Opinion
No. 798: Closing of School in Bertie County Makes No Sense
A federal order to close an elementary school in Bertie County because the school has too many white children is absurd.
Opinion
The DC Deal Breaker
What everyone assumed was a done $584 million deal to bring Major League Baseball back to the District of Columbia is now in flux over one little change. One city official had the courage to ask that some private money be used for the project.
Opinion
In Transportation, Pay to Play
A debate in Asheville about transportation infrastructure illustrates the problem of failing to uphold the rule that users should pay for what the use, no more, no less.
Opinion
More on the School-Equity Flap
New numbers explodes the myth there are large disparities in education spending in the state based on wealth or income. Bad statistics have focused public attention on the wrong issue.
Opinion
What Happens Next in Raleigh
Continuity appears to be the watchword in North Carolina government, with the same leadership in charge in Raleigh seeking to address the same old issues pretty much the same way.
Opinion
Right — and Wrong — on Poverty
The controversy surrounding Mecklenburg Commissioner Bill James’ comments about urban blacks living in a “moral sewer” has made news statewide — but hasn’t been particularly illuminating.
Opinion
Tapping Assistants for School Reform
The budget deficit estimated FY 2005-06 keeps growing — in part because of the assumption that hundreds of millions of new dollars must be spent on Leandro mandates. Not necessarily.
Opinion
A Simple Question of Supply
A TV talk show host asked of me in a recent interview whether North Carolina has “enough” K-12 teachers. A reasonable question, since I’d just written a rebuttal to a report that claims we have a teacher shortage in this state. I could have asked in return whether North Carolina has “enough” TV talk show hosts. Both questions would have exhibited the same problem...
Opinion
The Gnat & the Sledgehammer
Cabarrus County has imposed a six-month moratorium on the approval of new plans for housing developments. Is this a prudent remedy to a practical problem, or just a panicky overreaction?
Opinion
The value of a free ride
WASHINGTON — Public transit exists, of course, to move people efficiently from Point A to Point B. But, hey, if riders can be sold something along the way, that’s good too, right? That’s the thinking of some companies that are starting to look at transit patrons as perhaps the ultimate captive audience. One company that’s jumping on the mobile marketing idea is ING Direct, a financial services firm. Its pitch: It offers to buy one morning’s free ride for everyone using a big city’s rail system.
Opinion
Adding Up The Education Gap
In a shocking turn of events, American students have just tested near the bottom of the international heap in mathematics. OK, so it’s not really that shocking.
Opinion
Three Telling Christmas Tales
Some important truths about the different ways people interact with each other can be found in a series of holiday scenes.
