Education Week 9/22/2010 issue

Federal Aid Adds  Twist to Election, p. 1

Government’s proper role weighed against benefits

State officials and even some Republican lawmakers, who normally resent the federal government “intruding” in education, see value in accepting federal funds while states are in dire financial straits

Massive federal spending as part of stimuls package--$787 billion, $100 billion to education, $26 billion state aid

·         Save jobs

·         Propping up budgets

·         Support innovation in education

Republican response

·         Proper to support states

·         Against national standards and tests

·         Against increased federal role in education

Race to the top should please conservatives—promote charter schools, merit pay for teachers, in some cases a data system to track student academic progress

[My thoughts: Ideology, not what is best for students, seems to be the primary consideration for some of these politicians, Governor Perry of Texas in particular.]

Rhee Reflective in Aftershock of D.C. Primary, p. 1

Michele Rhee, chancellor of the D.C. public schools since 2007, has had a controversial tenure.  Although she had no previous experience running a school system, she was hired by Mayor Adrian Fenty to clean up the school system.  She pushed to close dilapidated, poorly-performing schools, she pushed for performance pay for teachers, and she moved to fire underperforming central office workers.  Under her leadership, test scores have improved, enrollment decline has slowed, and the bureaucracy has implemented data-driven processes.

Her boss failed to win his Democratic primary on Sept. 14^th, however, and Ms. Rhee’s future may be in doubt.  There may be a backlash against her by parents and by teachers who have been turned off by her leadership and who feel that they have been left out of the process.  Examining her record, one can find evidence of success:  improved graduation rates, improved test scores, and a successful campaign to upgrade buildings.  While voters liked the changes, they did not like the leadership styles of those responsible.  They turned out Mr. Fenty.  Without his support, Rhee appears to be carefully weighing her options.

[My thoughts:  When the situation gets bad enough, people want a take-charge individual to come in and clean it up.  Then, when she is doing what needs to be done and is making progress, the same people get their feathers ruffled and are put off by her leadership style.  They should remember the adage, “You have to break some eggs to make an omelette.”]

Scholars Suggest Adding ‘Gap Year’ May Encourage College Completion, p. 12

Studies tout the motivational power of time off after high school

The idea of a gap or bridge year between high school and college, sometimes involving 6-12 months of travel, seems to be taking hold in the US.  Research in Australia suggests that it is lower-performing students who were more inclined to take a gap year, but the gappers also appeared to have higher motivation when they did get to college.  One US study found that students who delayed entry into college were less likely to complete a degree, however.   

Some elite colleges encourage gapping by students, encouraging them to do a year of service abroad, for example.  The authors of The Gap Year Advantage have found that burnout and “wanting to find out more about themselves” were the two main reasons why students took a gap year.  Nine out of ten returned to college within a year, and 60% said that their time off had helped them to confirm a career or a major.  Many had rewarding experiences during this time off, especially those who were able to travel.

[My thoughts:  For those who are not yet mature enough for college, a year off could help.  Sometimes experience flipping burgers at McDonald's convinces young adults that they want to do more with their lives, and they could come back more motivated than they had been before.