DeLeo's betrayal of the public on Term Limits

The Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives did a disservice to Democrats and democracy yesterday. By scheduling a vote on ending the Speaker's term limits without any time for public discussion, he disenfranchised the voters of Massachusetts.

We should remember that he is Speaker of the house. It is not the Speaker's House; it is the people's House.

Let us hope that, at the next election,  the primary voters in his district remember this betrayal and oust Mr. De Leo from the legislature.

Sent to Boston Globe

Process versus Content in Education

Mr. Beall (Letter, New York Times, Jan 21st. 2015: A18) claims that  "the capacity for creative invention and entrepreneurship (grit), not the ability to memorize procedures and algorithms and recall facts" is what sets America apart and contributed to our innovation and economic successes in the 20th century.

He is wrong. First those he extols were the recipients of the traditional education that he despises. Second, innovation and entrepeneurship need to be built upon a solid foundation of knowledge. One needs to know what is possible before one can attempt the impossible.

Sent to New York Times