Author Archives: matt ohern

The Flourishing of Dumb Ideas

It’s been said that when it comes to good ideas in education, there are no Republican or Democratic ideas. The same could be said for dumb ideas in education, including one born in the George W. Bush Administration and vigorously … Continue reading

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Who Speaks for the Victims of the 'Victims'?

Cosmological theorists posit the existence of an infinitude of alternate universes. In one of those universes, perhaps there is one with a Henrico County School System that collects data showing that African-American students are more likely to suffer from violence and disrupted … Continue reading

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Soft Skills Are Key to Better Jobs

The importance of science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, knowledge in our labor market is talked about a lot. Jobs requiring that knowledge in STEM fields often pay much more than the average job. Many STEM jobs, such as … Continue reading

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Sen. Tom Coburn's 'Waste Book' Could Upset You

(This article was written before Thanksgiving.) Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to celebrate family and this wonderful country. While you are enjoying turkey and football, think about folks who really have reason to celebrate Thanksgiving. U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, R-Okla., … Continue reading

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Is Adding Highway Capacity Futile?

Some years ago, Anthony Downs of the Brookings Institution postulated that adding capacity to a congested highway leads to a “triple convergence” of responses: some drivers shift from other roads, some drivers shift from other times of day, and some … Continue reading

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