Jim McLaughlin's Blog

It was a long time ago, but I still remember the multiple choice question I got wrong on one elementary school test, and the thought of it still bothers me. The test was asking (for what reason, I can’t remember, or, more likely, never knew) the best way to dry off after going swimming. There Read more

Marc Waxman has been an educator for 17 years, including 12 in New York City, and the last two in Denver. I don’t believe. I wish I could believe. I am supposed to believe. But, I don’t. I don’t believe in education “reform” in our country. I don’t believe charter schools are a panacea, I Read more

job opportunities and skill requirements through 2018 via Center on Education and the Workforce – Georgetown University. Read more

Economic downturns aren’t all bad news. One upshot is that they force people to reexamine their expenditures. via The Answer Sheet – Why we can’t afford small classes anymore: One view. Read more

On Sunday the Los Angeles Times published a story that has created a small firestorm in education circles. Three reporters documented the effects that teachers have on their students’ test results. And they named names, so that now the world knows that students in John Smith’s fifth grade class start out ahead but lose ground Read more

When Does Holding Teachers Accountable Go Too Far? – NYTimes.com. Read more