Reading Roundup

Can you see that I'm catching up on some old reading this week? I love Teacher Tom. He gives me a lot to think about.

New recess format at (Pittsburgh) Elementary allows students to play video games, WPXI.com (Sept. 4, 2012). "School district officials said the students are inside playing Wii only one or two days per week...The superintendent...told Channel 11 News that the new format is designed to keep children out of trouble and injury-free." Seriously?!?! OMG I might have to look into homeschooling after all. Meanwhile, these kindergarteners are outside all morning, even in the rain and snow. 

Buyer Beware, Teacher Tom (Apr. 29, 2012). Teacher Tom discusses the privatization of education, and how one company could monopolize the entire education of a child. He calls this a violation of child labor laws, since the corporation profits, a goal that supercedes the education of the child.

Rediscovered research says early school starting age 'harms children', Nursery World (May 16, 2012)

Once the marketing has rubbed off, Teacher Tom (May 24, 2012)

Teacher Tom Greatest Hits, Teacher Tom (May 26, 2012)

Five Dangerous things you should let your children do, Ted Talks (via Teacher Tom)
"When we round every corner and eliminate every sharp object, every pokey bit in the world, then the first time that kids come in contact with anything sharp or not made of round plastic they'll hurt themselves with it."

UK statement on play by the Play Safety Forum and the Health and Safety Executive (July 2012)