Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The ultimate education reform

The ultimate education reform:


Problems with D.C. teacher retention report

A new report says that the D.C. schools system, operating under reforms instituted by former chancellorMichelle Rhee, is holding onto its best teachers at nearly twice the rate as its lowest performers, though teacher turnover is still too common. But there are issues with the report that raise serious questions about its conclusions.
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The ultimate education reform


Veteran educator Marion Brady has a very different take on reform than the so-called education reformers that dominate the schools debate today.  He has a big idea, which he outlines here. 
By Marion Brady

(By SUSAN BIDDLE-The Washington Post)
We learn most of what we know by doing something while thinking about it—learn about cooking by cooking, learn about getting through airport security by going through airport security, learn about removing appendices by removing appendices.
 No textbook ever printed, no lecture ever delivered, no computer program ever written, puts school subjects to more relevant use, more thoroughly engages every thought process, or more directly simulates creativity, than learning by doing while thinking about it.
 In learning, place is important. Learning to cook is easier in kitchens than in garages. Learning airport procedures is easier in airports than in shopping malls. Learning to