Weekend Reads: Why do adults shut students out of education policymaking?

  • Students are often “honest brokers” when it comes to evaluating education policy, so why don’t we let them have more of a say? The answer might say more about adults than it does about children. (The Atlantic)
  • This weekend, a foundation that trains and funds teachers around the world will give $1 million to one of 10 finalists who have demonstrated innovative teaching practices and who are preparing students to be “global citizens.” (NPR Ed)
  • In a South Bronx district known for “bleeding” new teachers, there is a new plan to stop the exodus: Train skilled educators to coach their new colleagues as a way to improve novice teachers’ craft and make them less likely to quit. (Chalkbeat)
  • The former head of the Tennessee Department of Education’s teacher evaluation work argues that the idea that the best teachers are fleeing the profession is a myth. (Real Clear Education)
  • A nonprofit program in cities in Mississippi, Michigan, and states around the country is initiating small, concrete steps to get parents more involved in their children’s schools. (Hechinger)
  • Getting involved in schools is harder for immigrant parents, who often face language barriers and broader community hostility. (Vox)
  • One middle-class parent agrees with her high-achieving second-grade son that it’s “stupid” for him to be chosen as “Leader of the Month” for his class, which is made up of mostly working-class and low-income students. (Pacific Standard Magazine)
  • Twelve-year-olds from around New York City talk about goals, inspirations, and the challenges of being on the cusp of adolescence. (WNYC)
  • The increasing number of families who opt out of standardized tests is putting pressure on states and districts who use test scores to evaluate teachers. (The New Yorker)
  • Behind the scenes at SXSWedu, one reporter wonders how relevant many of the tech ideas presented are to conversations about classrooms and learning. (Hechinger)