Blog

(Not enough skilled workers for available jobs). Is this sad or what? Whither vocational/technical programs when we need them? They have been abandoned in favor of having everyone go to college. Does this make sense to you?

(Grouping students by achievement, not age). Just as we were fretting about the failure label we slap on students, a district in Kansas has come up with a better way--group students by their achievement, not age. Thus, students can continue to work on what they need--whether they are behind or ahead of their age peers. Let's hope this works well. First reports look positive. What a country! We always create anew. Happy 4th of July indeed!

(Judge in Texas rules for honest grades, not automatic grade of 50). Thank the judge in Texas for bringing back honest grades. When did that become controversial? It should not be. Grades should reflect student work, results, effort, etc. Instead, the policy struck down by the judge gave an automatic score of no less than a 50 to students--so they would not drop out of school???? Where is the credible research to support that policy? I have not seen it. The way to prevent dropouts is to [...]

Sign of progress on the way to focusing resources on good teaching in our classrooms? Let us hope. ('Rubber room' last day)

(Many students are # 1 as many get honor of 'valedictorian'). An interesting article in today's New York Times. We knew this had to come. First came grade inflation. Then came plackards and trophies for everyone in soccer and volleyball and (you get the picture). Now we have not just one or two, but many, many valedictorians at our high school graduations? Competition is hard. And yes, some get hurt and have feelings ruffled. But, tough competition is reality. Our nation is in the throws [...]

Interesting article in the Boston Globe--connecting General McChrystal and the French soccer mutiny. In both cases, the players stepped outside their proper role--questioning authority in a way that society rejects. Well, of course this story brings me back right to our schools. Ask: how can teachers teach when students question their authority to do so(with the threat of a lawsuit; you can't touch me. I'll call my lawyer, etc. etc.) when they try to bring order into the classroom, provide [...]

(Educating severely disabled students) I found this story interesting on many levels. How do we best educate these students? What programs and approaches work? No research was cited for the various approaches used at the one New York City school. It's certainly challenging. But I also found the numbers revealing.... The numbers of students with severe disabilities is, nationwide, estimated at 123,000. The numbers of students with disabilities is estimated at 6.5 million. Fewer than 2% [...]

We knew this was coming... It's been a sad tale for years. I believe there are reason for timing tests and that test makers need to articulate them. Yet, the College Board and the ACT refused to do so back in 2002 when threatened with a lawsuit. The mere threat led them to create the accommodations policy of no longer flagging tests that are taken with extended time--that is, tests that are not normed. And, thereby, they threw away the reasons for timing. Hey, if there's no reason to time [...]

Why public speaking helps convey the message and empower teachers! (Miriam on public speaking)

(dumbing down tests) Say it ain't so.