When the U.S. Supreme Court issued its 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision that struck down segregated public schooling, white Southern politicians responded to the decision with ferocity. Although preservation of states’ rights was at the heart of their resistance claims, it was the racist practice of segregation that they sought to uphold. U.S. Senator Harry Byrd of […] … learn more→

The observation of the deleterious effects of a financial capitalism favoring individual success today challenges us to “go beyond the limits of the performance society”. However, should we throw out the competition with the capitalist bathwater? Isn’t the pursuit of performance a powerful motivation for development, both for individuals and for societies? And, in particular, isn’t competition an educational tool, if not […] … learn more→

Back-to-school is here again. While we might hope that beginning the academic year with schools open for in-person learning would set the trend for the rest of the year, the presence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, makes everything less certain. Some parents have already made decisions to keep their children home for […] … learn more→

Homework hasn’t changed much in the past few decades. Most children are still sent home with about an hour’s worth of homework each day, mostly practising what they were taught in class. If we look internationally, homework is assigned in every country that participated in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2012. Across the […] … learn more→

Near the start of each school year, many U.S. schools wrestle with how to teach about 9/11 – the deadliest foreign attack ever on American soil. In interviews I conducted recently in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area – one of three places where hijacked planes crashed on Sept. 11, 2001 – I found that Muslim students are often subjected to ridicule and […] … learn more→

Concern is growing about a burgeoning online market for essays that students can buy and turn in as their own work. And schools are trying new tools to catch it.[/caption]The worst kind of university cheating is also the hardest kind to catch, and more students do it than previously thought. Until recently, it was thought about […] … learn more→

Teacher supply and demand is a complex matter. The ultimate aim is to have a teacher in front of every class, now and for the foreseeable future. This also implies an ideal class size. The quality of teachers is obviously important too – and a topic for another occasion. In South Africa, the ideal class size is […] … learn more→

The end of 2021 is already looming on the horizon. Over the past two years, the pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of our lives. At school, home, and work alike, many have found themselves scrambling to stay afloat. Even as COVID-19 remains a concern, it is important to begin to regain some control. Aside […] … learn more→

The thesis must show and tell your examiner that its writer is ready to be called Dr. Yep. Dr (insert your surname here.) What do I mean by show and tell? Well, even if these are not the usual definitions, in the context of the thesis I mean: showing is when the writer provides carefully selected information for […] … learn more→

Going to an international school is an enriching experience for most of the students. It may vary but is especially important for those in secondary school who are figuring out who they need to be as they enter adulthood, the kind of vocation they’d prefer to seek after, and where they wish to see themselves […] … learn more→