Michelle Rhee Is Wrong and Misinformed
My article with the title above appeared this morning on CNN.com.
They heard from you. They invited me to respond and this is the article I wrote.
I think that if we all speak up again and again and again and again, and tell the truth, supported by facts and experience, our voices will be heard.
Write letters to the editor, comment on blogs, speak up at public meetings, do what you can, when you can,
They heard from you. They invited me to respond and this is the article I wrote.
I think that if we all speak up again and again and again and again, and tell the truth, supported by facts and experience, our voices will be heard.
Write letters to the editor, comment on blogs, speak up at public meetings, do what you can, when you can,
After Ten Years of Reform in New York City….
This is what school reform looks like in New York City after ten years of mayoral control.
In nearly 200 of the city’s 1,500 schools, at least 90 percent of the students are below the poverty line.
Four out of five of these schools have disproportionate concentrations of students who are limited English proficient or special education.
Only 31 percent of the students in these high-needs schools passed the state reading test, as compared to 47
In nearly 200 of the city’s 1,500 schools, at least 90 percent of the students are below the poverty line.
Four out of five of these schools have disproportionate concentrations of students who are limited English proficient or special education.
Only 31 percent of the students in these high-needs schools passed the state reading test, as compared to 47
What’s Wrong with Privatization?
This could be a very long post, but this is a blog so I’ll keep it short.
Almost every day there is a new scandal about a public service that was privatized: prisons, hospitals, schools,preschool programs.
Today it is the prison half-way houses in New Jersey, which were privatized and are now plagued with drugs, corruption, and various other problems.
The New Jersey legislature wants to impose greater supervision.
Governor Chris Christie, that tower of rectitude, won’t permit it, if it includes closer supervision of existing
Almost every day there is a new scandal about a public service that was privatized: prisons, hospitals, schools,preschool programs.
Today it is the prison half-way houses in New Jersey, which were privatized and are now plagued with drugs, corruption, and various other problems.
The New Jersey legislature wants to impose greater supervision.
Governor Chris Christie, that tower of rectitude, won’t permit it, if it includes closer supervision of existing
Mr. and Mrs. Rhee Lecture on Ethics
I received the following description of the appearance of Michelle Rhee and her husband at the University of Hawaii, where they lectured on “Ethics and Education.”
Rhee paused briefly from her national campaign to raise $1 billion to remove teachers’ collective bargaining rights, to strip them of tenure and seniority, and to promote vouchers and charters, to share her wisdom about American education.
One may assume that the issue of the cheating scandals in the District of Columbia was not covered in this
Rhee paused briefly from her national campaign to raise $1 billion to remove teachers’ collective bargaining rights, to strip them of tenure and seniority, and to promote vouchers and charters, to share her wisdom about American education.
One may assume that the issue of the cheating scandals in the District of Columbia was not covered in this
Alabama Governor: No Charter Schools
Alabama is a deep red state. The governor and the legislature are Republican.
Yet this past spring, they rejected charter legislation, and the governor announced that he would not raise the issue in the next session.
What happened?
Veteran political observer Larry Lee explains it here.
Although charters have their strongest appeal to conservatives, they contain a contradiction.
The ALEC model legislation for charters says that the state should have a charter board that can override local
Yet this past spring, they rejected charter legislation, and the governor announced that he would not raise the issue in the next session.
What happened?
Veteran political observer Larry Lee explains it here.
Although charters have their strongest appeal to conservatives, they contain a contradiction.
The ALEC model legislation for charters says that the state should have a charter board that can override local
When Teacher Inservice Goes Ridiculous
It is always important to keep your sense of perspective and not be swept along by bad ideas imposed by superiors.
Be reasonable but do not accept the unacceptable. (The Will Smith video was first mentioned here.)
When I read the following, I was tempted to suggest that the local superintendent might order one of those Gates Foundation’s galvanic skin response monitors. But then I realized I was wrong: the purpose of the monitors is to measure excitement, but the purpose of the bobbers is to teach collaboration. I think. Maybe.
Read it and ask: laugh or cry?
This event (having to sit through the Will Smith treadmill youtube video–which, by the way, is still available for
Be reasonable but do not accept the unacceptable. (The Will Smith video was first mentioned here.)
When I read the following, I was tempted to suggest that the local superintendent might order one of those Gates Foundation’s galvanic skin response monitors. But then I realized I was wrong: the purpose of the monitors is to measure excitement, but the purpose of the bobbers is to teach collaboration. I think. Maybe.
Read it and ask: laugh or cry?
This event (having to sit through the Will Smith treadmill youtube video–which, by the way, is still available for
Cherokee County Parents Support Their Public Schools
Over 250 parents in Cherokee County, Georgia, signed an ad directed at their legislators to tell them:
We support our public schools.
Stop the budget cuts.
The Cherokee County public schools took a budget cut of $26.5 million this year.
We support our public schools.
Stop the budget cuts.
The Cherokee County public schools took a budget cut of $26.5 million this year.