On February 9, the Reading Eagle reported that the the district's One Book, One School program would be halted because the book, Two Degrees, a novel by Alan Gratz, centers on young people's efforts to deal with climate change. It was encouraging to read that Superintendent Temchatin and several others expressed strong support for the … [Read more...] about Open Letter to Kutztown Area School Board
learning
Rethinking education & schools
As we've often indicated on this website, including in the schools section, the US educational system is dragged down by major structural flaws. The extensive use of standardized testing may be the most obvious, but it is only one of several serious problems. Thanks to prominent educator Alfie Kohn, we have a comprehensive look at what needs to be done to develop sound … [Read more...] about Rethinking education & schools
Charter Schools: Myth & Reality
Twenty years ago, the charter school was born as an innovative strategy to reinvigorate and enrich public education. Dr. Gary Miron of Western Michigan University is quoted as saying, 'Groups of teachers and administrators who wanted to innovate and try new things would band together and little laboratories of education would emerge… The idea was simple: anything valuable … [Read more...] about Charter Schools: Myth & Reality
The Sun
by Ken Burak Summer vacation with the family in Vermont. Rainy morning. Aha! Monopoly! I decide to teach my two girls – Hannah (7) and Dhara (5)—how to play. I figure it’s best for them to learn by playing. First they pick their pieces. Dhara: top hat. Hannah: ship. After a bit, Dhara-top hat lands on Park Place and I advise her to buy it. She asks why and I explain that if … [Read more...] about The Sun