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 This blog is no longer being updated.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 Teacher Shortage Is Misunderstood
The shortage of teachers is acute only in certain subject areas and in schools with low-income and minority students.
Walt Gardner, September 6, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Playing Hooky With One's Children
What constitutes educational value in a trip is largely a matter of professional judgment.
Walt Gardner, September 4, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion 'Mandated Reporter' Law Lacks Common Sense
It's time to let teachers use common sense and professional judgment in determining what to report to authorities.
Walt Gardner, September 1, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Educational Technology Has Limitations
Deep and lasting learning can best come from the relationship between teachers and their students.
Walt Gardner, August 30, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion School Sports Spending Is Out of Control
Only the U.S. places such great emphasis on athletics over academics.
Walt Gardner, August 28, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Bad Teachers or Bad Principals?
Teachers placed in pools because of charges of incompetence or misconduct deserve speedy due process.
Walt Gardner, August 25, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Homeless Students Burden Schools
Homelessness is traumatic for children and challenging for teachers.
Walt Gardner, August 23, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Course Objectives Help Students Learn
Studying for tests can be made less stressful and more productive if teachers give their students a list of the objectives for the material taught.
Walt Gardner, August 21, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Teachers' Mental Health Warrants Attention
Teachers should not feel guilty taking a day off for their mental health.
Walt Gardner, August 18, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Gold-Plated Teachers' Pensions
If teachers have it so good, then why don't critics become teachers?
Walt Gardner, August 16, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Making Schools Safer Is Harder Than it Seems
Teachers can no longer act in loco parentis in addressing safety issues.
Walt Gardner, August 14, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion How to Devalue a College Degree
Allowing students to receive a four-year degree when they can't pass remedial exams is academic fraud.
Walt Gardner, August 11, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Can Writing Be Taught?
The best way to learn how to write effectively is to read extensively.
Walt Gardner, August 9, 2017
•
1 min read
Education Opinion Teaching Students to Be Victims
Learning that life is not fair is no reason to teach young people that they are victims.
Walt Gardner, August 7, 2017
•
1 min read
Load More ▼