JUST A TAD SHADY: The NYTimes has been zeroing in on the dodgy practice of the Pearson Foundation (the nonprofit arm of Pearson) footing the bill for swanky overseas field trips by state education commissions. No smoking gun indicates that loyalties are for sale; Pearson executives "categorically refute" the notion that the trips help Pearson win deals. But they certainly look dubious. Surely there's a more upfront way for such foundations to support education without raising the ugly specter of conflicts of interest.
