Blogs

Growing loans and unemployment calls benefit of higher education to question

June 10, 2011 by Anthon Y

There has been a lot of talk of late about the escalating number of student loans and student debt. There aren't as several great options for employment either. Since student loan debt is extremely hard to get rid of, lots of students are having a very hard time figuring out what to do. The benefit of college is being weighed by lots of people.

Gulen Charter Schools, time for America to wake up

June 4, 2011 by AmericanTeacher

Not only are these "Gulen" inspired schools worldwide they are also worldwide. Wherever Hizmet goes (Gulen Movement) TROUBLE follows, they have been kicked out of Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and are under investigation in many countries: Moldive, Netherlands, S. Africa and more.

KOSU's Story On The Million Cell Phone as Incentive Reading Program

February 11, 2011 by jenni

Just recently, I was interviewed by a KOSU reporter regarding my thoughts on The Million Program - http://kosu.org/2011/02/study-rewards-reading-with-cell-phonesminutes/ - a private, non-taxpayer funded program to provide cell phones and minutes to 'underprivileged' students at TAFT Middle School in Oklahoma City as an incentive for reading.

This program was initiated by Harvard University and the OKCPS School Board decided to encourage TAFT to participate.

(Revised) Clash of the Education Titans

February 1, 2011 by admin

The amount of press generated by the dustup between the Oklahoma State Board of Education (entirely former Governor Brad Henry appointed) and the recently elected Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction, Janet Barresi, has been nothing less than mystifying.

Oklahoma City Public Schools will now give away CELL PHONES to 6th and 7th graders to 'incentivize' reading

January 20, 2011 by jenni

This morning while watching News9 KWTV, I was absolutely stunned to see the following story on the FACT that Oklahoma City Public Schools will now be giving CELL PHONES to 6th and 7th graders for doing well in reading - using funds provided by a local energy company (not tax payers).

Intrinsic VS Extrinsic Motivation In Schools, or Why We Should NOT Give Kids Cell Phones As A Reward For Reading

January 20, 2011 by jenni

October 8, 2010 by jenni

Since the publication of my comments on the Oklahoma City Public Schools use of cell phones as incentives for reading (http://www.restoreokpubliceducation.com/node/586), I have received two separate emails from teachers gently and respectfully chastising me for my position.

After writing the response to one of these sweet ladies, I realized it needed to be published as extensively as possible, as so few of us anymore understand exactly what Extrinsic and Intrinsic motivators are and/or do.

Here is my response:

Thank You Oklahoma and ROPE Members!

January 17, 2011 by jenni

To All ROPE Members and Associates:

I am just now writing to you because I have just now regained some sense of higher brain function! Wow. What an absolutely outstanding night was last Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010.

I have not slept this poorly since college, but adrenaline is a POWERFUL thing!

Point of View in Saturday's Oklahoman

May 3, 2010 by weeinspahr

Jenni White got most but not all things right in her article "Money doesn't ensure academic progress." She was right that money does not buy success. She was right to compare U. S. Grant and NW Classen. She was right about the role of school leadership in the both schools which lead to their divergent past. However, she was wrong about the contribution of the current U. S. Grant principal. Since he was in position only a couple months prior to testing in 2009, there is no evidence that improved 2009 test scores were the result of his leadership.

Race To The Top of What?

May 2, 2010 by jenni

Race to the Top of What?

January 20th, the legislative agenda for the House Republicans was released.

Herein, we are told, “Reforming the state’s public education system will also be a focus this year as Oklahoma competes for federal dollars in its Race to the Top application. To qualify for those funds, reforms House Republicans have been pushing for years must be put in place, including performance pay for teachers and an expansion of the state’s charter school system. The reforms will ensure high standards by building additional accountability into the system.”

US history and civics curricula shouldn't be mandated (or "incorporated") but the Oklahoma Murrah bombing SHOULD

April 13, 2010 by jenni

Oklahoma students will study the effects of April 19
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Published: April 7, 2010

A bill signed into law two weeks before the 15th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building stresses the need to educate Oklahoma public school students about the Oklahoma City attack.