http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog Education News & Commentary Fri, 23 Jun 2006 03:37:37 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2006/06/40/education/jerry/unruly-parents-face-1000-fine-at-school/ http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2006/06/39/teacher-unions-salaries/jerry/how-can-i-increase-my-salary/ http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2006/06/38/budget-issues/jerry/trimming-school-budgets-not-easy/ Old Faithful wouldn't even be in the running for blowing off hot air. Today's blast of steam asserts that teacher salaries aren't rising as fast as inflation. It's the result--or contrivance--of an over-simplistic and flawed methodology. If you think the most powerful union in the U.S. must be capable of increasing teacher salaries at least as fast as inflation, you're right. Find out why in this commentary.]]> http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2005/12/37/teacher-unions-salaries/jerry/inflation-outpaces-teacher-salary-growth-in-more-than-40-states/ at Dilbert.Blog, a reader observed "that many ... 'arguments' aren't suppose to be logical." They "are suppose to appeal to emotion and create an emotional reaction." Consequently, rationality is irrelevant. In the following commentary, Diane Glass provides a perfect example of this strategy in opining "homeschooling evil, public schools good." It's truly an icon of intellectual bigotry.]]> http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2005/11/36/home-schooling/jerry/home-schooling-in-the-modern-world/ The Doyle Report) makes arguments against modernizing education that are so unbelievably bad that one is forced to consider whether that wasn't his true intent. For example, he says, "An educator’s work is unique." But, it is precisely because an educator's work should be unique that computer-delivered and/or outsourced instruction is imperative. Why should every student in the classroom be getting the same instruction at the same pace with the same homework from a teacher who may not have the information, skills or interest in what matters most to each student?]]> http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2005/11/35/modernizing-the-curriculum-and-schools/jerry/flattening-instruction/ http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2005/11/34/modernizing-the-curriculum-and-schools/jerry/child-centric-schools/ http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2005/11/33/regents-state-exams/jerry/maryland-test-supplants-national-measures/ http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2005/11/32/education-reform-learning-standards/jerry/urgency-and-candor/ educators pose as neutral citizens, cloaking their identity through websites and foundations. This article takes a look at public school marketing and advocacy and regretfully concludes that the public can expect more tax dollars to be spent on these in the future.]]> http://www.myshortpencil.com/blog/2005/11/31/marketing-promotion-efforts-by-public-schools/jerry/marketing-advocacy-by-public-schools/