Carol A. Hand

At the moment, I am dealing with the challenges that always accompany innovation. For the past two weeks, when I wasn’t working outside on gardens, I was developing a new research class that began yesterday. (This is the main reason why I haven’t had a chance to read and respond to many blogs lately.)

In the process of conceptualizing the class, I reflected on the knowledge and skills that would be helpful to students in the future. Most research is built on what worked in the past in narrow clinical settings with little thought about the current socio-political context or broader future implications. I decided to try my own research experiment by testing out an experiential approach for teaching research that engages students in exploring the impact of climate change for vulnerable populations and the effectiveness of responses to recent disasters. (Duluth is still dealing with the consequences of torrential…

A reader sent me this story with this comment: “Bizarro world.”

First Lady Michelle Obama promotes arts education because the arts raise test scores.

The administration said 35 schools would get federal turnaround funding for the arts because early evidence shows that the arts lead to higher math and reading scores.

Time to stop and think. The Bush-Obama high-stakes testing policies have diminished resources, staff, equipment and time for the arts.

The purpose of the arts is not to raise test scores but to express and develop our talents, to enhance our lives, to give us the joy of experience and skill in music and the other arts.

Arts are not a path to picking the right bubble on a standardized test. They are far more valuable than that. The self-discipline required in the arts, the joy of performance is sufficient unto itself.

Chicago provided the model for school “reform” as we now experience it in America.  A decade ago Arne Duncan, then C.E.O. of the Chicago Public Schools, launched Renaissance 2010, whose purpose was to expand school choice by opening 100 new schools by 2010, many of them charter schools, and closing so-called “failing” public schools.  New Schools for Chicago, a supporter of Ren10, as it was called, provides this puff-piece history: “In June 2004, Mayor Richard M. Daley, then Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Arne Duncan, and leaders from the Chicago business community announced Renaissance 2010 (Ren10).  The goal of this bold initiative was to open 100 new schools and provide all students, regardless of socioeconomic background, with the opportunity to compete on the global playing field.  The Renaissance Schools Fund (RSF) was established by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club as the fundraising and strategic partner…

With a gun or a pen.

Chicago is still Chicago.

County Board President Toni Preckwinkle went down to Springfield yesterday seeking support for her pension theft.

And to nobody’s surprise, she got it from the mobsters in the General Assemby and from their capo di tutti capo, Mike Madigan.

Preckwinkle said the legislators were “remarkably receptive” to her plan for cutting Cook County employee pensions.

But why would that be remarkable?

These guys and gals in Springfield love pension theft and are only to happy to go along.

Their promises only apply to things like cutting services and funding schools rather than keeping the five percent income tax.

But upholding their oath of office to abide by the Illinois Constitution and its pension protection clause?

Fugettaboutit.

Preckwinkle’s plan has the support of sell-out SEIU Local 73 President Christine Boardman. But AFSCME is not on board. And since the plan will…

The firm created by Andre Agassi with investors plans to an additional $1 billion to build new charters in urban districts.

Investors say the offer is appealing because of the returns.

Agassi formed a new investment partnership with capital investor Bobby Turner called Turner-Agassi.

It has already built 39 charters.

“Among the Turner-Agassi fund’s investors is the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which is focused on education and entrepreneurship and has about $2 billion under management. The Kansas City, Missouri-based foundation’s main reason for backing the fund was its “potential for future investment returns,” Chief Investment Officer Mary McLean said in an e-mail.”

Read the story and see if you can find a single reference to education in any context other than a chance to make money.