How do politicians eliminate a school orchestra in this country and still sleep at night? How does a community adjust to such a theft when they tried so hard to keep the music playing? The Loss of the Lafayette Elementary School String Orchestra In 2013, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago politicians put an end to […]
Today’s School Reforms and the Destruction of Invention
Currently, school reformers impact schools in such a way that little is done to assist students to be inventors. To teach young people to invent means looking at them as individuals with interests and uniqueness—hopes and dreams. It means providing experiences that foster those interests–introducing them to new ideas. Schools need to encourage and trust […]
Public Schools With a President Bernie Sanders
What would education be like with a President Bernie Sanders? Would he stand by public schools and public school career teachers? I think between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders would be better to fight against the troubling school reforms that have plagued public schools for years. Most of what can be gathered about […]
Donald Trump’s Education Mirage
Donald Trump’s education agenda is puzzling. Where does he stand and what does he know about public schools, teachers and students? Pam Vogel for Media Matters in America, Eric Robelen in The Atlantic, and Valerie Strauss from the Washington Post questioned Trump’s education agenda. And charter school and No Child Left Behind promoter Nina Rees […]
Education Mirages and Presidential Politics—Hillary Clinton
Presidential politics and education—it’s like crawling through the desert. You see the same old landscape, and then, out in the distance you see real teacher support and quality schooling! And you hear “I will make public schools great again!” We are bombarded with statements that sound supportive of public schools and teachers, parents, and students, […]
The Mom Factor vs. Helicoptering
Happy Mother’s Day! I hope all moms and families have a beautiful Sunday. Isn’t it interesting that Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Week are close together? Perhaps it is because teaching and nurturing children (no matter how old a child is) are similar. When mothers (and dads) unite with teachers, there is no end to […]
40 Reasons to Honor Teachers in 2016
Last year I made this list in honor of all teachers for teacher appreciation week. It is that time of year again! So, I’d like to wish all my teacher friends a wonderful week! I hope you can focus on the great jobs that you do despite any problems that come your way. I added […]
New Assessment Aligning Students with Severe Disabilities to Common Core
There is new Common Core assessment claiming to be “rigorous” for students with severe cognitive disabilities. Do students with severe disabilities need rigor? The assessment is being likened to a “journey” like a beautiful trip. Or, is it a trip to nowhere? It touts accountability, but I see no safety net for students if they […]
Free Public College Tuition—We Had it, Lost It, and Can Have it Again
Some Americans scoff at the idea of free public college tuition. Or they peg Sen. Bernie Sanders as some kind of a new age dreamer. Why? America once had free public college in California. For awhile, the students in that state paid only a nominal fee for public higher education. From 2012 Dissent: The high-water […]
Public Schools Belong to the People—Not Just Mayors, CEOs, or the President
In Chicago, Troy LaRaviere has been fired from his principal position at Blaine Elementary School, partly because he sided with parents against high-stakes testing. Those who fondly regarded the outspoken administrator were stunned to learn of his ousting by mail. LaRaviere has been critical of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and others in the school system. I’d […]