Nancy E. Bailey's Blog, page 27

Sights and Sounds of the Season and The Importance of the Arts in Public Schools

This is a good time to think about the arts. The visuals and sounds of the holidays, art, music, and drama, surround us. It’s a reminder that children need access to learning about the arts in public schools. The arts help children learn in academic areas. They keep children interested in school. The arts alone […]

The Myth that Charter Schools are Innovation Paradigms

For years charter school advocates have claimed that charter schools have something new and innovative to share with public schooling. It’s a myth. Charter schools bring nothing new to the table. Any innovative charter schools are likely run by real teachers. Jeanne Allen, who founded the Center for Education Reform (CER,) called the nation’s leading […]

7 Concerns About the MSNBC Public Education Forum

It was nice to watch the MSNBC Public School Forum online. Finally, Democratic candidates answered questions about education. But here are seven concerns. For the record, I was trying to multi-task while I watched, which I’m rarely good at, so I may have missed something. Corrections are welcome. Billionaire Takeover Candidates talked about making the […]

It’s Wrong to Force Four and Five Year Olds to Read! Focus on Speaking and Listening Instead!

With No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and Common Core State Standards, some adults have been led to believe that four- and five-year-old children should read by the end of kindergarten. Preschoolers are pushed to be ready for formal reading instruction by the time they enter kindergarten. This is a dangerous idea rooted […]

Learning Disabilities and Inclusion: Abandoned Commitment

Parents around the country are angry, claiming that their children who have learning disabilities, namely dyslexia, are not being served in public schools. The question here is why aren’t public schools serving students with learning disabilities? Isn’t it the law? Many parents expect inclusion in general education classes, although some argue for vouchers. Vouchers mean […]

Parents and Teachers United: A Force for Students, Public Education, and America!

On this Thanksgiving, I am remembering parents and teachers, Republicans and Democrats, who work together to create public schools that serve all children. This relationship is sacred and critical for children to learn. Without this bond there’s little hope for public education and America’s future. The corporate reform, dystopian goal is to destroy public education […]

The Summit for Corporate Reformers vs. Teachers Who CLIMB Summits

A summit is defined as the highest peak of a mountain. It’s also a meeting of high-level officials. In education, corporate politicians and reformers promote themselves as child experts. Yet they are far removed from the classrooms where teachers climb mountains every day to help students learn. Chicago teachers recently fought for paraprofessionals to have […]

Organizations with the Audacity to Blame Teachers for Poor NAEP Reading Scores!

The latest “criticize teachers for not teaching the ‘science’ of reading” can be found in “Schools Should Follow the ‘Science of Reading,’ say National Education Groups” in the Gates funded Education Week.  The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funds most of the organizations in this report that criticize public schools and teachers for low NAEP […]

The Failure of Betsy DeVos and 30 Years of Corporate Influence on Public Schools!

Frustrated by public schools? Look no further than the corporate education reformers and what they have done to public education. Education Secretary DeVos and her corporate billionaire friends have been chipping away at the fabric of democratic public schools for over thirty years! The problems we see in public schools today are largely a result […]

The Haunted Third Grade Classrooms Children Fear: Enter and… Stay Forever!

Children fear third grade retention. It doesn’t motivate them to learn. They don’t read earlier because of it. Retention is not effective. It’s scary and could haunt a child forever. Third grade retention laws are real for children in nineteen states. NEA Reports noted in 2017 that 16 states and Washington D.C. make it mandatory that […]