hopefully SpaceX Spurs NASA to Compete, Increase Space ExplorationWhile private sector proponents view the SpaceX launch of its Dragon capsule as a new era of space travel, I hope that the launch spurs NASA, which once sent men to the moon, to get off its behind and return to its glory days.
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Save California Schools by Cutting Spending on Prisons, DefenseA record 188 school districts in California, totaling some 2.6 million students, do not have enough money. Governor Jerry Brown reports that K-12 schools and community colleges will have budgets slashed by $5.5 billion. What to do to save our schools?
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Facebook Growing Up, Losing HypeFacebook's stock prices do not conform to optimistic expectations, but the public should not be overly concerned. Facebook is a durable institution.
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Dharun Ravi Sentencing FairDharun Ravi was convicted of invasion of privacy and intimidation after his roommate, Tyler Clementi, committed suicide. Ravi is alleged to have targeted Clementi because Clementi was homosexual. His sentence of 30 days in jail is justice well done.
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Where There's Smoke There's Fire: Strauss-Kahn Accused AgainDominique Strauss-Kahn, the former International Monetary Fund head and frontrunner in the French presidential election, has been hit with a slew of rape and sexual harassment charges. Now he has been accused yet again. Where there's smoke there's fire.
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NAACP Support of Same-Sex Marriage is Boost for DemocratsThe leading board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, met in Miami and voted to back a resolution supporting marriage equality. With the NAACP labeling marriage as a civil right, Democrats can breathe easier.
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Florida's Education Woes Should Be Wake-Up Call to Nation50 percent of Florida's 10th graders cannot read at grade level says results of the reading portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Additionally, the state just recently voted to lower the FCAT writing standards. We need to wake up!
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Not All Liberal Politics Created EquallyTechnology Entertainment and Design (TED) is a nonprofit that has created TED Talks, presentations about new ideas, many in the liberal vein. One, however, allegedly went too far for TED and the organization is now bathed in criticism for dropping it.
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Trayvon Martin Case: Scream for Help Misplaces FocusDid Trayvon Martin or George Zimmerman scream for help? Witnesses are unsure. I disapprove of the media making the alleged scream for help the focus of its analysis after the latest release of physical evidence in the Martin case. This focus seems biased.
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Proposed Ex-PATRIOT Act a Positive Step in Fixing Nation's Revenue WoesFacebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has irked two Senators after he renounced his U.S. citizenship and planned to move to Singapore, which has no capital gains tax. The Senators believe the move is to duck $67 million in taxes from the Facebook IPO.
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Conservatives Foolish to Rerun 2008 Attacks Against ObamaConservatives like gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) and billionaire Chicago Cubs owner Joe Ricketts are foolishly trying to attack a sitting president on his pre-election record. It will backfire by making Republicans look silly, petty, and desperate.
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Mark Cuban Correct in Predicting Drastic Shake Up of College EducationBillionaire computer magnate and owner of the Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban has blogged about his belief of the near-future destabilization of America's college system. He gave his tips to prospective college students about how to pick their future school.
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Medical Report Boosts Zimmerman's DefenseA medical report indicates that George Zimmerman was indeed struck by Trayvon Martin immediately before the shooting, harming the prosecution's case.
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With Ron Paul Suspending Campaigning, I Move to Gary JohnsonRon Paul has ended active campaigning in the 2012 presidential election, leaving the Republican candidate with a handful of delegates and an unsure political future.
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Texting While Walking Should Be TicketedAs the cell phone proliferation continues, expanding like a viral plague, more and more people have become infected by the need to text constantly, even while walking. This turns otherwise capable citizens into inattentive zombies. It should be combated.
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Animal Abusers Should Be Treated like Sex OffendersSuffolk County, New York is the nation's first local government to maintain an animal abuser registry and inform citizens when animal abusers are living nearby. These registries are important, worthwhile, and should be nationwide.
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Ron Paul Should Swing Support Behind Gary JohnsonWhile former governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson has already won the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination, Ron Paul has a better shot at political relevance by joining his former fellow 2012 Republican presidential candidate as a Libertarian.
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Tony Perkins Urges Civility in Gay Marriage DebateEvangelical leader Tony Perkins criticized Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) for his mocking retort that president Barack Obama's views on marriage could not "get any gayer." Despite being against gay marriage, Tony Perkins urges civility. It's a start.
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Are We Supposed to Believe John Edwards Didn't Know About the Money?A Time article discusses all the sleazy material being shoveled against John Edwards, a prominent 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, in federal court. With so much at stake in '08, is it reasonable to believe that Edwards didn't know about the money?
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NYPD Should Continue 'Stop, Question and Frisk'The New York City police department has declared that its controversial "stop, question and frisk" policy has been successful in reducing crime, with a 10 percent increase in stops netting a 31 percent increase in weapon recovery.
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Wrong Side of History May Be CostlyToday, no socially respectable person would dare contemplate espousing racism or sexism. Yet, in the wake of president Barack Obama's assertion that he supports gay marriage, critics are coming out of the woodworks. They should take a page from history.
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Teacher Using Veterinary Cone Dog Collar Wrong, but in Right BallparkParents are outraged that a freshman teacher in Pasco County, Florida used a conical dog collar, seen in veterinary offices, to punish students. She made them wear the collar, apparently as a shaming tactic, and now faces dismissal.
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My Weekly Fitness Routine: Run, Run, RunThough I am busy with a new career, planning a wedding, and being a stepdad to a young boy, I find time to stay fit by alternating between running outside and hitting the treadmill, along with occasional trips through the weight machine circuit.
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Focus on Mitt Romney Today, Not When He was in High SchoolMitt Romney may have been a prep school bully, according to a slew of recent news reports. But I believe it is important to maintain focus on the present and not agonize over the events of yesteryear.
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Houston Chronicle Justified in Firing Part-Time StripperA 30-year-old reporter has been fired from the Houston Chronicle when a rival newspaper reported that she was also a part-time stripper. While the fired reporter is alleging gender discrimination and wants an investigation, her defense is flawed.
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Time Goes Too Far with Controversial Breastfeeding CoverTime magazine courts outrage with its latest magazine cover, which features a young woman openly breastfeeding a child who is almost four years old. The details indicate that the photo is tailored to provoke heated response.
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Spring Wedding Horror Story: a Long-Distance, Do-It-Yourself WeddingMy fiance and I are learning the hard way that our children will definitely be hiring a wedding planner!
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Women Headed for 'Showroom or Back Room' EmploymentRana Foroohar discusses the latest economic data regarding men, women, and jobs. She brings up an interesting point: With the return of manufacturing and the increase in public sector layoffs, women are finding it tougher to land middle-class jobs.
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President's Support of Gay Marriage Shows Courage, Will Help Re-ElectionBy coming out solidly in favor of same-sex marriage, Democratic incumbent Barack Obama stands stronger in his bid to win a second term as president. While come conservative Democrats may balk, more liberals will be inspired to vote instead of remain home.
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Worried About Education? Pay Attention to Teacher SatisfactionIf we are concerned about the college loan bubble, we should focus on improving high school education so that our college students are disciplined, motivated, and prepared to graduate on time.
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Gary Johnson's Arrival Makes Swing States UnpredictableFormer governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson got no love from his Republican Party, so he left the GOP presidential race in December. Once ignored, Johnson is back in the news cycle as the Libertarian Party presidential nominee. Hang on tight, swing states!
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Obesity Needs Public Focus, but Don't Minimize Personal ResponsibilityThe Institute of Medicine claims that personal responsibility should no longer be relied upon to control America's obesity epidemic.
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It's Time to Get Real on Universal Health CareThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control predicts that up to 32 million more Americans will be obese by 2030, adding $550 billion in medical costs. Perhaps now is the time to get serious about universal health care.
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A Teacher's Reflection on the Art of the TestA Villanelle is a poem with the rhyme scheme A1 b A2 / a b A1 / a b A2 / a b A1 / a b A2 / a b A1 A2.
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Free Cellphone Program Should Be DisconnectedArkansas congressman Tim Griffin is upset that some low-income Americans are abusing a government program that subsidizes their cell phones, allegedly picking up multiple cell phones that include high-tech smart phones.
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Paid Writers Creating Wikipedia Pages Controversial but NecessaryWikipedia, the world's most famous online encyclopedia, may have trouble maintaining its cost-free reputation as paid writers begin to proliferate, writing Wikipedia entries for people in exchange for cash. Despite the outrage, we need closer examination.
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'Brogramming' Not a Worrisome Trend, Indicates Prejudice Against GeeksAn interesting article headlining the home page of CNN's news website bemoans the rise of the "brogrammer," claiming that the tech industry is harmed by the rise of the masculine, exuberant, red-blooded male programmer. I take umbrage.
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Technology in Parenting: Making Letters FunMy fiance and I have a 4-year-old and, with both of us working full time, have limited time to devote to monitoring and assisting pencil-and-worksheet learning. Fortunately, handheld gaming systems for educational games keep the kid learning on his own!
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Don't Believe the Outrage: First Grader Rightfully SuspendedA first grade student in Aurora, Colorado has been suspended for singing "I'm sexy and I know it," a lyric from a popular LMFAO song. While many people are sure to be outraged, it should be noted that the kid is a repeat offender, having done this before.
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Gary Johnson is Back, and That's a Good ThingGary Johnson, the former two-term governor of New Mexico, was dismissed by the media and eventually dropped out of the Republican presidential race. Denied invitations to GOP debates, Johnson returns to the news cycle as Libertarian nominee for president.
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Spouses Lying About Money Underscores Need for Financial LiteracyThe American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has published a report indicating that a significant percentage of adults married or living with a partner have lied about money. Additionally, money is the cause of most arguments between couples.
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Chris Christie Wrong on Education ReformThe Republican governor of New Jersey and possible 2012 GOP veep nominee Chris Christie has come out swinging on education reform, claiming that Republicans are trying to make invaluable reforms and are being stymied by Democrats.
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Lawsuit Reveals Terrifying Potential for Lender Abuse in Loans, MortgagesA lawyer who is paying off his student loans alleges that The Student Loan Corporation is bilking him, and likely many others, of money through a scheme that reduces monthly payments but extends the term of the loan, making the lend more money over time.
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Weak Recovery Indicates Permanently High UnemploymentPrivate sector hiring was much weaker than expected in April, providing further evidence that unemployment will be permanently high after a scarred healing from the Great Recession. Businesses have learned to produce with fewer workers.
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Judge Wrong to Give Lottery Win to Woman Who Threw Away TicketA judge in Arkansas has ruled that a woman who found a winning lottery ticket in the trash is not the rightful winner, and that the $1 million lotto prize should instead go to the woman who threw the ticket away.
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Why I Sympathize with Doctors Who Think They're UnderpaidA recent report indicates that doctors feel increasingly underpaid. While many Americans may scoff, I sympathize.
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Bin Laden's Death: Any President Would Have Done the SameThe death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of America's elite Navy SEALs put an end to a painful chapter in history. But because any president would have made the same call, the fact that the raid occurred on Barack Obama's watch means little.
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Fort Worth Justified in Denying Employment to SmokersFort Worth, Texas is proposing to deny city employment to those who smoke, a radical move that would unleash a wave of heated controversy. In light of rising medical costs, the city of Fort Worth is not unjustified in wanting healthy employees.
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Obama Smart to Ignore Romney in AdsControversially, president Barack Obama's new campaign ads focus little on Republican challenger Mitt Romney and 2012 and instead looks back at George W. Bush and the recessionary days leading up to January 20, 2009.
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Size Discrimination Unfair but Hard to Legislate AgainstA college student in Iowa is alleging size discrimination after being denied the right to dance atop a platform at a bar with her thinner friends. While size discrimination is rampant and unfair, it is too difficult a concept to legislate against.
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Federal Law Enforcement Needs ExaminationThe Transportation Security Administration, perhaps the federal law enforcement agency held in lowest esteem, faces yet another scandal. This comes only weeks after the Secret Service, at the other end of the esteem spectrum, lost face in Colombia.
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Nondisclosure of Funds Insufficient Reason to Rejail ZimmermanGeorge Zimmerman apparently failed to inform a judge at a pre-trial hearing that he had accumulated some $204,000 in donations, making him not the indigent defendant he claimed to be. While this was bad, it's not something to jail him over.
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Why You Should Read 'Mein Kampf'As the world approaches 67 years since the suicide of brutal Nazi Germany dictator Adolf Hitler and the end of World War II in Europe, the government of Bavaria (a state in southern Germany) has decided to allow Hitler's book to be printed once more.
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Arizona Has Solid Argument in Supreme Court Immigration CaseArizona's immigration crackdown, which requires state and local law enforcement to check the citizenship status of anyone suspected of being in the United States illegally, has been taken to the Supreme Court. Politics aside, Arizona has a point.
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Mitt Romney's Not Alone: a History of Weak Nominees for PresidentRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wins by less than 60 percent in both the Delaware and Pennsylvania primaries despite having no major competitor, putting forth the weakest showing of a relatively unchallenged candidate since 1972.
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Obama's Loss of Support from Young Voters No Boon to RomneyWhile a Harvard poll reveals that Barack Obama has lost some support among young voters, those voters are unlikely to cast their ballots for Mitt Romney. Could this lead to epic voter apathy in the 2012 presidential election?
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Gingrich Could Make Good Running Mate for RomneyNewt Gingrich will be ending his presidential campaign next week. While that is not surprising, it is now up to political pundits to question where the veteran politician will go next. Could he be a top contender for Mitt Romney's running mate?
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Think the GSA Overspends? New Report Discusses Military OverspendingAs the nation fumes over the General Service Administration's excessive spending, the Government Accountability Office releases a new report about the Pentagon's own notorious extravagance. The GSA Las Vegas conference hardly compares to the F-35 debacle.
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'Justice for Trayvon Martin' Beating Means Less Justice for HimA white man in Mobile, Alabama was apparently beaten by a mob of black men and women over the man's anger at basketball games that routinely blocked the street. A departing attacker allegedly said "Now that's justice for Trayvon."
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Difficult to Make Academic Performance a Citizenship FactorA Florida teen is both valedictorian of her high school and an undocumented immigrant. Daniela Pelaez, 18, has met with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to discuss his alternative to the DREAM Act. She proposes STARS - Studying Toward Adjusted Residence Status.
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Congress Needs to Answer Tough Questions Over Medical CareNew projections reveal the situation for Social Security and Medicare to be even more dire than previously feared. How can we save them?
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Jeb Bush Should Become Romney's Running MateFlorida Senator Marco Rubio, the oft-heralded potential choice for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's running mate, has endorsed former Florida governor Jeb Bush for position. Should Bush take it?
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New Data Reveal Need for College and University ReformWhile the demand for science, engineering, education, and health degrees remains high, many graduates with other majors are suffering unemployment or underemployment. Is it time to clamp down on government subsidies of college?
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Romney Budget Proposal to Sovietize Federal GovernmentRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has revealed his federal budget proposals. He promises to cut government spending, except on military programs.
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President Not Supposed to Be a Micro-ManagerPresidents can justifiably be criticized for their policies, goals, legislation, and legislative attempts. They should not be hounded for the behaviors of executive branch employees well beyond their span of direct control.
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Round 1 Goes to ZimmermanLegal experts think that round one in America's latest media frenzy mega-trial has gone to the accused, with the defense team of Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman scoring points by making a prosecution investigator look bad.
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Mother's DayThis May 13th, we celebrate the sacrifices of mothers, especially our own, and the efforts they put into shaping our lives. -
Petition to Forgive Student Debt a Bad IdeaThough college tuition prices may be outrageous, even as degrees are worth increasingly less, the proposal to offer a bailout to millions of indebted college students and graduates is a horrible idea. Not only is it unfair, but probably useless.
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North Carolina Racial Justice Act a Bad PrecedentNorth Carolina Superior Court judge Greg Weeks has overturned a death sentence for a black man convicted of killing a white teen after the man appealed using the state's Racial Justice Act. Playing racial politics with juries is a bad precedent.
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Is a 'Gendered' Recession Turning Election into a Battle for Women?Data reveal that women are faring worse than men in the recovery from the recession, which disproportionately harmed men. Between the "mancession," "hecovery," and the Hilary Rosen/Ann Romney "mommy war" redux, election 2012 may become a battle for women.
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Romney Should Not Apologize for WealthWhile I am no fan of Mitt Romney, I agree that he should not be apologizing for his wealthy background. He should be criticized for not wanting the rich to pay their fair share, not for being rich in the first place. That is a key difference.
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Rick Santorum Smart to Bash Romney on the Way OutRepublican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, before ceasing his campaign, sent a sharply-worded criticism of presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney in a fundraising letter to Iowa voters. Was it bitterness, or a crafty ploy for future success?
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Rep. Paul Ryan Excuse Flawed -- Debt Crisis Will Hurt Rich, Not PoorRep. Paul Ryan, author of the House Republican budget, has been criticized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for cutting food stamp aid to America's poor. Ryan responds by saying it is more important to solve the debt crisis. He is wrong.
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'Dignity of Work' Comment Back to Hurt Mitt RomneyAfter Hilary Rosen was widely criticized for saying that Ann Romney was not a suitable adviser on women's economic issues because she "had not worked a day in her life." Now it appears that Mitt Romney himself may be against stay-at-home-mothers.
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Americans Should Get a Third Choice on the Presidential BallotIn a nation that is dominated by a heavy-handed, two-party, winner-take-all system, it is a breath of fresh air to see that a group in making a real effort to put a third choice for president, an independent candidate, on the ballot in all 50 states.
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A Groom's Take on Brides' Feeding Tube Crash DietsI am getting married to a wonderful woman on June 23, and news of the controversial K-E diet makes me feel sad. Women who seek to lose so much weight so quickly before their wedding day should ask themselves some serious questions.
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Police Right to Handcuff KindergartnerA police chief in George remains unapologetic after officers handcuff a tantrum-throwing six-year-old and have her spend some time alone in a jail cell. He is right.
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Obama Talks Tough Against GOP Over ImmigrationPresident Barack Obama, facing re-election this November, has come out strong on future immigration reform, telling Hispanic voters that he plans to make such legislation a top priority during his second term. Is this a wise move?
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GSA Scandal Should Launch New Era in Government SpendingThe controversial GSA spending sprees that have come to light and launched Congressional investigations may help usher in a new era of government spending. Hopefully this extends to mega-organizations like the U.S. military.
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Should Similar Colleges Have Uniform Admissions Standards?Inside Higher Ed reveals significant differences in how universities decide which applicants to admit. Given that state schools are state funded and elite schools supply our government and societal leaders, should they have unified admissions standards?
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If Our Parents Fail, Terrorists Win. Stop Blaming SchoolsAs a teacher, I obviously take offense to the prevailing notion that schools are the entities failing in our society. When kids graduating from American public schools cannot do what is needed for national progress, why not look at parents?
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Iran and North Korea Are Today's Version of 1938 GermanyIn the aftermath of North Korea's failed rocket launch, the world ponders whether or not an additional attempt-to-save-face nuclear test by the repressive Communist nation is imminent. If it gets away with it, will it encourage Iran's own WMD ambitions?
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Should Sexual Habits Be Part of Background Investigation?CNN reports that a dozen U.S. Secret Service agents in Colombia, traveling there ahead of president Barack Obama's visit, have been accused of misconduct with prostitutes. How did this happen? And what sort of Secret Service agents would risk this?
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Hilary Rosen Should Not Have Backed DownDemocratic strategist Hilary Rosen touched off a wave of controversy when she criticized Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's use of his wife, Ann, as his touchstone for information on women's issues. She should have stood her ground.
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California Supreme Court Ruling: No Such Thing as Forced LunchWho would have thought that the modern lunch break would be so controversial? The California Supreme Court has ruled that employers cannot be required to force workers to take a break for lunch. A look at some lunch break issues:
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Delayed George Zimmerman Charges Changed Tone, Tenor of StoryAccording to a source close to the investigation into the actions of George Zimmerman on the night of February 26, the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman will be charged in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. But is it because of media pressure?
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Firing of Pregnant-Out-Of-Wedlock Coach Raises ConcernsA teacher at a Christian school in Texas is fired for getting pregnant out of wedlock. While the school may have the legal right to fire someone who violates "Christian values," what about the Christian values of forgiveness and compassion?
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Lack of Hate Crime Status in Baltimore Beating Shows BiasBaltimore PD head Frederick Bealefeld wrongly dismisses claims that a brutal attack on a white tourist by a group of black bystanders should be considered a hate crime. Refusing to treat hate crime legislation fairly jeopardizes its effectiveness.
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George Zimmerman Website a Good IdeaTrayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman, who is alleging self-defense in the nighttime incident, has created a website seeking donations. Critics feel the site is in poor taste, especially since it reveals no remorse for the killing of an unarmed teen.
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Teachers Should Steer Clear of Politics, Court CasesBrooke Harris, a middle school teacher in Pontiac, MI, has been fired for encouraging a fundraiser in support of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. While I don't think the woman should have been fired, she should have steered clear of an ongoing case.
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Hospitals Are Right to Avoid Hiring Obese EmployeesCitizen's Medical Center in Texas will not hire employees whose body mass index exceeds 35, meaning that obese people need not apply. While some claim unfair discrimination, I think it is necessary for medical professionals to set a positive example.
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First Person: I Am Taking on More Debt NowIn this case, it's better to strike while the iron is hot: As the economy begins to crawl out of the recession, there's no time like the present to get in on major purchases and investments before the crowd leaps in and inflates prices.
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Angela Corey Shows Bravery in Martin Grand Jury DecisionFlorida state attorney Angela Corey goes against public opinion by not convening a grand jury to decide possible charges against Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman, who is claiming self-defense. Her decision is controversial but correct.
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Kim Jong Un May Be Fearing for His Life from North Korea Old GuardKim Jong Un, the new leader of North Korea, is likely engaging in such provocative actions to show hardliners that he is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the United States and its allies, similar to his late father.
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Teachers Are Educators, Not EntertainersA study at the University of Pittsburgh reveals that students who text more during class learn less and earn lower grades. While this isn't news, it is news that the recommended response places the burden on instructors, not students
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Wasteful Spending Spree at GSA Highlights Need for OversightThe federal government's General Services Administration is under fire after an exorbitantly expensive Las Vegas convention and a leaked video showing a GSA staffer rapping and joking about excess spending. Who monitors these people?
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Racism in Politics: Marion Barry Needs to GoFormer Washington, D.C. mayor and current city councilman Marion Barry, running for re-election for his Ward 8 city council seat, claimed Asian American businesses were "dirty" and that African-American businesspeople should replace them.
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Smartphone Generation Forcing Journalist ActivismFrom the Trayvon Martin case to the hacking scandal of Britain's Sky News network, why is the media being so aggressive and activist?
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Supreme Court Strip Search Ruling Helps SecurityWhile critics shriek about the humiliations and injustices of being forced to undergo strip searches after being jailed for minor offenses, where is the explanation for how to keep jails safe without processing all detainees equally?
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Colleges Should Charge Differently for Different ClassesAfter protesters at Santa Monica College in California were pepper-sprayed by campus police for storming a trustee meeting, a debate has been raised about the acceptability of pricing more popular college courses higher than other courses.
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Protesters at Santa Monica College Using Wrong TacticsHundreds of student protesters attempted to storm a trustee meeting at Santa Monica College, with up to 30 of them being pepper-sprayed as they tried to force entry to a room that was far too small for the mass of protesters. They don't deserve sympathy.
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Obama Right to Criticize Idea of Trickle-Down WealthHouse Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has released a budget proposal, which president Obama has promptly criticized as "thinly-veiled Social Darwinism," claiming that tax cuts for corporations and the rich will not "trickled down" to the working class.
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Students Should Watch Downfall of Hungarian PresidentHungarian president Pal Schmitt is resigning in the wake of a scandal alleging that he copied significant portions of his 1992 PhD thesis directly from other sources. High school students should pay attention and learn the dangers of cheating.
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Keith Olbermann's Alleged Actions Harm Reputation of JournalismCurrent TV host Keith Olbermann has been fired after engaging in alleged selfish and arrogant behavior. His prima donna streak harms the reputation of journalism and hurts rank-and-file journalists.
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Odds are Against Hillary Clinton Running in 2016Former president Bill Clinton remains coy about whether or not his wife is willing to run again for president in 2016 after a likely second Barack Obama term. I don't think a run, or at least a successful run, is in the cards.
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Unusual Genealogical Find: My Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Was a Confederate Officer from VirginiaOne always wants to assume that their ancestors were on the "right" side of historic conflicts. What happens when you find one who wasn't?
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College Class of 2012 Face Resentment From Earlier ClassesAccording to reports, the hiring market for 2012 college graduates looks great! Or, at least, far better than it did for classes 2008-2011. Could a rapid recovery from the Great Recession in terms of college graduate hiring lead to workplace resentments?
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Obama Right to Push 'Buffett Rule' TaxWith the economy improving and the Republicans divided, the president is wise to push his advantage and urge Congress to pass the "Buffett Rule" tax increases that raise rates for income earned from investments.
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Toure Wrong to Blast Robert Zimmerman InterviewMSNBC contributor Toure criticized CNN and Piers Morgan for interviewing Robert Zimmerman and supposedly not challenging the claims of the brother of George Zimmerman, the shooter of teenaged Trayvon Martin who is alleging self-defense, sufficiently.
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Schools Wrong to Pay $6,500 a Day for Anti-Bullying 'Edutainer'The Scary Guy, which is his legal name, is a former tattoo artist with few credentials and no current nonprofit affiliation. Why is he receiving $6,500 a day from tax-funded public schools to talk to kids about bullying?
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Palin Best GOP Hope? Historian's Take on U.S. Politics FlawedAn Oxford historian provides a simplistic and erroneous look at Sarah Palin, whom he claims would easily be guaranteed the Republican presidential nomination already if she had run. If this is how Brits view American voters, we have a problem.
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Romney's New Endorsements Unlikely to Win Over VotersBy this stage in the game Mitt Romney's voter support is likely pretty solidified, only changing with major gaffes or revelations among the Republican candidates. Little things like ex-politicians raising their thumbs for Romney will not sway voters.Also published on:
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Robo-Readers a Bad Idea for Grading EssaysReliable robo-grading software now exists! Should it replace old-fashioned, laborious essay-reading by tired teachers?
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Could College Bubble Collapse Spark Future Recession?An Ameriprise Financial survey shows that fewer parents feel they can help their kids with college expenses than before. This could signal a future recession, perhaps a huge one, by accelerating the burst of the college loan bubble.
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Does George Zimmerman Police Video Constitute Evidence?Contradictory images, portrayals, and witnesses have come forth for both Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. None of it constitutes real evidence. Due to the length of time since the shooting, does any smoking gun exist?
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Bias in Photographs Takes Center Stage with Martin CaseGeorge Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who alleges self-defense in the shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin, is routinely shown as his 2005 mug shot for battery of a police officer. Martin is often shown as a boy with an innocent smile. Is this fair?
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Gingrich Should Soldier on to Keep Others at Peak PerformanceRepublican candidate Newt Gingrich, having laid off part of his campaign staff due to low funds, should soldier onward in the 2012 presidential election. He is wily as a fox and dangerous as a rattlesnake, forcing his opponents to be at their best.
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Negative Emotions Are Part of LearningNew York City eliminates certain topics from test questions in order to spare students from "negative emotions."
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Drug Suspension May Be Real Issue in Trayvon Martin CaseRecent evidence comes to light that suggests that Trayvon Martin's state-of-mind on the night of his murder could have been more angry and aggressive than first indicated.
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Personal Stories Highlight Support for Mandatory Health InsuranceThe individual mandate portion of the Obama health care proposals would require individuals to purchase health insurance or face fines. While many find the individual mandate unpopular, it is the right thing.
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Substitute DilemmaA flash fiction story is fiction that is subject to word limits; often around 55 words. -
NCLB Encourages Standardized Test CheatingNo Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation began changing K-12 education back in 2002, when the George W. Bush administration first enacted it. The laws had a noble goal, improving student performance through objective measurements, but a dark side lurks.
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Obama's Comment Reveals Re-Election DilemmaPresident Barack Obama told Russian president Dmitri Medvedev that he needed "space" and would have "more flexibility" after his [re-] election. Is it right for presidents to avoid touchy issues simply because it's an election year?
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Trayvon Martin Shooting Should Focus on Facts, Not RaceWhile it may prove impossible to determine George Zimmerman's true feelings and beliefs regarding any possible threat posed by unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, trying to continue a prosecution by going for hate crime charges is the wrong answer.
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All States Should Compensate for Wrongful ConvictionsWhat do you get for spending years behind bars after being wrongfully convicted? In 23 states, you're entitled to nothing.
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A History Teacher's Spring Reading List: World War II BiographiesI've read the biographies of Churchill, Hitler, and Stalin and made it halfway through Franklin D. Roosevelt's. This spring, as my World History class prepares to study WWII, I plan to finish FDR and read the bios of Benito Mussolini and Hideki Tojo.
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Online College Courses a Threat to Ivy League Hegemony?Stanford University professor Sebastian Thrun offered a class on artificial intelligence online as well as in person. Of the 160,000 students taking the class, all 210 perfect scorers were from the online version. Is this the end of Ivy League hegemony?
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Jobs Crisis Among Veterans Just Another Reason for a DraftMany military veterans find that their skills often do not translate well in terms of civilian employment. A draft would solve many of the problems currently facing veterans as they re-enter the civilian job market.
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Good Idea: Background Checks on Dating SitesIn 2011 Americans spent over $1 billion on online dating site memberships, and over 40 million Americans subscribe to one or more site. It only makes sense to cross-reference new members with sex offender registries.
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Robert Bales' Past Reveals Troubling Questions About Justice SystemWhile most of us fear a criminal act leaving a permanent mark on our record and reputation, US Army Sgt. Robert Bales, the man accused in 17 deaths in a recent shooting spree in Afghanistan, apparently got away with a lot, raising troubling questions.
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Etch A Sketch Gaffe: Romney May Have Just Erased His NominationRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom says that the Romney campaign can "shake [itself] up and start all over again" for the more centrist- and independent-oriented general election. Romney's in trouble again.
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Thorough Prosecution of Robert Bales Needed to Shore Up U.S. ReputationAn AP article reports that trying and convicting American servicemen of crimes committed against foreign civilians, especially during wartime, is a difficult task that often results in lax punishments. Bales should receive a strict, thorough prosecution.
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Killing Spree in France No Reason to Placate French MuslimsIn the aftermath of the tragic shooting in France, critics of president Nicolas Sarkozy are wondering if the increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric in the nation helped trigger the violence. Censorship and placation should not be the result of violence.
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Let's Avoid Amplifying Racial Tensions After Trayvon Martin ShootingThe Trayvon Martin shooting is tragic, but I worry when most of the opinions I read seem to amplify racial tensions. Is it helpful to tell black youth that they are likely to be hated by whites and that they should fear for their safety?
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George Zimmerman Should Be in CustodyThus far, media reports paint George Zimmerman, the 28-year-old self-appointed "neighborhood watchman," as a cop wannabe who called 9-1-1 some 50 times within the past year and lied at the crime scene about his criminal record.
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Don't 'Fix' the Dropout Rate"Fixing" the dropout rates in public high schools is no magic elixir to improving America. In fact, trying to "fix" the dropout rate may cause more problems than it's worth.
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Before Blaming Millenials, Look at Their StressesSan Diego State psychology professor Jean Twenge was "shocked" to find that young people are less environmentally-friendly and display less civic engagement than past generations. The Millenial generation is also more money-hungry. Can you blame them?
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Family Tragedies Make a Conservative More Liberal on Health CareYour views on health care reform change when you see how existing policies allow the mistreatment of people who have done everything right and paid into the system their who lives.Also published on:
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Who Should Be Responsible for Robert Bale's Killing Spree?An Associated Press article discusses whether or not Robert Bales' alleged crimes should be punished swiftly and he alone should take full responsibility. Many say yes, but others say that military and government leaders share some responsibility.
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Rent Control Laws a NecessityAn article in TIME reports that the Supreme Court is considering a case over rent control, which is where landlords are not allowed to increase rent on existing tenants in the midst of their leases.
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Blaming the Economy May Help a Marriage but is a Bad TrendAccording to TIME, the weak economy is actually strengthening marriages by providing couples with financial struggles a convenient scapegoat. By blaming the economy rather than each other, husband and wife avoid relational drama. Is this wise?
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By the Numbers: Increasing Popularity of Graduate SchoolWith the job market more competitive than ever and many recent grads trying to wait out the Great Recession, graduate school has become the focus for many. -
Could You Live on Less Than $2 a Day? Extreme Poverty Needs Rapid ResponseAccording to CNN, 1.5 million American families live on less than $2 per person per day, which is a main indicator of poverty in developing nations. This figure has increased 130 percent in the last 15 years. What can be done?
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World Diplomacy like High School: North Korea Not Exclusive with U.SNorth Korea has announced its plans to launch a satellite into space atop a long-range rocket, potentially violating a weeks-old agreement with the US to halt rocket launches and its nuclear program for food aid. Is North Korea seeking other suitors?
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Cyberbullying Conviction Seems WrongDharun Ravi, a freshman at Rutgers, recorded roommate Tyler Clementi's liaison with another man. Clementi later committed suicide. While Ravi's actions were reprehensible, I am not comfortable with the idea of him getting up to 10 years in prison.
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Will Generation Y Become the Forgotten Generation?Brad Tuttle at TIME writes about an interesting conundrum: Due to the Great Recession and rising education costs, the once-invaluable 18-34 demographic now lacks financial clout. Will businesses ignore it and re-tailor their foci to boomers and youth?
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Easter & Renewal - a Needed Pause in Hectic SpringA poem about the brief but wonderful respite offered by this holiest of days.
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Struggling Athletes: A Look at Minor League PayThe owner of the Pittsburgh Power Arena Football League (AFL) team fired the entire team during a dinner at an Olive Garden in Florida before a game against the Orlando Predators. The AFL players wanted more than $400 per game. A look at minor league pay:
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As Rod Blagojevich Heads to Prison, a Look at Famous Imprisoned U.S. PoliticiansFormer governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich is not the only high-ranking American politician to end up in prison. As the former state governor begins a 14-year sentence, a look at other famous imprisoned U.S. politicians.
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Prenatal Genetic Testing: History and HighlightsControversy erupts after a jury in Oregon awards nearly $3 million in damages to a Portland-area couple who had a child with Down syndrome after the condition was not revealed by a prenatal genetic test. A look at the history of prenatal testing:
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For Teachers to Learn from Marines, Need to Include USMC Sticks as Well as CarrotsAndrew Rotherham writes about five things American teachers can learn from the gung-ho US Marine Corps. Instead of looking at Finland's test scores and teacher pay, he says, look at Fallujah. He's got a good idea but ignores the USMC's rigid discipline.
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No Habla Ingles: Rick Santorum Gaffes on Puerto Rico -- but Has a PointRepublican presidential candidate was in Puerto Rico and said that the island territory would have to designate English as its primary language if it wanted to pursue statehood. While Santorum's Constitutional knowledge was awry, his aims were right.
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Shooting Defenseless Animals Should Be DiscouragedBy engaging in an African hunting safari and shooting exotic animals for sport, the sons of media and real estate mogul Donald Trump set a bad example for others and mar the reputation of young white American males abroad. Sport hunting is for cowards.
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Voter ID Laws Throughout HistoryThe White House has blocked a Texas voter ID law requiring voters to show a government-issue photo ID. The Justice Department found that the law discriminated against Hispanic voters, 11 percent of whom lacked such ID. A look at voter ID law history:
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A Military Draft Would Help Prevent Shooting SpreesThe Army staff sergeant who went on a shooting spree in Afghanistan, killing sixteen, was on his fourth deployment, was a grizzled thirty-eight years old, and had had marital problems after deployments to Iraq. Side-effects of a career in killing?
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Just Go to Work: a Twentysomething Argues Against 'Remote Working'Ages ago the workplace was the household. We were all farmers or craftsmen in a nascent "cottage industry." Then industrialization hit and we moved work out of the home. Now it's back with the help of computer technology. And it's a bad thing.
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Slimming Down is Manly, Not EffeminateI grew up in football-obsessed west Texas, where teen boys playing the sport were encouraged to get big. Our culture makes it hard for men to slim down for health reasons, especially if it involves dieting. Men are supposed to be big...but at what cost?
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Most Mississippi Republicans Out of Touch on Obama Muslim IssueAs a teacher I have seen countless teens ignore written, published fact and instead rely upon rumor to form their opinions. Apparently, the state of Mississippi is like a giant high school classroom: Rumor reigns while published news is ignored.
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Will People Boot Obama in November Over Gas Prices?While president Obama's approval ratings have fallen as gas prices have increased, it is unlikely that voters will abandon an incumbent president in the November election. Would people really vote for a Republican challenger over pain at the pump?
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Leaving Afghanistan Now Would Be WrongAfter a U.S. Marine killed sixteen Afghan civilians in a nighttime shooting spree, leaving the beleaguered nation now would be a permanent stain on America's already-marred international image. Our image suffered after Vietnam, and this could be worse.
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Blind MPAA Language Policy Harms Bullying DocumentaryThe Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has given Harvey Weinstein's anti-bullying documentary an "R" rating for six uses of the f-word, which will cripple the ability to use the film in schools. The MPAA needs to revise its policies.
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Chris Christie on Target in Criticizing Interrupting StudentNew Jersey governor Chris Christie got involved in a heated discussion with a Rutgers law student. The governor was right to assert that, as speaker, he deserved respect.
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Massachusetts Right to Reform Oppressive LawMen in Massachusetts, and elsewhere, have been angry over paying alimony indefinitely even after the ex-wife has found gainful employment.
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Broad Ramifications of Texas' New Sub-$10,000 Bachelor's DegreesBy pairing up with a community college system in San Antonio, Texas A&M is taking an innovative approach to lowering the cost of a bachelor's degree.
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Increase the Size of Congress? Nice Idea but Fatally FlawedBrian Flynn at CNN wants the House of Representatives to be increased to 3,000 members to make it more responsive to the American public. His ideas are noble but will likely only increase problems with Congress' performance.
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Freedom of Speech Debate: Marine Wrong About ConstitutionMarine Sgt. Gary Stein has posted that he would not follow orders of commander-in-chief Barack Obama. Though his explanations have gone back and forth, the gist of his defense is that Constitutional freedoms trump all. Stein's noble reasoning is flawed.
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Marshal Owen and the Ballot Box of DoomPolitical intrigue in the old West.
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With GOP Weak, Should Dems Now Make Gay Marriage a Platform Issue?With Democrats likely to win big in November, why should they continue to hesitate to affirm same-sex marriage as a Democratic Party platform issue?
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Should a Nation's Public Be Obligated to Share Military's Struggles?Many complain that the United States is disassociated from its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Should a nation's public be obligated to consciously share its military's struggles? Is it better or worse for a nation to be intimately bound to its military?
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League of Nations Redux: Is the World Going to Act on Iran?The League of Nations, formed in 1920 after World War I to prevent future conflicts, failed in its mission. Like the current United Nations, the League lacked any military muscle of its own. Today the UN is as helpless as the League to stop Iran.
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How to Bring Down the Cost of CollegeThe Federal Reserve Bank of New York casts a grim look at student loan debt by only looking at those who are currently required to pay, raising the percentage of those with past-due balances from 14.6 to a whopping 27 percent. What can we do?
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First Person: With Gas Prices on the Rise, We're Avoiding Aimless DrivingWith gas prices possibly topping $5 a gallon this summer, I plan to cope with the problem by driving smarter.
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Eliminating Cellphones Can Help End Culture of Misery in SchoolsJesse Klein at CNN writes about an increasing cycle of misery in America's schools, viewing school violence as a societal, rather than individual, dilemma. The solution? Get rid of cell phones in high schools.
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Colorado Wrong to Force University to Allow GunsThe Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the University of Colorado overstepped its authority by banning concealed carry at its four campuses. An exception should be granted for all colleges and universities regarding state concealed carry legislation.
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I Hope Romney Gives Obama a Good Race: a Democrat's View of Super TuesdayIt is no surprise: 2012 is a bye year for the Republican Party. With the economy improving, though slowly, the election is almost guaranteed to go to the incumbent. Still, Democrats should stop praying for Obama to face a likely-to-lose-big non-Romney.
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Painful Irony: Moving Day is the Funniest Day of AllTrue stories and anecdotes about moving.
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Boon or Bane -- Parental Letters of RecommendationSome colleges are soliciting letters of recommendation...from student's parents. Fans say it helps reveal students' true personalities and strengths, while critics say it is simply an opportunity for upper-class parents to ensure privileged treatment.
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Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick -- China's Teddy Roosevelt FutureChina will increase its military spending by 11.2 percent this year, arguably in response to growing needs to protect its citizens around the globe. With its military growing stronger, but quietly, is China today like the U.S. under Teddy Roosevelt?
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A New Affirmative Action: Does Unethical Behavior Build Wealth?University of California, Berkeley psychologists have found that rich people are more unethical. The question of whether bad ethics or wealth comes first raises controversies, such as the possibility that much wealth is generated through lies.
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Better to Spend a Penny Now Than a Dollar LaterAs a taxpayer, I want the government to require health insurance plans to cover contraception. It's all about cost-benefit analysis: I would rather society pay for contraception today than for child-rearing for the next two decades.
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Super Tuesday Prediction: Newt Gingrich Wins Some Southern ComfortDespite Mitt Romney's recent momentum with wins in Arizona and Michigan, as well as tiny Wyoming, he might had his momentum eroded for the umpteenth time going into Super Tuesday, where both Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have big advantages.
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Toure's Eulogy of Andrew Breitbart Reveals Importance of RespectA raging liberal can bring himself to speak respectfully of the life of a raging conservative. We need more of this civil discourse in our society, where too many youth lack the virtues of respect and civility when discussing politics.
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Sexism, Racism, Ageism, and Now 'Childism'? Have We Gone Too Far?Author Elisabeth Young-Bruel, who passed away in December, argued that prejudice against children has long been prevalent in our society. Discrimination describes unequal treatment among those who should be considered equals. Are kids equal to adults?
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Time Travel Novels as Education: Good for a Variety of SubjectsStephen King's recent novel '11/22/63' is a good read, but its true value is greatest in the realm of education, where the book's emphasis on time travel, history and the John F. Kennedy assassination could be taught in many diverse subjects.
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North Korea Foreign Policy Victory Gives Obama Freer Hand in PoliticsThey say all things come to he who waits. Well, Barack Obama may have just been served up a political victory by waiting out North Korea. The notorious, nuclear-armed hermit kingdom may have just caved on the nuke issue in exchange for food.
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First Person: I Don't Need the Hassles of Home OwnershipIn terms of housing, I rent instead of buy because I'm at a stage in my life where, even though renting may be more expensive, the convenience it offers is worth the cost. I need stress reduction with a new job, new town, and new relationship in my life.Also published on:
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A Wired World Makes Mental LightweightsAs smartphones and MP3 players proliferate, especially among the young, critics worry that Generation Y will lose its ability to concentrate, focus, pay attention, and think critically. As a teacher I see this daily in the classroom.
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Something is Wrong when a U.S. Soldier Costs $1 Million a YearDefense undersecretary Robert Hale says it costs $850,000 per year to keep a soldier in Afghanistan. The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments reckons it's closer to $1.2 million. How did we get to this point?
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Forcing Bilingualism on KidsA CNN producer tries to raise her daughter to be bilingual and engages a controversial issue by trying to force the daughter to speak Spanish at home. Reader comments reveal both support and outrage. A look at English proficiency in U.S. schools.
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The PhoneA look at a very possible future.
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To Get Healthy, Trust the Gym Instead of the Game ConsoleForget the Wii and the Kinect - to burn calories and tone muscle you should rely on the traditional mainstays: The running track and the weight room. Research finds that kids don't burn more calories with "exergames."
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Rising Rents Harm Salaried WorkersRental housing prices are rising even as salaries and permanent housing prices are falling. Those in apartments and rental housing are struggling, especially those in markets where rental prices are elevated by a single booming sector of the economy.
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Should Rich Candidates Play Middle Class?Mitt Romney has just made news with yet another alleged gaffe, this time by saying his wife drove "a couple of Cadillacs" in an attempt to appeal to Michigan voters. We know most candidates are rich, so why punish them for it?
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Rick Santorum is Charging Ahead -- And Might Be WinningPresidential candidate Rick Santorum is taking an unorthodox tactic in an era of sensitive politics: He is charging ahead unapologetically, aking to David Farragut's famous "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," and not shying away from controversy.
