Short thoughts on a sunny Christmas afternoon

The rain has ended and the snow-clad San Gabriels look down on Claremont today. It was a starry Christmas Eve, and I gathered with friends and congregants to sing Silent Night at Midnight by candlelight. I have experienced the service of Lessons and Carols for more than half a century, and it still moves me. […]

Speaking at PACE Seminar in Sacramento on December 17

Upcoming Seminar: Learning from LA: Policy Levers for Institutional Change Date: Friday, December 17, 2010 Time: 11:30am-1:30pm Lunch will be provided. Location: UC Center Sacramento, 1130 K Street, Conference Room Presenter: Charles Taylor Kerchner, Research Professor, Claremont Graduate University Please RSVP to Sandra Morales or (916) 669-5425. The history of the Los Angeles Unified School District over the […]

Teacher-Run Schools and the History of Worker’s Cooperatives

Following our case study on teacher-run schools, Henry Levin wrote to remind me of Worker Cooperatives in America, a 1984 book he co-edited with Robert Jackall. It still offers pertinent insight into the opportunities and problems of worker owned and operated organizations. “[T]he affective ties which are the basis for selection into collectives bind workers […]

Annotating Jerry Brown: Comments on the Governor-Elect’s Education Plan

Mike Kirst chided me for not paying attention to Jerry Brown’s education plan in earlier comments about what he should do as governor. So, I took another look. It’s smart, pragmatic, and a little pregnant. See the post at Topics in Public Education. Comments invited.

The Buzz About Teacher-Run Schools

The media have discovered teacher run schools in a big way. Christine Hoag of the Associated Press wrote about the Woodland Hills Academy in Los Angeles, which converted to a teacher-run school, albeit one with a principal. Her story has been published throughout the country, and has received substantial attention. Alan Coverstone wrote a supportive […]

Questions about Teacher Union Influence

Mitchell Landsberg questioned the political clout of teacher unions in a recent Los Angeles Times article. “A nationwide school reform movement with bipartisan support has collided head-on with three ideas that labor has long resisted: expansion of charter schools, the introduction of merit pay for teachers and the use of student test scores…even seniority and tenure […]

Speaking at the Claremont Colleges Library on Thursday, Nov. 11.

Update: a video of the talk will be available soon. I will be talking about our Los Angeles research at the Claremont Colleges Honnold Library on Thursday at 4:15 pm. The talk is part of the library’s series of speakers from all the college campuses. It is billed as: Lessons from L.A Schools.: Some Gleanings […]

Jerry Brown For Governor. Really!

I have an actual Jerry-Brown-for-governor pin. Bought it from a Democratic Party booth at a street fair in Palo Alto. The governor should remember that when he’s passing out those plum jobs. While I didn’t witness a feeding frenzy for Brown or see too many of those pins being worn, I have high expectations for […]

A New Case Study Explores Teacher-Run Schools

Many thanks to all those who helped, particularly to the students and the teacher/advisors at Avalon School in St. Paul, MN and to John and Cris Parr who graciously arranged my visit to Milwaukee. Can Teachers Run Their Own Schools? Tales from the Islands of Teacher Cooperatives is published, and it can be downloaded free […]

“Superman” and a Few Convenient Half-Truths

Waiting for Superman opens in theaters in L.A. and New York this week and goes nationwide next week. It’s a powerful film that will move those who see it, and it is ushering in a media blitz about education. NBC and CBS have announced new education programs. The Huffington Post, for which I occasionally write, […]

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'On California' at EdWeek.org

I have concluded my opinion blog on the Golden State's politics and education policies at EdWeek.org. An archive of the 281 posts can be reached by clicking HERE

Learning 2.0

Learning 2.0 is the next full scale version of public education, one that builds on the capacity of the Internet age.

The five elements of Learning 2.0 are explained by clicking HERE:

Mixing acquisition of knowledge and practice, head and hands.
An individual education plan for everyone.
Understanding that students are the real workers in the education system.
Unbundle teaching, testing, and mentoring.
Add collaboration and solving tough, ambiguous problems to the list of basic skills.

Recent Projects

Teacher Work and Teacher Unions
‘Learning from L.A.: Institutional Change in American Public Education’
Teacher-Run Schools

Currently Reading

About

Charles Taylor Kerchner is an Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Fellow at Claremont Graduate University. My daily musings appear in the blog. The archives of my EdWeek blog are available via link under the 'On California' head. Some of my photography can be seen by clicking on 'Gallery.' And numerous links to academic work and other research and commentary can be found by clicking on 'Projects.'

Mindworkers

Charlet T. Kerchner / MindWorkers