We’re interested in France here at Semicolon since Eldest Daughter is planning to spend nine months of her life there soon. So here’s an article in Foreign Policy about a new kind of French politician, one who likes the United States and free markets. His name is Sarkozy, and even more shocking, he’s the son of immigrants. Link via Michelle Malkin.

On Betsy’s Page I found a link to this article in the London TImes Online entitled “Give Africa a Private Schooling.” In the article, James Toole, professor of education policy at Newcastle University, says:

We tested 3,000 children in maths and English, from government and private schools, controlled for background family variables, and found that the children in the unregistered private schools, so despised by the government, achieved 14 percentage points higher in maths and 20 percentage points higher in English than children in government schools. Teachers in the government schools were paid at least four times more than those in the unregistered schools. The private schools were far more effective for a fraction of the cost.

What does this sort of research say about parent-directed education?

Dawn Eden at The Dawn Patrol is doing a several-part series about her faith journey and about her conversion to Catholicism. She’s got the first two parts up and promises more soon. Since she grew up Jewish in Galveston, Texas, I’m interested to see how she got from there to New York and Catholicism.

In the Agora has background information on Judge Emilio Garza who may be the one nominated to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor who announced her retirement today. I think Judge Garza sounds OK, and I’m praying that whoever President Bush appoints, he’ll get it right. The next few Supreme Court nominations will determine the direction of this country for many years to come.

The guys at In the Agora also wrote a post about Darfur last week and linked to information about the National Weekend of Prayer and Reflection for Darfur, July 15th, 16th, 17th. I plan to continue praying about the actrocious situation in Darfur and to especially pray and talk to others at my church on that particular weekend. Jim atStones Cry Out writes about Darfur and other forgotten crises.

David Gergen praises Teach for America. Link via Joanne Jacobs.

Southern Appeal says there’s still a chance tha Alberto Gonzales could be appointed to the Supreme Court. Please, no.

Jared at Thinklings liked Batman Begins. My teenage urchins are going to see it this weekend sometime. I think I’ll pass. Oh, by the way, it’s really OK that I’m not even part of the landscape at Thinklings, much less the Inner Sanctum. Those guys still write a good blog. They just don’t know everything there is to know about the blogamundi.
Whereas I do.