"Rewriting the Script"
Together, the following eight articles outline how the standards-tests-punishment machine has subverted public schools from their democratic promise. With action, we can write a future where education isn't a soulless profit machine for the few.

Beyond NCLB
By Monty Neill
"Progressive educators in particular have sharply criticized NCLB for encouraging the reduction of schooling to test prep. However, a comprehensive proposal to overhaul the federal law to meet the requirements of progressive education, civil rights, and social justice has not fully emerged."

The Power of Words
Linda Christensen
Top-down mandates masquerade as social justice reforms

Teaching in Dystopia
By Wayne Au
"The problem is this: Testing is killing education. Not only is it narrowing the curriculum generally, it promotes bad pedagogy, while making some private companies very rich in the process."

Reading First, Libraries Last
By Rachel Cloues
"In these bleak NCLB days of regimented, scripted reading programs and financially drained school districts, I am deeply worried about the future of elementary school libraries."

There's a lot more inside this issue.