1. Horace Mann Photo – 1849 Horace Mann (1796-1859) is referred to as the “father of American public education.” Mann had religious motives behind founding the public school system, as illustrated in quotes like this one: “The universal diffusion and ultimate triumph of all-glorious Christianity itself must await the time when knowledge shall be diffused
READ MOREIt’s the end of the school year and by now just about every graduating senior has donned cap and gown and walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma. Statistics place national graduation rates at 81% – a percentage that has risen amidst much acclamation in recent years. But according to an investigation by NPR,
READ MOREThis week, an impressive list of scholars across the nation published a letter opposing the new framework for the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) exam in U.S. History. You can read the full letter here. As you may know, millions of U.S. high school students take an AP U.S. History course and exam each year in
READ MOREI am not qualified to teach in Minnesota public schools. Here are my non-qualifications: A B.A. in Philosophy from Augsburg College An M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Wales (U.K.) I worked as a teaching assistant for several courses during this time. 14 years of successful teaching at Trinity School at River
READ MOREAh… summertime. School is out and your kids are hanging around, complaining of boredom or playing on your iPhone. How do you ensure that your children won’t fritter away their summer in useless activities that fail to stretch their mind? For starters, why not enroll your children in a summer reading contest at your local
READ MOREAt the end of another school year, questions predictably arise about the continued value of a long summer break. On the side of maintaining the traditional summer break side are arguments that it’s good for family bonding, that students simply need the long hiatus from academics, and good-old-fashioned nostalgia about summers past. Those for adjusting
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