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The Neglected Muse
Why Music Is an Essential Liberal Art
By Peter Kalkavage
“Music shapes us,” says our author. Today, young people are bombarded with popular music that venerates violence, drug use, and promiscuity. How can we help students to better understand the power that music has over their emotions? By introducing them to great, enduring works of music. Through these, students can develop a taste for true beauty and reflect on what popular music does—and does not—offer.
Balancing the Educational Agenda
Parents Like Schools’ New Higher Standards—but Are Focused on Funding, Class Size, and Behavior
By Jean Johnson, Ana Maria Arumi, and Amber Ott
In the early 1990s, parents consistently said that raising schools’ academic standards was a top priority. Today, standards are higher—and parents know it. As a result, parents’ priorities have shifted to issues such as securing more funding for schools, reducing class size, and improving student behavior.
Minority Students and Parents See More Problems
Ask the Cognitive Scientist
“Brain-Based” Learning: More Fiction than Fact
By Daniel T. Willingham
Neuroscientists are making great leaps forward in understanding how the brain works. Unfortunately, when neuroscientific claims jump to the classroom, the facts often get lost and the science misapplied. Our cognitive scientist explores a few such misapplications and explains why neuroscience is not likely to provide answers to teachers in the near future.
How Neuroscience Could Help…
By Detecting Learning Disabilities
Motivating Young Minds
The Best Kids’ Magazines Turn Natural Curiosity into Exceptional Knowledge
Kids are naturally curious about science, history, art, current events, ancient peoples—anything they encounter. Keeping up with their interests, answering their questions, and searching for new topics to introduce are, to put it mildly, daunting tasks. For help, turn to the two great magazines highlighted here: ASK (for elementary school) and Kids Discover (for middle school).
A Ticket for Ms. Miles
How One Teacher Helped a Student Write Her Way Out of Poverty
By Michael Winerip
American Educator offers this true story as a tribute to all of the students who need someone to believe in them and to the dedicated teachers who gladly accept the challenge.
