"Obama Proposes Sweeping Change in Education Law"

In an effort to better education in the United States, The New York Times reports that President Obama is changing Bush's No Child Left Behind policy.  The new change calls for replacing "the law's requirement that every American child reach proficiency in reading and math, which (Obama) administration officials have calle utopian," and replacing this with a "new target that could prove equally elusive: that students should graduate from high school prepared for college and career"  As Bush's order, Obama's proposed law would include "requirements for annual reading and math test."  What do you think of the change?  Read the attached article and comment

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/education/14child.html?ref=todayspaper

Is genocide the right word? Is it offensive? Did it happen?

The House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee defy the Obama Administration's plea and voted to condemn Turkey's involvement in the alleged Armenian genocide of 1915.  Turkey has never admitted to having engaged in the annihilation of Armenians the early part of last century, but Armenians and Armenian-Americans in the U.S. claimed that 1.5 people were killed.  Read the article linked to this page and the related ones (see the link when you open the page and read the article) and comment on this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/world/europe/05armenia.html?ref=todayspaper

Is there a problem with our Jury System

Many people have criticized our “jury system,” in which a jury made up of our “peers” (people who are representative of the community a-large) follow instructions from a judge renders a decision. Juries must render decision in unison. Does The New York Times article (below) “Astor Juror Says Her Fear Dictated Vote” suggests problems with the system? What do you think? You may seek background information on the Astor trial before you state your opinion.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/nyregion/22astor.html?ref=todayspaper