Monthly Archives: October 2011

The Flat World & Education: Ch. 7 Summary

CHAPTER SEVEN: “Doing What Matters Most: Developing Competent Teaching” According to Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, the development of competent teachers should not be left to chance.  She suggests formulating a framework that consists of strong professional preparation programs, the distribution of … Continue reading

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The Flat World & Education: Chs. 5 & 6 Summary

CHAPTER FIVE: “A Tale of Three States: What Happens When States Invest Strategically (or Don’t)” In this chapter, Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond utilizes three states to emphasize further how good uses of resources can lead to successful student achievement.  Connecticut and … Continue reading

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The Flat World & Education: Ch. 4 Summary

Chapter 4: “Inequality on Trial: Does Money Make a Difference?” Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond takes the points with which she was dealing in the previous chapter and addresses funding issues.  She looks at the financial support structures that award schools, and … Continue reading

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The Flat World & Education: Ch. 3 Summary

CHAPTER THREE: “New Standards and Old Inequalities: How Testing Narrows and Expands the Opportunity Gap” When schools focus on test scores, the author demonstrates, the end result is that curriculum and instruction changes—paralleling test content, format, and cognitive demands, rather … Continue reading

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The Flat World & Education: Chs. 1 & 2 Summary

CHAPTER ONE: “The Flat World, Educational Inequality, and America’s Future” The author demonstrates how our present school system is based on an antiquated model designed for students who would eventually work in factories.  Providing basic skills to young pupils might … Continue reading

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CAIN IS STILL KILLING ABEL

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain characterized the Occupy Wall Street protesters as “orchestrated to distract from the failed policies of the Obama administration.”  Flagrantly ignoring fundamental rules of decorum, he told those … Continue reading

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