Category Archives: Education

Pittsburgh Tries a Collaborative Approach to School Reform

Posted on January 28, 2012 by

When I first began reading Sean D. Hamill’s account of the partnership between the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the local union, I was immediately skeptical; I sensed the heavy hand of corporate reformers. After all, the story features a $40 … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Education, Quality Management | Leave a comment

Searching for Steve Jobs? Why the Quest for “Star” Talent is Often Misguided

Posted on October 21, 2011 by

The search for superstars—from the ball field to the boardroom—is a uniquely American obsession. Most recently, school reformers have been promoting the idea that filling every classroom with “great” teachers—and, of course, getting rid of all the “deadbeats”—will solve the … Continue reading →

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How A Decade-Long Literacy Obsession Transformed Brockton High

Posted on September 30, 2011 by

Contrary to the assumptions of many education reformers, it is possible to turnaround a failing school without firing teachers, getting rid of the union, offering pay incentives or hiring high-priced outside experts. In a wide-ranging interview last week, Susan Szachowicz, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Quality Management | 4 Comments

Education-Technology Lessons from School of One and An Old Tracy-Hepburn Film…

Posted on August 11, 2011 by

In Desk Set, the 1957 Hepburn-Tracy classic, when an inventor, played by Spencer Tracy, installs a giant computer named EMERAC in the reference department of the Federal Broadcasting Network, he tries to reassure the chief librarian, played by Katherine Hepburn, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 2 Comments