EducationNews Commentaries and Reports

Free Public Schools are Far from Free Actual Costs Greatly Exceed Published Costs
By Richard G. Neal
Guest Columnist EducationNews.org
Unlike businesses in the private sector, public school budgets often exclude many significant costs when computing expenditures, thus giving misleading information to the public. The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) found this to be the case in its comprehensive study, “Education in Oklahoma: The Real Costs.”

What Are "Public" Schools?
David W. Kirkpatrick
Columnist EducationNews.org
Words make a difference. Consider the responses a young man would get if he told his lady love that when he looks at her time stands still, in contrast to telling her she has a face that would stop a clock..

Nationwide research project regarding adjunct faculty members
Question at hand - characteristics, working conditions, reflective practices, and issues and concerns of the part time instructor

Charter School Students in Chicago Enjoy Better Graduation, College Entry Rates
Rand Corporation
Chicago's multi-grade charter high schools (those serving students in grades 7-12, 6-12 or K-12) appear to improve their students' chances of graduating and attending college, as compared with the city's traditional public high schools, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

An Interview about “Flocabulary” with .Alex Rappaport - Cofounder and CEO of Flocabulary and Blake Harrison
Michael F. Shaughnessy
Senior Columnist EducationNews.org
Eastern New Mexico Universit
First of all, what prompted your entrance into this realm of music and teaching of history and literature? Blake: We came up with the idea for these types of teaching tools when we were high school students. I wasn't a bad student, but I was really struck by how boring most lessons were. I realized that I learned best when I was engaged with a lesson, when I enjoyed the activity.

Do Your Children Study The Koran?
NewsWithViews.com
by Derry Brownfield
To be politically correct our children are being taught to be tolerant to everybody and everything, regardless of how bizarre it may seem to our American way of life. Public schools are having students learn passages form the Koran and study some of the laws handed down by Mohammed. Our children are taught that Islam is a religion of peace and Allah is just another name for the God of the Holy Bible........

A More Perfect Union Rests on a Balance of Ideas
By Nancy Salvato
Columnist EducationNews.org
“In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” – James Madison, Federalist #51

Cinco de Mayo
By DR. TONY CANTU
Guest Columnist EducationNews.org
Cinco de Mayo is a day of celebration, not only for the Mexican people, but for all who love freedom. Mexico won its independence from Spain in the 16th day of September, 1810. A true democratic promoter of Mexican Indian decent took over as Mexican President, Don Benito Juarez, known for his statement “the respect for others rights’, is peace.”

An Interview with Frederick Hess: No Remedy Left Behind: Lessons from a Half-Decade of NCLB
Michael F. Shaughnessy
Senior Columnist EducationNews.org
Eastern New Mexico Universit
Twenty five years have passed since A Nation At Risk, and we have had a "half decade of NCLB". What do you see as the relationship between these two events? A Nation at Risk led to a dramatic increase in concern about the quality of K-12 schooling.  The report focused attention on critical skills, including reading, math, and science, and on concerns about reported declines in student performance in reading and math. 

In Defense of Testing Series: Announcement of the New 2012 Series GED® Tests
The specifications for the GED Tests are assessed at regular intervals to certify that content reflects current curricular and academic standards for high school graduates across the United States and Canada. As expectations and standards change for high school students, GED Testing Service aligns the Tests with these same expectations and standards.
2006 GED® Testing Program Statistical Report

An Interview with Jacquie Ream: What's Happening with Writing?
Michael F. Shaughnessy
Senior Columnist EducationNews.org
Eastern New Mexico Universit
Jacquie, you have indicated that “We have a whole generation being raised without communication skills,” What exactly do you mean by this? You would think that with blogging and text messaging, the younger generation to be among the “super” communicators; but I feel that iconic text messaging, while certainly an enhanced skill, is without substance.

Crossing the Border: Education or Robbery
Lee Culpepper
Columnist EducationNews.org
Unassisted this year by a media blitz, the May-1st-amnesty marches for illegal aliens limped along American streets. In previous years, the media hype surrounding this issue commanded the nation’s attention. When I taught in Texas, my students found the demonstrations more urgent than their novel The Great Gatsby.

“An Amazing Kindergarten Teacher”
by Harry & Rosemary Wong
And even more amazing are his students. Click here to see and hear a wonderful class perform for yourself! We know that no school-age child is too young to learn and follow procedures. When you establish procedures and routines early in the school year, you free up the rest of the year for teaching and learning in the content areas.

ATRS: How Low Can the DOE Go?
by Ron Isaac
“How low can you go?” Chubby Checker asked that question in his 60s golden oldie song hit “Limbo Rock.” Well, ask ATRs, the poster children of limbo, (many of whom are golden oldies also) about the depths to which the DOE has sunk in their campaign of slander against them, and they will belt out something like “to the bottom of the pit of shame.” Has the DOE no honor?

Interview with Reid Lyon: Reading First is the largest concerted reading intervention program in the history of the civilized world
Michael F. Shaughnessy
Senior Columnist EducationNews.org
Eastern New Mexico University
The Impact Study as summarized in the Interim Report had some shortcomings because of a number of reasons I identify below. However, let me first say this.Reading First is the largest concerted reading intervention program in the history of the civilized world. Most importantly, it is one of the few Federal State-Grant Programs to undertake a rigorous impact evaluation. We set aside $15 million dollars per year for six years to carry out the most comprehensive evaluation of an education program to date.

When America Counts
LewRockwell.com
by Linda Schrock Taylor
On my recent flight home from Florida, I sat next to a very interesting and articulate gentleman. We talked nonstop, only pausing for shallow breaths, as we discussed the flaws and faults of public schooling. As many may well imagine, once that topic is opened – time stops for me.

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