Beginning with my high school graduating Class of 2001, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania instituted several shifts in policy regarding graduation requirements. My class was the first to be incorporated with a graduation project, which has since come and gone. The following graduating class was the first to have to complete the Pennsylvania System of School […]
Current Events in Education
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion, Social Studies
"Exceptionalism" as the new American Idiocy: an Outlaw AP US History Teacher Responds
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] If you are an educator, and especially an AP Teacher, or a current or former recipient of an AP education, you could not have missed the news this week that the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Opinion
Why I Favor Fair Share
On Monday, February 9th, 2015, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner told the Chicago Tribute that he felt “government union bargaining and government union political activity are inextricably linked,” causing him to sign an Executive Order eliminating fair share policies for unions across the state. And for this, he is fundamentally wrong. Let’s explore a few questions to understand […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Literacy
Prepare for Next Week's Forecast: Snowy, with a Chance of School
It’s snowing again in New England. It’s February. No surprise. In fact, snow days are not a surprise for thousands of school districts across the US. Snow days interrupt instruction. Again, No surprise. It’s a fact that schools have requirements for school instruction days and for instruction hours or seat time. So if snow days and […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured
The Importance of Black History Month
It is Black History month. Some schools read a little quote in the morning from an African American author, some put on full programs, and others ignore it all together. One of the most terrifying things that could happen to this country is to forget where we come from. Black history is essential to understanding […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Literacy, Middle School
American Teachers Work 11-14 % More, Testing Not Included
Yes, American teachers do work more hours than their international counterparts, but exactly how much more could be a matter of perception versus reality, and testing may be to blame. A recent study comparing the number of hours worked by American teachers shows the difference in instructional time is not as significant as has been publicized in the past. […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Literacy, Opinion
The Queasy Mix on Social Media
I uploaded videos of my mother and her sisters to YouTube. Seated together on a sunny summer afternoon, four of seven sisters, they chat about family recipes and stories of their youth. I shared the clip this past summer on the popular video platform so my cousins could also enjoy watching their mothers and aunts. Now, I […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
YES, the American TEACHER can Save AMERICA!
Teachers complain a lot and I mean A LOT. Trust me I would know. My parents were teachers who complained during meals. My best friends are teachers who sprinkle more complaints over their cafeteria lunch than salt and pepper. We gripe about administration. We bemoan the manners of our students. We open our arms to […]