Noam Chomsky on the Corporatization of the University

Something to think about...it's an hour and a half long but really interesting, I think

http://www.youtube.com/user/uoftscarborough#p/c/0/Q97tFyqHVLs

The link isn't working but try U. of T. at Scraborough on youtube. It's worth it.

Quality does not mean Quantity

An article from the Washington Post my friend posted on a home school site:

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/wrong-question-wrong-answer/2011/05/22/AFZ5hS9G_blog.html#pagebreak

It is very important to encourage children's curiousity but how is it best encouraged? If a school is mired down with testing results, constant exams and academic requirements, it is producing students who know how to answer questions but not necessarily ones who know how to think. An elastic mind is moulded and affected by the world in which it lives; a child who lives with standards and requirements is going to know how live by them but not necessarily whether they are legitimate or realistic. In way, a child is being taught to think inside the box; unfortunately for them, we live in a world that admires people who think outside the box. They are being strangled by convention in way....

Why Teachers get such a bad rap

An article from today's Irish Independent:

http://www.independent.ie/education/features/diary-of-a-schoolteacher-why-risk-burnout-when-the-brats-wont-remember-you-2617715.html

If nothing else, it shows an amazing amount of disrespect of a teacher for his students.

Nick Mount, Teacher

Perhaps,the highest accolade I can give to someone...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYVTPzgFcuc

Free (?) Education

A good society, in the traditional sense, offers education to its citizens to make sure its democracy is composed of informed voters. Sure there are other acceptable reasons to have an educated populace, but I believe this reason is one of the most important. Having said that, it should be noted I am really beginning to rethink this independent education strategy, not that I regret taking my children out of school, if anything I am more sure of the choice, but I am really beginning to look at the ways the institutions of education are evolving and the choices and responsibilities parents are and are not making. Anyhow, something I think is a worrisome trend (with a quick note that the year I pulled my daughters out of school, I paid $700 in fees for 3 children under 12):

http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/schoolsandresources/article/959637--two-more-gta-schools-join-million-dollar-fundraising-club

A Brilliant Way to Introduce History

Just found these videos on youtube...they are produced by the children's BBC station:

And, the Results of Testing Are...

A brilliant Diane Ravitch interview...remember the best way to teach a child to read is to read to them, not test them: