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
The KIPP Boast « Diane Ravitch's blog
The KIPP Boast « Diane Ravitch's blog: The KIPP Boast by dianerav *Jonathan Schorr* I challenged KIPP to take over an impoverished district and to show how their methods could work for all children–the ELLs, the special ed, all kids–not just those whose parents entered a lottery. Jonathan Schorr responded by saying that would be abandoning their original mission. His snarky (and insulting) response appears as a comment on the original post. Schorr works for the billionaire-funded NewSchools Venture Fund. This is a comment from Parents Across America activist Caroline Grannan in ... more »
21st Century “Hybrid” Education | Lefty Parent
21st Century “Hybrid” Education | Lefty Parent: 21st Century “Hybrid” Education by Cooper Zale Saw this recent piece in *Ed Week*, “Hybrid Home Schools Gaining Traction”, highlighting a trend which may turn out to be the new emerging norm for education as we get deeper into this new century. Stated simply using an environmental metaphor, the current “monoculture” of full-time year-round instructional school attendance may be gradually supplanted by perhaps a richer “polyculture”
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Thank You, Neil Armstrong
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Thank You, Neil Armstrong: Thank You, Neil Armstrong by Melissa Westbrook From the AP: "I am, and ever will be, a white socks, pocket protector, nerdy engineer," he said in February 2000 in one of his rare public appearances. "And I take a substantial amount of pride in the accomplishments of my profession." Like taking the biggest step in the history of the world? Those of us that saw this event on TV will never forget it. I went out and looked into that dark
Will KIPP Take the Challenge? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Will KIPP Take the Challenge? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Will KIPP Take the Challenge? by dianerav A comment by Jonathan Schorr (son of the famous Dan Schorr, who was a fearless man of the left, opposed to plutocrats and billionaires and privatizers and their schemes in foreign nations) suggests that KIPP will NOT take the challenge. Jon says that KIPP would abandon their original purpose if they accepted responsibility for an entire impoverished district. Jon says it is wrong to expect KIPP to take on a district. That would betray their “original purpose.” Which, I guess, means to he... more »
Schools Matter: Future of SOS Hinges on Repudiation of Common Core
Schools Matter: Future of SOS Hinges on Repudiation of Common Core: Future of SOS Hinges on Repudiation of Common Core by Jim Horn Today Stephen Krashen posted a letter at EPATA by Bess Altwerger, co-founder of Save Our Schools. In it she makes a strong case for SOS voting to put its full weight forward in opposing, blocking, and dismantling the next high-stakes testing deliver system, the Common Core State [sic] Standards. Meanwhile, Corporate Bob and his loyal Webmistress over at SOS continue to churn out more talking points to distribute to the GOP and the DNC. Can anythin... more »
Virginia’s Sub-standard Standards
Virginia’s Sub-standard Standards: Virginia’s Sub-standard Standards by Kris Amundson In an editorial in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, I tell the story of a phone call I received from a friend when I was a member of the Fairfax County school board. Her daughter had just received her first-quarter marks, including a C in algebra. The mother was upset, and she made an appointment to talk with the teacher. Later, she called me to report on that conversation. The teacher had smiled at her and said, “Really, Mrs. Smith, a C isn’t such a bad grade.” “It is,” my friend responded, “... more »
Virginia’s Sub-standard Standards
Virginia’s Sub-standard Standards: Virginia’s Sub-standard Standards by Kris Amundson In an editorial in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, I tell the story of a phone call I received from a friend when I was a member of the Fairfax County school board. Her daughter had just received her first-quarter marks, including a C in algebra. The mother was upset, and she made an appointment to talk with the teacher. Later, she called me to report on that conversation. The teacher had smiled at her and said, “Really, Mrs. Smith, a C isn’t such a bad grade.” “It is,” my friend responded, “... more »
High Stakes Testing: Thy Name is DIBELS | United Opt Out National
High Stakes Testing: Thy Name is DIBELS | United Opt Out National: High Stakes Testing: Thy Name is DIBELS by admin ** *Parents, please feel free to use this letter written by Morna McDermott McNulty, administrator for United Opt Out National. Morna is opting her children out of DIBELS. Read to find out why. This is also o**ur action for the week of August 26, 2012 – share this letter far and wide. Email it to all of your friends with young children. Send it to your child’s teacher. We must continue to educate and encourage others to take actions which will place the focus where ... more »
Screenings and Panel Discussions of Film “Won’t Back Down” to be Held at DNC and RNC | StudentsFirst.org
Screenings and Panel Discussions of Film “Won’t Back Down” to be Held at DNC and RNC | StudentsFirst.org: This *year's Democratic* and *Republican national conventions will feature screenings* of "*Won'**t Back Down*" YOU CAN SEE “WBD” AT DEM CONVENTION TOO by dianerav “Won’t Back Down" Rhymes with "Stand Your Ground" and is brought to you by those great folks at ALEC This year's Democratic and Republican national conventions will feature screenings of "Won't Back Down" – a new major studio motion picture to be released on September 28th. The screenings will be hosted by Stud... more »
A Blue-Collar Girl in a White-Collar World | Lefty Parent
A Blue-Collar Girl in a White-Collar World | Lefty Parent: A Blue-Collar Girl in a White-Collar World by Cooper Zale *I am republishing this piece written by my daughter Emma and originally published on Daily KOS (click here to see on Daily KOS)…* I am (and to some extent, have always been) a writer, but my desire to become a novelist did not emerge until after I’d made the choice to drop out of high school and become an “autodidact” (someone who is self-taught — see My Experience With Unschooling). All I knew then was that being in a traditional school setting made me terribly unha... more »
You Can See “WBD” at Dem Convention Too « Diane Ravitch's blog
You Can See “WBD” at Dem Convention Too « Diane Ravitch's blog: You Can See “WBD” at Dem Convention Too by dianerav “Won’t Back Down" Rhymes with "Stand Your Ground" and is brought to you by those great folks at ALEC StudentsFirst, Parent Revolution, and Democrats for Education Reform are hosting a screening of the film “Won’t Back Down” at the Democratic National Convention. It is not on the official program, so I hear. This is the film celebrating the parent trigger, the law started by the billionaire-funded Parent Revolution in California and since adopted by the far-rightwi... more »
Charter schools' cheating scandal teaches a disheartening lesson - latimes.com
Charter schools' cheating scandal teaches a disheartening lesson - latimes.com: Charter schools' cheating scandal teaches a disheartening lessonDecisions surrounding L.A. Unified's now closed Crescendo charter school chain indicate the adults were thinking more about themselves than about the students. - [image: print] - Comments 23 - Email Share - - - - 1 - 2 - next - | single page [image: John Allen] In March 2011, John Allen, left, Crescendo charter schools' founder, walks out of a board of directors meeting and into ... more »
Union leaders have Chicago teachers wanting more - Chicago Tribune
Union leaders have Chicago teachers wanting more - Chicago Tribune: Union leaders have Chicago teachers wanting more Rank and file's expectations may make contract talks more difficult August 24, 2012|By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Joel Hood and Kristen Mack, Chicago Tribune reporters - - - - - - - - - 103 - After nine months of firing up its members for a possible strike amid rancorous contract talks, Chicago Teachers Union leaders may be hard-pressed to secure a deal that satisfies members. "If you're preparing... more »
Letters: A union's power in Sacramento - latimes.com
Letters: A union's power in Sacramento - latimes.com: Letters: A union's power in Sacramento - [image: print] - Comments 1 - Email Share - - - [image: A potent force in California politics] California Teachers Assn. members join others at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles to protest budget cuts to statewide education. The union holds sway over Democrats -- labor's traditionally ally -- and Republicans alike. (Los Angeles Times / August 24, 2012) Re "A Capitol force," Aug. 20 Without doubt the California Teachers A...more »
Hispanic Student Enrollments Reach New Highs in 2011 | Pew Hispanic Center
Hispanic Student Enrollments Reach New Highs in 2011 | Pew Hispanic Center: Now Largest Minority Group on Four-Year College CampusesHispanic Student Enrollments Reach New Highs in 2011 by Richard Fry and Mark Hugo Lopez I. OVERVIEW The nation’s Hispanic 1student population reached a number of milestones in 2011, according to an analysis of newly available U.S. Census Bureau data by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center. For the first time, the number of 18- to 24-year-old Hispanics enrolled in college exceeded 2 million and reached a record 16.5% share of all... more »
Saturday coffee + Old school. « Fred Klonsky
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky *Rahm’s threatening to get involved. What’s he been up until now? An innocent bystander?* As of this morning the Chicago Teachers Union has not yet given their legally required ten-day strike notification. Schools will open September 4th. I would still give better than even money that Chicago teachers will walk out. The soonest it can happen now is September 7th. Yesterday, the Mayor was threatening to get personally involved. Like he’s not personally involved now? I believe that’s why they call it *mayoral contr... more »
Hey Educational Reformers: Data This! - Wait, What?
Hey Educational Reformers: Data This! - Wait, What?: Hey Educational Reformers: Data This! by jonpelto [image: animated numbers] Diane Ravitch hits the bull’s eye, yet again, with her blog post today entitled, The Damage Done by Data-Driven Evaluation. The subject; how professional conversations in our schools have changed. As she notes, “They no longer discuss instructional improvements in their staff meetings; they no longer review opportunities for professional development related to classroom practice. They talk data. They hear from data experts. They strategize about how to ge... more »
NYC Educator: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Book of Lesson Planning
NYC Educator: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Book of Lesson Planning: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Book of Lesson Planning by NYC Educator
Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-25-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why Data Count More Than Any Other Measure by dianerav When the purveyors of evaluation systems are hawking their latest program, they confidently assert that the test scores are only one of multiple measures. Don’t worry, they say, the test scores are only 20%, or 30%, or 40%, or 50%. We will put them into context with lots of soft measures derived from classroom observations or other non-data sources. But it is not true, even if they mean it when they say it. I Will Be Interviewed Sunday at 6 PM EST by d... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Reformies = Liars
Jersey Jazzman: Reformies = Liars: Reformies = Liars by Duke The time has come to start using the "L" word with these people: *TFA got caught in a huge lie when they claimed that 41% of the first years get at least 1.5 years of gains*, and once you are outed as a liar it does cast a shadow over your other claims, even if some of those other claims happened to be true. This is why it is best not to lie. Even in this statement, they cite a favorite statistic that 2/3 of alumni are still ‘in education.’ This is also a stretch. Can any TFAer out there even claim that 2/3 of the ... more »
This Week's Answer Sheet 8-25-1212 - 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] Education news you shouldn’t miss... Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 46 minutes ago Here are some things that happened this week that are worth knowing: * Hispanics now account for nearly one-quarter of the pre-K through 12th grade population, according to a Pew Hispanic Center analysis of newly available U.S. Census Bureau data. Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon] The cre... more »
This Week's Education Research Report 8-25-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* Study finds a new pathway for invasive species – science teachers Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 48 minutes ago A survey of teachers from the United States and Canada found that one out of four educators who used live animals as part of their science curriculum released the organisms into the wild after they were done using them in the classroom. Yet only 10 percent of those teachers participated in a planned release program, increasing the likelihood that the well-intentioned practice of using l... more »
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 8-25-12 …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.] “Teachers tell parents how to help their kids be better students” Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 10 hours ago Teachers tell parents how to help their kids be better students is from The Washington Post and, even though I’d prefer if the headline wasn’t “teachers tell parents,” it still has some good information. I’m adding it to The Best Ideas On How Parents Can Help Their Kids Succeed Academically. “Home ... more »
Top Content this Week - 8-25-12 The Educator's PLN
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: 1[image: Seth Godin on Education]Seth Godin on Education Added by Thomas Whitby on April 26, 2012 2[image: A great video/lesson educational site for teachers!]A great video/lesson educational site for teachers! Added by Rae Ross on August 21, 2012 3[image: Benefits of Educational Apps for Preschoolers]Benefits of Educational Apps for Preschoolers Added by Dorothy Hastings on August 21, 2012 4[image: STEM - Getting started with STEM]STEM - Getting started with STEM Posted by Lori Callister on August 11, 2011 5[image: What’s the big deal about Bl...more »
Daily Kos: Saturday morning reflection
Daily Kos: Saturday morning reflection: Saturday morning reflection by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) even though I am no longer in the classroom. If I were, I would have completed one week with students, and this weekend would be devoted to calling all of their parents, who by now might have heard strange (but true) tales about this guy teaching Government to their children. Yes, there is some sadness that I am not in the classroom, but at the time I made the decision to take the buyout and retire it was the correct decision. I did not have the passion, nor the necessary love a... more »
Jersey Jazzman: More Like This!
Jersey Jazzman: More Like This!: More Like This! by Duke Now we're talking: Popout As Digby explains, we are being presented with a false choice in this election: Romney's stark austerity vs. Obama's "grand bargain," which ain't so grand. There is a better way: a progressive growth strategy, based on investment in the country fueled by a real progressive tax structure. Nothing would be better for the free market, the middle class, or democracy. Part of that strategy would be to fully fund public education to ensure that every child learns in a beautiful school Obama's Mixed Mes... more »
School Tech Connect: The Kids Will Be Watching
School Tech Connect: The Kids Will Be Watching: The Kids Will Be Watching by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I'm not with CPS or CTU. I'm just a guy with a blog. But I did teach for a long, long time, and I did what I could for my local. Now I do school tech in the burbs. But my heart is with Karen Lewis. So this next remark is coming from me, not from any organization. I just wonder what it's like for these people who've taken jobs in the charters because so many of the jobs are there now, and now they're face-to-face with the prospect of being used as happy, diligent, complian... more »
School Tech Connect: End the Revolving Door
School Tech Connect: End the Revolving Door: End the Revolving Door by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Go sign. While I don't like the wording of this petition's title, it's a great petition.
Community Forum at Social Justice High School in Chicago. « Fred Klonsky
Community Forum at Social Justice High School in Chicago. « Fred Klonsky: Community Forum at Social Justice High School in Chicago. by Fred Klonsky PopoutParents, students, teachers and community members gathered at Social Justice High School to demand answers from the new interim principal, CPS administrators and Network Office regarding top-down changes to staffing and programming that threaten to destabilize the school. And the students speak. Popout
School Tech Connect: Asocial Media
School Tech Connect: Asocial Media: Asocial Media by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I'm trying to check in on Twitter more often to see who's following me. I get a lot of life coaches and public relations people and other sad types, but I also have a lot of people I really admire. I dunno. My relationship to social media is like my relationship to *Old Style. *There's a long history but it probably could have been replaced by something better. Every once in a while I see someone on the list and I wonder what *their *deal is, and I follow the links. Now, I've got no bone to pick w... more »
Schools Matter: Letter from NY Administrator, Carol Burris
Schools Matter: Letter from NY Administrator, Carol Burris: Letter from NY Administrator, Carol Burris by Jim Horn Dear friends, Exciting things are beginning to happen. Parents realize that their children's test scores should not be used for reasons other than guiding learning. They also realize that because of other purposes, like APPR, their sons and daughters are sitting for more tests which are becoming longer and longer. The costs are enormous at a time of shrinking budgets, and student data is being collected at very detailed levels. Tax dollars and learning time are be... more »
California High School Puts End to "Hurtful and Demeaning" Event - Hispanically Speaking News
California High School Puts End to "Hurtful and Demeaning" Event - Hispanically Speaking News: High School Puts an End to Tradition, Calling it “Hurtful and Demeaning” to Latinos [image: High School Puts an End to Tradition, Calling it “Hurtful and Demeaning” to Latinos]A tradition at an Anaheim high school has been nixed after officials deemed in offensive to the Latino community, calling it “hurtful and demeaning”. For years, Canyon High School senior activity week has included a dress-up day in which seniors (those in their fourth year of high school, not the elderly) dress up ... more »
The Week’s Second Staged Study to Support a Bush Initiative – This Time With an Even More Outrageous Conclusion | Scathing Purple Musings
The Week’s Second Staged Study to Support a Bush Initiative – This Time With an Even More Outrageous Conclusion | Scathing Purple Musings: The Week’s Second Staged Study to Support a Bush Initiative – This Time With an Even More Outrageous Conclusion by Bob Sikes The *Tampa Bay Times *Cara Fitzpatrick reports on the second conveniently released study to support one of Jeb Bush’s pet projects. Last week, a study from a researcher who works for a center chaired by Jeb Bush released a report favorable to the state’s 3rd grade FCAT-based retention policy. This time it’s vouchers – an... more »
English Learner Parental Waiver Notification Lette - Resources (CA Dept of Education)
English Learner Parental Waiver Notification Lette - Resources (CA Dept of Education): Querido Condado y los Superintendentes de Distrito: EXENCIONES DE LOS PADRES DE ESTUDIANTES DE INGLÉS El propósito de esta carta es para recordarle de las leyes y reglamentos que rigen la exención de los padres en lo que respecta a la instrucción para estudiantes de inglés (EL). *Código de Educación de* California *(EC)* Sección 305 requiere que, salvo por renuncia de los padres, todos los niños se colocan en las clases de lengua inglesa. ELs deben ser educados a través de la inmersión Inglés p... more »
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