In this election bedtime story, the hardworking, but flawed, queen did not slay the orange dragon with the terrible roar. Instead, the villagers made the dragon their king and banished the queen to a cottage somewhere in Upstate New York. Many parents, caregivers, teachers, especially Clinton supporters, struggle to explain the outcome of the story Read More

A colleague of mine, a biologist, (let’s call him Ken) teaches an upper-level college course on genetics. Course requirements include the usual—class participation, quizzes, exams, and …a scientific paper. Each semester, when Ken mentions the paper the classroom erupts in shrieks and murmurs. Immediately after the noise dies down, hands shoot into the air and Read More

Most teachers I ask say no. It doesn’t matter if students are wealthy, middle class or poor, they say. Then I ask other questions: Does what’s happening in the world affect the schoolhouse? Social media? Prejudice? Teachers always answer yes to these questions. Which brings us back to social class. Social class is a powerful force Read More

Language is a contentious issue in education. Not only does language announce membership in a language group, a culture, a religion or nativity in a geographical area, language is connected to ideas about citizenship. Citizenship is central to the concept of mass schooling. Mass schooling is, literally, the education of the masses. More than 75% Read More