A century ago, the Supreme Court handed down one of its most important cases about education. On June 1, 1925, the court struck down an Oregon statute requiring all students to attend public school – a law critics argued was meant to limit faith-based schools, at a time when anti-Catholic bias was still common in parts of […] … learn more→

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter in the brain. It’s involved in essential functions such as movement, motivation, and learning . It’s often referred to as the “pleasure neurotransmitter” because it’s so prevalent in reward systems: those that drive us to repeat things that make us feel good. But its function goes much further: it also influences how we make […] … learn more→

In class, we’re supposed to read aloud. But when we look at the page, the letters seem to be dancing. The words blur together, and each sentence seems like a slog. We sit down to study at home: we try to concentrate, but our minds jump from one thing to another as if it were […] … learn more→

The film “Plan 75” presents a dystopia about a hypothetical Japanese government proposal that would allow those over 75 to end their lives with “logistical and financial” support, thereby reversing the aging of the population. The elderly are seen as a useless burden . Ageism is discrimination based on age. The term was coined by American gerontologist Robert Butler in 1969. No one […] … learn more→

You scrambled up a Rubik’s cube, and now you want to put it back in order. What sequence of moves should you make? Surprise: You can answer this question with modern algebra. Most folks who have been through high school mathematics courses will have taken a class called algebra – maybe even a sequence of classes called […] … learn more→

Drawing on ancient myths and concepts, the Philia project helps high school students think from a different perspective about the links between human societies and their environment, in order to better tackle the ecological crisis. “In the beginning was Chaos, then the Earth with its broad sides, a secure foundation forever offered to all living […] … learn more→

Every adult remembers what their SATs and ACTs were like. For many, the days leading up to the tests felt like something straight out of a nightmare. Even now, not much has changed. So many students struggle with the heavy side serving of stress, anxiety, and pressure that these tests usually come with.  So, how […] … learn more→

Recently, my 8-year-old son received a birthday card from his grandmother. He opened the card, looked at it and said, “I can’t read cursive yet.” Then he handed it to me to read. If you have a child in the Philadelphia School District, chances are they have not been taught how to read or write […] … learn more→

Do you find the traditional classroom arrangement with its rigid desk rows and matching chairs monotonous? Well, you’re not alone! The education world is undergoing significant changes in the design of learning spaces. The era of students sitting silently in hard chairs for lengthy periods has ended. Modern classroom design trends focus on flexible and […] … learn more→

As demonstrators gathered outside, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation’s first faith-based charter school. St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual, K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. Charters are typically public schools of choice, funded by taxpayer […] … learn more→