A NATION AT RISK - 25th ANNIVERSARY (and the fear-mongering and scapegoating continue)

[teacher gal]

Introductory remarks by Jim Horn, blogger extraordinaire, at Schools Matter:

I believe you will find Richard Rothstein's essay must reading for anyone who wishes to better understand, 1) how policy elites have used and abused education policy and schools over the past 25 years, 2) the powerful, though limited role, schools can play to improve our society and the individual lives that constitute it, and 3) how A Nation at Risk inspired more recent education scare documents that continue to divert attention from economic policy decisions that truly threaten the viability of our society, while doing nothing to better the schools that are disingenously blamed for what they can never fix, e. g., the exportation of jobs and wealth, the explosion of corporate greed, the unwillingness to save the Planet from the effects of global warming, the decay of civic institutions and public infrastructure, etc.

Go here, where Horn's remarks are followed by Rothstein's excellent essay on the 25th anniversary of A Nation At Risk.
http://schoolsmatter.blogspot.com/2008/04/nation-at-risk-burn-in-hell-bih.html

BTW, for those of you interested in daily updates on what is happening in the ongoing war against public education, Jim Horn's site is hard to beat.

[teacher gal]

1. Well, it's about

education, so I guess I'll probably have to be tooting my own horn to keep this up there!!

[teacher gal]

2. Dear People,

The growing divide between the rich and the poor in this nation will be multiplied many times if we do not take back our schools from the corporate/politicos.

There are so many pressing issues - I do understand that education is just one of them so forgive me if I seem pushy.

[teacher gal]

3. Sheeesh

Please tell me I will not be the only one commenting on this thread!

Thank you to the two people for the recs though.

[teacher gal]

4. Surely a Silver Anniversary

deserves some attention?

[teacher gal]

5. k nt

[checks-n-balances]

6. K & R & bookmarked for later

Thanks for posting this

[Cerridwen]

7. K & R

I'm on my way out for the night - but, if it'll help a bit...

At the risk of sounding cynical (which I am) try putting polygamy, sex or OMG! in your subject title. Maybe tie in your subject line or post with one of the latest pop stars whose names I don't know. I'm only partly kidding about this.

Good luck.

:hi:

[teacher gal]

10. Ha ha

I've really thought of doing that!

[Cerridwen]

8. Kick again for the teachers.

My favorite teachers:

Mrs. H. kindergarten
Mrs. W. 5th grade
Mr. R. 6th grade
Mr. H. 6th grade (for the gross out factor)
Miss F. 7th-9th grades
Mr. M. 7th grade (for being the first "communist" I ever met)


:hi:

[tavalon]

9. Well written and exposes the political games played with American children's lives

[Greyhound]

11. K & R

:kick: & R

[teacher gal]

12. home for

a quick lunch and thought I'd give this thread another kick.

[Greyhound]

16. This is so utterly depressing.

A :kick: for a valiant effort.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Bullshit from the get go

Hey let's create a problem and then claim we need to fix it!!

:sarcasm:

[teacher gal]

14. thanks

back to work now! Hope this can stay up there a bit.

[teacher gal]

15. ok, next time

I'll try putting SEX, POLYGAMY, SCANDAL, perhaps something about Britney Spears panties (or lack thereof) in the subject line.

Kinda sad though. This isn't sexy or sensational but oh so important to the future of the nation.