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
I have to fight for my rights in this state? « Fred Klonsky
I have to fight for my rights in this state? « Fred Klonsky: I have to fight for my rights in this state? by Fred Klonsky *Bob Schorsch of the Letter Carriers Union and Jose Zamarripa of Laborers Local 681 join me as part of a panel on attacks on labor.* “I think you’re wrong just to pick on the Democrats. The Republicans are worse.” The lady was sitting in the back of the meeting room at the Batavia Public Library where I was participating on a panel discussing the attacks on the middle class. I don’t really like the term *middle class *when we mean working class, but I’ve given up... more »
An Urban Teacher's Education: Dreams of the Coming Year
An Urban Teacher's Education: Dreams of the Coming Year: Dreams of the Coming Year by James Boutin I had a wonderful dream last night. I was teaching in a half-classroom, half-auditorium type room (dreams...who knows....), and I had my new class of freshman language arts students. It was the first week, so they were all timid and polite. And for some reason, a number of other students were coming into my room to do things like play basketball, jump rope, and just hang out. In my dreamy auditorium classroom, this seemed perfectly normal to everyone. Toward the end of the lesson, ... more »
The Truth Behind The Project School Closing: The Indiana Corporate School Complex
The Truth Behind The Project School Closing: The Indiana Corporate School Complex: The Truth Behind The Project School Closing: The Indiana Corporate School Complex Our Daily Expedience *(Below is Doug Martin’s in-depth look into the corporate forces in Indianapolis working to keep true community-led charter schools from operating. Please sign the petition to “Save The Project School.”)* On July 17, Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard announced he was closing The Project School, one of the few community-led charter schools in Indiana and the 2012 winner of NUVO’s Cultural Vision Awa... more »
Gov. Scott’s Choice: Education Versus Health Care? StateImpact Florida | Putting Education Reform To The Test
StateImpact Florida | Putting Education Reform To The Test: Gov. Scott’s Choice: Education Versus Health Care? JULY 9, 2012 | 1:47 PMBY JOHN O'CONNOR - Comment - Email - - JOHN O’CONNOR / STATEIMPACT FLORIDA Gracie Fowler dropping her son, Jackson, and daughter, Havilah, off at karate lessons. She wants Florida to expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to ensure coverage for her kids and herself, but doesn’t think it should come at the expense of schools. Gracie Fowler earns $11 an hour at an Orlando title company. It’s just enough that sometimes s... more »
Indiana Economic Digest: Common Core State Standards is heavy on the ‘Common’ | Truth in American Education
Indiana Economic Digest: Common Core State Standards is heavy on the ‘Common’ | Truth in American Education: Indiana Economic Digest: Common Core State Standards is heavy on the ‘Common’ by Shane Vander Hart Heather Crossin who is a member of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, and Jane Robbins, a senior fellow with American Principles Project, had an op/ed published for the *Indiana Economic Digest*. Below is an excerpt: Part of the mantra recited by proponents of the national-designed Common Core State Standards, endorsed in concept by both Gov. Mitch Daniels and Superinten... more »
Latino Caribbean Diaspora Colaborative LCDC AIDS2012 Global Village e
*One of the Largest Interactive Exhibits at the International AIDS Conference* Juanes, Miss Universe to Join Latino & Caribbean Participants in the LCDC Community at *AIDS 2012 *Global Village Daily Panels, Workshops, Performances at the LCDC Community Networking Zone July 22 to 27, 2012 Lower Level of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC *July 21, 2012 (Washington, DC) – *Latino and Caribbean HIV researchers, experts, and community members from more than 50 programs across Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and the United States will pa... more »
Why Is Chicago Our National Model? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Is Chicago Our National Model? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Is Chicago Our National Model? by dianerav * Great Chicago Fire* A reader writes about the injustice of closing schools in Chicago instead of helping them. It s odd to think that Chicago is now our national model of school reform, as Chicago continues to rank in the bottom tier on NAEP in reading and math, in fourth grade and eighth grade. *In Chicago, 10 more schools lost ALL their staff and administration to turnarounds this year . They will be opening in the fall with a much younger, less-diverse staff but the sam... more »
My Vision for Urban Education (Guest Post by Mark Naison) « Cooperative Catalyst
My Vision for Urban Education (Guest Post by Mark Naison) « Cooperative Catalyst: My Vision for Urban Education (Guest Post by Mark Naison) by dloitz I am extremely critical of current trends in education policy which involve deluging schools with standardized tests and rating teachers, administrators and whole institutions based on test result. Such policies result in school disengagement on the part of students, destroy teacher morale, and magnify health problems in poor and working class communities by crowding out exercise and the arts. Given my criticism of existing policies,... more »
Florida BOE Member Belittles Local School Board Members as a “Constituency” | Scathing Purple Musings
Florida BOE Member Belittles Local School Board Members as a “Constituency” | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida BOE Member Belittles Local School Board Members as a “Constituency” by Bob Sikes *A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush* The arrogance of Florida’s Jeb Bush’s education policy establishment reared its head in Tuesday’s Fort Lauderdale meeting. From Leslie Postal in the* Orlando Sentinel*: Board member Akshay Desai, a physician from Tampa, said he was glad the state was able to “fend off” attacks from those, in his view, who are “trying to discredit” testing in Flo... more »
Schools Matter: Letters in Sunday's NY Times "Sunday Dialogue": Common Core
Schools Matter: Letters in Sunday's NY Times "Sunday Dialogue": Common Core: Letters in Sunday's NY Times "Sunday Dialogue": Common Core by skrashen Letter posted to the NY Times website, July 16, 2012. Readers were invited to respond to this letter for the NY Times Sunday Dialogue with the understand that I would respond. To the Editor: The common core movement seems to be common sense: Our schools should have similar standards, what students should know at each grade. The movement, however, is based on the false assumption that our schools are broken, that ineffective teachin... more »
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky Popout Last night was beautiful. A short break in the 90 degree summer we’ve been sweating through. Anne and I walked up to the Monument where the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival is running this weekend. Our friend Peter has a couple of large-scale photographs on exhibit. Peter used to work for the City and was Mayor Washington’s photographer. He, like me, is retired now and taking his photography is new directions. They’re great. We stopped at Lula on the way home. We sat at the bar and Anne had a gin and tonic wi... more »
The National Misfit Data Base « Diane Ravitch's blog
The National Misfit Data Base « Diane Ravitch's blog: The National Misfit Data Base by dianerav You know, you have to be really careful with satire. Some genius at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or the Whozit Foundation or the U.S. Department of Education might think it is serious and jump all over the idea. Here is a truly dangerous satire by Diana Senechal. She envisions a National Misfit Data Base for kindergarten, to determine college and career readiness for tots. As I said, be careful. This could easily get into the mainstream dialogue. Oh, wait, I forgot. ACT is already develo... more »
Debate: Why Does Alfie Kohn Make Alexander Russo All Visceral? #SOSCHAT
*Debate: Why Does Alfie Kohn Make * *Alexander Russo All Visceral?* * * *I Think:* * * *What do YOU Think?:*
Summer Learning Loss?
Summer Learning Loss?: Lowering the Temperature on Claims of "Summer Learning Loss" *Why Does Alfie Kohn Make* * * *Alexander Russo All Visceral?* The idea of summer learning loss -- the implication being that it’s risky to give kids a three-month vacation from school because they’ll forget everything they were taught -- has become the media’s favorite seasonally specific education topic. And that’s not just because they’re desperate for something to write about when school’s out. It’s a story we’re all predisposed to embrace because we’re already nervous about time off for childr... more »
ALEC and Virtual/Online Schools | Seattle Education
ALEC and Virtual/Online Schools | Seattle Education: ALEC and Virtual/Online Schools by seattleducation2011 As I posted in June, an ALEC bill passed through Olympia regarding Innovation Schools. Sue and I had called it a charter school in sheep’s clothing and later discovered that was exactly ALEC’s intent. See Innovation Schools/Creative Approach Schools and ALEC. In a follow up post titled Weekly Update, Part 2: The Gates Foundation, a smart ALEC and more charter school abuses, I provided additional information on how other states were affected by legislation developed by ALEC. N... more »
A New Trend of Suicides in India | Dissident Voice
A New Trend of Suicides in India | Dissident Voice: A New Trend of Suicides in India by Kamalakar Duvvuru / July 21st, 2012 British writer W. Somerset Maugham is said to have joked near the end of his life, “Dying is a very dull, dreary affair. And my advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it.” Many would be quick to agree and would gladly accept his advice if only it were that easy. More than two thousand years earlier, the Greek philosopher Epicurus suggested, “It is possible to provide security against other things, but as far as death is concerned, we all live in ... more »
Stage Three Collapse Has Arrived: Florida DOE Miscalculates Over 200 School Grades | Scathing Purple Musings
Stage Three Collapse Has Arrived: Florida DOE Miscalculates Over 200 School Grades | Scathing Purple Musings: Stage Three Collapse Has Arrived: Florida DOE Miscalculates Over 200 School Grades by Bob Sikes In April of this year, two outgoing superintendents of schools in Florida predicted that the states school accountability system would fail. One of them, Bill Vogel from Seminole said it “would fall apart like a house of cards,” and that legislators were “making up the rules as they go along.” In what appears to be a Friday bad news document dump, the DOE admitted that seriou... more »
School Tech Connect: Whatcha Doin' Monday? (Updated)
School Tech Connect: Whatcha Doin' Monday? (Updated): [image: School Tech Connect] Whatcha Doin' Monday? (Updated) by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) We need some help. The city's Human Relations committee has the resolution pending that would call for an advisory referendum on the elected school board. Yes, we're going door-to-door, but it would be awesome if a similar thing could come out of City Council. The meeting's Monday morning, 10 AM, room 201-A, City Hall. It would be nice if the chairman of the committee, who should have been appalled at Rahm's election fundraising... more »
Climate Parents | Seattle Education
Climate Parents | Seattle Education: Seattle Education News and Commentary Climate Parents seattleducation2011 at Seattle Education - 20 minutes ago From Democracy Now As the U.S. suffers through its worst drought since the 1950s, the author and environmental correspondent Mark Hertsgaard joins us to discuss his new initiative, “Climate Parents.” In a new article, “Parents Need to Act Against Climate … Continue reading → Weekly Update: The Zone of Doublethink, are charter schools leading to more gang violence in Chicago? and a legislator in Mississippi asked the question “Who AR... more »
Top Content this Week - 7-21-12 The Educator's PLN
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: Rank1[image: ISTE 2012 and the Importance of Educator Connections]ISTE 2012 and the Importance of Educator Connections Added by Thomas Whitby on July 8, 2012 2[image: Rick Wormeli: Formative and Summative Assessment]Rick Wormeli: Formative and Summative Assessment Added by Thomas Whitby on May 28, 2012 3[image: What does inclusion look like in your school for the student, the special educator and gen ed teacher?]What does inclusion look like in your school for the student, the special educator and gen ed teacher? Posted by Marcy J. Perry o... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rethinking Schools at upcoming SOS Convention
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rethinking Schools at upcoming SOS Convention: Rethinking Schools at upcoming SOS Convention by Mike Klonsky The upcoming SOS Peoples Convention in D.C. Aug. 3-5, is really shaping up nicely. This announcement came today from Stan Karp atRethinking Schools. Last summer, the Save Our Schools march brought thousands of teachers, parents, and supporters of public education to Washington, D.C. The march and rally were hopeful signs of pushback against corporate ed reform. From August 3 to 5, Save Our Schools supporters will gather again in D.C., this ti... more »
This Week's Education Research Report 7-21-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research Report: This Week's Education Research Report Student Motivation: School Reform’s Missing Ingredient Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 26 minutes ago *CEP Report Summarizes Research on Understanding, Spurring Motivation* A series of papers by the Center on Education Policy (CEP) underscores the need for teachers, schools, parents and communities to pay more attention to the role of student motivation in school reform. While there is no single strategy that works to motivate all students, or even the same student in all contexts, the many differe... more »
This Week's Answer Sheet 7-21-12 - School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post
The Answer Sheet - School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Guns at school Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 38 minutes ago “Guns have no place in schools,” Arizona State University President Michael Crow was quoted as saying by the Arizona Republic when Gov. Jan Brewer issued a surprise veto this year against legislation that would have allowed guns to be carried on college and university campuses. Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon] ... more »
Schools Matter: New Jersey's big fat corporate ed reform liars
Schools Matter: New Jersey's big fat corporate ed reform liars: New Jersey's big fat corporate ed reform liars Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene at Schools Matter - 6 hours ago *Al denounced the idea of charters when it became clear that the concept had changed and was being hijacked by corporate and business interests. In Al’s view, such hijacking would result in the privatization of public education and, ultimately, its destruction — all without improving student outcomes. — Edith Shanker* [image: Chris Christie and Laura Waters wreaking havoc on Garden State education]It all started a... more »
The Relationship Between Poverty and Educational Opportunities (Guest Post by Alejandrina Franco) « Cooperative Catalyst
The Relationship Between Poverty and Educational Opportunities (Guest Post by Alejandrina Franco) « Cooperative Catalyst: The Relationship Between Poverty and Educational Opportunities (Guest Post by Alejandrina Franco) by dloitz “The only way out of poverty is through a great education.” This is what my parents told me throughout my life. My mother only went to school as far as 6th grade. My father went as far as 8th grade. Both had to stop going to school in order to help their families. Like most immigrants, my parents came to the U.S. in search of a better life for themselves a... more »
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 7-21-12 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: [image: Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Problems.] “Parent Involvement: A Two-Way Partnership with Schools” Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 6 hours ago Parent Involvement: A Two-Way Partnership with Schools is a useful post by Marilyn Price-Mitchell, Ph.D., who often writes on parent engagement issues. One of the best pieces of information in her post is a chart listing “Helpful Behaviors” and “Harmful Behaviors” related to parent involvement in schools….... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Secret Meetings With ACTING Commissioner Cerf?
Jersey Jazzman: Secret Meetings With ACTING Commissioner Cerf?: Secret Meetings With ACTING Commissioner Cerf? by Duke Oh, my: The same week that Ward E City Councilman (and future mayoral contender) Steven Fulop had to explain more than $18,000 in campaign donations from a law firm with ties to Spectra Energy, an e-mail was leaked from the 2013 mayoral candidate's personal gmail account in which he* invites an inner circle of school board members to what appears to be a secret meeting.* *Sent under the subject heading "Cerf meeting,*" the May 2, 2011 e-mail from Fulop reads: "... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-21-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-14-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-7-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-30-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-20-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-30-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-29-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-28-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-27-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-26-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-25-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 7-20 AM Posts #soschat #edreform
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-19-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-18-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-17-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-16-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-15-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-14-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-13-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-12-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-11-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-10-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-9-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-7-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-6-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-5-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-4-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-3-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-2-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-1-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-30-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-29-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-28-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-27-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-26-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-25-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-24-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-21-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-20-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-19-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-18-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-17-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-16-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-20-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-19-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-18-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-17-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-16-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2