The four questions the Department of Education promises to answer soon (here are answers to the first three) On Monday I wrote a post contrasting President Obama's insightful thoughts about standardized tests to policies that are being pursued by his own Department of Education. Justin Hamilton, a... Read Full Post >
President Obama, I loved the way you described the role of assessment. It should be occasional, not punitive, and used to help diagnose where students need help. Is there a way we could get your Department of Education's policies to align with your personal vision? Read Full Post >
In February I shared a conversation between a veteran teacher, David Greene, and his mentee, a former Teach For America intern named John Bilby. Today, we have a continuation of that dialogue, once again focused on how we ought to prepare teachers to work in our schools. John: Here we are again. T... Read Full Post >
the school reform movement is populated by self-promoting snake oil salesmen, and our elected officials are buying their tonic by the truckload. Read Full Post >
in these unprecedented times we need our unions for a much bigger task. We need our unions to help save the institution of public education in America. Read Full Post >
The impending budget cuts are going to devastate schools that have been the one safe refuge for many of these children. Read Full Post >
For most of these kids, and please don't forget they are kids, it's a rather painful way to get into grad school. The road is hard. It is filled with potholes the size of canyons. Why would they choose that path instead of a smoother one? Read Full Post >
Finally, we are getting the respect we deserve. But after seeing the deal close up last night, I am not sure it is much of a bargain after all. Read Full Post >
Just as our children should stand with the victims of the schoolyard bully, parents and teachers at schools that escape the "failing" label should stand with those left behind, those fat kids with big ears, the schools with the vast majority of their children living in poverty. Read Full Post >
We will not drive improvement by intensifying the climate of fear that already plagues these schools. These schools already spend far too much time focused on test preparation, sacrificing the aspects of school most likely to engage and enliven their students. Read Full Post >
Recent Comments