Surprise Billing and Insurance Fraud

I just heard an NPR story on "surprise billing" which reminded me of an episode in my own medical journey. It was not only an unexpected bill, but I am confident it was also medical fraud.

Perhaps this is why the police are losing support

Another day, another coffee and this time we were talking about the police. My friend and I, highly-educated, professional, middle-class and middle-aged, were talking about something in the news this morning. Calls to "de-fund" the police. Neither of us supported removing police funding, Both of us supported re-directing police funds or re-prioritizing, for example to more visible policing and to less militarized weaponry. What was interesting was that we both distrust the police and that should be concerning.

Appropriate or controversial - what is a school to do?

This story about a teacher in Burlington, Wisconsin raises two important questions for schools and teachers. One is the old beauty - eye - beholder and the other is when is it appropriate to touch on certain topics. There is no simple answer to either; the best solution lies in having clear policies and a supportive school culture.

This is a tricky one

Grade inflation seems to be a recurring favorite among politicians, journalists and educational critics, specially when discussing colleges. Reportedly, the number of high grades goes up year after year and so the obvious inference is that courses are easier, standards are falling or both. Yet the only reports I recall reading are always about top schools like Harvard, Cambridge and Oxford. Perhaps the smart are getting smarter.

City parking court lost my respect

I went to court again, this time as a defendant. A few months ago, I went to a local pre-school's annual open door with student displays, parent barbecues, games and fun for the whole family. This preschool is located in an upmarket neighborhood with clearly posted parking limits and restrictions for blocks. I parked about four blocks away and went to the fair, and when I returned to my car two hours later within the three-hour limit was most surprised to find a ticket on the windshield. Not for parking too long, but for parking within 8 feet of a driveway. This $125 fine was entirely bogus so I decided to contest it.

Dual-enrolment is a great idea

I had breakfast with a former colleague this morning. I say breakfast, but it would have been more accurately described as lunch. She was telling me about the dual-enrolment program at her local school and I confessed to being a fan although my dual-enrolment experience was different. It was for elementary students.

NPR is not as objective as they claim

I am listening today to the election results, commentary and explanations on my local NPR station. To be fair, they are not NPR although they brand themselves as such. They are an entity provided by the local state university and they purchase programming from NPR amongst other public radio providers. Both the local station and the NPR feed are claiming seemingly every five minutes or so that they do not offer opinions, they bring the facts, they are objective. None of this is true.

I will never support a Council on Aging

 Some years ago I had an elderly neighbor who had no family apart from a disinherited son and was in some financila distress. He had no income no income but he owned his home, so I offered to buy the home at then market rates, with him to stay there until he died or had to go into care with free rent paying only taxes and insurance. There was also something about maintenance, although I do not remember the details. His attorney and my attorney were happy with the concept, the law and the contract. Then his son found out.

Wealthy private schools

Several articles in the last month or two have mentioned "wealthy" private schools, including eye-catching tables and charts. Possibly this is intended to invoke "shock horror" or "omigod, how they can be so wealthy and still charge fees (or such high fees". Other than coverage of US college endowments, in none of these pieces have I seen a breakdown of what comprises this wealth, and even in the case of the endowments, a simple number without explanation or context probably provides a false picture.

Something in this response's tone does not seem right

 "As a school we cover mental health and personal well-being in the curriculum in all year groups and have support available in school through a pastoral team that includes two trained counsellors." This is the school's response when one of its students committed suicide as a result of bullying.