Is cursive writing worth teaching?

by Christopher Paslay
 
“Are the flowing curves and fancy loops of cursive writing disappearing from elementary school classrooms?” asks writer Megan Downs in a recent USA Today article, “Schools debate: Is cursive writing worth teaching?”
 
Call me old-school, but I think penmanship is an important skill and should continue to be taught in all schools across America.  [...]

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? (part one)

by Christopher Paslay
 
Currently, I am working on a master’s degree in multicultural education at Eastern University.  This semester I’m taking EDU 517—Multicultural Education.  Here is an excerpt from a reflection paper I wrote after reading the first 90 pages of Beverly Daniel Tatum’s book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?   [...]

Cuts at libraries mean Philadelphia students could have nothing

“Though Philadelphia’s public library services recently landed on the chopping block, the city’s public school students have watched school library services dwindle for years.
 
Today, more than half of the district’s 281 schools have no library staff. In one region, it’s up to 78 percent.”
 
The above excerpt is from a story in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, [...]

‘Obama Effect’ erasing racial achievement gap

Obama’s mere presence is raising African American test scores, according to study.
 
by Christopher Paslay
 
According to a recent story in The New York Times, Barack Obmaba’s whirlwind rise to power is so inspiring that black students have become better test-takers.  Researchers call it the Obama Effect, a psychological phenomenon that helps blacks overcome anxieties about racial [...]

Phila. schools are overdue for more holistic approach

“Public schools are not free-floating, self-contained cities cut off from human civilization. They are rooted in communities and neighborhoods. They are supported not only by teachers and principals, but also by parents, businesspeople, counselors and clergy.
 
No one understands this better than Geoffrey Canada. In 1991, he started the Harlem Children’s Zone, a network of educational [...]

Robert Frost and the debate over Intelligent Design

by Christopher Paslay
 

Last week, as a supplemental activity to the Philadelphia School District’s 11th grade English curriculum, I had my students read and analyze the Robert Frost poem Design.  This poem is about a white spider that camouflages itself on the petal of a white flower, and by doing so, manages to catch and kill [...]

Lower Merion residents talk the talk; now it’s time to walk the walk

by Christopher Paslay
 
On November 4th, 2008, America voted for change.  We the people voted for Barack Obama, a man who wants to bring balance back to our country, who wants to level the playing field so all Americans can have an equal opportunity at achieving the American dream.
 
For many people, the appealing part about Obama is [...]

Schools should not be held responsible for students refusing free meals

by Christopher Paslay
 
For antipoverty advocates, it’s not enough that the Philadelphia School District offers free breakfast to every single child in every single school. 
 
They must also COAX the students into eating it as well. 
         
Call me old fashioned, but I always thought that HUNGER sparked the desire to eat.  According to Abraham Maslow, motivation [...]

Peace activist denies students valuable opportunities

by Christopher Paslay
 
It’s a real tragedy when well-meaning yet misguided adults prevent students from taking advantage of excellent career and educational opportunities.
         
So is the case with Sally Ferrell, a member of North Carolina Peace Action.  For the past several years, Ferrell’s been trying to handout pamphlets and other materials in a rural North Carolina [...]

District should mandate after school activities instead of extending school day

by Christopher Paslay
 
It’s no secret that Philadelphia School District officials want to extend the length of the school day.  Increased instructional time was a high priority on Dr. Ackerman’s recent “wishlist” for the District. 
 
Although I don’t agree that more is always better, research shows that keeping kids in school longer improves tests scores and [...]