Buddhist monks are dying in Burma fighting for freedom and democracy. Should Christians care? Do the two groups—whose theologies so differ—have any common ground? Can the faithful of two religions talk without compromising their beliefs?

Tim Neufeld, contemporary Christian ministries professor at Fresno Pacific University, thinks so, and talks about it in this week's Scholars Speak.

People—in the Valley, in California, in the United States—are talking about education. Laws, learned reports and studies, studies and more studies by experts declaim opinions and declare solutions. But what of those who spend time with children? What of those who stand in the classroom, trying to put hands and feet on educational policies and the love of education into children's minds and hearts?

You know: teachers?

"Everyone agrees" is a rare phrase in the education debate, but when it comes to reading support does seem universal. Parents, teachers and experts of all stripes tout the benefits of reading and offer ways to encourage children.

But what happens when children don't listen to the experts?

Rene' Mendel Lebsock suggests ways to get—and keep—children reading this week in Scholars Speak.

Labor Day Weekend means so much. Let's toast the ceremonial end of summer with burgers and dogs on the grill. Let's enjoy the last long weekend before Thanksgiving, or at least Veteran's Day.

Let's honor the sacrifice of the many who sweated, and the some who died, giving the rest of us working stiffs the day off. That's Hope Nisly's job this week in Scholars Speak.

Not all is fun and games on school playgrounds. Many children, often the physically smallest and least socially successful, find they get the most attention not from friends, but from bullies.

Bullying has been around as long as children have gathered together, but does that make it unstoppable? Scott Key, professor in the Fresno Pacific University School of Education, doesn't think so, and presents ideas on how to make school safer in this Scholars Speak.

McDonald's—its billions served give it influence way beyond burgers and fries. Lovin' it or hatin' it, few among us have not at some point found it our kind of place.

But can Ronald & Co. bring world peace for all time as well as a break today? Duane Ruth-Heffelbower, a member of the Fresno Pacific University School of Business and Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies, has cooked up some tasty ideas on the subject for this Scholars Speak.

We've got problems here in the San Joaquin Valley. Everybody knows that, but how do we solve them?

What about getting together the folks affected by a problem and talking about it? Passionately, because we care. Respectfully, because we know that those who disagree with us over solutions care just as much as we do.

As simple, or crazy, as that sounds, it's FPU President D. Merrill Ewert's suggestion in this special summer Scholars Speak.

Here's a dumb question: What is the purpose of public schools? To teach, obviously. But to teach what? American public schools were created to teach the knowledge and values immigrants and their children were thought to need to be part of society. Long before character curriculum, education was more than readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic. Is this enough? Scott Key, education faculty at Fresno Pacific University, shares his thoughts in this week's Scholars Speak.

Something horrible happened at Virginia Tech University and people want to do something. Preferably something that will keep this from happening again. A natural reaction. A laudable goal. But not an easy one. Duane Ruth-Heffelbower, an experienced counselor and faculty member at Fresno Pacific University, looks at the situation in this week's Scholars Speak.