In New York City, principals have been empowered to be the CEO's of the school building. A big difference between these principals and CEO's however, is that in the corporate model there is a a board of directors. More than ever, these principals operate as free agents.So, for the time being, if a principal doesn't want to support arts education, there's not much that's going … [Read more...] about You Cannot Make this Stuff Up: Elementary Student Barred from Dance Class in Order to Take Test Prep
NCLB
And Then There Was NCLB
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has been mainly occupied with education stimulus dollars, more than anything reflected in the frenzy around his Race to the Top Fund. It is, after all, a $4.3 billion fund available to state education departments through a competitive application process. Final guidelines are to appear sometime within the next three weeks. Stay tuned!A lot of … [Read more...] about And Then There Was NCLB
Is It Time to Throw in the Towel on Education Reform? A Speech by Checker Finn
This is a terrific bird's eye view of the kaleidoscope of education reform. Whether you agree with his conclusion or not, it's more than worth the read.Click here to read Checker Finn's September 9th speech to Rice University's Educational Entrepreneurship Program.Hirsch wants a new K-8 curriculum, for instance. The NEA (National Education Association) wants more of what … [Read more...] about Is It Time to Throw in the Towel on Education Reform? A Speech by Checker Finn
Of Ted Kennedy, Rocco Landesman, and NCLB
When I think of Ted Kennedy, I think of a line of Democrats that reach way back to FDR. The wealthy elites who are brought up to serve the public and for my money, demonstrate a commitment to a progressive agenda that is centered in social justice. Were they perfect, of course not. From FDR to Teddy Kennedy. Was Teddy the end of the line? I was watching some of Ted Kennedy's … [Read more...] about Of Ted Kennedy, Rocco Landesman, and NCLB
Reflections on Arts Education and the USDOE
It's interesting to see the fairly predictable responses to Arne Duncan's letter and web conference, where he articulated support for arts education on behalf of the USDOE and the White House. There is and should be a fair amount of gratitude across the field when a US Secretary of Education affirms the importance of the arts, even if the affirmation may at first blush appear … [Read more...] about Reflections on Arts Education and the USDOE