Edward Walsh

Recent Activity

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  Edward signed the petition | over 2 years ago

  Let Iran Know that the Global Community is Monitoring Their Every Move
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  Edward commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Biotech On Trial

  I agree we should protect non-engineered crops, but as long as the farmer is handling his run off appropriately (failing to do so is a major crime in Maryland), it shouldn't cause any major environmental concern. And the baby thing... what hasn't been proven to kill babies nowadays anyway. Safe bet, don't expose your babies to chemicals, and let me get my super-alfalfa.

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  Edward commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  A Sliver of Hope re: Arne Duncan

  You ignore an important part of his first point, which is improving the quality of teachers, though you make up for it somewhat later. The idea of new standards and curriculum being the end all be all has been forced on us by the great bane of ed-reform, the teacher's unions, for decades. In fact, our standards are some of the highest in the world, yet the reality is always prevented by bad teachers and inflexible school administration. The idea that tying teacher performance to schools would force them to teach to teach to the test would only be a bad thing if teaching schools followed any sensible standard, and if tests were absolutely worthless. Neither is true, tests, while limited do indicate improvement in math and vocabulary skills (where they mess up is in interperetation and teaching reading skills, both worthless enterprises at any level). Tests have thier place, though I do agree that it is not at the forefront of education reform. Teaching schools across the country range in difficulty from university equivalent to driving school equivalent and reforming them must be a priority if our children are ever to expect any kind of uniformity in their teachers' abilities.