Category: Indiana Writers Group Archive

Andrea Neal column for July 27 and thereafter710 words INDIANAPOLIS – As if parents of teen-agers didn’t have a hard enough time already, U.S. District Judge John Tinder has made things harder still. With his July 23 ruling striking down Indiana’s curfew law, Tinder stripped parents of a most powerful tool for getting kids home…

Andrea Neal column for Dec. 10, 2003710 words INDIANAPOLIS — One of the myths of education reformers is that there is no such thing as a silver bullet. They insist it will take a variety of innovative approaches over many years to effect real change in low-performing schools. News bulletin: There is a silver bullet…

by Andrea NealEmbargoed for 2 p.m. Sept. 2, 2003 INDIANAPOLIS — School"s back in session, which means teachers are hard at work helping students bone up for ISTEP. Is this any way to start a school year? Just when teachers ought to be presenting fresh lessons and new material to eager, young students, they are…

Andrea Neal column for June 2 and thereafter710 words INDIANAPOLIS — It was the first day of the 2003-04 school year and my first day as a teacher. As I looked out at a blur of expectant faces, I wondered aloud how long it would take me to learn the names that went with them.…

Andrea Neal column for Dec. 3, 2003710 words INDIANAPOLIS — The headlines warned of a crisis in public schools. An Indiana Chamber of Commerce brochure called on lawmakers to take action, noting that too many communities were "unable to offer high-standard schooling without encountering unreasonably high costs." The Indiana General Assembly promised Hoosiers that education…

705 words (Editors please note: subject is time sensitive and could be affected by breaking news) INDIANAPOLIS — Here’s some advice for Indiana Republicans awaiting word of Joe Kernan’s election ambitions: Relax. No matter what Kernan does, your strategy is the same. Here’s some advice for Joe Andrew and Vi Simpson, the two Democrats with…

Andrea Neal column for Aug. 3 and thereafter740 words INDIANAPOLIS – My son’s ’94 Honda went into the shop this week for a $3,600 repair. He didn’t cause the accident that demolished the driver’s side door, yet it’s my insurance company that’s footing the bill. We are the victims of an uninsured driver. And we’re…

Editors: Available for publication on Organization Day, Nov. 18700 words INDIANAPOLIS — When Indiana lawmakers convene today (Nov. 18) for a mini-session on property tax relief, they¹ll get an earful from Jeffery J. Cole and other unhappy Hoosiers. Cole, of Elwood, is Indiana state coordinator for the We the People Congress, a national group dedicated…

Andrea Neal column for Sept. 28 and thereafter750 words INDIANAPOLIS – What possible reason could a politician give for refusing to answer a questionnaire? During more than a decade of examining candidate records, the folks at Project Vote Smart have heard it all. "I don’t do surveys." "The information might be used against me." "My…

Andrea Neal column for June 29 and thereafter740 words Bloomington — Most people won’t recognize the name, John Patrick, yet there’s probably no Hoosier who’s done more to promote the principles we celebrate this Fourth of July. Patrick retired June 30 after a distinguished 35-year career as a professor at Indiana University, where he directed…