Generate a class discussion about the expenses that are associated with a political campaign.

CNN: Student News Learning Activity: Campaign Finance

Years ago, in my Tax Policy class, we had a discussion about the value of intangible labor.

FORBES: Putting a Price on Mom

And that was after an email discussion among class parents that week about her allergies.

WSJ: Finding Food Allergy Allies

My class is actually called Tax Policy and Politics, and much of the discussion is about the conflict between the two: good policy is often bad politics, and vice versa.

FORBES: Why is Anyone Taking Herman Cain Seriously?

Before my wife and I had been able to have a grown-up discussion about what to do (as recommended in those middle-class angst parenting books that we seem to have collected but never read) it all happened very quickly.

BBC: World Book Day: The parent-child battles over a costume