Bad students are pushed out of New York City high schools, reports the Times. That raises test scores and graduation rates, while hiding the extent of academic problems. The official drop-out rate of 20 percent could be more like 25 to 30 percent if students sent to GED programs were included. (Overall, only […]
Archive for May, 2008
Stan Brown passed a back-to-school display while shopping with his little boy. His son asked for crayons.
The box of crayons said “24 school quality crayons.”
I have to confess that I wondered for a moment whether “school quality” should be a selling point or a disclaimer.
Perhaps “school quality” means the crayons are edible. Or […]
Arnold Kling’s school would teach free-market economics — and common sense.
Giving up on reform
A public school parent and education writer, John Branston followed Memphis’ public schools closely. For 22 years, he kept hoping the next superintendent would be the one to turn around the system. Now, he’s given up on top-down reform. He thinks charter schools are the only hope.
If you’re smart enough to get into a prestige college, you’re smart enough to succeed without college, writes William Baldwin in Forbes.
Maybe a B.A. is worth real money because it signals to employers that the job candidate is capable. If so, there ought to be some way to send this signal without blowing $160,000 on […]
Summer schlock
Classics are out as summer reading. Teachers are more likely to assign popular books by authors like Barbara Kingsolver, Dave Eggers or John Grisham. OK, I can see why Shakespeare might not be the best choice for solo summer readers, but why not tell students to enjoy Jane Eyre or Tale of […]
Learning from charters
New Democrats are willing to learn charter school lessons. Among other things, Nelson Smith touts Project for School Innovation, which shares effective teaching practices, and The Accountability Project, created by a consortium of San Diego County charter schools to gather, analyze and use data.
Candid camera in the classroom
Some British teachers think classroom webcams will solve behavior problems by letting parents see how their little angels are acting up in class.
Webcams have already been introduced in a small number of nurseries. (Simon) Smith, a teacher at Sweyne Park comprehensive in Rayleigh said the experiment should be extended throughout […]
Selling science
Science isn’t attracting girls — or boys either. This Christian Science Monitor article fumbles for a reason.
“Scientists are opinionated people,” says Michelle Thaller, an astronomer at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif. “The point is to prove the establishment wrong. And that’s the single biggest challenge facing women in science: You’re […]
Bridge to the future
Taught by high school and college students, low-income middle-schoolers prepare to succeed in high school and college. Brendan Miniter writes about Summerbridge in the Wall St. Journal.
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