by David Safier OK, this is a good idea: turn school playgrounds into parks during after school hours and weekends. It’s not finalized, but TUSD and the city are looking at opening the gates to 12 elementary schools on a trial basis. If it works out well, the goal is to open all school playgrounds … Read more
by David Safier I want to welcome any of you who participated in Voices for Education’s 2020 Vision Community Meeting this morning to this blog. Let me tell you a few things about how the blog works, and how you can participate in the discussion. Blog for Arizona is Mike Bryan’s baby, and he has … Read more
by David Safier Democratic Senator Jim Webb and Republican Senator Chuck Hagel are cosponsoring a bill that would update the G.I. Bill so its educational benefits cover today’s tuition and living expenses. More than 50 Senators have signed on, Democrats and Republicans. Both Obama and Clinton are among them. But Arizona’s own war hero John … Read more
by David Safier Yesterday I wrote about a bill in the legislature to have the state take over Phoenix’s Roosevelt School District for 3 years. Is it a good idea? I asked. Has it been done elsewhere? I did some research. Yes, it has been done elsewhere. Sometimes the state takes over a school district, … Read more
by David Safier This is a longer follow-up to yesterday’s short, “I needed to get this off my chest,” post, For the Record. That whole post read: 1.Teaching is tough; 2.Teaching children who grow up in poverty is tougher; 3.Test scores are not a reliable indicator of whether a teacher or a school is effective; … Read more