Vol 3 – The Amnesia Episode

WonkyFolk

Amnesia about A Nation at Risk. Amnesia about Covid responses. And Jed wishing he could have amnesia about the King’s game on April 30, 2023.

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This week some of the topics we discuss include the following:

The 40th Anniversary of report, “A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform” (00:01:59)

Why the American economy has been able to persist despite the problems in education (00:04:59)

The equity shift to ensure the hyper-talented kids in the lowest quintile get the opportunity to go to college (00:10:05)

Why we think the Economist ‘s coverage of education lately has been really good (00:11:43)

A recognition of Marshall (Mike) Smith’s impact and role in A Nation at Risk (00:12:07)

The historical amnesia during last week’s Congressional committee hearing framed in terms of good guys versus bad guys (00:13:12)

Randi Weingarten’s modus operandi or MO and lack of responsibility (00:15:19)

The impacts of the pandemic in 2020-2023 (00:17:20)

Politics in Urban Settings and 50-50% Red State Politics (00.22.13)

New York realities and ironies (00:23:23)

The Post Janus Poker Game (00:25:29)

Virginia’s new content standards (00:28:17)

The need to help students learn how to grapple with a spectrum of ideas (00:30:55)

The materials, tools, and training teachers need for this content (00:35:33)

The value adds of the Core Knowledge Approach (00:36:57)

The link to the show notes referenced today. At the end of this description.

As ever, I’m eager to hear feedback and suggestions from CharterFolk. So, if you have a chance to listen to the discussion and want to drop me a line with some thoughts, feel free to reach me at [e-mail] .

If you haven’t yet heard or seen the first and second volumes of WonkyFolk, you can access them here.

Meanwhile, I thank you once again for being part of the CharterFolk community and for the efforts you are making to improve educational opportunity in our country.

Show Notes:

Economist article about the surprising strength of the American economy over the past several decades. https://www.economist.com/briefing/2023/04/13/from-strength-to-strength

The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Markovits, https://www.amazon.com/The-Meritocracy-Trap-audiobook/dp/B07V5KBLGT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=KCE4CF53LE13&keywords=meritocracy+trap&qid=1683056414&sprefix=meritocracy+trap%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

Nation at Risk Story in the Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/04/26/how-nationatrisk-report-hurt-public-schools/

Recognition of passing of Marshal (Mike) Smith https://twitter.com/arotherham/status/1653062577872576516

New York Times Article about Randi Weingarten https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/magazine/randi-weingarten-teachers-unions.html

C-Span entire Covid 19 hearing featuring testimony of Randi Weingarten https://www.c-span.org/video/?527655-1/teachers-union-president-testifies-covid-19-school-closures

C-Span coverage of Marjorie Taylor Greene stating that Randi Weingarten is not a mother https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5068192/rep-taylor-greene-aft-president-mother

C-Span Coverage of Terrell Bell Confirmation Hearings https://www.c-span.org/video/?88265-1/education-secretary-nomination-confirmation

2020 article showing Weingarten Calling for teacher strikes if schools re-open. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/strikes-are-an-option-to-force-schools-to-reopen-safely-aft-president-says/2020/07

Story on Weingarten and the AFT exerting influence on the CDC regarding Covid guidance. https://undark.org/2021/06/10/teachers-union-shaped-cdc-school-guidance/

Hochul offers a single word in support of lifting the charter school cap in NYC https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2022/10/wait-did-hochul-just-say-she-wants-lift-nyc-charter-school-cap/378967/

Differing views of education reformers regarding Hochul’s compromise to lift the cap by 14 schools in NYC https://www.amny.com/news/hochul-deal-zombie-charter-schools-2023/

Declining numbers of teachers are members of CTA https://www.the74million.org/article/exclusive-california-teachers-union-numbers-show-declining-membership-at-587-of-995-affiliates-since-2019/

Virginia adopts new state content standards https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/04/20/after-months-of-debate-virginia-board-of-education-adopts-history-standards/

Anne Holton Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Holton

New Yorker profile of Zora Neale Hurston https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-zora-neale-hurston-we-dont-talk-about

Recent study showing benefits of Core Knowledge curriculum https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/long-last-ed-hirsch-jr-gets-his-due-new-research-shows-big-benefits-core