John Wilson Unleashed
Prior to leading the National Education Association and the N.C. Association of Educators, John Wilson taught special education for 23 years. He is a past chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the Learning First Alliance, and the N.C. Covenant for Children. He is a senior fellow at the Pearson Foundation. This blog is no longer being updated.
School & District Management
Opinion
Paying Attention to Teachers' Working Conditions
If teachers' working conditions are students' learning conditions, it is time for all states to follow the lead of Kentucky and North Carolina by administering the Teacher Working Conditions Survey to all educators.
School & District Management
Opinion
Preparing Students for Today's and Tomorrow's Jobs
Change the Equation launches the "iON Future" online learning games on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 to inform and encourage students to consider STEM careers.
Federal
Opinion
Teacher Bashing Is a Loser
Across America, the final votes are being counted and recounted, but we can be sure of one result that will not change: bashing teachers is not a winning proposition in this country. American voters still believe in those teachers that helped shape their lives and that are doing the same for their children, and they are not willing to support ill-conceived policies that demoralize and destroy the careers of their favorite teachers. Even clearer is a second message from this election: those who entrust their children to teachers to nurture and educate them will trust the opinions of those teachers far more than the views of bureaucrats or politicians who promote unsubstantiated programs that are not supported by those who have to implement them. These messages were made very clear on November 6.
Federal
Opinion
Let Your Students Vote
Our students need to be college, career , and citizenship ready. There is no better opportunity to teach our students the core of citizenship in a democracy than to involve them in the election process. Voting is a fundamental right and should be exercised by everyone. Let's create the behavior pattern of voting by letting our students participate in this important election. The Pearson Foundation has made it easy. Please read below and get involved. Also, please share this information with every teacher you know.
Federal
Opinion
It's a Trick or Treat Election
I have been a diligent student of this Presidential election. I have watched all the debates, viewed all the ads in two battleground states, read the barrage of emails from the candidates, and studied the education records and promises of Governor Romney and President Obama. My conclusion is that---no surprise---children, educators, and the public schools have a lot at stake in this election.
School & District Management
Opinion
Texas District Moving From Good to Great
Marian Kisch, a freelance writer out of Chevy Chase, MD, who writes a monthly column for the HOPE Foundation shares a guest blog today. She tells us about a success story that has used HOPE to help change the schools' culture and tailor school leadership development opportunities to reach the ultimate goal of increasing collaboration and student achievement.
Marian Kisch, a freelance writer out of Chevy Chase, MD, who writes a monthly column for the HOPE Foundation shares a guest blog today. She tells us about a success story that has used HOPE to help change the schools' culture and tailor school leadership development opportunities to reach the ultimate goal of increasing collaboration and student achievement.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
An Offensive Commentator Cannot Sell Inspiration
As a teacher of some of the toughest kids in our public schools, I worked hard to identify their assets and to leverage those assets so these kids could be successful students in school and in life. When I see Steve Perry, founder of Capital Preparatory Magnet School and education contributor on CNN, acting tough and pontificating on the education of urban children, I see a person who likes to put down others to enhance his own status. Dr. Perry appears angry and unwilling to listen to any view other than his own. I am never sure if his behavior is simply "theater"---think Rush Limbaugh---or is the result of an outsized ego. It's hard for me to find Steve Perry's assets.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Stop the Madness of High-Stakes Testing
I took the time to read many of the letters that were written by teachers and parents to President Obama through a campaign organized by Diane Ravitch and Anthony Cody. While I was not thrilled with the timing of this campaign, I could not ignore the pain expressed by too many teachers and parents, pain resulting from ill-conceived policies at the local and state levels enabled by financial incentives from the U.S. Department of Education as well as waivers from the broken No Child Left Behind law.
School & District Management
Opinion
Education Reform: Competing and Winning with Collaboration
Alan Blankstein, CEO and Founder of the HOPE Foundation, is back with a guest blog. Today he describes real reform that is sustainable because it focuses on collaboration not confrontation.
Federal
Opinion
Michelle Rhee and Politics Don't Mix
It has been my observation that when Michelle Rhee engages in politics, she comes across as naive at best and, at worst, undermines the candidates she says she supports. I listened to her on talk shows during the Democratic Convention and then read her ensuing op ed pieces. While she positions herself as knowing everything about education and an expert on the political scene, I don't see it that way. I thought I would provide her a few lessons in Politics 101. Who knows? Maybe she can learn something.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Teacher Town Hall Exposes Reform Challenges
Teachers are fascinating people---especially when they get a chance to express their sincere beliefs about reform and the impact of that reform on their students and themselves. They are honest, insightful, and passionate about what they do. In these times, they are also a little fed up with the toll certain reforms have taken on the joy of teaching.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Teachers and The President Are United
Sure there will be tension. Of course, there will be disagreements. One of my favorite quotes, source unknown, is, "Where there is unanimity, someone is not being represented." But, let me assure everyone that when it comes to a shared vision of great public schools for each and every child in America, there is no distance between teachers and their unions and President Barack Obama.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Yes, Teachers Do Have A Breaking Point
We all remember the scene in the movie Network where a character throws open the window, sticks his head out, and yells, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." Last week, about 30,000 educators in Chicago came to a similar breaking point.
School & District Management
Opinion
HOPE: 10 Ways to Develop Sustainable Leadership in Your School
Note: Alan Blankstein, president and founder of the HOPE Foundation, is back as a guest blogger to share some more of his work to transform public schools.