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."

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

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

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

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

"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?"

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

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

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

'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.'

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

The Internal Economy of Dotheboys Hall

'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.'

Civilian Oversight

"No, you cannot impeach your teacher!"

The paper ranks local teachers. Teddy's math teacher is barely competent. Let's transfer him! Why? It's good training for the real world

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

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

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

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

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

College Finance Education

2010 Teacher Layoffs.

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

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'.'