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Swimming becomes even more relevant when you read the alarming drowning statistics – particularly as these concern African Americans and Latin Americans… according to a recent CNN article highlighting water safety hero, Wanda Butts, only 60-70% of these minority kids can swim, and the drowning rate of African American kids is three times that of white kids. While water safety may not immediately seem like a school issue, we have an amazing opportunity to connect swimming to what we already offer as general education. We can save lives. Schools have a lot on their plates, already, but if we educators can help reduce the drowning rates from current levels of 30,000 drownings per month, this is a great step forward for education and for life. In fact, Congress recently passed a resolution to support water safety education in schools. This is a result of the hard work of Shaun An

Below is a copy of my response; I encourage you to also read the reader’s comments posted, below. And join in! There’s no silver-bullet, and no one person has the answer. The fact that we are all to some degree educated makes this a valid situation for us all to get involved with! ————————response to my thoughtful reader! Thanks for your comments! Couple things: 1. Yes. It is always the case that you don’t get everything you want. Educators, like everyone else, aim to educate all children, knowing full well that they may or may not get 100%. Life will always get in the way, and that doesn’t deter great educators from pressing forward to improve. That’s what progress is all about! 2. Clarification: You cite the McNair teacher who didn’t want greater pay. She was referring to a very specific situation: The

*this announcement came from NAESP: ASSISTments is a free online platform that allows teachers to write and select questions, students get immediate and useful tutoring, and teachers receive instant reports to help inform their classroom instruction. Register for this seminar in Alexandria, VA on February 29 from 8:30-3:00. The NAESP workshop is designed for principals and 5th and 6th grade math teachers. Arrive at 8:30 for a joint training seminar. At noon, teachers will continue for more in-depth exploration, and principals will meet with NAESP’s Deputy Executive Director Michael Schooley for a special focus group where we can get your ideas and input. Find additional details and register here. ASSISTments is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and others. Developers received a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant to distribute the tool. NAESP is

As we transition into the new year, I have faith in our ability to learn and grow to survive. So, with that, here’s the top 5 things in education that I am excited to see happen in 2012: 1. The successful execution of the new plan of the NEA Commission on Effective Teachers and Teaching, specifically the Novice, Professional, and Master teaching groupings. I think so much can be done when we get educator-practitioners on board with change. 2. Based on the rigorous standards developed by charter school authorizors, the closure of poor performing charter schools and educational capacity-building in those middle- and high- performers who show promise. 3. Increased cooperation between unions and education reformers to develop a system that supports, respects, and rewards good teaching. Less fighting, and more systemic progress. 4. An improved economic economic climate for educators: fe

The book covers five countries: Shanghai (not a country, and that’s something to think about as you read), Finland, Japan, Singapore, and Canada. The accounts of these nations debunks several myths about education, including several excuses for America’s mediocre performance. It makes comments about what the education reform movement SHOULD be doing, and it offers its own simple agenda for moving forward (*note that this agenda is specified as being for individual states): 1. Benchmark the Education Systems of the Top-Performing Countries. This seems like a no-brainer. If you are losing a race, wouldn’t you want to learn how the Olympians who medal do their thing? 2. Design for Quality. This one is a bit trickier, because we always think that we design for quality, but the key is about setting clear goals and getting consensus, having a well-ordered system with gateways