If you look at any playground you can see children of all sizes, shapes, colors and religions laughing and playing together. They don’t seem to create distinctions to keep themselves apart, but often look first for what makes them similar. Playmates may begin to notice each other’s differences, but it tends to be a source of [...]
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 Photo: Ben Garvin for The New York Times On January 9, the New York Times ran an article by Sara Rimer about immigrant students and their parents who are happier with their children in charter schools that cater to an international community. The article takes a good look at why these schools are more comfortable places for recent immigrant students as they learn English and become accustomed to American culture. Perhaps if we were to take a look at what other schools are not doing to make immigrant students feel more comfortable and to create the least-restrictive environment for them to learn we might be able to create a more effective classroom for all students. The State of Arizona has been ordered by a federal judge to increase funding of programs for English-Language Learners (ELLs) or else face fines up to $2 million per day. Reported by Education Week, the case will soon be heard by the US Supreme Court. The situation has gotten so complicated that even Ken W. Starr is now involved! The controversy is not about money, however, but about local control and who is to benefit from taxpayer dollars. Border states like Arizona have a high number of immigrants that may not be in the country legally and these make up the bulk of those ELL students. The real debate here is whether or not taxpayer dollars should be used to educate students who many people feel should not be allowed to use public schools or even be in the country in the first place. This is especially relevant in a state that has an disproportionately high number of immigrants. Jennifer Hochschild and Nathan B. Scovronick teamed up to show the ways in which the public education system advances, but also hinders, the ability to pursue the “American Dream”, in their 2003 book The American Dream and the Public Schools |
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There are no more “gifted” students… at least not in Montgomery County, Maryland. Officials at the school district of one of the most affluent suburbs in the nation have voted to drop the label that many parents have fought hard to get for their children. This post takes a quick look at what gifted education is and at 
. After first coming up with a definition of what the American dream is, they explore what Americans want and expect from public schools, in the areas of desegregation; finance reform; school choice; curriculum reform; inclusion; and multiculturalism, among others. Their explanations center around three purposes of education: (1) advancement of the individual; (2) improvement of societal goals; (3) furthering the agenda of a particular group or special interest.
Opposition to Zero to Five Plan
As mentioned in a previous post, there are those out there that are opposed to Obama’s agenda on preschool education. Although many of the arguments are solidly formed and to be expected, there are a few out there who seem to get public education confused with propaganda.
Continue reading Opposition to Zero to Five Plan
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