In commenting about the many activities at the Clinton School, one of our students used the phrase, “opportunity overload.” For me as Dean, those words represent a pleasant problem. The Clinton School should be all about opening doors of opportunity — whether these be from challenging academic work in the classrooms; or academics for the real world with substantive hands-on public service projects
Read MoreCBS Sunday Morning: Clutter Is In
CBS Sunday Morning’s segment today on “mess” was refreshing. Not only did it feature messy offices, but it concluded that those who worked in cluttered surroundings were 36 percent more efficient in their tasks. After years of defending my position, I feel vindicated.
Read MoreNew Class Enjoys Dean’s Reception
I hosted the 30 new Clinton School students to a reception last week at Copper Grill in the new 300 Third Building just down 3rd Street from the Clinton School. Click the picture above for a larger view.
Read MoreThe “Light” Presidents
From the famous “Morning in America” theme, to recognizing citizens attending the State of the Union, to ensuring that President Reagan was “the great communicator” while being among the least accessible of modern Presidents had Mike’s touch. People from both sides of the aisle knew Mike was a master at his craft.
Read MoreArkansas History Debate
Now, Arkansas is in a debate over the manner in which Arkansas history will be taught in the K-12 curriculum. Will it be a “unit” as part of a broader subject or as a separate course? The state Education Department favors the “unit” approach while many of Arkansas’s leading historians (including Clinton School Founding Dean and former Governor/Senator David Pryor) advocate the “stand alone” position.
Read MorePresidential Library Fundraising
In summary, the legislation provides quarterly disclosures of $200 or more to presidential library fundraising organizations (i.e. presidential library foundations) for a period until the time the Archivist of the United States has the title for the building or for four years after a President leaves office.
Read MoreOur New Class is on the Way
When we opened in 2005 under the strong leadership of Founding Dean David Pryor and recently retired Associate Dean Tom Bruce, we admitted 16 students. Our two-year program expanded to 22 students last year. With the graduation of our inaugural class and with the additions of our 30 new students this fall, we now have 52 students enrolled in the nation’s first Master of Public Service (MPS) degree program.
Read MoreThe Great Charter School Debate
Charter schools are not a panacea. By freeing local communities and entrepreneurs from regulations, however, charter schools have invigorated communities, pioneered innovative curriculum and instruction, and helped needy students to learn. Of course, some charter schools have failed in their missions.
Read MoreIs the Public Ready for Karl Rove?
Before Karl Rove gave his speech this morning at the Statehouse Convention Center, a group of four including myself, sat backstage listening to Rove talk candidly about life and politics for about an hour. At one point, he even poked fun of his own mythical status as the genius behind all that is good and bad in the world of politics.
Read MoreWelcoming Karl Rove
When we opened the Clinton Center on a rainy day in November 2004, President George W. Bush joined former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton at that event. On that day, I told President George W. Bush that we would provide the same library/school planning cooperation that we had been given by former President Bush and his staff. I had a similar visit with Karl Rove, who had accompanied President Bush to the event. It was my first time to meet Karl.
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