Illinois road crisis mirrored in Ryan pothole disaster column
A guest column argues Illinois road funding and maintenance are collapsing after a statewide IDOT experiment on the Dan Ryan Expressway left potholes and a backlog of repairs. It notes aging interstates, thousands of miles of arterial highways, bridge needs, and debt from a 1989 tax increase, with politics and regional pressures stalling action.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Illinois Department of Transportation
Chicago
IDOT
George Ryan
Ryan
Illinois
Senate
Pate Philip
Peotone
Tem
Springfield
Suburbs
Downstate
Powers
Alice in Wonderland guided by a planned direction
The piece reflects on setting state standards for education by citing the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll. It argues that without a defined destination, choosing a path is pointless and stresses purposeful, goal oriented work over aimless wandering.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lewis Carroll
Alice
Defining purpose sought for improving schools and teaching
In the hoopla over declining quality and work force needs educators and politicos have been urged to raise school standards. The critique is not about teachers being bad but about schools meandering without a solid, actionable purpose.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alice
Seymour Sarason
Illinois
State Boards of Education
Standards to guide Illinois schools confront Alice's dilemma
Dr. Joseph Spagnolo argues for clear academic standards as the guiding target for schooling. He urges aligning curricula and teaching to data driven, rigorous expectations, addressing diverse student needs and moving beyond intuition to measurable improvement.
Privatizing Social Security: differing views from readers
In response to Judge Dietch, Alex J. Caffarini argues privatization lets workers choose investment risk, lowers administrative costs, and reduces fraud with better oversight. He cites Chile's 1981 model and reports higher long term returns, noting gradual phased in adoption and potential economic gains.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Henry Dietch
Dietch
Judge Dietch
Chile
Jose Pinera
Tively
U.S
Alex J. Caffarini
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159Th St. Tinley Park
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Capital Fax
Illinois Press Association
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Illinois State Board of Education
Governors State University
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Fshuftan
Interaccess
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Seltzner
Dennis R. Wheeler
Dwheel
Joanne Zerkel
Jzerkel
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