Category Archives: Cross-Examination

“Trump Budget Would Slash Education Dept. Spending, Boost School Choice,” (Education Week, May 23, 2017), looks at changes proposed in federal education spending, but notes the largest: Grants for special education, which also go out by formula, get $12.7 billion … Continue reading →

Federalism seems a natural approach for education reform, as it might for transportation policy reform. The great majority of commutes to and from work by road or rail are within state borders, so why not have state and local government administer … Continue reading →

Debaters looking to reform federal education funding or regulations should know where federal education dollars flow now. “Federal Education Funding: Where Does the Money Go?,” (US News, January 14, 2016), provides a recent overview with helpful charts. First US News … Continue reading →

James Tooley, a professor of education policy at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, traveled the world researching The Beautiful Tree and describes the popularity of informal schools for low-income families in India and Africa. In India, Nigeria, and Ghana, government officials explained to … Continue reading →

Doctors have diagnosed increased Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in students, but critics suggest reduced school recess is a cause and increasing recess time is a better alternative to ADHD drugs. “Ritalin vs. Recess: Are Drugs Really the Answer to the ADHD Epidemic?” (takepart, … Continue reading →

Issue Briefs | Education No. 186 Monday, January 25, 2016 by Lloyd Bentsen IV [Excerpts from Issue Brief, full text on pdf here] Over the years, federal funding of primary and secondary education has increased, while students’ academic performance has flatlined. … Continue reading →

Sometimes looking at the past can help us see the present more clearly. And that applies to the 2017-2018 NSDA topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding and/or regulation of elementary and/or secondary education in the United … Continue reading →