School Reform Critic Gifts

Standardized Testing

'The reason the core curriculum seems so ambiguous is that we dot really have a core curriculum.'

'Personally - I'm against a four-day school week - I'm for a three-day school week. . .'

'Child labor laws don't apply to homework, Jimmy.'

"I don't mind them counting the days 'til school's out, but I wish they wouldn't do it on their fingers."

Kate's first task as new principal was to right a number of wrongs.

'You're being evacuated to a better catchment area.'

'I think our mission statement should mention scholarship and attendance.'

'Oh, we don't actually teach math any more ? we found it was too hard on the kids' self-esteem.'

'See, this is proof that your criticism of our educational system is right on!'

"Maybe school's a good thing... I mean...where else do hundreds of people with similar backgrounds come together under one roof...all following a daily routine...with guidance and supervision to better themselves and society? Ya know...besides prison?"

"What I do is create elegant solutions for problems that don't exist."

"Sorry, class, but because of new deregulations, I don't have to teach you anything this year."

'Ms. Peters, hold all calls. I'm busy implementing yet another hastily conceived and unproven education innovation.'

'You will be appointed principal of a school and you will resist change for your entire career,'

'I'm more unpopular now than I was at school.'

The Internal Economy of Dotheboys Hall

'A hidden cost of implementing common core standards in education...'

'Take this back to the committee. Since this is a school I would like the mission statement to mention education.'

'The halcyon days of an apple for the teacher are a distant memory.'

"No, you cannot impeach your teacher!"

"The Feds have authorized me to leave your child behind."

'No darling, it's not a programme about choice of schools.'

'What's the point of all this school business when we can just look up things on the internet?'

"It's a textbook case- depending on which state your textbooks are from."

"The good news is that the Remedial Learning Program is more popular than ever, which is also the bad news."

2010 Teacher Layoffs.

'This is just my part in the growing crisis in education.'

An Honest Graduation Photograph

'Lincoln Standardized Test Center - formerly Lincoln High School'

"Studies show teens get sleepy later than adults and need more sleep. We should start the school day later..."

'The board couldn't come up with a 'Plan-A'.'

Welcome back to school