K12 Consensus

Working to reform education in a consensus-based environment.

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Japan Recognizes The Value of Educational Investments in Poor and Rich Neighborhoods Alike

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“In Japan, you may have poor areas, but you don’t have poor schools”

Japan School

The differences between Japanese and American investments in education, and what socioeconomic factors mean for student achievement in the two countries is explored in this Atlantic article by Alana Semuels.

In Japan there are fewer administrators, yet higher teacher pay and higher barriers to entering the profession. Teachers and students contribute to cleaning the school buildings, which also, in turn, contributes to lower per-pupil costs. Importantly, faculty collaboration and peer review of lesson plans is what drives classroom instruction, coupled with a risk-inclined environment.

Iceland Knows How To Stop Teen Substance Abuse. The World Isn’t Listening

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An article with clear, research-based examples of how to diminish substance abuse in young people: long- versus short-term investments, prevention over treatment. And importantly, involving schools and parents and community organizations, driven at the federal level to ensure local success.

A few factors emerged as strongly protective: participation in organized activities – especially sport – three or four times a week, total time spent with parents during the week, feeling cared about at school, and not being outdoors in the late evenings.

Teaching a Future President

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640x320_kidpresident The complexities of problem-solving the near impossibilities, and lessons for teachers and leaders alike involve critical thinking, collaboration, effective communication, access to information, and vision. What would we do if we knew we had a future president in our classroom?

A president’s job is a special kind of difficult — not just demanding, but exceedingly complex. One of President Obama’s advisers once said that nothing comes to the desk of the president unless it’s “almost impossible” — and he has to figure it out.