On Nov. 22, 2024, the State Board of Education (SBOE) voted 8-7 to adopt Bluebonnet Learning, the state’s controversial, Bible-infused elementary school reading curriculum. This came from a preliminary vote earlier in the week that indicated support for Bluebonnet Learning. This state-authored elementary school curriculum has drawn scrutiny for its prominent inclusion of biblical teachings. […]
Texas
Posted inCOVID
Texas Hold ‘Em- The Evolution of Teacher Residencies
Enhanced Standard Certificate for Teacher Residents Once again, Texas is on the cutting edge of teacher recruitment and retention. On Friday, April 12, 2024, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) led the country by becoming the first state to distinguish teachers prepared by vetted teacher residency programs. Those residents will bestow the distinction of […]
Posted inPedagogy
We Put “To Kill a Mockingbird” on Trial
Books Are Meant to Be Discussed, Not Banned Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Last summer, I served on the jury of my first murder trial. We heard all kinds of griping testimony, viewed extensive forensic evidence, and witnessed dramatic outbursts from the defense lawyer, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
No, Slavery Was Not “Involuntary Relocation”
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! On Thursday, the news broke that a group of educators in Texas tasked with updating the social studies curriculum for second graders proposed teaching slavery as “involuntary relocation.” The workgroup says that language aims to address the lack of slavery […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
Use Your Holiday Break to Get Political
This summer at my first PSEA Summer Leadership Conference (our union getaway in Gettysburg, PA), I heard what was probably the most interesting speech in years. The president of Student PSEA, a college senior about to begin her student-teaching that fall, talked about politics and education. She said that, while in high school leading up […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education, Opinion, Parents
Critical Thinking in Kids
For those that may have read my blog, particularly a post on stagnation in our schools, you might gather that I highly support the teaching of critical thinking skills. It came as a shock, though, to find out that at least in Texas, critical thinking is looked down upon. You can actually read their […]