Speak Out!

Cell Phones in the Classroom

Sun, 03/29/2009 - 21:42 | Education
The New York Times reported that a wireless industry trade group plans to start making its case for the educational value of cellphones. 
But proponents of selling cellphones to schools counter that they are simply making the same kind of pitch that the computer industry has been profitably making to educators since the 1980s.
 
The only difference now between smartphones and laptops,
 

Reinforcing Stereotypes or Encouraging the Community?

Sun, 03/22/2009 - 21:54 | Community

An article in Entertainment Weekly asks, "How do you solve a problem like Madea?" in addressing what it references as "black America's secret culture war." 

 

Role Models?

Sun, 03/15/2009 - 22:00 | Community

The abuse allegations in the Rihanna-Chris Brown relationship. The Michael Phelps marijuana bong photo. Alex Rodriguez' admission of using steroids. Much is being made of the possible impact of the actions of these and other public figures on young people.

Why do we expect celebrities to be role models?

 

E-Government

Sun, 03/08/2009 - 21:25 | Government
After President Obama's election, a Computerworld.com article addressed the challenges for the administration in adapting the campaign's use of the Web for government applications.
 

The Growth of Home Schooling

Sun, 03/01/2009 - 22:23 | Education

A USA Today article addresses the issue of the increase in the home-schooling in the U.S.:

 

Job First?

Sun, 02/22/2009 - 22:28 | Politics
In a Washington Post op-ed piece, Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat who represents Missouri's 5th Congressional District and was Kansas City's first black mayor, argues that he knows a little something about the unrealistic expectations of a constituency.
I…tried to explain that Obama will be the first black president, not the black president first.
 

Drug Testing for Teachers?

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 22:47 | Education

A USA Today article describes an attempt in a North Carolina city to establish random drug testing of teachers and other employees:

 

Duped Again!

Wed, 02/11/2009 - 17:45 | Wealth

Ponzi schemes are alive and well, as evidenced by the latest financial fraud perpetrated by money manager Bernard Madoff.
 
Why do people continue to get duped by Ponzi (financial fraud) schemes?

 

No Place like Home?

Sun, 02/01/2009 - 22:28 | Community
According to a Pew Research Center survey, geographic mobility is at the lowest levels since the government began keeping statistics in 1948:
As a nation, the United States is often portrayed as restless and rootless. Census data, though, indicate that Americans are settling down.
 

Changing the Politics of Race

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 22:41 | Tavis Talks
An article in the Los Angeles Times frames the politics around the selection of Roland Burris to fill President Obama's former U.S. Senate seat as an example of how racial politics have changed with the results of the presidential election:
Many black leaders, including Obama, have declined to back Burris, even if that leaves the Senate with no African American members.
 
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