Children have been in school for awhile. How much recess are they getting? Is their school day overly organized? Are they getting pretend recess–physical education, or some canned program from a digital device? How many principals are tricking parents into thinking their children are getting real recess? Even preschool parents need to ask this question. […]
“Personalized Learning” is NOT Working for High School Students
Backed by major philanthropists and investors such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, the ed-tech industry has aggressively pushed the idea of “personalized learning.” But on the ground, the concept remains nebulous, and research evidence remains thin. ~Benjamin Herold. Education Week, September 21, 2017 Will students graduate high school with what they need to go […]
Using the Word “War” in Reference to America’s Teachers and Public Schools
How can it be, in a country such as ours, that teachers are depicted as enemies of children? Teaching is a helping profession–a calling. Yet, the use of the words “war” and “teachers” can be found in numerous books and writings. It has turned into a war on the children themselves! Teacher/Blogger Nancy Flanagan recently […]
The Dallas Dance Investigation: What’s Your School District Up To?
Dallas Dance is in trouble. But don’t forget his agenda. The attempted transformation of a school system to personalized learning is troubling. How many school districts have administrators or school board members pushing personalized learning at all cost? Anyone hearing buzz words and phrases like “no walls and no boundaries?” I have posted before about […]
When it Comes to Special Education Deregulations, Watch DeVos Like a Hawk!
In the beginning, Betsy DeVos didn’t seem to understand IDEA. Now it looks like she is out to get rid of it! Here is her recent statement in response to an Education Week writer’s question about reauthorizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. I think Congress needs to seriously look at the commitment they made […]
Worry in Toys ‘R’ Us News: Children Prefer Tablets Over Toys
They [iPads] have overtaken dolls, action figures, board games and other traditional toys–and experts say their popularity is still rocketing. ~Mark Prigg, “How the iPad Replaced the Toy Chest: Researchers Find Children Play with Touchscreens More than Traditional Toys.” Daily Mail. February 21, 2014. With the announcement that Toys ‘R’ Us is filing for bankruptcy, […]
Why Are Schools Still Using Response to Intervention?
Schools have only been in session for a few weeks. Already parents are troubled by reading problems their children are bringing home from school. It’s painful to hear of an otherwise happy child who succumbs to anxiety and distress over school due to reading. Reading should be a joyful experience. But for many children—reading is […]
Betsy DeVos and the Let Public Schools Die Then Privatize Them Tour
Here are some observations of Betsy DeVos and her Rethink Schools tour. Autism in Douglas County One of the schools she visited was the Firefly Autism House the private school which received attention in the landmark Supreme Court case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. Parents received funding to place their child at Firefly […]
5 Reasons Why the Teacher Shortage Concern is A Hoax!
No doubt, many children aren’t getting the general or special education teachers they deserve, especially in poor schools. There probably is a real teacher shortage. However, school reformers have been squawking about a teacher shortage for years. If policymakers cared, they would have put programs into place to address this shortage. They would have sought […]
Teacher Appreciation As School Starts
Teachers are starting the 2017-18 school year. While the focus appears to be on transforming teaching into digital competency-based instruction, or personalized learning, real human teachers are what make learning for every child personalized. That title was stolen from them. Teachers work to bring students together. They let them know that every child, no matter […]