Single Sex Education - a violation of rights?

Having taught in co-educational as well as single-sex schools I can see a lot of advantages in each.  Single sex education is not the answer for all students, but it can help to focus teaching, as well as focussing students.  Regardless, it seems incredible that a court is making a ruling, in this case preventing a middle school from offering single-sex lessons.  Surely commonsense should be recognised as part of the US Constitution.

Online learning - a law

Changes in the US mean that some states now oblige students to complete some of their learning online.  Have a look.

E-books and classrooms

Changes in the print industry are opening up avenues for more digital publishing.  Of greater relevance for classrooms, however, might be the work of Mercy Pilkington, given a brief outline at the bottom of the article.  I am not convinced, though I can see the potential in some circumstances.

Apprenticeships are worth considering

An interesting outline of the Swiss education system, where apprenticeships are the norm for most young people.  My experience would certainly suggest that the same would be useful for the UK.  Higher Education is just one route, and it suits a particular type of person.

A Rose by any other name - Every Child Matters

I have met few teachers or educators who did not believe that children matter, or indeed that Every Child Matters.  The terminology does, however; and as a Senior Manager who wrote many bids and reports and presentations, I was constantly beating myself up to choose the correct words.  Words are not just a concentration of letters or sounds; they help to hone an idea, and potentially develop a shared vision.  It is a pity then that new government means new words, even it the objective remains the same; children matter.

Teacher training is not just a UK issue

As an entrant to teaching I believed that teaching was the most important profession.  Whilst law and medicine might be said to correct our mistakes, teaching was helping to lay the foundation for healthy and well-balanced lives.  I can't say that twenty years of practice helped me to realise that potential; I was happy to leave.  It is interesting nonetheless to read that the same issues of qualification, training, support and consistency are evident in the US.  I write as an ex-English teacher, UK based.

The Importance of Speaking and Listening

I am a big fan of speaking and listening; I found that boys were particularly poor at this.  I also found that giving them an opportunity for formal speaking, without notes, was a very good way to encourage engagement and a positive classroom environment.  For Laura Kenwright's experience have a look at the following.