Today’s moderator: Maureen Downey
Maureen Downey has written about local, state and federal education policy at the AJC for 12 years. She’s also taught college classes in mass communications and journalism. However, she’s learned more about schools from having four children in them.
»Join the discussion online today: Share your opinions and ideas on Maureen's blog Get Schooled.
We have idealized summer in song and sentiment as a time of adventure and freedom — but it is also a time of loss. All students lose ground in math over the summer, and many also fall behind in reading. Today, I discuss why the “summer slide” affects poor kids more than their middle-class peers, and why it is a major component in the achievement gap. It’s not the usual cheery “back-to-school” chatter, but two guest columnists discuss the important issue of sexual harassment on college campuses. And readers debate whether the Atlanta Public Schools should continue to approve charter schools while the festering issue of pension fund contributions is resolved in the courts.
Guest columnists:
Slow summer slide by Maureen Downey
Schools must do more to prevent sexual harassment by Carol E. Tracy and Terry Fromson
Response to recent conversation by from our readers
