Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 4-17 #edreform #soschat

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Royko would have loved Rahm. « Fred Klonsky

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Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Royko would have loved Rahm. « Fred Klonsky: Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Royko would have loved Rahm.byFred KlonskyFrom theSouthtown.That brilliant chronicler of the verities of Chicago’s corrupt politicians, Mike Royko, would see Rahm Emanuel, the Dimunitive Despot, as a columnist’s dream come true.The scenario of a former suburbanite and D.C insider, whose campaign was well funded by charter-school lobbyist money, destroying the Chicago Public Schools and the careers of dedicated teachers for political gain, would be ... more »

Equal Pay Day 2012 | The G Bitch Spot

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Equal Pay Day 2012 | The G Bitch Spot: Equal Pay Day 2012byG BitchThis year, it’s also Tax Day.Did your senators and/or representative support the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009? Do they even acknowledge the wage gap? Do you live inWY where women earn 64% of what men do? Or are you lucky enough to have a federal job where the pay gap is less extreme—notabsentbut less extreme?Today’s reading: the National Committee on Pay Equity’spay equity info page. ...more »

The MomsRising blog is a soapbox where people across our nation can talk politics, policy, and parenting.

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MomsRising Blog: "The MomsRising blog is a soapbox where people across our nation can talk politics, policy, and parenting."Equal Pay Day: A Joint Blog Carnival With National Women’s Law CenterRuth MartinatMomsRising Blog-17 minutes agoToday is not just Tax Day. It is also Equal Pay Day – the day that symbolizes how far into 2012 women must work to earn what men already earned in 2011. That’s right. Women have to work for 16.5 months to earn what men make in ... more »

This Week In Education: Thompson: Refocus On Classroom Instruction, Brookings Urges

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This Week In Education: Thompson: Refocus On Classroom Instruction, Brookings Urges: Thompson: Refocus On Classroom Instruction, Brookings Urgesbyjohn thompsonThe contemporary data-driven "reform" movement, fundamentally, is a theoretical bank shot, where in the name of "output-based" accountability non-educators'change the subject away from teaching and learningin order tosomehow improve teaching and learning. "Choosing Blindly," by the Brookings Foundation's Grover Whitehurst and Matthew Chingos, is a reminder that the best wayto improve classroom outcomes is to concentrate on the... more »

Cui Bono? The Question Rarely Asked, Let Alone Investigated - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

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Cui Bono? The Question Rarely Asked, Let Alone Investigated - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Cui Bono? The Question Rarely Asked, Let Alone InvestigatedbyAnthony CodyFollow me onTwitter at @AnthonyCodyAs our public schools are systematically re-engineered for dubious reasons, with questionable results, by people of uncertain motives, there is a disturbing lack of skepticism on the part of our watchdogs for the public good, journalists. One of the basic principles of reporting is to ask "cui bono" - who ... more »

Some teachers feel frustrated, devalued by LA Unified | 89.3 KPCC

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Some teachers feel frustrated, devalued by LA Unified | 89.3 KPCC: Teacher: Cuts to arts education are a 'great tragedy'Pass / Fail-8 hours agoAt Peary Middle School in Gardena, visual arts teacher Valerie Davidson teaches drawing and painting to about 175 students. She is the only arts teacher in a school of nearly 2,000 students. "Less than 30 percent of the kids in school have access to the arts," Davidson said Monday at the RIF notice hearings at California Market ... more »

What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland about ed reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

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What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland about ed reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland about ed reformByValerie StraussFinland’shigh-achieving public school system is now part of the conversation about U.S. education reform these days. What, it is often asked, can we learn from Finland? (Plenty, actually, though U.S. reformers consistentlyignore the lessons.)The queryhas been asked and answered so often that it seems like a good time to ask what the ... more »

Asking Questions | Taking Note

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Asking Questions | Taking Note: Asking QuestionsbyJohn MerrowHow does one run a panel? John has some ideas.Question:You moderate a lot of panel discussions at education meetings, and you have a reputation for doing a pretty good job at it. In fact, some of those appearances are embedded above in this post. Can you pass along some tips to the rest of us?John:Sure, but why are you asking me now?Question:Well, you’re not getting any younger, are you?John:Fair enough. There’s really just ... more »

http://www.southbronxschool.com

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http://www.southbronxschool.com: Right Now In New York Statebynoreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)Right now as I am typing this it is Monday, April 16, 2012 at approximately 9:24 PM. My 5th grade son is watching the Yankees and the Twins as his normal 10 PM bedtime approaches. He had a long day today. School, then a baseball game tonight. We are treating things as normal this evening, as well as the upcoming evenings, even though this coming week will not be normal for thousands ... more »

An Ode To The Big Tests | The Jose Vilson

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An Ode To The Big Tests | The Jose Vilson: An Ode To The Big TestsbyJoseHere’s to you.Here’s to the students who will be pelted with Scantron sheets and test booklets emblazoned with the shape of New York State, a place they’ve explored so little.Here’s to the students who, after 140 days of mixed concentration for varied reasons, will be asked to focus all their energies on answering 50+ multiple choice and 9+ extended response questions they’ll have to take ... more »

Modern School: Data-Free Reform: The Bunkum of “Multiple Learning Styles”

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Modern School: Data-Free Reform: The Bunkum of “Multiple Learning Styles”: Data-Free Reform: The Bunkum of “Multiple Learning Styles”byMichael DunnEvery year teachers are asked to add more to their repertoire of teaching techniques, to work harder and longer to implement reforms that are supposed to improve student learning. If these reforms actually improved learning outcomes, the investment in professional development and teacher’s time might be worth it.Teachers should be wary.Administrators and proponents typically claim reforms are based on solid evidence and ... more »

How to Destroy the Educational System » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

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How to Destroy the Educational System » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names: Take Away Their Funding, Terrorize Teachers, and Send Kids Somewhere ElseHow to Destroy the Educational Systemby ELIZABETH WALTERSHow can we improve public education for our children?The answers to this question–and the perspectives on the current quality of public education in the United States–are as varied and individualized as the 55 million students who attend public school in this country. Recently, legislators in Louisiana, like their counterparts ... more »

School Tech Connect: Totally Not A Rant

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School Tech Connect: Totally Not A Rant: Totally Not A RantSo... here's a cautionary tale, not a rant. It's going to sound like a rant. I'm not ranting, swear to God.Anyway I get an email from my state representative, and it turns out she's having office hours at a place I can get to and I time I can make, if I A) drive instead of biking and B) haul ass. Here's the relevant bit of email...This email irks me ... more »

Democrats Running for Governor Need to Fully Support Public Education « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

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Democrats Running for Governor Need to Fully Support Public Education « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Democrats Running for Governor Need to Fully Support Public EducationbymillerlfRemoving the Walker regime is within the grasp of Wisconsin voters. Walker’s policies, if allowed to continue, will make pain and suffering the order of the day for many people, while corporations and the wealthy will flourish.As an advocate of public education, working for over 80,000 Milwaukee students, my goal is to steer education ... more »

Schools fight dominates record spending on lobbying | The New York World

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Schools fight dominates record spending on lobbying | The New York World: Schools fight dominates record spending on lobbyingPosted onApril 16, 2012 byAlice BrennanandCurtis SkinnerThe schools group chaired by former New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein was last year's fourth-biggest Albany lobbyist. Photo: Gotham SchoolsWith this story, The New York World launchesThe Lobbies at the Top, a guide to spending on political influence in New York State. The first edition takes a look at the power players of 2011, ... more »

Hilary Rosen, Michelle Rhee and Barack Obama’s AFT – NEA Support | Scathing Purple Musings

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Hilary Rosen, Michelle Rhee and Barack Obama’s AFT – NEA Support | Scathing Purple Musings: Hilary Rosen, Michelle Rhee and Barack Obama’s AFT – NEA SupportbyBob SikesWhile the American Left rose to the defense of Hilary Rosen’s smear of Ann Romney, the lobbying firm who pays Rosen’ssalary was cashing in on her contacts with the Obama White House. According to Lee Fang ofThe Nation, among Rosen’s clients isMichelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst:SKDKnickerbocker representsconsultingforStudents First, a lobbying group aimed at destroying collective bargaining, ... more »

Chicago’s LSC election: largest, most diverse « Parents Across America

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Chicago’s LSC election: largest, most diverse « Parents Across America: Chicago’s LSC election: largest, most diversebypureparents“Largest municipal election yields largest number of public officials of color in the US.”Thanks to Don Moore of Designs for Change for this press release:6,500 Candidates Set To Run for Chicago’s Local School Councils This Week, After 28 Organizations Won a Two-Week Candidate Recruitment ExtensionChicago School System’s Central Administration Repeatedly Obstructs Recruitment EffortsCHICAGO, IL (APRIL 15, 2012). About 6,500 candidates signed up to run in ... more »

2012 SFSP Sponsor Training - Summer Food Service (CA Dept of Education)

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2012 SFSP Sponsor Training - Summer Food Service (CA Dept of Education): 2012 SFSP Sponsor Training The California Department of Education (CDE), Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is pleased to announce the annual mandatory training for all new and returning Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors. All sponsors must complete this mandatory program training before the NSD will approve your SFSP application to participate.During training, participants will learn all of the requirements to properly administer the SFSP. Topics include but are ... more »

ALEC EXPOSED IN MISSOURI: WHO IS WRITING OUR LAWS?

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Progress Missouri: ALEC EXPOSED IN MISSOURI: WHO IS WRITING OUR LAWS?The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a corporate bill mill that is exerting extraordinary and secretive influence in the Missouri legislature and in other states.Through ALEC, corporations hand Missouri legislators wish lists in the form of "model" legislation that often directly benefit their bottom line at the expense of Missouri families. Numerous ALEC model bills are crafted behind closed doors by corporations, for corporations. Elected officials who are members ... more »

RheeFirst! » Why is Rhee’s astroturf using a fake front name in Connecticut?

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RheeFirst! » Why is Rhee’s astroturf using a fake front name in Connecticut?: Why is Rhee’s astroturf using a fake front name in Connecticut?byadminWritten by Jon Pelto for his blog. Read theentire post here.“No explanation or reference about why GNEPSA is the fake front name for StudentsFirst.So much for public disclosure.If you want to know what Michelle Rhee and her group are spending in Connecticut you have to know they are attempting to “fulfill the provisions of the law” by ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Kindergarten wait list crisis continues: what we know and don't know

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NYC Public School Parents: Kindergarten wait list crisis continues: what we know and don't know: Kindergarten wait list crisis continues: what we know and don't knowbyLeonie HaimsonThe Kindergarten waiting lists were released, and they are nearly as long as last year. See map below and chart to the right. (You can also compare tolast year's maps, though they are not directly comparable; more on this below.)According to DOE, there are 2406 zoned Kindergarten children wait-listed for their zoned neighborhood school ... more »

tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - SDS Founder, Veteran Activist Tom Hayden on Participatory Democracy From Port Huron to Occupy Wall Street

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tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - SDS Founder, Veteran Activist Tom Hayden on Participatory Democracy From Port Huron to Occupy WallStreet: SDS Founder, Veteran Activist Tom Hayden on Participatory Democracy From Port Huron to Occupy Wall StreetbyTom HaydenInterview courtesyDemocracy Now!on April 13, 2012.We [Democracy Now!] speak[s] with Tom Hayden, principal author of the Port Huron Statement 50 years ago, the founding document of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The Statement advocated for participatory democracy and helped launch the student ...more »

The pension panel time bomb is delayed and the unions are kept in the dark? « Fred Klonsky

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The pension panel time bomb is delayed and the unions are kept in the dark? « Fred Klonsky: The pension panel time bomb is delayed and the unions are kept in the dark?byFred KlonskyGovernor Quinn’s panel on pensions was scheduledto issue its recommendations tomorrow.Not going to happen.And the state’s public employee unions are complaining that, although there have been plenty of leaks about what will be in the recommendations, they have been kept in the dark.Further, it appears that whatever ... more »

Rochesterian reflects on Brizard’s leadership style » Parents United for Responsible Education

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Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Rochesterian reflects on Brizard’s leadership style: Rochesterian reflects on Brizard’s leadership stylebyadminInteresting post by Rachel Barnhart on herRochesterian blog. She compares the district’s current interim superintendent with their former, unlamented Supt J C Brizard:“This time last year, former Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard proposed cutting 900 jobs andgutting art, music and physical education. Tonight, Interim Superintendent Bolgen Vargasproposedadding 54 classroom teachers, primarily in the elective subjects... more »

Stand ON Children First: New AstroTurf from Teacher in the Box

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Just Like Michelle Rhee's Students first only BETTERAstroturf lobbying refers to political organizations or campaigns that appear to be made up of grassroots activists but are actually organized and run by corporate interests seeking to further their own agendas. Such groups are often typified by innocent-sounding names that have been chosen specifically to disguise the group's true backersJust Like Michelle Rhee'sStudents firstAstroturf lobbying(only Better)we support:Promoting voucher programs that drain public schools of resources by using taxpayer dollars to subsidize private ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State PTSA - I Still Don't Get It

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Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State PTSA - I Still Don't Get It: Washington State PTSA - I Still Don't Get ItbyMelissa WestbrookThe Washington State PTA holds its annual convention on May 4,5, and 6th in SeaTac. I've attended a couple in the past and, as a former PTA Board member, I found them energizing (if not overwhelming). You kind of get the sense that there are major players holding the cards and you are just there to watch.Your unit ... more »