Little Red Riding Hood doesn’t stand a chance. There are creepier dangers than the Big Bad Wolf. Like librarians. That’s right. Librarians. But first … Why is everyone now identified by a sexual descriptor? Is sexuality the new ID? Who are these creepy misfits who just can't resist sexualizing everything from pronouns to puppet shows … Continue reading The New Social Jokester Warriors: Kinky Librarians
It’s all too clear that there are some schools that think they must save your children … from you. Yes. You. Doctrinaire teachers, administrators, and boards of education have become presumptuous and smug. And their contempt for parents is grounded in their surety that … in all matters, not just academics. … parents fall short. … Continue reading Pushing Parents Around
Childhood is taking a beating … pounded by ill-intentioned adults who seem in a special hurry to disease it with a certain regimentation. Quick to poison any spontaneity or innocence … and slam kids into adulthood before their own childhood is barely underway. What the heck are we doing? The last decade has seen furious … Continue reading Who Killed Mister Rogers?
National Blue Ribbon Schools … supposedly the best schools in the nation. And they have signs to prove it. Some even have Hollywood lighting … and others are really, really big. A few are set in their own botanical gardens … and a handful are bolted to walls. The signs look pretty impressive … … Continue reading Something’s Not Right Here
"The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do." -B. F. Skinner It was just a matter of time. And time’s up. And to think how many Sunday afternoons I sacrificed reading and rating essays. All those margin scribbles ... and all those chin-up, keep-the-faith notes of encouragement. Had I taught in this moment … Continue reading Robo-Education
"We conclude that testing instruments that put children in a virtual stupor cannot be defended as sound testing practice … nor as a way to raise standards or serve as a foundation for high-stakes decisions ..." Well done, Bill Gates! Bravo, David Coleman! Take a bow … Arne Duncan and John King. And special thanks … Continue reading ZERO
“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” ~Thomas Paine~ Don't be a sunshine patriot. It's the moment to steel your … Continue reading When You’ve Had Enough …
Anne LaValle, New York's most relentless Anti-Common Core mother, reminds us of an unpleasant anniversary. Five years ago, every 8th grader in New York State was required to write an essay validating this statement: "A structured work day of 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest and 8 hours of recreation is best not only … Continue reading Yes! It’s THAT Bad!
Geniuses are the most dangerous creatures in the universe ... and do you know why God made so few? To limit the suffering of teachers. Dweebers are educational pests. They make these fly-by observations … scurry back to their sticky keyboards … and tell real-deal teachers how to do their jobs. Let’s imagine those same … Continue reading Happy Teacher Exasperation Month!
Are you a pretend parent? If that questions bothers you, well … It’s never a bad thing to have a heart-to-heart with yourself. Maybe you’re too caught up in your own thing … or life's become tangled ... so your kid’s education has slipped into auto-pilot. You're not alone. But if that first sentence grabbed … Continue reading Are You a Pretend Parent?
Missives Worth Reading 