October 26, 2005

Law & Courts A National Roundup U.S. Appeals Court Backs Use of Race By Seattle Schools

A federal appeals court last week upheld the Seattle school district’s use of race as a tiebreaker when deciding which students to admit to high schools.

Education L.A. Schools Seek Bonds

The Los Angeles Unified School District will ask local voters on Nov. 8 to support its fourth multibillion-dollar bond issue for school construction in less than a decade.

Education Letter to the Editor Teaching Is as Much an Art as a Science

Pressured by the federal No Child Left Behind Act to produce a highly qualified teacher in every classroom, it’s understandable why reformers are eagerly scrutinizing the preparation of practitioners in other fields as a model.

Education Letter to the Editor When Racial Politics Trumps Special Needs

Your article “Minority Overrepresentation in Special Ed. Targeted” reflects the recent injection of race into a problem that should be dealt with on the issues.

Education Letter to the Editor Another Reason to Resist Melding Public, Private

Regarding your Oct. 12, 2005, front-page article “Catholic Schools Reopening After Katrina.” One cannot help but notice that, in the two accompanying photographs of students, only one of the dozens shown is African-American.

Education Letter to the Editor Public Schools Need Help, Not Destruction

In his Oct. 12, 2005, letter to the editor, economist John Merrifield recommends “free enterprise” as the answer to Louisiana’s school problems. I assume “free enterprise” is code for school vouchers.