A right to education, especially for those with troubling behavior
Last Friday's ruling in a North Carolina court that schools that suspend students for extended periods must still provide an education is both a reasonable interpretation of most state constitutions' right-to-education clause and an important philosophical and policy point. Here's the way I'd put it: you have a right to an education, if not necessarily where you […]
Why an educated population is a public good
Last month, Matthew Denhart described the current (and very small-scale) state of privatized student-loan microfinance, something Richard Vedder jumped on when Warren Buffett mentioned the idea last year: turn student debt into equity in students. This idea addresses my concern expressed a few years ago (it's towards the end of that very long entry) that the domination […]
Next Generation Learning Challenge
I'm not sure whether to cheer or wince at the Gates-centered Next Generation Learning Challenge grant competition for various online learning tools (see the New York Times and Chronicle coverage). Wince potential: more millions being thrown in hopes that somehow, somewhere, "technology" will improve schooling. The good part: tools must be available publicly at the end of […]
Commenting on Rhee resignation? Please channel Ellen Goodman, not Maureen Dowd
So Michelle Rhee is announcing her resignation tomorrow, and I have one request for anyone who is tempted to comment on her "style," a la Maureen Dowd: please don't. If you're tempted to write about how Rhee closed schools in a high-handed manner, please consider instead the policy issues: how schools are often some of […]
Wincing at Bill Maxwell
In his column yesterday, Bill Maxwell wrote, "Research shows that safer campuses and renewed focus on academics are the two broad benefits of public school uniforms." I like Maxwell a great deal, but I think I need to call him out on this one. Dr. Maxwell: which rigorous research shows that uniforms improve outcomes for either […]