by David SafierA few hours ago, I posted about a letter from Tom Horne to administrators and school board members that sounded both overly harsh and threatening to my ears. Now I'm wondering if it may be deceptive as well. Just wondering, mind you. I'm not a lawyer or a legislator, so I'm only stating … Read more
by David SafierTUSD board member Mark Stegeman gave me a letter Tom Horne sent out in early May of this year. The gist is, every school district has to comply with the ELL Structured English Immersion model implemented in 2008. Horne's tone is harsh, to say the least. NO EXEMPTIONS FROM FULL COMPLIANCE WITH SEI … Read more
by David SafierThis is one of those labor-of-love stories. A New Orleans drummer has started a music program, The Roots of Music, for local kids. They pay nothing and get instruments, instruction, participation in the band and academic tutoring. He says he has 100 students enrolled and 400 on a waiting list. Music has a … Read more
by David SafierI've become increasingly convinced we're on the cusp of the most significant educational change we've seen in decades, maybe since the 1920s when child labor laws and compulsory education laws combined to create an explosion in high school attendance and gave birth to the modern high school. For good or ill, K-12 education … Read more
by David SafierIn a North Florida school district, a number of students came to school wearing shirts that read, "Islam is of the Devil." They were sent home. School district staff attorney Tom Wittmer says the shirts might have offended or distracted others and violated the district's dress code. Why did they wear the shirts? … Read more