It's not all hopeless

I just came across my kid's school newspaper. Here are the front page headlines:

Faculty Disagree on What makes a "Grade" (note: the school doesn't give grades but many faculty members always try to get around that policy. Administration notes that system has been around for a long time and works quite well)

Students Demand more Humanities Classes (Students upset that they are allowed to take two or three language, art, science or math classes but can only take one English or History Class at a time. Administration notes that system has been around for a long time and works quite well.)

Teachers Debate Use of Films in Class (Not much of a debate. Everyone agrees it's a sign of laziness and doesn't teach much. (Administration notes that policy of focusing on primary sources has been around a long time and works quite well).

Teacher Evaluations Considered (Everyone agrees it could be a good thing. Administration notes that current system has been around a long time and works quite well).

Some pretty good inside stories as well:

Nabokov, Salinger Consistently Stolen from Library

Science Students Seek Outside Forums for Sharing Research

WikiLeaks: Harmful or Helpful?

Room for Discussion: Debate on idea of an all-elective high school with no graduation requirements

Brooklyn Museum Hightlights Rockwell's Use of Photographs

Islamophobia on the Rise in the United States

City Reacts to Bloomberg's Controversial Education Appointment

Defining "Hipsters": A Window into Modern Society

I think all this provides a few pointers on excellent possibilities for education reform. Unfortunately, when given the choice between actually making education good or cutting everything but test prep and advanced test prep, most morons in charge choose all test prep all the time.