Friday, March 31, 2023

What my iconic mother taught me

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Today's Opinions

Fri Mar 31 2023

We think it's safe to say most of us love our mothers. I mean, they're our mothers. But few of us have mothers that are historically important to this country's story.

Even fewer have moms that serve on the literal Supreme Court. So today we bring you a column from the son of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, one of the nation's most impactful and consequential Americans.

Look below for more on what Scott O'Connor has to say about his mother.

My mom was first woman on Supreme Court. Here's what she taught me.

Sandra Day O'Connor with, from left, sons Brian, Scott and Jay, and her husband, John Jay O'Connor lll, in Phoenix on July 7, 1981, after President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sandra Day O'Connor bristled at being called Supreme Court's 'swing vote.' She preferred being known as a moderate voice at the center of the nation.

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FILE - Former President Donald Trump announces he is running for president for the third time as he smiles while speaking at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 15, 2022. A lawyer for Trump said Thursday, March 30, 2023, that he has been told that the former president has been indicted in New York on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Trump's indictment helps his campaign, but more would be better

A New York grand jury's decision to indict former President Donald Trump has certainly made me like him better. But a few more indictments would help.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill to expand school vouchers statewide on March 27, 2023, in Miami.

DeSantis just delivered a big education win for Florida families

After years of COVID-related school shutdowns and a focus on leftist ideology at schools, frustrated parents have started demanding new options.

Education levels are on the rise in the United States. According to newly released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 79.9 million American adults - 35% of the nation's 25 and older population - have a bachelor's degree or higher. As recently as five years ago, fewer than 33% of American adults had a bachelor's degree. A college education has long been a key driver of upward mobility in the United States. However, enrollment costs at colleges and universities have soared in recent years, making a four-year postsecondary education prohibitively expensive for many working- and middle-class families. Costs are not the only consideration to weigh before attending college. For some small business owners and those pursuing a career in the trades, the military, law enforcement, or public safety, a bachelor's degree may not be necessary. (Here is a look at the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree.) In some parts of the country, Americans are far less likely to have a four-year college degree than in others. Using 2021 ACS data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the least educated states in the country. In each of the 30 states on this list, the share of adults with at least a bachelor's degree is below the 35% national average. While the decision to attend college is a personal one, bachelor's degree holders have some clear advantages in the workforce, including higher earning potential. Median earnings in 2021 among workers with a bachelor's degree stood at $61,073, compared to $35,019 among working adults with no more than a high school diploma. Due in part to lower than average bachelor's degree attainment rates, in nearly every state on this list, median earnings across all working adults are below the $45,943 national median. (Here is a look at the states where a college education pays off the most.) Not only does a college degree open up higher-paying job opportunities, but it also provides greater job security. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate among bachelor's degree holders stood at 3.5% in 2021, well below the 6.2% jobless rate among those with only a high school diploma. Despite this broader trend, many states on this list had a better than average unemployment rate last year.

College rankings overlook a critical factor for students' success

Families are often surprised that rankings don't count teaching excellence. They're even more surprised to learn how universities undervalue teaching.

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