It’s been a protracted yr, with wars in Europe and the Center East, momentous U.S. Supreme Courtroom selections on race-based admissions and scholar loans, a gradual collection of tradition clashes, and protracted fears that AI is coming for our jobs. (Or our lives). Earlier than we flip the web page and dive into an election yr that appears calculated to really feel a minimum of as harried because the one simply previous, it’s price wanting again on the yr simply previous. In that spirit, I wish to revisit the RHSU columns I penned throughout the yr and floor the highest 10—as decided by readership, suggestions, and private choice.
There are at all times just a few items that don’t essentially make the minimize of “prime 10” however nonetheless appear to deserve a point out. This yr, these embrace Academics and Dad and mom Are Skeptical of ‘New Reforms.’ Leaders Can Break the Cycle (Might 22, 2023), ‘A Nation at Danger’ Turns 40: Its Roots, Its Legacy (April 24, 2023), SEL Allies and Foes Alike Deserve Powerful Scrutiny (August 1, 2023).
Now, with out additional ado, listed below are the highest 10 RHSU columns of 2023.
10. How A lot Religion Ought to Educators Have in Excessive-Dosage Tutoring? (February 6, 2023): Tutoring generally is a highly effective software however fans threat turning it into another costly, disappointing fad.
9. Are Cultural Clashes Over Okay-12 Regular? (March 8, 2023): By the many years, schooling has extra usually been formed by value-laden debates than technocratic ones.
8. ‘Innovation’ Is a 4-Letter Phrase (June 19, 2023): Many in schooling thrill to the promise of ‘innovation.’ That’s an issue.
7. AI Isn’t the Downside. It’s How We Use It, Particularly in Faculties (July 24, 2023): The issue will not be the expertise however the duties colleges are asking college students to do.
6. It’s OK to Like Each Public Faculties and College Selection (September 18, 2023): Households need extra choices for his or her kids. That doesn’t imply they dislike their native colleges.
5. Republicans Preserve Speaking About Abolishing the Schooling Division. Why? (October 2, 2023): For many years, GOP presidential candidates have pledged to ax the federal company. However, even when they’re honest, it’ll be robust to ship.
4. Grade Inflation Teaches College students We Don’t Imply What We Say (November 27, 2023): Once we inform college students that we care about exhausting work and advantage after which don’t observe by way of, it has huge penalties for college students, academics, and fogeys.
3. Is It Time to Ditch the Carnegie Unit? (September 25, 2023): A fixation on seat time has hindered efforts to sensibly rethink Okay–12 education. However is there a threat that abandoning the Carnegie Unit will create extra issues in itself?
2. Am I Anti-Fairness? You Determine (November 8, 2023): We’ve come to a spot in schooling the place ideologues are doing damaging issues within the identify of fairness. Is it anti-equity to reject these efforts?
1. Might the Nation’s Largest District Afford to Double Trainer Pay and Triple Counseling? (Might 2, 2023): New York Metropolis is spending $38,000 per scholar. If officers don’t assume that’s sufficient to pay academics, help college students, and ship excellence, one thing’s flawed. Let’s do the maths.
OK. Time to begin contemporary and see what 2024 holds. Wishing all of you a cheerful and wholesome new yr. And, I don’t find out about you, however I really feel like we’ve had an entire lot of turbulence and that we’re due for a break.
