Extra Credit Reading: Sunday, November 26, 2006

Desirous of restoring civility to America's classrooms, Iowa Professor Delaney Kirk offers some sound common-sense advice that students, parents, teachers, and especially school administrators, would do very well to make a study of. (It would be interesting to get a hold of a copy of her book, Taking Back the Classroom.)

In an effort to avoid "boring" assignments, middle and high school teachers are often encouraged mandated by school administrators to give "creative assignments" that foster "critical thinking" by students who often have less-than positive attitudes toward school and school work. Check out the three stages of student unaccountability even though teachers are now held (by NCLB) wholly accountable for student effort and performance. (Via Joanne Jacobs)

We here at The 'Wonks like to keep an eye on U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. It's been brought to our attention that we're not the only ones in the EduSphere, as the L.A. Time's EduBlog School Me! has also been keeping close track of The Queen of All Testing the globe-trotting (and lately here) Ms. Spellings.

Our Red Apple Salute goes to San Francisco's Dr. Martin Holland, who quit his prestigious job with the University of California in order volunteer for service as a U.S. Navy surgeon.

From our "Truth is Stranger Than Fiction Department" we have the weird case of the Florida woman who apparently died due to a fatal encounter with a bookcase. ---------------------------------See our latest EduPosts and yesterday's Extra Credit Reading.