A few weeks ago, I wrote about the child care crisis in America. Working parents have difficult times finding quality day care- at reasonable prices- for their kids. It is not atypical that the costs for child care swallows up the net pay (after taxes) of the lower paid spouse.
Continue reading Universal Child Care
If you are younger than 40, some of this history may be news to you.
Many of my friends’ folks were children of the depression. They grew up in an economy in ruins, one where it was not clear from where the next dollar would come or what would be on the table for supper. That experience made many of these folks husband their cash, to preserve what they had for a rainy day. And, these parents wanted their kids to learn skills that would carry them through economic downturns and prosperity.
Continue reading Millennial Malaise
I remember when I was a little tyke, I would play in my basement. No, not with conventional toys. Oh, sure, one of my distant cousins (who was deeply involved with Sperry Gyroscope and its military inventions) had given me his son’s wonderful Lionel train set (which remained in my possession until I was 12 years old). But, it was my Lionel-Porter Chemistry set that held my attention.
Continue reading It all stems from STEM
So today is a holiday with which I was never allowed to participate. Oh, sure, we bought candy for all the little tykes that would bang on our door, but I wasn’t permitted to travel the streets. It wasn’t our holiday.
Continue reading Woohoooooooo!
I live in a fairly affluent section of America. Our high school is the largest in the Commonwealth, with 3400. With a wide range of aptitudes and ambitions. Many of our graduates attend the Ivies (and the elite state schools like Michigan, Virginia, etc.)… and some are recent (legal and illegal) immigrants lacking formal schooling and/or a foundation in English. Some are among the 1%… both at the top and bottom of the spectrum.
Continue reading The Gaps Remain…
Quality versus quantity? That’s been the argument forever about raising kids. Which became even louder as moms began trading their jobs at home for jobs in the office or factory. Couple that with the desire to give our kids everything we never had (violin lessons, soccer camp, ballet, scouting) and we have a recipe for overload.
Continue reading Qua[li]/[nti]ty
