…when this is your home, you inherit something remarkable: the protections in the First Amendment- free religion, free speech, free press, free assembly, free petition. This fundamental right belongs to everyone. ~Weijia Jiang, Emmy Award-winning television journalist There was a standout message at the Correspondents’ Dinner that reflected America’s best. This came from Emmy Award-winning […]
Problems with Civics Alliance Standards
By Beckie Mostello Civics Alliance is a national coalition of conservative education reformers, policymakers, parents, and citizens dedicated to preserving and restoring traditional civics education in American K-12 schools. Convened by the conservative National Association of Scholars (NAS) in 2021, the group opposes what it describes as radical ideology and “action civics”—which it defines as […]
The Many Ways to Set Kindergartners Up to Hate Math!
Math is a wonderful subject! It opens doors to incredible careers in science and to life’s great mysteries. But if it’s not approached right, early learners could become frightened of it. I’ve known students who dread the sound of the word math. Of course, dozens of books offer help to conquer math anxiety. For teachers, […]
Public Schools: Protecting The Great Hope of America
On July 4th, the 250th anniversary of our nation, our democratic public schools are in trouble. At a time of celebration, educators and families from both parties might be wondering what’s happening to their public schools. Here, I explore three serious issues (many others) confronting public education and some of the groups and individuals fighting […]
How to Get Students to School? Stop Driving them Out!
There’s much handwringing about absenteeism, even though many understand that corporate school reformers have always wanted students to leave public schools and mosey over to charters, homeschools, parochial schools, or private schools when they can afford them. Indeed, Steele and Hanover of the World Socialist Website offer one of the most honest explanations as to […]
What About All Those ONLINE Science of Reading Programs?
Parents crusade against children being exposed to screens in school, questioning the use of AI and social media. Here’s a problem. Many states have mandated the Science of Reading for young children in the name of scientific evidence; they and local school districts have invested millions in programs that often involve heavy screen use. The […]
The New York Times Mistaken Ideas About NCLB!
Recent reports lamenting poor test scores seem to suggest returning to the good old days of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The New York Times recently led the way, reporting, Why U.S. Test Scores Are in a ‘Generation-Long Decline.’ Bring NCLB back? When did it leave? Isn’t it a big part of why public schools […]
Recess: Still Denied!
I recently had to double-check the report’s date. American schools have been quietly killing recess to focus on test scores—and pediatricians are warning it’s a mistake, by Laura Ungar, which began in the late 1980s. But there it was, 2026. Children are still not getting the academic breaks they need to be healthy. Weren’t the […]
Teachers! Appreciate Them Now. They Soon Could Be Gone!
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! While the treats and accolades teachers get this week are, I’m sure, welcome, public school teachers deserve better. Let’s examine what has been done to the teaching profession, roadblocks to great teaching, and how conditions could be improved. Corporate school reform has reshaped Americans’ thinking about public school teachers, pushing for […]
America’s Students Need Great Public Schools for Science!
Do Americans understand that great public schools are necessary for scientific advances? While many worry about serious science issues or marvel at amazing scientific accomplishments, who’s looking at the science instruction children receive in school today? Ask students what did you learn about science today? Are they excited? If they don’t seem to have an […]