Irrespective of which candidate you're gunning for, who isn't happy that it's W's last State of the Union? Here's my retrospective of the Bush years via recent education posts:

1) Doomed to Repeat It: Chicago is intent on resurrecting a school closing strategy that didn't work the first time, says Mike Klonsky (More Shock and Awe in Chi-Town).

2) You Get What You Pay For: Robert Pondiscio at Core Knowledge quips about haggling over the price on student incentives, while the Quick and the Ed (If You Pay Them, They Will Pass) and Ed Sector (per USA Today) pleasantly surprise me - they aren't holding their breath for results. Neither am I.

3) Bourne Again: Ms. Frizzle weighs in on the NY Teacher Experiment (I've Always Resisted Conspiracy Theories). What if teachers were ranking principals instead? Successful Teaching has the 411 on what administrative support means. And what if principals were sizing up their higher ups? Diane Ravitch points out that they're too worried about retribution to be honest.

4) Plant Life as Weaponry: Kids throw stuff. Scenes from the Battleground takes us inside the War Room (Ammunition).

5) Ability Grouping (or Not?): Over at Authentic Education (a group blog including Grant Wiggins), educators are debating its role in schools.

Image credit: lewrockwell.com