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Conversations 2014-2015

  • The Affordability Crisis: Rescuing the Dream of College Education for the Working-Class and Poor

    October 29, 2014

    Speakers: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sara Goldrick-Rab, Beth Huang, Zakiya Smith; Moderator: Mary Cathryn Ricker. Watch the video.

  • The Next Generation of Differentiated Compensation: What Next?

    November 12, 2014

    This panel will examine the terrain of teacher compensation from a number of different perspectives, offering their recommendations on what a good compensation policy would entail. Watch the Conversation.

  • A Diverse Teacher Force

    December 20, 2014

    There is concern that, as the U.S. population and student body is growing more racially and ethically diverse, the teacher workforce does not yet reflect this diversity. In fact, diversity should go beyond having more black and brown teachers in front of students. Diversity is also about equipping all teachers (regardless of race) to work with heterogeneous classrooms and diverse schools. Watch the video.

  • The Social Side of Teaching — A New Framework For Improving The Profession

    December 20, 2014

    Teaching and learning are not primarily individual accomplishments but rather social endeavors that are best achieved and improved through trusting relationships and teamwork. Yet, most policies focus on improving  the individual capacities of teachers. What is to be gained from approaches that strike a balance between human and social capital? Watch the video.

  • Fairness & Effectiveness in School Discipline

    December 20, 2014

    How do we teach discipline and maintain order, while protecting against the effects of persistent, unconscious biases? How do we ensure that schools are warm, welcoming, fair, and effective in the treatment of all students? Watch the video.

  • American Labor Movement at a Crossroads: New Thinking, New Organizing, New Strategies

    January 2, 2015

    This conference examines new thinking and new initiatives in labor organizing, viewing them critically in the light of ongoing union imperatives of cultivating member activism and involvement, fostering democratic self-governance and building the collective power of working people.

  • Fulfilling The Promise Of a Quality Education for All: 21st Century Career & Technical Education

    January 9, 2015

    This New York City conference (co-sponsored with the UFT) was designed to allow participants to share their expertise in CTE policy, practice, and research, as well as to deepen their understanding of how quality CTE can serve to expand the educational and career horizons of all students. Participants also considered a statement of recommendations on what needs to be done to develop and support quality CTE programs in U.S. education.

  • Is There A Pension Crisis?

    January 30, 2015
    Elected officials seeking to diminish the pensions of public sector employees have argued that they are responding to a fiscal crisis. Is this crisis real or contrived? March 11, noon-2.

  • Civic Purposes of Public Education and the Common Core

    February 1, 2015
    One of the primary purposes of public education is to foster an engaged and well-educated citizenry: For a democracy to function, the "people" who rule must be prepared to take on the duties and the rights of citizens.

  • The Use And Misuses of Value-Added in Teacher Evaluations: Three Perspectives

    February 1, 2015
    Nationally-recognized experts, Linda Darling Hammond, Douglas Harris and Thomas Kane will present and discuss concrete proposals for how to incorporate test-based performance measures into new teacher evaluations

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