The Time Machine

I am currently at the CMI 2010 conference looking at curriculum design for the 21st Century.  This is the first of a series of posts related to that process - specifically as it relates to the necessary redesign of accompanying support systems.

Ready... Fire... AIM!

Educational reform is often a process of "Ready, Fire... AIM!"  We tend to move in a direction, as well intentioned as it may be, without asking some fundamental questions first.  Here's the conversation I would like to see policy-makers and educational stakeholders engage in...

Ed Research and Relevance

Educational researchers are increasingly being forced to answer the question: what do we do now? Proponents of the scientific theory movement, have no choice but to in some way embrace more qualitative approaches to inquiry.

On the Expectation of Return

There is an ongoing discussion about the degree to which the educational system is a financial investment complete with the expectation of a financial return.

Centralization v. Efficiency

In an attempt to create equity, Kentucky has (as have many other states) adopted a state per pupil funding calculation. The goal is to ensure that each student receives at least the (as decided by the state) minimum amount of funding for their education.

Capacity?

In conversation after conversation with educator after educator I hear a common theme – capacity, or the lack thereof.

Choice

Choice and the resulting competition inherent therein is a central concept of a growing school reform movement. Does this combination have positive impacts on school performance?

We Should Stop Educating Everyone... Or Stop Assuming Everyone Else Does

The debate last Wednesday night was capped by a question grounded in foolish logic. Bob Schieffer asked the candidates what they planned to do about America's "failing educational system" prefacing the question with the following qualifier:

The U.S. spends more per capita than any other country on education. Yet, by every international measurement, in math and science competence, from kindergarten through the 12th grade, we trail most of the countries of the world.

Values-Free is a Value

Mark Baldwin has raised several relevant ethical issues in regards to values and the practice of counseling. He and I have had many conversations about this particular issue, so I am invite my readers to take a look at his post: An Ethical Aspect of Multicultural Practice

The FEDERAL Institution of Public Education

As the September 12 Article of the Baltimore Sun points out, Obama and McCain have some differences of opinion when it comes to education. It appears to be the fundamental question of the limits of federalism (check out Josh Arrowood's comment on my Sex Ed post).