education
A place to hash out all opinions on education policy, charter schools, statewide testing, and what the political world is and isn't doing about it.
Silent Moments
The birds swooped down; that very morning, the day was like any other day. I woke up to my annoying alarm clock telling me to get ready for my day, I didn't really want to but it was so sunny, warm and the skies were blue. What could go wrong on 7th July 2005? Nothing, right? I was just an average 14-year-old going to school like everyone else in London; that day me and my friends decided to go and get the underground trains like we normally do in the morning if we were running late for the bus.
By Lizzy Arrow7 years ago in The Swamp
Gove You Have No Clue!
I rarely nowadays get my ideas from my Twitter feed but this week I've got 3 for you; but today I'm taking you through the whole Gove and education thing, which is pretty confusing I do have to say. I'm pretty sure I'm confused as well. So I'll try to explain what I think he might be talking about. I did try to find the article but couldn't find it; however, I do have a snippet of a tweet from Mirror Politics, which is all that matters to me in this blog.
By Lizzy Arrow7 years ago in The Swamp
A Journey Through Mexico City
Colonialism is the immovable stain on the fabric of humanity. A nation free from its grasp may strive to erase its dark past, yet its indelible marks remain on the land and its people. Survival of the fittest, they brand it, the strong devouring the weak has become the blueprint for mass murder, providing ample justification for military occupation, the raping and pillaging of lands, the dehumanization of a people ultimately stripping an entire nation of its identity. Those that opt to defend and protect their homeland face imprisonment and death. The skewed and twisted ideologies borne out of greed, racism and a flawed theology inspire men to lay waste to whole communities. Only when submission is seen as the only viable option is hegemony allowed to run its course, convincing a nation that their actions are morally justified, its people now contained inside the walls of their invisible prison, enjoying faux freedoms. Despite the efforts to take control of an occupied land and its indigenous people, resistance remains and victory is measured in terms of independence. And yet, as much as any oppressed nation feels a sense of liberation, the shackles of influence left behind are harder to remove.
By Jermaine Lebert7 years ago in The Swamp
Free Speech and the New Left
In 1964, the University of California Berkeley was engaging in what would come to be known as The Free Speech Movement. During this time subversive ideas were plentiful, though not all embraced, especially by federal and local law enforcement. At the same time, a mass of students at UC Berkeley were engaged in passively handing out civil rights literature in an attempt to challenge the status quo. While this would be seen as perfectly acceptable by most standards today, Hollander Savio spoke to NPR News about how contemptible these acts were at the time by law enforcement. According to NPR News, Savio recalls that she watched a former mathematics graduate student being arrested for distributing civil rights literature (Gonzales). Fast forward to circa 2016, so called “safe spaces” are being advocated, or more appropriately characterized as demanded, by the New Left. Safe spaces as defined by The Chicago Tribune are areas which serve to shelter students from speakers and/or topics that may be traumatizing, uncomfortable or offensive (Rhodes, Vivanco). One should be shocked that this censorship and disabling of free speech and open discourse comes from the “descendants” of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement. Not only has the New Left abandoned one of the Old Left’s defining historical moments, it’s abandoned the idea that free speech is in place to protect a citizen’s right to speak openly about unpopular ideas and that that same right should be granted to all citizens without prejudice.
By Kent Prion7 years ago in The Swamp
The Talented Mr. Kersey: The Tory Pressure Group, the Diploma Mill, and the Tesco Tax Manager
In 2002, John Kersey was living with his mother, father, and sister in Enfield, London. He was a 30-year-old pianist who was struggling to find his place in society. He had been to university to study music and had started to record copyright-free classical music, mainly work from the lesser known composers of the romantic period. The internet revolution would change John Kersey’s life considerably. In July 2003, John Kersey would purchase his first fake online diploma, to become a "Doctor of Education," from Saint Regis University for $1681.00. Saint Regis was later exposed as a "Diploma Mill," also humorously nicknamed as a "Goativersity." The effort to expose Saint Regis was led by a Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois named George Gollin. Professor Gollin was a force to be reckoned with. In September 2003, Professor Gollin wrote a paper in the form of a slideshow presentation entitled "Unconventional University Diplomas from Online Vendors: Buying a PhD. from a University that Doesn’t Exist." In the piece, he exposes how the diploma mills were functioning online, compares the website design of real and fake universities, and supplies a magnificent portfolio of evidence to back up his accusations.
By Johnny Vedmore7 years ago in The Swamp
The End of the US Constitution
Reading that title what first comes to mind? Do you think I am anti-American? Do you immediately assume I am a rebelling millennial? Do you assume I don't know any better? Or perhaps you are intrigued? You have come across something you have thought about, but never dreamed of speaking aloud?
By Brian Paredes7 years ago in The Swamp
Dear President Trump, Think About Your Family
Dear Mr. Trump, In the last couple of months since you took over as President of the US, you have diminished more than just your own name, but rather, your entire family’s name too. Melania and you are in the midst of a very complicated and unusual relationship and it is believed by some that you don’t even care for each other (Is Melania really just in it for the money and fame?). Recently, you tried to grab Melania’s hand after leaving the airplane on your Middle East trip & she nudged your hand away and gave you a dirty look. Also, your daughter, Ivanka has been severely scrutinized by the media mostly because of your wrongdoings. As President, you must start to think about your family before you bring them all down. I write this letter to you, Mr. President to challenge you to change your values, integrity, and approach for the country and for your own family.
By David Lasher7 years ago in The Swamp
What Is Authenticity and Why Is It Important?
Authenticity is a term meaning real, genuine, or credible; the opposite meaning false, phony or dishonest. When ascribed to culture, it becomes rather complex. We must put into categories, then, and try to examine the meanings of authentic culture and inauthentic culture to answer the question.
By Sydnie Beaupré7 years ago in The Swamp
Terrorism Is a Failure to Tackle Mental Health Issues Globally
We are avoiding confronting the root cause of modern terrorism. We are to blame. Every attack that has happened in the past 50 years, whether it be the IRA or Islamic fundamentalism, has been a direct result of unresolved mental health issues. We try to pin the blame on ideology, on the religion, or the cultural divisions in society, but that’s the easy way to ignore the real issue. Terrorism is the direct result of a global inability to tackle mental health issues. It is very easy to just call people evil, but when you actually dissect what evil actually means we discover a distorted reflection of ourselves. Evil is sadness and grief left to fester in an unloved heart. Evil is somebody ending a life, or even their own. Evil are kids who have not been shown any better?
By Johnny Vedmore7 years ago in The Swamp