A Gift for You This Sunday
Last Sunday, I published a beautiful poem by Cavafy. In reply, Will Fitzhugh (founder of “The Concord Review,” which publishes history papers by high school students) sent this one to me. He probably did not know that this is one of my favorite poems, and it has special meaning for me. When I graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston in 1956, my home room teacher Mrs. Ratliff gave me two snippets of poetry as a graduation gift. Each line had a message for the recipient. One of her gifts was the last line of this poem.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson [1833]
Ulysses
It little profits that an idle king,
Alfred, Lord Tennyson [1833]
Ulysses
It little profits that an idle king,
Russ: CCSS Is Wrong About “Close Reading” Without Background Knowledge
This reader faults the Common Core standards for claiming that students should engage in “close reading” of texts without context or background knowledge. In this post, he explains that this does not “level the playing field,” as every reader has different background knowledge to decipher meaning in text.
Miami: Are These Fears the Reality?
A teacher in Miami asks these questions. Can you answer and help us understand?
“I am writing out of anxiety and fear .. I have been a bit down for a year, I realize I may have to switch careers or move to another state.
“I could be wrong but I feel the greatest school reformation in the US is occurring in Miami-Dade county public
“I am writing out of anxiety and fear .. I have been a bit down for a year, I realize I may have to switch careers or move to another state.
“I could be wrong but I feel the greatest school reformation in the US is occurring in Miami-Dade county public
Carol Burris: The Unintended Consequences of NY’s Principal Evaluations
Carol Burris, chosen as principal of the year by her colleagues in New York State, has written a brilliant and frightening critique of the state’s ill-planned principal evaluation plan.
As you read her enter to the New York Board if Regents, you can’t help but wonder whether systems like this are intended to demoralize principals and to destroy public education.
What kind of inexperienced technocrats dream up such flawed and damaging schemes?
As you read her enter to the New York Board if Regents, you can’t help but wonder whether systems like this are intended to demoralize principals and to destroy public education.
What kind of inexperienced technocrats dream up such flawed and damaging schemes?
How to Explain US “Reform” to B-School Friends at Oxford
What if you were a product of public schools and found yourself years later getting a graduate degree in business management at Oxford University? Your British friends are very taken with ideas like accountability and competition. Maybe they saw “Waiting for Superman” and they too want to close the achievement gap.
What would you tell them?
Susan Altman found herself in that situation and she explains it here. This is a young woman with a keen sense
What would you tell them?
Susan Altman found herself in that situation and she explains it here. This is a young woman with a keen sense
Diane in the Evening 5-18-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: This Man Loves Disruption by dianerav Clayton Christiansen loves disruption. He loves the idea that almost everything familiar to us will die and be replaced by competition. Many corporate reformers swear by him. They think disruption is creative. I wish they would get out of our lives and make money selling something other than disruption. The Stupidity of the Michigan Legislature, Simply Explained by dianerav This blogger wants you to understand legislation that is sailing through the Michigan legislature. The t... more »