Category Archives: Education

Education

How School Choice Turns “We” Into “Me”

John Rex Elementary Charter School
John Rex Elementary Charter School (on the right) is the newest school built in Oklahoma City Public Schools. Their collection area is narrowly defined in an a part of the city where there are few children. That makes room for downtown executives to enroll their children from all parts of the metro. Photo by Brett Dickerson

“School choice” turns the “we” of society into the “me” of taking care of my child at the expense of everyone else.

Continue reading How School Choice Turns “We” Into “Me” →

Education

Quality Teachers Are Developed — Not Found

Jaime Escalante
The real Jaime Escalante did come from computer programming into teaching, but his celebrated success came after years of developing his own teaching skills and math program at the same high school. Photo credit: MyHero.com

Are quality teachers found or developed? This is not just a rhetorical exercise. The answer has everything to do with how we go about the whole management of our teacher workforce.  Continue reading Quality Teachers Are Developed — Not Found →

Education

Teacher, You Live in Two Worlds

teachers rally capitol contest
Teachers, parents, and administrators make an unusual foray into the world of the contest March, 2014 with this huge rally at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

We teachers live in two worlds: One is of collaboration and democracy. The other is of contest and domination.

We’ve done well with that first world, the one of collaboration. It’s that second one of the contest and mental brutality of eliminating the competition that we have a hard time swallowing.  Continue reading Teacher, You Live in Two Worlds →

Education

Gov Fallin Won’t Give Up on Punishing Public Schools

Fallin and the State of the State Address
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin gives her State of the State address to the combined House and Senate of the Legislature on the first day of the session, February 2. Credit: KGOU.org

Apparently, Governor Mary Fallin is still sold on the A-F school grading model from the very latest new and improved “government transparency” website that was rolled out during her state of the state address on February 2.  Continue reading Gov Fallin Won’t Give Up on Punishing Public Schools →

Education

So You Want Evidence of Choice and Charter Problems?

closed charter schools
This is from an auctioneer’s web site announcing a real treasure trove of bargain basement prices for equipment bought at full price by a charter school with state taxpayer’s money.

So, you think that you want to expand “school choice” for parents by passing proposed legislation that would allow charters and private schools to take tax money with little of the financial or quality safeguards that publicly controlled schools now have? 

Continue reading So You Want Evidence of Choice and Charter Problems? →

Education

Cynical School Choice Stunts Ramp Up In Oklahoma

Booker T. Washington School
Booker T. Washington School in Tulsa was one of the first magnet schools in the state. The main purpose was to entice Tulsa Schools parents and students to desegregate the schools there. It has been an outpost of racial inclusion and quality since. Photo by one of the early graduates of the Booker T magnet school.

Once upon a time in Oklahoma, magnet public schools were the “choice” that allowed for much more creativity and freedom. They helped to break years of racial/economic segregation. But that’s not the point of a huge “school choice” push today.  Continue reading Cynical School Choice Stunts Ramp Up In Oklahoma →