This Week In Education
Written by former Senate education staffer and journalist Alexander Russo, This Week in Education was an opinion blog that covered education news, policymakers, and trends with a distinctly political edge. (For archives prior to January 2007, please click here. For posts after November 2007, please click here.) This blog is no longer being updated.
Federal
Opinion
Spellings Outlines "Way Forward" On NCLB 2.0
EdSec Spellings is giving a little speech this morning to business leaders and talking to reporters about where things go next (with Miller and McKeon expected to be there as well). She's trying to bolster the notion that NCLB's goals are achievable -- seven years is a long way off, she says, and state standards aren't that high. Making the law more flexible shouldn't dilute it too much -- or make it too complicated. Delaying reauthorization means no changes to the current law, and no increase in funding. "Grade-level learning is not too much to ask," says Spellings. And she calls out various proposals (not by name) for reducing tutoring or miraculously making most state schools adequate.
School & District Management
Opinion
Restructuring Works In Chicago...But Teachers Pay The Price
While everyone in Washington debates NCLB changes, back in the real world teachers and principals and districts are trying to figure out what to do to make things better. Check out Stephanie Banchero's three-part account in the Chicago Tribune of what happened at one Chicago school where they brought in new teachers rather than closing the school or converting it to a charter. Part 1: They needed a lifeline and found a teacher. Part 2: Teacher, kids connect, but pressure takes toll. Part 3: Sweating out final days. Some folks will like it for the storytelling, which includes vivid characters and lots of ups and downs. Others will like what it says about NCLB and school restructuring. The school does better on the annual tests than ever before, and some kids thrive, but the pressure on the teachers is tremendous, the out of school issues are never-ending, and by year's end nearly a third of the newly-arrived teachers leave.
Education
Opinion
Objectifying Teachers
In a cross between Van Halen's old video, Hot For Teacher, and the old school rap song called Baby Got Back, Carl's Junior has a somewhat offensive ad out in which two students describe the virtues of flat buns -- burger buns, of course -- while a teacher/stripper writhes on her desk. Probably not suitable for work.
Education
Opinion
Big Labor Day Roundup
Away from it all for a few days or even more these past few weeks? Me, too. To get you caught up in no time, here's a brief and highly selective guide to what you missed (not that much, actually):
Education
Opinion
Labor Day Roundup: Back To School
Tips for starting the school year rightChristian Science Monitor
Education
Opinion
The Long Last Week Before School Starts
This can be the hardest week of the year for parents and kids and educators who aren't enjoying a last week of vacation. For them, summer school and camp are over but school hasn't started yet, creating childcare woes for parents and "nothing to do" for kids. (Or, for those who live where the school year has already begun already (it seems to be creeping up every year) then there's the strange sensation of having started something while it's still summer and everyone else is on vacation.) Meanwhile, lots of teachers are stuck in professional development when they just want to get their rooms and lessons prepared. The blog will be back up and running at full tilt again next Tuesday. You can make it.
Education
Opinion
Sorry We're Closed
I'll be away again for a couple of days this week at least, but in the meantime here are some great resources to help you keep up or avoid doing any real work: Early-morning education headlines from EdNews.org here. EdWeek's daily news roundup is here.