6 Comments

I think the broader point here is that no matter how good/science-y an approach in education, the actual implementation and delivery is what matters. You see that time and again with various interventions and initiatives - "works" in one place, but then not another.

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Not quite YIMBY, but the cities that have navigated this acknowledge the disruption and trauma caused by closing a school. And they provide recompense - giving affected families their first choice for a new school, timing decisions so affected families and educators immediately have access to a new facility, etc. But you can only this if you have a real master facilities plan with real, budgeted projected with timelines.

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Thanks! Moving over to this platform and away from strictly Boston Schools Fund stuff, I am trying to test a few other areas adjacent to education/that interest me.

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The Science of Reading crowd is cult-like. We get it. Kids with learning differences need a certain form of instruction (and even then reading is a brutal struggle). But they mischaracterize other approaches in the most extreme light and continue to fight this war even though everyone has moved on.

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Thanks for linking back to your/BSF's initial piece on soft landings. It makes the lose-lose nature of SLs painfully clear.

I haven't been following the latest school closure/merger news, though as a Boston educator (and parent of a 2nd grader in a Boston school) I certainly should be. Is anyone trying to build a movement around right-sizing BPS? If so, where do I sign up? It seems a bit like YIMBY, where there has been some movement towards folks moving away towards a narrow self-interest towards a vision where the vast majority benefits.

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That article on swimming pools was a little off what you usually include but hugely enjoyable and valuable. Thank you for including it!

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