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: Superintendent of Public Instruction
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Superintendent of Public Instruction: Superintendent of Public Instruction by Melissa Westbrook I'm late (and behind) on this post but life got in the way. Randy Dorn is an okay guy. I supported his last election. But I have found him a less-than-I wanted state superintendent. I think he has gotten out there and pushed the Innovation schools program and continued to push more students taking the SAT. However, I'm not impressed with his website which doesn't have much in the way of what he wants to do in the future. And, I don't like anyone... more »
Campbell Brown Slams Unions At Teachers' Expense | Crooks and Liars
Campbell Brown Slams Unions At Teachers' Expense | Crooks and Liars: Campbell Brown Slams Unions At Teachers' Expense 0 comments By karoli I suppose the one good thing to come out of this is that Campbell Brown, who has absolutely no business talking about education in any way, finally reveals herself as the stealth Romney campaign advisor we have all known she is. Before I discuss her despicable effort to "Willy Horton" the American Federation of Teachers and President Randi Weingarten in particular, let's just review who Campbell Brown is. She is a long-gone CNN White House corr... more »
An Urban Teacher's Education: Why Zero Tolerance School Discipline Schemes in Low-Income Schools Are So Inappropriate
An Urban Teacher's Education: Why Zero Tolerance School Discipline Schemes in Low-Income Schools Are So Inappropriate: Why Zero Tolerance School Discipline Schemes in Low-Income Schools Are So Inappropriate by James Boutin On Sunday I posted my review of Kathleen Nolan's book, *Police in the Hallways*. Originally, I had intended for the post to be much longer, but as I reread it, I realized much of what I'd included was less about the book and more a discussion about factors that motivate students' oppositional behavior. Therefore, to ensure the book review remained a book review... more »
A Consumer’s Union for Schools « Deborah Meier on Education
A Consumer’s Union for Schools « Deborah Meier on Education: A Consumer’s Union for Schools by debmeier What would it be like if we took our children and their teachers as seriously as CU takes the many products it “assesses”, “tests”, “reviews/” If you haven’t looked at an issue of CU recently, pick one up. Read the average auto review—and particularly the ones that compare a great many cars. They do not give you a single score. They “score” according to dozens of categories—so that the reader/consumer can keep in mind the trade-offs that are critical versus those that are tr... more »
Why Research on 21st Century Skills Matters | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights
Why Research on 21st Century Skills Matters | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Why Research on 21st Century Skills Matters by Tim Magner *Editor’s Note: Our guest blogger today is Tim Magner, Executive Director of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21).* Despite many education experts, business leaders, and higher education professionals joining the bandwagon to implement and highlight 21st century skills and helping define the now 10-year old 21st century skills movement, there’s been an important missing element: Research in the arena of 21st century sk... more »
Modern School: Immigrant Labor Illegal (Unless They Are Prisoners)
Modern School: Immigrant Labor Illegal (Unless They Are Prisoners): Immigrant Labor Illegal (Unless They Are Prisoners) by Michael Dunn Parchman Farm Prison Labor, 1911 It should be obvious that increasing raids and deportations of immigrants is great for business as it reduces the chances that immigrant laborers will organize or fight for their workplace rights out of fear they will be deported. Deportations increased 400% from 1996 and 2011, while the Department of Homeland Security has increased its daily detention capacity to34,000 beds, according to a recent piece in Truthout,... more »
Bill Gates needs to get his facts straight on test scores | Seattle Education
Bill Gates needs to get his facts straight on test scores | Seattle Education: Bill Gates needs to get his facts straight on test scores by seattleducation2011 *I came across an article that I had saved on the NAEP (pronounced “nape”) test results over the last 12 years and Bill Gates pronouncement that our school system is a failure based on his perception that students have not shown any academic gains over the last 40 years.* *Au contraire Mr. Gates, not according to the NAEP test.* *Mr. Richard Rothstein with the Economic Policy Institute states in a report last year titled Fa... more »
Aug 8 – Teachers to meet with parents in Hyde Park Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Aug 8 – Teachers to meet with parents in Hyde Park: Aug 8 – Teachers to meet with parents in Hyde Park by admin Next Wednesday, August 8, at 6:30 pm, Chicago Public School teachers from the Hyde Park area will meet with parents to share information about the progress of the teachers union contract talks and the impact the decisions may have on students and schools. I will also be on hand for the discussion. What: CPS teachers meeting with parents – all are invited! When: Wednesday, August 8, 2012, from 6:30 to 8 pm Where: Unit... more »
Most California for-profit colleges lose state grants - Inside Bay Area
Most California for-profit colleges lose state grants - Inside Bay Area: Most California for-profit colleges lose state grants By JUDY LIN, Associated Press Posted: 08/01/2012 08:12:24 AM PDT Updated: 08/01/2012 08:12:24 AM PDT SACRAMENTO -- California's move to tighten eligibility requirements for its Cal Grant program will eliminate or reduce awards to 14,500 students, most of them enrolled in for-profit colleges such as the University of Phoenix, the California Student Aid Commission announced Tuesday. The commission released a list of colleges that are no longer eligible to ... more »
OMG Whites Need Not Apply For School Vouchers In Richland Parish?
Whites Need Not Apply For School Vouchers In Richland Parish?: Whites Need Not Apply For School Vouchers In Richland Parish?Posted by: Tom Bonnette on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 15:11 [image: Black and White Cats] facebook twitter email pinterest Tagged with: Bobby Jindal Eric Holder Racism Richland Parish School Choice School Reform vouchers So, are only black kids in failing schools going to be eligible for vouchers in Richland Parish? That seems like a logical assumption if you take what’s going on in Louisiana’s Public School Choice policy in Richland and a... more »
Our New Book On Teaching English Language Learners Is Out Three Weeks Early! | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
Our New Book On Teaching English Language Learners Is Out Three Weeks Early! | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: Our New Book On Teaching English Language Learners Is Out Three Weeks Early! by Larry Ferlazzo My new book, *“The ESL/ELL Teacher’s Survival Guide: Ready-to-Use Strategies, Tools, and Activities for Teaching English Language Learners of All Levels,*” (co-authored by Katie Hull Sypnieski), now available — three weeks earlier than scheduled! Electronic versions, though, may not be available until the original publishing date — August 20th — but they might be out earlie... more »
Back to School: Family-School Partnership Act Brochure - Parent/Family (CA Dept of Education)
Family-School Partnership Act Brochure - Parent/Family (CA Dept of Education): Family-School Partnership Act BrochureQuestions and answers from the California Department of Education. Sacramento 2004. ------------------------------ What is the Family-School Partnership Act? The Family-School Partnership Act is a California law that allows parents, grandparents, and guardians to take time off from work to participate in their children's school or child care activities. The law (*Labor Code *Section 230.8) first took effect in 1995. Its provisions were expanded in 1997 to add *lice... more »
Just the threat of a pension cost shift is an immediate threat to every teacher in the state. « Fred Klonsky
Just the threat of a pension cost shift is an immediate threat to every teacher in the state. « Fred Klonsky: Just the threat of a pension cost shift is an immediate threat to every teacher in the state. by Fred Klonsky There are a number of things that may happen when the Governor calls the General Assembly into session on August 17th that impact teachers and working people in Illinois. - The House will be asked to pass HB1447. The Senate already has. HB1447 would force a class of state workers, not teachers, to choose between health care subsidy and a COLA. - Both ... more »
Education Research Report: Pay Teachers More: Financial Planning for Reach Models
Education Research Report: Pay Teachers More: Financial Planning for Reach Models: Pay Teachers More: Financial Planning for Reach Models by Jonathan Kantrowitz This report contains links to financial analyses of three of the 20+ Opportunity Culture school models. Savings and cost calculations of the models—*Elementary Subject Specialization, **Multi-Classroom Leadership, * and*Time-Technology Swap Rotation*—illustrate that schools could increase excellent teachers’ pay up to approximately 130%, *without increasing class sizes and within existing budgets*. In some variations, school... more »
New York City’s great-teacher problem—Lori Wheal - NYPOST.com
New York City’s great-teacher problem—Lori Wheal - NYPOST.com: Why NYC can’t keep great teachers By LORI WHEAL *Last Updated:* 12:39 AM, August 1, 2012 When I first became a teacher 10 years ago, I envisioned a long career helping countless children reach their potential and go on to accomplish great things. By all measures, I’m succeeding — but it’s no longer enough to sustain me in this profession. Next month, as teachers and students return to to MS 391 in The Bronx, I won’t be among them. The decision to leave the classroom was among the most difficult I’ve ever made, but I feel... more »
Teacher union boss bends to school reform winds - Yahoo! News
Teacher union boss bends to school reform winds - Yahoo! News: Teacher union boss bends to school reform winds[image: Reuters]By James B. Kelleher | Reuters – 18 hrs ago - - - 1 - - Email - Print RELATED CONTENT - [image: American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten testifies during the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee hearing on economic recovery and job creation options on Capitol Hill in Washington October 29, 2008. REUTERS/Mitch Dumke] American Federation of Teachers … DETROIT (Reuters) - In the maelstrom of criticism s... more »
The “Confessions of a Teaching Fellow” Were Spot On « Diane Ravitch's blog
The “Confessions of a Teaching Fellow” Were Spot On « Diane Ravitch's blog: The “Confessions of a Teaching Fellow” Were Spot On by dianerav A previous post recounted “The Confessions of a Teaching Fellow” who described her revulsion at what she was expected to do. Soon after that post went up, another came from someone who said the writer of the original post was absolutely wrong. Here is confirmation for the teacher who spoke out: *I worked for the TFA program last summer as a supervising teacher (basically a baby-sitter for the TFA candidates who aren’t allowed to be in a class... more »
Why Hillsborough School Board’s Passage of Resolution on High-Stakes Testing Means More | Scathing Purple Musings
Why Hillsborough School Board’s Passage of Resolution on High-Stakes Testing Means More | Scathing Purple Musings: Why Hillsborough School Board’s Passage of Resolution on High-Stakes Testing Means More by Bob Sikes From the *Tampa Bay Times* Marlene Sokol: Testing — the subject of school board resolutions around the nation and state — has troubled (Board Chairwoman Candy) Olson for months. At the board workshop on the issue, members spent more than an hour learning about state-ordered tests, national tests and the end-of-course exams that have existed in Hillsborough since 1984.... more »
How Should Teachers Spell R-E-S-P-E-C-T?
How Should Teachers Spell R-E-S-P-E-C-T?: How Should Teachers Spell R-E-S-P-E-C-T? by Sam For the past several years, conversations about American public education – and how to improve it – have grown increasingly loud and contentious. In fact, there’s only one issue on which it seems all sides can agree: when it comes to the learning environment, nothing matters more than a great teacher. It’s ironic, then, that as a society we act as though nothing matters less. We internalize the notion that “Those who can’t, teach.” We speak in two-dimensional terms that portray educators...more »
RheeFirst! » Irony or Farce? Michelle Rhee, Kevin Johnson to speak about edu-ethics
RheeFirst! » Irony or Farce? Michelle Rhee, Kevin Johnson to speak about edu-ethics: Irony or Farce? Michelle Rhee, Kevin Johnson to speak about edu-ethics by admin The University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law is hosting a conversation series about ethics in various facets of society. For its August 7 “Ethics in Education” lecture, the law school invited Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson to be the featured speakers. Here are a few facts that might have led the organizers to choose different speakers: - The widespread cheating in DC schools during Michelle Rhee... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Who Is StudentsFirst Backing in the MO Elections?
Missouri Education Watchdog: Who Is StudentsFirst Backing in the MO Elections?: Who Is StudentsFirst Backing in the MO Elections? by Anngie This arrived in our mailbox this week from StudentsFirst. *We are pleased to announce our endorsements for the 2012 Missouri Primary Elections for elected offices in the State's General Assembly. The endorsed candidates below have been selected based upon their responses to a questionnaire on education policies and, if incumbents, their record of support for common sense education reform efforts. All those endorsed have clearly demonstrated ... more »
Last Stand for Children First: More on Using Loss Aversion with Teachers
Last Stand for Children First: More on Using Loss Aversion with Teachers: More on Using Loss Aversion with Teachers by Last Stand for Children Popout In the movie Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese gave a good demonstration on how you could use loss aversion to run a business. The idea is, giving somebody something and then threatening to take it away if certain goals aren't met is far more effective than just promising people something if they meet those goals. For teachers, this has obvious implication for merit pay schemes where teachers are handsomely rewarded at the beginning of t... more »
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, August 1, 2012
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Los Angeles, California* Education Headlines *Wednesday, August 1, 2012* Panama-Buena Vista poised to send bond measure to votersA recent poll of about 400 voters in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District showed 59 percent would "probably" or "definitely" vote for a $147 million bond measure aimed at upgrading classrooms, security systems, computer labs and other facilities, trustees heard Tuesday. Tehachapi approves K-5 anti-bullying curriculumTehachapi Unified School District's board on Monday approved anti-harassment cur... more »
Caterpiller: Introducting our Employee Fracking System. « Fred Klonsky
Caterpiller: Introducting our Employee Fracking System. « Fred Klonsky: Caterpiller: Introducting our Employee Fracking System. by Fred Klonsky
Schools Matter: Preventing the “summer slump” in reading: silent reading time AND support for libraries
Schools Matter: Preventing the “summer slump” in reading: silent reading time AND support for libraries: Preventing the “summer slump” in reading: silent reading time AND support for libraries by skrashen Posted at http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/07/31/using-summer-to-narrow-achievement-gap/ As the NY Times notes, children from lower-income families tend to fall behind in reading over the summer, and a major reason is that they don’t read very much (“Using summer to narrow achievement gaps,” NY Times, July 31, School Book). The Summer Quest program, described in the Times,... more »
Why the ACLU Is Suing Michigan « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why the ACLU Is Suing Michigan « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why the ACLU Is Suing Michigan by dianerav The ACLU has filed suit against the agencies and people who, they claim, have failed the children of Highland Park. This is one of three districts where a state emergency manager was sent to take charge because of fiscal distress. He shut down the public schools and will turn the students over to charter operators. In this letter, the state’s ACLU director explains why it is suing: *The Detroit News’ July 16 editorial, “ACLU’s Highland Park lawsuit blames wrong defendants,” woefully ... more »
What’s Really Wrong with Teacher Quality and Teacher Education? | Alternet
What’s Really Wrong with Teacher Quality and Teacher Education? | Alternet: What’s Really Wrong with Teacher Quality and Teacher Education? It's time to get rid of the wrongheaded way we evaluate teachers and educate them for the classroom. *August 1, 2012* | Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock.com LIKE THIS ARTICLE? Join our email list: Stay up to date with the latest headlines via email. The last decade has included some powerful and harsh narratives about U.S. public education and its teachers: Public schools are failing, particularly in international c... more »
The IEA must oppose the pension cost shift. « Fred Klonsky
The IEA must oppose the pension cost shift. « Fred Klonsky: The IEA must oppose the pension cost shift. by Fred Klonsky The surprising thing is that we all thought the IEA *already opposed the proposal* by Madigan and Quinn to shift the cost of the state’s pension obligations to the local school districts. It was a shock to many when the IEA website announced that we had *no position*. No position on this issue *is the same as support*. Quinn wants the General Assembly to address it on August 17. He may not be successful according to many observers but the IEA needs to be mobilizin... more »
More Drama for Maverick’s Charter School | Scathing Purple Musings
More Drama for Maverick’s Charter School | Scathing Purple Musings: More Drama for Maverick’s Charter School by Bob Sikes This time on the other Florida coast in Pinellas county. Alli Langley writes in the *Tampa Bay Times* that the local non-profit group who runs two charter schools will be cutting ties with the for-profit Mavericks management company. A switch by Mavericks to a new online curriculum at the nine charter schools it runs in Florida triggered the split. Pinellas school officials declared it did not meet state standards. The local board was shocked, (Pinellas Count... more »
NYC Educator: Miss Eyre, NYC Educator, and You: Are We the "Irreplaceables"?
NYC Educator: Miss Eyre, NYC Educator, and You: Are We the "Irreplaceables"?: Miss Eyre, NYC Educator, and You: Are We the "Irreplaceables"? by Miss Eyre It's funny how much I seem to be thinking about quitting my job over the summer. Not really, of course. I have ever intention of coming back for another year ofmasochism educating the youth in September, really! But my last post here (title: "Those Who Can, Teach, Until They Don't") dealt with the issue of retention, and, after reading this GothamSchools post, I find myself thinking about it again. It's long been my chief ed
Why Are Teachers Silent? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Are Teachers Silent? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Are Teachers Silent? by dianerav Many readers have noted that their colleagues go along with policies they know are wrong. They comply because compliance is easier than resistance. They comply because they fear losing their job or being seen as a troublemaker. This is sad but understandable. People need to feel secure, they need to feed their family and pay the mortgage. Few people want to step outside their comfort zone or risk opprobrium and punishment from their supervisor. Go along and get along is a lot pleasanter than bei... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-1-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Recommended Reading for Roland Fryer and His Colleagues by dianerav A reader suggests some reading for Professor Fryer and his colleagues. Fryer has spent years searching for the incentive that works. This reader says he should stop searching and read an article by Frederick Herzberg. No, it did not appear in the *Teachers College Record* or the *Harvard Educational Review* or *Phi Delta Kappan *or an AERA journal. This is the classic article to which he refers: *Check out the Harvard Business Review. ... more »
Undocumented students await rules on deferred deportation | EdSource Today
Undocumented students await rules on deferred deportation | EdSource Today: Undocumented students await rules on deferred deportation ** August 1st, 2012 | Add a Comment | By Kathryn Baron Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services Hundreds of thousands of undocumented students and young adults in California, brought to this country when they were very young, will learn a little more today about their likelihood of remaining in the United States legally for at least two years. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), par... more »
Teachers aren’t martyrs, monks or nuns. But they are dedicated and trying their best for their students. | Get Schooled
Teachers aren’t martyrs, monks or nuns. But they are dedicated and trying their best for their students. | Get Schooled: Teachers aren’t martyrs, monks or nuns. But they are dedicated and trying their best for their students. 2:46 am August 1, 2012, by Maureen Downey [image: over (Medium)]I am hearing a lot about teachers leaving their schools, even in high performing areas. One of the Get Schooled blog’s most eloquent and articulate posters,*Jordan Kohanim, who gave up her north Fulton teaching job this year, *shared this list of ways schools could stem the exodus. By Jordan Kohan... more »
Peg with Pen: They Want Your Rug. Ask TPS.
Peg with Pen: They Want Your Rug. Ask TPS.: They Want Your Rug. Ask TPS. by Peggy What does it feel like to have the rug pulled out from under you? All of us know this feeling to some extent. And when you thought the rug was your rug – and someone claims it is not, what do you do? I have had the rug pulled out from under me many times in my life. But I have never experienced a school closing as a teacher or a parent. I wonder - what would I do? Now I sit here in Denver seething, then crying, then seething, then wondering who I can punch or what choice words I might email to ... more »
Why Schools Should Help Students Find Their Passion - Education - GOOD
Why Schools Should Help Students Find Their Passion - Education - GOOD: Why Schools Should Help Students Find Their Passion by Liz Dwyer Popout "Many people spend their entire lives doing things they don't really care for" and "endure their lives" says reknowned creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson in a talk for the School of Life on finding our purpose and following our passion. Robinson—who is known for speaking out against our highly standardized, one-size-fits-all education system that follows a "linear mode of production" and steers workers toward filling slots at companies so o... more »
All Education Matters: Higher Ed Watch: Steve Burd - "Why the Harkin Report on For-Profit Colleges Really Matters"
All Education Matters: Higher Ed Watch: Steve Burd - "Why the Harkin Report on For-Profit Colleges Really Matters": Higher Ed Watch: Steve Burd - "Why the Harkin Report on For-Profit Colleges Really Matters" by Cryn Johannsen [image: DESCRIPTION]Photo Credit: Johnathan Ernst/Reuters Higher Education Policy Analyst Steve Burd, at the New America Foundation, published a piece on July 31st about Senator Harkin's report on for-profit colleges. The findings offer damning evidence of how these schools mislead students and defraud them. It is clear, based upon Burd's analysis, why Harkin... more »
Last Stand for Children First: Roland Fryer, Snooki, and Building the Perfect Teacher
Last Stand for Children First: Roland Fryer, Snooki, and Building the Perfect Teacher: Roland Fryer, Snooki, and Building the Perfect Teacher by Last Stand for Children *By Monica Caldwell*People are always surprised to find out that I wasn't an education major in college. As a hotel/motel management major I learned a lot about how to deal with employees. This knowledge was further augmented when I began managing a tanning salon at the tender age of 20. Teaching was the hardest job I ever had and the five weeks of training leading up to it was even tougher than the nearly 2 who... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SOS Labor Panel and Workshop at upcoming convention
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SOS Labor Panel and Workshop at upcoming convention: SOS Labor Panel and Workshop at upcoming convention by Mike Klonsky Weingarten calls for "new unionism"After stops in Cleveland and Philly, two cities now viewed as "models" of privatization by the corporate reformers, I'm headed to D.C. this morning to take part in the upcoming SOS Convention. I'll be part of the convention'sLabor Panel and Workshop, which is looking even more interesting in light of the so-called "solutions driven unionism" being pushed by AFT Pres. Randi Weingarten. Weingarten,... more »
Culture in Decline | Episode #1 "What Democracy?"(VIDEO) by Peter Joseph - Perdaily.com
Culture in Decline | Episode #1 "What Democracy?"(VIDEO) by Peter Joseph - Perdaily.com: Culture in Decline | Episode #1 "What Democracy?"(VIDEO) by Peter Joseph by Leonard Isenberg [image: Culture in Decline.jpg] (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)* At perdaily, we spend most of our time focused on the microcosm of purposefully failed public education as it presently exists at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and public school districts like it around the United States and around the world. These pseudo educational systems ... more »
Measuring My Teacher Effectiveness In Buckets | The Jose Vilson
Measuring My Teacher Effectiveness In Buckets | The Jose Vilson: Measuring My Teacher Effectiveness In Buckets by Jose Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation with my brother Ralf, and a couple of burgeoning entrepreneurs about the teaching profession. They called it the most important profession there is, and one of their sisters was a public school teacher in Trenton. We laughed as the one guy told us about how his sister loved the more seemingly intimidating situations in Newark and Trenton, preferring the more difficult classes. Asked how she handled all that, he said that... more »
Gerard Robinson’s Convenient Departure | Scathing Purple Musings
Gerard Robinson’s Convenient Departure | Scathing Purple Musings: Gerard Robinson’s Convenient Departure by Bob Sikes By all accounts, Gerard Robinson is a decent man and I take him at his word that family concerns motivated him to give a 30-day notice to Governor Rick Scott. And everybody is saying all the right things – although revealing particular details of Robinson’s family dynamics are a bit peculiar. These were things that people aren’t entitled to know and Robinson didn’t need to divulge then either. As all media reports are giving the details, somone provided them as ... more »
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, local Democratic Party at odds over nonprofits' City Hall presence - Sacramento City News - The Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, local Democratic Party at odds over nonprofits' City Hall presence - Sacramento City News - The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, local Democratic Party at odds over nonprofits' City Hall presence By Ryan Lillis rlillis@sacbee.com Published: Tuesday, Jul. 31, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 1B Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 31, 2012 - 5:15 pm He may be a Democrat (or Not). He may have just won re-election. But Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson apparently still has a long way to go to impress the local Democratic Party. In the latest sign of how fract... more »
"Significant barriers to entry" at many Philadelphia charters, says District report | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
"Significant barriers to entry" at many Philadelphia charters, says District report | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: "Significant barriers to entry" at many Philadelphia charters, says District report by Benjamin Herold by Benjamin Herold for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks A School District review found “significant barriers to entry” to numerous city charter schools, according to a draft report obtained by the * Notebook/NewsWorks*. In at least one case, an unidentified charter only made its enrollment applications available on only one day per year. Another unnamed chart... more »
AUGUST 17TH, LET THE INVASION OF SPRINGFIELD BEGIN « Teachers Fight Back
AUGUST 17TH, LET THE INVASION OF SPRINGFIELD BEGIN « Teachers Fight Back: AUGUST 17TH, LET THE INVASION OF SPRINGFIELD BEGIN by alkleen The governor of Illinois has called for a special session of the General Assembly to be held on August 17th. It’s time for every teacher in Illinois to make plans to be in Springfield on that day. It’s time to hold the largest mass demonstration ever held in Springfield. Most teachers in Illinois will still not be in the classroom on August 17th. This is the chance to make a statement to the General Assembly about the upcoming “pension reform”. ... more »
The Loss Aversion Contest: You Can Win! « Diane Ravitch's blog
The Loss Aversion Contest: You Can Win! « Diane Ravitch's blog: The Loss Aversion Contest: You Can Win! by dianerav Economist Roland Fryer has been trying for years to find the magic incentive that would produce higher scores. He tried merit pay, and that didn’t work. He tried paying students to get higher scores, but that didn’t work. Now, he has at last found the key: He and his colleagues have perfected a technique called “loss aversion.” They give teachers a bonus (say, $4,000) at the beginning of the year. If the scores go up, the teachers keep the The First Entrant Is A Stron... more »
School officials in Fla. try to block Michelle Obama visit
School officials in Fla. try to block Michelle Obama visit: School officials in Fla. try to block Michelle Obama visit Some Miami-Dade (Fla.) School Board members are trying to block a visit to a school by first lady Michelle Obama scheduled for today on the grounds that it amounts to a campaign visit,*The Miami Herald* reports. CAPTION By Julie Jacobson, AP Miami-Dade School Board member Renier Diaz de la Portilla has called for the event at Barbara Goleman Senior High School in Miami Lakes, Fla., to be canceled while board member Carlos Curbelo wants the board attorney to recons... more »
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Top 5 Popular Posts of July 2012!
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Top 5 Popular Posts of July 2012!: Top 5 Popular Posts of July 2012! by Lisa M Jeopardy and Photopeach:Beginning of the Year Activities! I got this idea from the facilitator of a workshop I participated in last week. This is how she started the class, different categories of course, and I thought it was so cool! I asked her for a copy, and then realized I could use the online version of Jeopardy. Of course, you can use whatever Jeopardy you are comfortable with. I really like this one
School Tech Connect: Good Money After Bad
School Tech Connect: Good Money After Bad: Good Money After Bad by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) And just what is the Quincy chapter of the AFT going to tell its community about the Common Core Standards? "Dear Community, the state has adopted a fussy new set of academic standards, and we live in the state. The main thing is that there will be more testing, and over time, as the standards grow into other subject matters, the testing will increase dramatically. The federal government is also trying to strong-arm the state into tying teacher What Dog Is This? by noreply@blogger... more »
BREAKING Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Resigns | Scathing Purple Musings
BREAKING Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Resigns | Scathing Purple Musings: BREAKING Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Resigns by Bob Sikes From Jeff Solochek at *Gradebook*: This just in from the Florida Department of Education: *Tallahassee, Fla., July 31, 2012 – Florida Department of Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson submitted a letter of resignation today to Governor Rick Scott and State Board of Education Chair Kathleen Shanahan.* *Commissioner Robinson has served as head of one of the country’s largest state school systems since August 2011. ...more »
The day Gerber “Graduates” cheetos broke my computer Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » The day Gerber “Graduates” cheetos broke my computer: The day Gerber “Graduates” cheetos broke my computer by admin It all started 12 days ago with this image in the business section of the newspaper. When I saw it, I knew I had to use it on my blog. Figuring out how it related to a timely education reform topic was secondary. Yes, folks, that’s right. Baby cheetos. Gerber calls them “Graduates.” That’s about as far as my thought processes had gotten when my computer decided that it could not process that or anything else, and... more »
Where Teachers Learn « Diane Ravitch's blog
Where Teachers Learn « Diane Ravitch's blog: Where Teachers Learn by dianerav Diana Senechal is a brilliant writer. She wrote a fascinating book titled “Republic of Noise.” She teaches in the summer at the Dallas Institute of Culture and the Humanities. Who knew that Dallas has a vibrant learning center where teachers read the great books? I did, because I visited a couple of years ago and was blown away by the teachers and their enthusiasm for Shakespeare. This is Diana’s report about this summer’s institute. Every city should have an institute like this one: *Literature as Teach... more »
Why Algebra « Deborah Meier on Education
Why Algebra « Deborah Meier on Education: Why Algebra by debmeier Math education is high on the list of both professional and lay “hot” topics. Everyone has an opinion. Andrew Hacker’s critique in Sunday’s New York Times was a pleasure to read, given that I agree with him. But he also managed to base his argument on unassailable facts. For example, only 7% of the job positions in America actually require algebraic knowledge. But 57% of all college entrants fail to finish college largely because they can’t pass algebra! The same goes for high school diplomas. The price they pay ... more »
Why Local School Board Members Pose the Biggest Threat to Florida’s Anointed All-Knowings | Scathing Purple Musings
Why Local School Board Members Pose the Biggest Threat to Florida’s Anointed All-Knowings | Scathing Purple Musings: Why Local School Board Members Pose the Biggest Threat to Florida’s Anointed All-Knowings by Bob Sikes Coleen Conklin isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers. A serious advocate for public schools, Conklin raised the possibility of a lawsuit targeting Rick Scott and the legislature in April 2011 for failing to fund education. She even toyed with the idea of taking on powerful state senator John Thrasher this fall but decided to run again for the Flagler County school board... more »
Mother Crusader: Greg Richmond Takes Local Control From Illinois. Next Stop, New Jersey.
Mother Crusader: Greg Richmond Takes Local Control From Illinois. Next Stop, New Jersey.: Greg Richmond Takes Local Control From Illinois. Next Stop, New Jersey. by darciecima [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Greg Richmond, CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, would like you to believe he knows what New Jersey's public school system needs. Don't believe him. Pay particular attention to this section of his NJ Spotlight editorial. *Even as nine new public charter schools prepare to open in September* *to serve families in ... more »
Opinion: Cheating: Just another pathway to success? Youth think so : page all - NorthJersey.com
Opinion: Cheating: Just another pathway to success? Youth think so : page all - NorthJersey.com: Opinion: Cheating: Just another pathway to success? Youth think so TUESDAY JULY 31, 2012, 4:55 PM BY VICTOR DORFF THE RECORD PRINT | E-MAIL CHEATING was, is and probably always will be a fact of life. Recently, technology has provided new ways to cheat, but advanced electronics can’t be blamed for our increasing willingness to tolerate it. Once upon a time, being an honorable person included the notion that your word was your bond, and integrity was a crucial eleme... more »
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