STATE OF THE UNION MARKS START OF THE CAMPAIGN -- With the United States on the brink of returning to a war with Iraq and a continued bleak economic outlook, President Bush's upcoming State of the Union may be the president's most watched address since the days after 9/11. But Temple presidential historian James Hilty, author of John F. Kennedy: An Idealist Without Illusion, says viewers shouldn't expect any great revelations during the speech.
"The State of the Union has become a choreographed spectacular, a well-rehearsed, carefully crafted, stage appearance by the President and First Lady, complete with guest appearances by personages in the news with whom the president and his party wish to be associated."
Hilty says viewers can expect to hear Bush continue to make his case for war against Iraq, defend his economic stimulus package, urge the Senate to confirm his nominees for the federal court, "and, of course, congratulate himself for the accomplishments of his first two years in office. He'll say a great deal that will delight Republicans and little that will please Democrats. This is basically Bush's announcement of his intention to run for reelection in 2004."
WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE FOR WORK-BASED EDUCATION? -- Educators nationwide are now struggling to prepare students to meet test scores and other standards set forth by President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" program. But where does that leave the School-to-Work movement of the 1990s and innovative work-based education programs, which can significantly impact students' lives, particularly in the nation's inner cities?
That's a crucial question, says Temple economist William Stull. After traditional vocational education programs fell into disfavor in the 1980s, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act and other federal initiatives in the 1990s provided districts with funding to establish programs to give students real-world work experience. With new school reforms now in place, districts must decide which programs will stay, which will go, and who will pay for those that remain, notes Stull.
"Research indicates that work-based education does help kids stay in school, but doesn't raise test scores," says Stull. "And one of the main problems for schools is resolving that deep conflict. This has created a crisis in schools nationwide."
To address this critical situation in American education, Temple's Mid-Atlantic Laboratory for Student Success is presenting "Vocational Education and School-to-Work: An Emerging Synthesis," a national invitational conference Feb. 10-11 at the Doubletree Hotel, Broad and Locust Sts., in Philadelphia.
Presenters from Minnesota, California, Tennessee and even Canada will discuss research findings on work-based education and formulate policy recommendations for the future.
"The conference will focus on what niche this approach in education might fill based on the research we have so far," says Stull, a senior research associate for the Mid-Atlantic Laboratory for Student Success.
HIGHER GAS PRICES=SMALLER CARS? -- As long as gasoline is in reasonable supply with no need for rationing, automakers and consumers will not move away from larger cars and SUVs, says Temple engineering professor Richard S. Cohen.
"Very high gas prices might do it, but I think that they would have to approach $3 per gallon before the trend became significant," says Cohen, an automotive engineer. "Remember, the average person drives about 10,000 miles per year, gets 20 or so miles per gallon, and therefore buys perhaps 500 gallons of gas each year. A rise to $3 per gallon from the current $1.50 means only an extra $750 per year in expense. The people who are buying the big cars, SUVs and trucks are generally not worrying about that type of expense."
Cohen says that currently, gasoline prices are not really high, but moving up slowly from a very low base and are still in line with historic low prices given inflation. The potential for much higher prices is, however, present in case of a war, he warns.
"I do not see a crisis which could lead to rationing unless a war with Iraq draws in other Middle East nations and leads Saudi Arabia to go along with a boycott," Cohen says. "On the contrary, as long as the Saudis have cover, they are likely to increase production to make up for wartime shortfalls, especially given the likelihood of being able to make huge profits due to increased prices."
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