Faculty & Staff
Latin Sponsors Electronic Journal for Educators
Nov 23, 2005, 13:09

“[M]ost homework is an utter waste of everyone's time.”

“[T]eachers are far too quick to blame students for test results and far too rarely examining their own limits as coaches.”

These provocative sentiments and more can be found in the current issue of Independent Teacher, an electronic journal founded at The Latin School for and by independent school educators.

The author of these words is Dr. Grant Wiggins, an authority on educational reform and curricular change. Part I of his on-line conversation with Stan Izen on “Testing and Assessment” is featured in the November 2005 issue of Independent Teacher. Part II will be published in the e-journal's spring edition. The journal is published twice a year.

The idea for a journal about curriculum and pedagogy of particular interest to independent school educators percolated for a couple of years and was first shepherded by former Science Department Chair Martin “Scooter” Thompson. Dr. John Love, former vice president of academic affairs, then took over the project and edited the journal for both its inaugural issue in December 2003 and the next issue six months later.

Latin math teacher Stan Izen is the journal's current editor, overseeing a national editorial board of 18, including several Latin School teachers and both Thompson, now the Middle School Director of Seattle's Lakeside School, and Love, the Upper School Principal of Ethical Culture Fieldston School.

“Independent Teacher is a vehicle by which new and experienced teachers can share ideas, ask questions, and discuss all aspects of education,” writes Izen in his message from the editor.

With five issues under its belt, the journal is living up to its promise of publishing articles on particular curricular ideas and philosophical issues of wider interest, and provoking lively debate and discussion among educators.

Latin teachers who have contributed articles include Stan Izen, Billy Lombardo, and Steven Coberly (with Lor Gehret and Wayne Winters). Articles also have been contributed by former teachers Z. Bart Thornton and John Love.

Although the aim of the journal is to assist teachers, parents would be interested in most of the articles as well. Consider, for instance, Dr. Wiggins' additional remarks on homework:

"Homework should provide useful practice to gain facility, provide useful background knowledge, and opportunities to explore implications and raise questions. Again, we can grade your having done it, but to grade the accuracy of first attempts on its own is immoral. That does not mean do not note that 4 out of 10 were wrong - that is feedback that is useful. But to put a 4 out of 10 in your gradebook is misguided."




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