SLS Project is an info space for courses taught in the Anthropology Dept. at Washington U. in St Louis (Prof. Bret Gustafson). Confronting St. Louis and MO politics has made me a bit outspoken. Opinions are my own, not the university, not the students, not the department. On St. Louis: @slsproject On energy politics: @energy_politics
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
FINLAND: WAY AHEAD OF THE U.S. ON PUBLIC EDUCATION
Published: December 12, 2011
An educator from the Scandinavian country that ranks among the world’s leaders in school quality visited New York and explained his nation’s success.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
"Profits and Questions at Online Charter Schools"
Monday, December 12, 2011
STATE TAKEOVER: LIKE CHARTERS, NO CURE-ALL
EDUCATION
By WINNIE HU
Published: December 11, 2011
Turning control of districts over to the state has improved test scores in places like Philadelphia and Oakland, Calif., but hasn’t solved every problem.
STATE TAKEOVERS: COMMUNITIES FIGHTING BACK
EDUCATION
By WINNIE HU
Published: December 11, 2011
The state took over Newark schools in 1995, but with an influx of money, some parents and officials have begun to seek more local control.
"But the influx of money, and the attendant national spotlight, has galvanized a growing movement of parents, educators and elected officials who want the schools returned to local control 16 years after they were taken overamid low test scores, crumbling buildings and charges of mismanagement.
These critics say that the state has unilaterally imposed a controversial agenda — replacing principals, opening new schools, placing charter schools inside district buildings — dreamed up by outsiders and consultants who do not understand the needs of their children, and that there is not enough opportunity for input by parents and community-based advocates."
BUSINESS MODEL: DOESN'T WORK, TIME TO GET RID OF IT
Why Are the Rich So Interested in Public-School Reform?
They want to remake America's students in their own high-achieving image, but they're overlooking socioeconomics
Read more: http://ideas.time.com/2011/12/09/why-are-the-rich-so-interested-in-public-school-reform/#ixzz1gKpIDsXz
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
SCHOOL WARS: THE BRITISH WAY
Side by Side: On Britain's School Wars (by Stefan Collini)
A review of
A review of
Melissa Benn. 2011. The Battle for Britain's Education. London: Verso.
DEBATES CONTINUE...
By FREDERICK M. HESS and LINDA DARLING-HAMMOND
Published: December 5, 2011
A coherent vision for federal education policy starts not by micromanaging schools, but by focusing on the four functions Washington alone can perform.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
KC: ATTEMPT TO RESIST STATE TAKEOVER EMERGING
Mayor leads attempt at community-driven plan for KC schools - KansasCity.com
The District Advisory Committee, made up of parents and community members, has said it wants the state to work with the current board still intact. The teachers union and the NAACP also want to keep the elected board.
Groups that have called for an appointed administrative board include the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and the Mattie Rhodes Center.
The Urban Summit, an umbrella group of Kansas City organizations, joined in support of an appointed board and recommended people for the panel: Attorney Clinton Adams Jr., Urban League President Gwen Grant, the Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield II and the Rev. Sam Mann. The group's memo to Nicastro also recommended that someone be appointed from the Latino community.