THE PIONEER BLOG

Jude Iredell

Studying the Humanities in the 2020s

/in , , , , /by Jude Iredell

At a time of tumultuous and sometimes vitriolic debates on American campuses, here are seven guiding principles to help college student thinking about studying history or any other humanities subject.

Jude Iredell

Better Civics Education Is the Massachusetts Way

/in , , , , /by Jude Iredell

The fight for more comprehensive civics education in the Bay State has persisted for years. The Legislature’s recent override of Gov. Maura Healey’s cut to the state’s modest civics instruction budget suggests that in many in Massachusetts — including parents, teachers, and lawmakers — support strengthening the state’s civics and history curriculum, particularly with mounting evidence of declined student performance across the country.

Jude Iredell

Except in Florida, There’s Really No (High School) Debate

/in , , , , /by Jude Iredell

In much of the country, the state of America’s High school debate is not strong. Teachers and education professionals have become indoctrinated in an identity-obsessed, grievance-seeking body politic. But in Florida, students must thoroughly research debatable positions and are actually expected to engage with those who disagree.

Jude Iredell

The Disconnect Between Education and Activism

/in , , , , /by Jude Iredell

I’m sympathetic when I hear individuals lament cancel culture, radicalized student bodies, and anti-free speech climates in our institutions of higher learning. In many ways, it’s right to do so. But in our defense, I might suggest that our lack of aptitude is the result of increasingly substandard history and civics education.

Jude Iredell

Why Study History?

/in , , , , /by Jude Iredell

Intern Jude Iredell emphasizes the importance of history education for informed citizenship, citing Pioneer’s survey on Massachusetts residents’ historical knowledge. He encourages supporting organizations and initiatives promoting civic engagement and history literacy.

William Smith

University Science Research Is Under Threat

/in , , , , , /by William Smith

The Biden administration’s formation of a working group to “develop a framework for the implementation of the march-in provision of the Bayh-Dole Act” could have serious adverse consequences for university research and biopharmaceutical innovation. It represents a particularly dangerous threat to the thriving life sciences cluster in Greater Boston.

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Aidan Enright

Massachusetts Split Property Tax Rates – Considerations for the Current Economic Climate

/in /by Aidan Enright and Eileen McAnneny

Many taxing jurisdictions distinguish among the various property types and treat them differently. Common property classifications include: residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural.

A majority of states, some 60 percent, use some kind of classification, but those classifications vary in scope and effective tax burden (i.e., the actual amount of tax paid after credits, deductions and other changes are taken into account.) Classifications are also operationalized differently among states. Some use a set rate for different types of properties and others use a ratio of assessment and market values.

William Smith

Lousy Healthcare for Thee but Not for Me

/in , , , /by William Smith and Robert Popovian

In recent years, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have instituted programs to keep out-of-pocket drug costs high for patients. Why is the administration so eager to protect federal employees from high out-of-pocket costs but is perfectly happy for PBMs to enroll millions of other patients in these programs?

Jude Iredell

History Class: A New Culture War Front

/in /by Jude Iredell

Progressives and conservatives have sponsored politically influenced alterations to history curricula across the country. Recovering trust in history education is an imperative, and teachers and educators can help by making students aware that the facts of history are themselves political, constantly manipulated to advance parties’ and politicians’ own interests. Curricular standards that offer this guidance would weaken biased assaults from either ideological side.

Jude Iredell

The Rise of the Grievance Essay?

/in /by Jude Iredell

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision that racial discrimination in college admissions is unconstitutional, Harvard and other elite colleges and universities have adopted new essay prompts that openly invite applicants to air identity-based grievances in hopes of aiding their admissions chances.

Jude Iredell

A History of Massachusetts’ Peculiar Beach Access Laws

/in , , /by Jude Iredell

Massachusetts rivals Maine for the lowest percentage of publicly owned and accessible coastal land. What seems a geographic coincidence is actually the product of contentious property rights disputes going back nearly 400 years, to the days of Puritan law.

Sarah Delano

Harsh Tax Policies in NY Make MA Seem Palatable as Some Residents Look to Relocate

/in /by Sarah Delano

While many Massachusetts residents relocated to either New Hampshire or Florida in 2021, a considerable amount of New Yorkers migrated into Massachusetts. Their motivation to relocate seems largely tied to the harsh taxes in New York, which surpass the rates in Massachusetts.

Sarah Delano

Massachusetts’ “Stinger” Tax, Explained

/in /by Sarah Delano

Massachusetts recognizes S Corporations as flow-through entities. However, it levies an additional “stinger” tax on shareholders of these types of entities, depending on their revenue and industry. The state should reform S Corporation tax policy because the current system is uncompetitive and nonneutral. And, in addition to the new surtax on earnings over $1 million, the stinger tax could make business owners consider relocating, which would take revenue and surtax from the state.

Peter Mentekidis

Changes to the Confounding Massachusetts Estate Tax

/in , , , , /by Peter Mentekidis

Policymakers on Beacon Hill have many visions of tax relief for this fiscal year, and all of them include changing the estate taxes. What are those changes, and what would their impact be?

Teddy Wynn

University Presidents Salary Comparison, Pt. 2

/in , , /by Teddy Wynn

See how Massachusetts state schools’ presidential salaries match up. Presidents with schools who have less than a 1,000 student enrollment are near the top of the list.