http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog Advocating for education that reflects our democratic values Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:19:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en To explain the delay since my last post, I am honored to say that I have been involved with an incredible group of educators and democratic education supporters working to start a new effort to catalyze democratic educational change.  It's called IDEA: the Institute for Democratic Education in America, and ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2010/01/25/idea-institute-for-democratic-education-in-america/ Ever checked out iTunes U?  It's iTunes' collection of lectures and talks by people from around the world on a huge variety of topics.  Basically, it's like being able to sit in the back of a college lecture hall and hear some pretty smart people talk. On a recommendation from a ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/10/07/it-matters-what-we-test-for/ Remember this show?   Watched it, like I did, when you were younger?  Loved the theme music?  Or perhaps you just heard about it last week when it was reported that it is ending its 26-year run.  Regardless, it is indeed a sad day.  I was inspired to write about it ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/09/02/reading-rainbow-democratic-education/ I just received the newest Yes! Magazine issue in my mailbox today.  I had heard that the fall issue would be focused on education, and I was excitedly awaiting its delivery.  Sure enough, the folks at Yes! did not disappoint.  The cover slogan of the issue is, "Learn as You ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/08/25/new-yes-magazine-issue-on-education/ Education Secretary Arne Duncan is traveling around speaking and listening to ideas from the public.  Wisely, he is also engaging with the public online.  Here's a snippet from his Ed.gov announcement: I will be going to 15 other places across the country to continue this conversation. There is one more place I ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/05/11/talk-to-arne-duncan-and-the-us-department-of-education/ Amidst all the hot topics in education - high-stakes testing, mayoral control, school choice, and more - one essential issue that seems to get lost in the shuffle (including, to my shame, in this blog) is the arena of educational architecture and design.  Yet for me, every now and then, ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/05/03/school-design-that-supports-democratic-education/ I recently had the privilege of going to a screening of "My Suicide," an excellent new film doing the festival circuit and winning awards and much praise.  The film won Best Picture in the Generation 14Plus category at the Berlin Film Festival, got great reviews at the South by Southwest ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/04/21/my-suicide-youth-voice-in-a-powerful-new-film/ I know where I'll NOT be: at any of the following incredible conferences, all of which are booked for around June 25-30, 2009 or thereabouts.  I'll be (excitedly, I might add) celebrating the wedding of my sister-in-law in California.  So I implore anyone who can to check out these conferences ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/03/25/where-will-you-be-the-last-week-of-june/ Two education opinion pieces in the New York Times the past two days have got me thinking about who we seek to engage with in conversation about education.  For those passionate about and working for educational change, the short answer might be "anyone and everyone," right?   Well, recently I've been ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/03/23/who-do-we-engage-in-conversations-about-education/ I'm feeling inspired lately.  This is partly due to the coming spring, with the growing warmth, the early flower shoots coming up, and the birds starting to migrate back north for the summer.  (Birding is another big interest of mine.  I'll have to weave together birding and democratic education sometime ... http://www.democraticeducation.org/blog/2009/03/19/herb-kohl-and-inspiration/