My heart has been racing for educators over the last month. Even though I no longer take up residence in Florida, I literally experienced palpitations watching debate over Senate Bill 6 take place on the House floor. When considering the potential impact of what could...
1) What if we eliminated public schools as we know them? What if parents were provided with smaller, more personalized community schooling options in lieu of our current "mass production" schooling campuses. Think of it as a revival of the one-room school house, except maybe a...
A debate rages in science classrooms across the nation. With the publication of Darwin’s Origin of the Species, the commonly held belief that a sole and divine creator is responsible for the conception of human life, and that it is his grace alone that provides...
On July 29th, 2009, the Department of Education announced the release of a competitive grant program available all states called Race to the Top, or the State Incentive Grant Fund. This program provides 4.3 billion dollars in grant monies to states that demonstrate “significant education...
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Reimbursement Recently, the Supreme Court decided that students with special needs may be reimbursed for educational programs outside of the public programs available in their district if their needs are not being served. The court ruled in a 6-3 decision...
A recent opinion piece by Al Westerfield called "Menu For Schools" raises an interesting debate. Would creating schools in the image of competitive businesses benefit or undermine public education? I would love to hear some debate on this article fellow educators...
The last week or so, I've had ideas thumping around in my head that I just can't seem to wrestle into a cohesive stream of consciousness. So, I'm just going to start blogging and see if they resolve themselves. I've long struggled with the idea of...
I've been spending a lot of time the last two weeks looking up articles on Sage Publication's website (by the way, you can peruse their journals for free until April 30th). I've been pouring through articles on a variety of topics: gifted, ADHD, alternative assessments,...
Admist all the turbulence and outrage at AIG executives for the acceptance of large bonuses funded by taxpayer dollars, I am reminded of what an extraordinary country we live in. That the public can rage out loud, that our media organizations are free to report...
This morning I found it difficult to keep my fists unclenched as I pounded out a rythym on the treadmill while listening simultaneously to President Obama's plan for education reform. It certainly was a speech that could appeal to both parties; there was little in...
Gatto writes...
I'm interested in hearing about texts that inspire you (or challenge your beliefs) as educators. As I prepare to apply for grad school, I'm anxious to dive back into what's old, what's new, theories borrowed, theories blue...
Okay, I know this is old news, but I'm new to blogging, so I wanted a chance to add my two cents about our President's promises about the economic stimulus package and education. Here is the excerpt from his February 24th address to the nation...