Boost public schools, not charters

Evaluating teachers based on student performance is 'punitive measure that demoralizes teachers'

Today, I opened a new site, …

A Maryland High School Revamps Professional Time

In this article in Principal Leadership, Maryland assistant principal Jared Wastler contrasts the dreary state of many schools’ staff meetings (announcements, policies, superficial presentations, more announcements) with Todd Whitaker’s and Annette Breaux’s aspirational statement (2013): “One of the most important goals of every faculty meeting should be for all teachers to walk out more excited…

In my part of Virginia, the media and all the powers-that-be pushed Common Core aggressively, from the very start, five years ago. 

Typically, I'm a contrarian intellectual and it happened again in this case. The more I studied this thing, the more  I thought, this will be a disaster.

I think it will be a disaster at the same level as ObamaCare and for many of the same reasons: elements in the government trying to grab too much, too fast, for all…

 Here is a week-long retreat for writers.  Hone your craft in the Poconos under the tutelage of some of the most accomplished professionals in…

Oh no, more on-sight-words. I'm always trying to figure out a way to explain this thing in 100 words or less. But it's not so easy. Our Education Establishment could not keep this hoax going for 75 years if it was easy to explain. See PS.

Here's my most recent shot, on American Thinker, titled "The most obvious conspiracy in the history of the world." As is usually the case on American Thinker, the article has a lot of smart comments, from a great range of…

There is a distinct  energy and feel to New York City when spring begins to peek its head out from a long winter. Streets come alive; people move freely, unencumbered by the weightiness of winter; smiles abound. March 22, 2014, was one of those magical days in the city. Not only did spring tip its hat to greet the day but eager anticipation filled the streets around 120th Street and Broadway. It was a day to…

Sunday, March 23, 2014

We have negotiated boundaries around observation and evaluation. We have laws and mandates we must follow. It is time for them to change. Maybe there can be some kind of shift, even within existing boundaries, that can allow for newer and richer and more worthwhile processes to emerge. Read more...