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It's a spaceship, it's a castle, it's an empty cardboard box
Children need time to play -- without supervision or screens.

Joanne Jacobs
17 hours ago1 min read
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Screens in school: Don't 'gamify' kindergarten, say parents
Children are starting at screens in school, instead of listening to a teacher or interacting with friends, parents complain.

Joanne Jacobs
3 days ago2 min read
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Why can't kids behave? Parents undermine discipline, say teachers
Teachers complain that parents don't teach their kids to behave, and principals don't support teachers who try to maintain order.

Joanne Jacobs
6 days ago3 min read
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Court rules for parents' right to know about their child's 'transition'
California policies on hiding students' gender transitions "likely violate parents' rights to direct the upbringing and education of their children," the U.S. Supreme Court ruled.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 72 min read
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Why teachers assign less homework: Students won't do it -- but AI will
Most teachers assign less homework -- or none at all. Students won't do it, they say. But AI will.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 42 min read
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Anyone can homeschool -- but should they?
Is it really true that "anyone can homeschool?"

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 12 min read
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Parents, civilize your sons
Boys need authoritative parents who will teach them how to behave in the world.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 272 min read
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Amok time: Elementary kids' behavior is out of control, say teachers
Student misbehavior is way up, say kindergarten and first-grade teachers. More kids are unprepared to pay attention, cooperate and show respect to classmates and teachers.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 213 min read
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What if every day was a (12-hour) school day?
A new South Bronx charter school will open its campus for 12 hours a day, seven days a week and 50 weeks a year for academics, enrichment and extracurriculars. It's all free.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 202 min read
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To end the education depression, choose school choice
Democrats should be willing to reimagine the K-12 system, giving funding to families instead of bureaucracies.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 192 min read
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Parents say: Bring back pencil and paper
The anti-tech backlash is here: Parents are asking to opt their kids out of using school laptops and tablets.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 182 min read
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Be not afraid: The world is safer than ever
Kids are safer outside exploring the world.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 142 min read
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Inflated grades lead to deflated pay
Students who receive good grades for mediocre work tend to learn and earn less in the long run.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 122 min read
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Teach the kids: 'Natural' learning is 'slow, brutal' and sometimes fatal
Teach children what they need to learn. Don't make them try to figure it out for themselves.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 221 min read
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Free day care for all: What could go wrong?
New York City parents have been promised free day care, starting at six weeks. New Mexico just launched its program. Can taxpayers afford it?

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 28, 20252 min read
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Reclaiming childhood
Childhood is making a comeback.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 14, 20252 min read
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It's not smart to give smartphones to young children
The younger children are when they get their first smartphone the higher the risk of depression, obesity and poor sleep habits.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 6, 20252 min read
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We need a new IDEA
A new IDEA would focus on student success, and reserve special ed for the truly disabled.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 3, 20252 min read
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How to raise low-tech teens
To protect teens from digital addiction, parents must take charge.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 16, 20252 min read
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If your kid's school is 'comprehensive,' is that good? (Nope)
"Comprehensive" will mean "completely lousy" in Illinois' new school accountability system.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 12, 20251 min read
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