Leading educational thinkers like Bernardo Gallegos share information on new educational theory and perspectives through major journals.

Education in the United States is going down the tubes and has been for some time. A large percentage of Americans with poor education grow up functionally illiterate, virtually unable to communicate or get a decent job. This is inexcusable for the richest country in the world. If we continue to give education a backseat role, we will decline seriously as a nation and as a society.

The biggest problem with education in America is that only people with money can afford a decent education. Since education is a basic need, it should be affordable to everyone. I believe the government should subsidize all public elementary school and high school education and that absolute national standards of proficiency in basic areas, i.e. English, history, math, and science, should be set and enforced. Grade school teaching should also be subsidized by the government, schools with adequate facilities should be built and maintained, and teachers should be paid more. This will require Americans to pay more taxes, but this is an investment in our future, so it is well worth it.

As a school psychologist, as well as the mother of a child with a chronic health condition, I understand all too well the intimidation that accompanies entering the "bargaining" sessions of IEP meetings. There are ways, however, to stack the proverbial cards in your favor. Read on…

To begin with, be prepared for anything. Keep accurate documentation and note the dates and times that everything occurs. I am not exaggerating - EVERYTHING. Every phone call, every progress report, etc. Nothing is more intimidating to IEP teams than a parent who has prepared for their meeting. A parent with a Plan of their own is scary for us, because what if we look like idiots, or offend you? You have to come into meetings prepared for anything, almost as if you're documenting for a Due Process hearing. You never know, you might have to "go there."

With differentiated education grant money, schools can provide individualized attention to students' learning.

What's Differentiated Education?

Teachers and school professionals are starting to realize the value of breaking away from conventional teaching methods which consisted of pre-packaged lectures and assignments that don't take into account a student's individuality.

Start a conversation about Virtual Reality (VR) in polite society nowadays and chances are you'll either get a blank stare, a response along the lines of "Isn't that something to do with tactile gloves and head mounted gear?" or a sigh accompanied by a wistful look from somebody reflecting on a technology that held so much promise yet seems to have delivered so little.

Well, forget about what you know, or think you know, because VR is being used to try to improve education in Africa. Yes, you're reading correctly. Virtual Reality in African education!

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