Dr. Franco Goes to Washington

     On Thursday, actor James Franco headlined a benefit for 826DC, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting students with their writing skills, particularly creative writing. The event was held at the Hotel Monaco in Chinatown (btw, the hotel’s restaurant has exquisite rabbit and awesome fries). Franco, who has degrees in creative writing, is currently pursuing a PhD at Yale. He is reportedly starting a gig as an NYU professor soon. Apparently he didn’t enjoy spending 127 hours in a hole.

     Franco’s appearance was just a day before hundreds of writing teachers gathered on Capitol Hill to urge Members of Congress to restore funding for the National Writing Project (NWP), a nationwide network of educators working together to improve the teaching of writing in the nation's schools and in other settings. The most recent continuing budget resolution cut funding for NWP as well as the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program, Reading Is Fundamental, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and Teach for America.  Even as America tries to compete in the global economy, education continues to be a target for funding cuts at both the state and national level.