Author: abendelow
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The "Debt-Ceiling Crisis": Competing narratives at the waterhole
In our recent “Debt-Cieling crisis” we see a new-age fight at the waterhole, a primeval scene from the struggle for survival depicted chillingly in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001, and repeated whenever “times are hard” and group interests over valuable commodities collide. Competing groups converge over the precious resource. In the scene above, it’s the dirty waterhole;…
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An appreciation of cleaning
One thing I have always loved about the task of cleaning; it’s so clean, so unambiguously necessary and natural work. Morally and practicaly, the lines of cleaning are clear. It is always obvious what needs to be done: this oven looks like crap; my sinks are filthy, etc. The task identified, specific, perfectly measured steps…
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Public schools: our best democratizing institution?
My argumentative friend recently asked me about the new http://vivateachers.org/ site, which seeks “to dramatically increase classroom teachers’ participation in important state and national policy decisions about public education” through “direct communication between individual teachers and public officials, giving public officials authentic insight into how public classrooms and schools work best and they make policy…
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The technology of the TV mini-series
The “tv mini-series” is a (to me) new narrative vehicle, 100% televisual and when done well, instantly engrossing. Many years after their heyday, I am discovering these many-chaptered, multi-year series, and seeing how they merit comparison with Dickens or Trollope, or Tolstoy, with their engaging, realistic characters working out personal struggles in an ensemble. In…
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First time in Deadwood, SD tonight
Enjoying Deadwood for the first time tonight, and not only do I see where the Coen Brothers got their idea for the formula: Brutal frontier town life + eloquent Victorian English = immensely entertaining, but also a fascintating display of ageless human conflict (individuals vs. society; capitalistic greed vs. commonweal; chaos vs. order) enacted through…
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Dr. James Gee of ASU on literacy education (and its lack in the USA)
I was privileged today to hear professor of literacy studies at Arizona State University Dr. James Paul Gee speak about the reasons behind the “4th grade slump,” achievement gaps, and other horrific aspects of US public schools. His remarks were interesting, provocative, and delivered with passion at the Chicago Humanities Festival‘s excellent Summer Institute for Teachers held at…
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The access issue: STILL roadblocking the way to Web 2.0 in USA
I woke up excited this morning to hear Charlene Chausis, Manager of Technology Training and Integration at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL (follow her on Twitter @cchausis) and Kathy Shirley, Director of Technology and Media Services at Escondido Union School District, CA discuss how they’ve used Apple product (specifically iPads) “to study literature,…
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"Successful" Chicago turn-around group does Ed schools' job
With success at 19 public schools (and I hasten to add, “success” as measured only by test scores) Chicago’s Academy of Urban School Leadership AUSL –got reportage today on NPR. The new CPS superintendent was out signaling his support of an charter school approach that, despite its mission statement, is really more about the teachers than the kids.…
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A PBL protocol: breathing exercise?
From ancient Vedic wisdom (via Paramahansar Yogananda) comes a technique that may be useful in maximizing the potential of large classrooms using PBL (project-based learning). The famous teacher in his Autobiography recommends that a learner’s body and mind must be calmed before deep (and thus effective) cognition can take place. His method of yogic meditation relies on…
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Cost savings drive Summer School online
Guilford County, North Carolina: Summer school here is no more. Face-to-face instruction is eliminated. Students “complete their work at home, the library or wherever they can access the Internet,” says the The Greensboro News-Record article. “The online-only approach…will help the district shrink its summer school budget from roughly $438,000 to $86,000.” Wow. Presto. Move it online and the…
The Wikiness 