For some reason, the immigration debate is faceless. It’s easier to say “those illegal aliens” instead of “Juan, my nephew’s best friend.” We say we have no moral responsibility to “those that broke the law coming illegally to this country,” but things change when we think of Ana Maria, our neighbor’s housekeeper. For some reason, we […]
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What if we let anyone who is smart enough to go to college…actually go to college?
Monday, March 03, 2008 -
Using television for literacy skills
Monday, February 25, 2008My audacious idea is to use television to help children learn their letters and, maybe, even to read. This may be a surprising suggestion given that TV is cited as a main reason for the decline in children’s reading. But, this heretical idea comes to mind for three reasons: First, children watch a lot of […]
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Keeping children from missing out
Tuesday, February 19, 2008My audacious idea: Track and address chronic absence in early elementary school so every child in Baltimore can reach their full potential in school and beyond. Last year, one out of six Baltimore children were chronically absent in kindergarten through third grade– meaning that they missed twenty or more schools days for excused or unexcused […]
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Baltimore students explore solutions for two critical city problems
Monday, February 04, 2008According to a study by Baltimore’s Center for Poverty Solutions, 50% of those interviewed at soup kitchens and drop-in centers had been incarcerated, many for public urination, loitering, sleeping outdoors, and other nonviolent crimes that stemmed from being homeless. Of those incarcerated, 93% had been arrested for non-violent crimes, 41% received no services while incarcerated, […]
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African American males are worth it
Monday, January 28, 2008My audacious idea is simple: To create a culture of caring to support the positive development of African American males in Baltimore City. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a noted 19th Century writer was once quoted as saying “imitation is suicide.” Emerson’s quote personifies what is happening to a large segment of African American males both young […]
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The principal is key
Monday, January 14, 2008Nothing is more important to the near and long-term future of Baltimore than the quality of its public schools. Having strong teachers, involved parents, and kids coming to school prepared to learn are all important components of high quality schools. However, in many years of working with and in City schools, one of the most […]
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BUDL students talk about Baltimore’s abandoned buildings
Monday, December 17, 2007Rows of dilapidated houses stretch onward like abandoned monoliths and signs of life are scarce; the only movement is the massive up-drifts of refuse caught in the wind. No, this isn’t a trailer for the latest sci-fi/horror movie; this is a stark description of many areas of Baltimore City where abandoned houses occupy valuable swatches […]
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Young people need mentors and they will find them, but who will those mentors be?
Monday, December 03, 2007Whether we acknowledge it or not, all of us are mentors and models for the young people in our community just by being present in their lives. But I believe we must fully embrace this responsibility. In my day job, one of the unfortunate but necessary tasks I must perform is criminal sentencing. Even in […]
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Putting kids first in child support
Monday, November 12, 2007Here’s an audacious idea. Let’s recreate our child support system to put kids first. We say the State’s program is in the best interests of the child now, but our policies tell a different story. Let’s restructure our policies to make sure they encourage parents to support their children rather then turn them away. Here […]
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Imagining a safe passage
Monday, September 24, 2007I propose a simple, but powerful, way for Baltimoreans to support the city’s youth and schools. It won’t cost a lot of money, or take a lot of time. It doesn’t require the overhaul of a bureaucracy. But it would help kids get safely to the safest place for them in the city: their school. […]
