Direct Education Scheduler
A higher education bill retreat will just push changes under the radar | Liam Burns
David Cameron and his education minister, David Willetts, appear to have made a U-turn on a proposed higher education bill. Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
The government’s apparent retreat on presenting a bill on higher education in this parliamentary session has been welcomed by many working and studying in higher education. It is seen either as a U-turn on policy direction after months of public criticism, protests and occupations, or a sign that ministers have heeded calls from the sector for stability until the impact of a trebling of the fee cap to £9,000 is known. In truth, it is neither and we must stay vigilant.
Many of the most damaging proposals contained in the government’s white paper can now happen under the radar, without scrutiny from either the Commons or the Lords. The platform that would have allowed us to defeat these moves where we can, and secure protections where we can’t has been denied to us, while the government can continue to drastically reshape our universities without being challenged in parliament.
Purdue’s Cordova installed as chair of Smithsonian’s governing board
WASHINGTON Purdue University President France Cordova was installed today as chairwoman of the Smithsonian Institutions governing board as the museum complex expands with the coming construction of a new black history museum and calls for another focused on Latino American heritage.
As Cordova begins her three-year term, she will maintain her post at the Indiana university. Cordova will lead oversight and support fundraising for the worlds largest group of museums and research centers. Cordova is an astrophysicist and previously held posts in the University of California system and was chief scientist at NASA.
Cordova succeeds Patty Stonesifer, a former Microsoft executive and former chief executive of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Stonesifer has served as chairwoman since 2009 and will become vice chair of the board.
The Smithsonian is developing its first institution-wide capital campaign to increase private support. Congress provides about 70 percent of the Smithsonians budget, but funds for programs and exhibits must be raised privately.
The case for more details in Ohio’s history standards
Hearken back to junior high and high school for a moment. What “historical documents” were you taught in social studies and American history classes? The U.S. Constitution? Your state’s constitution? What about the Declaration of Independence or the Federalist Papers? The Northwest Ordinance (especially if you grew up in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Minnesota)?
My entire K-12 education was in Ohio public schools. When it came to history, I didn’t take any electives or special courses beyond whatever was required for me to earn a diploma. Yet, I was taught all of these important historical texts, multiple times, from seventh grade through twelfth. So I was surprised to see a bill moving through the Ohio legislature that would require schools to teach what I thought were standard fare for Ohio’s students. In fact, at first blush it seemed implausible to me that many schools weren’t already doing so.
My husband, also an Ohio public school alum (from a quote-unquote better district than I attended), had a different reaction when I told him about the legislation. He guessed at leas
In schools, boosting self-esteem with empty praise loses favor
For decades, the prevailing wisdom in education was that high self-esteem would lead to high achievement. The theory led to an avalanche of daily affirmations, awards ceremonies and attendance certificates – but few, if any, academic gains.
Now, an increasing number of teachers are weaning themselves from what some call empty praise.
Drawing on psychology and brain research, these educators aim to articulate a more precise, and scientific, vocabulary for praise that will push children to work through mistakes and take on more challenging assignments.
Changing direction
Consider teacher Shar Hellie’s new approach in Montgomery County, Md.
To get students through the shaky first steps of Spanish grammar, Hellie spent many years trying to boost their confidence. If someone couldn’t answer a question easily, she would coach him, whisper the first few words, then follow up with a booming “Muy bien!”
But on a January morning at Rocky Hill Middle School, she gave nothing away.