History and Social Science
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What Does “Education Spring” mean?
In 2002 the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was signed into law by President George W. Bush. My colleagues in education despaired at the fact that (among other provisions) standardized testing would become a sole indicator of a student’s progress. By then, I had been a school principal in two districts and knew that Continue reading
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Flag Day’s Star-Spangled Banner
What do you remember about Flag Day celebrations (June 14) when you were in school? You probably participated in a ceremony at the school flagpole. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts wore their uniforms on that day, and the Boy Scouts usually performed the honor of raising the flag. This ceremony often included singing the Star-Spangled Banner. If Flag Continue reading
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Living History
Today we’re living history. We have the first woman with enough votes to become a nominee for president of the United States. It doesn’t matter what your party affiliation is, or if you support Secretary Hillary Clinton or not. What matters is that you talk with your children about the significance of this achievement, because Continue reading
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Who Was X in Your Family?
On the day I received my bachelor’s degree in music, my father told me that I was the first person in his family to graduate from college. It was a fact I’d never known. Years later, while digging into genealogy, I learned that my paternal grandparents–the generation that emigrated to Boston–received only a few years of schooling. Continue reading
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Understanding “Politically Correct”
In our homes, what we say and how we say it matters. Children hear everything and understand more than we think they do. We’re the ones who help explain the world for them as they grow. And there is plenty to help them understand during this election season. In school, your child learns to understand today’s politics Continue reading
Write Away 