StickWithANose

It’s hard to discern the validity of the “research” being referenced in this article, but the approach to literacy education it details points toward some pretty sound pedagogy. Using a thematic approach allows for a flexibility in curriculum development that helps to keep students engaged and interested in learning, and [despite the stupidity of the [...]

In 1992, Ohio became the first state to adopt publicly funded private education and currently holds the dubious distinction of having the largest number of charter schools in operation. Therefore, it is notable that Ohio’s Gov. Ted Strickland is now leading the charge to reign in the madness of turning over public education to private [...]

Texas has long been at the forefront of implementing tough accountability measures for students and schools, and the results have been disastrous. However, as with all things related to school reform in the US, empirical realities have done nothing to slow the march toward the thorough corporatization of public schooling. This past week Gov. Rick [...]

As many a good Tennessean has said before me: Gone To Texas!
The Stick Institute will return on the 29th! Happy Summer Solstice!

Democrats in Tennessee’s House of Representatives caved on a bill allowing for an expansion in the number of charter schools in the state. Since the party has pretty much adopted Republican education policies at the national level, this isn’t exactly surprising. What is perhaps the most troubling about the whole affair is that it isn’t [...]

From Herbert Kohl: Schools Matter
Summer 2009
From Herbert Kohl
Dear Arne Duncan,
In a recent interview with NEA Today you said of my book *36 Children,* “I read [it] in high school … [and] … wrote about his book in one of my college essays, and I talked about the tremendous hope that I feel [and] the challenges [...]

Quote of the day: Education & Class
[P]olicy makers still believe that we need only admonish teachers to work harder if these children of parents who have lost their second and third jobs, whose lives outside of school are marked by fear and stress,  are not to be left behind.

For today’s post I will simply offer you a quote from economist Andy Xie and follow it up with some reading assignments offering a different perspective on the global economy. From the Big Picture:
While rational expectation is returning to part of the investment community, most are still trapped in institutional weaknesses that make them behave [...]

This NBC piece covering Arne Duncan’s “listening” tour of think-tank conferences and charter schools demonstrates the conflation of two educational concepts that have no necessary relation, except in a practical sense. Ostensibly, the article is about Arne’s use of his stimulus bribe money to push states to adopt a national set of tough academic standards, [...]

I’m having trouble embedding video… to my surprise. Here’s the link. [argh!]