December 2002
On Equal Ground: Preparing Our Youngest Students for School
This ASCD opinion-brief examines a preschool program that has successfully closed the achievement gap among low-income and more affluent children, and argues that we must provide all children access to programs that prepare them to succeed in school.
November 2002
No Citizen Left Behind
This ASCD opinion-brief examines the civic mission of schooling and argues that we must impart the skills and understandings necessary for young people to participate actively in a democratic society.
October 2002
The Failed Promise of Exit Exams
This ASCD opinion-brief discusses the growing number of states that require students to pass exit exams to graduate from high school and questions whether they are effective in raising student achievement and motivation.
September 2002
Watching Out for Our Poorest Schools
This ASCD opinion-brief examines how the achievement gap may be widened in the United States by states that provide fewer funds to schools with the most low-income students.
August 2002
Content Knowledge Without Pedagogy Shortchanges Students
This ASCD opinion-brief critiques the U.S. Department of Education's definition of a quality teacher and argues that teachers require sophisticated professional knowledge to teach all students well.
July 2002
The Power and Promise of Service Learning
This ASCD opinion-brief identifies the benefits of service learning and argues that Congress should increase funding for the National and Community Service Trust Act so that all children, including those in underfunded low-performing schools, have the opportunity to benefit from this powerful instructional technique.
May 2002
Laboratories of Democracy: The Public Mission of our Nation's Schools
This ASCD opinion-brief introduces the First Amendment project schools, which are committed to upholding the democratic and public mission of schools. It argues that in our recent emphasis on the economic functions of schooling, we have overlooked the core purpose of providing all students with an apprenticeship in liberty.
April 2002
Whom Shall the Schools Serve? Back to the Future Practices Serve No One Well.
This ASCD opinion-brief addresses the powerful effect that the organizational structure of a school has on teachers, students, and parents. It presents the recent research on school size and argues that small schools provide an environment that serves all members of the school community well.
February 2002
Educators Bearing Witness: The Unintended Consequences of Standards and Accountability
This ASCD opinion-brief addresses the consequences of incorporating standards and accountability in schools on educators and students.
January 2002
Back to Basics: Social and Emotional Health
This ASCD opinion-brief addresses the impact of students' social and emotional health problems on their learning and argues for the inclusion of comprehensive health programs in schools.
November 2001
Ignorant and Free?
This ASCD opinion-brief addresses the need to teach students about the beliefs and practices of the world's religions in order to prevent acts of violence and discrimination based on religious prejudice.
October 2001
Our Children Are Watching: Lessons in a Time of Crisis
This ASCD opinion-brief addresses teaching about religion as a means of combating ignorance and discrimination.
September 2001
Connecting Back-Row Students with Front-Row Education
This ASCD opinion-brief addresses a recent study on student attitudes, the type of schooling environment that engages all students in the learning process, and the current reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
July 2001
"Finger Pointing" Won't Solve Our Nation's Reading Problems
This ASCD opinion-brief addresses how the nation's reading problem will not be solved by blaming others but by selecting effective literacy programs and establishing provisions that will help educators support student achievement.
May 2001
Let's Hear It from the Students: Parents and Teachers Count
This ASCD opinion-brief addresses the importance of getting students' feedback when making educational improvements that affect students.
Questions or comments about a column? We'd love to hear from you!
Send an e-mail to Kids@ascd.org.
|
