Edwin Benson 
Stories of heroism inspire people of all ages to act with courage and fortitude. Unfortunately, too many insist on living in a world without heroes. John Hunyadi was a rare character—a real hero. He signaled his determination to fight against the Ottoman Turks in this quotation: “We Have Had Enough of our … Read more
Like most curricula, Florida’s State Academic Standards—Social Studies, 2023 makes for rather dull reading. Fundamentally, it is a list of topics that teachers must cover. It has eleven “strands,” of which African American History is one. Recently, Florida’s curriculum for teaching African American History became a huge controversy that distorts the text … Read more
If there were an academy award for pursuing leftist causes, the climate change crowd would be perennial winners of the “Best Hyperbole” statue. For years, it has proved adept at bending weather conditions to “prove” that the climate is a disaster waiting to happen. Throughout the summer of 2023, Canadian wildfires have … Read more
Even though most Americans can speak of a special teacher who helped change their lives, few appear to have much respect for the teaching profession. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona focused upon that topic during a seventeen-minute speech at a National Education Association (NEA) annual meeting on July 6, 2023. As … Read more
A recent article in the Washington Post began with a frightening sentence. “Extreme Heat kills more people in the United States than any other weather hazard.” A few minutes of Internet searching found virtually the same sentence on NBC News, which attributed it to the National Weather Service. CNN said the same … Read more
Public and school libraries struggle to become more “woke.” It is not just a matter of buying more bad books. The biggest issue is that the materials the librarians badly want to place on their shelves provoke uncomfortable reactions in many parents. A recent article in The Daily Caller describes how they … Read more
On June 15, 2023, Xi Jinping observed his seventieth birthday. 2023 is also the tenth anniversary of his accession to China’s presidency. He is unquestionably the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. He may be even more powerful than Mao, a fact hard to access given the tight control in today’s … Read more
Injustice is becoming a way of life in California. The increasingly erratic state tax structure is one reason the long-heralded “Golden State’s” population is shrinking. In 2021, the decrease was over 117,000, on top of a 182,000 loss in 2020. Mandating Unfairness Now, the state is piling another injustice upon its taxpayers—in … Read more
A legal controversy threatens the safety of every person in Oklahoma—and everyone in the United States. Who Owns Oklahoma? At its core, the question is simple. Who controls the land—the Indian tribes once settled there or the state of Oklahoma? Unfortunately, the courts and the laws appear to point in both directions. … Read more
Like many students, I benefited immensely from my experience as a high school debater. In addition to the basics of public speaking, debate helps students learn to think on their feet, look at an issue from various perspectives, use evidence to back up assertions and evaluate the effectiveness of multiple arguments. In … Read more