The MEAP Test Tango

Every fall there seems to be an obsession by the Michigan schools regarding the October MEAP tests. MEAP stands for Michigan Educational Assessment Program. I believe that its purpose to assess how well various school districts our educating our kids. However, I’ve always had the perception that the schools spend too much time coaching the students on how to pass the MEAP instead of on educating them on the various subject matter needed to become productive citizens. In other words, getting a good score on the MEAP should reflect that quality education is happening; not that great coaching on passing tests is going on.

An article: "Strike eats into MEAP preparation” in the September 8, 2006 edition of the Detroit Free Press addresses my point. The concern of the article is that the current teacher’s strike in Detroit, Michigan is costing students class days (a bad thing in and of itself). The issue in the paper is that these loss days will cut into MEAP preparation time. I personally object to such coaching in the first place! The article acknowledges that students should already be prepared if they were taught properly last school year. However it goes on to concede that considerable time is spent in the weeks prior to the fall test in getting students prepared.

Being able to successfully undertake higher education, learn a trade, and become productive informed citizens is not a matter of “boning up” for a test or two, but successfully completing a long educational process as one grows up. Spending too much time in trying to get students ready to pass an assessment/aptitude test is just plain wrong and a waste of valuable teaching time. It also sends the wrong message to students that life is just a matter of a series of “cram sessions”.

Alternate Fuel tango

Ethanol

It seems that we’ve been screwing around with ethanol as a possible gasoline additive since the 1970s. Actual usage on a commercial basis started around 1988. See ethanol for more information. That’s almost twenty years ago folks. It seems that if using ethanol will ever make practical sense, now is the time or in fact past time.


Substance X

Let’s assume that some gasoline alternative called “Substance X” is found to be a practical i.e. economical alternative to gasoline. There would be significant changes required to the engine system so that it would only be practical to put into new vehicles. Existing cars and trucks would still require existing fuel sources i.e. gasoline for the most part.

From a practical point of view it would take a number of years, say five to make a significant dent in the existing car population. Of course, the new fuel would have to become readily available across the country for people to start to buy these cars in quantities. Also, people with existing vehicles are not going to just go out and replace them until their current gas eaters go belly-up.

One also has to consider how such an event would impact the world’s oil supply. Of course oil is used for more than just gasoline, but there would still be some significant impact on the market. If the existing oil companies control the new alternative to gasoline, there will be less downward pressure on prices, but probably would foster more stability in the market place.


Other common products derived from petroleum:

Solvents used in paints and printing inks:
Lubricating oils and greases:
Used in making packaging, candles, matches and polishes:
Medical products such as petroleum jelly:
Asphalt:
Various liner products such as furnace electrodes, and the production of aluminum:
Used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber and a variety of plastics
And many other products.

Of course a lower need to use petroleum for gasoline should make more available for these and other products. However, the price of these items would probably increase significantly.

If “substance X” turns out to actually be several different, exclusive and thus competing alternates, then chaos control would definitely be needed – but how and from where?

I don’t here anybody talking about these types of issues, but I hope that serious minds are considering them seriously.

Tuition Increases at State Universities

After reading an ariticle in today's Detroit Free Press: "Tuition sting to hurt less this fall" I marvel at the fact that the establishment (whatever that is) just doesn't get it. What about the overburdening impact of all those past double-digit increases in tuition? They are still there! The arm and leg that was cut off last year in support of sky-high tuition are still gone. There is little comfort in knowing that only an arm will be required to be removed this year!

The article is quick to site the increase in availability of state aid. Don't they get it? Most people take pride in the fact (and being thankful) that they can make ends meet and make good on their obligations. They don't want any ***** state aid! Don't get me wrong, there are those among us that are trully in need, and should be able to obtain aid. However, when such "generosity" by the state is rained down upon so many it takes on the feel of a protection racket - i.e. pay up for protection against ... us.

More needs to be done to lower, and keep sane the overall prices of college tuition instead of finding more ways to provide aid. Like in so many other instances where aid is doled out, prices simply increase to aborb whatever aid is provided instead of responding to market forces.