Editorializing about the recent test score gains in Washington, D.C., under new schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, the Washington Times asks : Why did the city ever let Arlene Ackerman go--the last superintendent to improve so much?
"A group of Toronto researchers have compiled a body of evidence showing that bookworms have exceptionally strong people skills."
That's a fair way to describe presidential candidate Ralph Nader's opposition to No Child Left Behind, as presented in this Washington Post
That's my synopsis of this E.J. Dionne column about our current economic tribulations.
Catching up on the news out of the National Education Association conference earlier this month, I noticed that the union's "representative assembly," in its infinite wisdom, voted against accepting private school teachers and staff as members.
I'm always on the lookout for interesting education research, and Natascha (Fordham intern and fellow Wahoo) does a nice job helping me track down studies. She found this one carried out??by researchers from our favorite university.
More on yesterday's announcement that D.C. test scores are up. A Washington Post article today says that some principals are attributing their schools' successes to Michelle Rhee.
While offering advice on how Obama can defend accusations of socialist tendencies, Matt Miller expounds upon the idea of merit pay in the pages of today's Wall Street Journal. Miller writes:
Karl Priest comments on Liam's recent post: If you thing evolution is "modern science" you need a healthy dose of reality?
Some days our blog exhausts me. Not writing for it--I'm usually too busy--just reading it and thinking how I would have said something differently myself or would have bitten my tongue and said nothing at all.
Eduwonkette introduced her readers to some new blogs yesterday, including one chronicling the day-to-day life of "Mimi" the teacher. I know we've had some contentious back-and-forths about teachers on this site, but I think everyone can find some humor in this story from Mimi's site.
Recently chastened, I offer this less controversial fare:
According to New York Sun reporter Elizabeth Green, Flypaper is among two-dozen education blogs being monitored by the city ed department's new "Truth Squad," composed of press secretary David Cantor, five of his deputies, and a deputy communications director, Melody Meyer. Ms.
While we're on the topic, Checker had this to say of the New York City ed department's new Truth Squad (from the same New York Sun article):
From the Los Angeles Times: "California mandates testing every eighth-grader in algebra--ready or not"
Re Coby's post: It's worth noting that if frat houses throughout the country substitute video game beer pong for the real kind, then it stands to reason that fewer drunken antics will ensue. And why all this beer bashing, anyhow?
Re my post about a national service academy, Jonah Goldberg makes some fine, related points in the Los Angeles Times by arguing against what he calls "national service mania." His piece
That's how this Investor's Business Daily (IBD) article describes Senators Barack Obama and John McCain when it comes to education. While both senators have tried to build an independent image on other issues, on education they are staunch partisans.
Mike writes??that merit pay and charter schools are "anathema to the teachers unions." They're not at all anathema to the Democratic Party, though.
The rigorous-math crowd continues its string of victories in California with this decision to test all eighth graders in algebra.
Yes, Liam, some Democrats like charter schools and merit pay. But the base of the Democratic Party (the teachers unions) doesn't. And most politicians are careful not to alienate their core supporters. (Except on The West Wing.)
Kindergarteners urged to learn key languages WASHINGTON, DC (A.P.) -- Speaking to the National Association of Kindergarten Students (NAKS) today, presidential hopeful Barack Obama called on five-year-olds to embrace change and challenge themselves with languages from around the world. "Si se puede," said Obama. "Si se puede."
Check out the war of words happening at USAToday.com in response to its editorial (and a ridiculous
Chinese students are, overall, far more advanced in mathematics than their American peers. Which is probably why they can create Segway armies.
Great article in today's Wall Street Journal about the Catholic church vs. Catholic school unions.
We love charters. They're a great idea. But even great ideas can go wrong, and when I read this great idea gone wrong, I thought it was a joke.
Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, referred to always as "young conservatives," have written a much ballyhooed book, Grand New Party, which purports to show Republicans how they can win in November and beyond. The key, say the authors, is to appeal to Sam's Club voters--i.e., working people without college degrees.
