September 2005 »

Earlier this week, I posted a link to an article on the Washington Post titled “Teachers Stir Science, History Into Core Classes“. This article contained the following quote in reference to how many schools have opted to address the strict requirements that the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has placed on reading and math performance:

The time devoted to reading and math has increased. And in many places, the increase has brought results. Between 2002 and 2004, Keister Elementary’s passing rate went from 81 to 92 percent on the state English test and from 86 to 90 percent on the math test.

Quotes like these always force me to ask a simple question: Have we established the reliability of the standardized tests being used?

Continue reading... »

Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher: Wings
Rating:
Buy The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide on Amazon.com

This five-book anthology follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Trillian, and Zaphod Beeblebrox from that fateful moment when the Vogons show up to demolish the earth to that fateful moment when…well, you’ll see. Pay close attention as you read because even the most random plot points will come back to haunt you later. This book also includes a short story, “Young Zaphod Plays It Safe” that explores some of Zaphod’s earlier years and apparently hints at the origins of one controversial Earth figure. Douglas Adams lampoons everything from science to bureaucracy, so hang on tight!

Continue reading... »

Author: Robert Putnam
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating:
Buy Bowling Alone on Amazon.com

The topic of social change and civic engagement is one that is infinitely interesting to me, so you’d think that I wouldn’t have gotten so bored by this book. In his effort to be as thorough as possible in making his point, Putnam completely forgot about things like narrative structure (which, yes, nonfiction books should still have some semblance of narrative structure).

Continue reading... »