How to Rethink the Value of “Core Curriculum”
“We often talk about the ‘core curriculum’ as the center of our education system, including English, math, science and social science, but with the advances of the past century, isn’t it time to re-evaluate what is ‘core’?” asks Roman Stearns, executive director of Scaling Student Success, in an EdSource article. “What competencies do young people need…
Parents: Hold your Children Accountable, Say Teachers
A recent Pew Research Center survey of more than 2,500 public school teachers found 79 percent of teachers say parents do too little when it comes to holding their children accountable if they misbehave in school, according to Education Week. Sixty-three percent of all teachers—and three-fourths of high school teachers—say parents do too little to…
Survey: Students’ Lack of Interest in Learning is a Serious Problem
Nearly half of teachers, including 58% of high school teachers, report that students’ lack of interest in learning is a major problem in the classroom, according to a new national survey by the Pew Research Center, as reported in Education Slice. The survey also found that 72% of high school teachers and a third of…
When Teachers Are Unhappiest in their Careers
Teachers start their careers feeling relatively optimistic and excited. But a few years in, they start to feel disillusioned with the demands of teaching and the stagnant wages compared to peers in other industries, according to national surveys reported in Education Week. As teachers gain more experience, move up in the salary schedule, and learn…
Microschools Are Booming in the U.S.; Lack of Oversight a Concern
There has been a surge in new microschools – educational establishments with a median student body size of 16 – in the U.S. since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Education Slice. The National Microschooling Network (NMN) estimates there are about 95,000 microschools in the country, attended by around 1.5 million children. Advocates…
How Schools Make a Difference for Students Exposed to Violence
Some Chicago schools excel at curbing the academic and social-emotional fallout experienced by students who live near where homicides happen, a new University of Chicago study found, according to an article in Chalkbeat Chicago. The report found that students living in proximity to killings tend to lose ground academically in the aftermath. Between 2011 and…
How to Protect Schools from Malicious Deepfake Incidents
The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfake technology (using video of a person to digitally alter their face or body to they appear to be someone else; typically used maliciously) is increasingly affecting schools, leading to varying responses based on state laws, according to Education Slice. Presently, 20 states have legislated against the nonconsensual distribution…
Put it to a Vote? Should the Public Decide What Courses Schools Teach?
In the November election, California voters may have an unusual opportunity to decide whether the state should add a new course to its high school graduation requirements, according to an article in Education Week. Supporters say the course is urgently needed, but critics say the unusual step of putting curriculum-related issues directly to voters could…
School Shootings Are Changing the Design of School Classrooms
High-profile school shootings are shaping how architects design the modern American school, according to The Wall Street Journal. The safety features, some required by state law, include measures meant to keep armed perpetrators out and to help first responders. Architects are also looking to include open interior spaces too, to foster a sense of community and…
How Teachers Gain More Control over Collaboration
Teachers gaining more control over collaboration with peers can enhance the effectiveness of teacher teams and encourage educators to stay in the classroom, according to Education Slice. The Next Education Workforce program at Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona, allows teachers to organize students’ schedules, lessons, and grouping as part of a team-teaching model. Early…
