Len Lipkin

Charter Schools Knocked Down a Peg

Like all schools, charters are not without their problems. Last year I wrote about scandals at charters, and recently I found this article by noted educational policy pundit Diane Ravitch.

Len Lipkin

Nutter, Ackerman Wait for Superman [Video]

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and School District Superintendent attended a November 29th screening of "Waiting for Superman" at the National Constitution Center and participated a panel discussion.

Len Lipkin

Pitfalls of an Elite Education Part 2: A Race to Nowhere? [Video]

In part 1 of this series I wrote about an article, "The Disadvantages of an Elite education" which I soon found only highlighted some of the potential disadvantages of private schooling. I also recently came across a new documentary (is it me, or do there seem to be a lot of documentaries focusing on our educational system lately?) called Race to Nowhere (trailer below). RTN is about how relentless academic and social pressures are affecting the lives of middle- and high-school kids across America.

Len Lipkin

Philadelphia Education Leaders Debate “Superman” [Video]

Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Dr. Arlene Ackerman; Scott Gordon, CEO of Mastery Charter Schools; Rob Broderick, from the Pennsylvania State Education Association; and Dom Giordano, 1210-AM radio talk show personality discussing school reform and the film "Waiting for Superman"

Len Lipkin

The Prep School Negro at Germantown Friends School [Video]

Germantown Friends School (GFS) is one of the settings for a documentary called The Prep School Negro . I haven't seen it yet, but it looks like an interesting story, especially in light of my recent posts on diversity and the fact that I just mailed in an application for my kid to enter kindergarten in 2011. Here is the trailer, and

Len Lipkin

School Choice Influenced by… the Movies?

Two films will be coming out over the next several months that will put my school search into a much broader perspective. The first is a documentary called “The Lottery” (out now in limited release, not sure of the Philadelphia release) In a country where 58% of African American 4th graders are functionally illiterate, The Lottery uncovers the failures of the traditional public school system...