Elisa Batista's blog

Public education, which is a free service guaranteed by the California Constitution, is no longer free. According to the Los Angeles Times, various school districts are asking parents to fork over cash in an effort to hold onto teachers after proposed budget cuts by Gov.

Time magazine recently dedicated a cover to education. Despite my time helping start a Spanish immersion school and writing about education, I found so much of it eye-opening, starting with the controversy around merit pay for teachers.

Cross-posted at MotherTalkers.

There has been much hoopla surrounding toys recalled for safety reasons. But are the legislators and industry actually doing something about it? Parents magazine recently released a full report:

Cookie magazine laid out all the federal and state protections for parents who must take leave for a new baby. Admittedly, it isn’t much, but it is something every new parent should know:

"Family and Medical Leave Act

I felt like an eager parent trampling the competition to get to the holiday season’s “it” toy. Except I was not trying to beat the rush at WalMart for a video game console, but online vendors of glass baby bottles.

Cross-posted on MotherTalkers.

If you feel like your work benefits have shrunk, you are not crazy.

According to the Houston Chronicle, employers are starting to scrutinize their budgets and slash employee benefits, such as dependents on health insurance plans.