Why Edu-Cat-Ion?

Why do we need another Web site that talks about education? Why is there a picture of the space shuttle blasting off? And why is education spelled that way? Almost unbelievably, this site was “launched” 9 years ago (now you know the answer to “Why” number 2, and can it really be that long?).  At…

What Happened to Education News?

Here’s a lesson in how quickly something  that’s been around for a decade can disappear, and still stay on the Web – at least for a while – then disappear. A great resource for news in the education space was Education News at http://www.educationnews.org.  Starting in 1997, their mission was a noble one: A Global…

What Would You Do?

This is one of the many examples of why our educational system is in peril…not just trouble. Let’s say you’re working for a public school district as a “specials” teacher – that is, art, music, library, phys ed, or perhaps you’re a school counselor, and, as a member of the teacher’s union, you’ve been working…

Best Places To Be a Teacher – 2022

The financial management company SmartAsset releases an annual study of the best places to be a teacher in the US. Factors such as school quality, culture, affordability, and salary levels all come into play for teachers who have the luxury of deciding on the best place to live.  For 2018, the best place was my hometown,…

What Happened to Humility?

Several years ago, there was a blog titled Advanced Life Skills (which is no longer accessible).  In one of its article, the concept of approval was discussed, and this particular phrase resonated with me: There are certain core needs shared by every person on the planet. Some of these needs are physical such as food,…

IQ + EQ –> Success?

As educators, we know what IQ is – Intelligence Quotient.  The higher the number, the more capacity one has for learning about “stuff.” But, how can some people with lower IQs be more successful that people with higher IQs?  The answer, as is posited today, can be found in EQ – Emotional Intelligence. Emotional Intelligence,…

Hard Work (or, Tell Me Something I Don’t Know)

It seems that everyone today is “working hard.”  In the marketplace – “We’re working hard to serve you better.”  In management – “With hard work, anything is possible.”  In education – “Our first graders are working hard this year to learn how to add numbers.” Weren’t computers supposed to make our lives easier?  Why are…

Teachers: Administrators May Understand, But Many May Not Care

So many articles on are being published today on what’s wrong with our educational system. References are made to common core, standardized testing and classrooms that were designed when the factory was the identified workplace as culprits. Administration is built on a military model of top-down direction, leadership and supervision, because the military is where…