Public Schools for Public Good
One of my favorite education bloggers, Claus von Zastrow, writes the Public School Insights (PSI) blog as part of the Learning First Alliance (LFA). His approach is decidedly non-sensationalistic and level-headed. The blog highlights success stories that provide a much-needed antidote to the catastrophe narrative so in vogue right now. In his EdWeek blog, Reality Check, Walt Gardner recently dubbed this phenomenon “The Education Disaster Campaign.”
You’ll also find that von Zastrow tackles a variety of education policy issues, and lately he seems to be looking at education finances, an appropriate focus in our current economic climate. What caught my eye today was aninterview with former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who discussed the shift in our economic engine over the years. Perhaps going after the financial industry is a bit easy right now – kick ‘em when they’re down, right? – but Reich makes a point worth repeating. Much of the investment banking activity that has caused so much trouble has been the speculative gambling and continual exchange of money and debt. They’re not actually producing anything of value. There’s an exchange of money, debt, equity, etc., but no actual improvement in the quality of any product, service, or people. Reich questions how it is that we’ve allowed so few people to “earn”
You’ll also find that von Zastrow tackles a variety of education policy issues, and lately he seems to be looking at education finances, an appropriate focus in our current economic climate. What caught my eye today was aninterview with former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who discussed the shift in our economic engine over the years. Perhaps going after the financial industry is a bit easy right now – kick ‘em when they’re down, right? – but Reich makes a point worth repeating. Much of the investment banking activity that has caused so much trouble has been the speculative gambling and continual exchange of money and debt. They’re not actually producing anything of value. There’s an exchange of money, debt, equity, etc., but no actual improvement in the quality of any product, service, or people. Reich questions how it is that we’ve allowed so few people to “earn”
