Author Archives: ram bhagat

Students need more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and create in the classroom. The current trend in American Education of “high stakes” standardized testing stresses linear, individualistic, and competitive thinking. There is a fundamental disadvantage to this approach. It limits the ways in which teachers facilitate learning, because of an over emphasis on cognitive learning at [...]
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Although Diane Ravitch presented a logical explanation, in her book The Death and Life of the Great American School System, for her conversion from an advocate for school choice and standardized testing to a born-again supporter of public education, I … Read more »

At the phenomenal moment of conception, all of us had a deceptively large one hundred thousand nanometer (100,000 nm) waistline. However, this seemingly large number becomes obviously small when we translate it into inches. A unit of length that is fam… Read more »

Changing our world view is the fastest and most effective way to expand our consciousness. “According to Abullah (1998), “by shifting our consciousness, then our culture and institutions, we can create a world that works for all.” What catalyzes deep change is an appeal to the heart. Compassion is a potent force for constructive change. [...]
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     Changing our world view is the fastest and most effective way to expand our consciousness. “By shifting our consciousness, then our culture and institutions, we can create a world that works for all” (Abullah, 1999. ). The most eff… Read more »

Ohio, France, and now Florida may seem unrelated. However, three tragic shootings connect them. Unarmed students were killed or injured by misguided gunmen. The school shooting in Ohio is another terrible case of an alienated youth killing his classmat… Read more »

     The introduction of AP Courses at a small specialty school with an enrollment of 200 students changed the complexion of the curriculum. A central office policy determined that curricula formulated by the College Board, was essential for the academic development of students throughout the district. Located in a metropolitan area, this particular secondary public [...]
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Fowler (2009) describes why some policies are unpopular in Chapter 10 of her text, Policy Studies for Educational Leaders: An Introduction (3rd ed). She asserts that self interest and professional values are two significant reasons why educators are li… Read more »

Violence in schools, playgrounds, and communities across the United States has resulted in tragic loss of life and even unintentional injury. In the preface of his latest book, Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America, Geoffre… Read more »

The untimely dismissal of Joe Paterno as head coach of the Penn State football program for his failure to inform the appropriate authorities about a child molestation scandal, shocked the entire nation. Coach Paterno, affectionately known as Jo Pa, is … Read more »