Educators: Are You a Seed Planter or a Seed Killer? « Diary of a Public School Teacher!
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Educators: Are You a Seed Planter or a Seed Killer? « Diary of a Public School Teacher!: Educators: Are You a Seed Planter or a Seed Killer?byOldschoolteachI attended a conference today called, ”Diversity Exchange:Learning from One Another.” The keynote speaker was supposed to beReginald Weaver, former NEA president,but unfortunately he is ill. Merwyn Scott, did a good job standing in for Mr.Weaver at the last-minute.Something Mr.Scott said, as he shared his thoughts, stood out to me. He said that when ... more »
The Lies, The Deceit, The Chutzpah of UFT President Mike Mulgrew
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http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Lies, The Deceit, The Chutzpah of UFT President Mike Mulgrewbynoreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)Leave it to Norm over atEdnotesto get that good juicy inside information on the manipulative machinations of The UFT and The Grand Exalted Mystic Ruler, and sometime Collaborator, Michael Mulgrew and his Unity hacks.UFT President Mulgrew Seen Here With Vichy President Philippe PétainAsecret memo has gone out to all Unity (I believe just Unity) chapter chairsfrom LeRoy Barr along the lines that Mulgrew is really neat, and ... more »
Saturday Night Home School Fever | Lefty Parent
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Saturday Night Home School Fever | Lefty Parent: Saturday Night Home School FeverbyCooper ZaleConfessing my own bias as a big supporter of unschooling, I read Dennis Danziger’s piece,“Home School Fever”, in the April 24 edition of theHuffington Post, and it seemed to push more buttons in me than I even knew I had! I recall that classicSaturday Night Live“Weekend Edition” bit where Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd do a “Point-Counterpoint”, and after Curtin dresses down Aykroyd in every possible way ... more »
New York’s Bargain Basement Tests « Diane Ravitch's blog
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New York’s Bargain Basement Tests « Diane Ravitch's blog: New York’s Bargain Basement TestsWhen I read Gail Collins’ nifty column about the pineapple fiasco, I realized why New York ended up using a ridiculous story that was recycled from tests given in several other states. Wherever that pineapple story appeared on the state tests, the kids said it was a stupid story with stupid questions. Pearson didn’t listen and
Prom Queens & Ed Reform - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
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Prom Queens Ed Reform - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: byNancy FlanaganProm Queens Ed ReformIf American schools are stages where our children act out and explicate our societal values, then perhaps this week's focus isn't only aboutdancing pineapplesandwhether parents have the legal right to shield their children from harmful bubbling.Maybe we should be scrutinizing another springtime tradition: the school prom.The word "prom" entered the American dictionary in 1894, and Dorothy Parker notably wisecracked, pre-Depression, that if ... more »
Peg with Pen: The Crime in Philadelphia
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Peg with Pen: The Crime in Philadelphia: The Crime in PhiladelphiabyPeggy These are not my words. These are the words of Mr. Johnson, who commented on the articlePhiladelphia School District announces its dissolution. I am sharing them here because the crime in Philadelphia continues to be ignored. The children of Philadelphia continue to be ignored. Share widely.Mr. Johnson, thank you for this comment - the outrage you express is what I feel in my heart about the dismantling of public ... more »
Latest skeptic of teachers unions is clothing label’s city billboard | GothamSchools
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Latest skeptic of teachers unions is clothing label’s city billboard | GothamSchools: Latest skeptic of teachers unions is clothing label’s city billboardbyRachel Cromidas, at 2:18 pmThis spring, the West Side Highway’s typical advertising fare also includes a political message that seems aimed at teachers unions.A billboard advertising Kenneth Cole — the clothing company owned by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s brother-in-law — puns to southbound commuters,”Shouldn’t Everyone Be Well Red?” In smaller lettering, the billboard says, “Teachers’ Rights Vs. Students’ Rights …”The ... more »
Schools Matter: Is the US Department of Education Saying Educational Administrators Should be Non-Educators?
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Schools Matter: Is the US Department of Education Saying Educational Administrators Should be Non-Educators?: Is the US Department of Education Saying Educational Administrators Should be Non-Educators?byskrashenThe following was presented as an exemplary quote in Teaching Matters, published by the US Department of Education. It is listed among the “top 5 teacher quotes” and labelled as “wisdom from teachers heard by ED” (Department of Education):"We need good teachers to stay as teachers, not move to administration.” (Teacher in Va.) http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USED... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Why Teachers Need Tenure
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Jersey Jazzman: Why Teachers Need Tenure: Why Teachers Need TenurebyDukeSource: Stephen Sawchuk, "States Strive to Overhaul Teacher Tenure," www.edweek.org, Apr. 7, 2010 Diane Ravitchresponds to a particularly bad piece inThe New Republic(did I really used to subscribe to this rag?) calling for the gutting of tenure:In an editorial called“Making the Grade: The Case Against Tenure in Public Schools,” the editors argued that it was a fine idea to remove any job protections from public school teachers because they don’t need ... more »
M1: Golden Gate Shutdown Called Off « occupy california
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M1: Golden Gate Shutdown Called Off « occupy california: M1: Golden Gate Shutdown CalledOffBy*fromOccupyTheBridge:Throughout the planning of Occupy the Bridge we have taken leadership and guidance from the workers directly involved in this struggle. It has recently come to our attention that the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition would like to redirect all efforts towards supporting May Day strike actions and picket lines. Our goal has always been to support and empower the workers on the bridge and we are ... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: America's Global Educational Reform: When the Rule of Law is Ignored and Privatization Overtakes Education.
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Missouri Education Watchdog: America's Global Educational Reform: When the Rule of Law is Ignored and Privatization Overtakes Education.: America's Global Educational Reform: When the Rule of Law is Ignored and Privatization Overtakes Education.bystlgretchenWhy don't we just go ahead and abolish Legislatures? They have lawmaking abilities and duties, but these laws don't make any difference when governmental agencies decide to enact mandates via regulatory authority or ignore existing laws.We've seen it here in Missouri when Federal grants are given for educational ... more »
Fred Klonsky All Week Long - Pointing Out the ILL In Illinois Ed Reform
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Fred Klonsky: The in box. The criminal behavior is not limited to Illinois.Fred KlonskyatFred Klonsky-12 minutes agoGood for you, Fred. Today’s attacks against teachers, their unions, and their pensions is emblematic of the disdain the elite have for those they see as beneath them. In many ways, teachers, police officers, fire fighters, and others in public service are today’s serfs for the lords of the 1%, and those they hold sway [...]Old school.Fred KlonskyatFred Klonsky-21 minutes agoThe Staple Singers.Saturday coffee.Fred ... more »
Saturday coffee + Old school. « Fred Klonsky
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Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee.byFred KlonskyRetired teacher Ken Previti leaves these cards around to show the impact of teacher pensions on the Illinois economy.The transition from active to retired teacher has been an eye opener for me.I don’t think that Quinn, Madigan, Cross and Fahner get who they’re dealing with.The movement of retired teachers and other state employees who only have their state pensions to live on is big and getting bigger.People are angry.And they are organized.This is ... more »
A defeatist plan to restructure Philadelphia public schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
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A defeatist plan to restructure Philadelphia public schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: A defeatist plan to restructure Philadelphia public schoolsByValerie Strauss Philadelphia school “recovery” officials have announced a radical restructuring plan that calls for:* closing 40 low-performing, underutilized schools in 2013 and a total of 64 more by 2017* organizing “achievement networks” of about 25 schools that would be run by outsiders who bid for management contracts* increasing the number of charter schools, which now educate ... more »
If it’s not valid, reliability doesn’t matter so much! More on VAM-ing & SGP-ing Teacher Dismissal « School Finance 101
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If it’s not valid, reliability doesn’t matter so much! More on VAM-ing SGP-ing Teacher Dismissal « School Finance 101: If it’s not valid, reliability doesn’t matter so much! More on VAM-ing SGP-ing Teacher Dismissalbyschoolfinance101 This post includes a few more preliminary musings regarding the use of value-added measures and student growth percentiles for teacher evaluation, specifically for making high-stakes decisions, and especially in those cases where new statutes and regulations mandate rigid use/heavy emphasis on these measures, as I discussed ... more »
Disposable Teachers | Dissident Voice
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Disposable Teachers | Dissident Voice: Disposable TeachersbyPaul HaederIt’s the equal pay for equal work thing, stupid. Union strong and proud. (Bumper sticker on 1972 VW Rabbit, Vancouver, Canada).Sure, that might be the mantra for the New Faculty Majority, but in a large sense, the fight to normalize the work, pay and benefits of part-time/contingent/temporary/migratory/irregular/at-will/auxiliary faculty, AKA “freeway fliers,” is one centered on dismantling the two-tiered system of inequitable pay and punitive treatment between tenure track faculty and non-tenure track faculty.At... more »
The Innovative Educator: The Hottest Posts That Everyone is Talking About This Week on The Innovative Educator!
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The Innovative Educator: The Hottest Posts That Everyone is Talking About This Week on The Innovative Educator!: The Hottest Posts That Everyone is Talking About This Week on The Innovative Educator!bynoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen)Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog this week. Below you’ll see the top weekly posts along with the number of pageviews. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you. If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired, share it ... more »
Rick Scott Robbed Peter to Pay Paul to Get JD Alexander His University | Scathing Purple Musings
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Rick Scott Robbed Peter to Pay Paul to Get JD Alexander His University | Scathing Purple Musings: Rick Scott Robbed Peter to Pay Paul to Get JD Alexander His UniversitybyBob Sikes USF Poly Tech is in Senator Paula Dockery’shome town. From the start, Dockery knew that JD Alexander’s desire for an independent Poly Tech was a bad idea. But Dockery must be appalled by thecrony capitalismthat deliveredAlexander his little fiefdom, and Rick Scott’s role in the unseemly episode is looking ... more »
The Bizarre Editorial in “The New Republic” against Teacher Tenure « Diane Ravitch's blog
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The Bizarre Editorial in “The New Republic” against Teacher Tenure « Diane Ravitch's blog: The Bizarre Editorial in “The New Republic” against Teacher TenurebydianeravNow that I have a blog where I can write what I want, when I want, I have the luxury of revisiting some good and bad ideas. In this post, I will revisit a really pernicious idea that appeared about a month ago inThe New Republic. You see, the odd thing about our culture is that it ... more »
On #MayDay: Strike For Education With The Free University! | OccupyWallSt.org
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On #MayDay: Strike For Education With The Free University! | OccupyWallSt.org: On #MayDay: Strike For Education With The Free University!byOccupyWallStPopoutThe Free Universityis a collective educational experiment that will be held on May 1, 2012, from 10am-3pm. In solidarity with thegeneral strike, the Free University offers a public space for the 99% to disengage from an unequal system and imagine a model for alternative education. Those gathered in Madison Square Park, and those meeting in other spaces in solidarity, will create ... more »
In New Federal Program to Reward Teachers, Flawed Assumptions | Outside the Cave
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In New Federal Program to Reward Teachers, Flawed Assumptions | Outside the Cave: In New Federal Program to Reward Teachers, Flawed AssumptionsbyStephen LazarI wrote mylatest piece for the New York Timesin response to a focus group on theUS Department of Education’s proposed Project Respectin which I participated last month. Like far too many education policies, in Project Respect I saw some good ideas poorly implemented:Project Respect calls for a three-pronged reform of the teaching profession. It envisions a reorganization of ... more »
Click and post: CST security breach | Thoughts on Public Education
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Click and post: CST security breach | Thoughts on Public Education: Click and post: CST security breachShareWhat won't they put on Facebook and Twitter?Posted on 4/28/12 • Categorized asStandardized testsByJohn Fensterwald - Educated GuessThe Age ofInstagramis creating headaches for the state Department of Education and ETS, the contractor for the state’s standardized tests. At least 100 students from 34 school districts had posted images on social media of materials from various state tests they took this week, according to Paul ... more »
A Very Pricey Pineapple - NYTimes.com
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A Very Pricey Pineapple - NYTimes.com: OP-ED COLUMNISTA Very Pricey PineappleByGAIL COLLINSPublished: April 27, 2012Let’s talk about talking pineapples. Actually (spoiler alert!) I’m going to use the pineapple as a sneaky way to introduce the topic of privatization of public education. I was driven to this. Do you know how difficult it is to get anybody to read about “privatization of education?” It’s hell. A pineapple, on the other hand, is something everybody likes. It’s a symbol of hospitality. Its ... more »
Grumpy Educators: New York: Bringing Parent Opposition and Resistance Out of the Shadows
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Grumpy Educators: New York: Bringing Parent Opposition and Resistance Out of the Shadows: New York: Bringing Parent Opposition and Resistance Out of the ShadowsbySandraFrom zero reporting on parent opposition to excessive testing, news stories published in mainstream press are popping up here and there - a good sign.AP Buffalocovered parents opting out in that area:"A small but growing number of local parents are deciding to have their children opt out of the state standardized tests in English and math."The news ... more »
The Answer Sheet - A School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post
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The Answer Sheet - A School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post: Parent to schools chief: ‘You don’t understand schools’Valerie StraussatThe Answer Sheet-1 hour agoThis was* written by Helen Gym, a founder of Parents United for Public Education, a citywide parent group focused on school budgets and funding to improve achievement and accountability in the public schools. She is a former editor of The Notebook, an independent website about Philadelphia public schools. She is also ... more »
Daily Kos: Saturday morning - preliminary notes from a retreat
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Daily Kos: Saturday morning - preliminary notes from a retreat: Saturday morning - preliminary notes from a retreatbyrss@dailykos.com (teacherken)As I explore what I will do next with my life, after I retire from my current teaching job, I made a promise to several people helping me as I explore - including both my wife and Parker Palmer - that before I decided on any possibility I would make a brief retreat. I had hoped to do it at Pendle Hill, ... more »
“Round-Up” Of Recent Good Articles On School Reform | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
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“Round-Up” Of Recent Good Articles On School Reform | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: “Round-Up” Of Recent Good Articles On School ReformLarry FerlazzoatLarry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...-8 hours agoHere are some recent good articles and posts on educational policy issues: Flunking the Test is from The American Journalism review and is a commentary of mainstream media coverage of school issues. A Model Lesson: Finland Shows Us What Equal … Continue reading →The Best Photos Videos Of The Space ... more »
