Jean Piaget: Theories of Cognitive Development

Education Headline Roundup

• This week’s headline roundup brings an update to the evolving story of U.S. colleges & universities rescinding test-optional admissions policies. Yale, MIT, and Georgetown have joined Dartmouth in reinstating a requirement that students submit test scores with their college applications. Students at Dartmouth attended a tense office hours session on Feb. 5 with university administrators to voice concerns with the College’s reinstatement of mandatory test score submission, arguing that it will result in a less diverse applicant pool. In other Dartmouth news from last week, the college also just settled in class-action suit involving 17 elite universities that alleged they engaged in an anti-competitive tuition price-fixing scheme that may have disadvantaged certain applicants due to their financial status.
• The Chicago Board of Education has voted unanimously to remove school resource officers from Chicago Public Schools by the start of next academic year. This decision followed years of debate and advocacy, driven by several key factors, including concerns about disproportionate policing impact on minority students and the efficacy of SRO programs in preventing safety incidents. Advocates proposed investing in social workers, counselors, and restorative justice programs as more effective and equitable approaches to address safety concerns.
• Harvard University is forming a working group to explore formalizing a policy of “institutional neutrality” following recent controversies involving pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli student demonstrations that ultimately led to the resignation of Harvard president Claudine Gay.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases That Changed U.S. Education: Part I

Join us as we embark on a two-part series exploring landmark Supreme Court cases that have profoundly impacted the landscape of education in the United States. This week’s episode includes discussions of the following cases:

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Challenging racial segregation in public schools.
• Engel v. Vitale (1962) & Abington School District v. Schempp (1963): Establishing the separation of church and state in public education.
• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969): Defining students' First Amendment rights to symbolic expression.
• San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973): Addressing disparities in school funding across districts.
• Lau v. Nichols (1974): Ensuring equal educational opportunity for students with limited English proficiency.
• Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978): Addressing the use of affirmative action in college admissions.
• Board of Education v. Rowley (1982): Establishing the standard for providing education to students with disabilities.

Stay tuned for Part II!

Sources & Resources:

Yale University Joins Dartmouth, MIT, and Georgetown in Requiring Applicants to Submit Standardized Test Scores; Kaplan Survey Suggests Other Schools Will Join Them

Chicago Board of Education votes to remove police officers from schools.

Chicago Board of Education unanimously votes to remove school resource officers from CPS

Students voice complaints about testing requirement reinstatement during ‘tense’ office hours - The Dartmouth

Class-action lawsuit accuses 17 elite universities of running 'price-fixing cartel'

‘This Has to Stop’: Harvard Set to Consider Institutional Neutrality | News

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) | National Archives

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) | National Archives

Facts and Case Summary - Engel v. Vitale | United States Courts

https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc5Ove6xYf8C&pg=PA16#v=onepage&q&f=false

Abington School District v. Schempp :: 374 U.S. 203 (1963)

First Amendment and Religion | United States Courts

School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp (1963) | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

School District of Abington Township v. Schempp | First Amendment & Education | Britannica

The Schempp-Murray Decision On School Prayers and Bible Reading

Tinker v. Des Moines School Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969).

Tinker v. Des Moines | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

The Young Anti-War Activists Who Fought for Free Speech at School | History| Smithsonian Magazine

McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union

McCreary County v. ACLU

Safford Unified School District v. Redding | Oyez

Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue | Constitution Center

Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College | Definition, Questions, Grutter v. Bollinger, Affirmative Action, & Decision | Britannica

Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard FAQ: Navigating the Evolving Implications of the Court’s Ruling - Stanford Center for Racial Justice

Kennedy v. Bremerton School District | Oyez

Supreme Court Sides With Coach Over Prayers at the 50-Yard Line - The New York Times

Supreme Court school prayer ruling in Lee v. Weisman and family's quest - The Washington Post

Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley | Britannica

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke | Oyez

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

Lau v. Nichols | Oyez

San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez | Oyez

1973: San Antonio ISD v. Rodriguez - A Latinx Resource Guide: Civil Rights Cases and Events in the United States

The Worst Supreme Court Decisions Since 1960 | TIME

Education Headline Roundup

Here are the school & learning headlines we cover in this week’s episode of 16:1: 

• Dartmouth College (a private, Ivy League research institution in New Hampshire) recently announced it will require SAT/ACT scores again for applicants starting with the class of 2029 (applies to applicants starting Fall 2025). This comes after the school temporarily made these scores optional in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was influenced by study findings suggesting that test-optional policies didn't increase enrollment of first-generation, low-income, or under-resourced students and that admissions offices were not able to confidently determine students’ academic qualifications without relying on test scores. Dartmouth is the first Ivy League school to reinstate the test requirement. It remains to be seen if others will follow suit, though Harvard has said it will NOT require scores for applicants up until at least the class of 2030. 
• The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) National Council passed a symbolic motion against the use of online proctoring software Proctorio on January 25th, 2024. The USI National Council unanimously passed the motion, which highlighted safety and ethics concerns as well as potential conflicts with the GDPR, Europe’s expansive online privacy law. TCDSU cited examples of other institutions abandoning or curtailing the use of Proctorio due to its apparent ineffectiveness in preventing cheating. Student opposition to Proctorio in Ireland may influence other student unions and institutions to re-evaluate their use of the software.
• The newly relaunched Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process has introduced several issues impacting students and universities alike. Due to errors in calculating financial aid eligibility, the Department of Education announced on Jan 30th that FAFSA processing won't start until mid-March (when it is normally completed by the end of January), impacting financial aid offers for the 2024-25 academic year. This delay also affects some state financial aid forms that rely on FAFSA data for auto-population. Students in these states need to check individual deadlines and procedures. Users have reported issues with the school selection feature, including incomplete school names, duplicate entries for the same campus, and difficulties identifying the correct campus. Some parents attempting to start the application on behalf of their child have encountered errors preventing them from completing the form.

Decoding Grades: From Marks to Mastery, and What Students Actually Need

Grading is a ubiquitous yet controversial element of formal schooling. This episode delves into the history and purpose of grades, highlighting traditional and alternative approaches while advocating for student empowerment. 

The grading system has undergone a long journey full of transformation, but questions linger about its true effectiveness in reflecting student learning. Current discussions emphasize the potential stress and competition associated with grades. Alternative philosophies like standards-based and holistic grading offer different lenses for evaluating student progress. Shifting the focus to student ownership through self-assessment and peer feedback can foster deeper learning and critical thinking skills. 

We also discuss grade inflation and the growing focus on student self-reflection, as well as innovative grade-less approaches such as those proposed in Hacking Assessment.

Examining different perspectives and empowering students in the evaluation process are crucial steps towards creating a learning environment that prioritizes meaningful growth over a single letter grade.

Sources & Resources:

Update To Testing Policy | Dartmouth Admissions

Dartmouth will again require SAT, ACT scores. Other colleges won't necessarily follow | WLRN

Admissions Update for the 2023-2026 Application Cycles | Harvard

A Top College Reinstates the SAT - The New York Times

Grade Inflation Continues to Grow in the Past Decade

Grade inflation

USI National Council unanimously passes motion against Proctorio – Trinity News

An Exam Surveillance Company Is Trying to Silence Critics With Lawsuits

California colleges still use remote proctoring despite court decision

FAFSA glitches and delays leave students, states, institutions in limbo

2024–25 FAFSA Issue Alerts | Knowledge Center

Students panic after new financial aid application blocks them: 'I don't know who to call'

New FAFSA Getting on Your Nerves? Here's Some Advice From an Expert | Education | U.S. News

In Defense of Rubrics in Assessing Writing - pedagogy colloquium

Teaching More by Grading Less (or Differently) - PMC

The Shift from Oral to Written Examination: Cambridge and Oxford 1700–1900

Ungrading: Where We Are and Where We Might Go

The Problem with Grading | Harvard Graduate School of Education

An Immanent Machine: Reconsidering grades, historical and present

Annual Reports on Education | Horace Mann

Horace Mann | 16:1

The New York Public Library has a mini roller coaster for books

Education Headline Roundup

After a break in formatting for our 100th episode, we’re back and bringing you the education headlines that are grabbing our attention this week. Our stories:

First, an update to our ongoing discussion of America’s literacy crisis and the science of reading, from the AP: Georgia leaders propose $11.3M to improve reading as some lawmakers seek a more aggressive approach | AP News

The Georgia Department of Education has proposed a $11.3 million budget to fund literacy initiatives, including literacy coaches and a screening test to identify students with dyslexia. Some lawmakers say the department is not doing enough to comply with a literacy law passed in 2023 and would like to see a more aggressive approach, as Georgia has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the country. Georgia joins Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, and more than a dozen other states that included literacy initiatives in their 2024 legislative sessions. For more of our coverage on the science of reading and the three-cueing approach, see Episode 96 (Piaget) of our show, and check out APM’s Sold a Story podcast for in-depth analysis.

More book bannings in a story out of Maryland: New Carroll County school policy restricts 'sexually explicit' books - The Baltimore Banner

A new policy at Carroll County Public Schools restricts “sexually explicit” library books and textbook materials. The policy was passed after months of campaigning by the conservative parent group Moms for Liberty, who challenged dozens of books they claim are inappropriate. The new policy defines “sexually explicit” content as “unambiguously describing, depicting, showing, or writing about sex or sex acts in a detailed or graphic manner.” The policy does not apply to materials used in the health curriculum.

And finally, a listener brought to our attention a developing story in Ohio: Student Interactions with Peace Officers Model Curriculum | Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Sections of the Ohio Revised Code that went into effect this past October after the Ohio Department of Education was restructured require all public schools to teach students in grades 9-12 about their interactions with peace officers. The Ohio Department of Education & Workforce (formerly ODE) is developing a draft model curriculum in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

From ODEW’s website: “The model curriculum provides instruction on proper interactions with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters. Ohio law identifies four content requirements for this model curriculum: Information on which individuals are peace officers and their duties and responsibilities; Questioning and detention laws, including any that require proof of identity and consequences for failure to comply with the laws; A person’s rights during an interaction with a peace officer; Proper interactions for interacting with peace officers.” Listen to the full episode for our discussion about this model curriculum under development (we have lots of questions). If you are a teacher who wants to get in touch with ODEW concerning this model curriculum, contact ODEW here: LearningandInstructionalStrategies@education.ohio.gov​

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Our episode topic this week: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a literacy program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five (regardless of family income). From humble Appalachian roots to global superstardom, Dolly Parton's journey sparkles with rags-to-riches grit and musical magic. But beyond the glitter of rhinestones and chart-topping hits lies a deeper passion - literacy. Inspired by what Parton considers to be her father's unfulfilled dreams due to his inability to read, Dolly created the Imagination Library, gifting millions of books to children worldwide. Learn about this program and its lasting impact on literacy around the world.


Sources & Resources:

Country Music Hall of Fame - Dolly Parton

Business Insider - Dolly Parton explains why Elvis never recorded… by Yasmin Garaad

Imagination Library - Awards and Milestones

Imagination Library - Find my Program

Wikipedia - Shari Lewis

Imagination Library - Themes and Concepts

National Eclipse

Georgia leaders propose $11.3M to improve reading as some lawmakers seek a more aggressive approach | AP News

Kemp signs bills aiming to improve school safety, literacy | AP News

Literacy - GaDOE

Georgia Council on Literacy | The Governor's Office of Student Achievement

New York Joins the 'Science of Reading' Movement, Offering Guidance—Not Mandates

Mass Literacy - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The 'Science of Reading' in 2024: 5 State Initiatives to Watch.

Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong | APM Podcast

States rethink reading | Axios

Reading Recovery Sues Ohio Over Ban on 'Cueing' in Literacy Instruction

Student Interactions with Peace Officers Model Curriculum | Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Podcast - Dolly Parton's America

Honest Answers: Classroom Teacher AMA (Ask Me Anything)!

Pop the champagne corks and grab your apples, it's 16:1 Podcast’s 100th episode celebration! To mark this milestone, we're heading straight to the teachers' lounge for a candid Ask Me Anything with hosts Katie and Chelsea, who will be joined by real-life educators Teri, Jack, and Allyson. We’re fielding listener-submitted questions on everything from embarrassing classroom moments to life-changing books and the future of education in a digital age.

Get ready to explore:

• Inside jokes and hidden truths: What really happens in the teachers' lounge? Are movie stereotypes about teachers true?
• Honest reflections on the job: Is there a work-life balance for teachers? What's the best and worst part of their day?
• Philosophy and passion: What do teachers hope their students take away from their classes? What challenges do they face and how do they overcome them?
• Glimpses into the future: Could virtual classrooms be the next big thing? How can we address the teacher shortage and redesign the education system?
• Bonus insights: Learning styles, classroom survival kits, ideal snacks for parent-teacher conferences, and philosophies of education.

No headlines or Fill in the Blank this week as we make way for our extended AMA episode.

Thanks so much for supporting the show for 100 episodes!

Education Headline Roundup

Happy New Year! Here are the stories we cover in our first education headline roundup of 2024:

• New PISA scores reveal that students worldwide have suffered major learning setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, with math scores dropping by ¾ of a year and reading by ½ year.
• The FTC is suing Grand Canyon University for alleged deceptive advertising and illegal telemarketing practices.
• New Zealand's new Prime Minister bans phones in schools to address the country's declining literacy rates.

The Library of Alexandria

In our first episode of 2024, we journey through time and sand, unraveling tales of the legendary Library of Alexandria. Was it a beacon of wisdom, a hoarding of scrolls, or a tragic victim of flames? Join us as we navigate the mysteries of this intellectual powerhouse of the ancient world.

First, we dispel a common misconception: Alexandria wasn't the first library of renown. We'll pay homage to the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, whose library in Nineveh housed clay tablets inscribed with epic poems and ancient wisdom. Though fiery war eventually consumed Nineveh, the baked tablets survived, offering a glimpse into the earliest organized knowledge collection.

Enter the Macedonians, and fast forward to the death of Alexander the Great, an accomplished military strategist and Aristotle's pupil. His empire fractured, leaving three power blocs ruled by his former generals. We'll focus on Ptolemy I Soter, who established the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt and commissioned Alexandria’s great library, a cultural melting pot where Greek and Egyptian traditions intertwined, as well as its accompanying Mouseion (a place dedicated to the Muses). 

The library's growth wasn't organic. The Ptolemaic kings adopted an aggressive approach to book collection, sending agents to major book fairs and even commandeering scrolls from ships in the harbor. They craved older copies, believing they were likely closer to an author's original ideas.

We also address the infamous burning of Alexandria. Was it a fiery inferno consuming scrolls in a single night? Evidence points to Julius Caesar’s involvement in the destruction, but did the entire library go up in smoke? Find out in this latest installment of 16:1!

Sources & Resources:

The British Museum - A library fit for a king by Jonathan Taylor

The Guinness World Records - First Library

TIME - The Story of the Library of Alexandria Is Mostly a Legend, But the Lesson of Its Burning Is Still Crucial Today by Richard Ovenden

Wikipedia - Library of Alexandria

Britannica - Battle of Nineveh

Britannica - Library of Alexandria

Wikipedia - Alexander the Great

University of Exeter - The Antigonid Network

The MET - The Seleucid Empire (323–64 B.C.)

Wikipedia - Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Wikipedia - Lighthouse of Alexandria

Market Watch - FTC sues Grand Canyon Education, alleging ‘deceptive and abusive’ marketing practices by Bill Peters

CNBC - How a 40-ounce cup turned Stanley into a $750 million a year business by Nicolas Vega and Lauren Shamo.

AP - Students around the world suffered huge learning setbacks during the pandemic, study finds

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing Grand Canyon University (GCU) for alleged deceptive advertising and illegal telemarketing practices.

The Journal - New Zealand to ban phones in schools under new prime minister

Wikipedia - Emily Warren Roebling.

Sesame Street: A Legacy of Education and Entertainment

Sesame Street, the iconic children's television show that has entertained and educated generations, is a cultural phenomenon and a staple in American households with young children. Created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, Sesame Street aims to spark curiosity in children (and adults!) through engaging television content that utilizes the best of what network television has to offer while remaining true to its educational aims. The show's innovative approach combines live-action, animation, and puppetry to teach basic concepts like letters, numbers, and social skills. Sesame Street isn't afraid to tackle difficult and sensitive topics either; it deftly addresses issues such as death, diversity, and interpersonal conflict in a way that is both informative and age-appropriate.

The show's success is undeniable, with more than 4,600 episodes produced to date and countless awards and accolades to its name. Sesame Street has also been lauded for its groundbreaking use of puppets, particularly the beloved creations of Jim Henson. Characters like Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster have become cultural icons, transcending language and cultural barriers to connect with children worldwide. Sesame Street's impact goes beyond entertainment. The show has been instrumental in promoting social change, advocating for diversity and inclusion, and addressing important social issues. From its early days as one of the first network shows to feature an integrated cast to its recent episodes highlighting cultural differences and promoting understanding, Sesame Street has consistently pushed boundaries and sparked important conversations.

Sesame Street, under the stewardship of the Sesame Workshop (a non-profit entity), continues to evolve and adapt to the changing media landscape. While facing competition from streaming services and other digital platforms, the show remains relevant by embracing new licensing models and distributing on new platforms. The show's commitment to educational excellence, social responsibility, and inclusivity continues to inspire generations of viewers. This was the most fun we've had researching an episode in quite a while-- for good reason! Thanks for tuning in.

Sources & Resources:

Britannica - Sesame Street

How We Got to Sesame Street, by Jill Lepore (The New Yorker)

The Unmistakable Black Roots of ‘Sesame Street’ by Bryan Greene (Smithsonian Magazine)

Sesame Street - Wikipedia

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (HBO Documentary)

Joan Ganz Cooney Center

How Many Blimps Are Left on Earth? (Mental Floss)

Image credit: "Vintage Ad #762: Can You Tell Me How to Play, How to Play With Sesame Street?" by jbcurio is licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

Education Headline Roundup

We cover the following stories in our education headlines this week:

• The US Department of Education is penalizing the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (“Mohela”) for failing to send timely bills to 2.5 million student loan holders.
• Teachers in Portland, Oregon have gone on strike over increased teacher pay, smaller class sizes, and more resources.
• A study by the Washington Post finds that the number of families homeschooling their children has increased by 50% over the past 6 years.

Nurturing Resilience: Supporting Foster Youth in the Public Education System

Our episode this week takes a look at the complexities of the U.S. foster care system and its intersection with public education. We explore the historical roots of foster care, tracing an evolution from English Poor Law in the 1500s to the modern-day child welfare system, which was shaped by the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act and the Obama-era Every Student Succeeds Act. We examine the challenges that are unique to the foster youth population in the educational setting, including frequent school changes, a lack of legal and medical advocates, and the need for a post-emancipation plan.

Sources & Resources:

Episode 66 - Columbus Teachers on Strike

Founders Online - From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, 18 January 1784 To Benjamin Harrison

Ohio Department of Education & Workforce - Students in Foster Care

Independent - Judi Dench renders Graham Norton Show speechless with ‘spellbinding’ Shakespeare reading by Tom Murray

Ohio Department of Education - Every Student Succeeds Act: Foster Care Overview

The Annie E. Casey Foundation - Child Welfare and Foster Care Statistics

Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse - Case: L.J. v. Massinga

Veneable LLP - Venable and Disability Rights Maryland File Lawsuit Against State Officials Over Long-Term Placement of Foster Children in Hospitals by Mitchell Y. Yirviss

Civil Rights Lawsuit Concerning Maryland Foster Students - Baltimore Sun

Wikipedia - Library of Alexandria

National Foster Parent Association - History of Foster Care in the United States

FosterED - Every Student Succeeds Act Foster Care Provisions

Ohio Department of Education & Workforce - Ensuring the Educational Stability of Students in Foster Care

CNBC - Education Department penalizes Missouri lender for error that made 800,000 student loan borrowers delinquent by Annie Nova

The Washington Post - Home schooling’s rise from fringe to fastest-growing form of education by Peter Jamison,  Laura Meckler,  Prayag Gordy,  Clara Ence Morse and  Chris Alcantara

Education Headline Roundup

This week in education headlines:

• Ohio public education system restructuring can proceed while lawsuits are pending.
• Reading Recovery Council of North America sues Ohio over ban on "three-cueing" approach to literacy acquisition.
• China's new patriotic education law aims to step up patriotic education in schools, universities, and religious institutions.

Jean Piaget: Theories of Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget (1896-1980) was a Swiss developmental psychologist who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the field of child psychology. He is best known for his theory of cognitive development, which proposes that children progress through four distinct stages as they grow and learn. Piaget's work has had a profound influence on our understanding of how children think and learn, and his theories are still widely discussed in education and child development today.

Piaget's theory of “genetic epistemology” elaborates upon the idea that children actively construct their own knowledge of the world on top of hereditary cognitive structures. He believed that children learn through two main processes: assimilation and accommodation. (Assimilation is the process of incorporating new information into existing knowledge structures. Accommodation is the process of adjusting existing knowledge structures to fit new information.) Piaget proposed that children progress through four distinct stages of cognitive development:

• Sensorimotor stage (birth to age 2)
• Preoperational stage (ages 2-7)
• Concrete operational stage (ages 7-11)
• Formal operational stage (ages 11 and beyond

Piaget’s work has had a lasting impact on our understanding of child development despite weathering a number of criticisms (including methodological concerns emerging from the fact that his own children served as subjects of his clinical observations!). Piaget’s lasting influence can be observed in constructivist classrooms, approaches to inquiry-based learning, and developmental assessments.

Sources & Resources:

10tv - Ohio court OKs GOP-backed education overhaul, says stalling would cause 'chaos' as lawsuit continues

NBC4i - State board of education will lose powers after judge declines to block law by: Sarah Szilagy and Natalie Fahmy

The Economist - Rule by law, with Chinese characteristics

The Economist - Why does Xi Jinping want patriotic education to be written into law?

Radio Free Asia - China moves to boost 'patriotic education,' including in Hong Kong by By Hsia Hsiao-hwa and Jing Wei for RFA Mandarin, and Gigi Lee for RFA Cantonese 

NBC4i - Gov. Mike DeWine’s ‘science of reading’ mandate under attack in court by: Sarah Szilagy

Sold a Story

About Piaget

Berkeley Graduate Division - Cognitive Constructivism

Association for Psychological Science - The Enduring Influence of Jean Piaget by: J. Roy Hopkins

APA PsycNet - The mind's staircase: Exploring the conceptual underpinnings of children's thought and knowledge. by: Robbie Case

Epistemology: The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Wikipedia: Jean Piaget

Britannica Article: Jean Piaget

Cognitive Development: The Theory of Jean Piaget from Foundations of Educational Technology by Penny Thompson

Sorbonne Université

Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development (graphic), by Jennifer S. Groff

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, By Shoshana Zuboff

Education Headline Roundup

This week, we're discussing two big stories that are making waves in the education world, one of which is very close to home (here's looking at you, Ohio):

• Ohio's Department of Education is undergoing a major reorganization that has been met with opposition from teachers, school administrators, and parents. The reorganization has been blocked by a temporary restraining order, and it is unclear what will happen to the new Department of Education and Workforce if the Ohio Supreme Court upholds the lower court's ruling that the restructuring process was in violation of the state of Ohio's constitution.
• The California Mathematics Framework, a recently approved, 1,000+ page proposal to overhaul mathematics instruction in California public schools, is coming under intensifying scrutiny. Proponents of the Framework argue that its goal is to bolster educational equity by focusing on applied and authentic mathematics problems, tweaking curriculum timing and content, and endorsing a recommendation that postpones the teaching of Algebra I until high school, but the proposal has been met with intense debate. Critics have taken issue with some of the research cited by the report, and the size of the document has also made it difficult for the public to scrutinize.

The Homework Hustle

Homework has been a part of American schooling for many years, though its popularity as an instructional aid has waxed and waned over the decades. At the turn of the 20th century, progressive reformers argued that homework was not "hands-on" enough and that it created undue stress in the lives of students. Anti-homework sentiment faded amidst Cold War tensions as American policy-makers struggled to "keep up" with the technological advances of the Soviets. In 1983, the Reagan administration's report "A Nation at Risk" warned that American students were falling behind their peers in other countries and that the quality of American education was in decline. The report called for more rigorous academic standards, and this had a significant impact on the question of homework in American public schools.

Today, American teenagers spend about twice as much time on homework each day as their predecessors did in the 1990s. However, research has shown that excessive homework can be associated with high stress levels, physical health problems, and lack of balance in children's lives. Some schools have started building in "rules" around homework, such as limiting homework to an hour per night or eliminating due dates after weekends or breaks. What's the correlation between the amount of homework students do and their performance on in-class exams? Can too much homework hurt academic performance? Join us as we navigate this challenging discussion with far-reaching impact for students, parents, and teachers.

In this week's What We Learned segment: Katie shares the news that Ohio's Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Built along tributaries to the Ohio River, the series of eight monumental earthen enclosure complexes built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago are the most representative surviving expressions of the Indigenous Hopewell tradition. Chelsea reviews the book The Death of Expertise, an in-depth discussion of the decline in public trust in experts and expertise.

Sources & Resources:

Fox 8 - Overhaul of Ohio’s K-12 education system is unconstitutional, new lawsuit says by: Associated Press

Ohio General Assembly

Roetzel - State Biennial Budget (HB33) Heads to Ohio Governor for Approval – Summary of Major Educational Changes

The Atlantic - California’s Math Misadventure Is About to Go National By Brian Conrad

APM Reports - Sold a Story

California Department of Education - Mathematics Framework

EducationWeek- California Adopts Controversial New Math Framework. Here’s What’s in It By Sarah Schwartz

Springer Link - The Relationship Between Homework and Achievement—Still Much of a Mystery by Ulrich Trautwein & Olaf Köller 

The Atlantic - The Cult of Homework By Joe Pinsker

JSTOR Daily - The Surprising History of Homework Reform by Livia Gershon

Wikipedia - A Nation at Risk

CNN - Kids have three times too much homework, study finds; what’s the cost? by Kelly Wallace

CNN - Is homework making your child sick? by Amanda Enayati

JSTOR - "A Sin against Childhood": Progressive Education and the Crusade to Abolish Homework, 1897-1941 by Brian Gill and Steven Schlossman

Pew Research Center - What we know about online learning and the homework gap amid the pandemic by Katherine Schaeffer

Educational Leadership: A Conversation with Dr. Jim Mahoney

In this special guest episode of 16:1, we're joined by Dr. Jim Mahoney to discuss insights on educational leadership, including:

• key qualities of effective educational leadership
• the challenges facing administrators today (and how institutions of higher education can prepare leaders to meet these challenges)
• engaging community stakeholders in constructive dialogue, and
• the unique challenges of the contemporary school funding landscape, particularly for rural schools.

Introducing Jim:

A long-time educator and entrepreneur, Jim Mahoney has dedicated his life to bettering educational opportunities for all students, serving as a superintendent, principal, and teacher, as well as an adjunct professor at several Ohio universities.

In 2001, he joined Battelle for Kids as the organization’s first executive director. Under Jim’s 15 years of leadership, Battelle for Kids grew into a national not-for-profit that expanded across the globe to advance educational equity and opportunity for all students.

Today, Jim serves as the founder of RedBrick Hill, a leadership consulting organization, as well as the Strengths Center, comprised of former educators and strengths-based leadership experts who are passionate about creating positives cultures, both in schools and organizations. In addition to writing several articles and co-authoring books, Jim is the author of the book, To Lead is to Teach: Stories and Strategies from the Classroom to the Boardroom. Jim has made presentations throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, and China and has been recognized on numerous occasions for his leadership in education.

Sources & Resources:

Jim Mahoney

Battelle For Kids

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown

Dr. Robert Quinn 

State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report by Gallup

The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness By Robert Waldinger, M.D., Marc Schulz, Ph.D