Author Archives: Mike

Teacher-bonus Strategies

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Mike

Idaho state law now mandates pay-for-performance for teachers, but school districts retain latitude in how p-f-p plans will be structured and administered. “With a Sept. 1 deadline nearing, administrators and teachers throughout Idaho are hammering out local approaches that will … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Reform, Teacher Accountability, Teacher Compensation, Teacher's Unions | Comments Off on Teacher-bonus Strategies

William Lutz

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Mike

While searching for something else, I chanced to come across Bill Lutz, an old friend from the University of Nevada. Over the years, our paths have crossed briefly a time or two, but then we seem to lose track of … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Reform, Language and rhetoric | Comments Off on William Lutz

Bonehead

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Mike

Reformists din their lament that America’s public schools turn out so few graduates who are ready for higher education, witness the number (presumably unprecedentedly higher) of students who must take some sort of remedial (bonehead) classes. Academic standards are in … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Reform, Teacher Accountability, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Bonehead

Does Family Income Matter?

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Mike

Does family income matter in students’ achievement in school?  The Reformists say no, of course, and draw themselves up piously and hurl charges of elitism and classism at anyone who would suggest that it does. Common sense tells us that … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Reform | 1 Comment

Philosophy of Education

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Mike

In 1970, give or take a year, Payette High School underwent its first ten-year evaluation, a brand-new initiative, part of the accreditation process. I remember a Visitation Team of administrators from other districts, teachers of various disciplines from other districts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Curriculum, Education Reform, School Program | Comments Off on Philosophy of Education

Cipher in the Snow

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Mike

When I saw the mendacious Waiting for Superman, I told myself I had never seen anything quite like it before, a purely political attack, financed by “the billionaire boy’s club,” on teachers and their unions in particular and on American … Continue reading →

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Pay to Play, 2

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Mike

According to The Idaho Statesman, 6/12/2011, Meridian school district students who wish to play sports will have to pay a fee of $100 to be on a team this coming year. Faced with declining funds from the state and from … Continue reading →

Posted in School Program | Comments Off on Pay to Play, 2

Reformists and Reformism

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Mike

When I began The Peavine Quarter nearly a year ago, I conceived it as platform for my musings on various topics, education and teaching as well as literature, film, and miscellaneous. I would also have a section that would provide … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Reform | 1 Comment

McLuhan Revisited-revisited

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Mike

On May 25, I posted McLuhan Revisited, inspired by this link, a lecture by Eli Paliser. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ofWFx525s&feature=channel_video_title A friend, James R. Johnson, forwarded the link to his son, Richard Johnson, who replied to him, and it then came back to … Continue reading →

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McLuhan Revisited

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Mike

I recently received this link from a friend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ofWFx525s&feature=channel_video_title He commented “Some interesting thoughts presented in this video. This is something that I’ve been kind of thinking about in the back of my mind for a while now. Frankly I … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary | Comments Off on McLuhan Revisited