“Education is the path to a better future.” This statement is widely—almost universally—accepted throughout the world. No sane person disagrees with it. Many might argue about the various components of that education, some arguing for the liberal arts and others placing greater emphasis on more practical pursuits. Others might debate the best … Read more
According to the Oregon Board of Education, the ability to read, write or calculate is not necessary to receive a high school diploma—at least until 2029, according to The Oregonian. The State Board of Education decision was unanimous. Critical Analysis Run Amok The Board’s reasoning is straight out of the critical theory … Read more
Many of today’s young people decide that a college education is not worth the time and treasure it costs. Rejecting Higher Education For previous generations, this might be something of a surprise—although it shouldn’t be. Colleges have spent the first quarter of the twenty-first century making their product—the degrees they award—more expensive … Read more
Some depraved souls at the California Department of Education insist that its schools reduce every area, including mathematics, to the study of race. How race plays a determinative role in the study of mathematics is baffling. Nonetheless, the thirteen-year effort to insert race into the California Mathematics Framework continues. A Tale of … 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
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
Phonics is back. The once-formidable New York Times announced the city’s embrace of the learning method. ABC News multiplied the bombshell’s effect by noting a nationwide trend. Of course, some look upon the old word with disdain. The educrats prefer to call it the “science of reading.” ABC says the new term … Read more
Led by the Comte de Montalembert and supported by Louis Veuillot and L’Univers, the Catholic Party waged a battle against the French government for freedom of education. To understand this battle well, we need to look back a little. After the fall of Napoleon, all liberal French politicians fought against the government’s … Read more
The Tampa Bay Times recently published an opinion piece by Miguel Cardona, President Biden’s Secretary of Education. The article’s title is deceptive, “As U.S. Education Secretary, I Want Us to Enrich Public Schools, Not Ban Books and Topics.” America’s public schools undoubtedly need improvement. However, their deficiencies have nothing to do with … Read more
The early nineteenth century saw a need to restore Catholic civilization and combat the French Revolution. Unfortunately, this need gave rise to a weakened, although combative, apostolate. It was weak because it was mainly dedicated to lay Catholics. It was combative because Joseph de Maistre had laid down its guiding principles. Still, … Read more