Nancy E. Bailey's Blog, page 14

In Virginia’s and Other Governors’ and School Board Races: Choose Public School Supporters!

Virginia’s governor’s race with Terry McAuliffe (D) and Glenn Youngkin (R) is close. So get out and vote on November 2, 2021. If Americans are going to save public schools, it will be more likely to happen by voting for the Democratic gubernatorial candidates and school board members. It isn’t always easy to be on board with […]

“The Truth About Reading” Is Missing Truths and Backstory

Americans are getting primed with a trailer for a new documentary called The Truth About Reading. It’s said there needs to be a grassroots movement of parents and educators who are angry and say enough is enough. Wouldn’t it be better if teachers and parents met and shared their concerns about reading at their schools? Schools […]

Universal Pre-K? Good Idea But Concerns About the Curriculum

Most politicians, including presidential candidates, highlight Universal Pre-K (UPK). President Biden is no different. It’s good that the President is concerned about this issue, but the plan deserves scrutiny. Supporting families who need childcare assistance, no matter the child’s age, is critical. Offering UPK for children starting from age three may bring children together, and […]

Cult-Like Social-Emotional Learning? Questioning Valor Charters and Powered by Compass

How many hours during the school day should students reflect upon how they think and act? Valor Collegiate Charter Schools focus heavily on social-emotional learning (SEL). They aggressively market their program Powered by Compass to schools. Students gather in circles to contemplate their lives and analyze their behavior. Valor’s philanthropic partners include the Bill & […]

Florida and Beyond Assessment Snookering: CBE, Common Core, and Embedded Online Testing, No Teacher Required!

Florida’s Governor DeSantis just announced the end of the Florida State Assessment (FSA), and many Floridians are thrilled, just thrilled, thinking this will be the end of the horrible testing cloud that has hovered over children since NCLB. And they’re being led to believe that Common Core is done, but they’re still using iReady built […]

About School Mitigations . . .

When medical experts and leaders discuss Covid-19 and the Delta variant and school safety, they refer to mitigation strategies for keeping students and staff safe. They sound confident that schools will employ layers of organized, controlled, and routine preventative steps. They still don’t seem to understand the problems schools face with mitigations. Or they say […]

How States Are Privatizing Public Schools to Tech Companies During the Delta Variant Uptick

It’s unconscionable that states and local school districts across the country have eliminated the remote learning option where children connect with their classroom teachers online. Instead, they’re opening virtual schools, outsourcing to for-profit companies, using the pandemic to privatize public schooling. Parents fearful of the Delta variant and in-person schooling, hearing dire warnings about sick […]

Adult Organized Recess Isn’t Real Recess! How the Pandemic is Being Used to Privatize P.E. As Recess

Children should own recess. Adults own P.E. It should be as easily understood as that. But those who wish to privatize public education are conflating the two. They’re using Covid-19, and social-emotional learning, to privatize P.E, calling it recess when it’s not. A Brief History of The Loss of Recess In 1998, The New York […]

14 Reasons Why It Might STILL Be Dangerous to Open School Buildings

For parents and educators, many concerns still surround the virus and sending children back into school buildings. 1. It Seems Like The Virus Should Be Over—It’s Not!  This summer looked like the end of the pandemic was in sight, especially if vaccinated. But now the Delta variant swirls around children, teachers, and staff inside schools. […]

Has School Ventilation Improved as Schools Open?

As Delta variant cases increase in children, including several deaths, the mask and vaccination debate has been front and center concerning schools. Many do not believe school building openings are safe and that they shouldn’t open. If they open, they should be made as safe as possible. Are parents and educators examining how their school […]