From an article at https://1819news.com/culture/jeff-minick-some-old-school-ideas-that-worked Recently I bumbled into the 1962 Spotlight, the yearbook for Boonville High School in Piedmont, N.C. I was in fifth grade that year, and the elementary school, which was on the same property and ran from first through eighth grade, was included in the album. My perusal left me a bit thunderstruck thanks to the differences between then and now. Integration and Consolidation Schools in the South were still segregated that year. Boonville’s black school was no more than a mile or two from ours. Desegregation would begin within three years. Schools in Yadkin County were not yet … [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...]
Stop the Struggle: How Parents Can Make Homework Time Smoother
From our friend Emily Graham at Mightymom's Evenings shouldn’t feel like a battleground. But for many parents, homework time—especially when it involves tricky subjects like language learning—brings tension, frustration, and exhaustion for everyone involved. The goal isn’t to become a substitute teacher or suddenly fluent in Spanish. It’s to create an atmosphere where your child can move forward with clarity, confidence, and calm. That starts with adjusting the environment, your involvement, and your expectations. Here’s how to do it—step by step. Keep it Predictable, Not Perfect Children focus better when they know what’s coming. Set a time every day when homework begins—even … [Read more...]
Don’t Kill the Wonder: A Parent’s Guide to Lifelong Learning
Today's article comes to us from our guest writer Emily Graham Some kids light up at the sight of a book or a science kit. Others need a nudge, a spark, a reason to care. But at the root of it all — before school rules or report cards — every child starts with wonder. They want to know how things work, why people act the way they do, what’s behind the next closed door. Your role isn’t to force the learning; it’s to protect the spark. Here’s how to keep that love of learning alive, even when the world tries to quiet it. Let Curiosity Lead Children don’t need coaxing to be curious. They’re born reaching, poking, asking, and turning things upside down to see what spills out. The … [Read more...]
Private School vs. Public School
This article comes to us from US News. It's a but long so one or two cups of coffee or tea. Deciding whether to send a child to public or private school can be a tough choice for parents of elementary, middle and high school students. Data on whether public or private education is better can be challenging to find and difficult to understand, and the cost of private school can be daunting. So how can parents weigh private schools versus public schools? Myra McGovern, spokesperson for the National Association of Independent Schools, says it comes down to what is best for each child. “The individual needs of the child should shape the choice for parents,” … [Read more...]
Homeschool moms sue over pencils, and books, and flashcards, and erasers
From WorldNet Daily (Bob Unrun): Homeschool moms sue over pencils, and books, and flashcards, and erasers * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh (wnd.com) \ Homeschool moms in Arizona are suing the state over pencils, and books, and flashcards, and erasers. They are just some of the standard classroom materials needed – that the state suddenly and arbitrarily banned them from purchasing with their state-allotted Empowerment Scholarship Account funds. It is the Goldwater Institute that is helping them. "ESAs allow parents to use a portion of their children's allotted state funding to purchase books, school supplies, and other curriculum materials that they can use to educate their … [Read more...]
Education choice receives majority support in BSU Idaho Public Policy Survey
For those of you watching the national movement to school choice (money follows the child so parents have a choice where K-12 education occurs) you may want to review this article from the Mountain States Policy Org. The information is for our next door neighbor...Idaho. A new poll by Boise State University shows public support for increasing education choice options in Idaho. These results are similar to a 2022 poll conducted by MSPC. Here is the question BSU asked: The wording of this question is interesting. The current refundable tax credit proposal under consideration in Idaho does not remove funding from the K-12 budget. Idaho State Representative Wendy … [Read more...]
Why homeschooling is on the rise
Today we share an article written by Dr. Ben Carson as published in the Washington Examiner. Homeschooling is our country's fastest-growing form of education , according to the Washington Post. An estimated 1.9 million to 2.7 million students are homeschooled nationwide. There are quite a few reasons for the shift away from our public school system. Foremost is the shocking mismanagement of our education system during the COVID-19 pandemic. From stifling mask mandates to the shift to "remote learning," the quality of education fell precipitously on the tails of the pandemic. As a former neurosurgeon who worked on children's brains, I can tell you this for a fact: Children cannot … [Read more...]
House Bill 1615 – $12,500 Education Savings Account – Be heard!
Ok...the Democrats will do everything they can to stop this legislation but you do have the opportunity to weigh in. If you want the option to choose the school system your child or grandchild can attend then you need to say so...and do it today. Time is short. Click on the link below. On the upper right choose "make comment" and share your thoughts...please Very exciting news! A school choice bill, HB 1615, has a hearing next week before the House Education committee. The prime sponsor is Rep. Carolyn Eslick , Republican. The bill has one Democrat sponsor and many other Republicans. It has a chance to proceed to passage. HB 1615 would create an Education Savings Account with … [Read more...]
A Kansas public school teacher is suing school officials for requiring her to address students by their preferred names and pronouns
Is the attempt to force use of "pronouns" on our society one of equity or equality or an effort to desexualize children? Why this attempt to remove a sense of gender? Today's article comes to us from The Conservative Review and Samuel Mangold-Lenett. A public school teacher in Kansas is suing the principal of her school, the district’s superintendent, and members of the school board after being suspended for not using a student’s preferred name. Pamela Ricard taught math at Fort Riley Middle School. She says that she refused to use the preferred names and pronouns of transgender and nonbinary students because it violates her religious beliefs, CNN reported. After being … [Read more...]