Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break
Competing for attention: Moldy portables, broken heaters and a 90-yard football field - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools
Competing for attention: Moldy portables, broken heaters and a 90-yard football field - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: Competing for attention: Moldy portables, broken heaters and a 90-yard football field Thursday, May 10th, 2012 at 1:14 am in UncategorizedNo Comments Improving Oakland’s school facilities will be a major focus for the district in the coming months. The long-awaited Facilities Master Plan is up for a vote on May 23. Then, in the first week of June, the board reviews the proposed language for a $475 million bond measure that might go ... more »
What About All Those “Bad” Teachers? « Diane Ravitch's blog
What About All Those “Bad” Teachers? « Diane Ravitch's blog: What About All Those “Bad” Teachers? by dianerav [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Marc Tucker has an interesting blog today in Education Week (http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/top_performers/2012/05/teacher_quality_and_teacher_accountability.html) about teachers. He recounts his many encounters with incompetent, drunk-on-the-job teachers. But he uses this beginning to say that we really need to give more thought to helping teachers, encouraging the best teachers, and improving the conditions of teacher...more »
How We Teach Trumps What We Teach. « My Island View
How We Teach Trumps What We Teach. « My Island View: How We Teach Trumps What We Teach. by tomwhitby I was fortunate and honored to be asked to speak at a recent conference for The Software Information Industry Association (SIIA). They are all wonderful people in a group that represents a major portion of education software developers and manufacturers. I had some great discussions with some very smart and driven education-minded, business people. As I stated in my last post, many of these people have come from the ranks of educators. My big take away from this conference however... more »
Tearing Down The Symbols, Along With The Schools | Edwize
Tearing Down The Symbols, Along With The Schools | Edwize: Tearing Down The Symbols, Along With The Schools It is perhaps fitting that the Department of Education’s feeble attempt to suggest that their efforts to purge the teaching staffs of the 22 Transformation and Restart schools involve the creation of truly new schools has come to focus on the most ephemeral element — a new name. In the joint meetings, staff, students and community all objected strenuously to the erasure of their schools’ history and heritage, but that means little to the ideologically hell-bent at Tweed and... more »
Teacher Appreciation Week: How we can Show Teachers the Love « Bill Ayers
Teacher Appreciation Week: How we can Show Teachers the Love « Bill Ayers: Teacher Appreciation Week: How we can Show Teachers the Love by billayers *By Rick Ayers/ Bill Ayers* Let’s stop the hype and the hypocrisy: a nice note, a flower, a Starbucks card, and a week when we all go smooshy over Miss Brody or Mr. Escalante can’t possibly counter 51 weeks of official disdain and a continuing frontal assault from the powerful. Lots of cynical similes are filling teachers’ in-boxes this week: *Teacher Appreciation Week feels a lot like Turkey Appreciation Week at Thanksgiving, or Deer... more »
‘Common Core’ Education Fight to Test ALEC’s Conservative Chops American Principles Project
American Principles Project: *‘Common Core’ Education Fight to Test * *ALEC’s Conservative Chops* Critical Vote Set for Friday to Release States from Top-Down Federal Standards *Washington, DC* – Today, on the eve of a critical vote on the Common Core Standards by state lawmakers, the*American Principles Project (APP)* and Pioneer Institute released a white paper that makes the case against state adoption of the national Common Core State Standards. Co-sponsored by Pacific Research Institute and the Washington Policy Center, Controlling Education From the Top: Why Common Core Is...more »
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, May 10, 2012
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Thursday, May 10, 2012* Pendley addresss dubious PhDColumbia Union School District Superintendent John Pendley addressed concerns about his doctoral diploma at a regular board meeting Tuesday. Fresno Unified board plans to reorganize administrationThe Fresno Unified School District board adopted a plan Wednesday to reorganize the district administration, calling for as many as a dozen new hires to join the district's top ranks. The board also approved hiring or promoting staff to fill eight of those jobs. Micha... more »
Teachers Thanking Teachers | ED.gov Blog
Teachers Thanking Teachers | ED.gov Blog: Teachers Thanking Teachers Posted on May 10, 2012 by pkickbush During Teacher Appreciation Week, we’ve seen videos and read countless Tweets from students and former students thanking a teacher who made a difference for them. Over the last few days, I’ve been struck particularly by the number of excellent teachers who attribute their skill in the classroom to another teacher who reached out to them at an important time. At a National Education Association ceremony this week that honored educators to be inducted into the National Teacher Hall... more »
Why the Common Core Is Bad for America | Truth in American Education
Why the Common Core Is Bad for America | Truth in American Education: Why the Common Core Is Bad for America by Emmett McGroarty [image: education-apple]With Jane Robbins *(below is an executive summary of a white paper written by Jane Robbins and myself)* The American Legislative Exchange Council’s Public Sector Board of Directors must decide whether to uphold the Education Task Force’s approval of the Comprehensive Legislative Package Opposing the Common Core State Standards Initiative. The Task Force’s public-sector members approved the package on a 14-6 vote, and its private-sec... more »
Yong Zhao in Conversation: Education Should Liberate, Not Indoctrinate - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Yong Zhao in Conversation: Education Should Liberate, Not Indoctrinate - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Yong Zhao in Conversation: Education Should Liberate, Not Indoctrinate by Anthony Cody Last week I shared this interview with Yong Zhao focused on the Common Core standards. Today I am sharing a conversation between Dr. Zhao and Yvonne Siu-Runyan. *Contributed by Yvonne Siu-Runyan.* *I am honored to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Yong Zhao, Presidential Chair and Associate Dean for Global Education, College of Education at the University of Oregon. He is a fe...more »
As a High School Senior, Mitt Romney Gay-Bashed a Younger Student « Student Activism
As a High School Senior, Mitt Romney Gay-Bashed a Younger Student « Student Activism: As a High School Senior, Mitt Romney Gay-Bashed a Younger Student by Angus Johnston When Mitt Romney was a high school senior at Michigan’s prestigious Cranbrook School in 1965, one of his classmates was a kid named John Lauber. A transfer student and a junior, Lauber was soft-spoken, non-conformist, and gay. After spring break that year, Lauber returned to the boarding school’s campus with his longish hair bleached blond. Here’s how one of Romney’s close friends from school remembers what happe... more »
Illinois’ Representative Darlene Senger. She thinks women are livestock. « Fred Klonsky
Illinois’ Representative Darlene Senger. She thinks women are livestock. « Fred Klonsky: Illinois’ Representative Darlene Senger. She thinks women are livestock. by Fred Klonsky *Naperville’s GOP House Representative Darlene Senger confuses women with livestock.* I know. There are some of my teacher friends who don’t like it when I stray off topic. But, that’s what I do. Take Naperville’s GOP House Representative, Darlene Senger. She sits on the Governor’s Pension Panel. A death panel, actually, since its proposals will mean the death of public service worker pensions in Illinois. ... more »
Nation's Science Test: Students Show Low Proficiency, Expert Calls Scores 'Unacceptable'
Nation's Science Test: Students Show Low Proficiency, Expert Calls Scores 'Unacceptable': National Assessment Of Educational Progress: Students Show Low Science Proficiency, Experts Call Scores 'Unacceptable' by Joy Resmovits About a third of eighth-graders who took a national science exam in 2011 were proficient, according to results released Thursday, a statistic called "unacceptable" by a teachers association leader. Average scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress science test inched up two points from 150 in 2009 to 152 (out of 300) in 2011, the U.S. Depart... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: No "payoff" so D.C. cuts "investment" in school libraries
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: No "payoff" so D.C. cuts "investment" in school libraries: No "payoff" so D.C. cuts "investment" in school libraries by Mike Klonsky Whittier School parents struggled successfully in 2010 for a school library Taking their cue from Chicago's mayor, D.C. officials are proposing to get rid of 34 school librarians in the 2012-2013 academic year as part of a cost-cutting measure proposed by Chancellor *Kaya Henderson.* Henderson, who replaced *Michelle Rhee* as D.C. schools chancellor, had this to say in a discussion with a local reporter: *“We have inve... more »
Do Charter Schools Improve Public Education Or Drain The Budget? | digtriad.com
Do Charter Schools Improve Public Education Or Drain The Budget? | digtriad.com: Do Charter Schools Improve Public Education Or Drain The Budget? Greensboro, NC -- We all want our kids to get a great education, But how many parents can afford a high-end private school? That's where charter schools come in. They're free to students and are supposed to offer top-notch education. Seven new charter schools hope to open in the Triad, but there's a debate over whether charter schools are improving public education or just sucking money from the public school system. According to Joel M... more »
Teacher Appreciation Week | Seattle Education
Teacher Appreciation Week | Seattle Education: Teacher Appreciation Week by seattleducation2011 I want all you teachers out there to strut your stuff today. You deserve to. PopoutYou’re the best! Dora
Modern School: CA Re-rewrites Textbooks to Eliminate Propaganda By Plastics Industry
Modern School: CA Re-rewrites Textbooks to Eliminate Propaganda By Plastics Industry: CA Re-rewrites Textbooks to Eliminate Propaganda By Plastics Industry by Michael Dunn Portions of an 11th grade science textbook in California had been lifted directly from comments submitted by the American Chemistry Council that were very favorable to the Plastics Industry, according to a new report by California Watch. While this is hardly new or unusual (private industry has always been a major influence on curricula and textbooks), what is unusual is that the state of California has stepped i... more »
The Left Wing of the Possible - Bridging Differences - Education Week
The Left Wing of the Possible - Bridging Differences - Education Week: The Left Wing of the Possible by Deborah Meier [image: PINEAPPLE REBELLION 2012 (click picture)] Dear Diane, How best to fight back? That is the question. The answer: Many ways. And maybe it includes people who aren't left-wingers! SOS (Save Our Schools) is holding a "People's Convention" Aug. 3-5 at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington D.C. Our plan? To come together around a small list of actionable planks—ones we wish the two political party conventions would adopt. We're not pretending they will, bu... more »
Fruit, Fiber, and Recommendations for Healthier Schoolkids - Politics K-12 - Education Week
Fruit, Fiber, and Recommendations for Healthier Schoolkids - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Fruit, Fiber, and Recommendations for Healthier Schoolkids by Michele McNeil *From guest blogger Nirvi Shah:* When the Healthy Schools Campaign and Trust for America's Health presented a set of recommendations to Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday, they may not have expected to hear a tale about dancing vegetables. The groups are pushing for changes, noting the connection between student achievement and students who are h... more »
Opportunity: the Most Effective Birth Control for Teens? -- WELLESLEY, Mass., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Opportunity: the Most Effective Birth Control for Teens? -- WELLESLEY, Mass., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --: Opportunity: the Most Effective Birth Control for Teens? [image: WELLESLEY COLLEGE U.S. teen birth rate & income inequality highest in the developed world; Wellesley economist Phillip B. Levine investigates relationship (Image Soe Lin Post/Wellesley College). (PRNewsFoto/Wellesley College) WELLESLEY, MA UNITED STATES] *U.S. teen births highest in the developed world; Wellesley economist investigates relationship to income inequality* *Studies find:* - Low-inco... more »
Pearson Tells State: We'll Do Better – SchoolBook
Pearson Tells State: We'll Do Better – SchoolBook: Pearson Tells State: We’ll Do Better by Mary Ann Giordano *GO TO * *National Resolution on High-Stakes Testing* Once again the state math and English tests created by Pearson are in the news, with a report that the educational company is feeling the pressure stemming from test errors that have caused 29 questions to be struck from the exams so far. NY1 reported on Wednesday that Pearson seems to be aware that it has put its reputation, if not its $32 million contract with the state, in jeopardy. NY1 obtained a memo that an exec... more »
Two dinners. « Fred Klonsky
Two dinners. « Fred Klonsky: Two dinners. by Fred Klonsky *Hackney’s onion loaf.* There are two retirement dinners tonight after school. My district is hosting one. My Region of the IEA is holding the other. The Region dinner is at a burger place called Hackney’s. Union activists from all the Region’s locals will be there. And retirees. Each Local President will get up and say a few words about folks who have for the love of their profession committed hours of their time negotiating contracts, representing members in disputes with administration, sitting on endless committees, go... more »
Yong Zhao » Blog Archive » What’s Still Missing in American Education and How to Out-educate China?
Yong Zhao » Blog Archive » What’s Still Missing in American Education and How to Out-educate China?: What’s Still Missing in American Education and How to Out-educate China? by YongZhao America has almost caught up with China, and actually in some areas surpassed it. Thanks to No Child Left Behind, America can now claim to have even more frequent high stakes standardized tests than China. It can also be proud to be more serious than China about the test results because it uses test scores to break up schools, fire school leaders, and publicly humiliate teachers, while China does ... more »
First pass at school inspections | Thoughts on Public Education
First pass at school inspections | Thoughts on Public Education: First pass at school inspections Share State Board considers some alternatives Posted on 5/10/12 • Categorized as State Board of Education By *John Fensterwald - Educated Guess* * * * * The State Board of Education on Wednesday waded into what’s expected to be a yearlong process of revising the state’s standardized-test-heavy school accountability system. First up: discussing whether to reshape an existing tool, the School Accountability Report Card, or *SARC*, an annual data dump that every school collects and is suppo... more »
The ironies of Teacher Appreciation Week - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
The ironies of Teacher Appreciation Week - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Student video: How high-stakes tests affect kids Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 2 hours ago There is one voice rarely heard in the screaming debate about the role ofhigh-stakes tests in education: that of students. Though the big focus today in education is on evaluating teachers and whether student standardized test results should be a part of educator assessment (they shouldn’t), there is no group more affected by high stakes on these exams than the people who have to take them. Results fro... more »
Common Core [sic] Standards (Susan Ohanian Speaks Out)
Common Core [sic] Standards (Susan Ohanian Speaks Out): K-12 Teaching: A Service Industry *Ohanian Comment:* P. L. Thomas hits the nail on the head. Who's to blame for turning teaching in to a service industry? A whole lot of teachers and people organizing teachers need to look in the mirror. Teachers don't seem to realize it yet, but the Common Core State [sic] Standards will eat them alive. *by P. L. Thomas* At *The New Republic,* Making the Grade poses this about the difference between college professors (notice that term "professor," as in "one who pr... more »
Local Control of Charter Schools is Over in Florida | Scathing Purple Musings
Local Control of Charter Schools is Over in Florida | Scathing Purple Musings: Local Control of Charter Schools is Over in Florida by Bob Sikes After a February decision to overrule local school boards on charter school rejections, Florida State Board of Eduction Member Kathleen Shannon said that she “hoped” people were getting the impression that the Board was showing favoritism for charter school. And chance of that ended yesterday when Shannon’s Board overruled five districts in their rejection of charter schools. From Dave Weber in the *Orlando Sentinel:* The Florida State B... more »
Videos for the Classroom: Becoming American-The Immigrant Experience | Mr. D's Neighborhood
Videos for the Classroom: Becoming American-The Immigrant Experience | Mr. D's Neighborhood: Videos for the Classroom: Becoming American-The Immigrant Experience by ldorazio1 Immigration and the immigrant experience is a key element of the American experience. Yet to get a real look at what it means to be an immigrant, it helps to look past the steerage section, the Statue of Liberty and a flood of Jacob Riis photographs. *Becoming American: The Immigrant Experience* is a documentary created by the Merage Foundation for the
Charters make their play - Bites - Opinions - May 10, 2012 - Sacramento News & Review
Charters make their play - Bites - Opinions - May 10, 2012 - Sacramento News & Review: Charters make their play [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] By Cosmo Garvin cosmog@newsreview.com This article was published on 05.10.12. *The Sacramento County Office of Education* isn’t in the news all that much. But there have been a run of stories in The Sacramento Bee lately setting the stage for SCOE board elections in June. Basically, Team Scoopy has framed the election as a contest between the well-meaning *charter-school* operators—*Margaret Fortune* in parti... more »
Caring for Every Child's Mental Health — Whole Child Education
Caring for Every Child's Mental Health — Whole Child Education: [image: Klea Scharberg]Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health May 9, 2012 by Klea Scharberg [image: National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, May 9, 2012] What does it take for children to be mentally healthy? Being mentally healthy is not just about emotional and behavioral difficulties. It's also about being mentally strong and resilient and having the skills and supports to deal with stressful issues when they arise. Today is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, established and promoted by the Subst... more »
Barack Obama Supports Gay Marriage - Finally! #SOSCHAT
*Obama declares support for gay marriage* . *President Obama today announced that he now supports same-sex marriage, reversing his longstanding opposition amid growing pressure from the Democratic base and even his own vice president. In an interview with ABC News' Robin Roberts, the president described his thought process as an "evolution" that led him to this place, based on conversations with his own staff members, openly gay and lesbian service members, and conversations with his wife and own daughters*
Big Education Ape Nite Cap UPDATE 5-9-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
*UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* *BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS* *BEFORE NOON HONEST!* * * * * RahmPublican by Mike Klonsky What Rahm must be thinking: Hey, this is great. It's like I'm back in the White House -- embracing the GOP, attacking teachers unions, their pensions and health care, closing mental health clinics, and warring on NATO protesters -- all on the same day. Testifying before a House committee, Emanuel called for a 10-year holiday on paying cost-of-living increases in Chicago's four pension funds and other government retirement systems around the state. Th... more »