Man! You packed a lot into this one! Any thoughts about Jade marmalade on toasted multigrain? How about charter schools founded by peyote eaters or by snake handlers?
I always find your work interesting to read. I know there are issues you and I will agree on and ones we won't. (I appreciate more where we don't agree, because I get an opportunity to learn and reflect.)
Education Data - My understanding is that one of the most significant criticisms of the Department of Education is that data was often collected but never published and even what was published was questionable. Considering the attitude towards data and research in education, I sadly don't find that surprising. Should it be left to an organization created by the states? Given the ineptitude of Michigan's Department of Education when it comes to data, I don't have much more faith in that approach. I would rather see a university contracted to become educational data specialists.
Gen Z and Misinformation - One of my daughters went to an International Baccalaureate school, the one you met at GU (and now studying abroad in New Zealand, so very sorry we haven't gotten back to you!). The other two went to a high ranked standard public high school. The material and curriculum weren't that different, but the approach certainly was! Lots of discussion and some arguing, but students better read research to be able to debate topics. At the standard public high school, it is still very much sit-and-get instruction. Some fake news and misinformation makes its way into the classroom via the teacher, although I would say much more is half-stories where only one point of view is covered. Students aren't really given a chance to evaluate what is told them, so they don't look for the hallmarks of misinformation or question what their authority figure says. With my two in university, it really depends on the professor if multiple viewpoints are allowed and discussed. When the "argument from authority" fallacy becomes the standard in the classroom, accepting misinformation because it comes from a source you want to trust becomes very easy.
Charter Schools - Huge can of worms! A wonderful opportunity to innovate - until state law and lack of funds makes it impossible. In Michigan, charter schools don't get bonds or non-homestead property tax, so they operate on about 2/3s of what traditional public schools do. A few have been able to innovate, but even they struggle retaining teachers due to low pay. When we were starting Avondale GATE, the majority of educators we interviewed were charter school teachers looking for better pay while still in an innovative environment.
I've looked at starting a charter school because I believe our highly ranked traditional public schools are more filling pails than lighting fires. (Plutarch, Yeats, ???) But money always remains the issue. But if a church, mosque, synagogue, mandir, chaitya, or temple grants the free use of their spaces, that becomes a great financial equalizer!
I would also argue that a large number of traditional public schools have become sectarian, even if that sect is not a religion but an unyielding viewpoint, as witnessed in Mahmoud v. Taylor. And as a public school parent, I would say it is not a single issue, but numerous, where a small number of people choose what will be the views of the 'public'. Some charter schools already have gone even further. We have a wonderful Black Charter Network in Detroit, but I would say that they reflect the viewpoints of their leadership, not that of the public of the state of Michigan. And as long as there exists choice, public sectarian schools are A-OK with me, even if I disagree strongly with what they teach.
Considering how frequently Michigan Democrats have tried to put burdensome regulations on charter schools and reduce their funding, I do expect that the OK SCOTUS decision could lead to them trying to close all charters. And that only harms the children of Michigan, where public education currently ranks #41 out of 50.
Man! You packed a lot into this one! Any thoughts about Jade marmalade on toasted multigrain? How about charter schools founded by peyote eaters or by snake handlers?
Fascinating read — thank you for the insights!
I always find your work interesting to read. I know there are issues you and I will agree on and ones we won't. (I appreciate more where we don't agree, because I get an opportunity to learn and reflect.)
Education Data - My understanding is that one of the most significant criticisms of the Department of Education is that data was often collected but never published and even what was published was questionable. Considering the attitude towards data and research in education, I sadly don't find that surprising. Should it be left to an organization created by the states? Given the ineptitude of Michigan's Department of Education when it comes to data, I don't have much more faith in that approach. I would rather see a university contracted to become educational data specialists.
http://educationbythenumbers.org/content/the-accuracy-of-federal-education-data_119/
Gen Z and Misinformation - One of my daughters went to an International Baccalaureate school, the one you met at GU (and now studying abroad in New Zealand, so very sorry we haven't gotten back to you!). The other two went to a high ranked standard public high school. The material and curriculum weren't that different, but the approach certainly was! Lots of discussion and some arguing, but students better read research to be able to debate topics. At the standard public high school, it is still very much sit-and-get instruction. Some fake news and misinformation makes its way into the classroom via the teacher, although I would say much more is half-stories where only one point of view is covered. Students aren't really given a chance to evaluate what is told them, so they don't look for the hallmarks of misinformation or question what their authority figure says. With my two in university, it really depends on the professor if multiple viewpoints are allowed and discussed. When the "argument from authority" fallacy becomes the standard in the classroom, accepting misinformation because it comes from a source you want to trust becomes very easy.
Charter Schools - Huge can of worms! A wonderful opportunity to innovate - until state law and lack of funds makes it impossible. In Michigan, charter schools don't get bonds or non-homestead property tax, so they operate on about 2/3s of what traditional public schools do. A few have been able to innovate, but even they struggle retaining teachers due to low pay. When we were starting Avondale GATE, the majority of educators we interviewed were charter school teachers looking for better pay while still in an innovative environment.
I've looked at starting a charter school because I believe our highly ranked traditional public schools are more filling pails than lighting fires. (Plutarch, Yeats, ???) But money always remains the issue. But if a church, mosque, synagogue, mandir, chaitya, or temple grants the free use of their spaces, that becomes a great financial equalizer!
I would also argue that a large number of traditional public schools have become sectarian, even if that sect is not a religion but an unyielding viewpoint, as witnessed in Mahmoud v. Taylor. And as a public school parent, I would say it is not a single issue, but numerous, where a small number of people choose what will be the views of the 'public'. Some charter schools already have gone even further. We have a wonderful Black Charter Network in Detroit, but I would say that they reflect the viewpoints of their leadership, not that of the public of the state of Michigan. And as long as there exists choice, public sectarian schools are A-OK with me, even if I disagree strongly with what they teach.
Considering how frequently Michigan Democrats have tried to put burdensome regulations on charter schools and reduce their funding, I do expect that the OK SCOTUS decision could lead to them trying to close all charters. And that only harms the children of Michigan, where public education currently ranks #41 out of 50.