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
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: Top Content Rank1[image: Are you attending ISTE12? Who else will be there?]Are you attending ISTE12? Who else will be there? Posted by Thomas Whitby on May 16, 2012 2[image: If you could choose only a few Ed Tech resources for a newbie, what would they be?]If you could choose only a few Ed Tech resources for a newbie, what would they be? Posted by Patrick Jordan on May 6, 2012 3[image: ePals 101 Webinars: Global Collaboration and SchoolMail]ePals 101 Webinars: Global Collaboration and SchoolMail April 2, 2012 at 4:15pm to June 29, 2012 at 5... more »
Chris Hedges on Revolution | Seattle Education
Chris Hedges on Revolution | Seattle Education: Chris Hedges on Revolution by seattleducation2011 *I was re-reading this essay written by Chris Hedges and wanted to share it this weekend.* *Why the Occupy Movement Frightens the Corporate Elite* Originally posted in truthout. The real danger to the elite comes from déclassé intellectuals, those educated middle-class men and women who are barred by a calcified system from advancement. Artists without studios or theaters, teachers without classrooms, lawyers without clients, doctors without patients and journalists without newspapers ... more »
Quick, Somebody Lend the Seminole County School Board a Calculator! « Tangerine, Florida
Quick, Somebody Lend the Seminole County School Board a Calculator! « Tangerine, Florida: Quick, Somebody Lend the Seminole County School Board a Calculator! by 5redherrings In an unsettling display of ignorance of basic math, the Seminole County School Board publically struggled to perform basic calculations during the impasse hearing for employee pay. Adding to the antics, the board “found” 2 million dollars to be applied to a one-time employee bonus. According to WFTV News: Teachers in Seminole County found out Tuesday they will not get a raise. They have been fighting for a ra... more »
Thanking teachers who share what they have learned like Flipping Bloom’s taxonomy from Jennifer Brokofsky Blog - The Educator's PLN
Thanking teachers who share what they have learned like Flipping Bloom’s taxonomy from Jennifer Brokofsky Blog - The Educator's PLN: Thanking teachers who share what they have learned like Flipping Bloom’s taxonomy from Jennifer Brokofsky Blog by Orlando Falvo I love teacher's who share new ideas that they have learned and make me think of ways to address new strategies to help my students learning in and out of the classroom. Jennifer Brokofsky's on her blog, Learning out loud posted "Turning Bloom's and My Thinking Upside Down. It is based on her attending a specific session... more »
Louisiana Educator: Efforts to Produce Rational Education Reform
Louisiana Educator: Efforts to Produce Rational Education Reform: Efforts to Produce Rational Education Reform by Michael Deshotels Senator Ben Nevers, a long time supporter of public schools and teacher rights attempted last week to restore sanity to one component of education reform in Louisiana. Unfortunately his efforts were overwhelmed by the big business lobby. Senate Bill 650 by Nevers was supported by the Louisiana Association of Educators and would have substituted multiple measures of student achievement (instead of the scores on one standardized test) for the quantitat... more »
MAY REVISE LAO’s Office: THE 2012-13 BUDGET: OVERVIEW OF THE MAY REVISION 4LAKids
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: LAO’s Office: THE 2012-13 BUDGET: OVERVIEW OF THE MAY REVISION: LAO’s Office: THE 2012-13 BUDGET: OVERVIEW OF THE MAY REVISION [image: image] CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE HTTP://1.USA.GOV/KKZIUCMay 18, 2012 :: In the May Revision of his 2012-13 budget proposal, the Governor identified a larger budget problem of $15.7 billion for state leaders to address in the coming weeks. While we find that the administration's economic and revenue forecasts are reasonable, we are concerned that the amount of property tax revenues from f... more »
How Did Quebec Students Mobilize Hundreds of Thousands for Strike? CA Student Union
CA Student Union: [image: Student Unionism & The Fight Against Austerity & Privatization In Greece] Student Unionism & The Fight Against Austerity & Privatization In Greece POSTED BY CASTUDENTUNION ⋅ MAY 15, 2012 Interview with Natalia Chousou-Polydouri, a PhD student in Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UAW 2865 Head Steward at UC Berkeley, and member of La Voz de Los Trabajadores (La Voz, LIT-CI). She is a former member of the Student Association of the University of Athens. For you, what is the function and role of a …Continue reading » Leave a Comment Gree
Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break 5-19 #soschat #edreform
*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* Quebec’s New Anti-Protest Law Could Shut Down Campus Student Associations for Years « Student Activism coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 minutes ago Quebec’s New Anti-Protest Law Could Shut Down Campus Student Associations for Years « Student Activism: Quebec’s New Anti-Protest Law Could Shut Down Campus Student Associations for Years by Angus Johnston To me, one of the most disturbing provisions of Bill 78, Quebec’s new law criminalizing participation in the province’s ongoing student strike, is one that has received virtually no att... more »
Quebec’s New Anti-Protest Law Could Shut Down Campus Student Associations for Years « Student Activism
Quebec’s New Anti-Protest Law Could Shut Down Campus Student Associations for Years « Student Activism: Quebec’s New Anti-Protest Law Could Shut Down Campus Student Associations for Years by Angus Johnston To me, one of the most disturbing provisions of Bill 78, Quebec’s new law criminalizing participation in the province’s ongoing student strike, is one that has received virtually no attention in the media. Here’s an excerpt from the English-language version of Section 18: “If the [Education] Minister notes that [a college or university] is unable to deliver instructional service... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Parents and Teachers: Marie Corfield Needs YOUR HELP!
Jersey Jazzman: Parents and Teachers: Marie Corfield Needs YOUR HELP!: Parents and Teachers: Marie Corfield Needs YOUR HELP! by Duke *Marie Corfield for NJ Assembly* * * Support teacher Marie Corfield in her campaign! The majority of my readers are teachers and parents (and, I'm sure, the occasional NJDOE staffer). And I can imagine what many of you are thinking after you read one of my little rants: "OK, Jazzman, we agree that something has gone wrong with education policy. But what can we actually do about it?" I think one of the most important responses we need to make is to... more »
Quebec’s Slapdash Gutting of Civil Liberties « Student Activism
Quebec’s Slapdash Gutting of Civil Liberties « Student Activism: Quebec’s Slapdash Gutting of Civil Liberties by Angus Johnston Call me naive, but I find it flabbergasting that major amendments to Bill 78, Québec’s new law criminalizing student strikes, were passed and inserted into the official record of the provincial legislature as hastily scrawled handwritten notes. Bill 78 was drafted on Thursday, introduced on Thursday night, and debated for 21 straight hours before passage. The amendments in question were adopted on a single party-line vote, as was the bill itself. (The oppo... more »
How the Conservative Worldview Quashes Critical Thinking -- and What That Means For Our Kids' Future | | AlterNet
How the Conservative Worldview Quashes Critical Thinking -- and What That Means For Our Kids' Future | | AlterNet: How the Conservative Worldview Quashes Critical Thinking -- and What That Means For Our Kids' Future The education of our children is a core cultural and political choice that reflects the deepest differences between liberals and conservatives. The Conservative War On Education continues apace, with charters blooming everywhere, high-stakes testing cementing its grip on classrooms, and legislators and pundits wondering what we need those stupid liberal arts colleges fo... more »
Don’t Negotiate. Make Noise. Act. Now. | United Opt Out National
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Don’t Negotiate. Make Noise. Act. Now. | United Opt Out National: Don’t Negotiate. Make Noise. Act. Now. by admin *We don’t negotiate with children’s lives. Do you?* Sometimes you just have to say no. Period. *No negotiations*. No compromise. Today is such a time. A cornerstone of our democracy is a *free* and *high-quality* public education available to all. Yet, every minute and in every corner of the country, essential elements of public education are being chipped away. These are not random attacks: altogether, they evince a carefully coordinated strategy designed to*replac... more »
Up and Coming? Who's Doing the Real Work in Education? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
Up and Coming? Who's Doing the Real Work in Education? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Up and Coming? Who's Doing the Real Work in Education? by Nancy Flanagan So--Sara Mead is again highlighting 17 "up and coming" edu-preneurs who will "*lead the transformation of education in this country in the coming generation,*" in her Policy Notebook blog. Mead says she: *...built this list by asking for recommendations from people I respect in the education field, including my Bellwether education colleagues, leaders of education reform and policy organizations, writ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Booker: It's All About Paying Less for Teachers
Jersey Jazzman: Booker: It's All About Paying Less for Teachers: Booker: It's All About Paying Less for Teachers by Duke It's about time Supermayor admitted what reforminess is all about (behind a paywall - Lisa Fleisher, tell Old Man Murdoch I really can't afford this on my teacher salary...): Borrowing a page from New York City, Houston and other cities, Newark could soon use money from the foundation started by Facebook FB +0.61% founder Mark Zuckerberg to offer buyouts to teachers in a cost-saving move. Schools Superintendent Cami Anderson has approached the teachers' union wi... more »
Why Does David Coleman Dislike Fiction? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Does David Coleman Dislike Fiction? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Does David Coleman Dislike Fiction? by dianerav The answer to the question posed in the title of this blog is: I don’t know. I can’t imagine. In fact, I don’t know how one develops imagination without reading fiction. I have been told by several people who attended David Coleman’s lectures that he speaks disparagingly of fiction. That’s why the Common Core standards permit 50% fiction in the early grades but only 25% fiction in high school. I don’t get it. First, because teachers should make that decision. Second, b... more »
Schools Matter: Demand Congress Give Parents a Seat at the Ed Table
Schools Matter: Demand Congress Give Parents a Seat at the Ed Table: Demand Congress Give Parents a Seat at the Ed Table by Judy Rabin Parents Across America are disappointed they haven't been able to obtain an invitation to testify or have a seat at a seat at the table as our elected representatives in Washington debate and discuss "state efforts to expand parental engagement" - code for how to get parents to work for trigger laws that will put a bullet right through the heart of their public school system. This PAA press release is a shot across the bow from a group of passio... more »
As Schools Crumble: Quiet Call for Revolution in Philly | Dissident Voice
As Schools Crumble: Quiet Call for Revolution in Philly | Dissident Voice: As Schools Crumble: Quiet Call for Revolution in Philly by Ellen Hodgson Brown You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out. You will not be able to skip out for beer during commercials, Because the revolution will not be televised … The revolution will be live. — From the 1970 hit song by Gil Scott-Heron Last week, the city of Philadelphia’s school system announced that it expects to close 40 public schools next year, and 64 schools by 2017. The school district expects to lose 40% of its current enro... more »
Saturday coffee + Old school. « Fred Klonsky
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky *Orland Park demonstration to save Illinois teacher pensions yesterday.* The calendar may say that it is still Springtime in Chicago. But the thermometer is going to get near 90 degrees today. Cooler by the Lake. Except the NATO meeting is by the Lake. And so are the continuing protests against it. And the war policies and screwed-up priorities that NATO represents. It may actually get a lot hotter by the Lake by tomorrow. Colleagues asked me this week, “What’s the deal with protesting NATO?” The answer is really quite... more »
Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 5-19 AM Posts #soschat #edreform
*BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS* Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 5-19-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #soschat #p2 #1u coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago *Big Education Ape 2nd Banana Recap of Last Week's Best Post * SES IS A MESS: Scientology Tutoring Service Approved By Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago By MELANIE ALNWICK @ FoxNews WASHINGTON - Federal law says that failing public schools have to provide free tutoring service to students. It is called Supplemental Educational Services (SES). ... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 5-19-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #soschat #p2 #1u
*Big Education Ape 2nd Banana Recap of Last Week's Best Post * SES IS A MESS: Scientology Tutoring Service Approved By Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago By MELANIE ALNWICK @ FoxNews WASHINGTON - Federal law says that failing public schools have to provide free tutoring service to students. It is called Supplemental Educational Services (SES). Concerned parents contacted FOX 5 about one of the groups approved for tutoring by D.C.'s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) - a group that has connections to the founder of ... more »
This Week's Education Research Report
Education Research Report: This Week's Education Research Report Long-Term Outcomes of College-Prep Programs Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 22 hours ago A program in Texas in 2010 provided payments to inner-city 11th and 12th grade students and their teachers for achieving passing scores on Advanced Placement exams. This study finds that the students involved were more likely to attend college, to remain beyond their first year, and to earn a college degree. They also were likelier to be employed and to earn higher wages than students not in the program. This... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: What Should Second Graders Learn? Academics or IB's Solutions to Poverty?
Missouri Education Watchdog: What Should Second Graders Learn? Academics or IB's Solutions to Poverty?: What Should Second Graders Learn? Academics or IB's Solutions to Poverty? by stlgretchen From a PYP Exhibition The following curriculum concern was posted on a Facebook page for other readers/bloggers to post to their email, Facebook or blog sites: I send congrats to my 2nd graders' class for winning the competition of learning all the 10 Spanish states- It saddens me they are not singing about the United States- they are still counting fingers and toes to do simple math- yet t... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Bad Reformy Arguments #1: Teaching Trumps EVERYTHING
Jersey Jazzman: Bad Reformy Arguments #1: Teaching Trumps EVERYTHING: Bad Reformy Arguments #1: Teaching Trumps EVERYTHING by Duke I'll be reading the perfect reformy op-ed over the next few days, a compilation of the best arguments the reformyists can make to include standardized tests in teacher evaluations. Marcus Winters has actually done us a great service: he's put all of their side's best arguments into one place so we can easily explore and refute them. So, here's reformy argument #1: we must, must, MUST test the crap out of the kids, because... Research over the last tw... more »
Daily Kos: Saturday morning reflection - the end is coming
Daily Kos: Saturday morning reflection - the end is coming: Saturday morning reflection - the end is coming by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Our seniors left the building yesterday. They will be back next Friday for graduation rehearsal, then that evening will be their prom. But I will be gone that afternoon, heading for the 45th reunion of my original class at Haverford, where I am on the class committee. They will graduate May 29, the day after Memorial day. School will be closed that day. The next afternoon is when my department is honoring me with a reception in honor of m... more »
Florida Democrats Go After Republicans on Education Policy | Scathing Purple Musings
Florida Democrats Go After Republicans on Education Policy | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida Democrats Go After Republicans on Education Policy by Bob Sikes State Democrat Chairman Rod Smith took advantage of the bad news on FCAT to let republicans have it yesterday. From the *Miami Herald*: “The problem isn’t our public schools or our children — the problem is that the Republican Party has demonstrated a complete inability to run Florida’s public education system,” Smith in a statement. “Over the last decade, Republicans have railed against public schools, consistently underfun... more »
ACLU questions Poway school's iPad program | UTSanDiego.com
ACLU questions Poway school's iPad program | UTSanDiego.com: ACLU questions Poway school's iPad program Con Academy Browse Con Academy library of over 3,100 educational videos... [image: U.S. Department of Education and Federal Student Aid logo (Start Here. Go Further.)] A Poway elementary school’s drive to equip fourth and fifth graders with iPads — mostly at their expense — is being called into question by the American Civil Liberties Union. The state Constitution guarantees a free public education, and the ACLU says in a letter to the district that the effort at Tierra Bonita... more »
California Budget: Why Do We Cut Schools to Build Jails? | Ella Baker Center
California Budget: Why Do We Cut Schools to Build Jails? | Ella Baker Center: California Budget: Why Do We Cut Schools to Build Jails? posted on MAY 18, 2012 by Sumayyah Waheed | *0 comments* 3 On Monday, Governor Brown released the May Revise to the proposed California budget. *Once again, the Governor caved to fear-mongering special interests instead of doing right by families, taxpayers, and public safety*. Despite ongoing failures and shocking abuse, the Governor backed down on his proposal to close California’s state youth prisons. By realigning youth in the notorious DJJ... more »
Parents organize to protect area schools | catalyst-chicago.org
Parents organize to protect area schools | catalyst-chicago.org: Parents organize to protect area schools - Share on windycitizenShare on facebookShare on email *By: *Sarah Karp / May 18, 2012 *Tags: *Logan Square Neighborhood Association school closings [image: img_20120518_102546_2.jpg] Logan Square parents and community activists held a rally Friday morning in front of Ames Middle School. After rumors circulated about plans to re-purpose the middle school, the group decided to form the Logan Square Schools Facilities Committee. CPS officials denied the rumors, but pare... more »
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: I'm Larry Ferlazzo and here you will catch me talking about websites that will help you teach ELL, ESL and EFL! Mayor Bloomberg Insults Parents — Again Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 21 hours ago New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is in the news for once again insulting parents (you can read about his multiple previous efforts at New York City Mayor Insults Parents — Again). I learned about Boomberg’s newest comments from blogger Walt Gardner, with whom I usually agree. Not this time, tho... more »
This Week's 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: [image: Answer Sheet] Best commencement speeches never given Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 4 hours ago Ever heard about the commencement address that Kurt Vonnegut gave at MIT in which he started out by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ‘97: Wear sunscreen”? Actually, he never gave that speech. Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon] How standardized tests are affecting public school... more »
http://www.southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: BREAKING NEWS AT PS 154 THE BRONX!!! by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Has it been two weeks since I last sat down and blogged? Apparently so. Too those who have missed my unique take on the happenings of education, I apologize for being away for so long. For those that hate my writings and were glad to see the gap in my blogging, too bad. The last two weeks have been hectic. I was doing the Math scoring, was house hunting, was driving my son to and fro to baseball games and practice, and plotting my campaign to run for chapter chair. Was comin... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH All Week Long - Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] In Praise of Leonie Haimson dianerav at Diane Ravitch's blog - 1 hour ago One of the people I have come to admire most in the past few years is Leonie Haimson. You may not know Leonie, but you should. Leonie lives in New York City. Her children attend public schools. She is New York City’s leading parent activist. She created an organization called “Class Size Matters.” She was [...] Psychologizing Female Critics dianerav at Diane Ravitch's blog - 1 hour ago I received an email the other day from one of my ... more »
In Praise of Leonie Haimson « Diane Ravitch's blog
In Praise of Leonie Haimson « Diane Ravitch's blog: In Praise of Leonie Haimson by dianerav *Go to Parents Across America.* One of the people I have come to admire most in the past few years is Leonie Haimson. You may not know Leonie, but you should. Leonie lives in New York City. Her children attend public schools. She is New York City’s leading parent activist. She created an organization called “Class Size Matters.” She was a founder of Parents Across America. For many people in New York City, especially parents, Leonie is their main source of news about public education in New... more »
After 400 Arrests Yesterday, Thousands Retake Frankfurt to Blockupy Austerity. WATCH LIVE. | OccupyWallSt.org
After 400 Arrests Yesterday, Thousands Retake Frankfurt to Blockupy Austerity. WATCH LIVE. | OccupyWallSt.org: After 400 Arrests Yesterday, Thousands Retake Frankfurt to Blockupy Austerity. WATCH LIVE. Posted 7 hours ago on May 19, 2012, 2 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt Watch live streaming video from undergroundreports at livestream.com *Updated, 7:50am EST:* Around 10,000 people are already gathered in Frankfurt. Videos added below; check back later for more updates! After local courts banned protests against the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, the Blockupy Alliance went on with its ... more »
NYC Educator: Protest Sign of the Day
NYC Educator: Protest Sign of the Day: Protest Sign of the Day by NYC Educator *Thanks to Caroline Grannan*
Daily Kos: The Choice Agenda Exposed
Daily Kos: The Choice Agenda Exposed: The Choice Agenda Exposed byplthomasEdDFollow Share2 PERMALINK2 COMMENTS Rick Hess's Straight Up blog at *Education Week* proves often to be valuable not for his intended messages, but for what he reveals about education reformers committed to choice and competition as paradigms for that reform. In his "Sanctimonious Scolding Isn't a Great Strategy for Promoting School Choice"posting, Hess makes an important statement at the end: "Rather than obey the moral instruction of do-gooders, middle-class and suburban families tend to put themselves a...more »
Top Florida Parent Group Says “We Are Witness to the Suffering Caused by FCAT” | Scathing Purple Musings
Top Florida Parent Group Says “We Are Witness to the Suffering Caused by FCAT” | Scathing Purple Musings: Top Florida Parent Group Says “We Are Witness to the Suffering Caused by FCAT” by Bob Sikes From FundEducationNow: Orlando, Florida… FundEducationNow.org, a leading parent-driven statewide education advocacy group, issued the following comments today regarding the Florida Department of Education’s release of the 2012 FCAT 2.0 Grades 9 and 10 Reading and FCAT Writes scores: “As mothers of Florida public school children, we bear witness to the suffering caused by FCAT. Today’s... more »
solidaridad: 'The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting For Superman' now available online
solidaridad: 'The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting For Superman' now available online: 'The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting For Superman' now available online by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene *Waiting for "Superman" would have audiences believe that free-market competition, standardized tests, destroying teacher unions, and the proliferation of charter schools are just what this country needs to create great public schools. — Grassroots Education Movement* Popout Today Grassroots Education Movement (GEM) announced their landmark picture released last year, "The Inconvenient Tr... more »
Big Education Ape Nite Cap UPDATE 5-18-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
*UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* If I have to take one more of these frigging standardize test, I think my head will explode *GO TO * *National Resolution on High-Stakes Testing* Teachers Cannot Be Bystanders to Walker’s Bullying by Imagine Wisconsin I have had my share of regretful experiences in my life. One of my high school era regrets was an incident where I stood as a petrified bystander while a bully punched my unsuspecting, younger brother in the head from behind. My guilt still festers deep inside. Anti-Bullying Efforts in Wisconsin Over a year ago, Governor Walker and his R... more »