Remapping Debate

The governor assures New Yorkers that there is a budgetary surplus that can fund a tax cut and that there’s even money to fund universal, state-wide pre-K without a tax increase. But would the money be available if the governor were honoring what the state’s highest court has determined to be the funding level necessary to meet the obligation to provide a “sound basic education” to all students?

Documents sought would allow public to know whether and how the Police Department has changed the way it handles applications for permits needed to hold political demonstrations, but NYPD has kept the records hidden for almost 11 months. A clear violation of the Freedom of Information Law.

A devastating article about the devastating storm leaves no doubt that the two officials have been asleep at the wheel when it comes to upgrading New York’s infrastructure to meet the threat of “rising sea levels, more frequent flood and extreme weather patterns.”

The New York Times just documented the continuing existence of an intense level of racial segregation in schools in New York City. But scant attention was paid to the still-entrenched pattern of housing segregation that afflicts New York and many other metropolitan areas, a pattern that is a critical driver of segregation in schools.

Are you dissatisfied with much of the news coverage you find elsewhere? Is it troubling to you that so many stories feature either no reporting or reporting that fails to ask the hard questions? Are you interested in the type of questions that we at Remapping Debate are trying to ask? There are several areas where we are looking to get more hands on deck.

Our re-imagining economics education series turns to the questions of how to broaden advanced course offerings and how to go beyond "chalk-and-talk" teaching methods. Could Marx have a place in a traditional Labor Economics course? One TCU professor thinks so. Another suggestion: have students play "math charades" on the first day of class to convey the strengths and weaknesses of a modeling approach.

Does it really make sense to take at face value the statements made by and behalf of Mitt Romney as he and his campaign try to place a positive spin on his tenure at Bain Capital? Wouldn’t it be better to look at how the firm articulates its mission for current and prospective business clients?

Investigation reveals "company that tries to squeeze profits from public school dollars by raising enrollment, increasing teacher workload and lowering standards."

In June, the National Labor Relations Board issued proposed rules to modernize and streamline the process by which a union can be certified to represent a group of workers. The hearing and comment period on those rules — which generated extensive activity especially on the employer side — just ended. What questions are raised by the arguments that have been made?