BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA
Recap of Last Week's Best Post
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: School Board meeting agenda for 9/19/12: School Board meeting agenda for 9/19/12 by Charlie Mas Here's the agenda for the Seattle School Board Meeting of September 19, 2012. Not every meeting has a theme, but this one features some interesting timing decisions. Or perhaps the theme is evading public discussion. The *public testimony* is still scheduled for 5:00pm. The Board knows that having the testimony at this time creates a barrier to participation by working people. Perhaps that's the intent. *The proclamation for Cheryl Chow* is presented ... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Hollywood Film Pushes Flawed Corporate Education Agenda | Common Dreams: Hollywood Film Pushes Flawed Corporate Education Agenda "Won't Back Down" pushes so-called "parent trigger" laws espoused by rightwing policy groups and privatization advocates by Mary Bottari and Sarah Jerving Well-funded advocates of privatizing the nation’s education system are employing a new strategy this fall to enlist support for the cause. The emotionally engaging Hollywood film “Won’t Back Down” -- set for release September 28 -- portrays so-called “Parent Trigger” laws as an effective mechanism for tr... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Segregation Prominent in Schools, Study Finds - NYTimes.com: Segregation Prominent in Schools, Study Finds Brandon Thibodeaux for The New York Times Students at F. M. Gilbert Elementary School in Irving, Tex. Segregation of Latino students is most pronounced in California, New York and Texas. By MOTOKO RICHPublished: September 19, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - The United States is increasingly a multiracial society, with white students accounting for just over half of all students in public schools, down from four-... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Adam Smith Warns: Beware the Profit-Seekers « Diane Ravitch's blog: Adam Smith Warns: Beware the Profit-Seekers by dianerav A faithful reader sent the following quotation from Adam Smith’s *The Wealth of Nations*: *Merchants and master manufacturers are, in this order, the two classes of people who commonly employ the largest capitals, and who by their wealth draw to themselves the greatest share of the public consideration. As during their whole lives they are engaged in plans and projects, they have frequently more acuteness of understanding than the greater part of country gent... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Eugene Robinson: Standing up for teachers - The Washington Post: [image: Eugene Robinson] Eugene RobinsonOpinion Writer Standing up for teachers - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - E-mail - Reprints By Eugene Robinson, Monday, September 17, 12:55 PM Teachers are heroes, not villains, and it’s time to stop demonizing them. It has become fashionable to blame all of society’s manifold sins and wickedness on “teachers unions,” as if it were possible to separate these supposedly evil organizations from the dedicated public servants who belong to... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 48 minutes ago
"Won't Back Down" Film Pushes ALEC Parent Trigger Proposal | PR Watch: "Won't Back Down" Film Pushes ALEC Parent Trigger Proposal by Mary Bottari — September 19, 2012 - 10:00am Topics: Banking Projects: ALEC Exposed [image: Share/Save] Share this -- Mary Bottari and Sara Jerving Well-funded advocates of privatizing the nation's education system are employing a new strategy this fall to enlist support for the cause. The emotionally engaging Hollywood film "Won't Back Down" -- set for release September 28 -- portrays so-called "Parent Trigger" laws as an effective mechanism for trans... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
The 6 P’s for Education « My Island View: The 6 P’s for Education by tomwhitby Dell Computer has sponsored four education Think Tanks over the last year, or so, and I have been fortunate to participate in three of them. At each get-together educators, education related organizers, education industry executives, and most recently students, were brought together in an open discussion on the weighty topics of education and education reform. All of the discussions were video-taped, and live-streamed, and even animated on a mural to a viewing audience. The final production was archived... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
What ‘Won’t Back Down’ Gets Wrong About Parental Involvement in Schools | NEA Today: What ‘Won’t Back Down’ Gets Wrong About Parental Involvement in Schools September 20, 2012 by twalker Filed under Featured News, Top Stories 1 Comment [image: Email][image: Share] *By Tim Walker* In school districts across the nation, parents are collaborating with educators, administrators, teachers unions and other community leaders to improve public education and find sustainable solutions that put children at the center of reform. That’s the reality, but anti-public education activists are bett... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] To Be Poor in America by dianerav Yesterday, I posted an article about growing income inequality in New York City. This morning, I posted an editorial from Bloomberg News claiming that the Census Bureau was overstating the extent of poverty by not counting transfers like food stamps. A reader sent this story, which should remind us that it is no picnic to be poor in America. Let me add a personal note. I am not poor. I have never been poor. But I hope I never reach a point when I stop caring about others ... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Pioneer Institute Study Suggests Remedies for Common Core’s Literature Deficit | Truth in American Education: Pioneer Institute Study Suggests Remedies for Common Core’s Literature Deficit by truthed [image: 240px-Old_book_bindings]BOSTON, MA – State and local education policy makers in the 46 states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards should emphasize the literary-historical content that already exists in the standards and add an additional literature-based standard to address Common Core’s lack of literary content, according to a new study published by Pioneer Inst... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Voices from the Chicago Teachers Strike | Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility: VOICES FROM THE CHICAGO TEACHERS STRIKE Submitted by Jinnie Spiegler on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 11:10 Area: Current Issues Grade Level: High School Topic: Economy Education Tags: labor Description: Students learn about what unions and strikes are, then read and discuss different perspectives on the 7-day strike by Chicago Teachers Union strike, which ended on September 19, 2012. *LEARNING OBJECTIVES:* - Students will learn what it means to strike - Students will learn wha... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: No on 1240 Tent vs Yes on 1240 Tent: No on 1240 Tent vs Yes on 1240 Tent by Melissa Westbrook Can you spot the difference? [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] *No On 1240* - Washington State PTA - League of Women Voters - WASA - Washington Association of School Administrators - WSSDA - Washington State School Directors Association Board - Washington Education Association - Japanese-American Citizens League Board - Seattle-King County NAACP - El Centro de la Raza - Parents and Friends for Tacoma Public Schools - Parents... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Message from PAA to entertainment media about WBD movie | Parents Across America: Message from PAA to entertainment media about WBD movie by pureparents [image: Stealing Schools = Won't Back Down (click Picture)] As hype for the “Won’t Back Down” movie heats up, PAA sent this message to entertainment media: In case your hosts are preparing to interview the stars of the controversial new film “Won’t Back Down,” Parents Across America would like you to be aware of the following facts: 1. Walden Media which produced the film also co-produced the movie “Waiting for Superman”. ... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
New research casts doubt on key theory of vocabulary learning - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Why the ‘rithmetic of school reform doesn’t add up by Valerie Strauss Sometimes things about school reform just don’t add up. Here, Larry Lee, the former director of the Center for Rural Alabama who coordinated the study, Lessons Learned from Rural Schools, tries to do the math. He can be reached at larrylee33@knology.net Read full article >> New research casts doubt on key theory of vocabulary learning by Valerie Strauss There are times when we learn th... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Notes on My Atlantic Profile of David Coleman - Dana Goldstein: Notes on My Atlantic Profile of David Coleman by Dana Goldstein Today *The Atlantic* published my profile of David Coleman, the MicKinsey consultant turned education entrepreneur who is one of the school reform movement's most idealistic believers in the power of the traditional liberals arts as a social justice tool. Coleman is important because his ideas about what students should know (from modernist poetry to Euclid's "Elements") and do (more evidence-based, thesis-driven writing, and less personal narrative) are ... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
About FEA: *FEA PUBLIC EVENTS* *Transforming ESEA: Helping Public Schools Improve*Transforming ESEA is a series of public discussions sponsored by the Forum on Educational Accountability. Forthcoming forums include*Transforming ESEA to Meet the Needs of all Learners*, addressing needs of English language learners and students with disabilities; and on how the federal government can help schools, districts and states build their capacity to serve all students well. _________________________________________________ *CURRENT EVENT:* *High Quality Assessment for Instruction and Accoun... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Segregation Prominent in Schools, Study Finds - NYTimes.com: Segregation Prominent in Schools, Study Finds Brandon Thibodeaux for The New York Times Students at F. M. Gilbert Elementary School in Irving, Tex. Segregation of Latino students is most pronounced in California, New York and Texas. By MOTOKO RICHPublished: September 19, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - The United States is increasingly a multiracial society, with white students accounting for just over half of all students in public schools, down from four-... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
New report says education system 'neglects' nearly half of Black and Latino males | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: New report says education system 'neglects' nearly half of Black and Latino malesby Dale Mezzacappa on Sep 19 2012 Posted in Latest news - COMMENTS (0)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] Tags: - activism - funding equity - dropouts - students of color - graduation rates - juvenile justice A new foundation report that tracks state-by-state data has concluded that the high school graduation rates of Black and Latino males continue to lag... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Student Advisory: A Model for the 21st Century — Whole Child Education: [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Student Advisory: A Model for the 21st Century September 19, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: William J Tolley] *Post written by William J. Tolley, instructional coach and head of history at the International School of Curitiba in Brazil. A graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University, he is a member of the current cohort in the Johns Hopkins/ISTE Supervision and Administration graduate certificate program. Connect with Tolley by e-mail at idealjetsam@gmail.com. Th... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Democracy Now interviews Karen Lewis about the Chicago Teachers Union strike deal | Seattle Education: Democracy Now interviews Karen Lewis about the Chicago Teachers Union strike deal by seattleducation2011 Chicago Public School teachers are returning to the classroom today, nine days after launching their first strike in a quarter century. On Tuesday, 800 delegates of the Chicago Teachers Union voted overwhelmingly to suspend the strike to put an agreement with the city before the entire membership. The deal calls for a double-digit salary increase over the next three years, in... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Rahm, Edelman and Rauner got played for suckers. « Fred Klonsky: Rahm, Edelman and Rauner got played for suckers. by Fred Klonsky *Rahm’s big bucks pal, Bruce Rauner. Running for governor but played for a sucker.* CapitalFax’s Rich Miller writes in the Southtown: The Chicago Teachers Union, Edelman bragged last year, “will never be able to muster the 75 percent threshold necessary to strike.” He also claimed that the CTU took the deal without realizing the implications.One can’t help but wonder what Edelman was thinking last week as thousands of Chicago schoolteachers walked picke... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Rahm Gets Rolled: Chicago's Winners & Losers :: Frederick M. Hess: Rahm Gets Rolled: Chicago's Winners & Losers *by Frederick M. Hess • Sep 19, 2012 at 10:56 am Cross-posted from Education Week* * * * * The Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel reached a tentative agreement yesterday, and it wasn't a good day for Rahmbo or for would-be reformers. Today Democratic ed reformers will be cranking up their spin machines to explain why Rahm didn't really get rolled by the CTU. (And, let's be honest, Democrats account for about 90+ percent of both the education blob an... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Fox Won't Disclose News Corp. Testing Contracts At Heart Of The Chicago Teachers' Strike | Blog | Media Matters for America: Fox Won't Disclose News Corp. Testing Contracts At Heart Of The Chicago Teachers' StrikeBLOG ››› 56 MINUTES AGO ››› ROB SAVILLO 7 [image: Print] In 89 segments between September 10 and 16, Fox News reported on the Chicago Teachers Union's strike without disclosing its financial ties to the educational technology company administering the standardized tests with which the union takes issue. Fox News parent company News Corp. acquired a 90-percent stake in Wir... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Schools Matter: Journey for Education Justice Campaign: Journey for Education Justice Campaign by Jim Horn *ht to Stan Karp:* * * *“Journey for Justice” is a national campaign against school closings led by parents, youth and community activists. Supporters from more than a dozen states, including NJ, will head to Washington, DC this Thursday and Friday to highlight this issue and the need for alternative models of school improvement and transformation. Details and contact info below.* *Journey for Justice ** 2012* *The Ride for Education Justice** * *September 20-21 2012, Washingt... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Can You Suggest Readings That Helped You? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Can You Suggest Readings That Helped You? by dianerav *http://dianeravitch.com/about-diane/* A reader asked for suggestions. I said I would ask for your ideas: My sister is an experienced teacher struggling to keep her chin up in an impoverished district serving children whose parents are non-English speaking or meth addicts. She and her staff want to form a book study group this year – looking for ways to enhance their professional practice and their children’s lives – wanting desperately to have positive and pro... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Chicago Teachers' Strike Ends: Classes to Resume Wednesday - Hispanically Speaking News: Chicago Teachers’ Strike Ends: Classes to Resume Wednesday The Chicago Teachers Union has reportedly called off their strike. Classes are to resume Wednesday after the Union’s roughly 800 delegates agreed to the latest contract proposal with the city. Chicago is home to the nation’s third largest school district. The teachers strike, which began last week, was the first in 25 years. Read more at the *Chicago Tribune*. See a comparison between teacher contracts from 2003, 2007, and the contract ag... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
THE MESSAGES SENT BY THE CHICAGO STRIKE « Teachers Fight Back: THE MESSAGES SENT BY THE CHICAGO STRIKE by alkleen I’m not sure what the Chicago teachers won and what they lost, but I do know what messages were sent loud and clear to the Chicago School Board, Mayor Emanuel, Superintendent Bizard, teachers across the country, and the forces that would destroy public school teachers and their unions. The Chicago teachers sent the following messages: 1. We are tired of being bullied and we’re not going to take it any longer. 2. We no longer trust administrators because of previous contr...more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Teacher settles with school after being fired for pumping breast milk - The Denver Post: Teacher settles with school after being fired for pumping breast milk POSTED: 09/18/2012 04:51:40 PM MDT UPDATED: 09/18/2012 05:24:38 PM MDT *By Megan Mitchell* *The Denver Post* A Jefferson County teacher who says she was fired for expressing breast milk at work won't ask for her job back, but a settlement in her claim against Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen sets precedent for other employers of working moms, the American Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday. "This case is really just o... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Stupid Strike | District 299: The Inside Scoop on CPS: Stupid Strike by Alexander Russo Stupid Strike by Alexander Russo The HOD has voted to end the strike, as you probably already know by now. Two extra days for ... a cooling off period, I guess. Lewis has spoken. Emanuel still to come. As with most contract negotiations, both sides got things important to them. At her press conference, Karen Lewis bragged about how CTU didn't have to "take" merit pay like in other cities. Indeed, reformers are disappointed in all the things Emanuel gave up or gave back. (They kept lanes!) I... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Day 7 Strike suspended. Big victory for teachers: Day 7 Strike suspended. Big victory for teachers by Mike Klonsky [image: @CTULocal1 members march for "student needs, not corporate greed!] CTU's House of Delegates voted to "suspend" the strike and ask teachers to return to class tomorrow. “Everybody is going back to school,” said Jay Rehak, a delegate from Whitney Young High School. Delegate Mike Bochner said “an overwhelming majority” of delegates voted to suspend the strike. “I’m really excited, I’m really relieved,” said Bochner, a teacher at Ce... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
A critical analysis of Common Core math standards - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: A critical analysis of Common Core math standards By Valerie Strauss The Common Core State Standards, as you can tell from the contrasting pieces I published this week (here and here), are nothing if not controversial. Until now much criticism has been leveled at the English Language Arts Standards, but here’s a somewhat scary, detailed look at the math standards. It was published on the blog CCSSI Mathematics. The author of the blog writes anonymously. He is a former high school math teach... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
John Wilson Unleashed - Education Week: [image: John Wilson Unleashed] Yes, Teachers Do Have A Breaking Point We all remember the scene in the movie *Network *where a character throws open the window, sticks his head out, and yells, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." Last week, about 30,000 educators in Chicago came to a similar breaking point. It was a fascinating week for watchers and listeners. The media pundits immediately went to union bashing as if 90 percent of the membership had not voted to assert their collective and legal right to go on strike. Sha... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Huffman Punishes Nashville for Defying His Order by dianerav Tennessee Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman is withholding $3.4 million from the Nashville public schools as punishment for the defiance of the school board. The board voted four times to deny a charter to an Arizona company called Great Hearts, even though Huffman ordered the board to approve the application. Clearly, Huffman does not believe in local control. This seems to be an attitude of today’s reformers. Arne Duncan decided to rewrite NCLB to meet his own These Ed School Professors... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Schools Matter: The MythBusters at OECD: The MythBusters at OECD by Jim Horn The next time you see one the series of teacher bashing TV ads from the global warming skeptics at Exxon-Mobil, please refer mentally to the myth busting summary shared below. It was posted at AlterNet, and it offers a link to the OECD report for skeptics, of global warming or otherwise. A *new international report* demolishes several deeply held myths about our educational system. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report, which compares the
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
NYC Educator: ATR Opportunity of a Lifetime!: ATR Opportunity of a Lifetime! by NYC Educator * By special guest blogger Suddenly ATR* I was invited to a "Teacher Recruitment Fair." I spent the better part of the previous night printing out copies of my resume, recent observations, and fiddling with my portfolio. I got a rather troubling email though from the DOE, which said (and I quote): "Thank you again for registering for tomorrow’s Teacher Recruitment Fair at 4PM ET. As a reminder, this event will take place at Citi Field, located at 123-01 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing, NY 11368. ... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Arrogance, The Gates Foundation & The “Remembering Self” | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: Arrogance, The Gates Foundation & The “Remembering Self” by Larry Ferlazzo I’ve certainly been critical of the Gates Foundation and Bill Gates on many occasions. However, recently, I had been developing some response for both — Gates staff has been engaging in what appeared to me a productiveonline dialogue with my Education Week and Teacher Leaders Network colleague Anthony Cody and Bill Gates recently gave a surprisingly open-minded interview to The New York Times. But in the last pa... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's StudentsFirst Names New, High-Profile Board - Teacher Beat - Education Week: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's StudentsFirst Names New, High-Profile Board by Stephen Sawchuk At long last, the education advocacy group begun by former D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee has named a new, permanent board of directors. In addition to Rhee herself, the board members include: • comedian and school choice advocate *Bill Cosby*; • decorated television journalist *Connie Chung*; • *Jennifer Johnson*, an executive vice president and CEO for Franklin Resources, ... more »
Teamster Nation: Kochs spend $4M on Prop 32
If California's Prop 32 is supposed to take money out of politics, why are the Koch brothers supporting it? They're the poster boys for the corporate takeover of our democracy.
Short answer: Prop 32 is about taking union money out of politics. That's why they call it the "Billionaires' Bill of Rights."
A group with ties to the conservative billionaire Koch brothers has dropped $4 million to pass a ballot measure that would severely limit the political activity of labor unions.
The new committee has just one donation -- $4 million from
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Standing Up for Schools and Kids | The Forum for Education and Democracy: Standing Up for Schools and Kids by George Wood A couple of recent events, one on the state level and one very local, have given me hope and point out the way each and every one of us can stand up for our public schools. First, three superintendents and their school boards have decided to stand up publicly against the ill-conceived 'Third Grade Guarantee' here in Ohio. If you missed it, last spring the Ohio legislature, prompted by Governor John Kasich, decided that no child would be promoted to fourth grade... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
CTA Statement of Solidarity - California Teachers Association: CTA Statement of Solidarity With Striking Chicago Educators *Contact: Mike Myslinski at 650-552-5324* * * BURLINGAME – Dean E. Vogel, president of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association, issued this statement of solidarity today as CTA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to support striking Chicago educators in the nation’s third-largest public school district: “California’s educators stand in solidarity with the 30,000 striking Chicago Teachers Union members and their goals. What teachers want in Chicago... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Chicago mayor seeks injunction to end teachers strike | News - Home: Chicago mayor seeks injunction to end teachers strikeRahm Emanuel asks city lawyers to file an injunction to immediately end the teachers strike Author: From Kyung Lah and Greg Botelho CNN Published On: Sep 16 2012 01:10:11 AM EDT Updated On: Sep 16 2012 09:10:03 PM EDT - - - - Print - Email - - - - - [image: Chicago teachers on strike 4] Kevin Myers/CNN CHICAGO (CNN) - The week-old teachers strike in Chicago's public schools will continue into the new week, after a repres... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Students Last: The Tiniest Test Takers: The Tiniest Test Takers by Students Last *New York City* - Pearson PLC, the world's leading learning company, announced a multi-million dollar deal with New York City's Department of Education that will allow the company to begin administering standardized tests to the city's youngest students - fetuses. Pearson-provided sonogram of fetus taking ELA exam. Sadly, test scores prove fetus is merely average.Flanked by both Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor of Education Dennis Walcott, Pearson CEO Marjorie Scardino gushed, "We couldn't be mor... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
CTU President: We Are Still on Strike | NBC Chicago: CTU President: We Are Still on StrikeTeachers from around the country will gather at noon on Saturday for a solidarity rally in Union Park Sunday, Sep 16, 2012 | Updated 12:11 AM CDT View Comments ( 11 ) | Email | Print [image: The Chicago Teachers Union hosted a] The Chicago Teachers Union hosted a "Solidarity Rally" in Union Park on Saturday afternoon, while officials from CTU and Chicago Public Schools hammer out the details for an agreement. Michelle Relerford reports from Union Park. PHOTOS AND VIDEOS [image: Negotiations Co... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
NYC Educator: God Save Karen Lewis: God Save Karen Lewis by NYC Educator After hearing the CTU strike was nearing a resolution, I was surprised to hear that it was, in fact, going to continue for two more days. I was more surprised, though, at the rationale behind that decision. *“This union is a democratic institution, which values the opportunity for all members to make decisions together. The officers of this union follow the lead of our members,” President Lewis said.* Have you ever heard of such a thing? She's going to
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Democracy breaks out in Chicago. Many surprised, not having seen it before. « Fred Klonsky: Democracy breaks out in Chicago. Many surprised, not having seen it before. by Fred Klonsky *He’s an idiot.* I have negotiated many contracts. We went out on strike over one. The membership rejected one that our team brought back. I never make public judgments about what the union members anywhere decide to do about a bargained contract. Their contract. The Chicago CTU House of Delegates just voted minutes ago to take time to read the deal and vote on Tuesday.
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Privateers and Public Education: They Want the Money | Firedoglake: Privateers and Public Education: They Want the Money by Glenn W. Smith Message scrawled on temp classroom, Pershing Jr. High It’s not hard to pierce the rotten veil of today’s so-called public education reformers. Some corporate hacks see all that money spent on public education and, as is their habit, they set out to get it. First, they embarrass teachers and schools with ridiculous, destructive high-stakes tests and rigged “accountability” measures. Second, create an awkward, exploitative alliance with home-schoole... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Strike Continues Into New Week As Union, City Fail To Strike Deal: Chicago Teachers Strike Continues Into New Week As Union, City Fail To Strike Deal by Joy Resmovits [image: @CTULocal1 members march for "student needs, not corporate greed!] The Chicago Teachers Union delegates decided Sunday night not to accept a deal for a new contract from Chicago Public Schools and made plans to resume negotiations Tuesday, effectively prolonging the weeklong teachers strike and ensuring that school would not be in session for the city's public school students for the next tw... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Full Text of the Queensborough English Department Attack Letter « Student Activism: Full Text of the Queensborough English Department Attack Letter by Angus Johnston Yesterday I reported on an attempt by CUNY administrators to dismantle the English department at the system’s Queensborough Community College in retaliation for the department’s refusal to approve a restructuring of its composition program. That reporting was based on a public excerpt from a letter sent by QCC Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Karen Steele to Linda Reesman, chair of the QCC English departmen... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Schools Matter: The Common Core: Bad for Libraries, Librarians, and Students: The Common Core: Bad for Libraries, Librarians, and Students by skrashen The President of the American Library Association is enthusiastic about the common core for school libraries and school librarians. I am not. I posted this comment on: Education Week: Common Core Thrusts Librarians Into Leadership Role http://bit.ly/SpMDC4 In contrast to the view presented in “Common Core Thrusts School Librarians Into Leadership Roles” (Education Week, Sept 12, 2012), I argue here that there are no clear benefits ... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
The first week of the historic September 2012 Chicago teachers strike. Interviews and scenes from the picket lines at Amundsen HS, Kenwood Academy, Steinmetz HS, Lawndale Elementary Community Academy, Reilly Elementary, Burley Elementary, Marsh Elementary, Marshall HS, Lane Tech HS, Kelly HS, Monroe Elementary -- all of which are only a small fraction of all the schools on strike in the City. Also scenes from the massive 30,000-strong teacher rally and march in the Loop on Monday, followed by another massive march on Tuesday. After th
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Former CT Education Deputy and Stamford Superintendent put on leave in Warwick, RI. - Wait, What?: Former CT Education Deputy and Stamford Superintendent put on leave in Warwick, RI. by jonpelto Thanks to a Wait, What? reader from Rhode Island, I’ve learned that according to press reports, Peter Horoschak, Superintendent of Schools in Warwick, RI, that state’s second largest school district, was put on administrative leave today. According to the Warwick School Committee’s Vice Chairman, the action was due to a personnel matter. Superintendent Horoschak reported that he is unaw... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
CUNY Administration Declares War On Rebel Faculty « Student Activism: CUNY Administration Declares War On Rebel Faculty by Angus Johnston This is an astounding story. On Wednesday the English department at Queensborough Community College voted not to adopt a policy of the City University of New York to reduce composition course credits from four to three. In so doing, they rejected the CUNY Pathways initiative, a proposal for streamlining and centralizing CUNY curricula which many facultyregard as antithetical to students’ needs. Administrators didn’t like this. And in fact they dis... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Is Educational Choice a Good Thing? Yes, If…. | IDEA: Is Educational Choice a Good Thing? Yes, If…. by Kristan Morrison in *democracy.edu* I am caught in a weird place. I am a public university professor in a teacher education program who prepares people to be state-licensed teachers in our public schools. Thus, some critics would argue that I am a tool of the public school/government monopoly over education. But I am also an advocate of many other types of schools -free schools , homeschooling (especially of the unschooling variety), Montesorri schools, Waldorf schools, Quaker s... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
What research really says on teacher evaluation - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: What research really says on teacher evaluation By Valerie Strauss The Chicago teachers strike has put the issue of teacher evaluation front and center in the education debate. The popular “value added” method of using student standardized test scores to figure out how effective a teacher is highly controversial; I wrote about it here. Here is a new important look by an education expert, Richard Rothstein. Rothstein is a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute, a non-profit organi... more »
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Myths vs. Facts in the Chicago Teachers Union Strike | The Dissenter: Myths vs. Facts in the Chicago Teachers Union Strike by Kevin Gosztola Politicians, journalists, liberal pundits and so-called education reform advocates are employing spin and misinformation to condemn and criticize the Chicago Teachers Union strike. It’s important to note that Chicago is being used as the latest laboratory for anti-union privatization measures that some big business Democrats and Republicans hope to implement across the country. Firedoglake has assembled a Myth vs. Fact sheet to help you bett... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-15-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
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