I’ll be speaking at the MASS conference (Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents) in Mashpee! Topic: Fixing Special Education and its Ethical Dilemmas.

Come join us!

(Teaching jobs in special education, but not other fields).

I read this article with great sadness. The trend is leading education in the wrong direction. The way to improve special education is to improve regular education. We need to add more teachers–especially at the early grades to teach students how to read and do math (and never need special education.) Sadly, however, this is not happening. The trend is not a good sign.

We cannot continue to grow the special education entitlement program and expect improved results for all students. This trend creates a sad day for the Commonwealth and for our country. We need to do better.

( AFT now has more than a million and a half members).

More union members? Better education? You decide.

(Diane Ravitch’s education ideas in historic context).

Is it, as the French say, “Plus la change, plus la meme chose”? That is, the more things change the more they stay the same.

We have worked on education reform for the better part of the 20th, and now,
the 21st century. Ravitch envisions the worst case scenario: higher test scores and worse education. Since the early 1900’s, have we made progress? Where do we go from here?

As I said, a good Sunday read.

(Study: too much self esteem in teens).

We saw this coming. The self esteem movement has run its course, I hope. The best book I’ve found on these issues is Carol Dweck’s Mindset. There are two types of mind sets: fixed mindset (which gets praised for being smart, pretty, athletic, etc) and growt mindset (which gets praised for effort, working hard, trying, succeeding, etc). Too much praise in high schools comes from the fixed mindset, so that when kids in college actually get a ‘C’, as in this story, they are insulted! I believe it’s time fo us to push the growth mindset. Thank you, Carol Dweck for that clear distinction!

What is your favorite book or program on this issue?

(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 have excellent teaching and learning, with support from the home. That is basic. It should not be controversial.

Apparently it was in Texas. Thank the judge for ending that policy.