The Cambridge Primary Review, just released its first comprehensive inquiry into English primary education in 40 years. A team of 14 authors relied on, among other things, more than 4000 published sources, both national and international, as well as 28 specially-commissioned research surveys, to write the report. The conclusion I’m most interested in is theContinue reading “England Should Raise the Starting Age of School to 6, says Cambridge Primary Review”
Author Archives: Sara Bennett
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission – More from Senior Dad
For three years now, I’ve corresponded every so often with Stan Goldberg, also known as Senior Dad. Stan, who lives in the Bay Area, has his own podcast and has many interviews with educators and other experts that are well worth listening to, including his four-part series on homework, where he interviewed Alfie Kohn, JohnContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission – More from Senior Dad”
Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, and his Race to the Top
I was interviewed recently for a New York Magazine article, Homework Tea Party. I really liked the piece and my quotes: “Duncan’s [Race to the Top] plan is cut from the same cloth as the education policies of the Bush administration,” said Sara Bennett after watching the show from her Park Slope home. “It isContinue reading “Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, and his Race to the Top”
From the Mouth of a Ninth Grader
Dear Sara, I’ve seen your website, and I just want to say how grateful I am that someone out there besides my friends and I understand how awful homework is and how it really doesn’t help us learn at all. I’m a freshman at a competitive public high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I’ve always spentContinue reading “From the Mouth of a Ninth Grader”
Billboard Campaign to Opt Out of Testing
I’ve noticed people talking in the Comments about opting out of testing. Take a look at this campaign by the Coalition for Better Education, which urges parents to opt their children out of state testing. (You can contribute a few dollars to the campaign at: Coalition for Better Education, 2424 22nd Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631.)Continue reading “Billboard Campaign to Opt Out of Testing”
Moms (and Dads) on a Mission – Race to Nowhere
Race to Nowhere, a documentary which looks at the fast-paced, high-stress lives of many of today’s students, is premiering on Saturday, October 10, at the Mill Valley Film Festival. I’ve written about the film before because I’m an Advisor to the film, I appear in the film, I fully support the film, and I thinkContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission – Race to Nowhere”
The Global Achievement Gap
While I’m recommending books…. I recently read The Global Achievement Gap, by Tony Wagner, an excellent book about the failures of today’s secondary schools and how schools prepare students to memorize facts rather than problem solve. He identifies seven skills necessary to survive in the 21st century: critical thinking and problem solving; collaboration across networks;Continue reading “The Global Achievement Gap”
New Book: Rethinking Homework
There’s a new homework book, Rethinking Homework: Best Practices that Support Diverse Needs, by Cathy Vatterott, an associate professor of education at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, who calls herself Homework Lady. The first half of the book, which I loved, takes a fresh look at the research on homework and is written inContinue reading “New Book: Rethinking Homework”
A Math Teacher Speaks Out–Why I Stopped Assigning Homework and Am Petitioning for a Homework-Free Week
Today’s guest blogger, Jeff Valure, a math teacher with 12 years’ experience, the last 10 at a public middle school north of New York City, is the father of two boys, one of whom just started nursery school. He’s upset to find out that his local kindergarten assigns homework four nights a week and isContinue reading “A Math Teacher Speaks Out–Why I Stopped Assigning Homework and Am Petitioning for a Homework-Free Week”
Guest Blogger – Homework Is an Elaborate Charade–Lots of Quantity and No Quality
Today’s guest blogger, is FedUp Mom, the mother of a sixth grader who used to attend a public school in suburban Philadelphia and now attends a private Quaker school. FedUp Mom’s sixth post, I Hate Reading Logs has received more comments than any other on this blog. You can read her other five posts here,Continue reading “Guest Blogger – Homework Is an Elaborate Charade–Lots of Quantity and No Quality”
Stop Homework 