American education has been littered with failed fads and foolish ideas for the past century.

American education has been littered with failed fads and foolish ideas for the past century.

Testing children until they cry is a bad idea. It is an educational malpractice.

I support charters, but the right kind of charters. I support charters that support kids who have the highest needs. A charter should be targeting students who are in serious trouble. It should serve students who didn't succeed in public schools when it can help them. Or, at least, charters should agree to accept similar proportions of the kids with the highest needs.

We will continue to chase rainbows unless we recognize that they are rainbows and there is no pot of gold at the end of them

What should we think of someone who never admits error, never entertains doubt but adheres unflinchingly to the same ideas all his life, regardless of new evidence? Doubt and skepticism are signs of rationality. When we are too certain of our opinions, we run the risk of ignoring any evidence that conflicts with our views. It is doubt that shows we are still thinking, still willing to reexamine hardened beliefs when confronted with new facts and new evidence.

The greatest obstacle to those who hope to reform American education is complacency.