Posted By: Francis Koster Published: October 9, 2014

Note:  This column was first published in the Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Observer on October 5, 2014.  An impressive explaination of how community metrics can be used to improve eduction, it is reproduced here with the permission of the paper and the author. New Approach Tackles Dropout Rate by Mary Lynne Calhoun Ed.D.     The …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: August 7, 2014

Telling the Truth About Climate Change Copyright Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. We have a discussion going on in our society about “global warming” and “climate change” that is not working. We can create a better future – but only we follow the oath used in court – to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: April 7, 2013

 Putting a Stop to More Crime by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. This is a crime story with a surprising ending. The "bad guys" can behave like "good guys", if we give them the right tools. The result is that the cops nab more "bad guys".  Reported crime in America has been steadily dropping for many …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: February 24, 2013

Retirement no Longer Equals Old Age by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. A funny thing happened back in the late 1940's. Lots of young women got pregnant all at once. Some point to over 13 millioni service men coming home to their lonely girlfriends. Guess what happened a few years later. Births went from 2.5 million in …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: May 14, 2012

Is the Sustainability Movement Political Hype? by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. "Scarce as hens' teeth" has little meaning to children who have never seen a live chicken and don't know chickens have no teeth. "Friending" someone on FACEBOOK is a word now in common use - but was unknown a few years ago. New words enter …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: May 1, 2012

Local Investors Can Lower Taxpayer Costs While Creating Jobs by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. One of the largest contributors to making a community poor is to spend big dollars on energy created elsewhere. A dollar spent on coal or oil or natural gas leaves the neighborhood forever, and therefore cannot pay for local labor or local …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 14, 2011

Local Gift Cards Boost Economy, Help Protect & Create Jobs by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. With the economy in the dump, and faith in national decision makers at an all-time low, is it time to take local action to create jobs and protect local employers — can a community do well, by doing good? Some …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 14, 2011

 How do we Measure "Progress"?  by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. I could truthfully tell you that 46 percent of high school students had sex in 2009, and horrify you. Or I could tell you this percentage has fallen from 54 percent in 1991 and make you feel things are at least going in the right …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 14, 2011

Virtual Co-Op Links Farmers and Restaurants by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. It is possible to create jobs, have healthier diets and improve the local economy by re-birthing local agriculture on small plots of land. Each pound of lettuce or eggs or beef shipped from California, Latin America or Mexico raises our dependency on foreign oil. …

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Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 9, 2010

Suburban Design cuts Crime 90%, Energy 70%, and Water 33% by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. The Village Homes community began development in 1975 and is located on 70 acres near downtown Davis, California. It consists of 225 homes, 20 apartment units, a Community Center with several businesses and an inn. Residents share 23 acres of …

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