I feel as if I’m diverting myself from writing about what we can learn from the common school movement of the 19th century . . . except that I’ve realized that the debate over charter schools and vouchers is our … Continue reading»

Since we’ve been talking about the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) charter schools, here’s an article that Education Week just posted about the college graduation rate of KIPP’s first two middle schools. Note that they beat the national average . … Continue reading»

If you’d like to get blog updates on Twitter, here’s the new URL: http://twitter.com/#!/educationbites Bear with me. I’m new to tweeting and retweeting. But since I eventually learned how to oerate my school’s diabolical copy machine, I figure I’m up … Continue reading»

Yesterday I wrote about the (now settled) dispute between Baltimore’s KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) charter schools and the teacher’s union. One reader responded that it was KIPP teachers themselves who fought to renegotiate the contract. I will assume that’s … Continue reading»

I wanted to post a quick reply to Carolyn Sharette’s excellent exchange about “common schools” and school funding. I will talk more about where our education dollars go (and don’t go) in future posts, but for now let me just … Continue reading»

I recently posted an entry from Myra Schjelderup, of Salt Lake City, who reflected on the transition from home school to college at 16. Her mother (and my good friend) Kathy comments on the comments! “Thanks so much for posting … Continue reading»

The term “common school”, which once lay at the heart of the education reform debate, is unfamiliar to most Americans now. Yet in the years before the Civil War the “common school movement” dominated education fights. So what does it … Continue reading»

After the Easter weekend I plan to kick off a series on past education reforms — their consequences and especially their unintended consequences. My inspiration, as I’ve mentioned, is Frederick Hess’s excellent (and short!) new book, The Same Thing Over … Continue reading»

Only one reader posted an answer to this question, but it was a good one: “A value, held in a common trust, to provide educational opportunities to every student.” There is much I like about that response. Opportunity is not … Continue reading»

I want to move on to a new topic — my next question, just to throw out a challenge — is what makes a public school public? But I promised to share some Teach for America teacher blogs. Here is … Continue reading»