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Hard road to hoe
There's a lot of political lip-service of late given to ridding schools of bad teachers. But be aware if you're looking to do so in Dallas.
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Experience matters for cabinet secretaries, too
I've been musing for days (here and here ) about who should be the next Secretary of Education.
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Head shake for the morning
It's stories like these that just make you shake your head . Sorry Springfield, no new school options for you until your district schools completely tank.
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The market meltdown and the public schools
It's hard not to be shaken by the financial news emanating from Wall Street these days. I can't help but wish I'd studied more economics in college (or that I'd sold our house and started renting a few years ago). But I also can't help but wish that dysfunctional urban school systems could experience some of the "market discipline" that Lehman Brothers is enjoying right now.
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Re: Education Secretary Watch: Who will lead 400 Maryland Avenue?
About this post , several smart reporters have written in to ask, don't I know that Arne Duncan will be the pick as Secretary of Education if Barack Obama is elected president?
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Don't get queasy about John Deasy
The Washington-area media is abuzz about the news that the University of Louisville is investigating the PhD awarded to Prince George's County superintendent John Deasy.
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Naming names
The Jay Mathews contest to name the high-flying schools in David Whitman's book has come to a close. The winner?
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Education Secretary Watch: Who will lead 400 Maryland Avenue?
I just got off the phone with a reporter wanting names of the primary contenders for the Secretary of Education spot if either Barack Obama or John McCain wins in November. Here are my thoughts: John McCain
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A genuine appeal
It's often the case that this blog inspires the most audience participation (via comments) on issues directly relative to teachers.
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No excuses schools and brussel sprouts
Liam takes to the pages of the Washington Times to explain why paying children cash to behave in school is nothing more than bribery. In a vegetable inspired analogy, he explains:
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In this week's Gadfly
This week's Gadfly is up. In the editorial slot, on this day of reflection, we present excerpts from our 2003 report, Terrorists, Despots, and Democracy: What Our Children Need to Know. You'll find offerings from Richard Rodriguez and William J.
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More bad news for Ed in '08
Remember when Ed in '08 hired Kanye West to say that education needs to be a top priority?
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A slight convergence
Near Dayton on Tuesday, Senator Barack Obama spoke at some length about public schools and his plans to improve them. Amongst his dozen or so proposals for new federal programs and initiatives, he inserted a call to double funding for charter schools. "Charter schools that are successful will get the support they need to grow; charters that aren't will get shut down," he said.
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Perusing the platforms
Got the post-convention blues? Miss the fiery speeches, carefully chosen interlude music, and confetti? The Democratic and Republican education platforms are no spit-licked cowlick, sure, but reading them may nonetheless help ease your angst. Or your insomnia.
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The Annenberg files
Barack Obama has long nurtured an interest in education, reports Sam Dillon in Wednesday's New York Times. Much of it grew out of his work with school-reform personalities (including the infamous Bill Ayers) and efforts in the Windy City.
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Downward slide Down Under
A cautionary tale emerges from Australia for those who, like many of Gadfly's best friends, favor national standards and curricula. It seems that a former Communist Party member has been appointed to oversee development of a history lesson plan for the entire nation.
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Reflections on 9/11
On this day of reflection we're reminded of the importance of educating American students about their great country and the threats to it.
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School Vouchers and Student Achievement: Recent Evidence, Remaining Questions
Cecilia Rouse and Lisa BarrowAugust 2008
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More damage for a damaged brand
"No Child Left Behind Award-Winning Teacher Arrested on Allegations of Student Sex Abuse"
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Eager to learn?
"Indiana girl clocked at 118 m.p.h. held on DUI" She allegedly told cops she was late for school.
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Howard Fuller and Harriet Tubman vs. Rick Hess and Sol Stern
I'm in Scottsdale, Arizona today (projected high: 99 degrees) for an education reform summit hosted by the State Policy Network, the Alliance for School Choice, and the Friedman Foundation.
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Piling on
The Heritage Foundation's Dan Lips writes today, on National Review Online (where "Education Week" continues), more about the Republican eschewal of No Child Left Behind.
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Carrots come in different colors
Greg Forster thinks (at least I think he thinks) that the difference between rewards and bribes is purely semantic. But semantic distinctions are born to relate and describe real distinctions and degrees, no? Otherwise, we'd have but one word (briwards, maybe) for the concept in question.
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On the trail
Checker goes in search of those elusive words, No Child Left Behind, and returns empty-handed.