Leadership Blog

Walt Gardner's Reality Check

Walt Gardner taught for 28 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District and was a lecturer in the UCLA Graduate School of Education. This blog is no longer being updated.

Education Opinion Struggling Schools Are Still Struggling
Schools that are called high fliers are outliers.
Walt Gardner, July 29, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion Paying Early-Childhood Educators Fairly
Given the importance of the first few years in a child's life, the disparity in pay between teachers in the field is disturbing.
Walt Gardner, July 27, 2016
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2 min read
Education Opinion Vocational Education Deserves Respect
It's time to grant vocational education the respect it deserves.
Walt Gardner, July 25, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion How to Score High on the SAT Essay
Eliminate the essay portion on the SAT or hire professional scorers who are allowed to use their individual judgment.
Walt Gardner, July 22, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion Migrant Students Pose Daunting Challenge
The truth is that public schools have never done a particularly good job educating students new to these shores.
Walt Gardner, July 20, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion Teacher Recruitment Outlook Is Bleak
Higher salaries alone will not solve the teacher shortage in the long run.
Walt Gardner, July 18, 2016
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2 min read
Education Opinion Choice for Special-Needs Students
Parents of special-needs students are most deserving of the right to choose any school, provided it is certified.
Walt Gardner, July 15, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion Combating Chronic Absenteeism
Failure to solve chronic absenteeism results in a bleak future for students.
Walt Gardner, July 13, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion Still Scapegoating Teachers Unions
If teachers unions are the villain, then why don't all union-free charter schools outperform unionized public schools?
Walt Gardner, July 11, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion Grade Elimination Is Counterproductive
Graduates will quickly learn, whether in college or the workplace, that they will be evaluated in one way or another.
Walt Gardner, July 8, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion Why Teacher Evaluation Is So Difficult
So much of a teacher's effectiveness depends on the kind of students assigned.
Walt Gardner, July 6, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion How Colleges Shortchange Students
Once students were viewed as customers, no demands were too outrageous.
Walt Gardner, July 4, 2016
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Education Opinion Rising Graduation Rate Skepticism
Pre-testing can help identify what teachers have actually taught in their classes rather than what students have brought to their classes.
Walt Gardner, July 1, 2016
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1 min read
Education Opinion Break Up the School Year for Better Learning
A school year with one-week breaks distributed periodically would enhance learning.
Walt Gardner, June 29, 2016
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1 min read
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