Education Secretary Cardona focuses on reducing absenteeism, tutoring, and after-school programs. And he refers to raising the bar, which sounds like A Nation at Risk talk. Yet there are so many K12 issues that Cardona and the Biden administration could address, lead, and support the states and local school districts. Here are some educational issues […]
Grade Retention is Unnecessary!
Studies have linked dropout rates in Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina to the effects of grade retention, student discouragement, and school exclusion policies stimulated by high-stakes tests. ~Linda Darling-Hammond, the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at the Stanford Graduate School of Education and former President and CEO of the Learning […]
The Harm Caused By the Third Grade Reading Ultimatum
Tremendous pressure is placed on children to learn to read by third grade. They must pass state reading tests created by those expecting them to read at this time. If they don’t do well, they could fail third grade. Yet there’s no clear research on the age a child should be able to read. Not […]
The Dangerous End of School Libraries and Public Education
School libraries are critical to maintaining great democratic public schools. The loss of school libraries threatens their existence and a student’s right to receive information. See the American Library Association and The Universal Right to Free Expression: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights. Many public schools no longer have functioning school libraries or qualified […]
Scary Monsters Children Face On Halloween and Beyond, Affecting Their Schooling
Teachers and public schools might be blamed when children struggle to learn. Many variables affect how children do in school, and most are out of a teacher’s control. Support public education and teachers to help families and children make schooling a worthwhile experience. Schools should be an anchor in the community for children and families. […]
How Corporate School Reforms and Ed-Tech Cause Dangerous Distrust about Covid-19
Last year, when Covid-19 drove teachers to switch to remote learning, the antennae of those following corporate school reforms over the years shot up. Many had worried about the push for ed-tech to replace teachers and school buildings. Suddenly a strange disease accelerated that agenda. For some, this has led to a dangerous distrust about […]
There’s One Choice Concerning the Delta Variant: Protect Students!
A worrisome rise of the Delta variant in children across the country has raised concerns about mask refusal and school safety. Politicization with contradictions and poor messaging by both political parties creates a dangerous scenario for children. Americans must work together and be realistic about the dangers of this illness to children, not make promises that […]
We Need Clarity and Consistency From the President When it Comes to Democratic Public Schools
President Biden has accomplished much in his first 100 days. He’s a caring President when this is especially needed. There’s much to like about the President’s ideas and, here, for education, but his speech did not highlight some major concerns. He talked strongly about democracy, but he missed the chance to make important points about […]
Will America Invest in Public School Buildings, Finally?
How will the Biden administration manage a public school facelift? Is $100 billion enough? Will communities see a windfall of funding dedicated to this purpose? Will corporate partnerships help? Will Americans see it as an equity issue? Covid-19 showed Americans the importance of public schools, but they still might not understand the crumbling conditions found […]
Kindergarten Learning Loss Message Is HORRIFYING for Children!
No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, high-stakes testing, Common Core, and other bad school reform measures are coming together with Covid-19 to destroy the futures of America’s youngest learners! They include the same equity and disparity talk used to ramp up the above harmful policies. Those changes to schools, all that rigor talk, […]