Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-1-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #soschat #p2 #1u



BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA 

Recap of Last Week's Best Post 



Romero Challenges Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee for Corporate Lackey Queen | NBC 7 San Diego

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Gloria Romero's Revenge | NBC 7 San Diego: OPINION Gloria Romero's Revenge By Joe Mathews| Saturday, Aug 25, 2012 | Updated 11:49 AM PDT View Comments ( 0 ) | Email | Print [image: Opinion: Gloria Romero's Revenge] AP Gloria Romero, former state senator who authored California's Parent Trigger law and state director of Democrats for Education Reform, speaks during open comment on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at the Adelanto School District board meeting regarding the effects on Desert Trails Elementary School if the Parent Trigger law passes. The Adelanto School District Board of T... more »

Fresh off “pineapple” episode, state identifies math exam errors | GothamSchools

Fresh off “pineapple” episode, state identifies math exam errors | GothamSchools:
Two of the state math exams that students are set to start taking on Wednesday have errors, the State Education Department advised principals today.
On the fourth-grade exam, one question has two correct answers, the department warned. The eighth-grade test contains one question with no correct answer at all.





NEA - National Teacher Day

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
NEA - National Teacher Day: [image: National Teacher Day] May 8, 2012 *Great Teachers Make Great Public Schools* On National Teacher Day, thousands of communities take time to honor their local educators and acknowledge the crucial role teachers play in making sure every student receives a quality education. Planning Materials and Artwork Download our 2012 artwork including poster, web buttons, and banners. My Amazing Teacher Campaign Join the National Education Association and Parenting.com in honoring public school teachers for their unwavering passion, dedication and commitment to... more »


Read These Comments Before CNN Deletes Them « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 minutes ago
Read These Comments Before CNN Deletes Them « Diane Ravitch's blog: Read These Comments Before CNN Deletes Them by dianerav As readers of this blog know, CNN posted Randi Kaye’s August 18 interview with me a week after it aired. I heard there were about 35 comments, and they were suddenly deleted. People started posting comments again, possibly 20 or so, and then they too were deleted. People went back for a third round and posted the following comments. A reader (Teresa H from Oregon) copied the entire batch of them, on the off chance that they might also disappear. (I copied and... more »

Screenings and Panel Discussions of Film “Won’t Back Down” to be Held at DNC and RNC | StudentsFirst.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
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 »


STAR Results for 2012 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

STAR Results for 2012 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education):

State Superintendent Tom Torlakson Notes Progress Despite School Budget Cuts
PASADENA—The 2012 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) test results marked the ninth straight year California students improved their performance on annual statewide mathematics and English-language arts exams, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson 





Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-31-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Oops! StudentsFirst Honors Anti-Immigrant Legislator by dianerav According to Laura Clawon of the Daily Kos, StudentsFirst selected a Georgia legislator as its “reformer of the year.” Unfortunately this gentleman is known as vehemently opposed to immigration, and StudentsFirst is now facing protests from immigrant groups. At some point, people will figure out that Michelle Rhee claims to be a Democrat, but she is known among A Sure Cure for Low Test Scores: More Testing by dianerav Jonathan Pelto reports t... more »

筷子的所有 Chopsticks for all « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Chopsticks for all « Deborah Meier on Education: Chopsticks for all筷子的所有 by debmeier From Mike Klonsky’s Small Talk log.It’s great. Spread it around. Quotable Yong ZhaoPosted: 30 Aug 2012 03:39 PM PDT [image: Yong+Zhao.jpg] Chopsticks *To be globally competitive, we should all begin to use chopsticks because chopsticks produce better education outcomes as measured by the international gold standard of education the OECD’s PISA, which tests 15 year olds in math, reading, and sciences, and TIMSS, which assess 9-10 and 13-14 year olds math and science abilities. The top five performers... more »

Modern School: Global Education Strike

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Modern School: Global Education Strike: Global Education Strike by Michael Dunn The International Student Movement is calling for global education strikes on October 18th and November 14-21 to protest education privatization schemes and the corporatization of public education. They want the teachers to join their movement and are asking teachers to check out their website and plan solidarity actions for these dates. Some of their demands are tangible and achievable—like increasing education budgets, decreasing student debt and slowing or halting the giveaway of public education r... more »

Daily Kos: StudentsFirst faces protest for naming anti-immigrant bigot 'education reformer of the year'

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Daily Kos: StudentsFirst faces protest for naming anti-immigrant bigot 'education reformer of the year': StudentsFirst faces protest for naming anti-immigrant bigot 'education reformer of the year' byLaura ClawsonFollowforDaily Kos Labor 2 PERMALINK2 COMMENTS [image: A DREAMer speaks as immigrant group Make the Road protests StudentsFirst's celebration of an anti-immigrant legislator as education reformer of the year.] DREAMers protest StudentsFirst's anti-immigrant endorsement. While Michelle Rhee has been in Tampa, accompanied by former Florida governor and presidential son and... more »

Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-30-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Putting Children First in NYC? by dianerav A reader in New York City has been studying the New York City Department of Education website. She keeps coming up with intriguing findings. Here are some of them: *A recent post on Diane Ravitch’s blog and a recent article in the New York Times Magazine got me curious. I wondered: Do New York City’s education policy makers really put children first? Are they doing all they can to make sure every single student succeeds, no matter their social or economic enviro... more »

Public Education's Eight Ball: Student Poverty | One Teacher's Perspective

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Public Education's Eight Ball: Student Poverty | One Teacher's Perspective: Public Education's Eight Ball: Student Poverty by Imagine Wisconsin As noted in an earlier blog, one of my summer reads was P.L. Thomas’ book, *Ignoring Poverty in the U.S.*. It is one of the most important education books I have read. He has reframed my thinking. Contrary to what too many scapegoaters claim, I've never believed public education to be the cause of America's socioeconomic ills. However, I had fallen into the trap of repeating the mantra that quality public education is the cure-all for the ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: St Louis Fed Proposal for Charter School Funding

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: St Louis Fed Proposal for Charter School Funding: St Louis Fed Proposal for Charter School Funding by Anngie The St. Louis Federal Reserve has developed a working paper that proposes a charter school tax credit, similar to Low Income Housing Tax Credits, to potentially end the perpetual cycle of experimentation that currently plagues the charter system. Their proposal is explained by Ian Galloway at StLouisFed.org. *Credits would be allocated to the states, which, in turn, would award them to high-performing charter schools. Upon receiving the credi... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter schools are for quitters

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter schools are for quitters: Charter schools are for quitters by Charlie Mas Charter schools represent resignation all across the board. To advocate for charter schools is to see the challenges in public education, to see the hard work needed, and to run away. Charter schools are for quitters. They are for the cowardly and weak. *Charter schools are not education reform - they are for people who quit trying to reform education.* Yes, there is excess bureaucracy, excess regulation, and mindless standardization in our schools. It's a real probl... more »

Kids Need More Than Reading and Math, Argues ASCD Executive Director in CNN Commentary — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Kids Need More Than Reading and Math, Argues ASCD Executive Director in CNN Commentary — Whole Child Education: [image: Melissa Mellor]Kids Need More Than Reading and Math, Argues ASCD Executive Director in CNN Commentary August 29, 2012 by Melissa Mellor "We can't narrow the focus of our schools into just math and reading and still expect to graduate students who are ready for college, a career and citizenship," writes ASCD Executive Director Gene Carter in hisspecial commentary for CNN's *Schools of Thought* blog. "A comprehensive education provides students the opportunity to di... more »

Breaking: Chicago Teachers Union will file 10 day strike notice tomorrow, Wednesday. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Breaking: Chicago Teachers Union will file 10 day strike notice tomorrow, Wednesday. « Fred Klonsky: Breaking: Chicago Teachers Union will file 10 day strike notice tomorrow, Wednesday. by Fred Klonsky [image: Parents Stand With CTU (CLICK ON PICTURE)] The Chicago Tribune is reporting tonight: The Chicago Teachers Union plans to file a 10-day strike notice Wednesday, meaning a teacher walkout could begin after the majority of the city’s students finish their first week of school, sources said.The union and CPS have been in talks for months but have failed to reach The in box... more »

Engaging Parents In School… » National PTA Changes Stance On Charter Schools, & It’s A Disappointing One…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Engaging Parents In School… » National PTA Changes Stance On Charter Schools, & It’s A Disappointing One…: National PTA Changes Stance On Charter Schools, & It’s A Disappointing One… by Larry Ferlazzo The National PTA now supports letting other bodies besides local school boards authorize charter schools. That’s a big disappointment, since charter school operators are now often making “end-runs” around local school boards who won’t approve them by going to county boards of education or other bodies. For example, here in Sacramento a charter chain couldn’t get any local school dis... more »

What GOP platform says on education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
What GOP platform says on education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: What GOP platform says on education By Valerie Strauss Here’s what the 2012 Republican Party platform calls for regarding education: Education: A Chance for Every Child Parents are responsible for the education of their children. We do not believe in a one size fits all approach to education and support providing broad education choices to parents and children at the State and local level. Maintaining American preeminence requires a world-class system of education, with high standards, in which all s... more »

RheeFirst! » Remember Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s no show rally in Connecticut? Now we know why no one showed up…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
RheeFirst! » Remember Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s no show rally in Connecticut? Now we know why no one showed up…: Remember Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s no show rally in Connecticut? Now we know why no one showed up… by admin Leaked documents revealed today by *The Daily Change *appear to shed light on why Michelle Rhee could muster only a handful of people outside the Connecticut statehouse last March. Although Rhee cheered on Gov. Malloy’s education proposal, Malloy himself declined to participate, saying through a spokesperson that Rhee was too “divisive.” Mal... more »

Weingarten: ‘Won’t Back Down’ union stereotypes worse than ‘Waiting for Superman’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Weingarten: ‘Won’t Back Down’ union stereotypes worse than ‘Waiting for Superman’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Weingarten: ‘Won’t Back Down’ union stereotypes worse than ‘Waiting for Superman’ By Valerie Strauss Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst organization is playing a big role in screening the not-yet-released, anti-union film “Won’t Back Down” at theRepublican Convention in Tampa, complete with a guest discussion panel that features former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. But Democrats shouldn’t feel left out;... more »

Randi Weingarten Responds to Parent Trigger Film « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Randi Weingarten Responds to Parent Trigger Film « Diane Ravitch's blog: Randi Weingarten Responds to Parent Trigger Film by dianerav *TO: Interested Parties**From: AFT President Randi Weingarten* *Date: August 28, 2012* *RE: “Won’t Back Down”** * “Won’t Back Down" Rhymes with "Stand Your Ground" and is brought to you by those great folks at ALEC * _____________________________**______________________________** ______________________________**______________________________**___* *One can’t help but be moved by the characters and story portrayed in Walden Media’s film “Won...more »

CHICAGO TEACHER’S LAMENT « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
CHICAGO TEACHER’S LAMENT « Teachers Fight Back: CHICAGO TEACHER’S LAMENT by alkleen A Chicago teacher was interviewed by the press. They asked him why he was so ready to strike. The teacher replied that he was angry because the administration “stole” the 4% raise that was supposed to be guaranteed by the last contract. (The administration reneged on the promised raise last year). He was upset because they “stole” the 4% and then had the nerve to offer only a 2% raise for the new contract. That teacher should be thankful he is a Chicago teacher and not a suburban or downstate teac... more »

Trading the Frying Pan for the Fire | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Trading the Frying Pan for the Fire | United Opt Out National: Trading the Frying Pan for the Fire by admin Please read the following letter to the editor for the Charlotte Observer by Kris Nielsen, a middle school teacher, activist and blogger living in North Carolina–a state that is drowning in testing mandates. In addition to making sure students grow to love learning, he is highly motivated to make sure that parents, teachers and the community are educated about the educational affairs that affect them and the rest of the country. Kris blogs at http://www.mgmfocus.com/ and can... more »

Alexander Russo got a brand new Bag - LA School Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Morning Read: Restructured Into 5 Centers - LA School Report: Alexander Russo got a brand new Bag! Morning Read: Restructured Into 5 Centers LAUSD restructures district offices, Daily Breeze: As of this school year, LAUSD no longer consists of eight geographical district offices by number, but instead is composed of four “educational service centers” designated by direction — north, south, east and west — and a fifth at-large center that is based not on geography but school type. Los Angeles colleges resume $6-billion campus building projects, LA Times: Spending on most new const... more »

Blog: One Message Two Conventions, Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Plays Both Sides

Blog: One Message Two Conventions, School Reformer Plays Both Sides:




With all the slings and arrows coming her way from the pro-union Save Our Schools brigade why is Michelle Rhee, CEO of StudentsFirst attending the Democratic Convention in Charlotte?

An Urban Teacher's Education: Renton School District Reconsiders Teach for America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
An Urban Teacher's Education: Renton School District Reconsiders Teach for America: Renton School District Reconsiders Teach for America by James Boutin Wednesday, August 22nd, Superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel and the Renton School Board heard comments from twelve members of the public regarding their consideration of a TFA candidate for a language arts/social studies teaching position at Dimmitt Middle School. As a former Renton High School teacher and Renton resident, I took the opportunity to speak first. My main point was that if we want to say teaching is a profession, the... more »

Bill Nye: Please don’t teach your kids creationism, because it is crazy | The Raw Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Bill Nye: Please don’t teach your kids creationism, because it is crazy | The Raw Story: Bill Nye: Please don’t teach your kids creationism, because it is crazy by Jonathan Terbush [image: Bill Nye] Topics: bill nye ♦ creationism ♦ President Obama Bill Nye, host of the popular nineties children’s show Bill Nye the Science Guy, is warning parents to not teach their children creationism because, he says, it does them a disservice by undermining their scientific understanding and development. In a short video for Big Think, Nye says that despite being the seat of some of the world’... more »

THE GREAT FALLACY « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
THE GREAT FALLACY « Teachers Fight Back: THE GREAT FALLACY by alkleen The following quote was taken from one of the many Chicago Tribune’s teacher bashing editorials. “Teachers’ performance in the classroom is most crucial to students’ success.” NO, SORRY, IT’S NOT ! If only it was that simple. There’s a reason why students from underprivileged areas and from broken homes underperform in the classroom. There are also dozens of factors that hinder a student’s progress, all of which are out of a teacher’s control. Most people seem to understand that, but not the Chicago Tribune. Is... more »

The Greatest Education Error of All Time? « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
The Greatest Education Error of All Time? « Diane Ravitch's blog: The Greatest Education Error of All Time? by dianerav Justin Snider has written an interesting article in the Hechinger Report. What if we find out years from now that whatever we are doing is simply wrong? Why are we doing so many things now in education that have no evidence to support them? If this were medicine instead of education, would anyone tolerate the experimentation that is being done to the entire population? I actually think we know more than

Neil Armstrong's Memorable Commencement Speech - Education - GOOD

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Neil Armstrong's Memorable Commencement Speech - Education - GOOD: Neil Armstrong's Memorable Commencement Speech by Liz Dwyer [image: neil.armstrong] The words "hero" and "icon" don't do justice to Neil Armstrong, the commander of NASA's Apollo 11 space flight and the first man on the moon. Indeed, Armstrong, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 82 uttered one of the most memorable statements of all time: "That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." That famous line, the first ever transmitted from the moon to Earth, inspired millions. In a 2005 commence... more »


Jersey Jazzman: Movies I Want To See: "Compliance"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Movies I Want To See: "Compliance": Movies I Want To See: "Compliance" by Duke Wow - this looks like it was made for our times: Popout I really, really want to see this. What does it take to get a movie like this to come to Jersey?