The Commentary Magazine Podcast The Wreckage of K-12 Education
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May 29, 2025 Robert Pondiscio, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and education reform expert, dives into the challenges plaguing K-12 education. He critiques the influence of wokeness on schooling and discusses how it undermines educational reforms. Pondiscio also addresses the decline in attendance and standards due to the pandemic, the impact of DEI policies, and the tensions between elite academic institutions and broader societal needs. He emphasizes the importance of high educational standards amidst cultural conflicts.
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Foundations of Successful Urban Schools
- Implement order, uniforms, high expectations, and parental involvement to improve school performance.
- These measures create safe, stable environments that drive student achievement in urban schools.
The Rise and Fall of No Excuses Education
- The "No Excuses Education" model emphasized no excuses for adults and high standards for students.
- These schools achieved extraordinary results but fell apart due to cultural sensitivity critiques.
Politics Behind Saving Charter Schools
- Cuomo saved the Success Academy charters mainly to oppose de Blasio, not for education's sake.
- Despite political battles, charter schools remain vital alternatives for low-income kids of color.