There are few education issues that anger me more than massive retention of third graders based on one test score! Mississippi recently became the latest state to embrace retention. It’s a huge mistake. Adults fail children by not assisting them with their learning problems. Why is massive school retention terrible? A retained student doesn’t learn […]
The Charter School Miracle that Isn’t—Special Education in NOLA
It’s segregating kids with disabilities, and letting the charter schools off the hook. —Parent advocate Karran Harper Royal The changes happening to schools in New Orleans—the conversion from public to private—has sadly become a prototype for schools across the country. All parents, teachers and taxpayers should be concerned. While charter advocates see charters as miracles, […]
Memorial Day Tribute to Staff Sgt. Morgan Deshawn Kennon (1980-2003)
Like many, I hate war. I don’t understand why we haven’t evolved to a better civilization after all this time. As an educator, I am saddened especially by all the young lives that have been lost throughout the years. Whether you agree with the circumstances surrounding a war, or not, the sacrifices soldiers make should […]
The Scientific BS Surrounding Common Core and Teaching Vocabulary
I am going to be a BS detector. The Common Core State Standards are made to appear complicated. Fancy codes and scientific sounding big words are used to wow the public. But if you look at the standards, they’re nothing innovative or new! Take vocabulary. Teachers have been teaching vocabulary since the beginning of time. […]
The Common Core “Deep Learning” Message that All Students are Gifted is Wrong
…in the ordinary elementary school situation, children of 140 IQ waste half their time. Those of 170 IQ waste practically all their time. — gifted education pioneer Leta Hollingworth, found in Genius Denied, by Jan and Bob Davidson A recent report implied that with the right kind of environment and “deep learning” everyone can be […]
The WAR REPORT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION
I am honored to be invited to talk with Dr. James Avington Miller Jr. on his popular radio program. Call in and chat with us. This Sunday, May 17 at 2:00pm PST / 4:00pm Central/ 5:00pm Eastern on ‘THE WAR REPORT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION’ on BBS Radio – ‘A Conversation with Nancy E. Bailey’ an […]
Don’t Teachers Know How to Teach Reading?
To hear parents and the media talk, teachers don’t know how to teach reading. In Alabama, Education Week is bragging about a $48 million literacy program. It teaches teachers how to teach reading. Why? I find it a strange phenomenon. Reading instruction and identifying reading problems used to be a large part of learning how […]
Serving Moms of Students with Special Needs in Public Schools
This Mother’s Day I thought I’d direct my attention to moms who have students with special needs, and ask, “How could public schools do a better job of helping them out?” Of course this relates to dads too, but usually moms are more on the front line and it is their day! Education Secretary Arne […]
25 Reasons Why You Should Appreciate Public School Teachers
Please feel free to add to this list in the comment section. Teachers in public school teach all children—they reject no one. Teachers choose teaching because of their subject and mostly because they like the students. Teachers don’t pick their careers for the money. Their teaching is free (well except for AP). Many teachers pay-out-of-pocket […]
Dyslexia and Teachers in a World with No Special Education
What happens to students with dyslexia and learning disabilities when there are no more special education services? This from a teacher in Mississippi: I am an Inclusion teacher at my son’s high school. Our special ed department lost a certified position and two paraprofessional positions. Students receive services, but we have cut our presence in […]