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‘Waiting for Superman’s’ half-truths and heroes can move you to tears

September 26th, 2010 | 6 Comments
By  ~ EdSource Extra

(This commentary first appeared in TOP-Ed.) Waiting for Superman, the Davis Guggenheim documentary about public education, is headed for the theaters with more hype and about as much substance as a B-grade Western. As in the B-grade Western there are villains, heroines, simplistic truths, and a pull at your heartstrings. The plot line of Superman follows five children and their families from New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley as they — like thousands every year — go through school choice lottery programs, hoping to get into the school they want. There’s joy and tears, more of the latter. The movie does what it intends: It emotionally involves the viewers in the struggle of children and their families to find schools that work for them and to avoid some of the most troubled … Read entire article »

Filed under: Achievement Gap, Charter Schools, Commentary, Teacher Unions

Perpetual cycle of school reforms

September 9th, 2010 | 3 Comments
By  ~ EdSource Extra

(This commentary first appeared in TOP-Ed.) It’s hard to say “school” in America without saying “reform” right after it. For more that a half century we’ve had one magic potion after another. The list runs to the horizon and beyond. Child-centered education; open schools; discovery learning; compensatory education; team teaching; new math; new physics; new biology; phonics; math facts; more homework; less homework; bigger high schools; smaller classes; merit pay; magnet schools; direct instruction; computer-assisted instruction; testing and exit exams; no social promotion; vouchers; charter schools; KIPP; Success for All; Accelerated Schools; national standards; No Child Left Behind.. Some are long forgotten, some are still very much in fashion. But it’s not much of a stretch to say that almost everything we knew for sure at some time in the past about how to … Read entire article »

Filed under: Commentary, Program innovation, Race to the Top