Yep, you read that correctly. 1892 was the last time the NEA did something the Department of Education approves of--or so the story goes in yesterday's swan song release, "Great Expectations." I suppose one can't blame Margarent for at least trying to influence her legacy, although this one is a little heavy on the pictures (of adorable children of course; who doesn't like kids, right?) and a little light on text--or anything substantive. The point is that Joel Packer, according to David Hoff over at Education Week, is going to retire from the NEA after twenty-five years; this venerable union veteran has been a frequent visitor to Fordham (braving the lion's den so to speak) and a comrade in debate. But Packer's a little rusty on his dates; in a conversation he had with Hoff yesterday on said retirement, his parting words were: see, the ED does like us... for work we did 117 years ago. Ah, Mr. Packer, how we will miss you.
