Heroes & Zeroes

The arts are an essential part of education, and children involved in the arts do better in math, science, and reading, actor Ed Asner recently told a group of Wisconsin NEA members.

Crediting his own teachers for incorporating arts into his education, Asner joked, "You can blame the Kansas City, Kansas school system for my appearance here today."

Asner expressed concern that the federal government, consumed by the war against terrorism, might ignore funding for education--especially the arts. That would be a shame, he said, because "artful education is one of the sources of strength in a free society."

In Hicksville, New York, Deputy Superintendent Maureen Bright reprimanded high school math teacher Karen Werfelman for missing two days of work, even though she had followed district procedures. Werfelman, you see, was called to the World Trade Center site right after September 11 because of her special expertise as a volunteer firefighter.

When Werfelman told Bright she was worried about saving lives, the administrator replied, "Well, are you worried about your paycheck now?" Bright said she expected the math teacher to be at work, even if she was called to duty again.

On November 14, ESP Day, 2,000 teachers in Salem, Oregon, wrote thank-you notes to 1,700 ESP colleagues. Some notes had a "star" sticker entitling the recipient to a free pie. Respect: It's easy as pie.