A modest proposal, perhaps. It’s been entertaining watching American public “discourse” since the election. (I use that word in its broadest, most ridiculous sense, since nothing that hinges so completely on self-absorption, […]
Homeschooling discussion at Rockridge Nation
Eric Haas and our friends over at the Rockridge Institute have a great Monday Weekly Workgroup feature that I encourage everybody to investigate. Today the subject is homeschooling, and that’s obviously one […]
Dr. Slammy in 2008: Evolving a culture of learning
The biggest challenge my EducationF1rst initiative faces is one of momentum: America is not, and never has been, an intellectual culture. We do not, however much we might protest, live in a […]
Dr. Slammy in 2008: Discipline and the sanctity of the learning environment
Hi. I’m Sam Smith, and I’m running for President. The discipline question is one of the most difficult ones facing this campaign, and even as we construct the strategic platform plank we’re […]
Dr. Slammy in 2008: A thinkpower curriculum for the 21st Century
Hi. I’m Sam Smith, and I’m running for president on a platform that stresses education’s critical role in solving our nation’s problems and assuring a future of universal opportunity for all citizens. […]
DS08: Over-testing and the "accountability" dodge
Our nation’s current teach-to-the-test pathology is strong evidence of how our educational system has failed in deep, fundamental ways. However, President Bush’s No Child Left Untested debacle is a program that benefits […]
Clinton statement on NIE report is an exercise in double-dealing misdirection
As noted yesterday, a new national intelligence report has caught the Bush White House in yet another round of warmongering lies. No real surprise there. The revelation elicited a range of replies […]
Dr. Slammy in 2008: Teacher compensation – you get what you pay for
Hi. I’m Sam Smith, and I’m running for president. Contrary to what some “reformers” seem to believe, the laws of economics apply to teaching. An extremely talented teaching candidate who’s bright enough […]
DS08: Organization and administration
At present we have a public education model built on a lot of obsolete 19th Century assumptions about organization and pedagogy. In a sense, we’re trying to pound the square peg of […]
Dr. Slammy in 2008 – EducationF1rst: a statement of principle
Put simply, education is the single most critical issue we face. Every dollar (wisely) spent today on teaching and learning is an investment in our future. While there’s no magic remedy for […]