Books. What wondrous things they are. How invaluable they’ve been throughout history as bearers and guardians of mankind’s greatest ideas. As I child I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by books. There were walls of books in my home and in my relatives’ homes. Collected and cherished by their owners, kept always within view, … Continue reading The love of books
With more grace, tact, and diplomacy than the other principals managed to display this week, President Obama delivered his commencement address today to Notre Dame’s Class of 2009. The controversy surrounding his appearance had risen to fever pitch. A pro-choice advocate was going to speak at the nation’s preeminent Catholic university! (Gasp!) University supporters were … Continue reading Using their indoor voices
President Barack Obama will be delivering the commencement address at Arizona State University this evening. But the headline has been that ASU is not going to give him an honorary degree. Instead, they will expand a scholarship program in his name. A scholarship will actually benefit someone, while still honoring the president. The media are … Continue reading Scholarship trumps honorary degree
Marian the Grammarian I am not, although for a number of years I was allowed to impose my ideas of correctness on the writing of others — and got paid for doing it. (How cool is that!?) I’d be the first to admit that no sooner did I walk out of the classroom than I … Continue reading Shredding Strunk and White
I’ve been browsing and got caught up again in the illegal immigration issue. I haven’t been there in a while. The subject didn’t get a lot of attention during last year’s campaign and President Obama seems to be concentrating primarily on the economy, as he should be. As a result, the issue seems to be … Continue reading It’s a simple question
When English is a student’s second language, what should a school do? It’s a big issue here in Colorado, where we have a large Hispanic (or is it Latino?) population. A local grade school landed in the headlines a few weeks ago when its principal, who favored a bilingual, transitional approach, was suspended. The parents, … Continue reading The continuing flap over bilingual education
