Surprising Article

I was surprised by this article in 4/25's New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/nyregion/100-new-york-schools-try-common-core-approach.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

I thought that teachers used these critical thinking skills strategies as a matter of course. Now we find out that the curriculum has been holding back teachers and students in New York City's public schools for years. How does that happen? Suburban schools have been using higher order activities, primary sources, critical reading and writing, and reflective journals for as long as I've been teaching.

This illustrates the folly of the No Child Left Behind Act and President Obama's Race to the Top program because both of those reward teaching to the test and the same kinds of uncreative educating that results in bored student and teachers. It's time for us to embrace a new curriculum model that allows educators to create a learning environment that engages students and connects the classroom to the larger world. Top-down imposition from administrators whose bottom line is the test number will guarantee mediocrity.

Too Far Right

The Republican Party is pressing the self destruct button on their 2012 prospects as we speak. When Chris Christie, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann and Donald Trump are all considered to be viable candidates, you know the party is in trouble. The radicals have taken over the GOP and they are in for a nasty surprise if they think they can beat Obama.