Higher ed: what have we wrought?

In this editorial I wrote for the Times, I cautioned folks to react less to University of Washington Athletic Director Scott Woodward's inartful statements and subsequent apologies about academics at the University of Oregon and concentrate instead on the full context of his remarks.

Woodward's remarks stung U of O graduates but he was basically asking all of us to consider what steep budget cuts have wrought. Rep. Reuven Carlyle, a Seattle Democrat, has been doing a lot of thinking about this and offers a compelling assessment on his blog.

I've written about the lack of policy attention and money going toward higher ed, even as America and private philanthropy invest billions in early learning, K-12 and workforce training programs. Here's my response to President Obama's call for an extra 8 million college graduates by 2020. If only saying it would make it so.

I've said it before and I"ll say it again, we need a call to arms around higher education. The reality is that unless you're extremly talented in an arena and compete with others who may carry less talent but more academic credentials, students can't stop at a high school diploma. The competition out there is too stiff.

Geoffrey Canada, who runs the Harlem's Children Zone, talked about this yesterday at a luncheon before 1,200 people in a ballroom at the Westin Hotel. I interviewed him and plan to post here what I write for the Times. Canada said that it isn't enough for him to expect the children enrolled in his programs to excel in school and graduate. He wants them to work toward college. If they don't choose to attend that's fine, at least they are academically qualified to make the choice.

The horrors of child prostitution

This Seattle Times story about an annual FBI and local law enforcement sweep rescuing young girls, some as young as 12, from street prostitution grabbed me.

This is the 5th year the FBI has led the sweep in dozens of cities across the nation. I'm hopeful even as I note that the small number of children they rescue - 69 from efforts over the weekend - is a drop in the bucket compared to the thousands of missing and exploited children nationwide, according to this center and the estimated 300-500 kids working the streets in King County.

I wrote this editorial for the Times opinion page. During my reporting I learned about a three-year pilot project offering young victims emergency shelter and other social services. Learn more about the City of Seattle 's program and if you care to, contribute to the Prostitute Children Rescue Fund.