Do We Have a Problem Here?

I think we do.  From this post at Carpe Diem. Links to Federal DOE data from the post.

But I’ll ask a somewhat different question.  What does this mean about how boys function — and how they’re treated — in K-12 schools?

Tell Ol’ Bill

Bill Gates does a lot of good work these days, so much that one can almost forgive him for Vista, and ME, and…

But let’s not be distracted. His philanthropy is not only a genuine benefit to millions across the world, but as well sets a wonderful example to the hard-working and the fortunate, in stark [...]

Announcement Today! High School Hijinx!

A tip of the Downeast hat to those good folks at MDISchools.net, who are tipping us off to a big announcement today by the Governor, the Commissioner, and others.

Here’s part of the media advisory, as reproduced at MDISchools:

WHO

Governor John E. Baldacci
Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron
Ann Weisleder, Chair of the State Board of [...]

Friday Roundup: Cache Clearing

Camille Paglia is always an interesting read, even when she’s way out there, IMO. In the run-up to the election she was an Obama supporter and strongly supportive of Sarah Palin.  Here’s the opening of her latest Salon piece:

But then I gulped when Obama also pledged educational reform by putting state-of-the-art computers in every classroom. [...]

DOE Goal: “To Have a Pulse”?

An addendum to yesterday’s post about the DOE’s ambitious high school graduation rate goals:

Low Expectations: Graduation Rates

All sorts of questions about the efficacy of high schools are in the air these days.  This leads to discussions of issues like  dropout rates, graduation rates, and success (or lack thereof) at college preparation. At Downeast Schoolhouse we’re trying to pick up on these themes and bring them to your attention.

Now we are shocked [...]