Saturday, April 28, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 4-28 #edreform #soschat


The Bizarre Editorial in “The New Republic” against Teacher Tenure « Diane Ravitch's blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…

“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 »

Cheating feared after photos of school tests leaked - latimes.com

Cheating feared after photos of school tests leaked - latimes.com: Cheating feared after photos of school tests leakedHundreds of photos of standardized tests have begun to appear on student social-networking sites in California, raising concerns about cheating and test security that could create thorny problems for schools and school districts.In the worst-case scenario, the photos could lead to invalidation of test scores for entire schools or prevent the state from using certain tests. For the moment, state officials have warned ... more »

Major Bill Actions in Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: H.R.4628 Interest Rate Reduction ActOpen Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education-14 minutes agoTo extend student loan interest rates for undergraduate Federal Direct Stafford Loans.Bill Introduced: S.2366 A bill to extend student loan interest rates for undergraduate Federal Direct Stafford Loans.Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education-14 minutes agoA bill to extend student loan interest rates for undergraduate Federal Direct Stafford Loans.Bill Introduced: S.2343 Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike ... more »

Appeals, Manifestos, and Statements by Bernardine Dohrn « Bill Ayers

Appeals, Manifestos, and Statements by Bernardine Dohrn « Bill Ayers: Appeals, Manifestos, and Statements by Bernardine DohrnbybillayersThis article is part ofThe Port Huron Statement at 50, a forum on the document that sparked a generation of activism. From the Boston ReviewAs the 1960s dawned, appeals, manifestos, and statements poured from the pens and typewriters of a new generation burning with the need to trumpet a new morning. These writings have in common a wild impatience, a brassiness required to speak ... more »

Rita, Blocker, Vogel criticism: Orange Superintendent Ron Blocker and Seminole Superintendent Bill Vogel criticize Florida's school accountability. - Orlando Sentinel

Blocker, Vogel criticism: Orange Superintendent Ron Blocker and Seminole Superintendent Bill Vogel criticize Florida's school accountability. - Orlando Sentinel: Vogel, Blocker: Florida's school accountability system will failByDave Weber, Orlando Sentinel3:14 p.m. EST, April 27, 2012Comments5Share35Florida's runaway school accountability system is destined to fail and take with it the positive goals it was intended to accomplish, the superintendents of Orange and Seminole county schools agreed Friday.Orange Superintendent Ron Blocker and Bill Vogel, superintendent of Seminole schoo... more »

Modern School: Stand for Children Lynch Mob Wants MA Teachers Blood

Modern School: Stand for Children Lynch Mob Wants MA Teachers Blood: Stand for Children Lynch Mob Wants MA Teachers BloodbyMichael DunnHuck/Konopacki Labor CartoonsRiding the wave of hysteria about our dysfunctional schools and incompetent teachers, Stand for Children (S4C) Massachusetts has acquired enough signatures to get an initiative on the November ballot that would make evaluations more important than seniority in layoff and transfer decisions.S4C says that polls it commissioned in 2011 indicated 85% approval for their initiative,12 Workers are Killed ... more »

Steve Lopez: Cutting schools, cutting opportunities - latimes.com

Steve Lopez: Cutting schools, cutting opportunities - latimes.com: Steve Lopez: Cutting schools, cutting opportunitiesHundreds of adult education supporters are lining both sides of Van Nuys Boulevard this afternoon at the government center, screaming for the 250,000-student system to be saved and calling for the heads of those who are advocating big cuts or elimination."No Education, No Future," said one man's sign, and while the crowd shouted, "Save our schools," a woman handed me a flier calling for the recall of ... more »

"NYSUT demands end to 'broken' testing structure." April 27, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

"NYSUT demands end to 'broken' testing structure." April 27, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org: NYSUT demands end to 'broken' testing structureNYSUT Media Relations - April 27, 2012ALBANY, N.Y. April 27, 2012 - Acting decisively to give voice to the pain and frustration that students and teachers are experiencing over state testing, the 600,000-member New York State United Teachers today called for an end to the state's current testing system which it said is harming children and hindering real ... more »

Just Another Unschooling Story – No Big Deal | Lefty Parent

Just Another Unschooling Story – No Big Deal | Lefty Parent: Just Another Unschooling Story – No Big DealbyCooper ZaleMade my day to get notification from a friend on Facebook that this piece appeared in this week’sPsychology Today magazine, giving credence to the life path for young people known as “unschooling”. It particularly resonated with me because our own kids are peers of the piece’s subject, Kate Fridkis – our son Eric is 27 and our daughter Emma is 22. ... more »

Quinn the Governor. « Fred Klonsky

Quinn the Governor. « Fred Klonsky: Quinn the Governor.byFred KlonskySent by a reader.With apologies to Bob Dylan.Come all without, come all withinYou’ll not see nothing like the Mighty QuinnCome all without, come all withinYou’ll not see nothing like the Mighty QuinnEverybody’s after teachers pension fundsSome are after retirement funds, others are jotting down notesEverybody’s in despair, every Teacher with new pension realityBut when Quinn the Governor gets hereEverybody’s not gonna jump for joyCome all without, come all withinYou’ll not see ... more »

Youth United For Change - YUC launches new campaign | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

YUC launches new campaign | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: YUC launches new campaignbySamantha CogginA crowd of students, teachers, community activists, parents, and members of Youth United For Change rallied Wednesday afternoon to support YUC's new “Safe to Count on Me” campaign. Supporters gathered at Norris SquarePark's basketball court and sported white, orange, and black campaign T-shirts to kick off the rally with an energetic chant: “It’s safe to count on me. Is it safe to count on you?”Image:Image Caption:Signs from ... more »

Education Perspectives / Measuring Success - Opting Out

Education Perspectives / Measuring Success - Opting Out: OPTING OUTOpting Out: Families and Advocates Against Standardized TestingCompiled by Education Perspectives for the Central Valley, Inc.Pursuant to California Education Code 60615, parents have the right to opt their children out of the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Assessment. And now for the burning question:What about “Accountability”? Isn’t standardized testing meant to hold teachers and schools accountable and to track progress?These are the sound bites that drive political debates, the phrases that ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Super Search; Fast and Furious News

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Super Search; Fast and Furious News: Super Search; Fast and Furious NewsbyMelissa WestbrookUpdate: The information below has now disappeared from the website.You pick:1) We are paying some big bucks for Communications that makes huge errors in what they write to the point where they say something that is not true.2) Someone who put this information up originally had to back off because of how incredibly suspicious it looks to say the Committee made a recommendation when ... more »

RheeFirst! » How deceptive is this letter from Rhee’s organization?

RheeFirst! » How deceptive is this letter from Rhee’s organization?: How deceptive is this letter from Rhee’s organization?byadminRecently, Rheefirst received irate emails about being scammed to sign a deceptive petition from change.org and care2. It turns out this is the chief recruitment ploy of Rhee’s organization. Sign and you become a Rhee “member” for life. One missive enumerated the number of times the inadvertent signer asked to be removed from Rhee’s “membership” list. To no avail.Written by Valerie Strauss for ... more »

Register Today for the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education

Register Today for the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education: Register Today for the Whole Child Virtual ConferencebyKlea ScharbergWe are excitedly preparing for the2012 ASCD Whole Child Virtual Conferenceto be held May 3–11. This year's theme is "Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Culture," and focuses on highlighting the great work of ASCD-associated schools, providing a forum in which educators who implement the whole child approach to education can learn from one another and presenters, and expanding awareness ... more »

Sacramento Press / Use arena money to bolster school funding

Sacramento Press / Use arena money to bolster school funding: Use arena money to bolster school fundingbyJonathan Raymond, published onApril 27, 2012at1:58 PMLike the rest of Sacramento, I have followed the twists and turns of the city’s downtown arena saga with great interest. The Kings have been a valuable and generous partner of the Sacramento City Unified School District. I have attended many of their terrific “Get Fit” events at our schools and come away impressed by the team’s sincere ... more »

Robert Reich (How will you get beyond the outrage? Share your...)

Robert Reich (How will you get beyond the outrage? Share your...): How will you get beyond the outrage? Share your ideas, actions,...How willyouget beyond the outrage? Share your ideas, actions, and long-term goals on tumblr and Twitter using the hashtag #beyondoutrage or on my Facebookpage.