via https://twitter.com/MJ_Coren/status/205158404082245632

Shrinking class size, by itself, doesn't do much to change the quality of teaching and learning unless the teacher is prepared to take advantage of the advantages a smaller class size allows. When teachers don't change their practice, researchers have a tough time detecting differences in quality. Teacher happiness, however, is much more easily detected with smaller class sizes, and perhaps that shouldn't be overlooked.

This is education privatization at work -- as the article says, "Kids mean money." Public education dollars are given to online charter schools, which run very efficiently (but typically not effectively) and excess funds find their way to Wall Street and investors. Kudos to the New York Times for addressing this issue in such depth.

It's live now and getting a little (verbally) hostile - #munk #munkdebates #euro #debate #live #money

every paragraph leads me to think: "what a tool." so glad he thinks that there's no correlation between class size and student performance. do not vote for Romney, for the sake of your children!

via maggie eighteen (of west philly):
Madaline G. Dunn, 78, who said she has lived here for 50 years and volunteers at the school, said she is “personally offended” that Romney would visit her neighborhood.
“It’s not appreciated here,” she said. “It is absolutely denigrating for him to come in here and speak his garbage.”
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (D) addressed protesters and the media, quipping that Romney “suddenly somehow found West Philadelphia.”
“It’s nice that he decided this late in his [campaign] to see what a city like Philadelphia is about,” Nutter said. But, he added, “I don’t know that a one-day experience in the heart of West Philadelphia is enough to get you ready to run the United States of America.”
“You want to have an urban experience?” Nutter added. “You want to have a West Philly experience? Then come out here and talk to somebody in West Philly.”

Guest edited by Bill Maurer, this issue features eighteen essays on topics such as risk, debt, ethics, infrastructure and more.