Articles
‘MacGyver’ for preschoolers brings expertise to the (water) table
The preschoolers gather around the water table Monday morning. It’s a wondrous contraption, two tables fashioned into one long one and stacked with accessories like swimming noodles and coffee filters. The children don’t know it, but the guy who made this wonder — their teacher, Tom Bedard, at the Homecroft Early Learning Center in St. […]
Read MoreNew York mayor: Why our cities need more teachers of color
Our nation hit two significant milestones in the last two years: for the first time, the majority of U.S. public school students and the majority of U.S. children under the age of five are of color. Unfortunately, as our country and classrooms become more diverse, the diversity of our national teaching corps has failed to […]
Read MoreOnly male teacher at Felbridge school explains why more men needed in classroom
The only male teacher at a school in Felbridge has shared his views on why more men should work in primary education. Eliot Law joined Felbridge Primary, in Crawley Down Road, in September and became the first male teacher at the school in more than five years. According to the 2014 School Workforce in England […]
Read MorePart Silly Adult, Human Monkey Bar; All Kindergarten
Gerald Neff sits on a kindergartner-size table at the front of his classroom on a recent morning and welcomes his class to a new day. “Morning Georgia! You’re wearing a dress. Are you getting married today?” he asks a youngster in a blue frock and pink leggings. “Hey Miles, does your ear still hurt?” he […]
Read MoreThe remarks of Donovan Livingston at Harvard
“Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, Is a great equalizer of the conditions of men.” – Horace Mann, 1848. At the time of his remarks I couldn’t read — couldn’t write. Any attempt to do so, punishable by death. For generations we have known of knowledge’s infinite power. Yet somehow, we’ve never […]
Read MoreThe importance of male teachers
My daughter Avery’s grade five teacher is a bit of an anomaly. Students build different models of paper airplanes to test hang time during the unit on aerodynamics. The kids help choose and order school supplies as an exercise in budgeting and mathematics. And, when learning about democracy in social studies, they put the concept […]
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