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Study what works -- and what keeps on working
In education, reliable achievement is far more important than peak performance, and far more rare."

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 233 min read
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China is training geniuses to compete in math, science and AI
China is using "genius" classes for top math and science students to train AI researchers.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 33 min read
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UK government is 'hoisted by their own perky, purple-haired, patriotic petard'
Instead of persuading British teens to reject nationalism, the fictional "Waifu Amelia" has become an advocate for pro-British, anti-migrant sentiment.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 201 min read
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US colleges rely on foreign students to pay the bills, staff research labs
International students play a key role in university research and tech entrepreneurship -- and their tuition keeps colleges open.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 30, 20252 min read
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The anti-knowledge league prefers 'engagement' to learning
Teaching knowledge and vocabulary helps students learn, but education professors prefer "engagement" to learning.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 21, 20252 min read
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Structured math is the new old math: Teach the basics, test mastery, move on
Low math scores have pushed New Zealand and England to adopt explicit, structured teaching "mastering the basics before you move on."

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 18, 20252 min read
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Despite the Holocaust, 'competitive victimhood' is a loser for Jews
Anti-antisemitism rules for schools won't work, and more Holocaust education isn't the answer.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 14, 20253 min read
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At calm, focused schools, scores are high, but so is suspension rate
Students -- including those with disabilities -- are learning at Indiana schools that stress structure and good behavior. But suspension rates are high for students with disabilities.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 6, 20253 min read
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UK schools will show 'Adolescence' to warn teens about toxic 'manosphere'
British schools may show Netflix's "Adolescence" to warn students about online misogyny and "incel culture."

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 4, 20252 min read
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Dump the devices and bring back textbooks
Good, old-fashioned printed textbooks are valuable learning guides.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 20, 20252 min read
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Mental health programs increased emotional problems in English schools
Programs designed to improve students' mental health made things worse in the long run, reports a study in England.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 8, 20252 min read
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Brits do it. Dutch do it. Even down in Oz they do it. Why can't US have public funding for private schools?
Starting this fall, Minnesota public schools will be required to teach third-graders to use non-binary gender pronouns in their writing ,...

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 3, 20252 min read
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Trump: Ed Dept is 'a big con job'
President Trump called the Education Department a "big con," and said most states could do better on their own.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 14, 20252 min read
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Dumber and dumber: Americans, young and old, are slipping
Achievement is falling, and gaps are widening, for American students and adults since well before the pandemic.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 28, 20252 min read
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UK will teach diverse, non-Western science
Britain's Labour Party plans to make science teaching less Western-centric and relax standards so lessons are more "enjoyable."

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 3, 20251 min read
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Poland mandates firearms training for students
Polish students 13 and older will learn to use firearms in school.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 21, 20241 min read
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Is a college degree worth the cost? 45% say 'no'
Americans think college costs too much and want more focus on preparing students for jobs.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 20, 20241 min read
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U.S. math scores show 'devastating' decline
U.S. students are doing much worse in math, while some other countries are improving.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 5, 20242 min read
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Students learn more math when the teacher teaches
Direct instruction helps more students learn more math compared to student-led methods.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 25, 20242 min read
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You may already be a loser!
American kids have too much self-esteem, argues Bill Maher.

Joanne Jacobs
May 25, 20241 min read
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