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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 3-24 AM Posts #soschat #edreform


Educating Trayvon Martin « Cooperative Catalyst #trayvonmartin

Educating Trayvon Martin « Cooperative Catalyst: Educating TrayvonMartinPOSTED BYTINASHE BLANCHET⋅MARCH 23, 2012 ⋅LEAVE A COMMENTFILED UNDERTRAYVON MARTINAs an educator, I feel that I must speak out on the outrageous injustice regarding the Trayvon Martin case. As you probably already know, Trayvon Martin is a 17-year-old African-American high school student who was accosted and shot dead by a self-appointed “neighborhood watchman” while walking home in his neighborhood. This happened a month ago, and to date, the killer has not been charged ... more »

Is the Killer of Trayvon Martin a Police Informant? Feds Must Investigate Sanford Police #trayvonmartin

tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - Is the Killer of Trayvon Martin a Police Informant? Feds Must Investigate SanfordPolice:IS THE KILLER OF TRAYVON MARTIN A POLICE INFORMANT? FEDS MUST INVESTIGATE SANFORDPOLICEFRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012 AT 1:37PMIs George Zimmerman, the killer of Trayvon Martin, a police informant?According to Professor Vincent Intondi at Seminole State College,“there’s no proof of that, but it’s the question a lot of us are asking. When the police arrived on the scene they asked him (zimmerman) about ... more »

RHEE-DUCED DCPS budget: the Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Effect - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post

DCPS budget: the Rhee Effect - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post: DCPS budget: the Rhee EffectbyBill TurqueD.C. public and public charter schools get an additional $86 million in the FY 2013 budget proposed by Mayor Vincent C. Gray on Friday, much of it to cover projected enrollment increases. That includes a 2 percent increase in the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula, raising the basic allocation from $8,945 to $9,124. There is also $40 million — savings from rollbacks ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Just Try Them, You'll Like Them (and we'll throw in a vote to boot)

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Just Try Them, You'll Like Them (and we'll throw in a vote to boot): Just Try Them, You'll Like Them (and we'll throw in a vote to boot)byMelissa WestbrookThe lure to legislators, well, I'll let Lisa Macfarlane of DFER tell you:Speaking of choice, why don't we let the voters decide this fall about whether they'd support a small pilot program for public charter schools? Lawmakers could pass a bill with a referendum clause adding the issue ... more »

New York Teacher | Edwize

New York Teacher | Edwize: New York TeacherbyW.J. LevayMembers, communities unite in anger against the mayorOutraged teachers, parents, students and community and political leaders rallied in every borough on March 15 in a Day of Solidarity to protest the Bloomberg administration’s decade of mismanaging the city’s schools. Their anger was directed at the staggering number of school closings, surge of co-locations, release of the Teacher Data Reports and the mounting attacks on teachers.Pension reduction for future city workersLegislators give another ... more »

IEA may have cancelled Lobby Day in Springfield. But Wisconsin’s Scott Walker didn’t. « Fred Klonsky

IEA may have cancelled Lobby Day in Springfield. But Wisconsin’s Scott Walker didn’t. « Fred Klonsky: IEA may have cancelled Lobby Day in Springfield. But Wisconsin’s Scott Walker didn’t.byFred KlonskyWisconsin’s Scott Walker is facing recall. He’s coming to Springfield.Our Park Ridge Education Association local was taken by surprise when the state leadership cancelled Lobby Day in Springfield this year. With our pensions under assault, we were looking forward to joining with thousands of other union members in demonstrating to our ... more »

Don’t miss me on Rev. Jesse Jackson show Saturday pm » Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Don’t miss me on Rev. Jesse Jackson show Saturday pm:Don’t miss me on Rev. Jesse Jackson show Saturday pmbyadminFront row: James Thindwa, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Julie Woestehoff; Back row: Mike Klonsky, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.“Upfront with Jesse Jackson” airs Saturday at 9 pm CDT on the Word Network, which is Comcast Chicago cable channel 486. I will be a guest along with Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., James Thindwa and Mike Klonsky.We ...more »

NYC Public School Parents: The depressing idiocy of the Common Core

NYC Public School Parents: The depressing idiocy of the Common Core: The depressing idiocy of the Common CorebyLeonie HaimsonDavid ColemanAs readers of this blog are already aware, the Common Corestandards for English Language Arts were designed by a man namedDavid Coleman, a formerMcKinsey consultant who was hired by the Gates Foundation and never taught aday in his life. Coleman has now prescribed for thenation’s schools that at least 50 percent of all assigned reading in grades K-5must be “informational text” ... more »

Party! « Fred Klonsky

Party! « Fred Klonsky: Party!byFred KlonskyThere’s this odd mix of traditions when it comes to teacher retirements.Most teachers don’t want a fuss.I have known teachers who have asked that I and the district keep it a secret until the job must contractually be posted.I understand.But it’s not me.To me it is an excuse of a party.And any excuse for a party is good enough for me.Years ago our district would hold a retirement reception for all the retirees, including administrators, ... more »

Why Teachers Should Join the Global Movement Against Street Harassment « Feminist Teacher

Why Teachers Should Join the Global Movement Against Street Harassment « Feminist Teacher: Why Teachers Should Join the Global Movement Against Street HarassmentbyfeministteacherMy student Grace testifying at the New York City Council Hearing on street harassment in October 2010. (photo by Ileana Jiménez)Last year, my student Grace did a very brave thing. Before a packed room of reporters, politicians, activists, and fellow testifiers,she shared her personal experience with street harassment to the leaders of the New York City Council.Duringher testimony, ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: The Adminstration Goes For the Education Hat Trick

Missouri Education Watchdog: The Adminstration Goes For the Education Hat TrickThe Adminstration Goes For the Education Hat TrickbyAnngieThey started with RTTT for K-12 education. Their stated goal was to help states with the problems created by NCLB which specifically addressed K-12. It was the first wedge into the public school system for Common Core Standards. However, in the RTTT grant application was a requirement for developing early childhood (pre-K) education programs. They had no intention of being limited to K-12. ... more »

All Education Matters: Why Is The Student Lending Crisis Being Ignored?

All Education Matters: Why Is The Student Lending Crisis Being Ignored?: Why Is The Student Lending Crisis Being Ignored?byCryn JohannsenHere's is mylatest articleover at the Loop. It is about the band-aid solutions to the student lending crisis that politicians continue to introduce. Those who have graduated are pretty much being ignored. Read the entire story. It includes a phone interview with John Koch, and how defaulting on his federal loans affected his personal life. We need - as a country ... more »

Trayvon Martin Shooter George Zimmerman Expelled From Seminole State #trayvonmartinllege « Student Activism

Trayvon Martin Shooter George Zimmerman Expelled From Seminole State College « Student Activism: Trayvon Martin Shooter George Zimmerman Expelled From Seminole State CollegebyAngus JohnstonGeorge Zimmerman, the 28-year-old Floridian who shot and killed teenager Trayvon Martin a month ago, has been suspended, or perhaps expelled, from Seminole State College as a result of the shooting.The reasoning behind what university officials are calling a “withdrawal” remains unclear. Ina statementyesterday, they said this:“Due to the highly charged and high-profile controversy involving this s... more »

Dharun Ravi, In First Interview, Says Tyler Clementi “Didn’t Care” About His Spying « Student Activism

Dharun Ravi, In First Interview, Says Tyler Clementi “Didn’t Care” About His Spying « Student Activism: Dharun Ravi, In First Interview, Says Tyler Clementi “Didn’t Care” About His SpyingbyAngus JohnstonInhis first interviewsince his arrest and conviction on charges of violating Tyler Clementi’s privacy via webcam, Dharun Ravi says that although he “was stupid about a lot of stuff,” he doesn’t believe he contributed tohis Rutgers roommate’s suicide in any way.“I really don’t think he cared at all,” Ravi told ABC ... more »

John A. Payton, of NAACP Legal Defense Fund dies - The Root DC Live - The Washington Post

John A. Payton, of NAACP Legal Defense Fund dies - The Root DC Live - The Washington Post: John A. Payton, of NAACP Legal Defense Fund diesByLynette Holloway | The RootJohn A. Payton, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, has died, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Jealous has confirmed forThe Root.He was 65.NAACP Legal Defense Fund President and Director John Payton. (Alex Brandon - ASSOCIATED PRESS)Payton passed away suddenly on Thursday afternoon at Johns Hopkins ... more »

Frerichs to speak at DDBA brown-bag lunch | Davis Enterprise

Frerichs to speak at DDBA brown-bag lunch | Davis Enterprise: Frerichs to speak at DDBA brown-bag lunchbySpecial to The EnterpriseThe Davis Downtown Business Association will host a brown-bag lunch discussion on Wednesday with special guest Lucas Frerichs, candidate for the Davis City Council.This lunchtime forum will give downtown business owners and community members an opportunity to meet and talk with Frerichsabout his many years of civic volunteerism in Davis, his accomplishments in supporting the community and his vision for the ... more »

“Minorities who wear hoodies just asking to be shot,” says Geraldo Rivera. #trayvonmartin« Fred Klonsky

“Minorities who wear hoodies just asking to be shot,” says Geraldo Rivera. « Fred Klonsky: “Minorities who wear hoodies just asking to be shot,” says Geraldo Rivera.byFred Klonsky“The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali.Minorities Who Wear Hoodies Just Asking to be Shot, Says Geraldo Rivera.This morning onFox and Friends, an unusually stupid walrus named Geraldo Riveraoffered”a different take” on the case of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager gunned down in the

Support PURE! » Will Illinois outlaw Noble’s “secret sauce??

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Will Illinois outlaw Noble’s “secret sauce??: Will Illinois outlaw Noble’s “secret sauce??byadminFeb. 13, 2012 press conference on Noble finesAccording to thisarticle by Jim Broadway in today’s Catalyst, Senator Willie Delgado passed anamendmentout of the Senate Education Committee last Wednesday which would essentially outlaw the fines Noble Street Charter Network charges its students for disciplinary infractions. Here’s what the amendment says:"Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section527A-5.5 as follows:(105 ... more »

A World-Class Education — Whole Child Education

A World-Class Education — Whole Child Education: A World-Class EducationMarch 23, 2012 byKlea ScharbergIn the 20th century, the United States was the world leader in education—the first country to achieve universal secondary education and the first to expand higher education beyond the elite class. Now other countries are catching up and leaping ahead—in high school graduation rates, in the quality and equity of their K–12 education systems, and in the proportion of students graduating from college. It is not that ... more »

Occupy the Department of Education | Dailycensored.com

Occupy the Department of Education | Dailycensored.com: Occupy the Department of EducationbyDanny WeilPicture of Ceresta SmithAt the Education Week, Teacher — a blog, Ceresta Smith and Tim Slekar are interviewed by Oakland teacher,Anthony Cody. the blog can be found at:http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2012/03/teachers_and_parents_prepare_t.html?utm_source=twitterfeedutm_medium=twitterThe interview:Last summer many of us marched to protest the US Department of Education’s policies at theSave Our Schools march in Washington, DC.While there, I met two activists, Penns... more »

Students and Teachers: Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Students and Teachers: Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Students and Teachers: CartoonsbylarrycubanFor this month, I have chosen cartoons fromBill Watterson‘s Calvin and Hobbes and two of Matt Groening’s categorizations of teachers that a reader of an earlier post put me onto. These cartoons are caricatures, exaggerations of positive and negative traits that we see daily in schools and classrooms. They get me to laugh, see humor where I had not seen it before, and, yes, ... more »

Obama: "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon" #trayvonmartin

Obama urges serious investigation of Florida teen killing - Reuters -: "You know, if I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon"Obama: "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon"ByStephanie CondonTopicsIn The News,Obama AdministrationUpdated at 11:05 a.m. ET(CBS News) President Obama spoke out for the first time on Friday about the fatal shooting of an unarmed 17-year-old African-American boy in Florida named Trayvon Martin, calling it a "tragedy.""I can only imagine what these parents are going through," Mr. Obama ... more »

Can a National Student-Led Movement Catalyze Education Reform? - Education - GOOD

Can a National Student-Led Movement Catalyze Education Reform? - Education - GOOD: Can a National Student-Led Movement Catalyze Education Reform?byLiz DwyerCan a student-led movement get young people to become vocal agitators for education reform? That’s the goal ofEdMonth, a national student-led movement and discussion that seeks to catalyze college-age students and get them to drive the discussion on improving both K-12 schools and higher education in America."We are trying to bring as much national attention to education, making it the ... more »