We've got a great issue of the Education Gadfly for you this week.
To whet the appetite, here's a smattering of the articles and analyses that you'll find within its wings:
In the editorial, Checker Finn speculates about the potential positive consequences of our current education reform moment, dubbing this time ?the welcome earthquake.? As he says, there are big developments brewing on the not-too-distant education horizon?with implications that could (hopefully) change education for generations to come. Economic hard times, an investment in improving teacher quality, and a nontrivial shift in public perception on teachers unions are all reverberating seismic activity through the education world. Read more for Checker's full take.
Our news analyses delve further into the shortening lifespan of the Teachers Union?drawing from Peter Meyer's assessment of the New York gubernatorial run-off?and question ED's ability to stop schoolyard bullying. We even somewhat side with New York's United Federation of Teachers on one controversial issue. (If that sparked your interest, read more here.)
On the academic front, our short reviews cover ED's character education study, offer perspective on some of Rick Hess' newest reform big-ideas, and decry the variance of states' cut scores.
And, this is barely the tip of the iceberg. Grab yourself a macchiato and curl up with everybody's favorite ?fly. Or, better yet, if you like what you see, sign up to receive the Gadfly in your inbox every Thursday.