As we approach the end of a tumultuous year, things are starting to kick forth in the education world. Yesterday, Governor Lee announce a special session of the General Assembly to focus on education issues. The five areas to be considered are teacher salaries, accountability, BEP, learning loss, and literacy. I’ll dive deeper into the special session, along with changes in priority for the COVID vaccination tomorrow, but I do think there are a couple things that can’t be left unsaid until then.
First, there is a great deal of chatter around the importance of accuracy in reporting. It’s something that can not be understated. Reporting, and the language used, let the norms for the discussion of policy issues going forth. When the language isn’t accurate, it’s impossible to have a productive conversation. Case in point, in reporting on the literacy bill to be considered at the upcoming special session, Chalkbeat included this passage,
In early 2020, the legislature appeared to be on track to approve a major literacy package. However, the spreading coronavirus and a related economic slowdown sidelined the $36.5 million proposal in June.
A reader not familiar with last year’s battle over the literacy bill might reasonably come to the conclusion that the bill was a good one and on;y sidetracked due to the pandemic. If CONTINUE READING: THE MOST READ DAD GONE WILD PIECE FROM 2020 – Dad Gone Wild