Big Education Ape 2nd Banana
Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU by Mike Klonsky Obama, Emanuel & AxelrodWell, mercy me! Look who's behind those ads blasting the CTU. Why, it's ASGK Public Strategies and AKPD, David Axelrod's old firms. An embarrassed Axelrod is claiming that he no longer has any connection to the firms since he sold them in 2009, when he became Obama's Senior White House Advisor. But he's still very much connected (the A stands for Axelrod)... more »
OMG: Texas Charter Schools Allegedly Funneling Religion Into Lessons | TPMMuckraker
Texas Charter Schools Allegedly Funneling Religion Into Lessons | TPMMuckraker: *Texas Charter Schools Allegedly Funneling Religion Into Lessons* [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Claiming that God “has given [her] the jurisdiction to operate with dominion” and that running schools was “a divine assignment,” Cheryl Washington has, according to the *San Antonio Current*, channeled millions in both federal and state funds into building the Shekinah Learning Institute, which she founded in 1996. The SLI now comprises 13 taxpayer-funded schools across the stat... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education in Louisiana
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education in Louisiana: Education in Louisiana by Melissa Westbrook You did hear about Louisiana, right? After Katrina, New Orleans is virtually a charter district. And, pushed by Governor Bobby Jindal (and maybe next VP), a bill was pushed through that gives voucher money to parents to choose where their education dollars go for their child. This includes religious schools. Here's some interesting outcomes so far: - many private schools - the good ones - are restricting the number of space to those parents who have vouchers dollars. - some... more »
U.S. News Discusses Best High Schools Rankings at Ed Department Meeting - Morse Code: Inside the College Rankings (usnews.com)
U.S. News Discusses Best High Schools Rankings at Ed Department Meeting - Morse Code: Inside the College Rankings (usnews.com): U.S. News Discusses Best High Schools Rankings at Ed Department MeetingJuly 12, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: computer, ranked high schools, rankings, government, data] Government data quality issues affected a small number of ranked high schools. Soon after the *U.S. News* 2012 Best High Schools rankings were published in May 2012, it became clear that there were errors in the 2009-2010 enrollment data used in the calculations. The data came from the U.S. D... more »
Poll: Do you support charter schools?
Poll: Do you support charter schools?: Poll: Do you support charter schools? *As a member-driven organization, we look to you for input on the most controversial issues.* Last week, supporters of Initiative 1240 submitted enough signatures to the Secretary of State to qualify for the November ballot. *I-1240 would open the door to charter schools in Washington.* Supporters of the charter school initiative say the measure will bring innovation to struggling public schools and improve the quality of education in Washington.1 The initiative would authorize the creation of as man... more »
How Standardized Testing Damages Education (Updated July 2012) | FairTest
How Standardized Testing Damages Education (Updated July 2012) | FairTest: How Standardized Testing Damages Education (Updated July 2012) [image: Home] Submitted by fairtest on August 28, 2007 - 11:04am - fact sheets - k-12 *HOW STANDARDIZED TESTING DAMAGES EDUCATION* *How do schools use standardized tests?* The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) era has seen an unprecedented expansion of standardized testing and test misuse. Despite ample evidence of the flaws, biases and inaccuracies of standardized exams, NCLB and related state and federal policies, such as Race to the Top (... more »
#ISTE2012 and the Importance of Educator Connections « My Island View
#ISTE2012 and the Importance of Educator Connections « My Island View: #ISTE2012 and the Importance of Educator Connections by tomwhitby I recently attended a complete immersion of education philosophy, education methods and pedagogy, technology tools for learning and connectedness with education thought leaders from around the world. All of this took place at one of our premier annual education conferences, ISTE 2012 in San Diego. Educators attend these conferences with their own focuses. They select the sessions they need from a smorgasbord of high-quality presentations on educa... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The End of Transparency in Program Placement
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The End of Transparency in Program Placement: The End of Transparency in Program Placement by Charlie Mas The new program placement policy will soon be adopted by the Board and when that happens they will close the door on transparency. Wendy London, while saying that they want to have a transparent process, essentially told the board that it is "staff work" and the public will not be allowed to know how decisions were made. Program placement will not be an open or honest process. That dream is dead. You can watch the video here. Jump to 73:00 for... more »
Why Is Governor Christie Angry? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Is Governor Christie Angry? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Is Governor Christie Angry? by dianerav How many times have I read stories about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie blowing his stack when the subject is education or teachers? Just yesterday he blew up when a stranger made a passing remark about his education policy. Is it a sign of a guilty conscience? Governor Christie is doing everything possible to privatize public education: promoting online charters (even though they have not been authorized by the State Legislature), expanding charter schools, flirting with vouche... more »
Why Should We Reform Education Using Microsoft's Failed Ranking Policies? | Crooks and Liars
Why Should We Reform Education Using Microsoft's Failed Ranking Policies? | Crooks and Liars: Why Should We Reform Education Using Microsoft's Failed Ranking Policies? 60 comments By Nicole Belle *Bill Gates addresses education reform, February 2011* Few people have been as visible as Bill and Melinda Gates on the subject of education reform. Certainly, in our society, where having a large portfolio trumps any possible personal failings, Bill Gates is held up by the mainstream media as someone leading the charge for innovation in education reform. But is he? Gates has been advocati...more »
Camika Royal Speaks Out « Diane Ravitch's blog
Camika Royal Speaks Out « Diane Ravitch's blog: Camika Royal Speaks Out by dianerav The other day I blogged about a TFA leader who spoke at the opening ceremonies of the TFA summer institute in Philadelphia. Before my blog was posted, the Youtube video was taken down. Just a few hours ago, I received a tweet saying that Dr. Camika Royal had posted an article at Huffington Post. The article contained an explanation of what happened as well as the text of the video. In the Youtube video, Dr. Camika Royal was speaking to the recruits. She said some amazing things that were distinc... more »
What Kind of Teaching Do Students in Poverty Need? « Diane Ravitch's blog
What Kind of Teaching Do Students in Poverty Need? « Diane Ravitch's blog: What Kind of Teaching Do Students in Poverty Need? by dianerav In response to today’s ongoing discussion about teaching and specifically what kind of teaching is right for urban students, this comment came from Ira Shor. Shor teaches at the City University of New York. He has written extensively about critical pedagogy. Our discussion began with the proposition that poor kids need a tightly disciplined environment, some would say a “boot camp” or “no-excuses” pedagogy. Others disagreed. Shor gives his view... more »
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2012 Report » Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2012 Report » Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives: The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2012 Report The 2011-12 school year was, in many ways, the beginning of a new era in New Orleans’ public education landscape. The year was marked by momentous changes in leadership and strategy at both the state and local levels. Nonetheless, state and district leaders remain committed to a school reform model that espouses the central principles of school autonomy, choice, and accountability. At the same time, school and distri... more »
School Bus Driver Champs Named - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)
School Bus Driver Champs Named - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates California School Bus Drivers SACRAMENTO—Six California school bus drivers will be headed to Wisconsin this weekend to take part in a two-day bus driving competition, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today. They will be competing at the 42nd Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition hosted by the National School Transportation Association [image: External link opens in new window or tab.] on July 14-15, 2012 in Milwau... more »
Andrew Coulson: America Has Too Many Teachers - WSJ.com
Andrew Coulson: America Has Too Many Teachers - WSJ.com: America Has Too Many TeachersPublic-school employees have doubled in 40 years while student enrollment has increased by only 8.5%—and academic results have stagnated. [image: Corporate Media = Corporate Lies]President Obama said last month that America can educate its way to prosperity if Congress sends money to states to prevent public school layoffs and "rehire even more teachers." Mitt Romney was having none of it, invoking "the message of Wisconsin" and arguing that the solution to our economic woes is to cut the size of ... more »
Free Webinar: Creating a Culture of Achievement — Whole Child Education
Free Webinar: Creating a Culture of Achievement — Whole Child Education: Free Webinar: Creating a Culture of Achievement by Klea Scharberg [image: How to Create a Culture of Achievement] Join ASCD authors and educators Nancy Frey and Doug Fisher, authors of *How to Create a Culture of Achievement in Your School and Classroom*, for an exciting, free webinar where they share their experiences with leading schools that support good teaching and learning by building a culture of achievement. *Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 3:00 p.m. eastern time* *Register now!* What does it feel like to wa... more »
Justin Bieber vs. Selena Gomez: Race, Immigration and Who’s “American”Political News and Opinion from a Multicultural Point of View | Political News and Opinion from a Multicultural Point of View
Justin Bieber vs. Selena Gomez: Race, Immigration and Who’s “American”Political News and Opinion from a Multicultural Point of View | Political News and Opinion from a Multicultural Point of View: Justin Bieber vs. Selena Gomez: Race, Immigration and Who’s “American” [image: Justin Bieber vs. Selena Gomez: Race, Immigration and Who’s “American”] There’s been a great deal of discussion about a new Pew Research Center report confirming that migrants from Asian countries now outnumber those from Latin America. The report uses broad brushstrokes to paint a picture of Asian migrants a... more »
Geaux Teacher!: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ARE DANGEROUS
Geaux Teacher!: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ARE DANGEROUS: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ARE DANGEROUS by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) *Texas GOP Declares: "No More Teaching of 'Critical Thinking Skills' in Texas Public Schools" * I would have liked to re-post this entire article but permission is required, so I am including the link for you to read yourself along with a few excerpts to peak your interest. This is one of those believe-it-or-not moments. If anyone researchs the veracity of this report and finds it is not true, I will be glad to share that research. htt... more »
Texas GOP rejects ‘critical thinking’ skills. Really. - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
Texas GOP rejects ‘critical thinking’ skills. Really. - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Texas GOP rejects ‘critical thinking’ skills. Really. by Valerie Strauss In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff department, here’s what the Republican Party of Texas wrote into its 2012 platform as part of the section on education: *Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learnin... more »
People’s School at Lakeview Elementary School in Oakland California Says “Fight Continues”, Announces Next Steps | Dailycensored.com
People’s School at Lakeview Elementary School in Oakland California Says “Fight Continues”, Announces Next Steps | Dailycensored.com: People’s School at Lakeview Elementary School in Oakland California Says “Fight Continues”, Announces Next Steps by Danny Weil Early Tuesday morning, on what would have been the 18th day of the Sit-in and 12th day of the People’s School, OUSD police and other Oakland area police forces raided the encampment and school. While participants were allowed to remove their items, the police arrested a parent as well as a former Lakeview student, and subse... more »
Why Does Governor Christie Have a Grudge Against Teachers? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Does Governor Christie Have a Grudge Against Teachers? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Does Governor Christie Have a Grudge Against Teachers? by dianerav One of the best bloggers in New Jersey, if not the whole northeast, is Jersey Jazzman. He has gathered statements that Governor Christie has made about teachers that are quite negative. His teachers remember him fondly. By all accounts, he had an idyllic childhood and experienced great public schooling.
How New Test-Based School Grade Formulas Will Hurt Florida’s Economy | Scathing Purple Musings
How New Test-Based School Grade Formulas Will Hurt Florida’s Economy | Scathing Purple Musings: How New Test-Based School Grade Formulas Will Hurt Florida’s Economy by Bob Sikes Miami business leader Frank R. Nero pens an op-ed in this morning’s *Miami Herald *which effectively makes the case that the state’s new school grade formula will hurt the state’s economic recovery. Nero a former teacher, is president and CEO of The Beacon Council, a public-private partnership and economic development agency for Miami-Dade County. Over the last several years, under the leadership of Miam... more »
The hardest jobs to fill (think plumbers) - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
The hardest jobs to fill (think plumbers) - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: The hardest jobs to fill (think plumbers) By Valerie Strauss Reformers who think that students should be studying subjects that will help them fill empty jobs should be pushing for more vocational education in the skilled trades. Plumbing contactor Matt McCormick checks piping for a home under construction in Des Plaines, Ill. (Tim Boyle/BLOOMBERG)There has been a big push in recent years to improve education in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math — so much so that you might... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-7-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-30-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-23-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-16-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-9-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-2-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU by Mike Klonsky Obama, Emanuel & AxelrodWell, mercy me! Look who's behind those ads blasting the CTU. Why, it's ASGK Public Strategies and AKPD, David Axelrod's old firms. An embarrassed Axelrod is claiming that he no longer has any connection to the firms since he sold them in 2009, when he became Obama's Senior White House Advisor. But he's still very much connected (the A stands for Axelrod)... more »
OMG: Texas Charter Schools Allegedly Funneling Religion Into Lessons | TPMMuckraker
Texas Charter Schools Allegedly Funneling Religion Into Lessons | TPMMuckraker: *Texas Charter Schools Allegedly Funneling Religion Into Lessons* [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Claiming that God “has given [her] the jurisdiction to operate with dominion” and that running schools was “a divine assignment,” Cheryl Washington has, according to the *San Antonio Current*, channeled millions in both federal and state funds into building the Shekinah Learning Institute, which she founded in 1996. The SLI now comprises 13 taxpayer-funded schools across the stat... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education in Louisiana
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education in Louisiana: Education in Louisiana by Melissa Westbrook You did hear about Louisiana, right? After Katrina, New Orleans is virtually a charter district. And, pushed by Governor Bobby Jindal (and maybe next VP), a bill was pushed through that gives voucher money to parents to choose where their education dollars go for their child. This includes religious schools. Here's some interesting outcomes so far: - many private schools - the good ones - are restricting the number of space to those parents who have vouchers dollars. - some... more »
U.S. News Discusses Best High Schools Rankings at Ed Department Meeting - Morse Code: Inside the College Rankings (usnews.com)
U.S. News Discusses Best High Schools Rankings at Ed Department Meeting - Morse Code: Inside the College Rankings (usnews.com): U.S. News Discusses Best High Schools Rankings at Ed Department MeetingJuly 12, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: computer, ranked high schools, rankings, government, data] Government data quality issues affected a small number of ranked high schools. Soon after the *U.S. News* 2012 Best High Schools rankings were published in May 2012, it became clear that there were errors in the 2009-2010 enrollment data used in the calculations. The data came from the U.S. D... more »
Poll: Do you support charter schools?
Poll: Do you support charter schools?: Poll: Do you support charter schools? *As a member-driven organization, we look to you for input on the most controversial issues.* Last week, supporters of Initiative 1240 submitted enough signatures to the Secretary of State to qualify for the November ballot. *I-1240 would open the door to charter schools in Washington.* Supporters of the charter school initiative say the measure will bring innovation to struggling public schools and improve the quality of education in Washington.1 The initiative would authorize the creation of as man... more »
How Standardized Testing Damages Education (Updated July 2012) | FairTest
How Standardized Testing Damages Education (Updated July 2012) | FairTest: How Standardized Testing Damages Education (Updated July 2012) [image: Home] Submitted by fairtest on August 28, 2007 - 11:04am - fact sheets - k-12 *HOW STANDARDIZED TESTING DAMAGES EDUCATION* *How do schools use standardized tests?* The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) era has seen an unprecedented expansion of standardized testing and test misuse. Despite ample evidence of the flaws, biases and inaccuracies of standardized exams, NCLB and related state and federal policies, such as Race to the Top (... more »
#ISTE2012 and the Importance of Educator Connections « My Island View
#ISTE2012 and the Importance of Educator Connections « My Island View: #ISTE2012 and the Importance of Educator Connections by tomwhitby I recently attended a complete immersion of education philosophy, education methods and pedagogy, technology tools for learning and connectedness with education thought leaders from around the world. All of this took place at one of our premier annual education conferences, ISTE 2012 in San Diego. Educators attend these conferences with their own focuses. They select the sessions they need from a smorgasbord of high-quality presentations on educa... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The End of Transparency in Program Placement
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The End of Transparency in Program Placement: The End of Transparency in Program Placement by Charlie Mas The new program placement policy will soon be adopted by the Board and when that happens they will close the door on transparency. Wendy London, while saying that they want to have a transparent process, essentially told the board that it is "staff work" and the public will not be allowed to know how decisions were made. Program placement will not be an open or honest process. That dream is dead. You can watch the video here. Jump to 73:00 for... more »
Why Is Governor Christie Angry? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Is Governor Christie Angry? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Is Governor Christie Angry? by dianerav How many times have I read stories about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie blowing his stack when the subject is education or teachers? Just yesterday he blew up when a stranger made a passing remark about his education policy. Is it a sign of a guilty conscience? Governor Christie is doing everything possible to privatize public education: promoting online charters (even though they have not been authorized by the State Legislature), expanding charter schools, flirting with vouche... more »
Why Should We Reform Education Using Microsoft's Failed Ranking Policies? | Crooks and Liars
Why Should We Reform Education Using Microsoft's Failed Ranking Policies? | Crooks and Liars: Why Should We Reform Education Using Microsoft's Failed Ranking Policies? 60 comments By Nicole Belle *Bill Gates addresses education reform, February 2011* Few people have been as visible as Bill and Melinda Gates on the subject of education reform. Certainly, in our society, where having a large portfolio trumps any possible personal failings, Bill Gates is held up by the mainstream media as someone leading the charge for innovation in education reform. But is he? Gates has been advocati...more »
Camika Royal Speaks Out « Diane Ravitch's blog
Camika Royal Speaks Out « Diane Ravitch's blog: Camika Royal Speaks Out by dianerav The other day I blogged about a TFA leader who spoke at the opening ceremonies of the TFA summer institute in Philadelphia. Before my blog was posted, the Youtube video was taken down. Just a few hours ago, I received a tweet saying that Dr. Camika Royal had posted an article at Huffington Post. The article contained an explanation of what happened as well as the text of the video. In the Youtube video, Dr. Camika Royal was speaking to the recruits. She said some amazing things that were distinc... more »
What Kind of Teaching Do Students in Poverty Need? « Diane Ravitch's blog
What Kind of Teaching Do Students in Poverty Need? « Diane Ravitch's blog: What Kind of Teaching Do Students in Poverty Need? by dianerav In response to today’s ongoing discussion about teaching and specifically what kind of teaching is right for urban students, this comment came from Ira Shor. Shor teaches at the City University of New York. He has written extensively about critical pedagogy. Our discussion began with the proposition that poor kids need a tightly disciplined environment, some would say a “boot camp” or “no-excuses” pedagogy. Others disagreed. Shor gives his view... more »
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2012 Report » Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2012 Report » Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives: The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2012 Report The 2011-12 school year was, in many ways, the beginning of a new era in New Orleans’ public education landscape. The year was marked by momentous changes in leadership and strategy at both the state and local levels. Nonetheless, state and district leaders remain committed to a school reform model that espouses the central principles of school autonomy, choice, and accountability. At the same time, school and distri... more »
School Bus Driver Champs Named - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)
School Bus Driver Champs Named - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates California School Bus Drivers SACRAMENTO—Six California school bus drivers will be headed to Wisconsin this weekend to take part in a two-day bus driving competition, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today. They will be competing at the 42nd Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition hosted by the National School Transportation Association [image: External link opens in new window or tab.] on July 14-15, 2012 in Milwau... more »
Andrew Coulson: America Has Too Many Teachers - WSJ.com
Andrew Coulson: America Has Too Many Teachers - WSJ.com: America Has Too Many TeachersPublic-school employees have doubled in 40 years while student enrollment has increased by only 8.5%—and academic results have stagnated. [image: Corporate Media = Corporate Lies]President Obama said last month that America can educate its way to prosperity if Congress sends money to states to prevent public school layoffs and "rehire even more teachers." Mitt Romney was having none of it, invoking "the message of Wisconsin" and arguing that the solution to our economic woes is to cut the size of ... more »
Free Webinar: Creating a Culture of Achievement — Whole Child Education
Free Webinar: Creating a Culture of Achievement — Whole Child Education: Free Webinar: Creating a Culture of Achievement by Klea Scharberg [image: How to Create a Culture of Achievement] Join ASCD authors and educators Nancy Frey and Doug Fisher, authors of *How to Create a Culture of Achievement in Your School and Classroom*, for an exciting, free webinar where they share their experiences with leading schools that support good teaching and learning by building a culture of achievement. *Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 3:00 p.m. eastern time* *Register now!* What does it feel like to wa... more »
Justin Bieber vs. Selena Gomez: Race, Immigration and Who’s “American”Political News and Opinion from a Multicultural Point of View | Political News and Opinion from a Multicultural Point of View
Justin Bieber vs. Selena Gomez: Race, Immigration and Who’s “American”Political News and Opinion from a Multicultural Point of View | Political News and Opinion from a Multicultural Point of View: Justin Bieber vs. Selena Gomez: Race, Immigration and Who’s “American” [image: Justin Bieber vs. Selena Gomez: Race, Immigration and Who’s “American”] There’s been a great deal of discussion about a new Pew Research Center report confirming that migrants from Asian countries now outnumber those from Latin America. The report uses broad brushstrokes to paint a picture of Asian migrants a... more »
Geaux Teacher!: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ARE DANGEROUS
Geaux Teacher!: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ARE DANGEROUS: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ARE DANGEROUS by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) *Texas GOP Declares: "No More Teaching of 'Critical Thinking Skills' in Texas Public Schools" * I would have liked to re-post this entire article but permission is required, so I am including the link for you to read yourself along with a few excerpts to peak your interest. This is one of those believe-it-or-not moments. If anyone researchs the veracity of this report and finds it is not true, I will be glad to share that research. htt... more »
Texas GOP rejects ‘critical thinking’ skills. Really. - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
Texas GOP rejects ‘critical thinking’ skills. Really. - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Texas GOP rejects ‘critical thinking’ skills. Really. by Valerie Strauss In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff department, here’s what the Republican Party of Texas wrote into its 2012 platform as part of the section on education: *Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learnin... more »
People’s School at Lakeview Elementary School in Oakland California Says “Fight Continues”, Announces Next Steps | Dailycensored.com
People’s School at Lakeview Elementary School in Oakland California Says “Fight Continues”, Announces Next Steps | Dailycensored.com: People’s School at Lakeview Elementary School in Oakland California Says “Fight Continues”, Announces Next Steps by Danny Weil Early Tuesday morning, on what would have been the 18th day of the Sit-in and 12th day of the People’s School, OUSD police and other Oakland area police forces raided the encampment and school. While participants were allowed to remove their items, the police arrested a parent as well as a former Lakeview student, and subse... more »
Why Does Governor Christie Have a Grudge Against Teachers? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Does Governor Christie Have a Grudge Against Teachers? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Does Governor Christie Have a Grudge Against Teachers? by dianerav One of the best bloggers in New Jersey, if not the whole northeast, is Jersey Jazzman. He has gathered statements that Governor Christie has made about teachers that are quite negative. His teachers remember him fondly. By all accounts, he had an idyllic childhood and experienced great public schooling.
How New Test-Based School Grade Formulas Will Hurt Florida’s Economy | Scathing Purple Musings
How New Test-Based School Grade Formulas Will Hurt Florida’s Economy | Scathing Purple Musings: How New Test-Based School Grade Formulas Will Hurt Florida’s Economy by Bob Sikes Miami business leader Frank R. Nero pens an op-ed in this morning’s *Miami Herald *which effectively makes the case that the state’s new school grade formula will hurt the state’s economic recovery. Nero a former teacher, is president and CEO of The Beacon Council, a public-private partnership and economic development agency for Miami-Dade County. Over the last several years, under the leadership of Miam... more »
The hardest jobs to fill (think plumbers) - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
The hardest jobs to fill (think plumbers) - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: The hardest jobs to fill (think plumbers) By Valerie Strauss Reformers who think that students should be studying subjects that will help them fill empty jobs should be pushing for more vocational education in the skilled trades. Plumbing contactor Matt McCormick checks piping for a home under construction in Des Plaines, Ill. (Tim Boyle/BLOOMBERG)There has been a big push in recent years to improve education in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math — so much so that you might... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-7-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post