Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts 1-18 #edreform #ows

School Tech Connect: On Data, and Fundamentalism

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

School Tech Connect: On Data, and Fundamentalism:On Data, and Fundamentalismby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)I stopped teaching kids English at the end of the of the 2004-2005 school year to become a testing coordinator and media specialist, and then administrator and finally, a computer guy. I'm trying to think of a time in the classroom or after when there was a data point generated from testing that surprised me or highlighted a trend I couldn't guess from working with kids all day long.I ... more »

Paulo Freire’s book, ‘A Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ banned in Tucson: A note from Bill Bigelow and ReThinking Schools | Dailycensored.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Paulo Freire’s book, ‘A Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ banned in Tucson: A note from Bill Bigelow and ReThinking Schools | Dailycensored.com:Paulo Freire’s book, ‘A Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ banned in Tucson: A note from Bill Bigelow and ReThinking SchoolsWritten by Danny WeilDaily Journal (Opinion), EducationJan 18, 20120diggShareDear Rethinking Schools friends,Did you see the news last week? On Friday, we learned that our book Rethinking Columbus was banned — along with other books used in Tucson’s Mexican American Studies program, including ... more »

Geaux Teacher!: REFORM OR BUST - JINDAL STYLE!!!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Geaux Teacher!: REFORM OR BUST - JINDAL STYLE!!!:REFORM OR BUST - JINDAL STYLE!!!by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT)http://theadvocate.com/newsletters/breakingnewsnewsletter/1826105-77/jindal-gives-education-specifics.htmlGovernor Jindal finally "revealed" his agenda for the demise of true public education today. The full article can be found at the URL above and a concise FACT SHEET as distributed to the press is below. I'll try to address each point in separate blogs - I guess you could call it a translation or transliteration - because the language and syntax Jindal ... more »

All Things Education: Opportunity to Expand Choice (Maybe)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

All Things Education: Opportunity to Expand Choice (Maybe):Opportunity to Expand Choice (Maybe)by Rachel LevyI've been busy responding to my governor's education agenda. On Monday, I wrote about the initiative to advance literacy. On Tuesday, I wrote about possible implications of repealing the Kings Dominion Law. Today will be a much meatier post about choice. I want to take a minute to acknowledge that school choice is a very thorny and complex issue; I do my best to approach it as ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: More Leadership Voices Speaking Out Against Charter Legislation

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: More Leadership Voices Speaking Out Against Charter Legislation:More Leadership Voices Speaking Out Against Charter Legislationby Melissa WestbrookBraving the snow day, the president of WSSDA (Washington State School Directors' Association), Mary Fertakis, testified today before the Senate committee hearing testimony about SB 6202, the charter schools bill.Here's a link to the story at the Seattle Education blog. It is clear from her testimony that she has read this bill thoroughly and spotted several of the issues I ... more »

Schools Matter: Arizona Oppressors Ban Discussion of Oppression in Classrooms

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Schools Matter: Arizona Oppressors Ban Discussion of Oppression in Classrooms:Arizona Oppressors Ban Discussion of Oppression in Classroomsby Jim HornFrom Democracy Now:Public school officials in Tucson, Arizona, have released a list of seven banned books that can no longer be used in classrooms following their suspension of the district’s acclaimed Mexican American Studies program. Last year, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal ruled the program violated a new state law, saying it "promote[s] resentment toward a race or class of ... more »

The Washington Teacher: Vote For The Washington Teacher Blog's Fascination Award!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

The Washington Teacher: Vote For The Washington Teacher Blog's Fascination Award!:Vote For The Washington Teacher Blog's Fascination Award!by Candi PetersonDear Washington Teacher blog readers:I want to thank many of my loyal readers who continue to check out The Washington Teacher blog regularly. As you may have noticed, I have taken a short-term break from blogging. After writing this blog for three years, while maintaining my full-time job at DCPS- I felt the need for a little R R (rest and ... more »

Philanthropist Eli Broad endorses Brown's call to raise taxes - (editors note: Oh Good! Charter Schools can't run on $5K per Kid either)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Philanthropist Eli Broad endorses Brown's call to raise taxes - latimes.com:Philanthropist Eli Broad endorses Brown's call to raise taxes(editors note: Oh Good! Charter Schools can't run on $5K per Kid either)As he brought his State of the State message to Southern California on Wednesday, Gov. Jerry Brown found at least one person in the audience at Los Angeles City Hall to endorse his plan for raising taxes: billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad.After Brown’s hourlong appearance, Broad praised the governor for his ... more »

Michelle Rhee’s 5-City California Infomercial- Coming to an auditorium near you! | thematically fickle.

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Michelle Rhee’s 5-City California Infomercial- Coming to an auditorium near you! | thematically fickle.:Michelle Rhee’s 5-City California Infomercial- Coming to an auditorium near you!Published December 15, 2011Last night, I drove over to the Shiley Auditorium on the beautiful campus of USD to hear Michelle Rhee talk about education reform, or as it should more aptly be called when it comes to Rhee, “reform.” San Diego was the first of five stops she is making in California as part of what ...more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race to the Top - It's Not Just for States Anymore

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race to the Top - It's Not Just for States Anymore:Race to the Top - It's Not Just for States Anymoreby Melissa WestbrookSecretary of Education Arne Duncan just came out with a new idea for RTTT: allowing districts to compete as stand-alones (as opposed to just entire states competing). This is interesting because the most recent news on RTTT is that Hawaii was placed on a "high-risk" grant status and may have its award taken away. ...more »

SUPREME COURT OKAYS STUDENT MISBEHAVIOR « Teachers Fight Back

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

SUPREME COURT OKAYS STUDENT MISBEHAVIOR « Teachers Fight Back:SUPREME COURT OKAYS STUDENT MISBEHAVIORby alkleenMore news has arrived today that has to do with my post from yesterday. News item : School officials were put on notice Tuesday that they can be sued for violating the First Amendment if they discipline students who make vulgar and malicious postings from their home computers. The U.S. Supreme Court turned down appeals from two Pennsylvania school districts that were successfully sued by students who ... more »

Revision of the Mathematics Framework - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

Revision of the Mathematics Framework - Letters (CA Dept of Education):Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, Learning Resource Display Centers, and Interested Individuals and Organizations:RECRUITING CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK AND EVALUATION CRITERIACOMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THE REVISION OF THE MATHEMATICSFRAMEWORK FOR CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: KINDERGARTEN THROUGHGRADE TWELVEThe California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) are pleased to announce that they are recruiting applicants for the Curriculum Framework and Evaluat... more »

Gates’ millions go to IEA’s reform group. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

Gates’ millions go to IEA’s reform group. « Fred Klonsky:Gates’ millions go to IEA’s reform group.by Fred KlonskyYesterday the Illinois Education Association announced that the Gates Foundation has awarded $2 million to the Consortium for Educational Change. The CEC was established by the IEA to work with school districts, both boards of education, administration and union locals, on collaborative projects.Some of the Gates money is also going to TURN, a network of AFT and NEA locals which also works on ... more »

Whistle-blowing teachers to open a charter school - latimes.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

Whistle-blowing teachers to open a charter school - latimes.com:Whistle-blowing teachers to open a charter schoolThey lost their jobs during a cheating scandal at Crescendo schools. Former union chief and charter foe A.J. Duffy will lead them.Comments2Share0A.J. Duffy, left, former teachers union leader and director of the new charter school, celebrates its approval with teachers Elise Sargent and Tanisha Patel and with David Cunningham Jr., president of the Apple Academy board. (Katie Falkenberg, For The Times / January 17, 2012)By Howard ... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: How Wall Street plundered Philly schools

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: How Wall Street plundered Philly schools:How Wall Street plundered Philly schoolsby Mike KlonskyInterest-rate swapsPhiladelphia, like many cities, has faced serious financial difficulties in recent years. These difficulties have forced the city government to make ends meet by cutting agency budgets, cutting services and raising taxes. The city trimmed almost $100 million off its budget during 2008 and 2009, and the school district faced a $629 million budget hole just this year, which was closed by ... more »

Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws, 2012

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools:Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws, 20122011 has been a significant year for charter school policy across the country.At long last, Maine enacted a charter school law, becoming the 42nd jurisdiction that allows this innovative public school option.Ten states lifted their caps on charter school growth (either partially or entirely). Most notably, North Carolina eliminated its cap of 100 charter schools, Michigan phased out its cap on the number ... more »

Bloomberg's plan to offer great teachers $20,000 bonuses is just what city schools need - NY Daily News

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

Bloomberg's plan to offer great teachers $20,000 bonuses is just what city schools need - NY Daily News:Bloomberg's plan to offer great teachers $20,000 bonuses is just what city schools needSo says Michelle Rhee, who implemented a similar program in WashingtonCommentsBY MICHELLE RHEE / NEW YORK DAILY NEWSWednesday, January 18 2012, 9:38 AMStumbleUponTumblrRedditEmailZALCMAN DANIELLAMichelle Rhee says under her leadership, Washington paid the best teachers more — and New York City is right to follow suit.RELATED STORIESFace it, teacher quality matters$24,000 ...more »

Editorial | Charter school mirage | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

Editorial | Charter school mirage | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com:Editorial | Charter school mirage5:22 PM, Jan. 17, 2012 | 4 CommentsAAFILED UNDEROpinionEditorialsSteve BeshearALike an unwelcome relative at family gatherings, the push for charter schools has returned to Kentucky.Politically, it needs to be taken seriously. Charter schools have had support in the past in the state Senate, and Senate President David Williams supported them during his unsuccessful Republican campaign for governor last year. Previous bids to authorize charter schools have died ... more »

Speaking of censorship: Rahm’s plans for the NATO/G8 meetings. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 hours ago

Speaking of censorship: Rahm’s plans for the NATO/G8 meetings. « Fred Klonsky:Speaking of censorship: Rahm’s plans for the NATO/G8 meetings.by Fred KlonskyChicago’s police superintendent Garry McCarthy warns of unrestricted drum circles and mic checks.In order to scare away as many protesters as possible from the NATO/G8 protests in May, The Mayor proposed a set of new rules. They included heavy fines of $1000 for “resisting arrest.”Veteran demonstrators like me know that the charge of resisting arrest is what you get ... more »

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: South Bronx School Gives Governor Cuomo Some Ultimatums

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 21 hours ago

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: South Bronx School Gives Governor Cuomo Some Ultimatums:South Bronx School Gives Governor Cuomo Some Ultimatumsby noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)Thank you paid Koch brother's spokesman and current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for doing the bidding of the evil twins, amongst others, and giving the UFT a 30 day ultimatumthat demands we kow tow to Uncle Mike and sign the agreement for the new evaluation system. That's real nice Andy. As a 6 year old does when he doesn't ... more »