The political leadership of Washington State got “dope slapped” by the US Department of Education. This was a good thing. Secretary Duncan revoked Washington’s waiver of No Child Left Behind sanctions as a result of the Washington legislature’s failure to … Continue reading
A Dope Slapping Now and Then Helps Everyone
Professional Growth: Leadership’s Role
Professional. Professional licensing. Professional growth. These three concepts attach to every teacher in public education. The first term is a definition. The second is a status. The third term is the heart of professionalism. Most teachers, however, enjoy the accouterments … Continue reading
Mind-On Time: Make It A Priority
Since the time I sat at the keyboard to begin writing this piece, my phone buzzed with an incoming text message followed by a different buzzing pattern for three e-mails. My wife yelled from the downstairs bedroom where she is … Continue reading
Focus For the Newly-Elected School Board Member
It’s late April in Wisconsin. Although spring weather has not shown itself yet, newly elected members are present and being seated at their respective school boards. Congratulations new board member, your community voted and you should be proud of their … Continue reading
A Teacher’s Voice
A teacher’s voice. We all have heard a teacher talking. The sound is a part of each of us who has been schooled, whether in a public, private or home setting. Part of our growing up was caused by the … Continue reading
Flexibility Works Both Ways
Opportunities to exercise flexibility sometimes giveth and sometimes taketh away. The winter of 2014 grabbed Wisconsin and the upper Midwest and refused to let go. Deep snow falls and severe cold caused many school districts to cancel classes for children … Continue reading
The Iron Law of Oligarchy and Educational Policy
We live in a representative democracy. We elect governmental leaders and empower our leaders to represent our best interests in the making of laws and policies that will sustain our commonwealth and future prosperity and assure the balance of our … Continue reading
Farce – Mistreating Education for Political Advantage
Farce! This is not about improving K-12 education in Wisconsin. It is all about gaining support from Tea Party conservatives and the uninformed by a governor who is promoting his national standing as a presidential nominee. As reported in the … Continue reading
Give Children A Break, A Winter Break, Not Make-up Days
When winter weather causes the cancellation of school days, the education of every child suffers. No compensatory make-up of school days or minutes of instruction redeems the loss of planned, continuous learning. We know this to be true. It is … Continue reading
Look Differently To Cause Learning Better Than Good Enough
For more than a decade, my mother cut my hair. I give her credit for looking at the heads of other children at school and at church and in Look and Life. She wanted me to look like other children. … Continue reading