ESR spotlight on education issues
Recent articles about education issues that have run in Enter Stage Right
DEI-run University of Arizona acting like the mob towards professor who objected to the discrimination: Dr. Keiron Bailey is a respected educator at the University of Arizona, but he engaged in wrongthink: He questioned the university's DEI agenda. Rachel Alexander tells his story
Friedman and school choice: Seventy years ago Milton Friedman published "The Role of Government in Education", essentially sparking the modern school choice movement. Samantha ChaFong examines the late economist's thoughts on the matter
The union vs. students: Why I walked away: Teacher's unions long abandoned what was their original mission and today are little more than political action committees pushing leftist agendas and politicians, writes long time teacher Priscilla Rahn
University of Arizona firing English professor for objecting to DEI, puts up fake excuses: The University of Arizona officially has a policy banning the use of affirmative action in hiring, but that doesn't stop them from doing exactly that and punishing those who object, writes Rachel Alexander
Supreme Court case highlights clash between parental rights, indoctrination: Craig DeLuz argues that public schools are increasingly overriding parental rights by introducing ideologically driven curricula—particularly around sexuality and gender—without parental consent
Beacons of light in the dark academic wilderness: The war over free speech on America's campuses continues unabated and Mark Alexander reports there are victories being posted
Equity vs. excellence: How modern education policies are failing students: America's school system has long had its issues but in recent years, student performance has tumbled sharply. Christopher Arps says you can lay the blame at least in part on the drive for equity over excellence
A brave voice in the leftist academic wasteland: Mark Alexander argues that anyone raising an objection to the lack of accountability risks being labeled a racist by their opponents -- as Boston University's David Decosimo has learned
History enlightens us about merit-based education standards: The idea of education standards that are based on anything other than merit, argues Donna Jackson, should be an anathema to anyone that wants to succeed in life
Finally, someone who dares to sue public universities: Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is battling Arizona State University for what he believes is abuse of its tax-exempt status and Rachel Alexander fills us in on a story that the media seems intent to ignore
Killing civilization: They’re teaching schoolkids “the narrative”: Red state or blue state, says Selwyn Duke, America's children are being taught in the ways of the progressive left. That's bad news...but there is also a glimmer of hope
Confronting yet another indoctrinating school year: Paul Driessen says critical race theory, mask and vaccine mandates, and more increase the need for stress relief
Systemic leftist indoctrination of America's next generation: Mark Alexander argues that "Critical Race Theory" and "equity" are the Left's reeducation camp catch words and they’re molding the next generation to hate liberty
American education: Child indoctrination, struggle sessions and debt slavery: If you've ever wondered why American political and social culture seems to have taken a hard left-wing swing in recent years, simply look at the education system and its supporting components, writes Sam Jacobs
If math is white supremacy, civilization is finished: The Oregon Department of Education recently "suggested" that teachers take a course which essentially said that mathematics -- the universal language of everything -- was a white supremacist construct, reports Greg Strange
The benefits of a government school lockdown: Although parents would ultimately prefer their children be in school if a pandemic weren't an issue, writes Michael R. Shannon, the closure of government-run schools has opened the possibility of alternative education
WaPo bashes homeschooling during Coronavirus epidemic: Rachel Alexander doesn't think much of a recent Washington Post editorial which claimed that homeschooled children would fall behind in their learning
Private colleges could revive the humanities in Canada: Mark Wegierski argues that Canada needs more private colleges
Aligning high school and college curriculum: Many students have a difficult time making the transition to college after high school. Dale Schlundt says one group in Texas is attempting to address that issue
Afghanistan strategy is the only hope for education reform: The U.S. federal government spent nearly $1 trillion in the past four decades trying to improve the education system. Michael R. Shannon argues they should try something different
Objectivity is needed in higher education: Dale Schlundt explores the question of how one can teach objectivity in the humanities when contextualizing material that may place it in a sensitive issue in contemporary society
On the record? Not liberal professors!: It would appear that the only thing that American professors fear more than Donald Trump is being recorded in class saying that they are afraid of Donald Trump, writes Dennis Prager
Redefining American education to rekindle growth: Technical training is the only way to ride the wave of innovation, argues Dr. Dr. Peter Morici
Educators need to strive for enhanced understanding and retention: Dale Schlundt believes that educators need to modify their approach when teaching college students if they are to make practical use of their knowledge
Scott Walker and academic tenure: Bruce Walker believes that Scott Walker's recent proposal to end tenure for university professors could shake up the entire country
Stupefying generations of Americans: The American education system has deliberately dumbed down several generations of citizens, writes Alan Caruba
School choice litigation is winning: There are more and more charter schools across the United States and the movement as a whole is winning, writes Brian Symes
Community colleges offer a smooth transition: Dale Schlundt isn't dismissing the value of a university education but he argues that community college could be the answer to many questions
Germany's generosity: University in Germany became free recently for students. Good news for students but Jonathan Chang argues that there's no such thing as free
Reining in college tuition and student debt: Barack Obama has ideas how to make American post-secondary education cheaper but Dr. Peter Morici says the president's prescription doesn't solve the problem
College -- Is it worth it?: High school student Sarah Becker explores the question of whether college is worth it and she has some advice for her fellow pre-college peers
The least disruptive education environment: The field of special education and its impact on teachers is proof of what happens when education reform goes wrong, writes Nancy Salvato
Standardize assessments ineffective on an individual basis: Dale Schlundt believes that standardized assessments may tell us a lot about individual schools and their effectiveness, but they tell us next to nothing about the individual students
Standardized testing, human capital, and Virginia's new governor: What is truly effective?: Homeschooler Brenna Fisher has plenty of concerns about newly elected Virginia governor Terry McAullife -- chief among them is his plan to reform standardized testing in the state's schools
Common Core for all: If the Common Core curriculum reminds you of an old ideology that Americans once opposed there's a good reason for that, says Rachel Alexander
Race to the trough: Common Core conundrum: Part 2: Cheat for success: In the conclusion of her two part series on the Common Core education standard, Debra Rae looks at some of the big players behind the campaign
Race to the trough: Common core conundrum - Part 1: National control of ideas: Debra Rae launches the first of a two part series on the Common Core system of education and the left is so invested in its success
The common core straight jacket: The one-size, fits all education system that is failing American students today is facing a fight from parents and activists, reports Alan Caruba
Progressive hypocrisy to make you sick: The hypocrisy of the education system today was spotlighted by recent comments by Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis recently, writes Frank Salvato
Education isn't the same thing as training: Marco Navarro-Genie argues that universities are failing their students as they increasingly move from a journey of self discovery to a training model
Taking safety to extremes: It made national Canadian news when a school banned things like soccer balls after someone was struck in the head and injured. Michael Zwaagstra says people need to relax
The new talent economy: Andrew S. Rosen believes that the United States needs to re-address how it delivers higher education if it wants to remain a world leader
Standardized testing is a good thing: Canadian teachers unions are universally opposed to standardized testing for students and Michael Zwaagstra says they're on the wrong side of the issue
Un-college funds: There are plenty of funds devoted to sending kids to college but Bruce Walker would like to see one that would send some of them on a different path
Science confronts edu-babble: Many educational theories hold writing tests as some barbaric relic of the 18th century. Michael Zwaagstra argues otherwise
Why are schools of education such an oxymoron?: Eliminate the "F" on report cards and ban zeros for cheaters? It might sound like a joke but one principal in Virginia thought it a good idea, reports Michael R. Shannon
Time to leave No Child Left Bhind, behind: Steve Farrell says it's time to strike while iron is hot and get the federal government out of education
AP monetary incentives?: Paying AP students to pass their exams? It may sound ludicrous but Martin Van Swol says a program in Texas is paying dividends
A pass should be earned: Michael Zwaagstra argues that studies showing that students should be moved along regardless of whether they actually passed a grade are ludicrous
Education nudging: The Obama administration announced new requirements from colleges and universities which sound good but Daniel M. Ryan says they don't go far enough
Destroying America from inside the classroom: Think your children are learning facts and figures in the classroom? Tom DeWeese says it's just as likely they're learning some pretty horrible things
The click of a mouse: How online education is changing the world: Hope A. Pasztor is proof positive that home schooling and online education are revolutionizing how today's kids are being educated
Stupefying America: Alan Caruba wonders if America has an education system -- whether by design or accident -- designed to dumb down and bore her students
Education or edjukashun?: The American education has been hijacked, writes Alan Caruba, by people who seem determined to destroy it from within
Dumbing down America's colleges: American college students are already falling behind those of other nations so what do America's colleges do? Dumb their students down even more, says Alan Caruba
The nightmare we call our schools: Twenty-five years after A Nation at Risk the only thing that has changed about American schools is that they are much more expensive, argues Alan Caruba
Why California turned from most homeschool friendly to most unfriendly: Howard Richman says California was a mecca for homeschoolers until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill which barred discrimination against alternative sexual lifestyles
Saying no to the nanny state: Lisa Fabrizio believes the court decision which limited homeschooling in California is another example of liberals telling Christians how to live their lives
Get the feds out of our schools!: Education is a local issue, argues Alan Caruba, and there is no place for federal government involvement
American education fails because it isn't education: Tom DeWeese argues that until the American education system is cleaned up of its failed ideas it will continue to fail the nation
The old college try: If you're a parent and sending a child to college, says Lisa Fabrizio, you're paying a lot of money for some dubious results and activities
Ahmadinejad at Columbia: Merely a symptom: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appearance at Columbia University last week is an example of the myriad of problems at America's universities, says Christopher G. Adamo
UCSC named the worst university in the US: If you're looking for a leftist, radicalized university, says Jack Ward, you won't go wrong with University of California, Santa Cruz
In search of a long-range education policy and strategy for Ontario: Some traditionalist remnants in education will be of vital importance to the future of society, argues Mark Wegierski
The national shame of our schools: Only the most partisan, or blind, would look at America's schools and conclude that they aren't failing their students, argues Alan Caruba
Disenfranchised: The buzz in education reform: Nancy Salvato says that 2007 will be the year of the "disenfranchised" school children. Forewarned is forearmed
Showing students how just makes sense: There is nothing wrong, argues Nancy Salvato, with a teacher giving the students in their class some direction. They are responsible, after all, for introducing new ideas
What I learned in high school: Christian Hartsock looks back on all the lessons he learned in high school, ones that included putting condoms on bananas, being tolerant of gays and why the Bush Administration is the greatest evil ever
Robbing parents to pay teachers: In any other context it would be viewed as thievery. Alan Caruba charges that parents are being robbed because of the sub par education they are paying for their children to receive
Puritanism: The origin of public education: The American education system wasn't the product of a German politician or Greek philosophy, argues Thomas E. Brewton. It was the result of Puritans who wanted to make sure people could read and debate the Bible
Battling the education hydra: Nancy Salvato wonders how America's teachers can teach when they themselves are often ill-equipped to understand what they are trying to communicatea
End the tyranny of homework!: Down with homework! Alan Caruba argues that homework does nothing for America's children and should be relegated to the dustbin of history
America on the cusp of education renaissance: Matthew Ladner believes that the private sector will do what government won't: modernize America's educational system with a free market
The moral failure of college: Bruce Walker takes a look at higher education and comes away disgusted by the failure of colleges and universities to properly philosophically prepare their students
Caving in the face of union politics: If government wants to fix what's wrong with the education system, the last thing it should do is dump more money into the system, writes Nancy Salvato
That'll teach 'em: Lady Liberty is always -- and grudgingly -- prepared to hear parents talk about their children but she wasn't ready for horror show heard from a friend about the state of public schools
Critical thinking: Or making me the straw man: A publisher recently asked Tom DeWeese for permission to use some of his work in a textbook. A little thinking made it obvious why he had to refuse
A think tank's credibility tanks: Nancy Salvato could do little more than shake her head at the news that a new education-focused think tank is monitoring its conservative peers
A battle cry for freedom: Nancy Salvato believes that the American education system needs to make changes to its social studies and civics programs to ensure the participation of Americans in the political process
An accelerated curriculum of ignorance: Schools used to teach civility and knowledge but these days it seems to turn out anarchists and arsonists, says Frank Salvato
South Dakota legislature seeks intellectual diversity at state universities: Paul M. Weyrich reports on an initiative in South Dakota that would force state universities to report on their efforts to ensure real intellectual diversity on campus, not different factions of the left arguing with each other
Is a bilingual society a school mandate?: Having students who can speak more than one language is a marvelous thing, writes Nancy Salvato, but bilingual programs have to created very carefully
Disturbing data: Literacy skills of many college graduates are not proficient: Google is great but it doesn't have all the answers. If you're expecting a student attending university to crack open some books every once in a while, writes Stephen M. Lilienthal, you might be surprised by the latest unfortunate trends
Bias suit reveals the truth behind the 'boy crisis: The reason America's boys are failing in schools isn't because there is something wrong with their brains, writes Carey Roberts, it's because the system has been set against them
College illiteracy stuns educators: American educators may be stunned that nearly one-third of college students can't extrapolate facts from a complex book but Samuel L. Blumenfeld isn't
Storm arises over emergency school vouchers: In the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, public money was made available to move students from destroyed public schools into private schools? A good thing? Not according to some, says Paul M. Weyrich
Producing good citizens trumps ideological short-sightedness: Nancy Salvato responds to an essay last week which attacked her and her support of the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" series of text books
We the People - A terrible federally-funded textbook: Recently ESR published a column defending a popular series of civics textbooks, a column that Allen Quist argues avoids mentioning certain facts about the books and the author of the column herself
Who is accusing whom of having an agenda?: Nancy Salvato says that a recent attack on the popular We The People: The Citizen And The Constitution series of textbooks on civics is misguided
Why we need the Freedom In Education Act: Tom DeWeese responds those textbooks and others being used in American schools teach school children to be globalists instead of Americans
The battle on campus: The latest generation of conservatives on campus are ready to do battle, explains Brendan Steinhauser in an excerpt from his new book The Conservative Revolution: How to Win the Battle for College Campuses
A conservative teacher in a Blue State: Nancy Salvato is hardly surprised that more conservatives don't enter the teaching profession. The system is practically designed to eliminate them from getting into the classroom
Will universal preschool give all kids a head start?: Californians next year may endorse universal preschool but Wendy McElroy says that studies suggest sending your children to school earlier doesn't provide many extra benefits
The education of our children should not be left to the state: Lee R. Shelton IV doesn't feel much sympathy for parents whose authority is being threatened by the public education system. What did they expect when they turned their children over to a government-run education system?
We're not in Kansas anymore: Dispelling the myths about school choice once and for all: Myths and distortions are responsible for the failure of the Family Education Reimbursement Act to pass in Congress, writes Nancy Salvato
Pin the note on the student: Two bills were introduced last week to aid the student victims of Hurricane Katrina. One of them helps solve their problems, the other is a sop to teachers' unions, writes Nancy Salvato
Horace Mann's balanced vision for public education: Steve Farrell believes that America's education system would better serve the nation if it followed the words and teachings of education pioneer Horace Mann
NEA, the labor union for teachers: The National Education Association may portray itself as an advocate for education but Stephen M. Lilienthal says it's just another liberal union that only looks out for its members
The shell game of publicly funded education: The debate over education funding has concentrated on what level of government should be paying the tab. Nancy Salvato wonders why the government needs to be involved at all
God and country in 1941: An NEA 'coming out' party: It's hard to believe, writes Steve Farrell, but the National Education Association once actually defended the cherished ideas of the United States
Parents must assert rights over school authorities: If you're offended by the notion that your children in elementary school may be asked about their sexual experiences, writes Wendy McElroy, you should raise a stink
Missing: Males on college campuses: All across America's campuses there are far fewer men today then just a few decades ago. Wendy McElroy argues that many aren't even prepared to admit that much
Separating the wheat from the chafe in education: Nancy Salvato can understand the frustration that many teachers are feeling these days but she argues that blaming George W. Bush for the education system's problems is misguided
Utah: the rogue state: The fight between Utah and the federal government over No Child Left Behind continues unabated, reports Robert S. Sargent, Jr.
Follow the money: The key to control of the education system is simple: money. Nancy Salvato believes it's time for parents to use the muscle they don't know they have
Shock and surprise: Scholarship supports empiricism – academe is liberal!: Anyone who's gone to college or university in the last thirty years already knows it but Marion Edwyn Harrison says a new study supports the contention that academics tend to skew liberal
The NEA cries wolf again: The National Education Association's latest attack on No Child Left Behind shows why the NEA long ago outlived its usefulness, opines Nancy Salvato
Teacher certification won't ensure quality instruction: There is wailing in Washington, D.C. after it was learned many teachers aren't certified but Trevor Bothwell says the key to fixing education isn't simply to certify existing teachers
On campus, free speech at odds with tax funding: The days that universities were an oasis of free speech died a long time ago, argues Wendy McElroy. Today's students get to pay for the privilege of being told to shut up
Sexing up Maryland public schools: Trevor Bothwell would rather that Maryland's students get a decent education then how to put condoms on cucumbers and what the "new family" looks like
No Child Left Behind Act: An intrusion on state's rights?: There are a few states, such as Utah, that believe the No Child Left Behind Act interferes with their constitutional responsibilities, writes Robert S. Sargent, Jr.
A buck-passing quest for reading, writing and 'rithmetic': The American education system is in serious need of fixing but Marion Edwyn Harrison argues no one seems interested in rolling up their sleeves and getting to work
Gates' education action plan needs momentum: Nancy Salvato agrees with Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates that there is plenty wrong with American high schools but she thinks his ideas to solve the problems wouldn't do so
When academic snobs attack: Frank Salvato hasn't an ounce of sympathy for either Harvard University president Lawrence Summers or University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill
Beneath the learning curve: Remember the days when children were actually taught? Lady Liberty says big changes are needed in public education unless Americans are content with less than a first-rate system
On handcuffed and felonious children: Wendy McElroy is all for protecting children in schools but she wonders if society's anti-violence campaign has actually gone too far
Educators vs. students: "Balancing" phonics instruction and whole language is like "balancing" food and poison, says Onkar Ghate
Ritalin and Russian Roulette: Would you allow your child to take a drug no one is sure what effects it has on children? If your child is on Ritalin then that's exactly what's happened, says Samuel L. Blumenfeld
Students vs. professors: Your average university faculty may be a nest of far leftists but that doesn't mean that the students share their beliefs, argues Hans Zeiger
Free market the key to school reform: Why doesn't the political left appreciate the benefits that the free market can provide education? Trevor Bothwell says it's because they just don't understand the market's transformative nature
Student vouchers invite government involvement: Nancy Salvato says it's a good thing that the battle over school vouchers has mostly been a losing one because the second a private school accepts public money is the same second the government effectively takes them over
Communism for kids: They may not be reading Mao's Little Red Book but Trevor Bothwell says today's American school kids are being indoctrinated nonetheless
Who's looking out for campus conservatives?: Conservatives may be the minority in university faculties, writes John T. Plecnik, but that doesn't mean that conservative students don't have other resources available to them
When impressions matter more than results: The problem with standardized tests isn't that their unfair and discriminatory, argues Trevor Bothwell, it's that students aren't being taught properly
SepCon2004 D.C. conference a great success: The movement to separate school from state held a conference to celebrate their successes and plan for the future, reports Samuel L. Blumenfeld
