Monday, December 30, 2013

What Does It Mean To Be Educated?

I posit that compelling children to sit in crowded classrooms and prepare them to take high stakes standardized tests utilizing Skinnerian based behaviour modification methodology is not an education. It is instruction and training to prepare for standardized tests.


From James McKernan: "In the view of R.S. Peters, education involves the development of a cognitive perspective, or mind, whilst instruction hints at information and training lends itself to the development of competence in a limited mode of skills; whilst ‘education’ aims at a wider view of knowledge and system of beliefs."

Saturday, December 21, 2013

What Will Pence's Corporate Tax Cuts Cost Indiana Public Schools?

About 400 billion. What does that mean for Indiana public schools and the Indiana middle class? It means program cuts and tax hikes. 

Monday, December 9, 2013

What Does Social Engineering Look Like?

Social engineering occurs when children have limited educational opportunities, are homogenized through a narrow curriculum and motivated by fear, rewards and punishments.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Just What Is Mike Pence's Philosophy of Education?

Mike Pence has the same philosophy of education as does Jeb Bush.
If you have not read Doug Martin's investigative work on the Pence-Bush connection to privatize Indiana public education this is a great read.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

What Does Incessant High Stakes Testing Do To The Formative Minds of Children?

The process of standardized education and assessing the retention of facts and figures from standardized educational experiences on high stakes standardized tests is not a pleasant process for significant numbers of children. My question is what does this process do to the formative minds of children?