Class Struggle - Jay Mathews on education.

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 01/01/2012

Don’t hurt the children in front of me

By Pam Emerson

Pam Emerson found as a special education teacher she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. She suffered for that, but we can learn from her.

By Pam Emerson | 07:00 AM ET, 01/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 12/28/2011

Revealing private school secrets

By Jay Mathews

This spring I will add private schools for the first time to my annual rankings of America’s most challenging high schools. Private schools used to resist inclusion, but many seem interested now. The Challenge Index will attempt to show which are best.

By Jay Mathews | 12:00 PM ET, 12/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:08 PM ET, 12/26/2011

Why it’s good that I’m not on TV

By Jay Mathews

We education writers don’t get to yell on MSNBC nearly as often as the political writers because, despite all the bickering about school policy, Americans are surprisingly in tune on how to teach our kids.

By Jay Mathews | 03:08 PM ET, 12/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:03 PM ET, 12/26/2011

Are D.C. school officials hiding test data?

By Jay Mathews

I was told in September I would get the data on 2011 erasures on the annual D.C. school tests. My Freedom of Information request is being ignored.

By Jay Mathews | 02:03 PM ET, 12/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:58 PM ET, 12/21/2011

Gingrich, Romney, Obama--education triplets

By Jay Mathews

The two leading contenders for the GOP presidential nomination and the president himself try to accentuate their differences, but on education issues they are much closer than many would suppose.

By Jay Mathews | 09:58 PM ET, 12/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 12/20/2011

Admissions 101: Do colleges with test-optional admissions inflate their U.S. News ratings?

By Jay Mathews

A growing number of colleges that do not require SAT or ACT tests. Does that help, hurt or do nothing for a school’s U.S. News ranking?

By Jay Mathews | 12:30 PM ET, 12/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Admissions 101

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 12/18/2011

New teacher decries lesson plan gap

By Jay Mathews

Bruce Friedrich did very well as a new high school teacher in Baltimore, but he thinks he would have done even better — and schools would be improved nationwide — if rookies like him did not have to come up with their own lesson plans.

By Jay Mathews | 05:30 AM ET, 12/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:54 PM ET, 12/14/2011

5 ways to save American education

By Jay Mathews

The most successful education nations are doing things we don’t do. Should we try them? The methods include letting class sizes grow larger, paying teachers more and making education schools more selective.

By Jay Mathews | 10:54 PM ET, 12/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 12/13/2011

Admissions 101: Using your SAT and ACT scores to pick a college

By Jay Mathews

Most college guides note the mid-range of SAT scores. Why not pick your school by comparing your score?

By Jay Mathews | 12:00 PM ET, 12/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Admissions 101

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/11/2011

U.S. school excuses challenged

By Jay Mathews

I have long believed that international comparisons downgrade U.S. schools unfairly. But a new study is making me doubt myself.

By Jay Mathews | 05:00 AM ET, 12/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:29 AM ET, 12/08/2011

Rise of D.C. charter schools

By Jay Mathews

We don’t know if public charter schools nationally are adding value. On average their students do not progress any further than regular pubic schools. But in Washington they have taken several steps forward, dramatized by new report cards for each of their schools.

By Jay Mathews | 02:29 AM ET, 12/08/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 12/07/2011

Five wishful changes for D.C. area schools

By Jay Mathews

Could we require all seniors to write research papers? Could we abolish the usual elementary school homework? What would you like done?

By Jay Mathews | 01:00 PM ET, 12/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 12/06/2011

Admissions 101: Is early decision here to stay?

By Jay Mathews

It's early decision anxiety time — Is this once controversial practice to be part of the college admissions process forever?

By Jay Mathews | 12:30 PM ET, 12/06/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Admissions 101

Posted at 10:56 PM ET, 12/03/2011

Are parent class observations disruptive?

By Jay Mathews

In some schools, the rule seems to be don’t let prospective parents observe classes for any significant length of time. It might be disruptive. That makes little sense to me and other parents I know. Some school welcome observations. What is there to be afraid of?

By Jay Mathews | 10:56 PM ET, 12/03/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Class Struggle: January, 2012