Chief Bratton Apologizes, Removes Officers From Duty; California Charter Schools Update; Sarkozy Wins French Election; It's Not My Fault
Chief Bratton Apologizes, Removes Officers From Duty
Chief William Bratton has apologized, and removed as many as 60 members of an elite Los Angeles Police squad from duty because of their actions in MacArthur Park last week. Bratton told journalists today that some of the officers of the Metropolitan Division's "B" Platoon "in all likelihood will not be returning to the Metropolitan Division, as a result of our findings." Bratton has said numerous departmental procedures were not followed at the May Day Immigration Rights rally. LAPD's self-examination is due to be presented to the City Council May 30. Three other ongoing investigations are attempting to find out what happened at the rally.
California Charter Schools Update
According to a new study, by USC's Rossier School of Education, California's charter schools are coming of age. Those serving urban, at-risk students provide "more bang for the buck" and stronger student performance than public schools. The report, "Charter School Indicators 2007," examines both financial resources and academic achievement as overall measures of progress. Larry discusses the report's findings with Penny Wohlstetter, Director of USC's Center on Educational Governance, and A.J. Duffy, President of UTLA (United Teachers Los Angeles).
Sarkozy Wins French Election
Conservative and U.S.-friendly candidate Nicolas Sarkozy defeated Socialist Segolene Royal by 53 to 47 percent of the vote. Sarkozy promises an extensive reform plan, based on freer markets and a longer work week. Attention now turns to the June election, when the French will elect a new parliament. Its composition will determine Sarkozy's ability to enact his ambitious economic reforms. Larry talks with Hugh Schofield, Correspondent with Agence France Press in Paris, and Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow and Director of European Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and Professor of International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University.
It's Not My Fault
According to renowned social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson, the human brain is wired for self-justification. When we make mistakes our self-worth is challenged. In order to calm those unsettling feelings we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility. Larry talks with Carol Tavris about the new book she and Aronson co-authored, Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me), which explains this pattern of self-deception - how it works, the harm it can cause, and how we can overcome it.