The ESSA has been difficult for most of us to interpret—although it is clear the U.S. Department of Education will now back out of a lot of school business. Still, in reading how the states will now be almost completely in charge, one wonders how NCLB will change. How many of us have states that […]
The President’s Turnaround ARTS Program Is Unfair!
Every child in every public school in America deserves access to the arts, and legitimate art classes, which include real credentialed art teachers! In 2012, President Obama announced an Arts Education Plan called Turnaround ARTS. The program, which was to cost $14.7 million over three years, was to establish an intense art program for children […]
Excellence not Success
By Sarah Davies Waiting in the doctor’s office today, my oldest asked what I was reading. When I told her it was Guy Claxton’s What’s the Point of School?, she looked confused. “Mommy, I know what the point of school is. Why do you need to read a book on it? It’s to learn and […]
Political Pawns—The Real Equality Problem Girls Face
A gender-equal society would be one where the word ‘gender’ does not exist: where everyone can be themselves. Gloria Steinem To be a girl today is still paved with obstacles due to gender differences. Girls are not always valued for their thoughts and ideas. While in politics we mostly hear about job and wage inequality, […]
What Happens to Artists Who Aren’t Good Readers?
Imagine children in public schools today, who do not read well, but who are undiscovered, gifted artists. They are continually drilled in reading and get few opportunities to express themselves artistically. In some schools, if a student does not test well in reading they do not get to be in the band, or they are […]
The Disregard of K-12 Education in Presidential Debates
If you are a parent or an educator and expect to hear something about K-12 education out of any of the Presidential candidates in their debates or fireside chats you will be sorely disappointed. How we school our children is one of the most important issues of our day, and yet when do we hear […]
“Cross Pollinating” Special and General Education Teachers
Can one teacher effectively teach students with a variety of disability and/or language needs? Or do we need special education teachers? Perhaps a better question is, can computers do the job of both regular and special education teachers? Here is an example of what I am talking about. This ad appeared for a webinar through […]
Four Billion More for Computers While School Buildings Rot
Important Note About This Post! I must acknowledge that I made a mistake with this post. I misinterpreted it to mean more funding of computers and it is instead about funding computer science. This changes the nature of the post dramatically. I think most of us recognize the value of computer science for students in […]
Hey CEOs! Get the Lead Out (of Flint)!
What will the business philanthropists concerned about the education progress of our young people do about Flint? For over 30 years, politicians and big business decided public schools were failing and nothing would do other than CEOs of huge corporations and the states take over. They told us they wanted to close the achievement gap […]
21 Concerns about Special Education and Competency-Based Education
As most know, Competency-Based Education (CBE) is being pushed into schools for all students, including those who have special needs. Before I go on, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development looked at 15-year-olds and their computer use in 31 nations and regions. They found that reading and math scores on the Program for International […]