Preparing students for the successful exercise of citizenship – with a knowledge of history and civics and a commitment to the norms of democracy – has been one of the primary aims of taxpayer funding of K-12 education. Investigations across decades, however, have revealed shallow knowledge of American history and[Read More…]
2020 Presidential Election
This Memphis mom has a Thanksgiving message for Joe Biden
Editor’s note: This post from former teacher, school board member and passionate education choice advocate Erika Sanzi features a powerful message from a fellow school choice advocate. The commentary appeared earlier this week on Education Post. Sarah Carpenter, executive director of Memphis Lift, spent much of the 2020 primary season bringing[Read More…]
If we try, sometimes we just might find we get what we need
The American public has entrusted the White House to Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden. It appears that the Republicans will at least be favored to retain a slim Senate majority. Republicans gained an estimated 8-13 seats in the House, which will retain a Democratic majority. The turnout rate was the[Read More…]
Go vote: The winners get a giant mess!
There is an election tomorrow, so go out and vote. But note that these elections were once far less apocalyptic in tone. The 1920 presidential election, for instance, featured Warren Harding versus James M. Cox for all the presidential marbles, such as they were in those days. Cox survived a[Read More…]
NAEP scores: American public schools spend more but deliver less for students, families, taxpayers
The performance of American public schools was in decline before the pandemic struck; based on the latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress released Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics, things are likely to only get worse from here. The data show the average reading score[Read More…]
DeVos pathos
The poor have been rebels, but they have never been anarchists; they have more interest than anyone else in there being some decent government.” — G.K. Chesterton, “The Man Who Was Thursday” Our media rightly portray Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as enemy to our ancient order of officially branded “public”[Read More…]
Presidential candidates do not think all children are created equal
Editor’s note: This column from redefinED guest blogger Chris Stewart first appeared Feb. 25 on Education Post. I’m starting to notice a trend among the presidential candidates. I don’t think they’re vying to be a president who represents all Americans, just some. It sounds crazy but hear me out. When Democratic frontrunners lavish[Read More…]
The state of the (teachers) union
Somebody in the White House has been thinking. President Trump’s recent State of the Union address, while wanting perhaps in style, included a truly clever turn of the screw. Trump stole an issue only Cory Booker among the Democrats dared to touch – school choice for low income families. Booker[Read More…]