October 8, 2008
Education Week, Vol. 28, Issue 07
Education
Letter to the Editor
Does Obama's Rise Negate Our 'Heritage of Racism'?
To the Editor:
The story has a familiar ring: a black father who deserts his wife and young child; a young mother who remarries and is taken thousands of miles from home and family; that same mother returning without her husband, sending her son to live with her parents.
The story has a familiar ring: a black father who deserts his wife and young child; a young mother who remarries and is taken thousands of miles from home and family; that same mother returning without her husband, sending her son to live with her parents.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Boards' First Duty Is Not Slashing School Budgets
To the Editor:
In his Commentary "Common-Sense Ways to Improve Education Without a Tax Increase” (Sept. 17, 2008), newly elected school board member Kenneth E. Hartman proceeds from the premise that because “states and the federal government are broke,” school boards should simply learn to make do with the funds they now receive. But his six suggestions for bringing about change without spending more money are, for the most part, unlikely to generate significant savings. And none promises to improve student achievement.
In his Commentary "Common-Sense Ways to Improve Education Without a Tax Increase” (Sept. 17, 2008), newly elected school board member Kenneth E. Hartman proceeds from the premise that because “states and the federal government are broke,” school boards should simply learn to make do with the funds they now receive. But his six suggestions for bringing about change without spending more money are, for the most part, unlikely to generate significant savings. And none promises to improve student achievement.
Federal
New President Hopes to Use NCATE as Reform Lever
James G. Cibulka wants to drive institutions to establish programs and practices aimed at increasing precollegiate student achievement, closing the achievement gap, recruiting a highly qualified and diverse teacher workforce, and strengthening induction and other teacher-retention strategies.
Federal
Financial-Rescue Measure Includes Provisions for Rural Schools, Facilities
The measure to ease the credit-market crisis addresses funding for rural schools with national parks as well as tax credits for school construction and for teachers’ out-of-pocket classroom purchases.
Law & Courts
Supreme Court: A Preview of the New Term
The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 6 opens a new term that will include several cases of interest to educators.
Education Funding
Network Seeks to Corner Market in South L.A. With More Charters
An operator of schools in South Los Angeles is targeting the area for expansion in a bid to revitalize the long-troubled neighborhood.
Federal
Scholars Diverge in Assessing the Intellect of ‘Digital Kids’
Has digital overload made today’s generation of students stupid or smart? Two experts debate this question in their respective new books.