Management Counts for Good Education

January 1, 2011 Leave a comment

I have always thought that there has been little public discussion on poor school management (principals, especially) and leadership (school boards, especially).  Too much attention has been given to teachers.   Teachers lack support and motivation by school leaders.

Of all the factors common to successful schools, it is puzzling that so little weight is given to leadership. In the film Waiting for Superman, excellent teaching is rightly given credit as a major factor in student achievement, but there is no discussion of the exceptional principals leading the schools shown.

via On Leadership Panelists: For education reform, turning our attention to principals – Michael Maccoby.

Filed under Community

Home Prices Continue Downward Trek

December 30, 2010 Leave a comment

Prices continue to fall, they have fallen the most in South Florida since the start of the crash, appraised values are systematically higher than market values and city governments’ revenues will continue to be squeezed.

Home prices dropped more than forecast in October, a sign housing will remain a weak link as the U.S. recovery accelerates into the new year.The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values fell 0.8 percent from October 2009, the biggest year-over-year decline since December 2009, the group said today in New York. The decrease exceeded the 0.2 percent drop projected by the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

via Home Prices in U.S. Decrease More Than Forecast – Bloomberg.

Filed under Coral Gables

Patriots of Coral Gables

December 29, 2010 Leave a comment

Many who have lived in other climes know that there is nothing particularly unique in holding nationalistic beliefs about your town, state, province or country.  You may be drawn to the area because of kinship, language or history learned, but, in fact, all think that their country or region is exceptional, and none are particularly different.

Coral Gables is no more exceptional than many other nice little towns across the world, and its lack of exceptionalism also applies to its rather standard issue political leaders, mainly fending for their own interests and for the city only secondarily.

Not so long ago, as Eugen Weber observes, most people were only dimly aware of what nation they “belonged” to.  They took little offense at insults to their country, its people, or their flag, because they just didn’t much identify with their country, its people, or their flag.  Then came the patriots, descending upon their nations’ schools like locusts.  They taught children a litany of bizarre nonsense.  They urged them to love millions of complete strangers who happened to live inside a Magic Line (a.k.a. “the border”), and loathe those who snickered during the Pledge of Allegiance or  improperly folded the flag.

via Patriotism as Political Correctness, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty.

Filed under Coral Gables, Politics

Coral Gables: Get Ready for More Property Taxes

December 29, 2010 Leave a comment

You have seen the recent news that the city of Coral Gables had its bond rating reduced (the CFO says “slightly”), because all revenue sources, other than property taxes, are falling. Property tax revenues are not referenced because the city manager and the mayor have consistently proposed higher property taxes and taxing have been raised every year.  Reports of continuing falling property values are certain to appear near in 2011.

With other tax revenues falling, the city manager unable to reduce spending enough, and the hostility of the labor unions od overpaid firefighters and police, you may be certain to see higher property tax rates the next time around.

What do the candidates have to say about this (except for Mayor Slesnick who we know is a strong advocate of higher taxes.)

Filed under Budget, Coral Gables, Finance, Politics, Taxes and Fees

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