It’s Columbus Day…Time to Break the Silence
by Bill Bigelow This past January, almost exactly 20 years after its publication, Tucson schools banned the book I co-edited with Bob Peterson, Rethinking Columbus. It was one of a […]
Updates
Won’t Back Down won’t be real about school reform
Thinking about seeing a movie this weekend? Take our advice and avoid Won’t Back Down. Below, Helen Gym, a Rethinking Schools editorial associate and parent activist in Philadelphia, shares why. Her commentary […]
Beware the Trigger
by Wayne Au “Parent triggers” are one of the latest education reforms gaining traction around the country. They appear to be a simple and empowering reform: If the majority of […]
Their Fight Is Our Fight
by Kris Collett On Monday, September 10, 29,000 of our Chicago colleagues went on strike after they failed to reach an agreement over education reforms sought by 1% Mayor Rahm […]
Howard Zinn at 90: Lessons from the People’s Historian
Howard Zinn was a great friend of Rethinking Schools. He generously allowed us to reprint articles of his in the magazine and our books. He agreed to be interviewed by […]
Broad Foundation Wants to Step on the Gas
The Broad Foundation wants to step on the gas….A recent memo from The Broad Center (TBC) proposes a series of strategic shifts in the foundation’s education programs designed to “accelerate” the pace […]
12 Tips for New Teachers
As you prepare for a new school year, we wanted to share this short article by Rethinking Schools editor Larry Miller. While he is no longer in the classroom day-to-day, […]
Charter Schools and Corporate Ed Reform
The following is an excerpt from Charter Schools and the Corporate Makeover of Public Education: What’s at Stake? co-authored by Michelle Fine and Michael Fabricant. The book traces the evolution of […]
Fists of Freedom: An Olympic Story Not Taught in Schools
The latest “If We Knew Our History” column from the Zinn Education Project is by Dave Zirin. In the article, Zirin tells the story behind the famous photo of Tommie […]
Save Our Schools returns
by Stan Karp Last summer, the Save Our Schools march brought thousands of teachers, parents, and supporters of public education to Washington, D.C. The march and rally were hopeful signs […]
Hot Enough for You? Time to Teach Against Fossil Fuels
by Bill Bigelow Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve been spared most of the brutal weather experienced in the rest of the country. Throughout the United States, in the month […]
Summer Reading Recommendations
It’s summertime, and who doesn’t need a few good books to take to the beach or park? Listed here are some of the books we’ve recommended in Rethinking Schools magazine in […]
Rethinking the 4th of July
Rethinking Schools editor Bill Bigelow wrote this post for the Zinn Education Project, encouraging teachers — and everyone — to use this July 4th as a time to consider a […]
Life after recall
Three weeks have passed since Election Day in Wisconsin, Rethinking Schools’ home base. The Monday-morning quarterbacking started moments after Democratic challenger Tom Barrett made his concession speech. Some of the […]
Who’s talking about the summer issue?
by Kris Collett Our summer issue is out, and many articles are already garnering positive attention. We’re stoked that our editorial “The New Misogyny” spread on Twitter like wildfire. Thanks […]
Spotlight on Dyan Watson
Dyan Watson joined the Rethinking Schools team as an editorial associate last year. You’ve probably noticed her wonderful articles in the magazine: “What Do You Mean When You Say Urban” […]
Former Stand activists speak out on ballot initiative
Rethinking Schools supporter and education activist Alain Jehlen is involved in an organized effort to halt the corporate-driven reform agenda of Stand for Children. Here’s the latest from Alain, including […]
Shock Doctrine Comes to Philly Schools
by Jody Sokolower Philadelphia teachers and parents—and educators throughout the country—were horrified a few weeks ago when Thomas Knudsen, the School District of Philadelphia’s chief recovery officer, unveiled a five-year […]
What is Childhood For?
What is childhood for? That’s the question that Rethinking Early Childhood Education editor Ann Pelo raises in this blog post, a previously unpublished piece that Ann wrote for the book […]
The results are in! There’s too much testing.
by Stan Karp Maybe we’re finally reaching the tipping point. After more than a decade of accelerating damage fueled by NCLB, the standardized testing regime that is the engine of […]
Lesson Ideas for Screen-Free Week
As the Center for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) points out, preschool children spend “an astonishing average of 32 hours a week” in front of screens—and it’s more for older children. […]
Ballot Question in Boston Would Silence Teachers
As Rethinking Schools’ representative to the National Network of Teacher Activist Groups, I hear a lot of news about exciting organizing (and outrageous attacks on education). Recently, TAG Boston told […]
The Real Irish American Story
Saint Patrick’s Day is approaching, so it’s time for the all-too-brief attention that media and schools pay to Irish American history. Rethinking Schools editor Bill Bigelow has a new article […]
Rethinking ‘The Lorax’
By Bill Bigelow On March 2nd, Universal Pictures is releasing the 3-D animated film, The Lorax, based on Dr. Seuss’s classic “environmental” book of the same name. The Campaign for […]
Unintended Lessons
by Terry Burant Recently, a friend told me that a former high school student of mine named his car “Terry” after me. When she asked him why, he explained, “She’s […]