Public schooling is one of the most important issues of our time. Without great public schools, how will America’s children grow up to find their strengths, seek the paths that bring them joy, and create a better world for themselves and future generations? Our world faces many problems, and it will take engaged students, who […]
Betsy DeVos and the Let Public Schools Die Then Privatize Them Tour
Here are some observations of Betsy DeVos and her Rethink Schools tour. Autism in Douglas County One of the schools she visited was the Firefly Autism House the private school which received attention in the landmark Supreme Court case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. Parents received funding to place their child at Firefly […]
The Republican Debate: Did YOU Hear Education Mentioned?
I did not remain glued to the screen when the debate was on last night, so when I stepped away, maybe it was then that they mentioned education and public schools. I must have missed it. Yes. I’m sure that was it. My guess is that they thoroughly discussed, at some point, the backbone of […]
Senator Bernie Sanders and K-12 Education: We’re Listening!
Bernie fever is sweeping the Internet. I like Sen. Sanders. He says a lot of things that make me want to jump up and shout YES! You Go Bernie! But I, like many others, am still listening for the specifics when it comes to education and public schools. On the issue of K-12 education he […]
Making Schools the “Best in the World”
Words of wisdom from across the pond. By Leah K. Stewart You know those fist-pumping speeches that invariably include the line, make this nation’s schooling the best in the world! Almost without exception we hear this wherever national schooling exists: US, UK, Canada, Australia… Am I the only one who shudders at this wholly accepted […]
Pete Seeger…if you sing for children, you can’t really say there’s no hope.
Yesterday we lost Pete Seeger, one of the all-time great folk singers and activists. The LA Times calls Seeger “the conscience of America.” A larger than life figure, there is no way one can write enough about Seeger. He dedicated himself to peace, civil rights, labor, and the environment. He sang folk music and songs […]
The Strange New Education Vocabulary List
This week I heard several educators and parents mention the strange vocabulary being used in public schools these days. So I got out the vocabulary list I’ve been collecting for several years called The Strange New Education Vocabulary List. Many of these words come from business or the military and seem strangely cold in reference […]