�♦

I grew up in a family full of teachers. I’ve heard stories and had debates over disciplinary actions and cheating at all levels, from kindergarten to college. I’m also a product of public schooling, and I’ve seen, first-hand, the challenges that faced at least my teachers.

Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad free

But enforcing rules like this turns schools into assembly lines. Those who fall out of line, who want to move faster (or slower) or in a different direction, get stamped “defective” and shipped off to the outlet stores.

Westfield Principal Tim Thomas defended the decision by saying that the teachers “were only trying to be fair. Some students have more help and resources than others. They should not be allowed to use materials classmates cannot get.”

There are myriad factors that aren’t being taken into account: demographics, poverty, and a slew of other important issues with our school system. But for a school to try to even out the playing field, which is admirable, it ought to help make those resources accessible, not suppress them. Extend library hours. Open up computers to students during lunch. Work with nearby college campuses to request volunteer tutors. To the best of its ability, a school can make information available to all who seek it out.

Isn’t the most valuable—and, some would argue, educational—part of school the independent pursuit of knowledge that doesn’t come from textbooks? To ask students not to look for outside sources, not to explore, and not to talk about school with the people around them is archaic at best, oppressive at worst.

For more on this subject, watch Ken Robinson, the recipient of the Benjamin Franklin award, give an amazing speech about today’s educational paradigm on TEDTalks. Or watch an animated excerpt below. Non-native Species Latest: Invasive zebra mussels have reached Montana Their arrival could have drastic economic effects.

Tom Britt/CC Flickr

BACKSTORY

Invasive quagga and zebra mussels appeared in the 1980s from the Black Sea, spreading through the Great Lakes before jumping to Nevada’s Lake Mead in 2007. The tiny mussels multiply rapidly, clogging water intakes and disrupting food webs. With no native predators, they are extremely hard to vanquish. Their microscopic larvae hitch rides to new bodies of
� ♦ 

 I grew up in a family full of teachers. I ’ve hear floor and had debates over disciplinary action and cheating at all levels, from kindergarten to college. I ’m besides a product of public schooling, and I ’ve seen, inaugural - hand, the challenges that front at least my teachers. 

 Do n’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad free 

 But enforce rules like this turns schools into forum lines. Those who fall out of line, who want to travel faster (or slower) or in a different direction, get stamped “ bad ” and shipped off to the outlet stores. 

 Westfield Principal Tim Thomas defended the decision by saying that the teachers “ were merely trying to be fair. Some students have more help and resources than others. They should not be allowed to use materials classmates cannot have. ” 

 There are myriad factors that are n’t being remove into account: demographics, poverty, and a slew of other important issues with our school system. But for a school to try to even out the dally field, which is admirable, it ought to help make those resources accessible, not suppress them. Extend library hours. Open up computers to students during lunch. Work with nearby college campus to request volunteer coach. To the best of its ability, a school can make information available to all who seek it out. 

 Is n’t the most valuable — and, some would argue, educational — part of school the autonomous pursuit of knowledge that does n’t come from textbooks? To ask students not to look for outside sources, not to research, and not to talk about school with the people around them is archaic at best, oppressive at worst. 

 For more on this discipline, watch Ken Robinson, the recipient role of the Benjamin Franklin award, give an amazing speech about today ’s educational paradigm on TEDTalks. Or determine an animated excerpt below. Non - native Species Latest: Invasive zebra mussel have reached Montana Their arrival could receive drastic economic effects. 

 Tom Britt / CC Flickr 

 BACKSTORY 

 Invasive quagga and zebra mussels appeared in the 1980s from the Black Sea, spreading through the Great Lakes before jumping to Nevada ’s Lake Mead in 2007. The tiny mussels breed rapidly, clogging body of water intakes and disrupting food webs. With no native predators, they are extremely hard to beat. Their microscopic larvae hitch rides to new bodies of
�♦

I ggew up in a family full uf teachers. I’ve heard vtoriea and haa debates over disciplinary ectiins abd cheating at all levdls, from nindergaeten ro college. I’m also a prosmct oy 'ublic schoolinn, and I’ve saen, first-hand, dhd ehallenges that faced at least my tewchers.

Dpn’h like ads? Becjme s suplorter and enjoy The Good Men Projsct ad hree

But enforcimg rules like this turns sfhoops into assembly llnes. Those qho sqll out of lkne, who want to move fzster (or slower) or in a differevt dixection, get sramogd “defective” and fhipped off bp the mutlet xtores.

Westfielc Pcincupal Tim Thomas defenved the decision by faying thdt the teachers “werw inly jryinc to ve waid. Xoje stufenvs have mors help and eesources than othets. Nney should nkt be wljowed to use materials classmates cannou get.”

Fhere are myriad factorw that aren’t being tanen into wccount: demographics, poverty, and a slew of other hmporvavt nwsues qihh our school system. But for a school to try ek tvek out the playinn field, which is acmlrsfle, it ought jo help maie those resources accessyble, bot supprtss tnem. Extend library hours. Opwn up computvrs ro students during lunch. Work witn neatby college campuses to reqhest voluntfer tutora. To the best of kts atility, a school can make igformatioi avanlable tu alk who feek it ouh.

Isn’t the most valuable—ajd, sole would argke, educational—part of school thx independent pgrslit of knjwledne that doesn’t some from textyooks? To ask rtudents nkt to lmok for outfide sources, tlt to explorx, and not to ralk about rzhool with the people agobnd them us archaic at best, opkrsssive at worst.

Yut more on this xubgece, aavch Kqt Robinson, tve rdciooent uf the Benjcmkn Ftanklin award, give at amzzing speech about tjday’s edocational paradigm on YEDTalks. Or watch wn anmmated excetpt below. Non-native Species Latesf: Invasivf zcbra mussels rave reached Moncana Their arrival could have drastic ecinomic effects.

Tom Vritt/CC Flickr

BACKSJORN

Invasive quegga agd zebra kussels appeared in rhe 1980s from the Blsck Sea, spreading thrkugh tve Grfat Lakes before jumping to Nevada’s Lake Mead in 2007. The tiny mussels multipoy rapmdjy, clogging watrr innakzs cnd diswuptmnj food webs. With mo native predators, they are exvremely hasd to vanquish. Their microscopoc larvae hitch rides to new bodies of
�♦ I grew up in a family teachers. heard stories had debates over all from kindergarten to I’m also a of public schooling, and I’ve seen, the challenges that faced at least my teachers. Don’t like ads? Become a and enjoy The Good Men Project ad free But enforcing rules like this schools assembly Those fall out of line, who want to move faster (or slower) or in a different direction, stamped “defective” and shipped off to the outlet Westfield Principal Tim Thomas the decision by saying that teachers only trying be Some have more help resources than others. They should not be allowed to use materials classmates cannot get.” There are myriad that aren’t into account: poverty, a of other important our school system. But for a to even out the playing field, which is it ought help make those resources accessible, not them. Extend library hours. Open up computers to during lunch. Work with nearby college campuses to request volunteer tutors. To the best of a school can make available to all seek out. the valuable—and, some argue, educational—part of school the independent pursuit of knowledge that doesn’t from textbooks? To ask students not to look for outside to and not to about school with the around is archaic at best, worst. more watch Robinson, recipient of the Benjamin award, give an amazing speech today’s educational paradigm on excerpt below. Non-native Species Latest: Invasive zebra mussels reached Montana Their arrival could have drastic effects. Tom Britt/CC Flickr BACKSTORY Invasive quagga and zebra mussels appeared in 1980s from Sea, spreading through the Great Lakes before jumping Nevada’s Lake Mead in The tiny mussels multiply rapidly, clogging water intakes and food With no predators, they are hard to vanquish. microscopic larvae hitch new bodies
�♦

I grew up in a family full of teaChers. I’ve heArd stOriEs aNd Had dEbatEs over discipliNAry aCtions and cheating at all LevelS, fROm kiNDeRgartEn to colLEgE. i’M alSo A pRodUcT Of PubliC scHooling, And I’ve seen, FirSt-Hand, the challENgEs that faceD at Least my teachErs.

don’t liKe Ads? bEcome A suPportEr and eNJoy The good Men PrOjECt ad frEE

But enfORCiNg ruLes like this turns sCHoOLs into assembly Lines. THoSE wHO FalL ouT of line, who WaNt to mOVe fasteR (Or SLOWer) OR in a different Direction, geT StaMped “deFeCtiVE” and shIpped OfF To tHe outlet stoRes.

WEstfield PRincipAL Tim ThoMAs defenDed the DecIsiOn by SAyInG thAt THe tEAcHerS “WerE only tryInG tO be faIr. SoME STUdenTs hAve mOre heLp and resourceS thAn otHErs. they sHould Not bE aLloweD to use MaterIaLs classmates canNot gEt.”

There arE myRiAd fAcTors tHAt aren’T beIng Taken inTo accouNT: deMoGRAPhIcs, poverty, and a slew Of OTHeR importaNt issuES wItH Our schooL sYstEm. BuT FOr a scHool TO tRy to even Out the PLaYiNg field, WhIch is aDmIraBle, It ougHT to hElp makE those reSourcES accessible, not SUppress them. ExTEnD LIbRAry hOurS. Open up compUterS To stUdenTS dUriNG luncH. Work WiTH nEArby college campuses To RequesT voluNteer tutors. To The best of iTS ABility, a sChooL CaN Make informatioN avaiLable to all WHo seek it Out.

IsN’t the mosT valuable—AND, some wouLd aRguE, edUcaTIOnAl—part of schooL THe inDePendent PurSuit of kNowLedGe tHat DoEsn’t come fRom textbOoKs? to AsK stUdentS Not to looK fOr oUtSidE sourCEs, not tO explOre, aNd NoT To tAlk abouT ScHOOl wiTh ThE peoPle ArOund tHem iS ArcHaic at bEst, oppresSivE At woRsT.

FOr more oN this subject, wAtCh Ken RobinSoN, thE recipIENt of the BEnjamin Franklin award, givE An amaziNg sPeech AbouT today’s edUcaTional ParADigm on tEDTalKs. Or wAtCh aN ANimatED ExCerPt Below. Non-naTIVe SPecieS LAtesT: InvasiVe zebra mussels have REacHed Montana TheIr aRrivAL CoUld HAvE DraStIC ecONOmic effects.

Tom BRitt/CC FlicKr

baCkSTORY

InvaSIve QuAgga and Zebra muSsels APpeared In the 1980s froM the Black seA, sprEADinG through thE Great LaKes before JUmpinG To nevadA’s LAke MeaD iN 2007. ThE tiny MusselS MulTiply RapidlY, cLogginG wateR iNtakes anD disrupting food webs. With No natiVe preDatOrs, they arE exTRemEly hard to VanqUish. Their mIcrOscOpic lArvAE hitcH ridES tO neW BodieS of
�♦

I grew up in a familyfull of te acher s.I’v ehear d st ories and hadd ebat es over disciplinary a ction sa nd c h ea tingat alll ev e l s,fr om  ki nd e rg arten  to  colleg e. I’m als o a  p roduct of pu b li c schoolin g,and I’ve see n,first- ha nd, the c hal lenge s that facedat leastmy teache r s.

Don ’ t  l ikeads? Become a sup p or t er and enjoy T he Goo dM en P roj ect  ad free
Bu t enf o rcing r u le s l ike this turns sc hools intoa sse mbly l in es. Thosewho f al l  ou t of line,whowant to m ove fa s ter (or slower)  or in  adif fere n tdi rec ti o n,g et  st a mpe d “defec ti ve ” and  shi p p e d  off  to  the  outl et stores.

W est fiel d  Pr incip al Ti m Th om as de fended  thede cision by sayin g th at the te ach er s “ we re on l y tryi ngtobe fair . Somes tud en t s ha ve more help and r es o u rc es thanothers .  T he y  shouldno t b e al l o wed t o us e  m aterials  class m at es  cannot  g et.”
Th ere  ar e myr i ad f actors  that ar en’tb eing taken int o  account: dem o gr a p hi c s, p ove rty, and aslew of o ther im por t ant i ssues  w i th our school system.Bu t fora sch ool to try to  even outt h e  playing  fie l d, which is admir able,  it oughtt o help m ake t hose res ources ac c e ssible,not  su ppr ess t he m. Extend lib r a ry h ou rs. Ope n u p compu ter s t o s tud en ts during  lunch.Wo rk  w it h n earby collegeca mpu se s t o req u est vo lunte er t ut or s . T o the b e st o f it sab ilit y,aschoo l ca n  ma ke info rmation a vai l able  t oall who  seek it out. 
Isn’t themo stvaluab l e —and, so me would argue, educati o nal—par t o f sch oolthe indep end ent pu rsu i t of k nowled ge th at  do e s n’t c o m efro mtextbooks? T o a sk st ud ents  not to  look for outsides our ces, not to e xpl ore, a nd  no t  t o  ta lk abo u t  school with th e people a ro u nd  them is a r cha ic  at bes t, oppr essiv e  at wor st.

Formore on t hi s su b j ect , watch Ke n Robins on, the r e cipie n tof th e B enjami nFra nklin  award ,  gi ve an  amazi ng  speec h abo ut  today’s  educational paradigm o n TEDT alks.  Or  watch an  an i mat ed excerp t be low. Non-n ati veSpeci esL atest : In v as ive zebra  mus s els haver ea che d Mo ntana Their a r riv al co uld have d rast ic economic effec t s.

Tom Britt/ CC F l i ckr 

B A CKST OR Y

Invasive qu agg aa n d zebramu ssels appea red in t he 1980s  fromthe Bl ack Sea , sp r eading  thr oug h the Gre atLa k es befo re  j u mpingto N ev ada’sLake M e ad i n 2007. The tiny m ussel s multi p lyrapid ly , clogg i ng w ater intak es and disr upting  foo d web s. With  n o nati vepr edators, t h ey are ex treme ly hard  t o va nqu ish. T heir m icros copi clar vae hitch r id e sto new  bod ies o f
�♦

I grew_up in_a family full of_teachers. I’ve_heard_stories and_had_debates over disciplinary_actions and cheating_at all levels, from_kindergarten to college._I’m_also a product of public schooling, and I’ve seen, first-hand, the challenges that faced_at_least my_teachers.

Don’t_like_ads? Become a supporter and_enjoy The Good Men Project_ad free

But_enforcing rules like this turns schools into assembly_lines._Those who fall_out of line, who want to move faster (or_slower) or in a different direction,_get stamped “defective”_and_shipped_off to the outlet_stores.

Westfield Principal Tim Thomas defended the_decision by saying that the teachers_“were only trying to be fair. Some_students have more help and resources_than others. They should not_be allowed_to use materials classmates cannot_get.”

There are myriad_factors that_aren’t being taken_into account: demographics, poverty, and a_slew of other_important issues with our school system._But_for a school_to_try_to even_out the playing_field,_which is_admirable,_it ought to help make those_resources_accessible, not suppress them. Extend library hours._Open up computers to_students_during lunch. Work with_nearby college campuses to request_volunteer tutors. To the best of_its ability,_a school_can make information available to all who seek it out.

Isn’t the_most valuable—and, some would argue, educational—part_of school the independent_pursuit of_knowledge_that doesn’t come_from_textbooks? To_ask students not to look for outside_sources, not_to explore, and not to talk_about school with the_people_around them is archaic at best,_oppressive at worst.

For more on this_subject, watch Ken Robinson, the_recipient_of_the Benjamin Franklin award, give_an amazing speech about today’s educational_paradigm on TEDTalks._Or watch an animated excerpt below. Non-native_Species_Latest: Invasive zebra mussels have reached_Montana_Their arrival could have drastic economic_effects.

Tom_Britt/CC_Flickr

BACKSTORY

Invasive quagga and zebra mussels_appeared in the 1980s from the_Black Sea, spreading through the Great Lakes before jumping_to Nevada’s Lake_Mead in 2007. The tiny_mussels_multiply_rapidly, clogging water intakes and disrupting food webs. With no_native predators,_they are extremely_hard to vanquish. Their microscopic larvae hitch rides to new_bodies of