U.S. courts have long wrestled with the extent to which government funding can be used at private religious schools. And on June 5, 2023, Oklahoma’s five-person Statewide Virtual Charter School Board pushed this much-debated question into new territory by approving plans for a religious charter school – the first in the nation. Under the proposed charter, […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Oklahoma OKs the nation’s first religious charter school – but litigation is likely to follow
Sport for the youngest: let’s seek learning, not performance
The main purpose of sport during the early formative stages, whether at school or in sports clubs, should be to contribute to the comprehensive education of young people through their practice and learning. For this, it is essential to flee from traditional approaches more typical of adult sports, and bet on a teaching linked to educational […] … learn more→
Distance education tutors don’t need any formal qualifications – we should make this role a career
There are an estimated 24,000-plus students who study by distance education in Australia. While their lessons are delivered remotely, by law, all of these students still need to be supervised by somebody in person. This is the role of the “remote education tutor”, who is thelink betweenthe student and the teacher. Despite the vital work they do, […] … learn more→
Young children’s words predict reading ability — 5 ways parents and caregivers can help grow them
Becoming a proficient reader holds endless possibilities for a child. These opportunties include long-term academic achievement and educational opportunities, daily life and eventual workplace success — and the magic of being transported to the world of fantasy and mystery, limited only by the imagination. It’s a complex process that unfolds gradually in recognizable stages. Young learners must see […] … learn more→
From whiteboard work to random groups, these simple fixes could get students thinking more in maths lessons
Australian students’ performance and engagement in mathematics is an ongoing issue. International studies show Australian students’ mean performance in maths has steadily declined since 2003. The latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018 showed only 10% of Australian teenagers scored in the top two levels, compared to 44% in China and 37% in Singapore. Despite attempts to […] … learn more→
Poorer pupils do worse at school – here’s how to reduce the attainment gap
Children living in relative poverty in England have worse average educational outcomes, including lower grades in exams, than other pupils. This situation is often referred to as the poverty attainment gap. Closing this gap, so that poorer students do as well at school as their peers, is a concern for countries around the world. The […] … learn more→
What it takes to become a spelling bee champ
Whenever the Scripps National Spelling Bee takes place, parents and children may wonder: What does it take to become a champion? Is it worth the effort? But to the extent possible, competitive spellers, including several previous Scripps National Spelling Bee winners, have purchased special word lists to gain a competitive edge. These word lists, which may come in the form […] … learn more→
High school: overcoming clichés on the professional path
The latest reform of the professional path was presented on Thursday May 4, 2023 by President Macron. The press kit that accompanies these announcements highlights the need to make the sector attractive and to make it a path to success and excellence. Implicitly, it paints the portrait of a student in lack of success undergoing a default orientation and prone to […] … learn more→
Working with kids, being passionate about a subject, making a difference: what makes people switch careers to teaching?
Teacher shortages around Australia mean there is an ongoing debate about how to attract, retain and educate more teachers. One part of the push to increase teacher numbers is encouraging people to swap their current career for a teaching role. Mid-career or “career change” students are increasingly common in teacher education programs. The most recent Australian data shows as of 2017, one-third […] … learn more→
Neither high nor low capacities: let’s bet on personalized teaching
People, students, are not highly capable: they have capacity to varying degrees, as occurs in other less elusive aspects such as weight, height or any other physical condition. Both ignoring it and trying to make categories based on measurements of whatever kind is to lose focus. To consider “high ability” as a dichotomous variable (“some are” […] … learn more→
