I’ve always wanted to be a writer for that satirical rag The Onion, but (sad to say) this story’s headline is not a fake. For some time now, our local sports talk radio station has been carrying a very clever
by William Mattox27 Oct 2011, 5:28 AM PST0
More than 50 years after Sam Cooke first sang about his educational deficiencies, many American teens “don’t know much about history.” Or so their latest test scores suggest. Only 12 percent of all 12th graders are “proficient” or “advanced” in
by William Mattox23 Oct 2011, 5:31 AM PST0
When Deric Feacher left Winter Haven, Fla. in 1995 to study at Bethune-Cookman College, he never imagined that he’d end up walking in Mary McLeod Bethune’s footsteps . . . back in his own hometown. Yet, this fall, Feacher is
by William Mattox9 Sep 2011, 4:35 PM PST0
Virtually all public officials say they believe in government transparency, but well-meaning words don’t always translate into effective government action. So, several years ago, the national Sunshine Review (SR) began regularly assessing some 5,000 state and local government websites, using
by William Mattox5 May 2011, 8:26 AM PST0
When I went to a meeting last fall about the new virtual school in our county, I publicly praised the local school superintendent for embracing digital education. I should have held my tongue. Or so at least says a new
by William Mattox29 Mar 2011, 12:29 PM PST0
Under the category of “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott can file some news accounts of his recent unveiling of the transparency web site, www.FloridaHasARighttoKnow.com. The site includes salary information about many key state employees – including
by William Mattox27 Mar 2011, 6:17 PM PST0
Several weeks ago, I watched my son play a high school baseball game on “Jackie Robinson Field” in Cairo, Georgia (Robinson’s hometown). As I watched, I pondered a provocative question raised by Economic Episodes in American History, a fascinating new
by William Mattox22 Mar 2011, 3:37 AM PST0
A homeowner with a leaky roof may be better off than one whose kitchen is on fire. But he still has a serious problem. That’s something public policymakers – and everyday citizens – may want to remember as they try
by William Mattox7 Feb 2011, 8:57 AM PST0
When I met recently with James Gwartney, the highly-esteemed Florida State University economist, I expected Dr. Gwartney to be pleased to learn that my high school son Richard was following up a required semester of AP Macroeconomics by taking an
by William Mattox3 Feb 2011, 3:58 PM PST0
Sunday begins National School Choice Week, the annual seven-day period in the middle of winter when kids all over the country dream of either: (1) having the freedom to stay home from school on account of snow, or (2) moving
by William Mattox22 Jan 2011, 10:43 AM PST0
The Jeopardy category of “Strange but True Facts About Minnesota Pro Athletes” just got a little thicker. To the recent revelations that Vikings star quarterback Brett Favre is, ahem, an aspiring photographer, comes evidence that Twins star catcher Joe Mauer
by William Mattox5 Jan 2011, 10:37 AM PST0