President Donald Trump will hold a military parade on his birthday, costing approximately $45 million, claiming it’s for the 250th birthday of the Army and Flag Day. This money might not seem like much to some, and no offense to the army. But I’m thinking about what teachers, known for scrimping and saving, would do […]
Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Need Help!
Public schools stand out for their inclusive approach toward students with disabilities, in stark contrast to many charter, private, and parochial schools. This unwavering commitment ensures that every student, including those with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), receives the necessary support to thrive socially and academically. The CDC reports that 1 in 5 children have […]
Breaking Down the Harris/Walz Education Plan
Voting for Trump/Vance and Project 2025 would devastate public education. Most Republican Governors are working hard to end our public schools. For example, Cheryl Binkley describes how Virginia, a state whose public schools have been some of the best in the nation, is being privatized under Rep. Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Similar scenarios are happening in […]
Stuck on the Merry-Go-Round of Bad Ed. Policy for 40 Years!
Can you imagine never being able to jump off a Merry Go Round? The fight over education policy is like that. It involves the same worn-out problems that could have been addressed years ago if Americans truly got behind their democratic public schools. The middle class and the poor, Democrats and Republicans, who understand the […]
10 Years Later: The Continuing Intentional Unraveling of America’s Public Schools
School reform continues to privatize and destroy public schools. August marks ten years since I began blogging. Within that time I have written two books and co-authored a third with Diane Ravitch. I’m proud of all this writing but Losing America’s Schools: The Fight to Reclaim Public Education is the book title that especially stands […]
Fighting for a Public School for Students with Autism and Neurodiversity: Choices Parents Want
For years, parents of children with special needs have demanded classroom inclusion. They want a Free, Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in general classes, the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). But in Philadelphia, parents want a public school for students with autism and neurodiversity. They recognize that their students are not getting the resources or teachers they […]
Special Education and School Choice: Not Great Choices, If Any
Years of school reforms have stripped public schools of disability services, creating problems for parents (See Carl Peterson’s recent Exterminating Special Education). Parents may turn to charter, parochial or private schools, online learning, or homeschooling, only to find choices lacking, or the school may not want their child, leaving parents in the lurch. Charter Schools […]
The Heartbreak Surrounding Student Behavior and Teacher Attrition in America’s Schools
Children with difficulty controlling their behavior and emotions, large classes, unsupportive administrators, outside interference, and overwhelmed teachers who aren’t behavior specialists can be a recipe for disaster for students and a reason why teachers leave. I wrote much of this post in February 2020, before schools closed due to Covid-19. As schools get back to […]
Where’s the Biden Administration on School Problems Facing Students, Teachers, and Parents?
The pandemic showed us that public schools are critical. Understandably, Covid-19 has been front and center. But the Biden administration glosses over or is silent on critical school issues. Sometimes these topics are front and center not in a good way in State legislatures or ignored altogether. Frustrated parents will seek alternatives, and there’s a […]
How Has School Privatization Contributed to Mental Illness in Students Before and During Covid-19?
Mental illness in children existed before Covid-19. How many students are struggling with it during the pandemic? How did school privatization contribute to this phenomenon? Before Covid-19 A 2018 survey conducted by the National Association of Elementary School Principals noted that their top concern is the rising numbers of students with emotional problems and mental health […]