Why America Must Rewrite Charter School Laws Now
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Research shows charter school laws enable mismanagement, profiteering, and
instability at the expense of students and taxpayers.
The post Why America Mus...
MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JANUARY 31, 2026
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*MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JANUARY 31, 2026*
U.S. News
1. Partial federal government shutdown begins despite Senate approval of
a spending deal; t...
Summer Food Service Program Applications Open
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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces Summer Food Service Program
applications available February 1, applications due by May 15, 2026.
I try to answer the "So what?" question
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Vouchers are unconstitutional, charter schools are failing, both cost
children in public schools about $3 billion and property taxes are out of
control. Wh...
Ice Storms, Icons, and the Trouble With Certainty
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“I possess a device, in my pocket, that is capable of accessing the
entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats
and get into...
January’s Parent Engagement Resources
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ChatGPT, cooking and Christopher Walken: how parents got their kids to love
reading in 2025 is from The Guardian. Teen use of AI chat bots is growing,
and ...
Seattle School Board Meeting, January 28, 2025
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This meeting had two parts.
One was an update on SPS' efforts around protecting schools from any
federal intervention. Meaning, likely* ICE coming in a*...
Surviving “The Great Aggression”
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Your parents and/or your grandparents lived through The Great Depression.
We are now living in “The Great Aggression,” an unprecedented assault on
our demo...
STATE TERROR
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STATE TERROR!With the murders of Alex Pretti, Renee Nicole Good, Keith
Porter, Silvero Villegas-Gonzalez, Jaime AlanĂs Garcia, and many more, ICE
is carryi...
The Fault Line in American politics?
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I’ve spent a lot of time considering this graphic. IS education the fault
line in American politics? First shock: There are 33 states with
more-educated pe...
Exploring the Exciting World of Online Poker
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Poker has long been considered the game of strategy, skill, and nerve, and
at EmilyTalmage.com, we bring this thrilling experience to the digital
world. Wh...
The Smart Phone Will Be ICE’s Undoing.
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The ubiquity of smart phones can pose a real hassle to societal
functioning. Many businesses now post signs instructing customers to please
refrain from th...
Absolute MUST WATCH from David Jolly
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the former Republican Congressman who is running for the Democratic
nomination for Governor of Florida.
The embedded video is just under 8 minutes.
Rick...
Ed Tech Digest
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Ten years ago, in another somewhat futile attempt to reduce the backlog
of resources I want to share, I began this occasional “Ed Tech Digest” post
where...
Murder inc.
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Another murder by ICE today! I watched the video and 7 ICE thugs had him on
the ground, one was punching him in the face as he was down then they shot
him ...
ICE Executes Another Citizen in Minneapolis
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WARNING VIOLENT VIDEO: Federal Agents just shot and killed another person
in Minneapolis. Before the ICE/Homeland Security/White House LIES start
tumblin...
Donald Trump and the Triumph of Narcissism
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Although I am neither an historian nor a psychologist, I know enough
American history to know that Trump’s demand that Greenland capitulate to
his desire...
2025: Because We Had To Do Something About It
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Editor’s Note: Thanks again for being part of my community, particularly to
those who are paid subscribers. Your sponsorship of this space has allowed
me...
2025: Because We Had To Do Something About It
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Editor’s Note: Thanks again for being part of my community, particularly to
those who are paid subscribers. Your sponsorship of this space has allowed
me...
Is The ‘Illustrative Math’ Curriculum Working?
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One of the initiatives of former (and disgraced) Mayor Adams and of the
former (and disgraced) Chancellor Banks was a math plan called ‘NYC
Solves.’ As par...
Shutting Down The Site
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Ten years ago, I ran for a seat on the LAUSD School Board of Education with
the goal to *Change the LAUSD*.
I am proud of the campaign we ran. We achieve...
A colleague looks back at 2025
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Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I get knocked down But I get
up again BETSY WOLF DEC 31READ IN APP I’ve been quiet for most of 2025.
Much of ...
Missing digits puzzle
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Can you find the missing digits? Could I have offered fewer digits (and
still have one solution?) could I spread the digits better? _ _ x _ _
________ 496 ...
The Company You Keep
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Even though the filing period for the 2026 elections isn't until April,
let's all pay close attention. The candidates lining up to run will tell
you more a...
It Is Up to Us to Defend Democracy
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Do we have the courage to defeat an authoritarian regime? I believe we do,
if we organize strategically and effectively. There is no time to waste.
Do we...
This Is What Democracy Looks Like
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The polls for Prop 50, CA’s ballot initiative that counters MAGA’s illegal
gerry-mandering in Texas, opened Tuesday, November 4, 2025,…
The post This Is ...
Blogoversary #19 — Time to Move on
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Times have changed. I had a nice long run here, but let’s face it, it ended
a while ago. So I’ve moved. I’m not writing much any more, but when I do it
wil...
Il Papa è Morto
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Francis brought a distinct pastoral outlook to his papacy. A simple man, he
lived in a small apartment in the guesthouse. He sought to make the church
acce...
Mike Shulman the ARISE UFT Judenrat
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I was surprised to learn that Mike Shulman has aligned himself with ARISE.
I previously supported him, advocating that the Castle Doctrine could have
bee...
How Do We Fight Trump?
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Dear Friends, I don’t know when and why it hit me. But I suddenly realized
how serious Trump is about changing the country into something that
horrifies. I...
AIN’T IT AWFUL
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As the terrible feelings of dread and angst spread across the world the
great majority of the American people feel powerless before the onslaught
of those ...
Vote NO on the UFT Contract. Here is Why:
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The best reason to vote no on this contract is this: UFT Unity* lied* to us
in 2018. They misrepresented that contract. It was predicated on deals we
wer...
Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force
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I prepared testimony for one of two public hearings held by the Chicago
Public Schools Truancy Task Force, a body mandated by state legislation.
The meetin...
There Is A Teacher Shortage.Not.
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THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. And just to be sure you understand, it’s not
that teachers don’t want to teach. It’s not that there aren’t enough
teachers cer...
Book Banning Turns to Dick and Jane
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Breaking News: Dateline February 4, 2022 - Parents in Dimwitty, Alabama
have asked the Dimwitty Board of Education to ban the children's primer *Fun
with...
Have You Heard Has a New Website
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TweetHave You Heard has a new website. Visit us at
www.haveyouheardpodcast.com to find our latest episodes and our entire
archive. And be sure to check out...
Follow me at Substack
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I've moved. Follow me at Substack
I'm now posting regularly at Substack. You can subscribe for free to my new
Edu/Pol blog at michaelklonsky.substack.com
...
I’ve moved.
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I’m on Substack now. You can continue to receive periodic posts for free.
Or you can read every post and comment for $5 a month, $60 a year.
fredklonsky.su...
Aspiring Teachers Get New Help Paying For College
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[image: colorful classroom pattern]
*; Credit: shuoshu/Getty Images*
Cory Turner | NPR
New rules kick in today that will help aspiring teachers pay for c...
Tips Akses Situs Judi Qq Tanpa Perlu Takut Nawala
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Kegiatan berjudi slot melalui situs judi qq online, sekarang sudah
dilakukan oleh banyak penjudi Indonesia. Tentu, Kamu yang sedang membaca
artikel ini a...
The Threat of Integration
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I have lived in the same house in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles
for over 30 years, where up until now I have had little or no interaction
with th...
We fight for a democracy worthy of us all!
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The nation stands at a crossroads, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcĂa
in her final keynote address to the 2020 NEA Representative Assembly and
it’s up...
The Passing Of Chaz 1951-2020 Age 69
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I am the son of Chaz and like to inform you that he passed away this
afternoon from the COVID virus. My father passed in peace beside his loved
ones. We ar...
The Fight For Our Children
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*The number of suicides among people ages 10 to 24 nationally increased by
56 percent between 2007 and 2017, according to a new federal report showing
the ...
Read to Self: Just a Kid and a Book.
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Date: Monday, January 5, 2020 Place: My classroom Student: Mrs.Mims, could
we start doing Read to Self again because I got this great book for
Christmas an...
Reminiscences
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I just finished dumping the rest of my lesson plans. I guess I held on to
the calculus ones for so long because I spent so much time working on them
an...
Just Asking for some Teachers I know.
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Recently Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated, We must … recognize that
part of supporting our kids in the classroom means supporting the educators
who t...
Cara Menang Bermain Judi Bola Online
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Bermain judi bola online tentu saja memiliki kesenangannya tersendiri baik
itu mendapatkan keuntungan maupun ketika menantikan hasil skor pada sebuah
perta...
A Critique of Standards-Based Grading
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It first happened to me about ten years ago. I was beginning my third year
of teaching in a new school in Washington, DC. Social studies teachers were
si...
Reduced time for testing? Not so fast.
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NYSED and Commish Elia continue to say that the NYS Assessments are of
reasonable length, I completely disagree.
Here is what NYSED states are average expe...
The World According to Michelle Rhee
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The men behind the curtain fashioning the brave new world of corporate run
education in America! Michelle Rhee is the founder of StudentsFirst, The
New T...
Whose Opinions Matter in Education World?
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It's hard to identify education heroes and sheroes. And perhaps even harder
to pinpoint just whose work is slanted, paid-for and dishonest.
New Local Businesses in Sacramento
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Starting a new local business in Sacramento is a monumental task, but can
be accomplished with footwork, perseverance and knowledge. One must learn
the loc...
Lesson Plan: Rhyme and Rhythm in Poetry
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I’ve started a recent unit on poetry with my class. I’m not a poet, and I’m
not a poetry fan (I don’t hate it, but I’m a prose gal), so this makes it
harde...
The Apotheosis of Betsy DeVos
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Betsy Devos has drawn few headlines in recent months, and that is a good
thing for the Secretary of Education. Her tenure began with Vice President
Mike P...
Education Is a Civic Question
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In their final post to end Bridging Differences' decade-long run, Deborah
Meier and Harry Boyte urge readers to put the energy, talents, wisdom, and
hard w...
Site News: New Home for Education News & Commentary
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Quick! Get over there! The daily education news roundup and education
commentaries that you're probably looking for are now being published over
at The Gra...
Should We Be Grateful?
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In an odd turn of events, and with little explanation, Michigan Governor
Rick Snyder has decided to return the state’s School Reform Office back to
the Dep...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
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An Open Letter to NC State Lawmakers and NC State Superintendent Mark
Johnson: I am a NC native, voter, and public school teacher. I am
addressing you all ...
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My Next Bestseller)
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The Secret to Fixing Schools (My next bestseller) Prologue I just finished
watching a fascinating documentary on Netflix entitled, “The Secret”. The
film p...
Farewell, Sleep
-
Today is the official last day of my spring break. I've done a scientific
survey: My natural bedtime is 2 AM, and my natural wake up time is 9:41
AM. Tom...
REPORT: States With the Best and Worst Schools
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States With the Best (and Worst)Schools
By *Evan Comen, Michael B. Sauter, Samuel Stebbins and Thomas C. Frohlich*
January 20, 2017- http://247wallst.com
...
Test Refusal = People Power
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In recent months, social media has been ablaze with talk of regular folk
taking action to resist the Trump agenda. Protests are a daily occurrence,
and ev...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
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I’ve been gone a while from the blogging scene. Some of my more regular
readers no doubt noticed but did not hassle me about it. Thank you for
that. Sinc...
AB 934: A LEGISLATIVE FIX FOR VERGARA?
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By Michael Stratford | in the Politco Morning Education Report | via email
05/24/2016 10:00 AM EDT :: Two national education groups are backing a
Califor...
MY NEW BLOG
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My new blog will consist of fictitious headlines, meant to be a blend of
humor and satire. I apologize ahead of time if any other satirical site has
simila...
Thank you
-
Dear Readers,
Thank you for visiting *The Perimeter Primate*. This blog is being retired
for the time being. Although I no longer post here, I do still s...
I am Retiring
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I have some news: I am retiring from the PBS NewsHour and Learning Matters.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other
conte...
New Beginnings: Kickstarter and EdWeek Teacher
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Greetings to InterACT readers one and all! If you’ve been following posts
here recently you might recall that I’m moving my blogging activity to
other loca...
Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School
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*“With Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School closing, Newark families must
move on.”* The Star-Ledger (NJ), 6/25/2013
NEWARK — Bobby and Troy Shanks saw the...
The Upcoming, Troubling, PBS “School of the Future” : The Upcoming, Troubling, PBS “School of the Future” On Wednesday, Sept. 14, 9 pm ET, PBS and NOVA will air a two hour special called “School of the Future.” The advertisement tells us much. They are warning that the future for children demands that students need better preparation to succeed due to globalization. What they probably won’t tell
CURMUDGUCATION: OR: Oh Noooos!! SBA Results Are In! : OR: Oh Noooos!! SBA Results Are In! Out in Oregon, the Smarter Balanced Assessment results were in this week, and various outlets raised the cry of dismay over the results. But Betsy Hammond at the Oregonian did an outstanding job of capturing everything wrong with SBA fever in her "8 Sobering Takeaways... " piece. First, she reminds
This District May Close All Of Its High Schools, But It's About Much More Than Money : NPR Ed : NPR : This District May Close All Of Its High Schools, But It's About Much More Than Money Superintendent Jay Badams leads a coalition of students, parents, educators, and community members at the state capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., urging state lawmakers to alter policies that have left Erie's public sc
Community Schools: Why Do We Need Them? - LA Progressive : Community Schools: Why Do We Need Them? L ast week there was a wonderful forum at LA Trade Tech to discuss the contrast between charter and community schools (any confusion over terminology was quickly clarified). The presentations were translated from English to Spanish and Spanish to English, depending on the speaker. A coalition of edu
With A Brooklyn Accent: September 11 Memories: Thoughts on a Day of Mourning, And Unity : September 11 Memories: Thoughts on a Day of Mourning, And Unity September 11 is etched in my mind as a time of horror, fear and mourning, but also a time when New Yorkers came together in a way I rarely have seen before or since. I was in my office that day when one of my favorite students walked in, telling
‘It Is About Our Kids’ | The Oklahoma Observer : ‘It Is About Our Kids’ Editor’s Note: This is the first of two essays by veteran Oklahoma educators analyzing State Question 779, the proposed one percent sales tax increase for public education that will appear on the Nov. 8 statewide ballot. The second essay will be posted tomorrow. Both first appeared in the September edition of The Oklahoma Obs
“The Teacher Held My Hand” – Medium : “The Teacher Held My Hand” My letter to members of the United Federation of Teachers in September of 2001, reposted today in memory of their heroism, and the of those we lost. It was Primary Day. I was leafleting near Brooklyn Borough Hall with Alan Hevesi. Rush hour was nearly over. Suddenly, we heard an explosion. Smoke rose on the eastern horizon. We stopp
Courts sides with opt-out parents, ruling third graders who refuse to take the reading test can still advance by proving their reading skills. | Bradenton Herald : Justice for opt-out movement Bradenton Herald Editorial LINKEDIN GOOGLE+ PINTEREST REDDIT PRINT ORDER REPRINT OF THIS STORY Parent advocates of the opt-out movement — instructing their third-grade children to avoid taking the state’s s
Fifteen Years Later: Have We Learned Anything about Unity and Community? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher : Fifteen Years Later: Have We Learned Anything about Unity and Community? I'm avoiding the fifteen-year remembrance pieces on television this morning. There was a time--a relatively long period of time--when I believed that our national response to overwhelming tragedy mi
Stages of Technology Integration in Classrooms (Part 3) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice : Stages of Technology Integration in Classrooms (Part 3) Technology integration is not a binary choice: you either do it or you don’t. Anyone who has taught, observed classrooms and thought about what it means to include electronic devices and software into daily lessons knows that techn
Arkansas Residents Jim and Alice Walton Pony Up $1,835,000 to Raise Charter Cap in Massachusetts | deutsch29 : Arkansas Residents Jim and Alice Walton Pony Up $1,835,000 to Raise Charter Cap in Massachusetts According to the September 09, 2016, filing of the Massachusetts ballot committee, Yes on 2, billionaire Arkansas resident Alice Walton is one of two individuals providing the $710,100 in fun
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Catch up on your reading (9/11) : ICYMI: Catch up on your reading (9/11) Here's some education reading for a quiet week in September. As always, please share and pass on the pieces you like. To the Gentlemen Talking about Lazy Teachers This blog is operated by two former teachers, but clearly the woman still remembers how the gig works. I Don't Want My Son To Read in Kinder
Problems with the CCJEF Decision - Will equity without adequacy be enough to help Connecticut’s neediest children? (By Wendy Lecker) - Wait What? : Problems with the CCJEF Decision – Will equity without adequacy be enough to help Connecticut’s neediest children? (By Wendy Lecker) Wendy Lecker, an education advocate, legal expert and Stamford Advocate columnist produces a MUST READ analysis about
Demand the Impossible! (excerpt # 2) | Bill Ayers : Demand the Impossible! (excerpt # 2) Bill Ayers -- Demand the Impossible!: A Radical Manifesto | Haymarket Books - http://www.haymarketbooks.org/pb/Demand-the-Impossible My latest book, Demand the Impossible! A Radical Manifesto, will be released this month from Haymarket Books in Chicago ( www.haymarketbooks.org ), and I will post a paragraph (
SKrashen: Bilingual programs do not prevent the acquisition of English – they facilitate it. (Letter in LA Times, 9/10/16) : Bilingual programs do not prevent the acquisition of English – they facilitate it. (Letter in LA Times, 9/10/16) Published in the Los Angeles Times, Sept 10, 2016 To the editor: I strongly agree with your editorial. In fact, bilingual education is even more effective than t
Teachers share what they would love to tell their students but can’t - Business Insider : Teachers share 19 things they'd love to tell their students but can't Joe Raedle/Getty Images To maintain order in the classroom — and to keep their jobs — there are some things teachers just can't tell their students, even if they want to. But some of these things, while perhaps controversial, could end up
How Clinton and Trump plan to tackle education as president | U.S. ELECTIONS : How Clinton and Trump plan to tackle education as president WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton has spent decades talking about the needs of children and touting the benefits of early education. It's a new subject for Donald Trump. The Republican presidential nominee added plans for education to his still relatively thin
8 Things the U.S. Must Do Now to Save Public Education | Huffington Post : 8 Things the U.S. Must Do Now to Save Public Education “I hate reading.” Ouch. I’d rather walk across burning coal than to hear these words from the mouth of a