What few gains both whites and minorities managed to make did not result in the kind of quantifiable growth that was expected.  The averaged scores of 17-year-old students were the same as those of teenagers who were tested in the 1970s. There are now far, far more lower scoring minorities in relation to whites, largely due to a change in the demographics. Racial groups and sub groups under the law have not only not met with success, but have brought down the success rates of white and Asian students.

In order to avoid the looming catastrophe of having the government come in and literally take over failing schools, many states have been exempted from the requirements of NCLB and will now be able to drop it altogether.  This is good news, but it’s too little, too late.  It could take more than a decade to repair the damage caused by No Child Left Behind, and to get student performance back to acceptable levels.

In the early part of the twentieth century college education began to distance itself from the training of clergy and became relevant more to life “in the world.” Training for specialized jobs and vocations replaced the old focus as universities and industries collaborated to produce a ready work force.  Studies in what is now known as a liberal arts curriculum were designed to provide a broad background in a wide sampling of educational disciplines, a stark difference from the classicist model that it replaced. Today, there are certain universities and private colleges that cater to very specific training needs while maintaining their link to the liberal arts format of the 1950s.  The result is a diversified student population prepared to join the work force in any number of roles.  Education history was featured prominently on direct tv history channels in January, and many of the televised documentaries are still available for viewing.

Here is one interesting infographic I discovered while researching this topic today that outlines the history of higher education in the United States.

In general, the greatest evidence points to the fact that effective teachers are capable of bringing about significantly greater learning gains in their students when compared in some way with their less effective colleagues. Currently, most of this evidence is based on a  “value added” model for the analyses of large sets of data linking individual students’ test scores to  teachers.

How important are test scores and class assignment performance to teachers in measuring student growth?  And what are the perceived benefits of each type of the most commonly applied metrics?  Below, the infographic shows us, from an educator’s point of view, what are considered to be most useful measures.  Students’ individual factors such as family background, home security, and income brackets are not directly addressed in these measures.  Click to expand the graphic:

Dating back to the Middle Ages, the tradition of the honoris causa degree has always existed to award very special people in a community who have done a great service for their fellow men, often at their own expense or with brave sacrifice. But sometimes the degree was used as a reward for wealthy people who grant large funds or real estate to the community.  Honorary degrees have also been bestowed on certain people after their deaths, to honor some great accomplishment made during their lifetime, or perhaps an act of final heroism.

While an honorary doctoral degree are the highest level of such recognition, this designation does not imply that the person has merited an actual PhD in a field of study or knowledge.

Here is a video clip of Apple, Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak, receiving an honorary doctorate from Concordia University:

In the infographic below, we notice an alarming comparison between public school meals and the fare served in prisons in the United States.  The results are almost equally unappetizing. As you examine this, look at the associated costs for each location and ask yourself why it costs so much more to serve lunch to public school students than to prisoners.  Do I smell pork?

Here is a good introductory video to explain the concept of iTunes U and what Apple’s idea of open education seems to stem from.  This is mainly a user guide, but it’s a very well thought out one and great for beginners.  Enjoy.

This is disturbing to realize and as I watched a student be ignored by a teacher who could have so easily given a word of advice, I thought I could feel the whole system crashing down on me.  If we as teachers don’t intend to make the future a better place then why should anyone else? And how can the positive educators fight for more jobs in the field and better pay and benefits when some administrators and parents can only think of the things that I am mentioning here?  And what young adult will want to become a teacher if they can’t see the true impact the position can have?

If you have ever had an experience like this or share my disappointment please know that you are not alone.  Being a teacher is a tough job only if it is done right.  Those who brush off responsibility and don’t take education seriously are hurting the rest of us without even knowing it.  I am trying to work up the nerve to confront these individuals face to face so I can say that I have no regrets and I can look my students in the eyes with dignity and pride in my career.