Opinion

Once again the New York state teachers’ union (New York State United Teachers, or NYSUT) insults quality teachers. Its New York City chapter just watered down evaluations of teachers. That was a concession it won in its new contract. In other words, it moved to protect poor performers. That insults the good teachers. The State […]

The 2013-14 state legislative session is in its final month. The governor, legislators, and advocacy groups are all jockeying in an attempt to get their favored legislation passed and signed into law before the legislative session concludes. The Assembly majority, which is dominated by downstate Democrats, is pushing a number of agenda items including medical

If you read this column, you might remember Sister Mac from a few chapters ago. She was the nun from my childhood who smacked us when we lied or evaded the truth. I suggested many of us would welcome the likes of her at interviews of our leaders. Sir, did you know about this in

New York was recently named the top yogurt producer in the nation. This is the second year our state has earned this distinction, in large part due to the Greek yogurt producers who call New York home. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York produced 741 million pounds of yogurt, up from 695

One of my favorite courses to teach at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University is ethics. The formal title of the course is “The Ethics of Advocacy,” and it’s open to upperclassmen who are starting to get real serious about what their own careers might look like in the next few years. Most of them

Launch of National Export Initiative NEXT aims to enhance export assistance Each May, World Trade Month celebrates the benefits that U.S. exports bring to the nation, state, and local economies. The month reminds us of the important link between exporting and job creation. Americans are appreciating the fact that 95 percent of the world’s customers

What did nuns teach us in Roman Catholic schools in Syracuse and beyond? They taught us what was right and wrong. Now that seems like a simple matter. Unless you bring “relativism” into your thinking. You know, the old “Relative to what?” game. It’s a nice day. Oh? Relative to what? The nuns did not

Sometimes heroes are easily identifiable, like our emergency responders and soldiers. Other times, it’s more difficult to see heroic qualities in those around us. But after some reflection, there are, in fact, everyday heroes just around the corner at your local mom-and-pop shops. Just recently, America celebrated National Small Business Week. There is plenty to

President Obama is trying to change the subject from Obamacare to anything else before November. Who can blame him? He recently unveiled the scary White House National Climate Assessment. I used the term “climate whatever” because the latest report uses the term “climate disruption.” Before that, the popular term was “climate change.” Before that, the