Overcoming powerful opposition, the Legislature passed two bills that would, if signed, make it easier for adolescent students to learn and easier for older students to obtain college degrees.
California’s U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris both played big roles in last week’s confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. While Feinstein was critical of the circus-like atmosphere of the hearings, Harris contributed to it. But both were pursuing personal political goals.
Despite the overall left-of-center tone to the Legislature’s just-concluded session, the California Chamber of Commerce sidetracked all but one of the 29 liberal bills it labeled as “job killers.”
California’s school children rank near the bottom on nationwide tests of academic achievement and educators and their political allies argue that more money is needed to close an “achievement gap.” But how much, where would it be found and would it actually do the job?
Dan Walters has been a journalist for more than 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. He began his professional career in 1960, at age 16, at the Humboldt Times...
More by Dan Walters
Weekly Walters 09/14/2018
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In summary
A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.
Two education bills do the right things
Overcoming powerful opposition, the Legislature passed two bills that would, if signed, make it easier for adolescent students to learn and easier for older students to obtain college degrees.
Feinstein, Harris pursue agendas in Kavanaugh hearings
California’s U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris both played big roles in last week’s confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. While Feinstein was critical of the circus-like atmosphere of the hearings, Harris contributed to it. But both were pursuing personal political goals.
Once again, most ‘job killer’ bills rejected
Despite the overall left-of-center tone to the Legislature’s just-concluded session, the California Chamber of Commerce sidetracked all but one of the 29 liberal bills it labeled as “job killers.”
Would more money close our education gap?
California’s school children rank near the bottom on nationwide tests of academic achievement and educators and their political allies argue that more money is needed to close an “achievement gap.” But how much, where would it be found and would it actually do the job?
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Dan WaltersOpinion Columnist
Dan Walters has been a journalist for more than 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. He began his professional career in 1960, at age 16, at the Humboldt Times... More by Dan Walters