Guest Posts

Why Graduate Profiles Feel Wrong

Posted by Aaron Eden ⋅ April 10, 2015 ⋅ 1 Comment

(Originally posted on the Edunautics blog) Let’s face it. Every school’s graduate profile sounds the same these days. “Lifelong learner” “Global citizen” “Able and willing to make a difference” Etc. You know the drill. All worthy aspirations for our students, and for what we want to help them become. All schools engage in conversations about … Continue reading →

To Give Students an Education, Give Them a Voice (Guest Post by Daniel Kao)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ May 22, 2013 ⋅ 5 Comments

The role of a teacher is evolving. As industries, technologies, and the needs in the world change, so does our approach to preparing the next generation for their lives ahead of them. In the past, teachers presented information in an organized and systematic manner in order to distribute valuable information to students. Schools were the … Continue reading →

Letters to Michelle Obama (Guest Post by Christopher Chase)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ April 2, 2013 ⋅ Leave a comment

If you’re a teacher, student or parent with children in American public schools then you probably have some first hand knowledge of the problems that have been caused by well-meaning but inflexible “No child left behind” policies and the new emphasis on “one-size-fits-all” common core standards. It’s not that all aspects of these initiatives are … Continue reading →

Changing Education (Guest Post by Youth Leader Arooj Ahmad)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ March 24, 2013 ⋅ 3 Comments

The need for a change in education is evident. But what’s the practical solution? It is easy to point out the flaws of the current system, but it is much more difficult to come up with relevant, applicable solutions. And it is even more difficult for policy makers to bring about change. But it has … Continue reading →

Youth Voices in Afterschool Programs (Guest Post by Greg Williamson)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ February 7, 2013 ⋅ 2 Comments

For many years, I have worked to engage young people in the many decisions that affect them in school and outside of it. I hear many people in education talk about supporting “youth voice” or student centered education. Yet is education student centered if student are not given a voice in creating it? I believe … Continue reading →

Are You Going to College? (Guest Post by Idzie Desmarais)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ January 19, 2013 ⋅ 10 Comments

I’ve been asked some variation on “are you going to college?” more times than I can count, and I don’t generally give a more elaborate answer than “no.” Occasionally, when pressed, I say that what I want to be doing (cooking!) doesn’t require a degree. Or that I’m doing more interesting things (to me) than … Continue reading →

Why Not Teach For America

Posted by robinclane ⋅ December 13, 2012 ⋅ 9 Comments

Well, it’s about that time of year — when seniors start frantically applying for fellowships and internships and jobs, the socially conscious among them aching for a career that will allow them to change the world, others looking for something they can put on their application for law school. Then comes along the recruiting powerhouse … Continue reading →

Learning to Think and Question (By Student Christian Isaac)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ December 4, 2012 ⋅ 7 Comments

The way we chastise or praise students at schools today is two laughs beyond hysterical. We’ve been raised to think that the most intelligent students are the ones who turn in their homework on time and fill in all the blanks on their notes. Society has gone so far, and has been so emaciated by … Continue reading →

Grades Limit My Learning

Posted by Justin Strudler ⋅ November 27, 2012 ⋅ 27 Comments

Originally posted as a guest post. Justin is a member of the Cooperative Catalyst We all stress ourselves out to memorize the formulas. We all have had that cram night before the final. We all BS homework at the last second so as not to “get a zero”. We all use Spark Notes. We all … Continue reading →

“Bullying Is Student Voice” (Guest Post by Adam Fletcher)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ August 19, 2012 ⋅ 8 Comments

In a lot of educators’ minds, “student voice” only happens when adults direct learners to share their thoughts in ways that are acceptable in schools. Whether embedded in the curriculum, listened to through adult-led student forums, or guided in carefully moderated websites, student voice is often painted as the cuddly, friendly, and convenient precursor to … Continue reading →

Spelling Being (Guest Post by cian saywer)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ July 22, 2012 ⋅ 8 Comments

A couple of months ago, a very reluctant participant in the school spelling bee – my daughter Lauryn – went on stage and spelled for 26 rounds. After about eight rounds, it was between her and one other person. Every time she stepped up to the microphone and the word was given to her – … Continue reading →

My Vision for Urban Education (Guest Post by Mark Naison)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ July 21, 2012 ⋅ 9 Comments

I am extremely critical of current trends in education policy which involve deluging schools with standardized tests and rating teachers, administrators and whole institutions based on test result. Such policies result in school disengagement on the part of students, destroy teacher morale, and magnify health problems in poor and working class communities by crowding out … Continue reading →

The Relationship Between Poverty and Educational Opportunities (Guest Post by Alejandrina Franco)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ July 20, 2012 ⋅ 19 Comments

“The only way out of poverty is through a great education.” This is what my parents told me throughout my life. My mother only went to school as far as 6th grade. My father went as far as 8th grade. Both had to stop going to school in order to help their families. Like most … Continue reading →

The Depth of a Simple Solution (Guest Post by Bryant Muldrew)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ July 20, 2012 ⋅ 1 Comment

In my work with the Baltimore Algebra Project (BAP), I and my peers waged a dramatic struggle against the State of Maryland, Baltimore City, and the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS). The state of Maryland was (and still is) systematically underfunding the BCPSS. I discuss this in detail in the Case for the National … Continue reading →

Teaching in the Dark Times of Corp Edu-Reform (Guest Post by G. A. Steele)

Posted by dloitz ⋅ July 14, 2012 ⋅ 1 Comment

(First written September of 2011 updated and revised June 2012) Long, long ago, before the dark times of the federal education takeover, first with NCLB law during the reign of Bush II, which was soon followed by the bait-and-switch corporate edu-reform days of RTTT during the reign of Obama, teachers had the freedom to … Continue reading →