In one early visit to the U.S., Albert Einstein, perhaps the greatest scientist in history, was subjected to a very public pop quiz devised by none other than American inventor Thomas Edison, according to author Walter Isaacson in “Einstein: His Life and Universe.” more

Last week, the biggest loser wasn’t Massachusetts Senate candidate Martha Coakley or the Democratic Party or President Obama. The biggest losers were New York schoolchildren, who were sold out by the state Legislature in favor of the tremendously powerful teachers unions. more

As we batted around ideas for this week’s editorial, we agreed that a new take on an old idea — New Year’s resolutions — was in order. Rather than offer our own ideas, we decided, we’d ask the experts. more

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Special Education PTA and the Community Parent Center will present the third annual Fair for Transitioning Students with Disabilities on Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 7 to 9:30p.m. in the Calhoun High School cafeteria. For more information, call Cheryl Gitlitz at (516) 992-1349. To register, e-mail MartineTyson at mmtys@optonline.net. The event will feature a panel presentation for parents and students about life after high school. more

Tzvi Lewisohn, a Calhoun High School senior, loves to win. Basketball, bowling, you name it, Lewisohn is a competitor. But, he is quick to note, more important than winning is sportsmanship. “We always congratulate the other teams,” Lewisohn, a member of Calhoun's Challenger bowling and basketball teams, says with a smile. “We don't want them to think we're out to win; we're just trying to have fun.” Of course, it doesn't hurt that both teams are undefeated for the past two years. They have not lost since the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District started the Challenger basketball league for special-education students with a handful of other Nassau County school districts in 2008. more

The North Merrick School District Board of Education announced at a Dec. 8 public meeting that a resolution is expected to be reached in coming weeks on teacher contracts that expired in June 2008. The breakthrough was reached at an 8 a.m. negotiation session on Sunday, Dec. 6. more

Bullying is one of the most enduring problems in schools today across the country. It occurs when someone purposely and repeatedly says or does mean, nasty or hurtful things to another person who has trouble defending himself or herself. Bullying is a reality in the lives of many children--whether they are bullies, victims or witnesses. more

An ad hoc group of students and high school parents converged on the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education meeting Sept. 2 to call on district officials to reconsider their 2007 stance against synthetic-turf football fields at Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools. Roughly 250 parents and their children attended, with young people donning Merrick Police Activity League, Merrick-North Merrick Little League, Bellmore Braves and Calhoun football jerseys. In response to recent calls for artificial turf, Board of Education President Diane Seaman announced at the meeting that the district was forming a committee to explore ways to improve the high schools' football fields. She noted that the committee would look not only at synthetic turf, but also at ways to upgrade maintenance of the current grass fields. more