Change

The Mixed Messages of School

Posted by Aaron Eden ⋅ August 27, 2015 ⋅ 1 Comment

Originally posted on the Edunautics blog. School to students— “Here’s the problem. Here’s how you solve it. Don’t fail. Do it, or else.” And now that you are done with school— “Please identify problems, Figure out how to solve them, Learn from your failures. Oh, and BTW, use influence—not power—to get people to do things. … Continue reading →

To Quit or Not To Quit: That is the Question

Posted by robinclane ⋅ February 24, 2014 ⋅ 3 Comments

In recent news, there has been a barrage of videos, letters, and articles from educators around the country – explaining in no uncertain terms why they are walking away from the teaching profession. Excessive testing, an administration that isn’t supportive, difficulties with classroom management, a lack of autonomy – the reasons continue and continue. These teachers have gotten much attention for their … Continue reading →

Teach for America: A Terrific Model for Expansion!

Posted by robinclane ⋅ April 14, 2013 ⋅ 4 Comments

Since Teach for America has been so successful at solving the problems of education in our country, I’m proposing we take their model and apply it to other failing systems and issues at hand. If the biggest problem in education is a lack of quality teachers, and we can provide those teachers and thus solve … Continue reading →

I’m Angry

Posted by robinclane ⋅ April 8, 2013 ⋅ 10 Comments

It’s Monday, and I’m angry. I’m angry because, after a weekend of careful planning, after differentiating an assignment for students who have mastered skills at different levels, after catching up on all of my grading, after getting my lesson plans in on time with the TEKS and the Reading Comprehension standards and the ELPS, I … 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 →

Teachers as Activists Part One: Little “p” politics

Posted by robinclane ⋅ January 29, 2013 ⋅ 3 Comments

Recently, I attend a meeting of the Austin Social Justice Teachers Inquiry Group, during which we talked about… politics. A scary word in a school. Big “P” Politics referred to ways teachers can be involved politically beyond the walls of their classroom; little “p” politics meant bringing current events and social justice into lessons and … Continue reading →

Changing School

Posted by joebower ⋅ January 11, 2013 ⋅ 5 Comments

There is an enormous gap between what we know and what we do. Let’s talk about scurvy. Between 1500-1800, it is estimated that at least two million sailors died of scurvy. In 1753 research was formally published that scurvy could be eradicated with fresh fruit such as limes and lemons, but it wasn’t until 1795 … Continue reading →

The Third Way

Posted by ffjunkie_ ⋅ October 25, 2012 ⋅ 6 Comments

“The Third Way” is a phrase sometimes used to describe a new, third alternative after two somewhat opposite alternatives are explored and found wanting or inadequate. For example, the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, founded a way of life, an eightfold path, that was a “third way” after he rejected the excesses of indulgence on the … Continue reading →

Playing with Math

Posted by Paula White ⋅ March 12, 2012 ⋅ 3 Comments

This post was first posted on my personal blog as Visualizing Math. Thanks to David Wees (who has retweeted it) and David Loitz for the push to put it here as well. I love math. Am I an expert at it? No. Do I make mistakes as I teach it? Probably–but I work hard not … Continue reading →

To train and control or to teach and learn: is there a choice?

Posted by educatedtodeath ⋅ March 4, 2012 ⋅ 4 Comments

Originally posted at educatedtodeath.com It seems that the goal of institutions is dominion over mankind. Organizations function to tame wild spirits and make them act civilly. This is not a terrible thing— people acting civilly. But, do the rulers act civilly? Not just the grand rulers, the government, corporations, etc., but the smaller rulers. Those … Continue reading →

All Hail the Rambunctious Girls – What Will Ever Come of Them?

Posted by Pernille Ripp ⋅ February 6, 2012 ⋅ 9 Comments

“Mommy, mommy help….” Thea is hiding in the house and has managed to get herself stuck. I free her and off she runs; things to do, mommy, things to do. I look at my little girl, the picture of energy, rambunctiousness, and vitality and I wonder what will school do to her? At her daycare … Continue reading →

Making It Real…and Making a Difference!

Posted by Paula White ⋅ December 24, 2011 ⋅ Leave a comment

Why did any of us go into education? I would suspect that for many of us it was all about making a difference in the world…the thought of making learning irresistible to kids and having the opportunity to change a life through inciting a love of learning certainly enticed me to the field. I’m in … Continue reading →

Cooperative Catalyst Presents: Kirsten Olson

Posted by daretheschool ⋅ November 8, 2011 ⋅ 2 Comments

Kirsten Olson is a leading writer in the U.S. describing education from a student’s point of view. Her recent book Wounded By School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up To Old School Culture(2009) was one of the ten bestselling books at Teachers College Press this past year, and was nominated for Book of the Year … Continue reading →

Cooperative Catalyst Presents: Dream School Commons

Posted by daretheschool ⋅ November 7, 2011 ⋅ 3 Comments

Jaime R. Wood is founder of Dream School Commons, a nonprofit organization with the mission of starting innovative low-cost or no-cost schools that serve populations in need. She is also the author of Living Voices: Multicultural Poetry in the Middle School Classroom (NCTE 2006). She started her teaching career working with middle school students in an alternative charter school … Continue reading →

Occupy Wall Street: The Education Edition (Part 1)

Posted by daretheschool ⋅ October 10, 2011 ⋅ 17 Comments

I am very happy to say that I spent my weekend occupying Wall Street. During this time, I had the amazing opportunity to speak with people who are not only angry, but hopeful. They are individuals who protest our country’s economic policies not out of hatred, but out of love for our country. They see … Continue reading →