9/4/98
TIPS ON GOING BACK TO SCHOOL: Get back in the routine early to start the school year off right, says George Wood, a professor of curriculum and instruction at Ohio University'sCollege of Education. Wood can talk theory and from experience. He decided to do something different seven years ago, opting to teach part-time at the college so he could become a principal at a rural high school. Seven years later he's still at Federal Hocking High School and recently published the book, A Time To Learn, about his experience. "The main thing is to get back in the routine early, hopefully before school starts," says Wood. "Have a regular dinner, study and bed time. The quicker you set the hours the better off you are. Parents should also make a real conscious effort to talk to their children about what kids need, even if it seems small. If they need a pencil box, get them one." Wood also advises parents to meet teachers early in the year when their child is present so the teacher-parent team is obvious. Wood is also author of Schools That Work, based on a nationwide tour of successful schools.
SOCIAL SECURITY DOLLARS INVESTED IN THE STOCK MARKET? The bull market may be on the wane, but Ohio University Economics Professor Richard Vedder still believes investing Social Security dollars in the stock market is a good idea. Over time, the average rate of return on stocks has been 10 percent a year, far better over time than bonds, real estate and precious metals, according to Vedder. Vedder advocates IRA-like accounts for Social Security beneficiaries. He says competing private investment firms could invest the money, but individuals could select the investor. "It is time for the government to free individuals from the strictures of a Depression-era Social Security system that is morally and financially teetering on the edge of bankruptcy," Vedder says.