News

It’s not easy for any of us – at least, I know it’s not for me – to make changes in who we are, to build our muscles of empathy and compassion, to grow into our better selves. And there’s a big debate about whether “character” can or should be taught in our public schools.

My mom’s remarkable career as a public elementary school guidance counselor leaves me no doubt that it can and should. As she retires this month, I want to take a minute to appreciate the enormous difference she’s made in the lives of thousands of kids and families. Including my own. Read more »

Some things we want for our kids: A good education. Their health. A country they can be proud of. A planet to live on.

Who knew we’d be battling the President just to preserve their basic democratic inheritance? It’s “covfefe” (in my youth we called it “fubar”).

By leaving the Paris Climate Accord, Trump is not just spitting on the rest of the world (though he is doing that, to be sure, since the U.S. is the largest historic emitter of greenhouse gases). He is playing Russian roulette (pun very much intended) with our kids’ future.   

We can’t let him do it. Read more »

This time of year, as graduations approach, I always get a little teary-eyed about the power of public education (and this year will be worse than usual, with my kids graduating from middle-school and high-school).

Public education is the foundation of our democracy. We put our tax dollars to work -- the biggest share of our spending in NYC by far -- for the concept that all our kids are created equal, and should have equal opportunity to fulfill their potential. Read more »