The risk of going to college
A few years back, something switched. Up until then, my students — many of whom were the first in their families to go to college — would enter sen...
Category: issues in education
This American Life on youth violence
Many people have written about the two-part series on Harper High School in Chicago. It’s excellent, particularly the second hour. Please listen, even th...
Only Half of First-Time College Students Graduate in 6 Years
I’ve spent most of my teaching career working with students who will be the first in their families to graduate from college. It turns out that just abou...
Homework: Responsibility or compliance?
Respected teacher John Spencer tweeted this today about homework: Homework doesn’t teach kids responsibility. It teaches compliance. A better solution is...
One boy’s view of violence in Chicago
Murder and violence were up in Chicago this year, especially for children and teenagers. It’s sad — and it makes me angry — that kids feel sc...