Author Archives: Sara Bennett

High-Stakes Testing Isn’t Beneficial says Former Assistant Secretary of Education

Yesterday’s Mom on a Mission isn’t the only person to think that high-stakes testing isn’t beneficial. Former Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch, once a staunch supporter of No Child Left Behind, is now an outspoken critic with a new book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System. One of her biggestContinue reading “High-Stakes Testing Isn’t Beneficial says Former Assistant Secretary of Education”

Moms (and Dads) on a Mission – High Stakes Testing Isn’t Beneficial

I recently started a group on facebook (please join) where I heard from April Peacock, a mother of a third grader from Pennsylvania. She was looking for advice on how to respond to her son’s teacher, who had sent home a high stakes testing practice booklet, with instructions to the parents on how to reviewContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission – High Stakes Testing Isn’t Beneficial”

A North Las Vegas Elementary School Eliminates Traditional Homework

The Eva Simmons Elementary School in North Las Vegas instituted a new policy in January, encouraging parents to make sure their children read every night and practice their math skills using a website resource. “One size fits all homework is just not a best practice for our students,” said the principal, in defending the decisionContinue reading “A North Las Vegas Elementary School Eliminates Traditional Homework”

Moms (and Dads) on a Mission – Chicago

Today’s post is by Laura, an intellectual property and reinsurance attorney in Chicago with three children ranging in age from 5 years to 4.5 months. A long history of LD and ADD makes effective education one of her hot button issues. She wrote a lengthy letter to her daughter’s kindergarten teacher explaining her position onContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission – Chicago”

A Parent’s Concern with Mandated Reading Programs (Part 2)

Last year, I posted a piece by a parent of a middle schooler in Massachusetts, who had asked, to no avail, that her child be allowed to opt out of the Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reader program. Today, she provides an update. Our School’s Use of the Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reading Product Has a Detrimental EffectContinue reading “A Parent’s Concern with Mandated Reading Programs (Part 2)”

Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–San Anselmo, California

Torri Chappell, a teacher and mother from San Anselmo, California, has written here before about her experiences advocating for homework reform. When something strikes Torri as being wrong, she doesn’t hesitate to speak up, either in letter or in person. Recently, when her School District had a meeting to talk about the school facility, TorriContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–San Anselmo, California”

Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Atlanta, Georgia

Diana Toma is an artist and the mother of a pre-schooler and a second-grader who attends a public school in Atlanta, Georgia – a school which encourages parents to volunteer at least 10 hours a year. Before they moved to Atlanta, her daughter had attended an alternative school in Brooklyn, New York, where there wasContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Atlanta, Georgia”

The Flat World and Education

(I’ll be back after Winter Break, on February 22.) I highly recommend Linda Darling-Hammond’s new book, The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future. As Howard Gardner states in his blurb, “Anyone who desires a quantum leap in the educational achievements of American students – as opposed to theContinue reading “The Flat World and Education”