teacherken

First Year Reflection from an occasional participant

Posted by teacherken ⋅ May 3, 2011 ⋅ 2 Comments

For me this is unusual – this is a piece I am writing only for this site. Normally when I post it is a cross-posting of something on education written originally for another site, perhaps Daily Kos. I probably spend too much time online already. And I write on topics other than education on a … Continue reading →

Miracle schools, vouchers and all that educational flim-flam

Posted by teacherken ⋅ April 17, 2011 ⋅ 1 Comment

is the title of this piece by Diane Ravitch. It appeared at the website of Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, as part of the “Ask This” which is subtitled “Questions the Press Should Ask.” Oh if only reporters and writers on education were knowledgeable enough about education to ask … Continue reading →

Education: two important proposals

Posted by teacherken ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ 2 Comments

Education is not listed among the enumerated powers of Article I Section 8 of the Constitution. Yet the national governments of the United States have maintained an interest in education going back to the Congress under the Articles of Confederation, which in the Land Ordinance of 1785 established that the 16th of the 36 square … Continue reading →

The Finland Phenomenon – a film about schools

Posted by teacherken ⋅ March 27, 2011 ⋅ 39 Comments

On Thursday night I saw the premiere of “The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World’s Most Surprising School System.” This is the latest film by Robert Compton, who perhaps best known for “Two Million Minutes.” Let me simply list the key takeaways from the film: 1. Finland does not have high stakes tests 2. Finland worked … Continue reading →

An incredibly important piece on teaching and education

Posted by teacherken ⋅ March 23, 2011 ⋅ 1 Comment

Sometimes one encounters something that needs no commentary from me – it is complete in itself. I want to share something like that about teaching and education. People who follow the blog Valerie Strauss runs at the Washington Post, the Answer Sheet, experienced that. Valerie often cross-posts things written elsewhere. Occasionally she posts something written … Continue reading →

I am a proud union teacher

Posted by teacherken ⋅ March 22, 2011 ⋅ 3 Comments

I stand with my unionized sisters and brothers, especially in Wisconsin, but everywhere where teachers and unions are under attack. I am the lead union representative for more than 100 teachers in my school. Today, all across the country, teachers are blogging their support for our unionized sisters and brothers in Wisconsin, and you can … Continue reading →

What’s Worth Teaching

Posted by teacherken ⋅ March 20, 2011 ⋅ 3 Comments

this is a cross-posting of a review of this book. The review original appeared at Education Review Marion Brady is a retired educator. He has taught in K-12 and at the university level. He has written columns for Knight-Ridder Newspapers and guest-blogs for the Washington Post. He has authored textbooks. He wants to change American … Continue reading →

A request for teacher bloggers on March 22

Posted by teacherken ⋅ March 19, 2011 ⋅ 1 Comment

As we all know, teachers and our unions, along with those of other public sector employees, face unprecedented attacks in the national media and from local and state governments. It is easy for politicians and the media to demonize the “unions” and their public faces; it is far more difficult to demonize the millions of … Continue reading →

The Influence of Teachers

Posted by teacherken ⋅ March 19, 2011 ⋅ 1 Comment

Teachers can never declare “Missions Accomplished,” because they are a bridge, not an endpoint, for all the boys and girls (and men and women) who come into their lives . . . . the teacher’s job is to help students build a self, to create the entity that will be constant company for life. That’s … Continue reading →

Imagine a nation with excellent schools

Posted by teacherken ⋅ December 27, 2010 ⋅ 3 Comments

also posted at Daily Kos and at Education Policy Blog Imagine that 25 years ago that nation’s schools were below international averages in math and sciences Imagine that nation had large differences between schools with affluent students versus those with poorer students Imagine that nation now has almost no difference in performance between schools with … Continue reading →

The Most Objectionable Thing About Waiting for ‘Superman’

Posted by teacherken ⋅ October 29, 2010 ⋅ 10 Comments

The Most Objectionable Thing About Waiting for ‘Superman’ is the cartoon imagery portraying teaching as peeling back the skull of a student and pouring in information. That Davis Guggenheim chose to use that imagery demonstrates to this teacher how little he actually understands about teaching. If teaching were only the transmission of information, we would … Continue reading →

This teacher reacts to seeing “Waiting for Superman”

Posted by teacherken ⋅ October 16, 2010 ⋅ 24 Comments

crossposted from Daily Kos for which it was first written Friday schools across Maryland were closed, so I went to the first show at Noon. On the way home I thought long and hard about what I would say. No matter how I parse it, my reaction has two key points. 1. Davis Guggenheim feels … Continue reading →

The problem with NBC’s Education Nation – where are the voices of parents and teachers?

Posted by teacherken ⋅ September 18, 2010 ⋅ 4 Comments

crossposted from Daily Kos Beginning Sunday, Sept. 26, NBC will be broadcasting a national “Summit” on education, which it has titled Education Nation. There will be panel discussions, an exhibit hall, and it will begin with an electronic town hall with Brian Williams, broadcast live at 12 Noon EDT (so much for people on the … Continue reading →