Jim Nelson, the Texas commissioner of education resigned yesterday, effective at the end of March. It will be very interesting to see who Perry appoints to replace him. I always thought some of the high points of GW's reaign as guv were his choices for commissioner of ed. Very astute appointments, i always though, especially Moses. Articles about the resignation can be found all over the state at: http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/2516543.htm http://www.dallasnews.com/texas_southwest/nelson_23tex.ART.5cbf8.html http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/wednesday/metro_state_1.html http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=320&xlc=587192&xld=320 http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1222573

I found an very interesting website called Texas New Media Association "serving Austin's Interactive community" About Us Our board of directors and staff is comprised of an interesting variety of college students, high school teachers, interactive professionals, accountants and corporate executives eager to serve the needs of high school counselors, teachers and students to accomplish their goals. The Work Our board of directors and staff is comprised of an interesting variety of college students, high school teachers, interactive professionals, accountants and corporate executives eager to serve the needs of high school counselors, teachers and students to accomplish their goals. Get Involved Tell a student. Tell a teacher. Post an article. Invite a guest speaker to talk about how students can get involved. Post internships. Become a TNMA sponsor in your school.. The list is endless. If this site interests you or would interest someone you know contact: Ryan Trujillo, ryan@texasnewmedia.org.

I really believe that we could have a peaceful world if education is based on the ideology of a peaceful world. Of course help and understanding of the politicians will be crucial. I work for Pakistan American Cultural Center in Karachi, Pakistan. We have an English Language Program for adults. It could serve as a very important tool in developing understanding and goodwill among the masses if targeted properly. I had written to the American Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan that I had a few ideas and whether they would be interested in knowing details of them. Sadly, I didn't receive any response from them -- total silence. My observation is that in all of the troubled areas of the world, basis of education and targeting are misdirected. and targeting

Perhaps if you contacted the American media (NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN) you could get some coverage of your ideas and proposals as they are relevant in this changing part of the world. What were you saying about targeting? Your sentence dropped off a bit there.

Yes something went wrong after targeting. By targeting I mean the focus of education is completely towards achieving degrees to get jobs. Of course we do need good jobs but along with that we also need civilized law abiding citizens. That's what's lacking in the education system in most of the third world countries.

What you're talking about needs a wider venue. I hope you can hook up with the right media types. Terrorism will keep cropping up unless we have a better education system in third world countries that doesn't focus on religious hatred.

There is no such thing as "hatred" in any of the religions of the world. That's what education should make the masses aware of.

The school at which Sikander teaches has its mission statement on http://exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching/eal-elp1.htm Intolerance for anything different from ME is at the root of all things. Suddenly we are being Politically Correct. Racial profiling is an anathema, so in screening for possible terrorists, on Thursday last I was subjected to a thorough personal search and everything I brought with me was opened and checked. Small children are also being targetted. I was dressed as any mother might dress. I usually travel well dressed, but this time I went as a mom and looked so converntional I could hardly stand it. What did it get me? I am white, benign, friendly and "middle aged" So I got the search while non-white young adult men with unconventional baggage and clothing were not searched. I would really like to find out what they thought they might prove in doing this. Education must also involve rational thinking. I suspect what is being done is far more foolish than useful. I dread my next check in and I must go to the east coast next.

And, for the record, Sikander's teaching mission is a noble one. He needs support and, Terry is correct, much wider coverage.

Marcia's experience of check-in does show irrational thinking. Perhaps some wise guy wanted to prove something. Marcia you are very intelligent. You have even located me on the internet. I was not even aware that this page existed. Thanks for drawing my attention.

The geography lessons in schools should not only cover maps and climate of the different areas of the world. There should be some exchange of knowledge about people and their ways living in different parts of the world. This is not covered in the school curriculum in Pakistan. I try to introduce different countries and their culture in my English lessons. Do the schools in USA have such coverage in their geography lessons.

They pretty much do, geography knowledge in US schools is pretty open.

Thanks Terry. I was 99% sure that geography lessons in US schools must have a wider coverage. In Pakistan there are two categories of schools, those imparting education using English as a medium of education and those using Urdu as a medium of education. The English Medium schools (as they are called) do have a wider coverage of all subjects and try to follow the curriculum of British "O" & "A" levels. In these schools civility is also given importance. This, however, is not the case in Urdu Medium schools. There the emphassis is on getting degrees by hook or by crook to get good jobs. The problem is that almost all English Medium schools are commercial ventures and have very high admission and tuition fees and as such beyond the reach of the masses.