- What’s the biggest education news story going in Ohio this week? Hmmm… Let me see… Oh yes, here it is: the completely unfathomable and largely-abominable recommendations released this week by the state’s graduation requirement review committee. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/30/17) The D does a pretty good job of explaining the deets in its piece so there’s very little reason (VERY little) for me to enumerate further here. But I feel like this scheme is going to need a tagline or a hook in order to sell it to the public. Personally, I like “No test scores, no problem.” But perhaps the headline on this DDN piece would work too: “Ohio students should graduate without passing state tests”. Succinct. (Dayton Daily News, 3/29/17) However, I could be wrong about the need to work at all to sell these changes. The superintendent of Springfield City Schools is already on the bandwagon. (Dayton Daily News, 3/31/17) And when Fordham’s own Chad Aldis is one of only two voices out in opposition to the plan, perhaps this bill of goods is already signed, sealed, and delivered. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/31/17)
- OK. Anything else going on in education news? Here’s one: More Ohio-produced food is finding its way to lunch trays in Columbus City Schools, including my old elementary. A field trip to the apple orchard has been an annual mainstay for Columbus-area schools since I attended Liberty Elementary. Why did it take 40 years for district officials to realize the apples could come to them? A rule change allowing “non-consistent” size and type of apples did the trick. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that scintillating debate. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/30/17)
