archive

An excellent education for all

Richard Rymarz (St. Joseph's): The Future of Catholic Schools in a Secular Culture of Religious Choice. From Rethinking Schools, a special issue on the school-to-prison pipeline. Teach for America: Andrew Hartman on the hidden curriculum of liberal do-gooders. From NYRB, Diane Ravitch reviews A Chance to Make History: What Works and What Doesn’t in Providing an Excellent Education for All by Wendy Koop and reviews Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland? by Pasi Sahlberg; on how the current frenzy of blaming teachers for low scores smacks of a witch-hunt, the search for a scapegoat, someone to blame for a faltering economy, for the growing levels of poverty, for widening income inequality; and on flunking Arne Duncan. Diana Senechal writes in defense of Diane Ravitch. Megan Erickson on a nation of Little Lebowski Urban Achievers. A new study suggests that a good grade school teacher can boost college attendance rates, reduce teenage pregnancy, and increase a student’s earning potential. Liberals, don’t homeschool your kids: Dana Golstein on why teaching children at home violates progressive values (and a response).