Distinguished Professor of Journalism Guido Stempel oversaw the poll of 1,009 adults. Seventy-three percent said a college diploma is very important for financial security. As summer wanes and thoughts return to school, here are a few tips on preparing children for the upcoming school year from Professor Ralph Martin, director of curriculum and instruction at Ohio University's College of Education. The most important thing is to give children as many experiences as they can get because these experiences will allow them to construct understanding and connect meaning with what they are learning in school. For example, it's important to read every day, at least fifteen minutes, even newspapers or the news magazines.
Reading helps thinking, writing and spelling.
Martin also suggests travel to zoos, parks, nature preserves, art galleries and concerts as a way to learn from experience. But Martin says don't try to overdo the reading. If you are thinking about cramming, in the sense of trying to read all the great books or that sort of thing, it's fruitless. Labor expert Richard Vedder, distinguished professor of economics at Ohio University, says the UPS strike is really a test for Teamsters President Ron Carey. Carey, a former UPS driver, barely won the last election for president when he narrowly defeated James P. Hoffa.