Sad news: the 'Fly is flying home for the holidays--and will remain out of your inboxes for two whole weeks! It's tough, we know, but that's why we made this week's edition such a humdinger. First up, Mike and Checker introduce Fordham's Open Letter to the President-Elect, Secretary-Designate, and Members of the 111th Congress. This op-ed is chock full of great ideas for the incoming administration. But if you want the whole kahuna, you should read the Open Letter itself! Then, you'll learn of the WaPo's despicable treatment of Tom Nida, Malcolm Gladwell's quarterback problem, and a very silly British teacher who tried to quiet down her 1st grade class by telling them Santa didn't exist (brilliant!).
Next up, we're pleased to welcome Rick Hess, the one and only, back to the podcast. Unfortunately, not much has changed since he left to go do "research" in Hawaii; he still doesn't read the news, doesn't watch TV, and doesn't listen to the radio. But, dear reader, don't let that deter you. You should stay informed... by listening to the podcast, of course, which gives you the 411 on education news in only 20 minutes! Then you'll find a stellar trifecta of Short Reviews wherein you will learn about data systems, the concentration of??bad teachers in high-poverty schools, and some good news from Louisiana on teacher prep programs. Finally, Linda Noonan and Jill Norton respond to December 4's editorial on 21st Century skills in Massachusetts.
And don't forget, Fordham is still on the hunt for a new Staff Assistant.
Happy holidays from our Fordham family to yours!
