Many of us who are lifelong educators find clinging to our optimism a difficult challenge. But two recent pieces may signal hope, a light at the long and dark tunnel of corporate education reform built on false claims and flawed solutions. While I urge you to read and share widely the two works below, I […]
Can poor children learn?
May 13, 2013 By 8 Comments
By now the poverty does or doesn’t matter dichotomy is really starting to get old. Anyone that truly cares about helping children from low socio-economic environments succeed in school knows that all children(even poor ones) can learn. It’s absolutely ridiculous when education reformers insist that those of us “resisting” are claiming that “poor kids can’t […]
Leading the way in education – instead of following the failing neo liberal agenda
May 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
by Bruce Hammonds Reposted from Leading-Learning. ‘Education in America is at a crossroads’, writes American educator Yong-Zhao Ironically while China is busy trying to transform its test orientated education into a talent orientated system, writes Chinese born but now a respected American educator Yong- Zhao, America ( and now New Zealand) is moving towards a standardized test driven […]
Consumed by Advocacy in the Marketplace of Mendacity
April 30, 2013 By 1 Comment
Big Daddy and Brick confront the power of mendacity in a key scene from Tennessee Williams’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, swept into popular culture by the 1958 film starring Elizabeth Taylor (Maggie), Paul Newman (Brick), and Burl Ives (Big Daddy). In the play, Big Daddy replies to Brick’s question, “Have you ever heard […]
Why Are We in “the Age of Infinite Examination”?
April 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Within the perpetual education and education reform debates, the topics of poverty and testing are central themes (poverty is no excuse, and better tests are always being promised), but we too often are missing the key elements that should be addressed in the dynamic that exists between poverty and testing. Please read the full discussion […]
A thought experiment on #homeschooling… #choice
April 19, 2013 By 1 Comment
What if we enacted “choice” for homeschool students and parents? That is, kids and parents could walk into any house they wanted, or join any family they wanted, to receive a “better” education. I’ve often argued that homeschooling, while a viable option for some, is not for all, and we therefore need a free and […]
ANNOUNCEMENT: At the Chalk Face and Schools Matter to join forces
April 19, 2013 By 6 Comments
To our readers: vaunted education blog Schools Matter is joining At the Chalk Face. The transition is already underway, but will be completed for a Monday “release.” The website will be down for a time on Sunday in order to reorganize our content. We want to preserve the identities of both as we host them […]
A brief and important thought about high stakes testing
April 18, 2013 By 2 Comments
In defense of a–holes
April 10, 2013 By 10 Comments
A thought, dear reader. I’m the only child of a single mother. A blue collar upbringing. When my mother worked, my maternal grand-parents took care of me. No one had it easy. I wasn’t mistreated are abused. But there was a lot of anger and verbal abuse in my household. Growing up, I learned from […]
It is time for public school advocates to become “irate.”
This video is of a Boston man going into a beautiful rant against right-wing conspiracy nuts affiliated with radio host Alex Jones, who believe that the FBI purposely set the bombs during the marathon. I’m not suggesting we make comparisons between “education reform” and terrorism or vast government conspiracies. However, some are out there pushing […]