Nancy E. Bailey's Blog, page 56

Pushing the Privatized “Maker Movement” Into Public Schools

The 3D printing market is projected to be worth $8 billion by 2020. —Paul Hill, “Ten statistics that reveal the size and scope of the Maker Movement.” November 3, 2015 Why be skeptical of the Maker Movement and its effect on public schools? The speed to which the Maker Movement is being pushed into schools […]

Parents Working With School Districts To Make Public Schools Work

For our team and the members of our group, gifted education is not about speeding through school or having Ivy League kids. It is about our children receiving an education that causes them to work hard, overcome obstacles, and fail and recover. It is about finding friends who understand them and are OK with their […]

Killing Teacher Prep During a Teacher Shortage: A Mystery? (Maybe Not)

Are you in the mood for a mystery? Education Secretary John King recently came out with the intent to kill university teacher prep programs. His predecessor Arne Duncan, who never taught a day in his life, cheered him on. They will do this by denying future teachers TEACH grants to go into teacher preparation programs. […]

12 Reasons Why Digital Personalized Learning is Not Special Education

A recent article in Business Insider describes how Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg got their idea for digital personalized learning from special education. A light bulb lit, and they realized that students placed according to their academic level online is needed for every child—not just students with disabilities. They liked the way special education teachers […]

Michigan to Retain Children with Lead Poisoning

Michigan has a lead problem with its children in Flint, and a governor who failed badly his own accountability test. Many wonder why he is still governor. Some wonder why he isn’t in jail. But yesterday he signed off on a bill to fail third graders. How many children in Flint will wind up failing […]

Glamorous Superintendents Who Stand On School Wreckage

The school superintendent, called CEO after the school/business takeover, is considered the superman or woman of the school district. Sometimes they are elected, but more often they are appointed by school boards. There are still some great school superintendents. But there are many others who seem to be less a public servant (superintendent) and more […]

Jeb Bush, Retention, and the Failed Ferris Wheel of School Reform

Jeb Bush continues to ride the failed Ferris wheel of school reform. He is most likely emboldened by state politicians and business leaders, like in Michigan, subscribing to harmful 3rd grade retention policies. Also, with a fancy university invitation for him to lecture about schools and stuff. Michigan is following Florida’s lead, and that of […]

Digital Vocabulary Hijacked from Special Education

Isn’t it interesting how those who idolize digital instruction have hijacked vocabulary from special education? Unfortunately, self-directed learning is significant to them because the more you can get students working on their own the less they will need real teachers. Individualized learning doesn’t mean getting more attention. It  really means working alone. Morna McDermott recently […]

Do Americans Hate Teachers, Or are they Duped by Teach for America?

With more than $75 million coming in from government at last count and another $220 million from the philanthropic community, we should be seeing more evidence of long-term student gains and far more alumni continuing their impassioned work in the classroom. Patricia Schaefer, NPQ, September 11, 2015 Do Americans understand that by contributing to a […]

Special Ed. Irony: CT Gov. Malloy and Judge Thomas G. Moukawsher

In every state we see an erasing of services for students with disabilities. Consider how Texas managed to omit an appropriate education for students with special needs.  My guess is that in whatever state you live, special education is in trouble. How many children will not get the schooling they need to realize their dreams? […]