Not so very long ago, school districts and education leaders told us that technology in the classroom was essential to the success of our students. “An iPad on every desk” became the new “chicken in every pot” slogan, as experts tried to convince us that technology could be a panacea for the nation’s test scores. Well, they convinced us. And now some parents are working to extract their children from this technological bill of goods that we were sold. According to NBC News, parents like Julie Frumin and Emily Cherkin strongly believe that the heavy presence of technology in the classroom – particularly through Chromebooks and iPads – is harming their children, so much so that they took … [Read more...]
Private school observations
This was posted on Facebook by a teacher in private school. We are cross-posting the original. Ask these same questions in your home and see what happens. Carol silva denSosrpot4ma95ucl25 l15h5t :P7a257yMlM3751 14ua70a5i 5157mg · I teach at a $15,000/year private academy. Last Tuesday, I gave my 6th graders a simple quiz: Why is the ocean blue but water in a cup is clear? Twenty-four students. Not one of them could answer. These parents are paying for excellence. We're delivering expensive memorization. I've been in this classroom for 12 years. The parents who send their kids here are successful. They pay $15,000 a year because … [Read more...]
Teachers Unions and ‘ICE Out’ Day
This article comes to us from The American Thinker Across the country, teachers’ unions are increasingly urging educators to take public political positions -- even during the school day. This trend is deeply troubling for families who expect classrooms to remain politically neutral and focus on core school subjects such as reading, writing, and math. Encouraging political advocacy in the classroom undermines trust, erodes educational integrity and places students in the middle of ideological battles. A recent example from Minnesota shows how far this pressure can go. The Wayzata teachers’ union sent an email encouraging teachers to participate in “ICE Out Day,” a political protest … [Read more...]
Goodhart’s Law Explains Education Decay
An article from Intellectual Takeout: https://intellectualtakeout.org/2023/01/goodharts-law-education-decay/ Everywhere in education, you see incentives at work. The incentives, though, are so far removed from the actual goals of education that they produce perverse results. Goodhart’s Law is usually stated, “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.” Economics textbooks often use the allegory of a maker of nails, who receives word that his measure of success at producing nails will be based on the number of nails made. He retools his factory, adjusts his resource use, and produces as many nails as possible, even though many are too thin, or small, or bent … [Read more...]
Do lower school suspensions lead to increases in violence?
We asked Gemini the question and here is the response. Do you agree or disagree? The weight of current educational and sociological research suggests that suspensions in lower school (elementary and middle school) do not reduce violence; instead, they are strongly linked to increased aggression, future misconduct, and long-term involvement in the justice system. This phenomenon is often described as the "School-to-Prison Pipeline." Rather than acting as a deterrent, early exclusionary discipline frequently serves as a "turning point" that sets a child on a path toward further antisocial behavior. 📈 The Link Between Suspension and Violence Longitudinal studies indicate that … [Read more...]
The Secret to Making School Breaks Fun, Restful, and Surprisingly Educational
Today's article from our friend Emily at MightyMoms.. School breaks give kids time to rest while giving parents a chance to spark curiosity beyond the classroom. The challenge is keeping learning active without it feeling like homework. Blending fun activities, light structure, and opportunities like language learning helps children stay engaged and grow in ways that feel natural and enjoyable. The Gist School breaks don’t have to mean learning breaks. Use curiosity-driven activities, flexible routines, and supportive tools to keep your child’s mind active and confident while still having fun. Learning Support Strategies at a Glance Focus Area Practical … [Read more...]
How to Find Success When Going Back to School as an Adult
Today's article comes to us from Emily at Mightymom's. Education never ends. Today she talks about adults returning to school. Returning to school as an adult can be both thrilling and intimidating. Between managing work, family, and personal commitments, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. But with the right strategy, tools, and mindset, adult learners often thrive — bringing life experience, motivation, and focus that younger students may not yet have developed. Success as an adult learner comes down to preparation, time management, digital organization, and mindset. Start with clear goals, create a sustainable routine, use tech tools to stay organized, build a support system, … [Read more...]
Cell-Phone Free Classrooms Will Unleash Student Success?
The original article was published at Real Clear Wire Amid the many battles over how to improve American schools, it’s often forgotten that what’s taught in the classroom is but one component of ensuring that students receive a high-quality education; it’s also important to remove barriers to children’s learning. And the idea to remove one major impediment – cell phones in K-12 schools – has gained significant traction over the past year, most recently in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In July, Gov. Glenn Youngkin released an executive order addressing cell phones in K-12 classrooms – directing state officials to work with stakeholders such as parents, students, teachers, and … [Read more...]
Modular Classrooms – Unsafe or a Smart Choice?
Student school populations are in flux. Many districts are losing students as the birth rate drops, parents move their children to private schools or home school. School districts need flexibility to shift class room space to different schools as demographics change. Building the traditional brick and mortar schools that are outdated in 20 years and are fixed in one place has given way to Modular Classrooms. Today we’ll explore Modular classrooms as an alternative to stick built. When you think of “modular classroom” what comes to mind? A box? Low quality? Damp? Dark? Are any of those things true or just a way to create a negative image? (Modular detractors will use negative words to … [Read more...]