One of the first rules of serious software development is that you set up your tests first, before you write a line of code, so that you’ll be able to tell whether your program is working.
Articles tagged as
Education
Revisiting Educator Credentials
Developments in the Concord School District over the last several weeks have put a spotlight on a number of things, including New Hampshire’s educator credentialing.
Beware the Educational Industrial Complex
President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1961 Farewell Address remains consequential. A five-star general, Ike warned of the dangers of the Military-Industrial Complex—an informal alliance between our military and business establishments.
The #YellowNewDeal
Once upon a time, public schools were largely a response to two constraints: scarcity of educational resources, and difficulty of travel. But those constraints are no longer as significant as they once were. In particular, travel has become easy enough that many people think nothing of driving 30 miles to go out to dinner. A … Read more
“Using ‘adequacy funds’ to buy adequacy” – a sequel
OK, tag teaming off of Ian’s post on why why we aren’t paying for “verifying achievement” instead of “verifying attendance” here because of a question of from a LONG time reader who worked with me for over a decade at my former employer (Epicor). Here was his email on Ian’s post and, of course, my … Read more
In praise of assembly-line schools
One of the most common criticisms of schools is that they are too much like assembly lines in factories. But assembly lines are one of the greatest inventions ever, in terms of actually getting things done effectively and efficiently… provided that you use them properly.
There’s nothing wrong with setting up schools as assembly lines… provided that we do it properly.
Democrats Vote Against Education
JLCAR (Joint Legislative Committee Administrative Rules) voted 6-4 today on a final objection to the ‘Learn Everywhere Program’ that was proposed by Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. Related: NH JLCAR objects to Learn Everywhere (July) The Learn Everywhere Program would expand educational opportunities for students based on the charter school model. The State Board of Education approved the … Read more
Why Does the Wakefield NH School Board suddenly Want Common Core?
I recently received word that the town of Wakefield, that after years of resisting, it is opening its arms to Common Core Standards.
State of Our Schools
Empowering Educational Options is a Priority of the US DOE Deputy Secretary Dr. Mick Zais visited New Hampshire on September 30th as guest of the Department of Education and Commissioner Frank Edelblut. He spoke to a large group of educators, administrators, legislators, parents, and family advocates about the US Department of Education’s view of … Read more
Help Starting a Charter School
If the thought of being able to send your child or children to a public charter school appeals to you, but you have no idea of where to begin, may I suggest that the founding group of parents (yes- we need at least 10 parents to make this work) try to establish a working relationship … Read more
Budget Compromise Proves NH Democrats Want Economy To Tank so they Can Raise Taxes
The comprises budget signed by Gov. Sununu sucks. It spends more, and it’s got Easter eggs, more suitably named poison pills. But it’s not a total loss. It proves that New Hampshire Democrats were lying about tax hikes.
Will reality have any real effect on political debate?
The conservative/liberal debate is interesting because both terms are undefined. It’s healthy to have this debate. But what exactly is the debate today? The terms have any meaning anyone wants to assign them, any time they feel like using them. Which is to say, they are utterly useless except as pejoratives.
Government Bureaucrats Control Education
Government bureaucrats control public education. Are you one of the people who object to much of what goes on in government operated schools? Are you also willing to tolerate it because that’s where you property taxes go? It sure isn’t free… but it’s paid for. Would you rather have an extra car, a boat, vacation … Read more
Illiberal Left Excludes Freedom Loving People
The statistics showing who gets abortions do not prevent movements like #ShoutYourAbortion from claiming the name liberal. Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison started this particular social media campaign. They have been widely publicized. How sad is that? Black women should understand the CDC says there are proportionally 5.7 times as many abortions in … Read more
NHPR Reporting That Sununu Caves on #SocialistBudget
This: HERE is a link to the Governor’s proposal. The bottom line: So Sununu is negotiating against himself. No concession or movement by the DemocRATS to his compromise proposal, so he is further compromising. Somebody get Chris a copy of The Art of the Deal. Quickly.
Learn Anywhere, Anytime, Anyhow
In 2017, the University of California at Berkeley put a substantial portion of its courses online for free in the form of video and audio lectures. Remember what happened next?
Many of the lectures were not closed-captioned, which prevented some people who were hearing-impaired from being able to listen to them. The U.S. Department of Justice forced the university to take all the material down, on the grounds that if someone, somewhere wouldn’t be able to benefit from it, then no one should be able to benefit from it.
The public school double standard
With Learn Everywhere back in the news, discussions about the program tend to involve errors of fact (e.g., that costs for the program would be incurred by local districts) and errors of reasoning (e.g., that offering more alternatives to some students somehow means harming other students). But to me, the discussions are most notable for the way they seek to perpetuate the double standard that defenders of the status quo like to hide behind.
A New Education Tax Credit Becomes Law in New Hampshire
Ever since the Education Scholarship Tax credit became law in the Granite State Democrats have been trying to get it repealed. They tried the courts. They propose “repeal legislation” every session. So, what gives with this bipartisan education tax credit the governor just signed into law?
Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig: a lousy education legacy
Mayor Joyce Craig has done nothing to improve the quality of education in Manchester. As Chairman of the Board, she should have come in with a plan to improve the public schools in Manchester. Instead, she appears to be punting that authority to community organizers like Manchester Proud and the Nellie Mae Foundation. Both of … Read more
