Print Books or E-readers, That Is the Question
Face it: Electronic devices are not only alluring, they can be quite addictive, too, and e-readers are no exception. Their debut actually set off a collective bookseller panic attack a few years back that goes unabated to this day. Indeed, since then, Barnes &...
Traditional Snow Days vs. Flexible Instruction Days in Pennsylvania
The small. wooden placard on the classroom door read, "I'm a teacher; let it snow," and just about every kid in these parts makes a similar wish every winter. This year, it finally came true with the "historic" snow that fell the weekend on January 23. The result:...
The African-American Story and the Evolution of Black History Month
Black History Month has been recognized every February for as long as many of us can remember, but too few are aware of how it all came to be. For that, we have to go all the way back to 1915 and a gentleman named Carter G. Woodson, a graduate of the University of...
Newsworthy Education Facts
1) The newly passed Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) takes up 1,016 pages, whereas the original Elementary & Secondary Art of 1965 was just 32 pages long. 2) When asked how optimistic ASCD readers are that ESSA will help failing schools and help close the...
Education Reform-Related Quotes
** "No area of human effort is free from bad ideas and mistaken theories, but the quest to 'reform' public education is particularly awash in misguided convictions. Concepts like 'merit pay,' the scapegoating of teachers, and the alleged superiority of charter schools...
The Reading of Fiction and Nonfiction under the Common Core Standards
Tom Loveless, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution had this to say recently about the Common Core English/Language Arts standards: "The Common Core standards recommend that teachers spend 50% of reading time on fiction and 50% on informational texts in grades...
Kindergarten: The New First Grade
Those in the know have been saying it since the dawn of the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 and high stakes testing: Kindergarten has been "reformed," replacing play and socialization skills with learning to read--and much the shame. Why, I even...
Results of the National Center on Education Statistics G-20 Comparison Report
The following, as reported by Education Week's Sarah D. Sparks, are among the findings of the National Center on Education Statistics sixth comprehensive international comparison report that looked into not just the G-8 countries, but the G-20, including Argentina,...
The Latest Lure: Subsidized Housing for Teachers
In case you haven't heard, among the unintended consequences of the Obama/Duncan/Gates education reform agenda, fewer and fewer college students are pursuing careers in education. Morale among those already working in our schools is down, too, thanks at least in part...
Abod v. Detroit Board of Education heads to the Supreme Court
Lead plaintiff, Rebecca Friedrichs, along with nine other California teachers have taken issue with the 1977 Abod v. Detroit Board of Education decision that allows unions to collect "fair-share" dues for collective bargaining and other costs from those who refuse to...
Now Part of the Curriculum: Social and Emotional Learning
Journalist Cokie Roberts once said, "Raise children you like because, if you don't like them, nobody will, and you're going to spend the rest of your life with them." Unfortunately, so will the rest of us, too. Indeed, we already are, so it's no wonder, then, that...
Results of the 2015 District Administration Educator Survey
Can't deny it: The Common Core State Standards are both controversial and constantly newsworthy, and now again with the recently released 2015 District Administration Educator Survey of 317 school leaders from across the country who were asked to agree/strongly agree...
Making News in Education Circles
A few noteworthy happenings in education: 1. As of December 10, the Every Student Succeed Act replaced the No Child Left Behind Law of 2001. 2. Under ESSA, all those hard-won Arne Duncan/Obama state waivers will be null and void as of August 1, 2016 when ESSA is fully...
Meet John B. King, Jr., Our New Acting Secretary of Education
Arne Duncan is now history, having finally stepped down at the end of 2015--with some saying none too soon. Meanwhile, his replacement is one John B. King, Jr. whom Obama described as "an exceptionally talented educator." Among his credits: Founded the Roxbury...
Info 101: No Child Left Behind Morphs Into The Every Student Succeeds Act
Headline news: The Every Student Succeeds Act is set to replace the No Child Left Behind Law of 2001, becoming official with Obama’s signature on December 10. At the time, he called it “a Christmas miracle,” and it’s one that will impact every one of our 50 million...
The Homework Debate and Tips for Getting It Done, Too
We’re off and running now, so far into the school year already that, in a month or so, most school districts will close the books on the second marking period. And all along the way, parents and kids alike have been dealing with homework, often unhappily, and so I...
The Case of G.G. v. Gloucester City Public School Board
In case you didn't know, last year Obama decreed that "schools can't prevent students from using the restrooms that correspond with their gender identities without violating federal law." And this was the government's response in the case of G.G. v. Gloucester Public...
Cheating on Online Courses
When it comes to online courses, the name of the game--and big time, at that--is cheating. As Derek Newton recently reported in The Atlantic, "The growth in courses available on the Web has led to a growth in paid services that will impersonate students and do the...
About the Council of the Great City Schools’ Testing Policies Report
As the Washington Post's editorial board said, "The [Council of the Great City Schools] report concludes that students take tests that are redundant and misaligned with college- and career-readiness standards. The tests do not gauge mastery of specific content and are...
Ahmen Mohamed and the Clock
In case you missed the back story and update, here you go: Ahmed Mohamed, the Irving, Texas 14-year-old high schooler made headlines after being arrested for bringing in a home-made clock to school and was subsequently suspended for three days. Explained Irving...
