If de Blasio is serious about his universal pre-K promise, TPM Cafe contributor Conor P. Williams lays out exactly how he could do it — in spite of Cumo’s objections over funding.
Amanda Ripley takes on the thing that educators often struggle with in today’s excerpt from her book, The Smartest Kids In The World: How figure out if kids care about school.
Over the next three decades, more and more studies showed that when it came to predicting which kids grew up to be thriving adults—who succeeded in life and in their jobs—cognitive abilities only went so far.
Something else mattered just as much, and sometimes more, to kids’ life chances. This other dark matter had more to do with attitude than the ability to solve a calculus problem. In one study of U.S. eighth graders, for example, the best predictor of academic performance was not the children’s IQ scores—but their self-discipline.
Don’t forget, join us for a chat (sub. req.) with Ripley today at noon.
It’s not an exaggeration. Henry Waxman may be the most important member of Congress ever to have served.
Where will Pope Francis take the US Church? He’ll first show his hand in Chicago. Fascinating look at what might be ahead.
Longtime Christie insider who served with all nine of the aides now under subpoena by the state legislature tapped to lead new state ethics commission!
Mayor Rob Ford defends Justin Bieber from media criticism. Ford: “Well, you know what, he’s a young guy. At 19 years old, I wish I was as successful as he was. He’s 19 years old, guys. Think back to when you were 19.”
Giuliani says “fifty-fifty” chance Christie is lying and knew about bridge closures.
Geez, with friends like that.
From TPM Reader AF …
Don’t quote me please but…. has anyone noticed that while NY-1’s Michael Scotto seems like a nice young man his Uncle is Anthony Scotto, feared Gambino boss and the King of the NY waterfront for many years.
Jon Meacham tells Tom Kludt he was “just plain wrong” in his comments this morning about executive orders.
I’ll add as an ed note, it’s pretty easy to say things that seem ridiculous in retrospect when you’re riffing on live TV. So this was a pretty big goof. But that’s always important to keep in mind.
