Valiant, Etc.

Parent Alert!

Dr. Bob Valiant — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:14:57 +0000

Parent Alert! Do you really believe the nightmare of high-stakes testing of children as young as 5, the grade retention policies that fly in the face of decades of research, scripted curriculum, narrowed offerings, larger class sizes and lack of classroom resources is going away on its own? Have you heard of ALEC, Broad, DeVos, . . . → Read More: Parent Alert!

Pro-Reform

Dr. Bob Valiant — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:15:48 +0000

I am unabashedly pro-reform, and proud of it. The public schools in the U.S. are headed in the wrong direction and must be redirected to a new course. The evidence is clear that things have gone unquestionably wrong. Failing schools, increasing drop out rates, a badly deteriorating infrastructure, and demoralized teachers are all indicators that . . . → Read More: Pro-Reform

Farmers Call it “Sucking Hind Teat”

Dr. Bob Valiant — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:19:16 +0000

There are lots of ways to organize a school and provide a curriculum for the students. Take a look at the curriculum described below and think about how this might work for your children and grandchildren.

Elementary School

The school provides an academically challenging curriculum with flexibility to meet the needs of individual students. The . . . → Read More: Farmers Call it “Sucking Hind Teat”

Coming soon to a school near you…..

Dr. Bob Valiant — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:18:41 +0000

Mark Naison is a Professor of African-American Studies and History at Fordham University and Director of Fordham’s Urban Studies Program. He recently posted a letter from a teacher in a New York City high school that illustrates what is happening in schools across the country. We introduce it here:

Letter from a Teacher in . . . → Read More: Coming soon to a school near you…..

Two Scenarios

Dr. Bob Valiant — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:28:43 +0000

For centuries, the ways of the world were nearly static but change began to accelerate with the industrial age. By the advent of the 20th century our parents and grandparents faced a world of increasing ability to communicate rapidly, travel great distances in short periods of time, and to rely on mechanical aids to perform . . . → Read More: Two Scenarios

How do you evaluate a school district?

Dr. Bob Valiant — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 06:29:10 +0000

Michael Martin, our Arizona colleague, continues to monitor the literature and to apply his considerable analytical talents to what he finds. Below is his summary of the National Research Council report on their plan to evaluate the Washington, D.C. public schools.

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The National Academies of Science, America’s most prestigious organization in science, engineering and . . . → Read More: How do you evaluate a school district?

Opinion: 7 reasons why teacher evaluations won’t work

Dr. Bob Valiant — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:36:47 +0000

We received this from Monty Neill at FairTest

It was initially published in The Record

Sunday, March 13, 2011 Last updated: Sunday March 13, 2011, 7:46 AM BY BRUCE BAKER The Record

Bruce Baker is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Theory, Policy and Administration at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education . . . → Read More: Opinion: 7 reasons why teacher evaluations won’t work

You Pays Your Money and You Takes Your Choice

Dr. Bob Valiant — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 07:16:51 +0000

This was originally posted on the Kennewick School District Citizens web page and is reprinted here in the hope of reaching a different audience.

The following pairs of choices represent contrasting views of public education. Please read each pair, then circle the view you would like to see in place for the schools of . . . → Read More: You Pays Your Money and You Takes Your Choice

Creating a New School of Thought-Updated

Dr. Bob Valiant — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 14:35:54 +0000

Introduction

Thomas Friedman, in his book The World is Flat, writes that if you wish to be unaffected by the sea-change of events coming from the flattening of the global economy, you need to be special (Tom Brady), specialized (work that cannot be digitized, ie. brain surgeons), or anchored (barber). Even the specialized must constantly . . . → Read More: Creating a New School of Thought-Updated

How We Got Here (and what can we do about it?)

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 02:37:04 +0000

A presentation to AAUW, Enterprise, Oregon September 13, 2010.

Please take a moment to answer each of the following. Base your answer on what you believe is appropriate for your own child:

1. The primary purpose of reading instruction is:

Life-long love of reading To read and comprehend the written word at a increasing level . . . → Read More: How We Got Here (and what can we do about it?)