Education
In reply to the discussion: Former NYC School Chancellor Joel Klein Is Not Telling the Whole Truth About His Personal History [View all]elleng
(136,191 posts)but as I've said, I'm not an educational historian. I am, however, 67; have been around for a while.
I attended public schools in NY, a public university in Ohio, and recall hearing friends talk about 'teacher-ed' and McGuffey readers.
Since public schools in DC were unacceptable we found a private, and then parochial schools, which provided our daughters good, individual, thoughtful educations, with little political intrusion; testing not determined by the 'state.'
Their first school was based on Piaget's studies and lessons, and if only such approach would be widespread, we'd all be in a better place. Their next school, 4-8 grades, was parochial, affordable and liberal. Both daughters were asked to explain Chanukah to their classes! AND the principal visited with EACH student, during the year, in class, after studying their progress. They went on to different high schools, to suit their needs; one daughter had special needs, and we found a school with fine attention to her needs and that of others.