Steve Peha – Still the question persists: Why doesn’t merit pay work? Here in America, capitalism is an ideological slam dunk. Why doesn’t paying teachers more money lead to better performance?

Donna Garner – Below are various documents that will help to clarify the conflict of interest problems that Thomas Ratliff has.

Michael F. Shaughnessy – There has been quite a bit in the news of late that some refer to as “teacher-bashing.” Other say they support great teachers but are angry and fed up with the unions that represent them, that put adult needs ahead of children.

Our challenge now is to take this moment and turn it into a movement. And the way to do so is by renewing America’s labor movement.

Robert Oliphant – Is everybody in the Middle East learning spoken American English? So far the Egyptians who voice their grievances on TV have come across to us as speaking clearer and more forceful American English than many of our own college graduates.

Paul E. Peterson – Education in Wisconsin is a hot topic these days. Accordingly, Paul Krugman of the New York Times has shared with us the thought that low-spending Texas is as a result burdened with rotten schools:

Carleton Kendrick: How do you raise children to become accomplished on their own terms, without surrendering their spirit? First, stop hurrying and stealing their childhood

Charles Jacobs – It was disappointing to read that the David Project – which we co-founded in 2002 in response to the Jewish establishment’s failure to address anti-Israelism on America’s campuses – has decided to join the mainstream (David Project steers toward the center, Feb. 4).

Karen Lawrence – Increasing two-way traffic is a promising development. I know. My institution, Sarah Lawrence College, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of a successful collaboration with the University of Havana.

Sandra Stotsky – President Obama wants all states to adopt Common Core’s standards for mathematics and English language arts and reading . He also wants states to use tests based on these standards in the re-authorization of ESEA.

Veronique de Rugy – America is spending more money on education while producing worse outcomes. In November the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its Program for International Student Assessment scores, measuring educational achievement in 65 countries. The results are depressingly familiar:

RiShawn Biddle – Two months into his official term as mayor of Washington, D.C. — and five months after energetically defeating Adrian Fenty for the job — Vincent Gray is offering a glimpse into his style of governing. It isn't pretty.

Do Charter Schools Crowd Out Private School Enrollment? Evidence from Michigan. Since the introduction of charter public schools in 1991, individuals have debated the effect these new schools will have on the education system. One area of speculation has been student enrollment.

Education historian Diane Ravitch writes why she is standing with the protesting teachers of Wisconsin.

Don't fear educators' plans — just be open-minded. First, some parents asked why Mansfield's schools would teach Arabic.

These charter schools thrive on competition. Former fisheries biologist Soner Tarim played college basketball back in Turkey, point guard, and his easygoing persona masks a fierce competitive streak.

Do AP STEM courses truly benefit students in understanding the material better and getting them ready for college? This year, 2 million high school students aspiring to go to top universities and colleges are expected to take Advanced Placement (A.P.) exams in over 30 subjects. The original purpose of A.P. exams was to encourage high school seniors to study at the college level.

John Jensen, Ph.D. – I want to transform your classroom, blow the top off your students’ scores and accomplishments, make their parents ecstatic over their progress, get you a nomination for district teacher of the year, have news media visit your classroom to document what your students do, and see you testify before lawmakers about how easy it is to revolutionize learning nearly overnight.

Michael Petrilli – Well, I have to hand it to them: The folks behind Ed in ’08 were successful after all. It just appears that the are achieving their goal–making education a central issue in the presidential election–four years behind schedule.

Anthony Cody – recently shared a conversation [which you can find here] between an ex-Teach For America intern and his mentor. The focus of their discussion was on the need for far more effective forms of mentoring than is offered by TFA – but they indicated this problem is not unique to that program.

If you lived in Baltimore, Chicago, New York or Philadelphia in 1887, there was a chance that just two out of every three kids living in the poorest neighborhoods were in school, according to The Seventh Special Report of the United States Commissioner of Labor.