Latest News and Comment from Education

Monday, September 10, 2012

Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 9-10 AM Posts #soschat #edreform

Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 9-9 AM Posts #soschat #edreform:


Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 9-9 AM Posts #soschat #edreform



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS


Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES by Mike Klonsky Karen Lewis *“Real school will not be open [Monday]. ... No CTU member will be inside our schools." *-- Sun-Times Bad timing for Rahm? *The timing also may be inopportune for Emanuel, a former White House chief of staff whose city administration is wrestling with a spike in murders and shootings in some city neighborhoods and who just agreed to take a larger role in fundraising for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. -- * Time More Lewis *“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and ... more »

The Real Stand for Children :: Sabrina Joy Stevens

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago
The Real Stand for Children :: Sabrina Joy Stevens: The Real Stand for Children Posted by Sabrina on September 10th, 2012 Pop History Quiz: Do you know how children ended up off the factory floor and in classrooms? Unionized adults. From the 1830s until the 1938 passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act, organizations like the Women’s Trade Union League of New York, the New England Association of Farmers, Mechanics and Other Workingmen, the American Federation of Labor and others led the fight to end child labor and institute compulsory schooling laws. (That fight, by the way, contin... more »

Seeing Red: Chicago Teachers Elevate Anti-Privatization Fight to National Level | OccupyWallSt.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 24 minutes ago
Seeing Red: Chicago Teachers Elevate Anti-Privatization Fight to National Level | OccupyWallSt.org: Seeing Red: Chicago Teachers Elevate Anti-Privatization Fight to National Level by OccupyWallSt [image: "United We Bargain, Divided We Beg"] *via the Occupied Chicago Tribune:* When a teachers’ strike started to look like a realistic possibility earlier this spring, CPS Chief Communications Officer Becky Carroll warned the readers of Catalyst, “Any talk of a strike is the wrong message to send our schools, students and taxpayers.” For her, and the rest of the privatization evangelist... more »

Obama’s Failing Education Agenda | Dailycensored.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 25 minutes ago
Obama’s Failing Education Agenda | Dailycensored.com: Obama’s Failing Education Agenda by P.L. Thomas In the 2008 presidential election, I cast a symbolic vote for Barack Obama. I would have eagerly done the same for Hillary Clinton. I believed deeply in the need to confront the lingering and corrosive racism and sexism that haunt the promise of democracy and equity that the U.S. represents (but has yet to achieve). My vote for Obama had little to do with the hope and change that drove his campaign. I am far too skeptical of politicians to believe that policy will follow rhetoric. ... more »

Modern School: Chicago Teachers Strike is On

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 29 minutes ago
Modern School: Chicago Teachers Strike is On: Chicago Teachers Strike is On by Michael Dunn The Chicago teachers strike is officially on, with thousands of teachers walking off the job today in Chicago’s first teacher strike in 25 years. It is also the first major American teacher strike in years. The stakes are high for all sides. In some ways, the strike is a test case for the labor movement, particularly among public sector workers. A loss for the teachers would motivate anti-union officials across the country to increase their attacks on public sector workers, giving them the... more »

Schools Matter: We Are Chicago Teachers Now!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Schools Matter: We Are Chicago Teachers Now!: We Are Chicago Teachers Now! by Jim Horn STRIKE! CPS fails to respond to educational proposals of Chicago Teachers Union, while Mayor Rahm Emanuel continues insults forcing first Chicago schools strike in 25 years *Substance News* George N. Schmidt - September 09, 2012 After a quarter century, it was finally scheduled to begin at midnight, and it did with a handful of pickets in front of the headquarters of the nation's third largest school district four blocks south of Chicago's City Hall. It is the first strike by the Chicago Teachers ... more »

America would be better off with more strikes - CNN.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
America would be better off with more strikes - CNN.com: America would be better off with more strikes By *Chris Rhomberg*, Special to CNN updated 7:42 AM EDT, Mon September 10, 2012 [image: In June, Chicago school teachers protested a decision by the board of education to rescind a 4% annual raise.] In June, Chicago school teachers protested a decision by the board of education to rescind a 4% annual raise. *STORY HIGHLIGHTS* - In Chicago, public school teachers are set to go on strike - Chris Rhomberg: The strike has mostly disappeared from American life - He says declining... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Says GOP Shouldn't 'Kowtow' to Tea Party

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Says GOP Shouldn't 'Kowtow' to Tea Party: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Says GOP Shouldn't 'Kowtow' to Tea PartyAnn Kane and M. Catharine Evans * * Weighing in on education reform at the Democratic National Convention last week, Michelle Rhee, former DC Schools Chancellor, and CEO of the lobbying organization StudentsFirst said the Republican Party shouldn't "kowtow to the special interests within their own party." After almost two years of vetting Rhee as a liberal Democrat who won the hearts and minds of conservative Republicans, we are s... more »

UPDATE: “Why I’m striking.” « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
“Why I’m striking.” « Fred Klonsky: CTU: “Recognizing the Board’s financial woes, we are not far apart on compensation.” But there are other major concerns. by Fred Klonsky *Teachers and staff at Logan Square’s Darwin Elementary School at 6:30 this morning.* From the CTU: “Recognizing the Board’s fiscal woes, we are not far apart on compensation. However, we are apart on benefits. We want to maintain the existing health benefits. “Another concern is evaluation procedures. After the initial phase-in of the new evaluation system it could result in 6,000 teachers (or nearly 30 perce... more »

UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-10-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] A Hero of Public Education in Washington State by dianerav State Representative Marci Maxwell is a hero who joins our honor roll for bravely standing up for public education. She wrote an article in which she urged voters to reject an initiative to authorize charter schools in Washington State. She pointed out that the state’s voters have turned down charters three times A Hero for Public Education in Los Angeles by dianerav Steve Zimmer, a board member of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is a hero... more »

Why are Chicago teachers on strike? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Why are Chicago teachers on strike? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Why are Chicago teachers on strike? By Valerie Strauss They couldn’t make a deal in Chicago so more than 350,000 public school kids won’t have class on Monday. Why are teachers in the third largest school district in the country going on strike for the first time since 1987, when a walkout lasted 19 days? (Sitthixay Ditthavong/AP)Because Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel gave up some, but not enough, of his questionable plans to reform schools with initiatives that haven’t been shown to be effective (but are p... more »

Post-AB 5: Focus on substantial areas of agreement on evaluations | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Post-AB 5: Focus on substantial areas of agreement on evaluations | EdSource Today: Post-AB 5: Focus on substantial areas of agreement on evaluations - by David B. Cohen by David B. Cohen [image: David B. Cohen] David B. Cohen Last month’s legislative drama involving Assembly Bill 5 provided a snapshot of the dysfunctional politics of education policy, with distrust and division inflaming what should be worked out in a calm and straightforward manner. All stakeholders would welcome teacher evaluation improvements, but disagreements about the nature of the reform unfortunately domi... more »

Chicago Teachers Go On Strike...On behalf of all Public Education! - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Go On Strike...On behalf of all Public Education! - Wait, What?: Chicago Teachers Go On Strike…On behalf of all Public Education! by jonpelto For the first time in twenty-five years, school teachers in Chicago are going on strike. President Obama’s confidant and former chief of staff, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, set up this strike over two key issues – merit pay and evaluation. 700,000 students out of school, 30,000 teachers and support staff on the picket-line because Emanual, a Democrat, wants to introduce even more “education reform,” and this after Paul Vallas... more »

Chicago Teachers Strike: Union, Emanuel Disagree On Bottom Line

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Strike: Union, Emanuel Disagree On Bottom Line: Chicago Teachers Strike: Union, Emanuel Disagree On Bottom Line by Joy Resmovits On Monday, Chicago's public school students won't have any classes to go to. After weeks of negotiations, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's team and the Chicago Teacher's Union failed to agree on a contract. On Sunday night, CTU officially announced it was going to strike for the first time in a quarter century. So on Monday, instead of teaching, the union's 26,000 educators will protest. "In the morning, no CTU members will be inside our school... more »

High School Students Get Swag on Count Day - High School Notes (usnews.com)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
High School Students Get Swag on Count Day - High School Notes (usnews.com): High School Students Get Swag on Count Day By KELSEY SHEEHY September 10, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: Ten states use attendance counts from a single day to determine district funding for the school year.] Ten states use attendance counts from a single day to determine district funding for the school year. Once a year, Detroit Public Schools pulls out all the stops to get students in their seats. In 2010, the district enticed students with a total of $20,000 in Target gift cards. The prize for attendance in ... more »

Chicago Teachers Strike as Education Reform Tensions Boil Over - Teacher Beat - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Strike as Education Reform Tensions Boil Over - Teacher Beat - Education Week: [image: Teacher Beat] Chicago Teachers Strike as Education Reform Tensions Boil Over by Stephen Sawchuk Chicago teachers are scheduled to take to the picket lines today, following the failure of marathon negotiations this weekend with the school district over issues of pay, job security, and evaluations. The strike, which will involve some 25,000 teachers and support staff, is the first in the city in 25 years, and it will be the largest teachers' strike since Detroit teachers marched i... more »

NYC Educator: Wear Red Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
NYC Educator: Wear Red Today: Wear Red Today by NYC Educator In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Chicago, who are on strike. If you want to help, please contribute to their solidarity fund. I have. Remember that Mayor Rahm Emanuel reneged on a negotiated 4% raise. He then offered a 2% raise, with undetermined merit pay to follow as he saw fit and demanded, for this, that teachers work a 20% longer school day. Rahm's corporate pals changed the law so that CTU needed a 75% vote of union members to authorize a strike, thinking that would never happen. Some "reformer" whose... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: CTU PRESS RELEASE

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: CTU PRESS RELEASE: CTU PRESS RELEASE by Mike Klonsky *Press Release: CPS Fails To Negotiate Fair Contract To Prevent First Strike In 25 Years* *09/09/2012* More than 29,000 teachers and education professionals will not report to work today 9/10 CHICAGO— After hours of intense negotiations, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have failed to reach an agreement that will prevent the first teachers strike in 25 years. Pickets are expected to begin Monday at 675 schools and the Board of Education as early as 6:30 a.m. T... more »

Chicago teachers strike for first time in 25 years; contingency sites ready, charters remain open - Chicago Sun-Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Chicago teachers strike for first time in 25 years; contingency sites ready, charters remain open - Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago teachers strike for first time in 25 years; contingency sites ready, charters remain open BY ROSALIND ROSSI and LAUREN FITZPATRICK Staff Reporters September 9, 2012 5:36PM [image: Story Image]Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union and Vice president Jesse Sharkey talk to the media as Chicago Public Schools will be on Strike this Monday. Sunday Sept 9, 2012 | Scott Stewart~Sun-Times For the first time in 25 years, Chicago’s teachers are ...more »

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week One 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week One 2012: Week One 2012 by alicemercer [image: Number one-1=] And so it begins… It was a pretty good week. Feedback from one of the kids about day one was that he liked me, but I wasn’t warm and friendly. I wasn’t trying to do the “don’t smile until Christmas” routine, but I did make an effort to be friendlier as the week went on. There is not a lot of reason to crab on this group of kids, who are very sweet for sixth graders. Normally kids in this grade-level are feeling out their adolescent attitudes. This group on initial impression ... more »

LAUSD vs. LEONARD ISENBERG - WRITTED TO SUPERIOR COURT - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
LAUSD vs. LEONARD ISENBERG - WRITTED TO SUPERIOR COURT - Perdaily.com: LAUSD vs. LEONARD ISENBERG - WRITTED TO SUPERIOR COURT by Leonard Isenberg [image: Drefus.jpg] *(Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)* *After two years and seven months waiting for my hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), without pay or benefits, tomorrow was to be my day in this administrative law court, where no teacher ever gets their job back. Even thought Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent ... more »

FAIR CONTRACT RALLY MONDAY AT 3:30PM Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central: Strike Central [image: CTU members rally on may 23rd. Signs read Whatever We Do We Will Do Together and Love Our Students] Latest Information As of 12:01 a.m. we will be on strike. Please report to your picket location by 6:30 a.m. Click here for the latest press release on negotiations. Click here for our first daily strike bulletin, On the Line. *FAIR CONTRACT RALLY MONDAY AT 3:30PM**125 SOUTH CLARK * * CTU Strike Headquarters is located at Teamster City.* On Van Buren between Ashland and Paulina on the north side of I-290 - the Eisenhower ... more »

Chicago's Teachers Just Went On Strike -- Here's Everything You Need To Know About Why | Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Chicago's Teachers Just Went On Strike -- Here's Everything You Need To Know About Why | Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC): THE DAILY CHANGE: CHICAGO’S TEACHERS JUST WENT ON STRIKE — HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHY During a press conference tonight the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) announced that it will be going on strike, its first action of the sort in 25 years. Why are these 29,000 teachers and school workers going on strike in the nation’s third-largest public school district? Because they want what all workers want: fair pay and decent working conditio... more »

BREAKING: Chicago Teachers to strike after negotiations fail looms - Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Teacher contract negotiations continue as deadline looms - Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News: BREAKING: Chicago Teachers to strike after negotiations fail Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News More Sharing Services - - Share - | - Share on facebook - Share on twitter - | - Share on email - Print *Posted: Sep 07, 2012 2:25 PM PDT**Updated: Sep 09, 2012 8:12 PM PDT* By Tisha Lewis, FOX Chicago News Reporter - bio | email - CPS will implement 'Children First' if teachers strike: DETAILS CHICAGO (FOX Chicago Ne... more »

School Tech Connect: I Stand With The Union

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
School Tech Connect: I Stand With The Union: I Stand With The Union by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) from the Labor Day RallyI stand with Karen Lewis, the CTU negotiating team, the united Chicago Teachers' Union. I'm not a member of their union, but I've been paying attention. What's happening in Chicago is a full-scale assault on communities and public education in the guise of "reform." The national fetish for teacher-hating has its epicenter here in Chicago, where Rahm Emanuel has decided that his personal agenda is the only way forward, without negotiation, without the assen... more »

Peg with Pen: On the Eve of the Strike: Thank you CTU

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Peg with Pen: On the Eve of the Strike: Thank you CTU: On the Eve of the Strike: Thank you CTU by Peggy As a former public school teacher who has been out of the system for six years, who feels as though no large body of people have ever – *ever *- stood up for educators – for me - for public schools – for students – *in my professional lifetime* – I just want to say thank you. For all of the professionals – teachers – who are out there tonight – *remember who you are* – while I remember who I am. CTU is making sure I remember. We are professionals with high expertise in a fiel... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Overpaid Teachers? As If!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Overpaid Teachers? As If!: Overpaid Teachers? As If! by Duke *But I need those people to find new ways to blame teachers for... everything!* When Chris Christie first came on the scene, he would go on and on about greedy teachers getting big raises while everyone else was struggling. What he failed to tell his constituents is that most NJ teacher contracts are for three years; that means there is a lag in wage inflation changes between the general workforce and teachers. Now it's been a few years since the recession hit. How are those "overpaid" teachers doing? ... more »

Online Education's Lucrative Bottom Line | OurFuture.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Online Education's Lucrative Bottom Line | OurFuture.org: Online Education's Lucrative Bottom Line by Sam Pizzigati *Corporate execs and billionaire ideologues are creating — at taxpayer expense — a network of schools where learning takes a back seat.* The sounds of September: school bells ringing, looseleaf binders snapping open, sneakers squeaking on gymnasium floors. Next to apple pie, what could be more American than sounds like these — and the local public schools where we hear them? But times change. Blackboards and chalk no longer grace every classroom. We have whiteboards ... more »

Evening Time with Diane 9-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Tomorrow, Wear Red for ED to Support Chicago Teachers FairTest: Give Arne a Warm Welcome by dianerav The nation’s leading anti-testing organization has issued a call to its supporters to turn out and welcome Secretary Duncan if he visits their communities on his cross-country bus tour. Tell him why his teach-to-the-test policies are failing. Tell him why high-stakes testing is bad for the quality of education. Tell him that children need time to play and dance and sing, not just take test prep. Tell him that it is wrong to ditch physical education and the art... more »

The in box. “As a teacher, I am vilified and my profession is denigrated by the mayor and his office’s media tactics.” « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
The in box. “As a teacher, I am vilified and my profession is denigrated by the mayor and his office’s media tactics.” « Fred Klonsky: The in box. “As a teacher, I am vilified and my profession is denigrated by the mayor and his office’s media tactics.” by Fred Klonsky The Reality of Education: *Each year I teach five sections of high school English. That’s thirty (or more!) students in a room. That means that in my short career, I’ve already influenced almost 500 people directly! This doesn’t even include students I’ve taught in summer or night school, students who I mentor, h... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: BEX IV - the Battle To Come

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: BEX IV - the Battle To Come: BEX IV - the Battle To Come by Melissa Westbrook [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] Next week is the first of the BEX IV community meetings (Thursday, the 20th at Whitman at 6:30 p.m.). It now looks like a real battle brewing and the Board will certainly have a decision to make. For your consideration: - the Downtown Seattle Association has made the unfortunate decision to continue to pressure the Board/City Council for a downtown school. To their credit, they took a meeting with me and I outlined why, at this j... more »

Tomorrow, Wear Red for ED to Support Chicago Teachers Continuing Change

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Continuing Change: Tomorrow, Wear Red for ED to Support Chicago Teachers by gatorbonbc Reblogged from Diane Ravitch's blog: I will be wearing red in solidarity with the Chicago Teachers Union tomorrow, in support of whatever decision they make. If they should strike, they have my support. If they don’t, they also have my support. I am not giving my support unthinkingly or blindly. I support their right to bargain collectively. Knowing Karen Lewis, I believe she has the best interests of the children of Chicago in her heart. Read more… 132 more words Diane Ravitch supports Chicag... more »

NYC Educator: Why Do We Need Union?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
NYC Educator: Why Do We Need Union?: Why Do We Need Union? by NYC Educator Here's a sign from Chicago--ground zero as of midnight tonight.

Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS News: SPS News by Melissa Westbrook [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] Yesterday, Superintendent Banda and Mayor McGinn announced a new partnership called "*Evening Community Meetings in School Libraries*" that would open every school library for use by community/neighborhood groups. The cost would be $15 for meetings held after school hours. From SPS Communications: *Any local community group or nonprofit organization is eligible to sign up, but the libraries are not available for business or commercial uses, nor for events that have ad... more »

The Education Report: Immigration policy and local high schools -- and an Oakland school board candidate's residency challenge - Inside Bay Area

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
The Education Report: Immigration policy and local high schools -- and an Oakland school board candidate's residency challenge By Katy Murphy Oakland Tribune Posted: 09/09/2012 12:00:00 AM PDT This is a sampling of The Education Report, Katy Murphy's Oakland schools blog. Read more atwww.IBAbuzz.com/education. Follow her at Twitter.com/KatyMurphy. Sept. 5: A recent story in the Oakland Tribune examined how the federal "deferred action for childhood arrivals" immigration policy might provide added inspiration to some students to graduate from high school and go to college. The pr... more »

Jimmy Fallon sings James Taylor Parody at DNC2012 – Oh, I’ve seen Romney, I’ve seen Bain. VIDEO « Continuing Change

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Jimmy Fallon sings James Taylor Parody at DNC2012 – Oh, I’ve seen Romney, I’ve seen Bain. VIDEO « Continuing Change: Jimmy Fallon sings James Taylor Parody at DNC2012 – Oh, I’ve seen Romney, I’ve seen Bain. VIDEO by gatorbonbc *Kudos to Jimmy Fallon – He sings this James Taylor Parody at DNC2012, beautifully.* *“Oh, I’ve seen Romney, I’ve seen Bain. I’ve seen Clinton speeches I thought would never end, I’ve seen crazy guys talking to invisible men — so I’ll probably vote Obama, one more time again. “* *Watch Video Here:* *‎”We seen both sides and we seen both guys,* *But 2016... more »

UPDATE: Clueless Citizens are Good For PWCS « PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Clueless Citizens are Good For PWCS « PWC Education Reform Blog: Accentuating the Postivie or Misleading the Public? by pwceducationreform September 9, 2012 — pwceducationreform Most of us who have ever worked for a private business have experience in trying to highlight the things we do well. A restaurant with an extensive wine list will emphasize the variety of wines they offer in adverts, and maybe not mention that they don’t serve dessert. A business that’s received awards for processing the greatest volume of home mortgages won’t mention how many of their mortgages ended up ... more »

“Will Standards Save Public Education?” « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
“Will Standards Save Public Education?” « Deborah Meier on Education: When Books Were..Over My Head. by debmeier I still get publishers’ materials about the latest education books. And I can’t sop myself from looking–and alas, getting discouraged. Heinemann! I used to love-ya. Trust Heinemann…and implement th Como Core with confidence.” I hate the idea of “implementing” books. One book “Explicitly links instruction to the standards for nonfiction.” We’re moving away, incidentally, from fiction. Some of these may be great…well, good…well, as good as they can be, given…that you’d n... more »

Chicago Teachers Union | Diane Ravitch: Tomorrow is Decision Day in Chicago.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union | Diane Ravitch: Tomorrow is Decision Day in Chicago.: Diane Ravitch: Tomorrow is Decision Day in Chicago. BY *DIANE RAVITCH* | 09/09/2012 Tomorrow, Wear Red for ED to Support Chicago Teachers Mayor Rahm Emanuel has tried to bully the Chicago Teachers Union and its leader Karen Lewis. Lewis was elected by the members because they knew she would stand up for them. Emanuel has the support of the Wall Street hedge fund managers organization, somewhat absurdly called Democrats for Education Reform. He also has the other big-monied people in Chicago, as mentio... more »

“Won’t Back Down” and “Will Stand Up” | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
“Won’t Back Down” and “Will Stand Up” | Parents Across America: “Won’t Back Down” and “Will Stand Up” by pureparentsBy Lorie Barzano [image: Stealing Schools = Won't Back Down (click Picture)] Chair of Coalition SAUS (Strengthen Austin Urban Schools), a parent led group representing inner-city public schools working to ensure accessible, quality Public Education for all children and healthy, thriving Public Schools in Austin’s urban core. I saw “Won’t Back Down” last week with two other parents from Coalition SAUS. A free, pre-screening hosted by the Charter School Association, ... more »

Diane in the Afternoon 9-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: *Diane in the Afternoon 9-9-12* I Can Determine the Winner of the Presidency by dianerav Good grief. It just occurred to me that I can swing the election. Not with my vote. My personal vote doesn’t count. I live in New York, a state so blue that Romney won’t bother to campaign here, although he will surely come here to raise money on Wall Street and in the Hamptons, where the super-rich gather to play and ride horses and sail. New York will give Obama a huge majority, so I am free to vote my conscience. The election, I hear, will be decided in Ohio and Michigan... more »

Is Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee taking over the Democratic Party? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Is Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee taking over the Democratic Party? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Is Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee taking over the Democratic Party? By Valerie Strauss An Atlantic magazine article is entitled, “How Michelle Rhee Is Taking Over the Democratic Party.” Is she really? The story says that “there are signs that Rhee’s persona non grata status in her party is beginning to wane.” Persona non grata status in the Democratic Party? When was that? Rhee was hired by a Democratic mayor, Adrian Fenty, in Washington, D.C,. in 2007 as chancellor... more »

Today All Who Love Public Education Are Members of the Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central: For Members » Strike Central [image: CTU members rally on may 23rd. Signs read Whatever We Do We Will Do Together and Love Our Students] Latest Information At this point, negotiations continue between the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Board of Education. While we are always hopeful for a resolution, we continue to prepare for a strike. Click here for the latest press release on negotiations. Click here for a flyer geared toward parents. (A Spanish version can be downloaded here. An updated Spanish version will be available soon). Cli... more »

NYC: Solidarity March for Chicago Teachers, Monday 9/10 | OccupyWallSt.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
NYC: Solidarity March for Chicago Teachers, Monday 9/10 | OccupyWallSt.org: NYC: Solidarity March for Chicago Teachers, Monday 9/10 Posted 38 minutes ago on Sept. 9, 2012, 1:29 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt Tags: chicago, education, labor, nyc, solidarity, strike, teachers, union [image: Solidarity with CTU] Chicago teachers are likely to strike tomorrow, Monday, September 10th. Please join MORE(Movement of Rank-and-File Educators) and Occupy Wall Street to stand with them in solidarity! *When: Monday, September 10th at 5pm* *Where: Meet at the south side of Union Square (14th Street)* Teac... more »

Won’t Back Down Movie Review: My (ex) PTA President’s Point of View « Beccarama

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Won’t Back Down Movie Review: My (ex) PTA President’s Point of View « Beccarama: Won’t Back Down Movie Review: My (ex) PTA President’s Point of View September 8, 2012 by Rebecca Levey This week I went to a screening of Won’t Back Down starring Viola Davis andMaggie Gyllenhaal. The movie is about a mom and a teacher who band together and use the Parent Trigger law (which is never mentioned by name) to take over and turnaround a failing elementary school in Pittsburgh. The film is loosely based on real events (though in my research I couldn’t find anything other than the Los Ange... more »

More About That Atlantic Puff Piece on Rhee « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
More About That Atlantic Puff Piece on Rhee « Diane Ravitch's blog: More About That Atlantic Puff Piece on Rhee by dianerav Sharon R. Higgins is an Oakland parent activist. She diligently follows the money. Check out her website Charter School Scandals. She sent the following comment: *Any article about Michelle Rhee published by the Atlantic Media Company should disclose Rhee’s extremely close ties to AMC’s CEO and owner, and his wife (David and Katherine Bradley).* *The Bradleys hosted Rhee at their Massachusetts Heights home three times between January 2008 and March * * * *Be s... more »

Daily Kos: Lost Hope: Obama's Failing Education Agenda

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Daily Kos: Lost Hope: Obama's Failing Education Agenda: Lost Hope: Obama's Failing Education Agenda byplthomasEdDFollow 3 PERMALINK1 COMMENT In the 2008 presidential election, I cast a symbolic vote for Barack Obama. I would have eagerly done the same for Hillary Clinton. I believed deeply in the need to confront the lingering and corrosive racism and sexism that haunt the promise of democracy and equity that the U.S. represents (but has yet to achieve). My vote for Obama had little to do with the hope and change that drove his campaign. I am far too skeptical of politicians to be... more »

Tracking School Children With RFID Tags? It's All About the Benjamins | Threat Level | Wired.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Tracking School Children With RFID Tags? It's All About the Benjamins | Threat Level | Wired.com: Tracking School Children With RFID Tags? It’s All About the Benjamins - BY DAVID KRAVETS - EMAIL AUTHOR - 09.07.12 6:30 AM Student body ID cards with RFID-embedded chips. *Image: Northside Independent School District* Just as the U.S. Department of Agriculture mandates Radio Frequency Identification Device chips to monitor livestock, a Texas school district just begun implanting the devices on student identification cards to monitor pupils’ movements on campus, and to track... more »

More than bake sales: Utah parents debate merits of PTA vs. PTO | The Salt Lake Tribune

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
More than bake sales: Utah parents debate merits of PTA vs. PTO | The Salt Lake Tribune: More than bake sales: Utah parents debate merits of PTA vs. PTO Some are leaving for financial reasons; others claim reasons are driven by political anger. By Lisa Schencker | The Salt Lake Tribune First Published Sep 07 2012 10:27 pm • Last Updated Sep 08 2012 12:10 am As in hundreds of schools across the state, parents at Muir Elementary in Bountiful mingled, sold colorful T-shirts and discussed plans for the year ahead as part of a back-to-school night. Unlike at other schools, two major Utah... more »

Solidarity with Chicago Teachers: Action for the Week of 9/9/2012 | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Solidarity with Chicago Teachers: Action for the Week of 9/9/2012 | United Opt Out National: Solidarity with Chicago Teachers: Action for the Week of 9/9/2012 by admin *United Opt Out National joins TAG, The Network of Teacher Activist Groups, in expressing our solidarity with CTU.* *First, join us by sending a message of support.* *Second, pledge to support CTU by doing one of the following:* - *Teach about labor history and the importance of unions for working people;* - *Organize a discussion and solidarity statement in my school, educational program, or community;* ... more »

Bridgeport, Bass Pro and the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Bridgeport, Bass Pro and the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution - Wait, What?: Bridgeport, Bass Pro and the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution by jonpelto Now it’s true that Bass Pro sells guns, so I’d expect the 2nd Amendment to come up in the discussion about Bass Pro coming to Connecticut, but Freedom of the Press and the 1st Amendment? (really?) For those eager to see how “politics” really works, let’s return to last week’s Wait, What? post about how Bass Pro and Carbela’s have been extraordinarily successful in getting taxpayers to fund their constru... more »

Teachers For Social Justice: TSJ Strike Support Actions Update 9/9

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Teachers For Social Justice: TSJ Strike Support Actions Update 9/9: TSJ Strike Support Actions Update 9/9 by sarah-ji TSJ will be handing out flyers and talking to parents at many of the holding schools Rahm has set up. Join us! Be there at 8am when parents arrive or at 12:30pm when they pick up their children. When you arrive at the school, find the CTU picket captain and tell them you are there with TSJ. You can download flyers to print here. Neighborhood actions *Albany Park* Contact Erin (emomoore[at]gmail.com) - Sunday, leafleting @ Lindo Michoacan w APNC, 1-3pm - Sund... more »

Teachers Don't Suck !: I saw this on FB ! Aint He Just Grand!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Teachers Don't Suck !: I saw this on FB ! Aint He Just Grand!: I saw this on FB ! Aint He Just Grand! by Walt S. I saw this on FB saw this on FB and I copied the picture and some of the comments: "There is alot of talk about him running for Governor of New Jersey?" "Love my Cory." "Love his quote...don't preach to me about your religion...show me by example." "Love this guy." "Did you listen to his speech last night at the convention. AWESOME!!" Here's my comment:

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Times Vision for Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Times Vision for Education: Seattle Times Vision for Education The Seattle Times printed a long, comprehensive Vision for public education in Washington State. They propose a number of changes in the fundamental perspective on education, the most significant of which is an expansion of the State's role in education from K-12 to 3-to-23. There's a lot here, some good, some flawed, some banal. It is recommended reading. Washington state must embrace a new vision for education

Morning UPDATE: Will Chicago Teachers Strike? LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Will Chicago Teachers Strike? by dianerav Tomorrow is Decision Day in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has tried to bully the Chicago Teachers Union and its leader Karen Lewis. Lewis was elected by the members because they knew she would stand up for them. Emanuel has the support of the Wall Street hedge fund managers organization, somewhat absurdly called Democrats for Education Reform. He also has the other big-monied people in Chicago, as mentioned in this article in the Chicago Tribune, including billionaire ... more »

Radical Scholarship: IAP Edited Volume on Obama Education Agenda Wins AESA Award

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Radical Scholarship: IAP Edited Volume on Obama Education Agenda Wins AESA Award: IAP Edited Volume on Obama Education Agenda Wins AESA Award by P. L. Thomas Co-editor Paul Carr (along with Brad Porfilio) has announced *The Phenomenon of Obama and the Agenda for Education: Can Hope Audaciously Trump Neoliberalism? *has just won a 2012 Critics Choice Book Award of theAmerican Educational Studies Association (AESA). The AESA conference is in Seatte in late October. See related essays in a 2011 special issue of *Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education, 4*(1). The Phenomenon of Ob... more »

UPDATE: The Sunday Mail - Why I do not support the IEA’s framework for a solution to the pension issue.. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The Sunday Mail. « Fred Klonsky: The Sunday Mail. by Fred Klonsky Why I do not support the IEA’s framework for a solution to the pension issue. by Fred Klonsky The Illinois Education Association issued another of it’s press releases today concerning the state’s pension debate. Written by IEA Communication Director Charlie McBarron, the IEA tries to explain why there has been no progress over the summer. Pension legislation stalled because of union opposition and because Democrats *Chicago paleta cart. Photo. Adam Heenan* *This week’s Pension Vocabulary by John Dillon:* *Gr... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: You Can Read a Common Core Standard Lesson and Take a Quiz Every School Day!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: You Can Read a Common Core Standard Lesson and Take a Quiz Every School Day!: You Can Read a Common Core Standard Lesson and Take a Quiz Every School Day! by stlgretchen Is this the type of literature used in CCSS? You can find out for yourself1 Forget about the wisdom imparted in the "page of the day" on desk calendars. You can now read a Common Core lesson every day in the Learning Network Blog in the New York Times and see what your children are learning in public school! You can decide for yourself if these unproven and untested standards will ... more »



Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-8-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-1-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-25-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-18-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-11-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-4-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post




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