When I posted D.A. Russell's essay about how our urban high schools do not provide even minimal education on September 10, I hadn't yet read his book, Lifting the Curtain: The disgrace we call urban high school education. I have since remedied that. I found Lifting the Curtain fascinating, an eye-opening expose of how teachers and administrators, parents, and the students themselves have all played a role in the recent demise of quality education in our high schools. Here's my review of Lifting the Curtain: The recent convictions of high school teachers and administrators who changed students' test scores drew me to D.A. Russell's book, Lifting the Current: the disgrace we call urban high school education. And as I got into the book I found that changing test scores is just the tip of the iceberg. All involved students, teachers/administrators, and parents cheat just so the students will pass and the schools will continue to receive the funding they need to stay a … [Read more...]
The unintended consequences of well-meaning ideas
I'm so pleased that Choices is part of the promo party for D.A. Russell's book Lifting the Curtain: The disgrace we call urban high school education. See below for details about how you can join the party and win a copy of this expose on how well-meaning ideas have hurt education. Please take a look at this eye-opening teaser chapter. Good Intentions Gone Wrong A teaser chapter from Lifting the Curtain by D.A. Russell Nothing has hurt education more over the past decades than the unintended consequences of well-meaning ideas. Of all the problems facing schools today, this is far and away the most deadly issue. I suspect that had I the opportunity to personally know the individuals who authored many of the individuals who authored many of the federal and state education programs of the past 20 years, I would truly admire and respect those who came up with such a wonderful concept "No Child Left Behind." That phrase, in four short words, encapsulates everything I believe about te … [Read more...]
