Websites of Interest:
http://www.NewHorizons.org is an objective collection of websites for education professionals
http://www.edreform.com This website calls for high standards and testing.
Frank Smith was a reporter, editor and novelist before beginning his formal research into language, thinking and learning.  He has been a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, the University of Toronto, The University of Victoria, BC and the U. of Witwatersrand S. A.  He also holds a PhD from Harvard University.