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Saturday, July 3, 2010

In a surprise, Ackerman replaces principal Saliyah Cruz at West Philly High Philadelphia Education News and Colleges - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Education News and Colleges - Philadelphia Inquirer


TOP STORY
Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has removed Saliyah Cruz as principal of West Philadelphia High School and replaced her with the man who most recently led troubled South Philadelphia High.
SPECIAL PROJECTS

The Inquirer's annual survey of education in the region, with a searchable database of school and district information, and multimedia profiles of area students and high schools.

With the dropout problem in Philadelphia at crisis proportions, a chance-of-a-lifetime program offers 40 select students a shot at breaking the cycle of failure. But can they take advantage?

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Fred Klonsky's blog #NEARA10 #edu

Fred Klonsky's blog




A little Old School and a Cup of Coffee for Fred

Who’s on first? @ NEARA10

Happy 4th of July!


Who’s On First?
by Abbott and Costello
Abbott: Well Costello, I’m going to New York with you. You know Bookie Harris, the Yankee’s manager, gave me a job as coach for as long as you’re on the team.
Costello: Look Abbott, if you’re the coach, you must know all the players.
Abbott: I certainly do.
Costello: Well you know I’ve never met the guys. So you’ll have to tell me their names, and then I’ll know who’s playing on the team.
Abbott: Oh, I’ll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball players now-a-days very peculiar names.
Costello: You mean funny names?
Abbott: Strange names, pet names…like Dizzy Dean
Costello: His brother Daffy.
Abbott: Daffy Dean
Costello: And their French cousin.
Abbott: French?
Costello: Goofè.
Abbott: Goofè Dean. Well, let’s see, we have on the bags, Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third…
Costello: That’s what I want to find out.
Abbott: I say Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.
Costello: Are you the manager?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: You gonna be the coach too?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: And you don’t know the fellows’ names?
Abbott: Well I should.
Costello: Well then who’s on first?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: I mean the fellow’s name.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The first baseman.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy playing…
Abbott: Who is on first!
Costello: I’m asking YOU who’s on first.
Abbott: That’s the man’s name.
Costello: That’s who’s name?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.
Abbott: That’s it.
Costello: That’s who?
Abbott: Yes.
PAUSE
Costello: Look, you gotta first baseman?
Abbott: Certainly.
Costello: Who’s playing first?
Abbott: That’s right.
Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?
Abbott: Every dollar of it.
Costello: All I’m trying to find out is the fellow’s name on first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy that gets…
Abbott: That’s it.
Costello: Who gets the money…
Abbott: He does, every dollar. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.
Costello: Whose wife?
Abbott: Yes.
PAUSE
Abbott: What’s wrong with that?
Costello: Look, all I wanna know is when you sign up the first baseman, how does he sign his name?
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: How does he sign…
Abbott: That’s how he signs it.
Costello: Who?
Abbott: Yes.
PAUSE
Costello: All I’m trying to find out is what’s the guy’s name on first base.
Abbott: No. What is on second base.
Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.
Abbott: Who’s on first.
Costello: One base at a time!
Abbott: Well, don’t change the players around.
Costello: I’m not changing nobody!
Abbott: Take it easy, buddy.
Costello: I’m only asking you, who’s the guy on first base?
Abbott: That’s right.
Costello: Ok.
Abbott: All right.
PAUSE
Costello: What’s the guy’s name on first base?
Abbott: No. What is on second.
Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.
Abbott: Who’s on first.
Costello: I don’t know.
Abbott: He’s on third, we’re not talking about him.
Costello: Now how did I get on third base?
Abbott: Why you mentioned his name.
Costello: If I mentioned the third baseman’s name, who did I say is playing third?
Abbott: No. Who’s playing first.
Costello: What’s on first?
Abbott: What’s on second.
Costello: I don’t know.
Abbott: He’s on third.
Costello: There I go, back on third again!
PAUSE
Costello: Would you just stay on third base and don’t go off it.
Abbott: All right, what do you want to know?
Costello: Now who’s playing third base?
Abbott: Why do you insist on putting Who on third base?
Costello: What am I putting on third.
Abbott: No. What is on second.
Costello: You don’t want who on second?
Abbott: Who is on first.
Costello: I don’t know.
Abbott & Costello Together:Third base!
PAUSE
Costello: Look, you gotta outfield?
Abbott: Sure.
Costello: The left fielder’s name?
Abbott: Why.
Costello: I just thought I’d ask you.
Abbott: Well, I just thought I’d tell ya.
Costello: Then tell me who’s playing left field.
Abbott: Who’s playing first.
Costello: I’m not… stay out of the infield! I want to know what’s the guy’s name in left field?
Abbott: No, What is on second.
Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.
Abbott: Who’s on first!
Costello: I don’t know.
Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!
PAUSE
Costello: The left fielder’s name?
Abbott: Why.
Costello: Because!
Abbott: Oh, he’s centerfield.
PAUSE
Costello: Look, You gotta pitcher on this team?
Abbott: Sure.
Costello: The pitcher’s name?
Abbott: Tomorrow.
Costello: You don’t want to tell me today?
Abbott: I’m telling you now.
Costello: Then go ahead.
Abbott: Tomorrow!
Costello: What time?
Abbott: What time what?
Costello: What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who’s pitching?
Abbott: Now listen. Who is not pitching.
Costello: I’ll break your arm, you say who’s on first! I want to know what’s the pitcher’s name?
Abbott: What’s on second.
Costello: I don’t know.
Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!
PAUSE
Costello: Gotta a catcher?
Abbott: Certainly.
Costello: The catcher’s name?
Abbott: Today.
Costello: Today, and tomorrow’s pitching.
Abbott: Now you’ve got it.
Costello: All we got is a couple of days on the team.
PAUSE
Costello: You know I’m a catcher too.
Abbott: So they tell me.
Costello: I get behind the plate to do some fancy catching, Tomorrow’s pitching on my team and a heavy hitter gets up. Now the heavy hitter bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball, me, being a good catcher, I’m gonna throw the guy out at first base. So I pick up the ball and throw it to who?
Abbott: Now that’s the first thing you’ve said right.
Costello: I don’t even know what I’m talking about!
PAUSE
Abbott: That’s all you have to do.
Costello: Is to throw the ball to first base.
Abbott: Yes!
Costello: Now who’s got it?
Abbott: Naturally.
PAUSE
Costello: Look, if I throw the ball to first base, somebody’s gotta get it. Now who has it?
Abbott: Naturally.
Costello: Who?
Abbott: Naturally.
Costello: Naturally?
Abbott: Naturally.
Costello: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.
Abbott: No you don’t, you throw the ball to Who.
Costello: Naturally.
Abbott: That’s different.
Costello: That’s what I said.
Abbott: You’re not saying it…
Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally.
Abbott: You throw it to Who.
Costello: Naturally.
Abbott: That’s it.
Costello: That’s what I said!
Abbott: You ask me.
Costello: I throw the ball to who?
Abbott: Naturally.
Costello: Now you ask me.
Abbott: You throw the ball to Who?
Costello: Naturally.
Abbott: That’s it.
Costello: Same as you! Same as YOU! I throw the ball to who. Whoever it is drops the ball and the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don’t Know. I Don’t Know throws it back to Tomorrow, Triple play. Another guy gets up and hits a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don’t know! He’s on third and I don’t give a darn!
Abbott: What?
Costello: I said I don’t give a darn!
Abbott: Oh, that’s our shortstop.

School, municipal representatives criticize property tax cap deal reached in Trenton | NJ.com

School, municipal representatives criticize property tax cap deal reached in Trenton | NJ.com

School, municipal representatives criticize property tax cap deal reached in Trenton

Published: Saturday, July 03, 2010, 9:26 PM Updated: Saturday, July 03, 2010, 9:47 PM
christie-press-conference.JPGThere was an air of conviviality in the air during a press conference where Gov. Chris Christie spoke about the property tax compromise. Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Senate President and Steven Sweeney joined him in his office at the Statehouse in Trenton for the announcement.
TRENTON — Teachers union, school board and municipal representatives this evening said a plan to lower the state's property tax cap to 2 percent would hamstring local governments, but they had varying concerns.
The plan, a compromise reached between Gov. Chris Christie and Senate Democrats, would tighten the limit on property tax increases, lowering the cap from 4 percent to 2 percent and limiting exceptions to pension, health care, debt payments, natural disasters or rising school enrollment. The current policy allows local governments to ask the state to go over the cap for a number of reasons -- including for costs deemed necessary for the "health, safety or welfare" of the community.


School Tech Connect: Betrayed #NEARA10 #education

School Tech Connect: Betrayed

Betrayed

A few choice words from NEA President Dennis Van Roekel:


During the Presidential campaign, candidate Obama said that teachers should not be forced to spend the year preparing students to fill bubbles on standardized tests and that students deserved to learn in an individualized manner. We agreed with that statement when we went to the polls and we agree with that statement today.
Mr. President, your instincts were right. The path your advisors have laid out is not.
We've got a system that creates too few winners and far too many losers. Our members feel betrayed and so do I. I've had enough of a system where some schools have fabulous, meaningful programs and some don't. I've had enough of being told to do more with less. I've had enough of the fixation on standardized tests and making the the sole measure of a student's learning and a teacher's worth.

Obama Dealt a Blow Over Education Initiatives - WSJ.com

Obama Dealt a Blow Over Education Initiatives - WSJ.com

Obama Dealt a Blow Over Education Initiatives




President Barack Obama's education-overhaul agenda was dealt its first major setback after the U.S. House of Representatives diverted money from charter schools, teacher merit pay and the Race to the Top competition to help fund a jobs bill that would stave off teacher layoffs.
Even a last-minute veto threat by Mr. Obama late Thursday couldn't prevent the diversion of $800 million, including a $500 million cut from Race to the Top, the president's showcase initiative that rewards states for adopting innovative education redesigns.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Education vowed Friday to keep the president's education agenda intact and find other places to make budget trims.
"We're grateful they passed a jobs bills but not at the expense of the reform efforts we need for our long-term economic interests," said Peter Cunningham, spokesman for the Education Department.
Mr. Cunningham said that if the budget cuts hold, two or three states could lose out on Race to the Top, 15 to 20 school districts won't launch teacher merit pay programs, and dozens of charter schools might not open.
The measure, which passed the House Thursday night, was an amendment to a war-spending

NEA RA: Video of Van Roekel criticizing current fed ed policy. � Fred Klonsky's blog

NEA RA: Video of Van Roekel criticizing current fed ed policy. � Fred Klonsky's blog

NEA RA: Video of Van Roekel criticizing current fed ed policy.

The following video segment is from anti-union zealot Mike Antonnuci. As an ed blogger, Antonucci gets press credentials and a close-up seat. As a delegate, I get to sit behind a post. Oh, well.
So, credit Antonucci for the following clip:


Indian tribe hopes to revive California tribal college | News10.net | Sacramento, California | Education

Indian tribe hopes to revive California tribal college | News10.net | Sacramento, California | Education

Indian tribe hopes to revive California tribal college

Lesha Ruffin Last updated 1 hr ago

DAVIS, Calif. (AP) -- A Capay Valley Indian tribe is consulting with trustees of California's only tribal college to see if they can help revive the struggling school.
Members of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation said D-Q University could help reverse declining college enrollment and high school graduation rates among the state's 450,000 American Indians.
The university, located on the outskirts of Davis, was largely shut down in 2005 after it lost its federal accreditation. A handful of students continued to occupy dorms and hold their own classes for several

NEA Convention 2010: Day 1 Wrap-Up | Intercepts

NEA Convention 2010: Day 1 Wrap-Up | Intercepts