No matter where you stand in the current education chaos, Dale Russakoff’s The Prize: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools? is worth reading. It is outstanding writing based on outstanding reporting, and it is the best explanation I have seen of the complexities of public education in the United States. My favorite quotation in the … Continue reading If You Care About Education Reform, You Must Read The Prize
schools
New Orleans in the News Again
There has been renewed press in recent days about the New Orleans Recovery District. Andrea Gabor's opinion piece in the New York Times entitled "The Myth of the New Orleans School Makeover" received a lot of attention and a ton of criticism, and so the same old debate continues. It is amazing anyone still thinks … Continue reading New Orleans in the News Again
Thoughts on the Beginning of Another School Year
A new school year is beginning. For many students, here in Los Angeles, it begins today. I feel terrible for them, because very few of them will be receiving the education they deserve. I also feel terrible for us, as a society, because we will not receive the benefits of the contributions these children are … Continue reading Thoughts on the Beginning of Another School Year
Ossining, NY: A School District with the Freedom to Educate
This inspiring story by Jackie Mader in The Hechinger Report about the school district of Ossining, NY contains a lot of interesting information, but what struck me most was an innovative approach the district took to increase integration. They reorganized their four elementary schools so that each school, instead of serving a neighborhood, took one … Continue reading Ossining, NY: A School District with the Freedom to Educate
Teachers Want to Teach
Teachers love to teach. That may sound obvious, but it is an important fact that the public debate seems to be ignoring. There is nothing better, for a teacher, than seeing a child’s face brighten in comprehension. There are few things more exciting for teachers than a classroom full of engaged students, learning something new. … Continue reading Teachers Want to Teach
E. Steiger & Co. 