James Baldwin said it best:
"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."
A Big Education Ape Nite Cap
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Civics - How Will Your Child Learn to Think?
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Civics - How Will Your Child Learn to Think?: Civics - How Will Your Child Learn to Think? by Melissa Westbrook I ask that question because along with a student graduating high school to be college or career-ready, that student should also be citizen-ready. An 18-year old high school graduate can go fight in a war, get married, and vote. Those are some fairly high level decisions. Two thoughts run through my head on this subject. One, do you remember being 18? You went off to college or you went out and got training, got a job and suddenly le... more »
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: The death of the facts: IN L.A. PREGNANCY 'HOT SPOT,' AN ON-CAMPUS CLINIC smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 2 hours ago by smf for 4LAKids News A May 12 Capital Public Radio story by KCRW reporter Saul Gonzales begins: “Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles has the only Planned Parenthood-funded family planning clinic in the Los Angeles Unified School District .“ http://bit.ly/KTTTs8 When that sort of untruth leads a story one stops reading. This is totally untrue and – one suspects – a bit of A-G REQUIREMENT: AN E... more »
A Parent Chooses « Diane Ravitch's blog
A Parent Chooses « Diane Ravitch's blog: A Parent Chooses by dianerav This is one of the best stories I have read in days. Here is an example of a parent who said “enough is enough.” http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/05/11/a-request-to-make-the-pearson-tests-public/?partner=rss&emc=rss This parent filed a Freedom of Information Act request demanding that the Pearson tests be released for public review. He is right. Why should this company and this state have the power to make decisions about our children (and
Schools Matter: 550 Parents Opt Out in Snohomish, Washington
Schools Matter: 550 Parents Opt Out in Snohomish, Washington: 550 Parents Opt Out in Snohomish, Washington by Jim Horn We all know that teachers can advocate for children, organize opposition, and try to make the abusive testing environments as humane as possible. But we know, too, that parents hold the key to bringing down the high-stakes testing madness that has corrupted our schools and damaged learning for a whole generation of kids. Is it worth it? Parents say no, in ever-increasing numbers. When we get enough to make these tests as psychometrically pointless as they are... more »
Engaging Parents In School… » A Homework Policy Petition To The PTA
Engaging Parents In School… » A Homework Policy Petition To The PTA: A Homework Policy Petition To The PTA by Larry Ferlazzo Alfie Kohn and others are asking people to sign a petition: *asking the National PTA to adopt recommendations on homework – guidelines that will help educators innovate and improve their approaches to designing and assigning homework in our classrooms.* *In June, the National PTA will meet at their annual convention. Join us today in urging the National PTA today—for the first time—to adopt homework guidelines that encourage schools nationwide to reexamine an... more »
Joel Klein’s emails. Going after the union, Ravitch and Meier. Courting “overweight billionaires.” « Fred Klonsky
Joel Klein’s emails. Going after the union, Ravitch and Meier. Courting “overweight billionaires.” « Fred Klonsky: Joel Klein’s emails. Going after the union, Ravitch and Meier. Courting “overweight billionaires.” by Fred Klonsky When Kyle Olson FOIAed my work emails he didn’t find anything. Now that former NY school’s Chancellor Joel Klein’s emails have been released, it reveals a lot. An enemies list that included the AFT, Diane Ravitch and Deborah Meier. And charter school friendly hedge fund managers that Klein was courting on the one hand but describing as “overweight billiona... more »
“Tell us a secret” – another creepy test question
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » “Tell us a secret” – another creepy test question: “Tell us a secret” – another creepy test question by admin The skeletons are flying out of the test publishers’ closets, and parents are getting angrier and angrier. This week it was an essay question on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge, which asked students to write about a secret that was hard to keep. According to the AP story, the dad who learned about this question from his twin 9-year-old sons said, “All of the
At Explore Charter School, a Portrait of Segregated Education - NYTimes.com
At Explore Charter School, a Portrait of Segregated Education - NYTimes.com: A SYSTEM DIVIDED‘Why Don’t We Have Any White Kids?’ - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - Emily Berl for The New York Times - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - ... more »
Weekly Update : The Philadelphia horror story, no more school libraries (another WTF Moment in EDucation)
Weekly Update : The Philadelphia horror story, no more school libraries in DC if the school chancellor has anything to do with it, other privatizing insanity and the push back | Seattle Education: Weekly Update : The Philadelphia horror story, no more school libraries in DC if the school chancellor has anything to do with it, other privatizing insanity and the push back by seattleducation2011 All the news that fits…and there is a lot of it this week. I f you haven’t watch it yet, The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman is a must watch on the subject of charter schools. W... more »
The Huntington Teacher: Meet a Common Problem in Public Education
The Huntington Teacher: Meet a Common Problem in Public Education: Meet a Common Problem in Public Education Meet A Common Core Problem in Public Education In a conversation with co-founder of DumpDuncan.org, Dr. Robert Valiant said, "Some of are here because we are against Common Core State Standards (I am one.) Some of us are here because we are against high stakes testing (I am one.) or vouchers (I am one.)... you get the point." What we need is for every one of these people to stand up in a collective voice and say "NO." If you are against vouchers, standardized testin... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Big Brother (NJDOE) is Watching?
Jersey Jazzman: Big Brother (NJDOE) is Watching?: Big Brother (NJDOE) is Watching? by Duke [image: Eyes Animated Gif] Diane Ravitch reports on what it's like to dare to criticize the reformyists: I got an email last night from Leo Casey at the United Federation of Teachers, informing me that the UFT had just received a dump of emails from the New York City Department of Education, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Leo noticed that Deborah Meier and I were mentioned several times in the emails and so he shared the trove with us. Pretty ugly stuff. Read it here,... more »
Oh, it’s good to be Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee; - Wait, What?
Oh, it’s good to be Michelle Rhee; - Wait, What?: Oh, it’s good to be Michelle Rhee; by jonpelto Imagine. Knowing you are always right… And regardless of whether you are right or wrong, having the resources to influence public policy at any time and in any place around the nation. GNEPSA – the group formerly known as StudentsFirst (well, the group StudentsFirst created to be their more politically acceptable front in Connecticut), dropped another $283,889 on behalf of Governor Malloy’s “Education Reform” bill in the last month of the legislative session. *That brings her repor... more »
The Abe Keller Peace Education Fund recognizes two Seattle educators for excellence and innovation in peace education | Seattle Education
The Abe Keller Peace Education Fund recognizes two Seattle educators for excellence and innovation in peace education | Seattle Education: The Abe Keller Peace Education Fund recognizes two Seattle educators for excellence and innovation in peace education by seattleducation2011 ** At its 2012 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 1, the Abe Keller Peace Education Fund (AKPEF) hosted a panel, “Peace Education for the Next Generation, Want Peace? Let’s Teach Peace!” and recognized two Seattle educators for excellence and innovation in peace education. Recipients of the Abe Keller Peace Ed... more »
Hangin' With Hippies: A Whole Earth Day Classic (VIDEO) - Davis, CA Patch
Hangin' With Hippies: A Whole Earth Day Classic (VIDEO) - Davis, CA Patch: Hangin' With Hippies: A Whole Earth Day Classic (VIDEO) Rhett & Link stopped by the Whole Earth Festival a while back and made the following video. - By Justin Cox - Email the author - 9:00 am Email Print Comment 1 of 1 Upload Photos and Videos I received an email this week from Colin of the band Tha Dirt Feelin, in which he included the video above. "...This is from a few years ago when YouTube stars Rhett & Link did a show about Whole Earth," Colin wrote in the email. Colin is the guy playi... more »
Modern School: Bird Flu Paper Going To Press
Modern School: Bird Flu Paper Going To Press: Bird Flu Paper Going To Press by Michael Dunn In December I wrote about how two different research groups had stitched together new varieties of the deadly H5N1 Bird Flu that were easily transmissible between ferrets through droplets in the air. Many were worried that if their results were published, terrorists could use the data to create a devastating biological weapon. As a result, publication of both papers was put on hold. However, the paper by Yoshihiro Kawaoka and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Tokyo, is n... more »
The Power of the Pause | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network
The Power of the Pause | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network: The Power of the Pause By Maria Shriver *Remarks delivered on Friday, May 11, 2012 at University of Southern California's Annenberg School Commencement Ceremony* Good morning, Annenberg graduates -- and congratulations! You’ve made it through one of the most prestigious universities in the world. You are accomplished -- and, yes, you are blessed. Blessed to be stepping out into the world with your degrees in journalism, PR, and Communication -- right at the moment when it seems like everything in the world is about c... more »
Save Our Schools D.C. Convention 2012 :: Save Our SchoolsSave Our Schools
Save Our Schools D.C. Convention 2012 :: Save Our SchoolsSave Our Schools: Save Our Schools D.C. Convention 2012 Speakers/Supporters. Deborah Meier, Nancy Carlsson Paige, and Jonathan Kozol *Please Join Us in D.C.* Last summer, we brought thousands of people to the SOS March & Rally in D.C. This summer, teachers, parents, students and community activists are gathering again in the nation’s capitol at the SOS People’s Principles Convention. Join us to adopt a People’s Principles on the most urgent issues facing public education. Let’s use this meeting as a chance to have our voices ... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: More Unnecessary Duplication and Expansion at DOEd
Missouri Education Watchdog: More Unnecessary Duplication and Expansion at DOEd: More Unnecessary Duplication and Expansion at DOEd by Anngie The proliferation of federal employees is like a rodent infestation problem. You can attack one nest to eradicate them, but if you don't plug the holes where they are coming into your house, more are bound to appear and multiply. The President embarked on a campaign to reduce waste in the federal government by eliminating duplication in federal agencies. Good news/bad news there. Less spending yes. Creation of a behemuth agency with no pot... more »
Rally for pensions in Naperville at the office of Representative Senger. « Fred Klonsky
Rally for pensions in Naperville at the office of Representative Senger. « Fred Klonsky: Rally for pensions in Naperville at the office of Representative Senger. by Fred Klonsky
Action for the Week of May 13th: Boycott Pearson NYS June Field Tests | United Opt Out National
Action for the Week of May 13th: Boycott Pearson NYS June Field Tests | United Opt Out National: Action for the Week of May 13th: Boycott Pearson NYS June Field Tests by admin Free Petition by iPetitions.com *United Opt Out National has called for a Pearson Boycott. It is manifesting itself in many ways. This week we ask that everyone join theBoycott of the NYS June Field Tests. Sign the petition. New York parents, do not allow your child to take part in the Pearson field tests.* Boycott Rationale is as follows: *As parents with children in the New York State public school system,... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 5-12-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #soschat #p2 #1u
*Big Education Ape 2nd Banana Recap of Last Week's Best Post * What parents can do during Teacher Appreciation Week May 7-11 « Parents Across America coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago What parents can do during Teacher Appreciation Week May 7-11 « Parents Across America: What parents can do during Teacher Appreciation Week May 7-11 by pureparents The SOS March folks are planning nationwide actions during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 7-11) and Teacher Appreciation Day (May 8th). You can upload a flyer with these same suggestions here. Share it around! Please especiall... more »
This Week's Education Research Report 5-12-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #EDREFORM
Education Research Report: This Week's Education Research Report NJ: Statewide Report on Arts Education Finds Nearly Every Child Has Access to Arts Education, With Access Increasing Over Past Five Years Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 day ago Nearly every child in New Jersey has access to arts education in their school, according to a survey released today from the New Jersey Arts Education Census Project. The survey is the most comprehensive assessment of arts education in New Jersey schools ever conducted and reflects data collected from 99 percent of New ... more »
Social Security Garnished for Student Debts | Dissident Voice
Social Security Garnished for Student Debts | Dissident Voice: Social Security Garnished for Student Debts Indentured Servitude for Seniors by Ellen Hodgson Brown / May 12th, 2012 The Social Security program…represents our commitment as a society to the belief that workers should not live in dread that a disability, death, or old age could leave them or their families destitute. — President Jimmy Carter, December 20, 1977 [This law] assures the elderly that America will always keep the promises made in troubled times a half century ago…[The Social Security Amendments of 1983 are] a... more »
Big Education Ape:5-12-12 AM
Big Education Ape: PARENTS CAN!, all articles: 'via Blog this'
Educating for Democracy: The People's Board of Education
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: *Educating for Democracy: *The People's Board of Education *Joel Shatsky- Huffington Post* *Seku Braithwaite starting the afternoon working groups session* Posted: 05/10/2012 At an all-day meeting featuring panel discussions and break-out sessions, a group of parents, students, teachers and other educators met to propose an alternative to Mayoral control of the New York City public school system. Sponsored by the CPE (Coalition for Public Education) an education advocacy group, and held at the District 37 (AFSCME)... more »
Daily Kos: Teacher Appreciation, a Saturday morning reflection
Daily Kos: Teacher Appreciation, a Saturday morning reflection: Teacher Appreciation, a Saturday morning reflection by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week, with Tuesday being Teacher Appreciation Day. In our school we got reaffirmed by the PTSA, the administration, and the students. We had a very nice luncheon on Tuesday. We got goodies each of the first few days. Yesterday we received little blue papers with handwritten notes from students. For me, the last was interesting because I received a number from some of my more problematic st... more »
Saturday coffee + Old school. « Fred Klonsky #SOSCHAT
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Old school. “I’d spit in there eye before I’d vote for anything but the strike. God damn it!” by Fred Klonsky CTU President Robert Healey. 1980. Popout Saturday coffee. Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 7 minutes ago Happy Mother’s Day Mrs. Eileen Quinn. Teachers you worked with your entire working career may soon be royally screwed if your son gets his way. Governor Quinn’s mom wasn’t a teacher. But she was the secretary at Hinsdale High School for thirty years. Quinn’s brother is a history teacher in a parochial school. He’s not [...] Word is that ... more »
This Week's Answer Sheet 5-12-12- 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: [image: Answer Sheet] IQ: Willingham on the newest thinking Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 1 hour ago This *was written by cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia and author of “Why Don’t Students Like School?” His next book, “When Can You Trust The Experts? How to tell good science from bad in education,” will be published in July. This appeared on his Science and Education blog.* Read full article >> [image: Add to Faceboo... more »
The Innovative Educator: The Hottest Posts That Everyone is Talking About!
The Innovative Educator: The Hottest Posts That Everyone is Talking About!: The Hottest Posts That Everyone is Talking About! by noreply@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 with others and/or leave a comment. *U*s*ing Cell Phones to Support Student Engagement & ...*** *May 6, 2012, 3 comments 2,135 Pag... more »
Bloomberg’s Charter School Battle Detailed in E-Mails - NYTimes.com
Bloomberg’s Charter School Battle Detailed in E-Mails - NYTimes.com: E-Mails Provide Inside Look at Mayor’s Charter School BattleBy ANNA M. PHILLIPSPublished: May 11, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - EMAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - The city released hundreds of e-mail messages Friday, providing a behind-the-scenes look at one of the major battles of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration, the 2010 campaign to expand charter schools, or, as one dramatic e-mail put it, the “fight of our life.” Connect with NYTMetro [image: Metro Twitter Logo.] ... more »
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: *Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN* Rank1[image: Kids Diet!]Kids Diet! Posted by Diana on May 8, 2012 2[image: iPad Remorse]iPad Remorse Posted by Adam Cross on March 16, 2012 3[image: The Power of Reflection...]The Power of Reflection... Posted by Sandra Trach on March 31, 2012 4[image: A through Z Critical Thinking Twitter Tasks]A through Z Critical Thinking Twitter Tasks Added by Ary Aranguiz on May 9, 2012 5[image: What Are You Doing This Summer?]What Are You Doing This Summer? Added by Steve Gillis on May 12, 2012 6[image: How ... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: ...But we'll never turn back
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: ...But we'll never turn back: ...But we'll never turn back DANNY LYON PhotoCivil Rights Series, SNCC workers stand outside the funeral: Emma Bell, Dorie Ladner, Dona Richards, Sam Shirah, and Doris Derby, 1963 Remembering the old Civil Rights Movement freedom song: *We've been 'buked and we've been scorned,* *We've been talked about sure's you're born* *But we'll never turn back* *No, we'll never turn back*
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » How to corporatize a school district from the inside out in 10 easy steps
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » How to corporatize a school district from the inside out in 10 easy steps: How to corporatize a school district from the inside out in 10 easy steps by alicemercer 1. Create a system where teachers at one school are outside the seniority structure of the district 2. Spend a lot of money on training and consultants that promise “miracle” cures to the academic ills of your students – mouth banalities about consistent high expectation, rigor, etc. 3. Tell teachers that only you and they care about the students, and eithe... more »
Schools Matter: How Will NEA Support Corporate Education Reform This Year?
Schools Matter: How Will NEA Support Corporate Education Reform This Year?: How Will NEA Support Corporate Education Reform This Year? by Jim Horn In defiance of the core principles of the NEA's Code of Ethics and basic common sense, last year the non-leadership of NEA arm-twisted the member reps into supporting the latest weapon in the corporate ed reform arsenal, which will make teacher pay and job security dependent upon students' value-added test scores. This embrace of testing includes the stipulation that teachers may be terminated after one year of bad scores, which defies h...more »
Something Scary Happened Last Night « Diane Ravitch's blog
Something Scary Happened Last Night « Diane Ravitch's blog: Something Scary Happened Last Night by dianerav *Meier, Ravitch and Kozol named Heroes of the Pineapple Rebellion by Corporate Reformers * I got an email last night from Leo Casey at the United Federation of Teachers, informing me that the UFT had just received a dump of emails from the New York City Department of Education, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Leo noticed that Deborah Meier and I were mentioned several times in the emails and so he shared the trove with us. Pretty ugly stuff. Read it h... more »
Schooling in the Ownership Society: How Klein tapped his "heavy breather" billionaire pals for charter $$$
Schooling in the Ownership Society: How Klein tapped his "heavy breather" billionaire pals for charter $$$: How Klein tapped his "heavy breather" billionaire" pals for charter $$$ by Mike Klonsky Klein & MurdochNew York Mayor Bloomberg was forced, following a Freedom of Information request, to release hundreds of email messages which showed the corrupt machinations behind the push for charter schools. In particular, the emails revealed the role played by former chancellor, Joel Klein, who is now a general in Rupert Murdoch's international criminal organization. They show a desperat... more »
Big Education Ape Nite Cap UPDATE 5-11-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
*UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* *BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS* *BEFORE NOON HONEST!* * * Chicago Uses Math to Ease Budget Problems by Last Stand for Children The only thing more alarming than the $700 million dollar deficit the Chicago Public Schools is running this year, is the fact it's had these budget deficits for many years before miraculously getting saved by founding money in Springfield, Washington, or by searching the lobby furniture in Hyatt hotels for loose change. However, this isn't a depressing story about budget woes because CPS has found a way to exte... more »