I'm coming off a week of working as the pit conductor for a local high school production of Spongebob: The Musical, which turns out to be actually a great little show, hilarious and silly and yet with much to say about friendship, science denialism, and how folks react to a crisis. And the music is great. It's not for your average high school--the technical requirements are considerable--but my old friends are talented leaders and they have a well-developed network. It was all a reminder of how rich and complicated the whole business of developing student theater can be, and how it gives some students a fantastic growth experience that helps them bloom and become the talented humans they can be (and none of it is useful for raising scores on the Big Standardized Test).
But that was my adventure. Here's your reading from the week.
New teacher certification exam Will hurt Texas education
You know what Texas doesn't need? It doesn't need to add edTPA to its teacher requirements.
Betsy DeVos's American Federation for Children tried to boost vouchers in Georgia, using her time-honored technique of threatening the people on her own side. It didn't go well.
Why Public School Supporters Need to Keep On Pushing Back Against Laws Banning Discussion of “Divisive” Subjects at School
Jan Resseger looks at some of the news surrounding the wave of gag laws sweeping the nation.
Don’t Expect Your Students to Attend Your Funeral
At The Educator's Room, Jeremy Adams with a hard look at some of our romantic notions about teaching.
At The Nation, Jennifer Berkshire takes the unusual step of talking to actual teachers about the ongoing exodus from teaching.
Some good news; Indiana shot down its latest attempt at micro-managing teachers.
Nancy Flanagan looks at the rise of smack talk in society, and schools.
Andrea Gabor at Bloomsburg looks at student journalism can become a doorway to civics education
Teaching the War in Ukraine is Fighting the War at Home
Steven Singer, current events in the classroom, and the Charge of the Light Brigade
Scott McLeod reports on a student protest against the Don't Say Gay bill, and the administrative punishment that rained down on it. "Hand in that Pride flag, kid."
Tennessee continues to be a microcosm for all the worst parts of privatization, and TC Weber continues to bring the receipts for all the self-serving conflict of interest and profiteering.
Blue Cereal Education to parents-- I don't really want to raise your kid.
Detroit teachers have been through a lot. I’m still standing.
First person account at Chalkbeat from Dorothea Williams-Arnold
WV lawmakers push for larger control of education policy
West Virginia is poised to become one more state where the legislature wants to squash local control of schools.
I really liked Blue Cerael's post.
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