The Department of Justice and teacher unions are opposed to the Louisiana voucher program that allows students to attend private schools using public money. Entitled the Louisiana Scholarship Program, it uses tax dollars to fund private school attendance. Low-income students who attend failing public schools are able to use these vouchers. The Department of Justice
The Common Core State Standards buzz is heating up. On my desk sits a professionally-printed envelope with a DVD labeled “Stop Common Core” inside. A The picture on the envelope depicts Jane Robbins, a Senior Fellow with the “American Principles Project” and Texas Superintendent, Robert Scott. Also depicted is an image of a Trojan horse,
I recently reviewed an analysis of suspension and expulsion data completed by Education Week. These data originated from the U.S. Department of Education, wherein they examined race trends. Some pretty savvy comments and questions were posted by readers. They questioned the “lumping” of numbers, the gender inequity, and the lack of profiling schools as charter
When I made the decision to become a teacher, I envisioned the potential impact I would have on the lives of my students. I hoped to make a difference in their lives. The image of a classroom engaged in interesting projects that lead to discovery excited me. I could picture the students investigating and exploring,
The month of December is always a festive time of year. Walk into any store and it is a holiday assault on the senses. Music, displays, food, and countless messages make it very clear. We live in a nation that is predominantly Christian. This fact has made it challenging to maintain the ideals put forth
A recent article in Education Week (Sawchuck, 2012) brings forth the issue of master teachers and their ability (or inability) to mentor student teachers. It tells of Summer Brewer’s first student-teaching experience, where the “master” teacher practiced the habit of worksheet marathons and desk sitting. According to Summer, the mentor spent most of her time
Thanksgiving. While I have many fond memories of my family traditions, I have also come to recognize the complexity of this holiday. Do we choose to celebrate after light has been shed on the more accurate events associated with the historic feast story? If we do, how do we reconcile the conflicting portrayal? Many of
What is wrong with our society!? In a nation that talks the talk of high achievement and education for all students, why is there so much pressure placed on “normal?” Think about any young student starting school. How quickly do they learn to feel shame for non-English ways? How readily to they perceive that “pink
At the start of my PhD journey I heard the phrase “steward of the discipline.” At first these words did not mean a great deal; I considered it PhD mumbo-jumbo. As the semester moved and as the years edged forward, the phrase has become a weight of responsibility. It is a commitment to improving our
Most recently, my participation in the Emerging Scholars Conference has been on my mind. The topic of bullying has moved front-and-center with the news of a 14 year-old Santa Ana student who was shot by police officers a few days ago (9/28/12). It turns out they found a suicide note. One must wonder what was