Teaching & Learning Blog

Living in Dialogue

Anthony Cody spent 24 years working in Oakland schools, 18 of them as a science teacher at a high-needs middle school. A National Board-certified teacher, he now leads workshops with teachers on Project Based Learning. He is the co-founder of the Network for Public Education. With education at a crossroads, in this blog he invited you to join him in a dialogue on education reform and teaching for change and deep learning. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: education reform.

School Climate & Safety Opinion John Thompson: Fear, Teen Stress and High Stakes Tests
It is not just in urban schools where reformers have tried to combat the stress of poverty by dumping the stress of high-stakes testing on teens. It is not just in the inner city that the values necessary for living a happy, healthy, and rewarding life have been subordinated to a competition
Anthony Cody, February 24, 2014
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5 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Union Election in Los Angeles: Meet Candidate Caputo-Pearl
UTLA, and teacher unions generally, can be a vehicle for winning excellent learning and teaching conditions, respectful treatment of educators, and broader social justice.
Anthony Cody, February 23, 2014
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17 min read
School Choice & Charters Opinion Indiana Choice Parent Questions Vouchers for Church Steeples
This voucher system will not only damage the public schools, it will also damage the religious schools. too. The public policy makers are trying to reduce their bottom line, the church is trying to reduce its bottom line.
Anthony Cody, February 22, 2014
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8 min read
Families & the Community Opinion Union Election in Los Angeles: Candidate Mottus
With so much at stake this year, we asked the candidates running for president of UTLA to answer the same 10 questions. Today we continue with candidate Kevin Mottus.
Anthony Cody, February 22, 2014
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18 min read
Families & the Community Opinion Union Election in Los Angeles: Meet Candidate Solkovits
With so much at stake this year, we asked the candidates running for president of UTLA to answer the same questions. We kick off the series with Gregg Solkovits.
Anthony Cody, February 21, 2014
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9 min read
School Choice & Charters Opinion Indiana Vouchers Will Help Fix Church Steeples
Vouchers approved in the state of Indiana are prompting creative bookkeeping on the part of Catholic school leaders, with a significant boon to the churches that run them.
Anthony Cody, February 20, 2014
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6 min read
School Climate & Safety Opinion Coalition Launches Testing Resistance & Reform Spring
Yesterday, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich posted this message on his Facebook page: We're turning our schools into test-taking factories. We're teaching children how to take standardized tests rather than how to think.
Anthony Cody, February 20, 2014
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3 min read
Families & the Community Opinion Student Body President in Exile Continues to Request Her Return
Maia Wu, the Southern California middle school student and 8th grade class president given the boot by her school district for her outspokenness, continues to press for her reinstatement.
Anthony Cody, February 19, 2014
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1 min read
Curriculum Opinion Paul Horton: Will Liberal Arts be Saved by the Common Core?
Not much here for those who are seeing their courses and jobs cut. There seems to be a central message here: follow the Common Core like the yellow-brick road or there might not be any funding for the humanities.
Anthony Cody, February 19, 2014
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9 min read
Ed-Tech Policy Opinion Bill Gates, On the Record
I am less interested in the praise that he will heap on the accomplished educators in the room than in what he has said and done in the past, when speaking to altogether different audiences. So like Marley's ghost on Christmas eve, I want to take us on a bit of a tour of the echoes of Gates' past
Anthony Cody, February 18, 2014
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6 min read
Ed-Tech Policy Opinion Is Gates Money Going to Influence the National Board?
The Gates agenda is clear, so if you are looking to fund a non-profit or "research" organization, you know what you need to say and do in order to qualify for funding.
Anthony Cody, February 16, 2014
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6 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Laurel M. Sturt: Time for Teachers to Stand Up to Professional Bullies
Teachers, bullied to conform their instruction to the authorized perspective, are forced to teach against their own judgment, even enduring the insulting constraint of scripted lessons to be recited exactly, or risk being bullied by administrators who threaten their jobs.
Anthony Cody, February 15, 2014
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6 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion John Thompson: Vergara Show Trial Highlights Gates Foundation Snake Oil
Vergara is a tragic distraction from the real problems facing our high-challenge schools, as well as the real reasons why it is difficult to staff high-poverty schools.
Anthony Cody, February 13, 2014
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5 min read
Ed-Tech Policy Opinion Paul Horton: Charter School Design: The New Streamlining
In the new age of the neo-liberal "futurama," charters schools are designed like "rocketships." Those who want to be saved in a society that combines multicultural meritocracy with social Darwinism and assimilated upper class aspirational hygiene will jump on board and learn the culture of data-driven success.
Anthony Cody, February 12, 2014
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8 min read
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