Editorials
Florida's fourth grade
The Department of Education is rushing its new grade plan, the fourth in four years, into place that feebly measures the learning gains of students.

Legal aid to low-income residents
The United States is justly proud of being a nation of laws, but with that distinction comes the responsibility of assuring every citizen equal standing before the law regardless of race, wealth or fame. There are public defenders for poor people accused of crimes, but for those victimized by consumer fraud, domestic abuse or simply government red tape, help is inconsistent and too often unavailable.

Little has changed since Salem
It took three centuries but at last the final five women who were hanged as witches in Salem, Mass., have been exonerated. On Halloween, Massachusetts' acting governor signed the act making it official and thereby closing one of the darkest chapters of mass hysteria to have sullied this country's history.

Letters
Arafat deserved President Bush's snub
Re: Snubbing Arafat was a bad idea, by Bill Maxwell, Nov. 18.

Roy Peter Clark
Shame culture holds heavy consequences
The holiday season brings with it continuing hope for a peaceful school year and reason enough to keep talking about school violence.

Robyn E. Blumner
Campaign for Afghan women seems insincere
Like Captain Louis Renault in the movie Casablanca, who was "shocked, shocked" that there was gambling going on in Rick's Cafe, the Bush administration has discovered that the Taliban abuse women. Top administration officials, including the first lady, have been dispatched to alert the rest of us.

Bill Maxwell
A Q & A about the creation of Palestinian state
Shortly after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, President George W. Bush indicated that he had been considering the creation of a Palestinian state. On Monday, Secretary of State Colin Powell said in a speech at the University of Louisville that the administration believes the creation of a Palestinian state might pave the way for a lasting peace in the war-torn region.

Martin Dyckman
Golf attraction gets tax subsidy, we get tourists
TALLAHASSEE -- Every year Florida chunks out a $2-million subsidy to the Professional Golf Hall of Fame at St. Augustine, which is the centerpiece of a luxury resort. What didn't seem like a lot of money when legislators approved it in 1993 might look more precious now as they turn again, under the hammer of a budget deficit, to cutting health care and social services for pregnant working women, troubled teenagers and other citizens who need the state's help considerably more than golfers do.