The IDEA Blog
Charting a new path forward in education by sharing positive stories of change, providing perspective on key issues, and giving you the news and analysis you need to take action.
Going Green
For me, education results from in and out of the classroom. Education is about learning and building awareness. For this entry, I hope to write in a less conventional form to discuss a topic worthy of recognition and awareness.April is Water Conservation Month. In commemoration of the upcoming month, I have written a poem. This poem is in recognition of our environmental crisis, and in celebration of its potential turnaround. Please feel free to share stories of schools going green, environmental education in the classroom, and green efforts in your daily lives.
Mother Nature's Cry
It took me a long while
To better the way you live.
Since you have turned hostile,
I've got no more to...
Posted on Mar 07, 2011 - 05:49 PM by Susan Chen
Soothing Hymn of My Eagle Mother
Like Amy Chua, my mother is Chinese and wants her daughter to succeed. She genuinely cares about my education and invests in my future. She wants me to maximize my time around productive activities and minimize my time dawdling. Like Amy Chua, my mother believes in my potential for growth and excellence.However, I was allowed to have sleepovers. My B's were tolerated. I did not have to be a star musician or come in first in every math and science competition. I was permitted to pursue my interests and excel through passion. Because of my mother's love, I was able to graduate from Stanford University this past June.
My mother is an eagle mother.
Like an eagle, she is able to have a...
Posted on Jan 30, 2011 - 09:08 PM by Susan Chen
Remedies for “Stupid in America?”
The news is not new nor is it little known. American students are lagging behind in academics. For example, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) report shows that the United States is 113 points behind the number 1 spot-holder Shanghai-China in math literacy, the equivalent of more than two school years of schooling. These findings indicate a grim future for America's economic competitiveness but also reflect a bleaker reality of America's failure to commit to an equal, high quality education for every child.The PISA report argues that the best-performing countries are able to set high expectations for all students. They invest in learning materials and teachers to help...
Posted on Dec 18, 2010 - 06:52 PM by Susan Chen
What Is A High-Performing School?
My alma mater, Boston Latin School (BLS), is frequently referred to as a “high-performing school.” What does it mean for a school to be high-performing? To me, a high-performing school must offer a transformative experience for its students. It must foster a learning environment actively seeking outcomes of, and not means for success. For these reasons, I would argue that Boston Latin is a high-caliber, and not a high-performing school.A high-performing school should nurture growth and development for the students, and show evidence of such academic improvement over time. Let's take a look at Boston Latin School. The school consistently ranks among the top 20 best high schools in the...
Posted on Nov 20, 2010 - 10:59 AM by Susan Chen
What Is An Education? What Is A Career?
The commencement speaker had just concluded her speech. While applause rang in my ears, I was reminded of the potential of my college degree and a reality I could not yet grasp but would need to acknowledge eventually. Welcome to the real world.As I flung my cap into the air, I acknowledged the present reality. I had to choose a job and ultimately, define my career. Fortunately, college had helped me to realize that whatever career I choose, it should reflect what I have worked up to.
My life growing up in a rural village in China, living in inner-city Boston, and learning in suburban Stanford University is complex and ever-changing. College was a time to tie learning with personal...
Posted on Oct 28, 2010 - 11:07 AM by Susan Chen
Posts by Susan Chen
