Teaching Underground : education policy

Charging Kids Too Much

Rich Lindsay — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:33:00 GMT

No this isn't about any of the hated student fees or charges that are becoming far too common amidst declining state support. It is about something even more important. I ask you to imagine: A bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400....(read more)

The Public Good

Rich Lindsay — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:30:00 GMT

The narrowing conduit of online information rarely offers much more than amusement or duplicitous thought but on occasion it surprises me with a carefully articulated statement that gives me pause. Such was the case with something I read back in December....(read more)

How Big is Your Effect Size?

Steven Turner — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt...(read more)

Education Leadership

Rich Lindsay — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:00:00 GMT

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p { margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; }table.MsoNormalTable...(read more)

Was Obama Right?

Steven Turner — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:47:00 GMT

I can't speak for the other half of the Teaching Underground (but I'm guessing he agrees), but I am not a fan of the Presidents education policy. The democratic platform's comments on education in general are not very appealing either. Without a Republican...(read more)

Teacher Job Satisfaction Low- So What?

Steven Turner — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:27:00 GMT

Teacher friendly bloggers and websites are all writing this week about the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher . (See Ed Week , Huffington Post , The Answer Sheet , Larry Ferlazzo for more) The take away headline is this "Teacher Job Satisfaction At...(read more)

How Do You Make a Teacher Great?

Rich Lindsay — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:55:00 GMT

You make a great teacher by shaming or firing the bad ones. Written with tongue firmly ensconced in my cheek! But that is the approach currently in gaining favor in a growing number of states. Abolish tenure, hold teachers publicly accountable for test...(read more)

Say Something

Rich Lindsay — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:53:00 GMT

Lloyd Dobler would say something. If you don't, someone will. This truism could be applied to countless scenarios but applies well to the field of public education. Fact is that there are plenty of folks out there saying stuff about education. The media,...(read more)

Hey Virginia Teachers-- Great Job!

Steven Turner — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:06:00 GMT

Growth Model evaluations, loss of continuing contracts, budgetary woes getting you down? Never fear teachers of Virginia, the Teaching Underground is ready to give you a pat on the back. You’re doing great! Keep up the good work and don’t let the political...(read more)

Crisis of "their" Creation?

Rich Lindsay — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:05:00 GMT

Problems sure, but an "education crisis"? One of TU's previous posts proposed that the popularly held feeling about our schools is inaccurate. Ask just about anyone out there about how we are doing and there is a startling degree of uniformity from the...(read more)

The Commonwealth of Virginia, Brought to You By Paramount

Steven Turner — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:56:00 GMT

Here's the sound bite: "Tweety Bird and Scooby Doo shouldn't be making the educational decisions in Virginia." I don't know, maybe we should give it a try, but for those who don't know-- for many years, Virginia law has prohibits schools from opening...(read more)

Bush on NCLB- Ten Years Later

Steven Turner — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:36:00 GMT

Time Magazine, January 23, 2011. Andrew J. Rotherham gives us George W. Bush in his own words on the tenth anniversary of "No Child Left Behind." Bush : "So I'm pleased with the progress and concerned about efforts from people in both parties to weaken...(read more)

The Teaching Underground on Virginia's State of the Commonwealth

Steven Turner — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:56:00 GMT

Virginia Governor, Bob McDonnell, delivered his "State of the Commonwealth Address" this evening, part of which includes highlights of his education plans for the next two year cycle. Below are highlights from his speech with the Teaching Underground...(read more)

Charity from Crisis

Steven Turner — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:44:00 GMT

"Beggars can't be choosy." Whether it is a moral truism or not, it certainly plays out as a practical truth. Who are you, the recipient, to judge what I, the giver, have so generously given to you. This is why we scrutinize the items of the customer in...(read more)

Cal and Texas Not the Only Schools in 2011 Holiday Bowl

Rich Lindsay — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:17:00 GMT

As the football teams from Texas and Cal(both non-profit schools) square off on the field they are part of perhaps the most visible contradiction within public education in this country, college athletics. There is a lot of money made. That much is clear....(read more)