16:1 - Education, Teaching, & Learning

[00:02:22]

Student well-being and strong mental health are essential for effective learning. This episode explores the growing mental health challenges faced by K-12 and college students globally. Rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues have surged, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent research from the U.S. Surgeon General notes a rise in mental health struggles among youth, including major depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts, compounded by increased screen time and social media use. In higher education, nearly 40% of students report conditions like anxiety or depression.

 [00:07:00]

We discuss key contributing factors to the student mental health crisis, including excessive academic pressure, economic uncertainty, political and environmental anxiety, and disrupted sleep patterns. Social media plays a significant role, as students grapple with the pressure to maintain curated online personas.

[00:15:45]

Our conversation also highlights helpful resources and organizations working to address these issues, such as HundreED’s Wellbeing in Schools project, Active Minds, and the Trevor Project. These organizations focus on integrating mental health support into education, providing vital resources, and advocating for policy change to improve student well-being.

[00:20:15]]

In the classroom, we explore trauma-informed teaching practices, mindfulness, peer support networks, and compassionate grading policies. Educators are finding new ways to balance preparing students for a tough world while creating a nurturing, supportive environment. Join us in this important conversation!

Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory

Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm on Youth Mental Health

FAFSA - Wikipedia.

Well-Being Assessment - ACHA

REFERENCE GROUP EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Fall 2023 - PILOT American College Health Association Well-Being Assessment

Environments to Support Wellbeing for All Students - Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in Higher Education - NCBI Bookshelf

LET GO AND LET GROW: AN ASSESSMENT OF A SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION ENCOURAGING INDEPENDENCE IN CHILDREN

The impact of income on mental health - The Lancet Public Health

HundrED Global Collection 2024

Education Innovations - HundrED

The Jed Foundation

News Articles & Press Releases from The Trevor Project

Matthew Shepard Foundation

Let Grow Mission and Values | We Believe in Childhood Independence

The Evidence - The Anxious Generation

ChezaCheza

MARIO Education

QIC: Quality Interactions & Creativity CIC

Community Programs - Active Minds

Learn – TWLOHA

Gamingbible - TikTok

The Uncensored Library

Protective Behaviours - 'Cause I Ain't Got a Pencil

Teens have less face time with their friends – and are lonelier than ever

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is once again majorly delayed. On August 7th the U.S. Department of Education announced a rollout process for the 2025-2026 form that includes an October 1st date for limited testing, with the application set to open to all students on December 1 2024, two months later than the typical release date for the application. 
• A federal appeals court has allowed an Iowa law that bans books with sexual content from K-12 school libraries and restricts instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity before seventh grade to take effect. This overturns a previous injunction that had paused the law, signed by Republican Governor Kim Reynolds in 2023.
• An update to a previously discussed story: in the wake of former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse announcing his resignation from the University of Florida presidency, the UF student newspaper, the Independent Florida Alligator, has reported that Sasse may have been forced out over escalating tensions with the university’s board chairman, Morteza “Mori” Hosseini.

Social Learning Theory (SLT) seeks to explain how we learn behaviors by observing and imitating others. This episode explores SLT's unique position between behaviorism, which focuses on observable behaviors, and cognitive psychology, which emphasizes internal processes like memory and perception.

We’ll discuss how Albert Bandura revolutionized psychology by developing new theories on aggression and modeled behaviors, challenging the dominant behaviorist views of the time. We’ll cover Bandura’s famous Bobo Doll experiment and its groundbreaking findings on observational learning, and we’ll also introduce you to other key figures in the development of SLT, like Julian Rotter, who developed the concept of locus of control, and Walter Mischel, known for the marshmallow test on delayed gratification. We’ll also tease apart the core concepts of SLT (modeling, self-efficacy, and vicarious reinforcement) to show how they work together to shape behavior. Finally, we’ll discuss the broader applications and criticisms of SLT in areas like education, media, and even advertising, where the power of observed behavior is leveraged in both positive and controversial ways.

The rollout for the updated FAFSA application has been delayed again : NPR

After Botched Rollout, FAFSA Is Delayed for a Second Year - The New York Times

FAFSA Rollout Delayed Again: Here's What to Know | Paying for College | U.S. News

U.S. Department of Education Announces Schedule and New Process to Launch 2025-26 FAFSA Form

‘There’s nothing more important right now’: Cardona commits to fixing FAFSA disaster - POLITICO

Federal judges allow Iowa book ban to take effect this school year | AP News

Obama addresses healthcare website glitches - BBC News

Federal appeals court rules Iowa's book ban law can take effect

Sasse's spending, exit leave lingering questions at UF

University of Florida Pres. Kent Fuchs addresses Sasse allegations, plans for future

Sasse stepped down. Donors and top officials say he was forced out. - The Independent Florida Alligator

Ben Sasse Appears to Have Turned the University of Florida Into a Gravy Train for His Pals

Former UF President Ben Sasse defends spending after Gov. DeSantis raises concerns

Social cognitive theory | psychology | Britannica

Social learning | Secondary Keywords: Imitation, Observational Learning & Reinforcement | Britannica

Observational learning | Psychology, Behavior & Cognitive Processes | Britannica

Social learning theory - Wikipedia

Albert Bandura | Biography, Theory, Experiment, & Facts | Britannica

Albert Bandura, Leading Psychologist of Aggression, Dies at 95 - The New York Times

Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change - A. Bandura - APA PsycNet

Social learning and clinical psychology : Rotter, Julian B : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Julian Rotter - Wikipedia

Theories of Emeritus Professor Julian Rotter Still Relevant to Field of Clinical Psychology - UConn Today

Decision Making Individual Differences Inventory - Internal-External Scale

In Memoriam: Walter Mischel, Psychologist Who Developed Pioneering Marshmallow Test | Department of Psychology

Walter Mischel | Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, Cognitive Delay of Gratification | Britannica

How many users visit Wikipedia daily? - Quora.

The Bobo Doll Experiment - Psychestudy

Biological Mechanisms for Observational Learning - PMC

Albert Bandura's experiments on aggression modeling in children: A psychoanalytic critique - PMC

Remembrance For Walter Mischel, Psychologist Who Devised The Marshmallow Test

• Last week brought news of a long-simmering conflict within OpenAI, a dominant player in the generative artificial intelligence space, over whether or not the company should release to the public a watermarking tool that would leave a secret trail of encoded breadcrumbs in textual output from ChatGPT.
• Updates from ongoing literacy reform initiatives across the country:
  • A literacy reform bill in the state of Massachusetts failed to pass after pushback from the state’s teachers union and some school administrators.
  • Maryland’s State Board of Education is also in the midst of a comment period related to literacy programming changes, in this case having to do with a controversial retention policy that could hold back third graders who don’t score high enough on state reading exams.
• Katie and guest educator Allyson discuss their state-mandated Science of Reading coursework after completing 10 modules that may have missed the mark of preparing teachers to tackle literacy challenges.

Teachers serve as ethical role models, and their personal philosophies deeply influence their day-to-day decisions and interactions with students. In this episode, we discuss how teacher education programs prepare (or fail to prepare) educators to approach these responsibilities with sensitivity and moral understanding. 

Contemporary challenges in teaching ethics are also examined, including the importance of age-appropriate content, the legal and policy constraints public school teachers face, and the necessity for cultural and ethical sensitivity in diverse classrooms. We discuss strategies for educators to recognize and mitigate their biases, promote respectful dialogue, and prepare students to navigate today's ethical and moral dilemmas, particularly in the digital age.

Finally, we consider the influence of parents and community members on classroom ethics and how educators can involve these parties constructively in the project of education. The episode concludes with a discussion of the value of formalized ethics lessons versus the ethical lessons naturally woven into everyday classroom experiences.

• How do your personal philosophies as educators shape your daily actions in the classroom?
• In what ways do teacher education programs equip educators to handle ethical sensitivity and moral responsibility?
• How has the role of the educator as a moral and ethical exemplar evolved throughout history?
• Are formal ethics lessons more beneficial than the lessons students learn from everyday classroom interactions?
• How can teachers effectively tailor ethics-related content to different age groups while keeping it engaging?

OpenAI has the tech to watermark ChatGPT text—it just won’t release it | Ars Technica

There’s a Tool to Catch Students Cheating With ChatGPT. OpenAI Hasn’t Released It. - WSJ

Understanding the source of what we see and hear online | OpenAI

Massachusetts Literacy Reform Bill Dies, But State Spends $20 Million on Reading Education – Solondais

Literacy reform bill dies, but new reading program gets $20 million investment

Lost in a world of words: Key takeaways from Globe literacy investigation

Why It Is Called the Steeplechase and Why It Has Water Jumps. - Business Insider

• University of Florida President Ben Sasse announced his resignation from his presidential position effective July 31, 2024, citing the need to focus on his wife's health and family responsibilities. 
• ACT Education Corp has announced changes to the ACT format and length as the company transitions from a non-profit to a for-profit entity and grapples with the effects of COVID and fluctuating interest in test-optional admissions policies.
• 2U, Inc., a prominent, Maryland-based online education company, has announced that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This decision follows significant financial struggles, including mounting debt of close to $1 billion and declining revenues.

Alternative educational models, particularly self-directed learning approaches like free schooling and unschooling, have gained traction post-COVID-19. These models focus on tailored educational experiences, addressing individual student needs and interests, and often stem from diverse counter-cultural ideologies. Historical influences include Socrates, Plato, Rousseau, and Dewey, and significant figures discussed include A.S. Neill, founder of Summerhill School, and John Holt, advocate for homeschooling and unschooling. Both critiqued traditional schooling and promoted student autonomy, though their methods and reception are varied.

Free schooling is characterized by significant student autonomy, democratic governance, voluntary class attendance, and a focus on self-directed projects and experiential learning. Notable examples include Summerhill in the UK and Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. Unschooling posits that children learn best through self-directed education without formal classes or curricula. It emphasizes student-led learning, everyday experiences as educational opportunities, and a non-compulsory structure. Parents act as facilitators rather than teachers.

This episode examines criticisms, such as potential academic gaps and socialization challenges, and discusses the suitability of these sometimes-radical student-led models for different learners, including those with disabilities. Socioeconomic factors affecting the feasibility of homeschooling and unschooling are also discussed. Post-COVID-19, remote work opportunities have increased the feasibility of these models, but socioeconomic status remains a significant determinant of access to resources and opportunities for self-directed learning.

The ACT Test Is Evolving

ACT exam: Changes coming to college admissions test, will be significantly shorter and cheaper - ABC13 Houston

The SAT Has Changed: Here's What to Know

The ACT’s private equity takeover and the future of testing

During test-optional college admissions, exam-prep companies still thrived

University of Florida President Ben Sasse announces resignation

Board approves Sen. Ben Sasse to lead the University of Florida, despite outcry

University of Florida faculty passes symbolic vote against possible selection of Sen. Ben Sasse as president.

Ben Sasse, controversial University of Florida president, announces his resignation | PBS News

2U files for bankruptcy, but says students won’t notice - The Baltimore Banner

A look at 2U’s path to bankruptcy | Higher Ed Dive

OPM Watch: What Happens if Online Giant 2U Goes Under?

Unschooling Is the Parenting Trend That's Pissing Everyone Off

What to Know About Unschooling | K-12 Schools | U.S. News

Democratic Schools – Education Revolution

Democratic and Self-Directed Education

A Typical Summerhill Day

16:1 - Episode 14: Montessori Schools

What Is Montessori Education

What Is the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education?

A.S. Neill | Summerhill School, progressive education, libertarian education | Britannica

John Holt GWS

Developing Self-Directed Learners - PMC

Self-Directed Learning

Rethinking the globalisation of problem-based learning: how culture challenges self-directed learning

Sugata Mitra | Speaker | TED

John Holt (educator) - Wikipedia

Unschooling - Wikipedia

Sudbury Valley School

A. S. Neill - Wikipedia

Summerhill alumni: 'What we learnt at the school for scandal' | The Independent

Summerhill school: these days surprisingly strict | Teaching | The Guardian

Flavor Flav is soaking up his 1st Olympic experience cheering on the US water polo teams | AP News

The newest Olympic sports being played at the 2024 Paris Games - CBS News.

MTV News Website Goes Dark, Archives Pulled Offline

• Bloomberg Philanthropies has announced a $1 billion donation to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This generous gift aims to cover tuition for a majority of students, addressing the financial barriers to medical education.
• Dr. Elena Aydarova's recent work critiques Science of Reading reforms, arguing they often disguise motives of standardization, centralization, and privatization. Her analysis, based on advocacy efforts in Tennessee, reveals how these policies may perpetuate inequalities. The discussion highlights the tension between evidence-based teaching methods and the political agendas that influence educational policy. [Bonus content: A brief back and forth with Alfie Kohn, author of Punished by Rewards and many other titles!]

Textbooks are essential educational resources used to align with standards, provide structured learning, and support lesson planning. The process of creating a textbook begins with identifying a market for the resource and often involves multiple authors or contributors and extensive review. Major publishers such as Pearson and McGraw-Hill dominate the market. Marketing efforts include social media promotion, trade shows, and direct outreach to schools and (increasingly) students. The textbook adoption process for many schools involves evaluation by educators and curriculum coordinators to ensure curricular alignment and often incorporates review committees and pilot testing. Digital versions and supplementary resources such as video, audio, and online coursework are now standard as publishers scramble to appeal to tech-friendly classrooms.

Textbooks face criticism for being outdated, expensive, and potentially biased. They have the potential to promote standardization and test preparation over deep learning and critical thinking. Despite these issues, replacing textbooks is challenging due to the extensive effort required to update associated teaching materials, leading to prolonged use of flawed resources.

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using textbooks versus original sources?

2. What does it mean to treat a textbook as an authoritative source of information? Are we equipping students to interrogate these educational materials and approach them with a critical lens?

3. Do textbooks contribute to over-standardization in education?

Bloomberg Philanthropies Makes Medical School Free at Johns Hopkins Medical School

The Science of Reading (16:1)

Bloomberg's donation to Johns Hopkins gives medical students free tuition

What You See Is Not What You Get: Science of Reading Reforms As a Guise for Standardization, Centralization, and Privatization

How a textbook is made - Oxford University Press

The Schools Our Children Deserve - (Book) - Alfie Kohn

Cengage and McGraw-Hill Terminate Merger Agreement

Textbook publishers explore direct-to-student marketing and sales

About NCPC - National Capital Planning Commission

Paris Olympics by the numbers: Participating country stats and facts

• Book bannings and classroom content updates from around the U.S.:
  • From the Guardian: In Florida, a children's book titled "Ban This Book" by Alan Gratz, which ironically addresses the issue of book banning, was itself banned by the Indian River county school board.
  • From the AP: In Oklahoma, the state Supreme Court ruled unanimously that local school boards, not the state Board of Education, have the authority to decide which books are available in public school libraries. This decision overturned attempts by the state Board of Education to remove certain books from Edmond Public Schools' library.
  • Oklahoma public schools are now required to keep and teach from a copy of the Bible in every classroom in grades 5-12. Teachers are being encouraged to provide Biblical instruction due to the book’s “substantial influence on our nation’s founders and the foundational principles of our Constitution.” Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters stated that teachers in non-compliance could lose their licenses. In related news, Louisiana also became the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom.
  • The American Library Association reports “the number of titles targeted for censorship surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022.
• We recently hosted a discussion on legacy admissions and “side door,” donation-motivated college admissions when we discussed the Varsity Blues scandal on this podcast; now, a bill passed by the California state Assembly may bring financial penalties to private higher education institutions for giving admissions preference to children of alumni and donors.
• The University of Colorado Boulder is retiring remote exam proctoring and monitoring technology Proctorio, citing low usage after a return to in-person instruction post COVID-19 pandemic. CU Boulder is not the first university to experience student pushback (hear our discussion of the statement on Proctorio issued by the Union of Students in Ireland in episode 102).

In this episode, we investigate the life and work of B.F. Skinner, the pioneering psychologist who transformed our understanding of behaviorism and left deep marks on classrooms, schools, and methods of instruction. Discover how Skinner’s theories on behavior modification, reinforcement, and punishment continue to influence modern education and classroom management.

Highlights:

• Early Life and Influences: Learn about Skinner's journey from aspiring writer to groundbreaking psychologist, influenced by the works of Ivan Pavlov and John B. Watson.
• Operant Conditioning: Understand the principles of operant conditioning and how Skinner's research with rats and pigeons laid the foundation for behaviorist approaches in education.
• The Skinner Box and Other Oddities and Experiments: Explore the development of the operant conditioning chamber, famously known as the "Skinner Box," and its role in studying animal behavior. Be sure to stick around for a discussion of… (checks notes…) war pigeons?
• Educational Impact: Join a discussion of how Skinner's theories have shaped modern educational practices, including the use of positive and negative reinforcement, token economies, and programmed instruction.
• Controversies and Criticisms: Delve into the ethical debates surrounding behaviorist techniques and their application in both educational and social contexts.
• Legacy in Education: Katie and Chelsea Reflect on Skinner's lasting impact on educational technology and teaching methodologies.

Discussion Questions:

• Has Skinner’s focus on observable and measurable behaviors had an overall positive or negative impact on formal educational systems?
• How much behavior modification is too much when it comes to classroom instruction, and what are the ethical implications of applying behaviorist principles in schools?
• With new research questioning the efficacy of extrinsic rewards, how do we reconcile Skinnerian approaches to motivation in modern education?

Book about book bans banned by Florida school board | Books | The Guardian

Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects state education board's authority over public school libraries | AP News

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/louisiana-to-become-first-state-to-require-that-the-ten-commandments-be-displayed-in-every-public-school-classroom

Watch out Stanford. California is eyeing a new legacy admission ban | Politico

California May Ban Legacy Admissions at Universities - The New York Times

A New National Student Organization Is Taking Aim At Legacy Admissions

Proctorio | Office of Information Technology

Students Are Pushing Back Against Proctoring Surveillance Apps | Electronic Frontier Foundation

Biographical Information – B. F. Skinner Foundation

Project Pigeon - Wikipedia

B.F. Skinner’s Pigeon-Guided Rocket | Smithsonian

Understanding Behavioral Psychology: the Skinner Box

Behaviourism | Classical & Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement & Shaping | Britannica

Behaviorism In Psychology

THE IMPLICATION OF THE LEARNING THEORIES ON IMPLEMENTING E-LEARNING COURSES

What Kind of Dog Was Pavlov’s Dog? | Smithsonian

Pavlov, Watson, Skinner, And Behaviorism | Kate Votaw

B.F. Skinner Raised His Daughter in a Skinner Box? | Snopes.com

Mystery solved: We now know what happened to Little Albert

Operant Conditioning: What Is It and How It Works

Reinforcement and Punishment – General Psychology

Behaviorism in Education: What Is Behavioral Learning Theory?

Skinner’s Behaviourism - New Learning Online

Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters orders schools to teach the Bible

Oklahoma schools head Ryan Walters: Teachers who won't teach Bible could lose license

Skinner’s Reinforcement Theory in the Classroom | Teaching Channel

Why B.F. Skinner May Have Been The Most Dangerous Psychologist Ever

The Engineered Student: On B. F. Skinner’s Teaching Machine | The MIT Press Reader

The hosts are on summer break, which means the return of an annual tradition: the 16:1 year in review, where Katie and Chelsea kick back and share about their year of learning. Education news headlines will return next episode.

Reported birth of rare white buffalo calf in Yellowstone park fulfills Lakota prophecy | AP News

Bison Bellows: The birth of a white buffalo calf (U.S. National Park Service)

ChatGPT is bullshit | Ethics and Information Technology

Forbes letter threatens legal action against Perplexity AI over copyright

The AI industry is pushing a nuclear power revival — partly to fuel itself

Horrifying video of invisible fire during Indy 500 race has people questioning how it's even possible

American Library Association

Education - Suffs The Musical

• Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has leveled criticism at the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision just days after the 70th anniversary of the ruling. In his concurring opinion on a decision allowing South Carolina to keep using a congressional map that critics say discriminated against Black voters, Thomas this month argued that the Brown decision took a "boundless view of equitable remedies" and involved "extravagant uses of judicial power" to end racial segregation in schools.
• The Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) announced its closure, attributing the decision partly to financial difficulties exacerbated by ongoing issues with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) system. Concurrently, the U.S. Department of Education has pledged a comprehensive review of its financial aid office and the FAFSA process in response to widespread problems impacting students and institutions nationwide.
• A follow-up to a headline we first shared in February of this year: Harvard University’s “Institutional Voice” working group has concluded its work and recommended that Harvard leaders not “issue official statements about public matters that do not directly affect the university’s core function.”

This week, 16:1 explores the origins of “The Magic School Bus,” the beloved children’s television series designed to engage young learners with scientific topics and other curious learning adventures.  The franchise, which started as a children's book series written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen in 1986, emerged from Scholastic Co.’s vision of blending science with fiction. The franchise sold 93 million book copies worldwide, captivating young minds and paving the way for its evolution into a popular TV show.

From 1994 to 1997, "The Magic School Bus" brought science to life on PBS, with Ms. Frizzle, voiced by Lily Tomlin, leading her fourth-grade class on magical field trips. Each adventure, from exploring the solar system to journeying inside the human body, made complex scientific concepts accessible and fun for young learners. Today, the series continues to inspire through its presence on Netflix and has recently gotten a reboot, "The Magic School Bus Rides Again."

We discuss the show's pedagogical approach, its effective use of repetition to reinforce concepts, and its clever handling of creative liberties with science. We also share behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the animation and voice acting process, revealing the dedication to making the show both scientifically accurate and entertaining. Tune in to hear our personal reflections on favorite episodes and how "The Magic School Bus" has shaped our understanding of science.

Clarence Thomas attacks Brown v. Board ruling amid 70th anniversary

22-807 Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP (05/23/2024)

Misrepresenting Justice Thomas on Brown | National Review

The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane

MLB Negro League stats leaderboard changes record book

Remembering 'Magic School Bus' Creator Joanna Cole : NPR

Ms. Frizzle creator leaves behind a legacy of learning | Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

This School Year, Unleash Your Inner Ms. Frizzle - The New York Times

Kate McKinnon Shines as the New Ms. Frizzle on Netflix's 'The Magic School Bus' Reboot — Watch the Trailer

The Magic School Bus (TV series) - Wikipedia

The Magic School Bus "Behind the Scenes" (1996)

The Magic School Bus on Vimeo

The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System : Microsoft : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming

The Magic School Bus Rides Again - Wikipedia

List of The Magic School Bus episodes - Wikipedia

• Over the past few weeks, there have been significant developments at the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio). On May 15, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost initiated an investigation into the allegations of a hostile takeover attempt of the $90 billion pension fund, which serves thousands of educators, by QED Systematic Solutions.
• Academic publishing is facing a crisis of credibility as journals close and thousands of retractions are issued in the wake of a glut of fake research papers. A study by Nature found that in 2013 there were just over 1,000 retractions compared to 2022 with 4,000 and then jumping to more than 10k in 2023. More than 8k of the retractions came from an Egyptian company called Hindawi, which is a subsidiary of Wiley; the Hindawi brand will be sunsetted and its properties absorbed into Wiley. Wiley has announced they will close 19 journals because of the rise of fake papers.
• A report by Spectrum News from May 14th alleges that millions of dollars in Texas taxpayer funds intended for a charter school in Odessa were diverted to support struggling Third Future charter schools network in Colorado, of which Houston Independent School District superintendent Mike Miles is founder and with whom he has recently maintained a consulting relationship.

This episode explores the history and impact of high-stakes standardized testing in the U.S., starting with a brief review of the No Child Left Behind Act and its legacy. Discussions include the educational goals of high-stakes tests (such as accountability and standardization), and the reasons why these tests often fall short of bettering educational outcomes for students, including curriculum narrowing and stress on students and teachers. We also delve into recent research, including a 2024 study by Maroun and Tienken, which highlights the significant influence of socioeconomic factors on test performance.

Discussion Questions

• What are the consequences of "teaching to the test"?
• Why does the high-stakes testing system persist despite its criticisms?
• Can we design a system with standardized tests but without high-stakes consequences? What might this look like?
• What would it take to move school administrators and policy makers toward the idea that standardized tests should inform academic strategies instead of penalties or other punitive measures?
• How do we develop a system to hold educators accountable for serving students well that recognizes that a student’s academic or standardized test performance is not always the best indicator of that student’s learning? Would peer/student reviews play a part in this system?

Sources & Resources:

Ohio AG investigating alleged 'hostile takeover' inside teacher's pension fund

March Board News | STRS Ohio

April Board News | STRS Ohio

February Board News | STRS Ohio Employer

Answering viewer questions about Ohio's retired teachers' pension fund chaos

Houston teachers union calls for Mike Miles' resignation after explosive report

HISD students plan walkout as investigation launches into state-appointed superintendent Mike Miles

HISD's Mike Miles responds to 'spurious' investigation into charter school network

HISD superintendent Mike Miles accused of mishandling state education funds | CW39 Houston

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles responds to allegations he diverted Texas school funds to his Colorado schools

Report about charter schools founded by Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles prompts calls for investigation

HISD Superintendent Mike Miles responds to report he funneled TX taxpayer money to Colorado | TEA commissioner, Third Future Schools also respond

Disappearing Dollars: Texas public schools missing millions

Flood of Fake Science Forces Multiple Journal Closures - WSJ

Wiley shuts 19 scholarly journals amid AI paper mill problem • The Register

Wiley to shutter 19 journals

Evolving our portfolio in response to integrity challenges | Hindawi

‘The situation has become appalling’: fake scientific papers push research credibility to crisis point

Surge In Academic Retractions Should Put U.S. Scholars On Notice

Science’s fake-paper problem: high-profile effort will tackle paper mills

The Pernicious Predictability of State-Mandated Tests of Academic Achievement in the United States

Standardized Testing is Still Failing Students | NEA

Research Shows What State Standardized Tests Actually Measure

History of Standardized Tests - ProCon.org

18 years ago, Mike Pence voted against No Child Left Behind. So did Bernie Sanders. Their reasons weren’t the same. - The Washington Post

Episode 51 - Left Behind - 16:1 - An Education Podcast

Obama Calls for Major Change in Education Law - The New York Times

History of Standardized Testing in the United States | NEA

Pearson, ETS, Houghton Mifflin, and McGraw-Hill Lobby Big and Profit Bigger from School Tests | PR Watch

History of Memorial Day | National Memorial Day Concert | PBS

• In Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee signed a controversial law that would allow some teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on school grounds. The legislation has sparked significant debate and criticism, particularly from educational and activist groups who argue it could increase risks rather than improve safety.
• Baltimore, Maryland - In January of 2024 a recording went viral of Maryland’s Pikesville High School’s Principal Eric Eiswert making racist and antisemitic comments. The recording turned out to be an AI-generated deepfake.
• This week marked the anniversary of the Kent State shootings, which occurred on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed college students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University in Ohio, killing four students and wounding nine others. This grim anniversary passes against a backdrop of renewed campus protest activity across the country, as colleges and universities have transformed into protest sites for student-led movements.

The foundations of the U.S. public education system can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, a period that profoundly reshaped American society and the country’s economy. The Library of Congress describes this era as one that moved production from handcrafted goods to factory-based machine production, bringing about unprecedented shifts in transportation, communication, and manufacturing. This industrial transformation redefined the daily lives of Americans, creating new classes of wealthy industrialists, a burgeoning middle class, and a large blue-collar workforce composed of immigrants and rural migrants.

The rapid expansion of industries like steel manufacturing and petroleum refining, bolstered by the rise of railroads, demanded a skilled workforce. This economic evolution laid the groundwork for a public education system that mirrored the factory model: standardized, hierarchical, and focused on efficiency.

This industrial model of education, however, has started to show its limitations in the face of today's rapidly changing labor market. Automation, digital literacy, and adaptive learning are reshaping the job landscape, calling for educational approaches that foster creativity, critical thinking, and flexibility.

Discussion questions to consider:

• How does the structure of modern schooling mirror our cultural and economic priorities?
• Can public education make a realistic shift toward personalized learning models given its history of standardization?
• How has the role of the teacher evolved from the industrial age to today's information age?
• How have societal expectations of public education evolved, and what does this mean for future educational frameworks?

Sources & Resources:

Tennessee governor signs bill allowing teachers and staff to be armed on campus.

Tennessee lawmakers pass bill to allow armed teachers, a year after deadly Nashville shooting

Dazhon Darien: Ex-athletic director accused of framing principal with AI arrested at airport with gun - The Baltimore Banner

Educational Expansion in Mid-Nineteenth Century Massachusetts: Human Capital Formation or Structural Reinforcement?

Officer fired gun while clearing protesters from Columbia building, prosecutors say | AP News

The Industrial Revolution in the United States | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress

Episode 60 - Where No Mann Has Gone Before - 16:1 - An Education Podcast

Harvard Educational Review: Educational Expansion in Mid- Nineteenth-Century Massachusetts: Human-Capital Formation or Structural Reinforcement? By Alexander James Field