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Category Archives: General Thoughts
Education Trends: A Look Back
Once upon a time, a couple of decades ago, I took a stab at some predictive commentary about education. As you assess the credibility of my crystal ball, please keep in mind that my involvement in educational endeavors at that time was only a few years in duration, and, thank goodness, my awareness of all […]
USA in 21st Century
DEMOGRAPHICS In the world of predictive metrics, demographics is far and away the leader. Most one year-olds will become two, most seventeen year-olds will become eighteen, and so forth. Therefore, there is a high degree of confidence behind the forecast that the USA will relatively soon (2040-45) have no ethnic majority. Not only will […]
Immigration Q&A
[Quess what year this was written; relatedly, what aspects are not relevant in 2016 (Q) What is the single most important requirement (other than “papers” of course) concerning personal advancement for immigrants in the United States? (A) If a Hispanic speaks Spanish, the typical American will label him an “Immigrant.” In contrast, if he speaks […]
Immigration Questions
As Executive-Director of a foundation which has had many Hispanic members of its various education programs, I have been enrolled in an on-going course in the dynamics of immigration. In 2011, I came to believe that dialogue on this subject would be enhanced by answering the questions listed below. They are in no order, as […]
We Believe
Each child is an individual. Each child can learn. Each child has educational needs beyond those met by the school. Each child has involvement with adults: parents, relatives, and others interested in his/her future. Each child must be emotionally healthy in order to develop. Each child is pressured by demands at home, at school, by […]
Voices in the Student’s Ear
In choosing a school, the prospective collegian often has multiple “helpful” people in his or her ear: mother, father, best friend, sibling, high school counselor, teacher, outside education advisor, and, of course, oneself. Assume the student’s final decision is among three colleges with different characteristics. A way to put together the inputs from different sources […]
Statism
Here is the essay prompt: “when the student checks his Facebook page on his Apple iPhone, he sees that the meeting to protest income inequality and white power is to be held at Starbucks.” When I gave this topic to a mature college student, he wrote about several economic factors, such as the inadequate level […]
Changes in Majors
I am not sure whether it is a curiosity question or has more substance, but I would be interested in an analysis of changes in majors by college students. Currently, this subject is not even considered an issue; changing is commonplace, no big deal. Nonetheless, what I am especially interested in is the “why” […]
At Garey and Franklin Streets
Sitting solo on a public bench outside a panaderia in Pomona, California and munching a delicious pastry from said location, watching the sun being slowly replaced by dusk and white America being rapidly transformed into a colorful mosaic, it is easy to become reflective at the corner of Garey and Franklin. With my writing energies […]
HIGH MARKS?
“New Study gives high marks to Jersey Community Colleges” was the heading for a Star Ledger” article of 1-20-16. Its supporting information was that “17% of community college students earned a Bachelor’s degree within six years of starting college, versus 14% nationally.” Yipes, with success like that, there would be no such thing as misleading […]