Odds and Ins: Oliver Hill in Memoriam

Well, the slow news days continue regarding educational law, but there are a few odds and ins worth noting.

First, we were all sad to learn of the passing of Oliver Hill. AP Story.

                                     
                                        (Library of Congress - Oliver Hill on Right)

You can watch and listen to him tell his own story in his later years at this Virginia Commonwealth site here (click on picture - I learned a lot from that interview). It is a fantastic way to spend a half hour and honor the legacy of Oliver Hill, who graduated second in his law school class at Howard University behind only Thurgood Marshall. Quite the impressive individual whose work had a profound impact on the country.

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In other news, first check out this blog entry at Board Buzz. It has a lot of great links about why education has not been a central issue in the presidential primary. Also, a Boston Globe story says Clinton and Obama are speaking softly on school reform to court union voters.

Second, while I was in Chicago, the conference committee for the America Competes Act reached an agreement which could send the bill to the President's desk soon. Summary of the Senate version of the bill here. This is yet another signal that Math and Science are the top priorities for Congress.

Also, Colorado may be making a huge new reform effort -- or they may be making just another political stunt by appointing a panel to review its P-20 system. We will have to wait and see whether the panel's recommendations are taken seriously as these panels are usually used for the good press they generate and little more.

And, finally, although not law related I just found this very interesting as the owner of several Baby Einstein videos for my kid. The LA Times is reporting a study that infants that watch Baby Einstein videos actually know fewer words than their peers that do not watch the videos. While the study seems to need to be replicated, it does make you think a little.

Comments

[Kenny Baren]

Math and Science are definitely important. However, I think Congress should spend more of its efforts making sure students get an equal shake in the educational system. Its sad to see young children not having the opportunity to go to good schools simply because they cannot afford it.

It is even more disturbing that students reach high school and even beyond not knowing or being taught how to read.

Perhaps our youth will turn out better if Congress concentrates on these issues rather than math and science.

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