Nancy E. Bailey's Blog, page 55

Fast ForWord Computer Reading Program is KindaSlow!

When technology fails, shouldn’t there be accountability–like real teachers? In Gainesville, Florida, home of the prestigious University of Florida, the Alachua School District spent $1.9 million on a reading computer program called Fast ForWord. But children who did Fast ForWord  did worse than children not participating in the program! Will the company Scientific Learning pay […]

Moskowitz and Rhee: A Teacher’s Viewpoint

Many educators and parents have expressed concerns about Eva Moskowitz or Michelle Rhee becoming Secretary of Education. Moskowitz has declined the post, but Ivanka Trump visited her charter school, and some fear she is still being courted. They seem to value her input. From a teacher’s viewpoint, I wanted to document why so many resent […]

Recent Research Shows Vouchers Fail Children

The Trump presidency seems to want to base its education program on school choice. But vouchers have a history of failure. The two most recent studies indicate that students do worse with vouchers. The Louisiana Scholarship Program provided tuition to poor students in low-performing public schools. An MIT paper by Atila Abdulkadiroglu of Duke University, […]

Lacking Civics Education and School Privatization

We have just come to the end of a long and contentious political season. Many of us are worried about America’s future. It’s never too late to ask how civics education is being addressed in our public schools. Public schools don’t usually teach civics well. Have you ever wondered why it isn’t a priority? The […]

President Donald Trump: What NOW for Public Schools?

President Trump certainly won’t be remembered as someone who “Made America Great Again” by churning the past failed public school policies of both parties. What can we expect from President Donald Trump when it comes to our public schools? Is it all doom and gloom? Can we find any silver lining? Is there a smidgeon […]

Nebraska: The Online Worm in the Apple

Nebraska’s Great Public Schools When you get to feeling bad about awful school reform, it’s nice to reflect on Nebraska. It has been a shiny, organic apple. But now it has a worm in it when it comes to online instruction. The state has been mostly immune to draconian reform. Probably this is largely due […]

The Loss of Special Education Services: An Update

Every day I check the education news and am appalled to see more stories about children being denied special education services. Where is the federal government? Where’s the state? And how does the local school district get away with this without being sued? It is as if students with differences of any kind are being […]

What’s Scary to Kids: Having Dyslexia and Being Held Back in Third Grade!

You thought I forgot Halloween because I posted earlier today? No. Here is an old post that is unfortunately still relevant today. There is no point in rewriting what is already said. Happy Halloween! Have fun and stay safe out there! ___________________________________________________________________ With certain states jumping on the retention bandwagon, even though we know retention […]

Luck vs. Grit: Lessons from a Cubs Fan

As Luck Would Have it. William Shakespeare No one understands luck like a Cubs fan. And there is a lesson there for students in this era of grit. Grit involves the thinking that through perseverance and resilience you can reach your goals. To some extent the ability to overcome difficulties and hang in there when […]

Missing Socialization in Today’s Public Schools

How do democratic public schools address the socialization of students? How are children brought together to make a kinder world? Does anyone even ask that question today? This past weekend I read “My Pedagogic Creed” by John Dewey (a little light reading on a Sunday afternoon), and I was struck by how far our public […]