February 9 Ed Week

"States Eye Curbs on Collective Bargaining by Teachers" What good timing for this article--just as teachers are protesting Wisconsin over this very thing. Pretty similar to the "pension grab" from a Feb 2 Ed Week Blog. The same players are once again trying to "steal"  from the public--this time it's "rights" that are being stolen. Once again when will we wake up to the fact that Republicans do not have the welfare of the American people in their agenda. They continue to represent the interests of the rich and corporations. They will stop at nothing to bring back the "golden age of sweat shops" that collective bargaining put an end to.

February 9 Ed Week

The "College For All Confronted" article did a good job of exposing the everybody needs to go to college myth. I think this myth has been fostered by colleges and universities to fatten their enrollments and bank accounts. Unfortunately, our colleges and universities have fallen victim to the same parasitic greed that the rest of corporate America has. Clearly, when you look at what our education costs and what we are getting for it--we are being "ripped off" in the same way we are being ripped off by our health care system. In the case of health care insurance companies play a large role. In the case of higher education it's this artificial value of the "sheep skin". The ridiculously high costs of tuition skids are being greased by the ease of student loans. "Ease" that is until it's time to start pay them off.

February 2 Ed Week

"The General's Lament" another great blog! Yeah, it really makes me sad that the generals can't find enough qualified recruits to make "canon fodder" out of. It's to bad that is their only interest in education. They should worry that kids are so well educated that they can see through the military's appeals to patriotism--so they will put their lives on the line to promote corporate and wealthy interests around the world. Then they would be like the kids of the wealthy and politicians who know better than to enlist in the military. It's funny that the very people who try to send other people's kids off to war make sure their own don't.

February 2 Ed Week

"They Are Coming for our Pensions" I enjoy some of the blogs. This one regarding the desire to steal the money states have set aside for duly earned pensions and still preserve bond holder equities through some state bankruptcy scheme is classic. Although it sounds like "conspiracy theory" it wouldn't surprise me. The Republicans have long been front men for the rich and corporate interests in this country. What always amazes me is how they can convince a the gullible public they're trying to fleece to vote for them.

January 26 Ed Week

"School Breakfasts Move From Cafeteria to Class" I think this is an example of really reaching! Classrooms are for learning not eating. I think it would be a distraction to learning to allow food into the classroom not to mention the mess it creates. I think there are more good reasons to move school starting times back and hour. It would provide time for kids to not only get more sleep but give them time to have breakfast in the cafeteria. The only reason this program is getting any interest at all, in my opinion, is because it involves a grant--which means another source of revenue. Bad idea!

January 26 Ed Week

"No-Pass, No-Drive Laws Spreading", personally, I'm in favor of this. There is no doubt that not being able to get and keep a driver's licences is going to get high schoolers attention. As far as "it may get them in the building but it doesn't mean they'll learn" goes--if grades are attached to it they will learn. Sure, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't make schools place they will want to go to but  that has to do with providing programs that will be meaningful to these kids. The kids that are dropping out and getting bad grades aren't the ones in AP classes--they're the kids that might benefit from trade and technology classes that will help them get into the work place when they graduate. Provide the courses and penalize them if they don't stay in school seems like a good "carrot and a stick".

Jan 19 Ed Week

"Teachers Feeling Chill On State Capital Front" is another article talking about how politicians are trying to devalue the work of teachers. If it wasn't for collective bargaining teachers would be making less money and have less benefits. Teachers are already making less money than most professionals that have a masters degree. And they are definitely making less money than the politicians that are trying to make teacher accept less than what they are worth. It has been proven in the past that when teaching is not valued teachers leave the profession. Most teacher can get jobs in the private sector in middle management and make more money. Yet most teachers go into the profession because they care about kids and they want to make a difference. Lack of support and appreciation make teachers want to quit teaching. Lack of income and  reduced benefits will only make things worse.

Jan 19 Ed Week

"Toward Greater, More Equitable Access To an Excellent Education" focuses on the need to continue to give our students a "liberal arts" education. The article made some good points about the art of teaching and providing "space" for learning to go on. It reminded me of the book by Parker Palmer "The Courage To Teach", which I think is an excellent book about teaching and should be required reading for anyone entering the teaching profession.
I have been recently observing high school social studies classes and I've been pretty impressed by what I'm seeing--good teaching, attentive students--very encouraging!

Jan 12 Ed Week

Richard DuFour's article "Which Students Warrant Our Attention" interested me because of course it would seem that the question shouldn't have to be asked. But apparently there are administrators and teachers that are willing to sacrifice some students in order to do better on tests. That would be like doctors trying to save on the patients that had the highest probability of surviving. I like Richard's answer that "the school must focus on each and every student who demonstrates he or she is not learning." However, as he point out that might involve re-scheduling and extra effort on the students part.