Archive: schools
D.C. school vouchers: An opportunity for autonomy
By José E. Serrano Washington When I assumed the chairmanship of the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees federal payments to the District, I announced that I was not interested in being a second mayor. Toward that end, I have worked...
By Michael Larabee | November 23, 2009; 02:54 PM ET | Comments (0)
Policing speech is part of a good school's job
By Tom Farquhar Potomac Post education blogger Valerie Strauss concluded that “sanity was restored” when Churchill High School officials reversed their decision to cancel a student production of “Chicago” [The Answer Sheet, Oct. 29]. Later she said, “I think this...
By Michael Larabee | November 6, 2009; 06:33 PM ET | Comments (7)
A page from the Redskins' playbook
By Jill Homan Washington District residents have seen it before with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. But now, we are witnessing it with the D.C. Council’s approach to Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee. Micromanagement does not work. While Snyder’s poor...
By Michael Larabee | November 5, 2009; 05:47 PM ET | Comments (4)
How Rhee lost her teachers
By Virginia R. Pass Silver Spring I do not understand The Post’s trust in D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee. She is running roughshod over the rights of teachers, all the while claiming that she is acting in the best...
By Michael Larabee | November 5, 2009; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (6)
Addition through subtraction at one D.C. school
By Mary Siddall Washington Once a month, the principal of my daughter’s D.C. public school — Ross Elementary in Northwest — hosts an informal coffee with parents. It’s always held in the morning, right after the children are dropped off....
By Michael Larabee | November 3, 2009; 05:46 PM ET | Comments (35)
D.C. Can't Fire Its Way to Better Schools
By George Parker Washington All of us who care about our children, our community and our collective futures want our schools to be the very best; nobody wants this more than D.C.’s public school teachers. The Washington Teachers Union supported...
By Michael Larabee | October 8, 2009; 01:41 PM ET | Comments (13)
Tested to Death in the Maryland Schools
By Thomas A. Bauder Washington I am an English teacher at a Maryland high school. Of the five weeks we have been in session this year, I have been able to teach for almost, but not quite, three. The other...
By Michael Larabee | September 30, 2009; 10:16 AM ET | Comments (3)
Teaching All the Wrong Lessons in Howard County
By Julie Christiansen Heleba Ellicott City A few days before President Obama’s speech to America’s schoolchildren, Howard County school administrators advised principals that the address could be shown at their discretion. Hours after that e-mail went out, some other parents...
By Michael Larabee | September 22, 2009; 10:05 AM ET | Comments (1)
On D.C. Schools, No News Is Good News
By Matthew Hammond Washington This past week has been notable in the more than 10 years that I have lived in the District. With children returning to school this past week, there has been one noticeable absence in The Post:...
By Michael Larabee | September 3, 2009; 10:12 AM ET | Comments (3)
Boxed In by Fairfax Schools' 'Race Survey Form'
By Brad Johnson McLean This week, I received a letter (actually, my “parents and guardians” received it, but I’m old enough to speak for myself) from Fairfax School Superintendent Jack D. Dale informing me that I must fill out an...
By Michael Larabee | August 20, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (5)
Two Tests in One
By Joyce Nalepka Silver Spring Regarding the Aug. 5 front-page story “D.C. to Offer STD Tests in Every High School”: I strongly urge that, while they test for sexually transmitted diseases, the D.C. school system and school board invest in...
By Michael Larabee | August 17, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
Closing the Achievement Gap
Valerie Ervin Silver Spring Anyone concerned with education issues must have taken note of the recent Post articles “Maryland Gains Continue on Reading, Math Tests” and “Over 10 Years, Montgomery’s Weast Aced Tough Tests.” These articles brought welcome news: Montgomery...
By Michael Larabee | August 5, 2009; 09:55 AM ET | Comments (0)
Why I Endorsed Bob McDonnell
By Sheila Johnson Middleburg I am a Democrat. This year I have endorsed the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell. I have done so because in an election focused on jobs and the economy, I believe Bob is...
By Vince Rinehart | July 31, 2009; 09:33 PM ET | Comments (16)
Why I Endorsed Creigh Deeds
By Martin Williams Newport News With mounting transportation problems, a tough economic climate and a difficult budget situation, Virginia’s next governor has a challenge ahead of him. Put simply, Virginia needs a leader for trying times, someone who can work...
By Vince Rinehart | July 31, 2009; 09:28 PM ET | Comments (5)
Weast’s Successes and Failures
By John Son Bethesda I applaud Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Jerry Weast’s hard work and success. I have been in the Montgomery County school system since first grade and, after reading this article, I realize that Mr. Weast has served...
By Vince Rinehart | July 31, 2009; 09:09 PM ET | Comments (0)
Assessing Students With Disabilities
By Andrea Rosenthal Oak Hill I applaud President Obama for suggesting that Race to the Top funding be based on student progress, rather than benchmarks, for educationally disadvantaged students. I hope he will consider alternative measures for students with disabilities....
By Vince Rinehart | July 31, 2009; 08:55 PM ET | Comments (0)
Better Teaching, Better Test Scores
By James E. Cole Gainesville I am a longtime math teacher in the D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) system, and I take issue with a recent article "Testing Tactics Helped Fuel D.C. School Gains." The article contended that this year's impressive...
By Stephen Stromberg | July 28, 2009; 02:18 PM ET | Comments (1)
UDC’s Community College Mission
By Allen L. Sessoms Washington We welcome President Obama’s support of community colleges and know firsthand the benefits these institutions provide for their students and their communities. Since 1977, the University of the District of Columbia has integrated community college...
By Vince Rinehart | July 17, 2009; 09:23 PM ET | Comments (0)
Charter Schools Aren't the Solution
By Kitty J. Boitnott Richmond The Obama administration and The Post are fascinated with charter schools, but charters do not make sense for Virginia. Maybe charter schools are needed in the District or Chicago, but in Virginia they are a...
By Stephen Stromberg | July 13, 2009; 02:43 PM ET | Comments (2)
Discipline That Schools Need
John McMahon Fredericksburg As a veteran teacher, I read with interest about the Prince George's County school system's attempts to reduce suspensions. The article made suspension sound like merely a punitive measure that does nothing but harm to the suspended...
By Marisa Katz | June 21, 2009; 12:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Vouchers and D.C.: What a Good School Can Do
By Bruce B. Stewart Washington In 2003, two influential men of disparate political perspectives — D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams and President George W. Bush — united on the goal of giving educational choice to low-income children in the District...
By Vince Rinehart | May 13, 2009; 05:33 PM ET | Comments (2)
U-Md. Porn Controversy: A Wrapup of Views
The decision by students at the University of Maryland to show excerpts of a pornography film at the campus yesterday has all the ingredients of a hot debate: sex, morals, freedom of speech and tax dollars. In the comments sections...
By Mike McPhate | April 7, 2009; 04:06 PM ET | Comments (3)
Showdown Set on U-Md. Pornography Plan
Poster for "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge." (Digital Playground) University of Maryland students are planning to screen a hard-core porn movie on the campus tonight in defiance of protests from state lawmakers. The movie was initially scheduled to be shown in...
By Mike McPhate | April 6, 2009; 12:03 PM ET | Comments (15)
Second-Class Citizens in Virginia
Voter turnout in this past election set records — for youth voters, minority voters and voters who hadn’t cast a ballot since the advent of the Internet. But thousands of Virginia college students were excluded because of vague election laws...
By Gina Acosta | March 10, 2009; 05:05 PM ET | Comments (0)
Virginia's ________ Tests (Answer: Flawed)
Arne Duncan, President Obama’s education secretary, says he wants nationwide input on ways to improve the No Child Left Behind Act. If so, he should heed a lesson from Sarah Palin and the state of Virginia. Each winter, school districts...
By Gina Acosta | March 10, 2009; 04:52 PM ET | Comments (0)
Mayor Fenty MIA on Vouchers
By Marc Thiessen Eight days after President Obama took the oath of office, another less noted inauguration took place in our nation's capitol -- when Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty swore in Ronald Holassie as deputy youth mayor for legislative affairs....
By Marisa Katz | March 5, 2009; 12:33 PM ET | Comments (1)
Battle Intensifies Over UDC Plan
Student protesters gathered again today to vent their outrage over the University of the District of Columbia's proposal to nearly double tuition and end open enrollment for four-year students. (See pics of the rally below). The issue has elicited some...
By Mike McPhate | February 11, 2009; 02:09 PM ET | Comments (5)
