Learning From the Best

It's probably too late, but I hate the fact that there are still "teacher's colleges" around. They offer a major in education and a job soon after graduation, but the curriculum is rarely challenging and it's easy to get good grades.

We're still on hold from the early 20th century, when the population increased and there was tremendous need for new teachers. My grandfather, for example, became a teacher at his own high school after he graduated. It was around that time that "normal" schools were created to fill the need for teachers. It is time to abandon that concept!

I was recently asked to help interview candidates for an opening on the faculty at the local parochial high school. An English teacher was sought, and many candidates applied from our local UW campus. None of them had read any of the standard high school classics, such as "Huckleberry Finn" or "Julius Caesar," and when shown the list of books they were expected to teach next semester, they had never even HEARD of any of them!

John Kinsey of WI 2:28PM December 19, 2009

I believe we need major changes in our present health care system. I previously resided in Canada for ten years and received excellent health for my family and myself care with no cost.

I would urge an open health plan so people may chose between government and private insurance. No question, we need coverage for everyone, and continued coverage when one leaves a job. If indeed, everyone would be assured of health care, the whole program and cost of workman's compenstion insurance would be drastically lowered by trillions of dollars.

Obviously, our government has run many successful health care programs via Medicare, Federal Health,and Kaiser Health Foundation works well. If this Congress does not make significant changes to assure coverage for every citizen, it will be a shame for America.

Our Health care system looks SICK compared to many other countries.

sfmerel of CA 6:52PM September 04, 2009

Since Easter 2009 I have been hospitalized twice for a heart condition (MVP turned out to be SVP). The first ER (in downtown Los Angeles, near Staples Center) neglected me and misdiagnosed my condition (how do you let someone that is admitted with a possible silent heart attack sit for 4.5 hours with only blood and urinalysis samples, and then realize -when the patient tells you - that no CAT scan or CT have been done?) I left the ER 6 hours later without being seen by the doctor on duty for most of the time that I was there. On the second trip to the ER, lab tests were run and red flags went up that resulted in a hospital stay and correct diagnosis. I have since had two cardiac surgeries to correct the condition, and I am eternally grateful to Olympia Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for their care.

Should I also feel fortunate that I have health coverage in this economy in America? I do, but I shouldn't have to feel fortunate in a democracy. I don't have answers to the pressing issues in the healthcare reform debate, but I can ask everyone "who among the people that you know would you deny health coverage to?" I ask that question because having worked for large and small companies in CA, having worked on Skid Row for a non-profit agency, I have been covered with insurance when I needed it. But having worked as a temp at times, I have not been covered as an employee and have rolled the dice and done without. Thankfully, nothing happened during those times. Thankfully, when President Obama signed ARRA in February, my COBRA premiums became affordable. I am an American living in a nation that plays third-world choosies with the health of its citizens. There is a lot of waste and fraud that needs to be checked that will help to make healthcare more affordable for Americans. We as a nation have to stop with the 'Who Moved My Cheese?' fear-mongering and come to an agreement that we must not continue to gamble with the health of our country. Health care should not be left to health fairs.

I am grateful for my health, and for the opportunity to be a part of the discussions about how to fix the problems facing our country. I applaud your rankings and the detailed information in your reports. I believe that we as a nation are better than the negative conditions under which we operate now.

Karen Caffee of CA 3:23AM August 23, 2009

I read with great interest your annual ranking of America's Best Hospitals and congratulate you on raising this important debate during such challenging times in the country's healthcare system. The performance of the nation's top hospitals provides a fascinating benchmark value for improving medical care worldwide.

Further, as head of the Department of General Surgery & Shock Trauma Unit at Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel, I would like to raise the notion of extending these rankings to include the Best Hospitals Worldwide, similar to your rankings of World's Best Colleges and Universities.

I would be happy to take part in a pilot review and look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Kind regards,

Avraham I Rivkind

Avraham Rivkind , M.D. F.A.C.S 11:32AM August 04, 2009