Is School Too Easy?

School is too easy.  That's the word on the street these days from students themselves, as the results of a  study from the Center for American Progress were released to a great deal of discussion - and criticism of public schools.  According to the results of student surveys, many students nationwide "are not being challenged" in schools.  This would seem to contradict the data about student test scores dropping, or students falling behind, or the dropout rate holding steady.  If it's too easy, shouldn't everyone be doing well?  Or are the classes too easy, and that's why the students don't do well when tested by outside forces.  Certainly, the ACT/SAT are of concern.  However, I would take exception to relying on tests such as the NAEP or even state tests.  Any test that doesn't have student accountability is not a reliable measure of student learning.

The more interesting question for me this week was well articulated by Anthony Cody at EdWeek who wonders if "School can be too easy AND too hard." From a teacher's view, Cody aptly describes the conundrum of our varied school system with inconsistent standards across states and grade levels and even within single schools and departments.  There is, of course, no way that any of my AP Language students would claim that school is "too easy."  Not a chance.  But, they are being held accountable in serious ways, and they have very high post-graduate aspirations.  Even my CP level kids work diligently in my class, and complain that they should get honors credit - until they learn what my AP kids are doing.

School can be too easy in some ways - such as levels of homework or the number of essays written - and too hard in others such as the teaching of algebra in middle school or college classes in high school or textbooks written in manners which defy the knowledge and abilities of the average teenager.  I know that the ability of some high school sophomores to pass AP World History or any high school student to handle AP Calculus or AP Bio defies any criticism that "school is too easy."  But when statistics about the number of rigorous courses in high school indicate that the average high school senior takes as few as two core academic classes all year, it's not hard to accept that some schools in some places at some time for some kids is way too easy.

Online Learning - Coursera, Khan Academy, and Education Portal

Online learning has been around for almost as long as the internet.  In fact, the earliest forms of electronic higher education were probably adaptations of the old correspondence course model used by universities to enable students to catch up on missed classes or get general requirements out of the way without interfering with regular school schedules.  Working people could also acquire higher education credits and skilled labor credentials this way.  We've certainly come a long way with the rise of online universities like Phoenix.

The latest developments come with the rise of online classes and tutoring designed to close education gaps and increase access to higher education.  The rise of Sal Khan's Academy is one of the most prominent and exciting of these forums, and Khan Academy is one that has been written about extensively.  I am incredibly impressed with what Sal Khan has been able to accomplish, and keeping with "a teacher's view" that whatever works is good practice, I am happy to see the Khan Academy grow and offer greater access to knowledge and education.   A logical development of this, about which I've written before, is the offerings from Coursera, which is offering full curricula and certificate programs for online completion of bachelor degree programs at revered institutions such as University of Michigan, Columbia, and Stanford.

Another entrant into the world on free online classes is the Education Portal Academy - an online company about which I just learned.  I don't have much experience or knowledge of their classes, but at first glance, EPA appears to offer free online tutorials in all sorts of subjects and skills - in much the same vein as Khan Academy.  The difference appears to be that Education Portal is also operating as a bridge to college credits, and so there is a business motive that is not present in Khan, which is funded privately by groups such as the Gates Foundation.  Regardless of the model, though, Education Portal seems to have some quality online resources available, and they may be poised to become a bigger player in online education.

"I'm Farming and I Grow It" - A Teacher's View

Americans have little connection to their food - and that may be part of our problem.  This gap in our knowledge has been at the heart of arguments made by people like Michael Pollan in the book Omnivore's Dilemma and the movie Food, Inc.  Americans have a poor diet of predominantly processed foods because they don't even know what "real food" is anymore.  Well, it's grown on a farm by people like Greg Patterson and his brothers.  Greg, a student at Kansas State University, was annoyed one day at a drive-in restaurant when he heard the radio playing I'm Sexy and I Know It.  Greg - from a Kansas farm family - began rapping a new refrain - "I'm Farming and I Grow It."

Eventually, Greg and his brothers would craft enough lyrics for the full song, and proceeded to produce a video parody, which has gone viral on YouTube.  According to Greg, they posted it to Facebook for some of their city friends who don't know anything about farming.  In turn, they ended up educating millions about the hard work of farming.  And, that's what I like about this video - it's farming and agriculture from "a teacher's view."  Farming is important and hard work that is under appreciated by too many.  And, I am hoping that a better press campaign for farming can pick up on this video sensation.  Of course, I'd hope that more people turning to farming would be interested in organic farming and more natural practices.  For example, I was pleased to see the cows eating grass, or hay, as opposed to corn or feed.  That's not to say they don't also eat feed.  But I'm hopeful.

Patterson's video reminds us that one farmer regularly feeds more than one hundred million people, and the country often has little appreciation for the hard work of men and women in the Heartland.  And we should.  Of course, I am not offering some schmaltzy idealistic image of farmers as being these perfect hardworking people.  Farmers are like all people - they have their flaws.  But the work is hard, and it's valuable, and we under appreciate it.  And, that goes for all the migrant workers picking our fruits and vegetables, too.

So, if you ate today, thank a farmer.

Next Food Network Star 2012 - Martita

Food Network fans will not be served up episodes of "Martita's Mesa" - a great relief to many of us who knew that the camera-frozen Martita did not have star quality.  For a young woman with not much culinary background, she went surprisingly far in the competition.  Ultimately, she lost in a producers's challenge to Ippy, who is not much better for the long run.  But Martita - whose accent mysteriously appears at the start and end of presentations only - really had nothing to offer.

Giadia DeLaurentis continues to embarrass herself, coming off like a catty middle schooler as she coaches and cheers on "her team."  Neither Alton Brown nor Bobby Flay were seen coaching and cajoling and leading their people through the live presentations on Sunday, but Giadia couldn't sit still and cheered wildly when Yvan handled a simple microphone malfunction.  Giada just wants to win this competition - exposing a surprising insecurity - and isn't really about finding the Next Food Network Star.  I used to really enjoy her shows, but this season has really turned me off to Giada.

And about those "challenges."  Each contestant was supposed to face an obstacle during their set to throw them off their game.  And Michelle, Ippy, and Justin faced some tough challenges.  Michelle's was the worst of all with having no idea what the time was and a cameraman acting crazy.  But Yvan had a simple microphone go out.  That was not a difficult problem.  And a technician ran up with a replacement - which he "heroically" waved off.  And Marti was missing an ingredient.  Oh, big deal.  I saw nothing impressive in the response of Yvan and Marti because any adult could have dealt with that.  Had Marti faced Michelle's problem, she would have broken down in tears.

And let's say it again.  Marti cannot cook.  She is not a Food Network Star.  She has no culinary training.  She makes the most simple of dishes.  She doesn't "teach" an audience anything.  For goodness sakes, she made "Fish in a Bag."  That takes no skills, and she can't even make it interesting.  The folksy party schtick is wearing thin, and I do not understand why Bob and Susie find her interesting.

The competition still is - and should be - between Justin and Michelle.  They are the only potential Next Food Network Stars.

Coursera and the 21st Century Classroom

After posting recently about the rise of Coursera - or the availability of full university curricula in certificate form - I was sent this graphic about the 21st Century classroom.  The significance is clear, as online learning is changing the classroom rapidly, and that will impact the way higher education is funded and delivered.  The following image and explanation was created by Open Colleges, one "of Australia's leading providers of distance learning." The concept of distance learning is not going away, and with the rise of organizations such as the Khan Academy and Coursera, educators are going to need to adapt to the shifting infrastructure.

Right Brain Rising - Push for Creativity in the Classroom

Though I'm quite the traditionalist in the classroom, I've been trying to push for more creativity in the classroom for quite a few years now - ever since I completed the Colorado Writing Project staff development and attended a poetry conference led by Georgia Heard.  Since then I have added multi-genre research papers to my writing instruction, and I ask my honors English freshman to engage in interpretive dance during our poetry unit.  Each year I am more and more surprised by how truly insightful and creative my students are - and can be - when given the opportunity.

The importance of creativity is explored in a new book by Tony Wagner called Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World.  Wagner's first book The Global Achievement Gap was instrumental in developing the concept of 21st-century skills and encouraging a development in our outdated curricula from the 19th-century model.  It was eye-opening for me and many teachers, and while critics argue that it waters down classic education, his ideas seem valid to me.  His new book is targeted toward "Waldorf parents, Montesori moms, and Koala dads," and while  I am sometimes put off by too much of a child-centered discovery approach, Wagner's ideas are worth considering.  Innovation has always been the strength of America and the key to our success.

As the push for right-brain thinking and creativity in the classroom continues, take a look at what the Lowell Milken Center is doing as well.

* thanks to Joanne Jacobs

Next Food Network Star 2012 - Malcolm Goes Home

Who will be the Next Food Network Star?  Not Malcolm.

Malcolm went home last night after an intra-team square-off against Michelle following the beach party competition.  Of course, it makes sense that Malcolm finally goes home because, while he is an exceptional executive chef and reasonably comfortable on camera, Malcolm never had a point of view.  POV is the key to success in this competition, and his idea of "cooking with soul" but not necessarily cooking "soul food" was just confusing and ultimately unmarketable.  Michelle survived, which makes sense because she was initially the one with the most star quality - great culinary skill, solid point of view with My New England, and completely comfortable on camera.  I disagree with Bob and Susie that New England is too narrow for a show, and Michelle opened that up this week.

As far as this week's show and competition?  Well, let's put it out there - Paula Deen is gross.

The idea of heading for Miami - with the goal of being there for the Miami Food and Wine Classic - and then bringing in Paula Deen is baffling to me.  For a network that is committed to culinary arts and high quality cuisine, the Paula Deen angle is depressing.  I realize she's popular - but so is McDonalds.  And Paula Deen brings nothing but crass personality and disgustingly unhealthy food to the table.  She certainly sells well among the Walmart and McD's crowd, but she has no business rubbing elbows with Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, and Giada.  And her fuzzy little connection with Marty was annoying at best.

So, about Marty.  I do not understand the judges'  fascination with this woman.  It's like the story of Herb from a couple seasons back - where they kept him around with some bizarre hope of a show for a new demographic.  But he could neither bring it in the kitchen nor handle himself on camera.  And with Marty, let's be clear:  this woman cannot cook.  Her offerings are so simple they could be done in an Easy-Bake Oven, and Justin has saved her butt countless times in this competition.  Additionally, she simply randoms along in her camera moments and apparently the only appealing quality is her accent and self-deprecating stories.  But intentionally mispronouncing the names of classic dishes and techniques is not impressive and it's not Food Network Star material.  My only explanation for this woman's "stickiness" is that the Food Network thinks they have the next PD in the making, and they don't want to lose the tater-tot casserole crowd.  For my part, cut her loose.

Clearly, Justin is still the only contestant who has consistently shown star quality - though I'd like to see Michelle come on.  Ippy won this week, and he certainly deserved it.  But he is not a Food Network Star.  Yvan was reasonably successful, but Martita has to go.  The only thing Martita has going for her is the way she says her name to open and blowing kisses at the end.  In between she is completely flat - and the Mexican food angle is already saturated.  She's nothing special there.  Finally, thank goodness Nikki finally pronounces the "grill-lll" next door. Other interesting points from the show that I liked were the comments from Ippy, Yvan, and Martita that when they grew up the kids ate what the adults did.  I really like that commentary.

So, Malcolm is not the Next Food Network Star, and hopefully next week we will finally learn that Marty will not be the Next Food Network Star.  And, regardless of who wins, I'd like to reiterate my hope that the Next Food Network Star starts getting some air time, so the Food Network can stop being the Guy Fieri Network.  Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives is nice, but Jeff the Sandwich King could do the same thing at least one night a week for Sandwiches.

Lowell Milken Center Discovery Award

Discover An Unsung Hero with the Lowell Milken Center


Innovation has always been the key to America's success.  Innovation and creativity are integral to the American spirit, and they have been the foundation that has led the United States to greatness for more than two hundred years.  As an educator I have written often of the importance of creativity, innovation, and discovery in the classroom.  From the speeches of Sir Ken Robinson to the writings of Malcolm Gladwell and Daniel Pink to my own experience with multi-genre writing and multi-genre research projects, I have tried to promote an emphasis on creativity and innovation in the classroom.

In the world of education reform, project-based learning has gained increased attention over the years as teachers and reformers seek ways to the move our classrooms away from the monotony of textbook-based lesson plans and the all-too-common lecture.  Students are naturally creative and unique individuals, and, thus, many struggle with a one-size-fits all education model that is, in many ways, based on 19th-century thinking.  On the other hand, giving students a path and an interactive way in which to make their journey unleashes their creativity and engagement with learning, regardless of the subject.  It's like making students into explorers and adventurers - and that's far more intriguing than being note and test takers.

One little-known organization that has been working hard to share and promote the power of project-based learning is the Lowell Milken Center.  Named for and founded by education philanthropist Lowell Milken in 2007, the Kansas-based organization has been churning out rather impressive projects that have resulted in  national and world news coverage.  And, now, they are offering students the chance to win a whopping $10,000 for their efforts in uncovering an unknown historical figure.  $10,000.  That is huge.  And, I am impressed with an organization that is so committed to creativity and innovation that they are willing to honor student work in such a way.

The winners of the Inaugural year of the Lowell Milken Center Discovery Award will be announced this July, and I can't wait to see what history students and teachers have come up with in pursuit of this goal.  If you haven't yet heard about this award, the Lowell Milken Center asked students across America to create projects around the story of an unsung hero who has changed history.  The really cool part is that students can present their discovery in a variety of genres such as documentary film, a performance, an exhibit, or a website.  That multi-genre angle is what really caught my interest and inspires me about this organization and this contest.  Far too often, these contests are essay-based, and that requirement turns off many creative and insightful students.  Students today have much to say, and they can do so in a variety of engaging and professional multi-media formats.  It is truly amazing to see what a group of young people can discover and produce when given the opportunity and a supportive teacher along for the journey.

This approach reminds me of the multi-genre research projects my students have done in our study of individuality and the American spirit.  Rather than complete an essay or research paper like they've done for countless classes, I encouraged them to research their information and then present it in whatever genres speak to them.  This lesson always produces their best work of the year.  Additionally, such an approach is much more real-world practical and represents the type of educational model we need for 21st-century learning.  So, I encourage you to check out the Lowell Milken Center and the Lowell Milken Center Discovery Award.  I know I am going to promote this organization and its award to my students and colleagues.  I hope parents and teachers encourage their students to take advantage of this cool and exciting opportunity.

The Lowell Milken Center Discovery Award is the type of creative and innovative thinking that will help improve American education.


NOTE: This entry is a Guest Post sponsored by the Lowell Milken Center

Good Student, Good Teacher, Good School

As part of a recent research project, I have been asking people how they define:

"a good student"
"a good teacher"
"a good school"

The general consensus about a good student is that he or she is pretty self motivated.  In fact, nearly every explanation expressed very high expectations for a "good student."  Good students are curious and generally interested in learning.  They are responsible and self aware, needing less supervision and encouragement than others.  They do their work on time and strive to always produce high quality work.  They are also respectful and, in a word, nice.  Interestingly, the issue of intelligence did not come up at all - thus, the definition of a good student seems much more geared around a natural interest and engagement with learning and a lot of diligence.

A good teacher, by most accounts, can be judged by two criteria: content knowledge and engaging personality.  It could be that simple, which is easily identifiable in one regard and nearly impossible to quantify in the other.  Teachers need to know their subject well in order to teach it.  And the fact that this is such a common expectation makes me wonder if there are a lot of unqualified teachers out there.  Actually, I don't wonder.  I know, and lament, that it is true.  The engaging personality component is the primary reason that the Gates Foundation will continue to struggle with their model of identifying great teachers.  In many ways, it seems innate and almost unteachable.  Are good teachers born, not made?

It seems only likely that if a school has good students and good teachers, it will be a good school.  Of course, most of the data shows that a good school is most likely found in safe, upper class neighborhoods.  However, plenty of good schools rise above their neighborhood and produce good results because of a shared vision of excellence throughout the school community.  That is most often seen in successful charter schools - though the charter model is by no means a guarantee of a good or successful school.  My research finds that a good school is above all a safe and caring environment that offers all students the opportunity to succeed.

What do you think?

Matt Continues to Dance

Years ago, I was introduced to the video "Where in the Hell is Matt," which chronicled a man who danced his crazy little dance wherever he was in the world.  It went viral and made a great statement.  Now, Matt is back with a new version.  And there's "nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.

Keep dancing, Matt.

And everyone.

Bus Monitor Bullies are not "Good Kids"

Every once in a while a news story on children behaving badly goes viral, and we're all given a sad bit of insight into the dark side of the human spirit and the stupidity of youth.  The latest incident is the group of middle schoolers who taunted, ridiculed, threatened, and demeaned a 68-year-old bus monitor, and then posted a video of their exploits on Facebook.  The public reaction - and outrage - has been swift and animated.  Matt Lauer on the Today Show called the kids "little monsters," and a website originally created to raise money to send the woman on a vacation has, at last count, raised nearly a half-million dollars.  While the school has yet to discipline the cruel, small-minded tweens, one father is reporting that his family is receiving death threats.  Clearly, that has gone too far.

But I have to wonder about the father who says his son "made a mistake."

The bus monitor bullies did not make a mistake - they made a conscious choice to be cruel.  They didn't accidentally insult this 68-year-old woman - they chose to be mean, they chose to psychologically brutalize a weaker person, they chose to victimize a human they saw as beneath them, they chose to be awful human beings.  This father has said his "heart was broken" when he viewed the despicable behavior of his child.  Sadly, he came face-to-face with his son's nature - and it's not a pretty picture.  Some will take exception to my criticism of these boys - because they truly are young and naive and clueless about the pain they were causing.  But these boys are mean and nasty individuals who, for some reason, lack any degree of empathy and the most basic level of human decency.  They are not good kids.

The bus monitor bullies' incident reminded of another example of atrocious teen behavior that happened in the upper class Chicago suburb of Northbrook about ten years ago.  A girls powder puff football game that was established as a ritual where the senior girls hand the school over to the juniors degraded into brutal hazing incident which resulted in girls being hospitalized with concussions and broken bones.  In one of the more disturbing aspects of the incident, the younger girls had buckets and coolers filled with fish guts, fish blood, urine, and human feces poured over their heads.  To add to the insanity, some of the girls were beat over the heads with the buckets, and some of the girls with concussions required up to ten stitches.  It was a disaster of human behavior which generated the same sort of outrage as the bus monitor bullies.  However, the aspect that really got under my skin was comments from some parents of the senior girls who said, "They're not bad kids - they're good kids who made a mistake."

Whoa, there, Nelly.

These are not good kids, and this was not a mistake.  They are actually rather self-absorbed, obnoxious, cruel, manipulative, mean-spirited, and shallow young women.  They are not nice people.   They apparently take some sort of sick twisted pleasure from brutalizing others and seeing people suffer.  They have no empathy and they have no self control.  That is not, in my opinion, the behavior of a "good kid."  And brutalizing a person is not a mistake.  It is a representation of who you are - in your heart - even if that means you are simply an incredibly shallow and careless person.  But that's who these girls are.  So, let's not try to justify it.  Let's not claim it was about the alcohol.  Let's not pretend that mob action can be justified.  That part of their nature is indefensible.  And, while it does not represent the whole sum of their lives and personalities, it is a very significant part of who they are.

That said, I do not believe that these "children" are beyond redemption.  People can change ... their behavior.  They can be taught to control and manage that dark side.  But that darkness is in their hearts, and it cannot be explained away or justified.

The Next Food Network Star - Linky Goes Home

Not surprisingly to veteran viewers of the reality competition for who will be the "next" Food Network Star, Linky - the pastry chef with South African roots - was eliminated last night.  The basic reason for her failure was the inability to speak in front of the camera.  Additionally, critics might argue that she never really had a point of view, was not that skilled as a chef, and had been hanging around for weeks simply because her team was doing well enough to protect her.  Of course, with Linky coming from Team Giada, the team argument is weak because I still can't understand how some of these people have stuck around.  Like Linky, Ippy has no camera presence at all and he never will.  Martita is really not that interesting and her point of view - the Latina chef - is already well represented on the Food Network.  Yvan is coming along ... but he's still not going to be star quality.

It really comes down to the ability to be engaging and interesting in front of a crowd.  That simple trait goes back to the all important angle taken by Alton Brown in his initial screening.  He wanted the chefs to "teach him something" because that is what a Food Network Star needs to do.  And that was much appreciated by A Teachers View, as people don't often consider the significance of that quality.  It is an EQ - or emotional intelligence - issue, rather than an IQ or skill.  Not surprisingly, many intelligent and skilled people leave teaching - or never pursue it - because standing in front and being able to engage a group is quite tough.  It's extremely challenging when you have a reluctant audience of young people.  But it can be as tough for someone like a Food Network Star who has a very demanding and critical audience who will quickly change the channel if they don't like and buy what you're selling.

So, clearly, Linky didn't have "it."

Food Network Cookbook Holder