In order for the nation to get back their public schools they have to realize what they’re losing. This is especially true for special education. For years, across the nation we have seen an eroding of services for students with disabilities. In Texas, denying children their right to special education, since 2004, came in the […]
Brain-Based Learning: Pushing Children to Learn Faster—Why?
There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. ~ Erma Bombeck (1927-1996), American author and humorist. Brain-based learning promotes the idea that children learn faster if they are taught differently. But why push children to learn faster than ever before? Why turn children into adults before they […]
Universal Design for Learning by David H. Rose, Ed.D.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) By David H. Rose, Ed.D. Thank you Nancy for inviting me to put some thoughts about UDL on your blog. I hope I can reduce some of the misconceptions about UDL that appeared here, and then perhaps engage in discussion where I can learn more from you and your readers. […]
Universal Design for Learning or Microcosm for Destruction?
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a part of the new Every Student Succeeds Act. It promotes what is heralded as a new way to reach students with diverse needs. It sounds new agey. But what does this miracle program have that those of us who worked in special education for years don’t? You may, […]
Special Education: Vouchers and Betsy DeVos
What will future Education Secretary Betsy DeVos do with special education? Most voucher programs currently go to students with disabilities. My guess is that there will be increased support with the new Trump administration and DeVos. The following states have voucher programs for student with disabilities: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, […]
Privatization and School Buses? Thoughts, Please, Betsy DeVos?
The private company that owned the bus involved in Monday’s wreck in Chattanooga that killed five [six] elementary school students has had 142 crashes with injuries and three fatalities in the past 24 months, according to federal records. Here I’m thinking of the pictures this past week of Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos beaming about school choice–vouchers […]
I’m Thankful for Real Public Schools!
With the DeVos selection, I thought I’d tweak and rerun an old Thanksgiving post. Here are a few of the things we should focus on instead of breaking up public schools. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving! Enjoy your kids. ____________________ Thanksgiving can be a lonely time. It can be a time where problems appear worse, when […]
Fast ForWord Computer Reading Program is KindaSlow!
When technology fails, shouldn’t there be accountability–like real teachers? In Gainesville, Florida, home of the prestigious University of Florida, the Alachua School District spent $1.19 million on a reading computer program called Fast ForWord. But children who did Fast ForWord did worse than children not participating in the program! Will the company Scientific Learning pay […]
Moskowitz and Rhee: A Teacher’s Viewpoint
Many educators and parents have expressed concerns about Eva Moskowitz or Michelle Rhee becoming Secretary of Education. Moskowitz has declined the post, but Ivanka Trump visited her charter school, and some fear she is still being courted. They seem to value her input. From a teacher’s viewpoint, I wanted to document why so many resent […]
Recent Research Shows Vouchers Fail Children
The Trump presidency seems to want to base its education program on school choice. But vouchers have a history of failure. The two most recent studies indicate that students do worse with vouchers. The Louisiana Scholarship Program provided tuition to poor students in low-performing public schools. An MIT paper by Atila Abdulkadiroglu of Duke University, […]