Progressive Education National Network

[Helen]

In the ten years that I have been in Public Education I have seen the tide turn drastically against Progressive practices in public education. The fairly strigent measures of the 'No Child Left Behind' act in regards to testing have impacted even 'Blue Ribbon' schools such as the one I teach in. Rather than studying why schools like mine are successful the push has been to standardize curriculum and put pressure on teachers to teach to the tests. This impacts even my discipline ( Art Education) because it further devalues the time spent on 'non-academic' pursuits.

Whereas Dewey viewed the Arts as central to the curriculum and an ideal area to teach and learn from, I feel like a third class citizen instead of the previous second class!

I am eager to connect with other Public Educators

[Katy]

Public education is an area of concern for all of us. It doesn't matter if we are in public or private settings. Think of what has happened in public education in the last ten years and then just try to imagine what it is going to look like ten years from now when 'No Child Left Behind' is fully implemented.....I think that is in 2012.

We all need to be paying attention!