Downeast Schoolhouse » new ideas

Writing on the Wall?

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:00:11 +0000

The past few years have seen an absolute change in the correlation of forces. It used to be that a few policy wonks would write essays assailing union rules that protected mediocre teachers; these pronouncements were greeted with skepticism in the media and produced no political movement. Now powerful political players, most notably President Obama, [...]

Do You Suppose It’ll Work for Teenagers?

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:00:25 +0000

Who Knew? The Shadow Knew!

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:46:59 +0000

Dozens of public high schools in eight states will introduce a program next year allowing 10th graders who pass a battery of tests to get a diploma two years early and immediately enroll in community college.

Students who pass but aspire to attend a selective college may continue with college preparatory courses in their junior [...]

Be True to Your School (dateline: Washington)

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:00:43 +0000

You just know that this is going to make some people — younger people and older people — unhappy.

We really can’t have people just working without being paid!

The thought of her students taking to the road to get to school prompted Karen Kenna, principal of Cardinal Forest Elementary in Springfield, to issue a [...]

The Social Uses of Guilt

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:00:47 +0000

A recent study shows that very young children have a more developed moral calculus than we’ve perhaps previously thought. It came to our attention through a recent report in the New York Times (and its follow-ups).

Young children used to be seen as oblivious to the world of values and rules, and as focused entirely [...]

Friday Grab-Bag!

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:00:25 +0000

Justice Souter’s ‘Safe Place’, Washington Post, May 25, 2009 The retiring justice embarks on a civics education project.

The justice went on to lament how many Americans today do not grow up understanding even the most basic truths about U.S. democracy — that there are three branches of government, for example. This ignorance, he said, [...]

The Merit Wars

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:32 +0000

In his latest Report Card post, Matthew Stone points out that the party lines on merit pay, at least within the State of Maine. have shifted; no longer is it righties for, lefties against. Now that Obama has proposed merit pay, Dems and some of their allies are more favorably inclined. Stone sees little opposition [...]

“We are going to be moving people out who are not performing”

admin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:00:41 +0000

The whip comes down:

Michelle Rhee, education chancellor of the District of Columbia — in charge of the worst performing public school system in the nation — has laid down the gauntlet before the Washington Teachers Union (WTU), declaring that she will unilaterally impose a new teacher evaluation system that will result in widespread dismissals [...]

Recess!

admin — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:00:11 +0000

As a break from our usual routine – a post a day, education, legislature, blah, blah — why don’t you treat yourself to a visit to our Au Courant page. The link is up above, or you can click here. Photos there link to explanatory articles.

“redefine the concept of high school”

admin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:05:39 +0000

Big announcement:

Maine will collaborate with New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont to redefine the concept of high school, while sharing ideas for boosting high school graduation rates and enrolling more students in college.

A $1 million grant from the Nellie Mae Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will bankroll the effort.

Ho [...]

“Abolish all local school districts”

admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:00:44 +0000

Lou Gerstner (IBM) is making some radical proposals.

Here’s the short version:

- Abolish all local school districts, save 70 (50 states; 20 largest cities).

- Establish a set of national standards for a core curriculum.

- Establish a National Skills Day on which every third, sixth, ninth and 12th-grader would be tested against the [...]

Teachers Call for Change! Folding Money Too!

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:00:31 +0000

The head of a national teachers union — the other one, the AFT (American Federation of Teachers) — gave a significant speech the other day. The aspect of her speech that got the most attention (NYTimes article, HuffPo post) was a new receptiveness to merit pay for teachers and a willingness to discuss the future [...]

“No One Rises to Low Expectations”

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:49:50 +0000

In a forthcoming issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription only, unfortunately), the principal news publication for higher education, Kevin Carey draws attention to a study from CCSSE (Community College Survey of Student Engagement) which, at first look, might appear counterintuitive.

Here’s the gist of it:

Among other things, the survey asks students about [...]

What School Reform Might Look Like

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:36 +0000

She didn’t come up in the usual way. She’s not necessarily a very nice person.

She’s the chancellor of the District of Columbia schools.

She wants power, the power to fire principals, teachers, and anyone who stands — in her judgment — between public school students and success.

Michelle Rhee charged in as chancellor of [...]

Wow! We Gotta Get Outta This Place!

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:00:21 +0000

If it’s the last thing we ever do! You remember the song.

Now New Hampshire is doing something about it. It’s the logical step in an outcomes-based approach, after all.

High school sophomores should be ready for college by age 16. That’s the message from New Hampshire education officials, who announced plans Oct. 30 for [...]