Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 4-30 AM Posts #soschat #edreform

BLOCK THAT EUPHEMISM! « Diane Ravitch's blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

BLOCK THAT EUPHEMISM! « Diane Ravitch's blog: BLOCK THAT EUPHEMISM!bydianeravI wonder why our policymakers in Washington, D.C., love euphemisms. Ten years ago, Congress passed No Child Left Behind, and by now, is there anyone in the United States who takes seriously the idea that “No Child” has been “Left Behind”? Since Congress can’t agree on how to change the law, maybe they could just rename it and call it “Many Children Left Behind” (MCLB) or “No Child Left Untested” (NCLU). ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: The bungled "turnaround" strategy of Long Island City HS: Who really is responsible for this mess?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: The bungled "turnaround" strategy of Long Island City HS: Who really is responsible for this mess?: The bungled "turnaround" strategy of Long Island City HS: Who really is responsible for this mess?byLeonie HaimsonPanel for Educational Policy meeting, April 26, 2012Last Thursday, April 26, inanother long, highly emotional meetingthat stretched late into the evening, the Panel for Educational Policy voted to close 24 schools and put them in “turnaround” mode, one of the federal models for school ... more »

Daily Kos: "A man's got to know his limitations"

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

Daily Kos: "A man's got to know his limitations": "A man's got to know his limitations"byrss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Words spoken by Clint Eastwood in his role as Dirty Harry, Inspector Harry Callahan, in Magnum Force.I suppose they can serve as a cautionary, even if the phrasing may not be absolutely on target.The fact that a person can do something, even do it well, does not mean that he should do it.If I have become clear on anything as the result of ... more »

Guest Blog by Emma Rosloff: My Experience with Unschooling (Abbreviated) | Lefty Parent

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

Guest Blog by Emma Rosloff: My Experience with Unschooling (Abbreviated) | Lefty Parent: Guest Blog by Emma Rosloff: My Experience with Unschooling (Abbreviated)byCooper ZaleThis is the first time I’ve published a piece by a “guest” blogger, which in this case happens to be my daughter Emma! She published her piece initially on the Daily KOS progressive political blog site (clickhereto link to it), and got a large number of views, recommends and comments, plus a “Community Spotlight” acknowledgement. I’ve posted ...more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Surprise - the Times Endorses Husk for Superintendent

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Surprise - the Times Endorses Husk for Superintendent: No Surprise - the Times Endorses Husk for SuperintendentbyMelissa WestbrookAfter being very late with thiseditorial, it finally showed up at the Times' website. Frankly, it's doesn't lay out the greatest case and spends time writing around some flaws.One key item to note from the editorial (and remember for later on down the road if she is chosen):When it comes to talking and listening, she's more likely to ... more »

BOYCOTT PEARSON NOW | United Opt Out National

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

BOYCOTT PEARSON NOW | United Opt Out National: BOYCOTT PEARSON NOWbyadmin Pearson, ALEC, and the Brave New (Corporate) World: Stand Up to Pearson Now!(Note: We have revised our Boycott Pearson information for clarity and in order to add additional research – please use this version, posted April 29, 2012, when sharing.)Supporters of Public Education,The curtain has been pulled aside recently from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), exposing the seedy underbelly of our democracy. Organizations like ALEC circumvent the democratic ... more »

Schools Matter: Guest Post: Educating Business Ethics, Douglas Storm

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

Schools Matter: Guest Post: Educating Business Ethics, Douglas Storm: Guest Post: Educating Business Ethics, Douglas StormbyP. L. ThomasEducating Business EthicsDouglas StormThe population of the US seems to be experiencing a kind of national awakening regarding the harsh and endemic inequalities of our “Us vs Them” economic reality. Though it seems possible that our bail-out and bubble-induced slogans of solidarity will fade into our historical moment to be studied by the future (should there be one for humans)–put our “we are ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Educational Tidbits about Israel, Politicians and School Lovers in the Sunday Education Weekly Reader 04.29.12

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Educational Tidbits about Israel, Politicians and School Lovers in the Sunday Education Weekly Reader 04.29.12: Educational Tidbits about Israel, Politicians and School Lovers in the Sunday Education Weekly Reader 04.29.12bystlgretchenWelcome to the Sunday Education Weekly Reader for 04.29.12.From Israel andLessons from Abroad:"There is an urgent need to ‘restart’ the concept of education, to re-examine the connection between scholastic scores and the school culture. It is time to go back to the basics — to educational environments motivated ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 4-29 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

I draw your a… « Bill AyersBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-4 minutes agoI draw your a… « Bill Ayers: I draw your a…bybillayersI draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:“Edu4: 4 children, 4 the public, 4 social justice, 4 the future”http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/edu4/?utm_medium=emailutm_source=systemutm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriendThis is an important cause, and I encourage you to add your signature, too. It’s free and takes just a few seconds.Thanks!The Petition We are education scholars, students, teachers, and citizens who support wor... more »

OCCUPY EDUCATION - #LetOurVoicesBeHeard | Western International High...

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

OCCUPY EDUCATION - #LetOurVoicesBeHeard | Western International High...: (bySouthwestKnoxx) #LetOurVoicesBeHeard | Western International High School | Southwest DetroitOur Demands to the Detroit Public School System are the following:1. Don’t close Southwestern High School.2. Don’t close Maybury Elementary.3. Remove suspensions for students involved in the walkout.4. Don’t keep students away from school for walking out to stand up for what they believe.5. Don’t want suspensions to go on our student records.6. Don’t press criminal charges against students’ involved in the walkout.7. ... more »

ASCD Express 7.15 - Assumptions About Accountability

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

ASCD Express 7.15 - Assumptions About Accountability: Assumptions About AccountabilityMaking the Right Policy to Honor an Essential Human ValueNancy FlanaganOne of the most moving and eye-opening experiences of my life was attending a national conference, hosted by the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People and the National Education Association, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of theBrown v. Board of Education of Topekadecision. Like most Americans, I had been taught thatBrownwastheturning point toward justice and equity in educational opportunity ... more »

Rheeinforcements TFA Group Violates Connecticut’s Ethics Laws? - Wait, What?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Another “Education Reform” Group Violates Connecticut’s Ethics Laws? - Wait, What?: Another “Education Reform” Group Violates Connecticut’s Ethics Laws?byjonpelto It now appears that Teach for America is joining the “you won’t find our lobbying report” club.Is there no “Education Reform” group willing to live by Connecticut’s ethical standards?As noted previously, Connecticut’s Ethics law is really quite simple.A lobbyist is “any person [or organization] thatspends or receives $2,000 or more in a calendar year to communicate with, or to solicit others ... more »

Number of Minor Children Immigrating Alone to Find Parents on rise - Hispanically Speaking News

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Number of Minor Children Immigrating Alone to Find Parents on rise - Hispanically Speaking News: First Ladies of Latin America Combating Number of Minor Children Immigrating Alone to Find ParentsPublished at 2:29 pm EST, April 29, 2012During a conference sponsored by the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, first ladies from Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala joined forces to raise awareness of the growing numbers of illegal immigration of unaccompanied children. The conference occurred one week after 100 undocumented immigrant ... more »

The in box. Richard Ingram in Naperville. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

The in box. Richard Ingram in Naperville. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Richard Ingram in Naperville.byFred KlonskyFrom a reader who attended the TRS meeting with TRS Executive Director Richard Ingram in Naperville last week.I attended the Naperville TRS Town Hall meeting Thursday afternoon.It was “troubling.”Terrible location for a meeting. Terrible sound system. No provision for a Mic for questions — so you relied on Ingram’s re-statement as your guide. There was no chance at a follow up.In my opinion– ... more »

Questions To Ask in Making the Changes in Schools and Classrooms: A Primer | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Questions To Ask in Making the Changes in Schools and Classrooms: A Primer | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Questions To Ask in Making the Changes in Schools and Classrooms: A Primerbylarrycuban Far too many reformers, regardless of ideology, forget two key principles in pushing for changes that will stick in community institutions.The first principle is an organizational fact. Both change and stability are constants in every societal institution. No institution is static. They are stable in ... more »

An unintended consequence of value-added teacher evaluation - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

An unintended consequence of value-added teacher evaluation - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: An unintended consequence of value-added teacher evaluationByValerie Strauss A high school teacher in New York sent me the following e-mail, which discusses a most unfortunate unintended consequence of the state's new teacher and principal evaluation that depends largely on how well students do on standardized test scores.The“value-added”method of evaluation — which uses complicated formulas to determine how much “value” an educator has added to a ... more »

Daily Kos: Bi-partisan Failure: Misreading Education "Gaps"

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Daily Kos: Bi-partisan Failure: Misreading Education "Gaps": Bi-partisan Failure: Misreading Education "Gaps"byplthomasEdDFollowShare1PERMALINK1COMMENT It took about twenty years, and then another secondary ten years, but the hysterical and misleadingA Nation at Riskunder the Reagan administration successfully kicked off three decades of public school accountability.In the beginning, the hysteria revolved around several points that were factually inaccurate, but publicly effective: (1) U.S. public schools were failing, (2) U.S. students were weak, and possibly lazy, but their school... more »

I draw your a… « Bill Ayers

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

I draw your a… « Bill Ayers: I draw your a…bybillayersI draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:“Edu4: 4 children, 4 the public, 4 social justice, 4 the future”http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/edu4/?utm_medium=emailutm_source=systemutm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriendThis is an important cause, and I encourage you to add your signature, too. It’s free and takes just a few seconds.Thanks!The Petition We are education scholars, students, teachers, and citizens who support worldwide democratic efforts that demand economic and social justice. Access to decent e... more »

If Rhee and Klein put students first, they would stop supporting the failed policies of Bloomberg and NCLB:

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

We really should put students first - New York Amsterdam News: Opinion: We really should put students firstStoryCommentsShareSharePrintCreate a hardcopy of this pageFont Size:Default font sizeLarger font sizePosted:Sunday, April 29, 2012 12:00 amBy OCYNTHIA WILLIAMS|0commentsEarlier this month, former Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and former Washington, D.C., Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee announced that their StudentsFirstNY education group intends to raise $10 million a year to make sure that Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s education legacy continues after he leaves office. For many o... more »

Diane Ravitch sees no reform in Phila. plan

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Education leader sees no reform in Phila. plan: Education leader sees no reform in Phila. planByKristen A. GrahamInquirer Staff WriterPost a commentRELATED STORIESPhilly schools gearing up for radical restructuringPHILLY.COM's TOP FIVE PICKSPhilly schools gearing up for radical restructuringThe fine art of the moveHoping for FiOS, some feel abandonedAn un-Christie for 2013?A bank of big dreams, big lossesDiane Ravitch, education historian and pointed observer of the American educational scene, came to Philadelphia last week to speak at a math teachers' convention.She ... more »

Gerard Robinson Continues to Mislead Floridians on Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Gerard Robinson Continues to Mislead Floridians on Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings: Gerard Robinson Continues to Mislead Floridians on Charter SchoolsbyBob Sikes Gerard Robinson knows he’s being fact-checked. Twice in a weekend interview withGradebook’sJeff Solocheck, heclearly sought tounburdenthe weightof a question. Despite having his guardup, Robinson let loose withsome real whoppers. Responding to a probe by Solochek regarding recent instances of serious malfeasance in charter schools, Robinson said this:There is nothing in place right now that prohibits the local ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: There IS a Teacher Labor Market

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: There IS a Teacher Labor Market: There IS a Teacher Labor MarketbyDuke I find it hysterical that so many of the "corporate reformers" also love to sing the praises of free market. They seem to believe that they can cap salaries and take away pensions, benefits, and workplace protections, but somehow still attract loads of qualified people to the field - in complete contradiction to their stated beliefs about the private sector.Take tenure; somehow, the reformies think you ... more »

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky: Sunday links.byFred KlonskyRecall Walker phone banks in Wisconsin.NY Times photo.Apple loves Teach for America, but pays little in state taxes thatsupport public education.John Dillon’s Pension Vocabulary lesson of the week:Doublethink. Your pension is now a benefit.Glen Brown poses some important legal questions about Illinois pensions, funding and benefits.He also asks the question:Where is the IEA leadership?We all saw AFSCME’s Anders Lindall take on the Civic Committee corporate mouthpiece Ty Fahner the other day. But finding ... more »

Schools Matter: David Coleman's Global Revenge and the Common Core

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Schools Matter: David Coleman's Global Revenge and the Common Core: David Coleman's Global Revenge and the Common CorebyJim HornAs you grow up in this world you realize people really don’t give a shit about what you feel or what you think.--David Coleman at NY State Department of Education presentation, April 2011In order to give the above quote the context it deserves, here is the clip from Mr. Coleman's speech. Please notice that in offering the transcript for public download, the ... more »

Parent trigger misfires, again - San Bernardino County Sun

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Parent trigger misfires, again - San Bernardino County Sun: Parent trigger misfires, againDean E. VogelPosted: 04/28/2012 07:10:46 AM PDT The Adelanto Elementary School District Board of Trustees boldly stood up for students and the rights of all parents in the school community by rejecting an attempt led mainly by a group of outside organizers to shut down an elementary school, replace the entire staff, and create a privately managed charter school.The trustees recognized that Parent Revolution organizers at Desert Trails ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran Doubles Down

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran Doubles Down: Tom Moran Doubles DownbyDukeTom Moran, op-ed editor of theStar-Ledger, tried to make a folk hero out of Janine Caffrey in his pages. And he will not allow his hard work in making her an iconto be undone:Janine Caffrey, the superintendent of Perth Amboy schools, has been shut out of her office and sent home.No one disputes that she works hard and that she was putting in place exactly the reforms she promised when she ... more »