The issue of college for all has been off the table for too long. The assumption, or course was, that the answer what YES, everyone should go to college.

Well now, finally, that good question is up for grabs. There are LOTS of good reasons for success minded high school graduates NOT to go to college. Read on!
(Questioning the assumption that everyone should go to college)

We all talk about getting out of our silos–everyone doing his/her own thing in public schools. Instead, we talk about joining forces–among all the various professions and experts.

Well, here’s a hotel that did this literally. 36 silos were brought together and created a beautiful luxury hotel in Akron Ohio. I have not seen it yet, but hope to before too long.

(36 silos pulled together to form luxury hotel in Akron Ohio!)

Let’s join forces in public schools–teachers, administrators, parents, students, and others–to improve teaching and learning and create a luxury public education system!

(Education research gets an F).

Say it ain’t so! Especially in this era of ‘research-based education.’ The No Child Left Behind Act is based on r-b education. Sad, sad, sad…. and I will add to this report card the need for research in how we do special education. Do all the rules and regulations lead to better outcomes for kids? Where is the data?

You’ve got to be kidding me. But no, students in a U.S. school were told to go home because they had t-shirts on with an American flag on cinco de mayo. As an immigrant, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/06/california-students-sent-home-wearing-flags-cinco-mayo/>(Students told to go home for wearing American flag t-shirts to school)

As an immigrant,I am truly scratching my head. Where did commonsense go? Since when can’t kids wear American flag t-shirts? Since when did free speech evaporate?

Within 48 hours, of course, cooler heads prevailed and the assistant principal’s order was voided by the school superintendent. But the lesson was learned–educators took their eye off common sense, education, the public good, and other realities that should be front and center for our schools Case closed, we hope.

The bigger picture is that this is but another example of our education leaders not their eye on the prize, not focused on the goal of teaching and learning, taking sides among student groups, etc. The goal should be education. Where did that go?

And, of course, this brings me back to special education and how it is broken. Why? Because, here too, we have lost sight of the goal–teaching and learning for all students. Instead, we saddle schools with rules, regulations, lawsuits, fear, lack of trust, etc.–that truly have nothing to do with teaching and learning. And we get further from the goal that would serve us all.

Let’s hope the t-shirts can lead the way back to common sense.

(Virtual schools coming to Greenfield Massachusetts)

You gotta love the marketplace and love American innovation! If there’s a problem, someone will come along and fix it. If schools don’t or won’t or can’t or whatever.. meet the needs of students,then go out and create a system that might meet the needs of different students. Thus we try charters, ‘choice,’ vouchers, private, home, special ed, GED, early college, drop out prevention, gifted and talented, tutoring, and lots of other options. Many options. The schools, called ‘brick and mortar’ with all the issues they have….are no longer the only way to go. And here’s the latest. Attend school on line! Wow. Who would have thought that this is where the push to neighborhood and universal schools would take us…

Of course, we don’t know how far this innovation will or can go. But we do know that schools are not meeting the needs of all students and that something(s) have to change…. So, good luck!

(E.D. Hirsch’s review of Diane Ravitch’s book)

Bullied teachers? How common is this? So sad. Bullying can be torture. Here it was.

A sad tale from the UK. (Sad tale of bullied teachers)

And no standing ovation at the play? Or an evening of appreciation at the community action efforts. I do not buy it.

Should high schools stop honoring students with awards at graduation? We knew this was coming–everyone is the same and no one should be compared to others….. Well, OK, then, no honors for football, band participation, being the star in the school play, tutoring children in local schools, doing environmental cleanup. Etc. We are all the same. I do not agree.

There is a time and place for various activities and for demonstrating appreciation for them by the greater community. Graduation is the time to honor academic achievement and partipation in the life of the school.

The story apparently started with a parent whose child’s name on the list of high school graduates was between two students who had icons next to their names for specific honors–one the valedictorian and one headed to an Ivy League college. Her child just had the name on the list. Therefore, we are asked to stop schools from honoring student achievement at the highest levels. We are asked to just honor all students for getting through high school. I disagree. Since when do we want to change policies based on comparing one student with another? Since when do we want to limit achievement to the lowest common denominatory? Since when do we want to create a false sense of comfort and ‘self esteem?’ Since when do we want to pretend that competition does not exist in our world? What is helplful about that? I don’t get it.

Check out the article for yourself.

(No honors at graduation?)

Here’s a brave principal in New Jersey… story on CBS News and picked up by Joanne Jacobs at www.joannejacobs.com.
http://wcbstv.com/technology/facebook.social.networking.2.1662565.html#addComments.>(School principal asks parents to shut down social network sites for middleschoolers).

We know that parents need to flex more muscle so students can focus on learning, not the damage caused by social networking. So, it is inspiring to read about a middle school principal who urges them to do just that. His email to families is gutsy. Let’s wish them all success in reorienting students to real world (here and now) socializing and real learning in school.

I’m doing an informal piece about the buzz word of the day, trust. Everyday in our papers and on the radio and the web, we see stories about the lack of trust in one arena or another.

Consider:

Teachers, unions and districts don’t trust each other.

People’s trust in the media is at a low level.
(trust in media at low level) “Trust is the Number 1 thing we are thinking about,” says a Vice President and a senior editor at CNN. This story was also reported on Vermont Public Radio (Lack of trust in media)

People don’t trust the government.

Parents and districts in special education disputes lack trust.

In President Reagan’s day, it was “Trust but verify.” Now, we seem to be onto “Can’t trust, so fight.” Our nation cannot stay on this course–it is dangerous, divisive, and totally unproductive. What shall we do?

My dear readers, if you have other examples or solutions, please send them along.

In my univere, I am working to promote ‘trust based special education.’ Your thoughts?