News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Then it Became Condescending and Orwellian So “Bard” was one of the names for Google’s earlier Artificial Intelligence forays, and I decided, given what others were doing then, to “test” it a bit. The common complaint, back in its early days (otherwise called January 2024), was that it would not answer direct questions asked by … Read more
From the moment the New Hampshire State Board of Education voted to adopt the Common Core Math Standards in 2010, I knew it would be a disaster. Fourteen years later, we see the proof. Schools across America still use Common Core-aligned programs in their schools because those math programs align with their state academic standards. … Read more
As we reach the quarter-century mark in the new millennium, it’s worth looking back on what the politics of this era have done for (or, spoiler alert, “to”) Vermont. First, some important historical context: The last time Vermont Republicans had a majority in the Senate was 1996. The last time Vermont Republicans had a majority … Read more
It’s that time of the year again when the School and Town budgets are presented to taxpayers at the town meetings. This is the time to ensure you are part of the process so your elected representatives understand what you expect from them. Pembroke voters rejected a $3 million dollar school budget last year, indicating … Read more
In 2024, the Green Mountain State saw education costs, aka property taxes, rise more than 13%. All while academic performance continued to decline. The 13% rise could have been higher had the tax rate not been bought down with one-time funds. The low staff/student ratio, increased compensation costs, the Legislature’s incentivizing local school spending, and … Read more
After reading Commissioner Edelblut’s Opinion Editorial on the value of New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Accounts, I felt compelled to share my family’s story. Back in 2002, we were living in Windham, and I was homeschooling our three children, ages 6, 4 and 3. My husband and I had planned to continue homeschooling as long as … Read more
Thanks to all of you who supported EdOpt during our inaugural year! We started Education Options in April. In July our website was ready and we got 501c3 status. We hosted or co-hosted 5 expos around the state in August and December. We have a rich set of education choices in New Hampshire, and that … Read more
Act 183 establishing The Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont (a name almost as convoluted as the system it’s supposed to reform) is charged by law to, among other tasks, submit “a written report containing its preliminary findings and recommendations, including short-term cost containment considerations for the 2025 legislative session, [emphasis added] on or … Read more
NH doesn’t do too badly in this roundup – tied for 4th at 44%. Education pays, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, found out in data published earlier this year. For every level of education completed, Americans earn more and face a lower risk of unemployment. So where have Americans got this figured out? We map the … Read more
The House of Representatives just passed the Crucial Communism Teaching Act (H.R. 5349), which mandates public school instruction about the totalitarian dangers of communism. Given the history of McCarthyism, the passage of such boldly worded legislation condemning communist ideology would seem anachronistic if not for the growing popularity of Marxism among American youth. Yet the … Read more
The Valley News is a reliable member of the progressive handmaiden media. They toe the right lines and nurture the approved narratives. They also give voice to the troglodytes that, in most outlets of this shade, are a way to express the publisher’s political preference at someone else’s expense. One letter writer I stumbled across … Read more
In over 20 years of my research on public education, it’s easy to see how federal dollars are flushed down the toilet. There is plenty of money being spent by the federal government that does nothing to improve education, but also assists in its demise. DOGE is the new federal Department Of Government Efficiency that … Read more
No one should be surprised that U.S. Students continue to fall behind their international peers in Math and Science. The latest scores are in from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and it’s not good. According to: US students’ declining math scores are ‘sobering,’ expert says:“A new international study showing a significant … Read more
The following video features Sal Khan, creator of Kahn Academy, talking about his vision for the future of education. It’s six minutes long and worth watching. As mentioned in the video, Khan started an organization called SchoolHouse.world that has free online tutoring and supports group learning. His vision is to support the kind of interactive online teaching that … Read more
President-elect Trump has nominated former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education. President-elect Trump promised that, if confirmed, Mrs. McMahon would “spearhead” the effort to “send education back to the states.” This has led some people to wonder if Linda McMahon may be the last Secretary of Education. The Constitution does not … Read more
As I have noted in past observations of the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont, this collection of special interest group lobbyists has no real desire to solve the property tax/education finance crisis facing Vermonters today. Their objective, quite to the contrary, is to keep the money flowing unhindered and unquestioned into … Read more
Most readers already know what I think of our lame duck Senate quietly rubber-stamping the RTK tax (HB 1002) and advancing it to the Corner Office without any in-chamber discussion or roll call, but I’m here to discuss more of the upper chamber’s subversive antics. First, let’s look at today’s article on Ruth Ward by … Read more
Before we get into the meat of today’s topic, here’s a quick review of how property tax reform has gone down in Vermont since Act 60 became law in 1997: Property taxes go through the roof…. A critical mass of voters howl…. The Democrat-controlled legislature promises in public they’ll do something about it, but in … Read more
SEL is now infused throughout public education. SEL is found in math programs like Eureka2, which is used in many schools throughout New Hampshire. This means that less time will be spent learning math, and more time will be spent reshaping your child’s values, attitudes, and beliefs. The SEL model will now also be infused … Read more
The degradation of liberal education in America is anything but a niche public-policy concern. Like all rights-protecting democracies – and especially as a 21st-century great power with globe-spanning interests – the United States requires a host of highly-trained individuals to keep its government functioning, military operating, economy churning, and civil society thriving. Essential men and … Read more