no child left with knowledge

<![CDATA[ So now our nation's schools are cutting back on subjects other than reading and math in order to continue receiving funds under the No Child Left Behind law. As a result, many kids are getting either reduced or no exposure to the vast body of knowledge -- science, history, languages, and the arts -- that our society has to offer. Instead, they get to grind through hours per day of reading and math. I agree that these are bedrock skills to master, but I can't agree that this lack of variety is anything but damaging to a person's desire to learn.

One principal is quoted as saying that there has been minimal complaint from the students about taking two subjects. I wonder if these kids, already frustrated with their struggle to do well on standardized tests, even believe that providing feedback will lead to any changes in their education. I also wonder about the context of who is taking this altered curriculum at these schools, and whether this ultimately fuels a larger divide between the haves and have-nots in a world increasingly reliant on brainpower. ]]>

good friends, good times

<![CDATA[ A close friend and I have been trying to reconnect lately by making a habit of getting together every week. We work at the same place, but you know how that isn't really the same. In any case, it's working out great. We went to see Jason Narducy (of Rockets Over Sweden) play an acoustic covers set at The Hideout last night. Jason's been touring a lot lately -- he played bass on Bob Mould's tour last year; he's now touring with Bob Pollard of Guided By Voices fame. I generally recommend any music that Jason's involved in, including his own band, the current tour, and any time he can get on top of a bar and serenade an unwilling victim with "I Want You To Want Me." ]]>

march = madness

<![CDATA[ This is on two counts: the NCAA tournament and my final exams (completed yesterday). I feel bad for some of my classmates, who seemingly live and die by how their undergrad alma mater does in the brackets. As I went to a Division III (no scholarships) school, I can watch the tournament without too much emotional turmoil. Not so for my friends that went to Illinois.

Some links:

• George Will has a satisfying view on Iraq, 3 years later.
• A fun little doom-and-gloom about the upcoming elections and Bush's abysmal approval ratings.

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life after bush? finally!

<![CDATA[ With Bush's numbers in the basement, the G.O.P. is circling the wagons. My favorite theme is the ol' "hate the sin, love the sinner" routine -- everyone praises Bush and decries the deviation from traditional conservative values. As several of the "successors" are U.S. Senators who supported the White House's spendthrift ways, I find the sentiment a little hard to swallow. My current consolation is that, McCain aside, the potential heirs are almost as interesting to listen to as Kerry. ]]>