James Baldwin said it best:
"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."
A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP
Diane in the Afternoon 9-1-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Did We Forget About Integration? by dianerav A good discussion on NPR about an important issue that has been swept under the rug. The combination of racial segregation and poverty is toxic. Maybe Choosing Schools Is Like Choosing Toothpaste? by dianerav Deborah Meier writes to comment on Jeb Bush’s claim that choosing schools should be like choosing milk. Could have said cereal. There, two or three corporations own all the different brands. *Re Jeb Bush’s analogy—choosing schools is like choosing milk as you wander down the aisle. Among the * A New ...more »
Peg with Pen: Sitting Ducks in Suburbia
Peg with Pen: Sitting Ducks in Suburbia: Sitting Ducks in Suburbia by Peggy I attended my son’s middle school Back to School Night this past week; you may recall that this is Sam’s first year in a public school. I especially enjoy these events because as a former public school teacher, I enjoy hearing teachers speak, I love being in their classrooms and I most definitely want to let them know I appreciate their talents, education, dedication and time spent working with our children. During my fifteen years of teaching my last five were spent teaching teachers and administrators ... more »
The Weekly Update: Rallies at the DNC, it’s all about the money for some folks and Michelle Rhee & ALEC – a marriage made in… | Seattle Education
The Weekly Update: Rallies at the DNC, it’s all about the money for some folks and Michelle Rhee & ALEC – a marriage made in… | Seattle Education: The Weekly Update: Rallies at the DNC, it’s all about the money for some folks and Michelle Rhee & ALEC – a marriage made in… by seattleducation2011 *The Weekly Update for the news you might have missed* Check out their Facebook page. *Action Alert: Rally at the DNC!* Parents Across America founding member, Pamela Grundy, is one of the organizers of the following events that will occur in Charlotte, NC next week. To follow is the informat... more »
PAA’s Parent Online Toolkit for the WBD* movie and beyond « Parents Across America
PAA’s Parent Online Toolkit for the WBD* movie and beyond « Parents Across America: PAA’s Parent Online Toolkit for the WBD* movie and beyond by pureparents Parents Across America is a network of **active parents doing the hard work of change in our public schools. We know that our schools need help. Knowing what to do is the problem. Knowing what works in improving schools is even more important. We know that most parents don’t want to close their schools or turn them into charters. They want to improve their local neighborhood public schools by stopping budget cuts, reducing cla... more »
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Global Learning: Helping to Prevent "The Ugly American" Stereotype!
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Global Learning: Helping to Prevent "The Ugly American" Stereotype!: Global Learning: Helping to Prevent "The Ugly American" Stereotype! by Lisa M "I have a nosy wife". My husband and I were sitting in the Windjammer Cafe on the Royal Carribean's Explorer of the Seas. And I was doing what I usually do when I am around a large number of people. In between conversing with my hubby, I listen to conversations taking place around me. So while eavesdropping,listening, I heard a conversation between a man, who was sitting with his son, and the
GOP Divided on ObamaCore | Truth in American Education
GOP Divided on ObamaCore | Truth in American Education: GOP Divided on ObamaCore by Shane Vander Hart It is so good for EdWeek to point out that yes there is dissention in the ranks. Not all Republicans have bought into Governor Jeb Bush’s vision of education reform, as far as, national standards are concerned. On the one hand, there’s Jeb Bush, a key Romney surrogate and the former GOP governor of Florida. He points out that a majority of GOP governors have embraced the standards. And then you’ve got Gayle Ruzeicka, president of the Utah Eagle Forum, and a delegate to the Repub... more »
Jeb Bush ‘s Irrational and Potentially Catastrophic Exercise in Hubris | Scathing Purple Musings
Jeb Bush ‘s Irrational and Potentially Catastrophic Exercise in Hubris | Scathing Purple Musings: Jeb Bush ‘s Irrational and Potentially Catastrophic Exercise in Hubris by Bob Sikes Jeb Bush’s predictable RNC performance centered on school choice with a dash of teacher union bash. The later, red meat for the GOP base; the former, code for vouchers with a lustful eye on total privatization of education. But Bush knows that his Florida test-based way is collapsing and he’s desperately trying to control the narrative with spin. He knows that for some republican voters, playing the uni... more »
THE “DISHONOR YOUR PROFESSION AWARD” « Teachers Fight Back
THE “DISHONOR YOUR PROFESSION AWARD” « Teachers Fight Back: THE “DISHONOR YOUR PROFESSION AWARD” by alkleen *Next to the Broad Prize the Charter School Emmy and the * *DISHONOR YOUR PROFESSION AWARD **are most * *coveted prizes in all of Reformdumb* It’s time to create a new award. The “Dishonor Your Profession Award” will be given to teacher groups that agree to humiliating and degrading contracts. The first award recipient is the Libertyville and Vernon Hills high school teachers who after six months of negotiations have agreed to a pathetic contract. The teachers accepted a sala... more »
Stand in Solidarity with CTU: Action for the Week of 9/2/2012 | United Opt Out National
Stand in Solidarity with CTU: Action for the Week of 9/2/2012 | United Opt Out National: Stand in Solidarity with CTU: Action for the Week of 9/2/2012 by admin *The Chicago Teachers Union stands up against the powers of fear, intimidation, coercion and oppression against the rights of children, teachers, parents and their communities. We support their courageous actions as they confront the education de/formers. CTU’s actions are a model for national action. CTU says “We have had enough!” And we agree with them. We hope more schools, teachers and communities will follow their lea... more »
GotJeb ? Diane Ravitch and Floridians Respond to Jeb Bush’s Speech about Education at the Republican National Convention. « Continuing Change
GotJeb ? Diane Ravitch and Floridians Respond to Jeb Bush’s Speech about Education at the Republican National Convention. « Continuing Change: GotJeb ? Diane Ravitch and Floridians Respond to Jeb Bush’s Speech about Education at the Republican National Convention. by gatorbonbc *Diane Ravitch responded to Jeb Bush’s speech at the Republican National Convention. Jeb compared public education to shopping for milk. Here is Ravitch’s blog response: * *http://dianeravitch.net/2012/09/01/how-is-a-school-like-milk/* *My comment? * *Jeb’s connections to online ed for profit are well known ... more »
NYC Public School Parents: New De Blasio study on inclusion: where are the parents, teachers and principals?
NYC Public School Parents: New De Blasio study on inclusion: where are the parents, teachers and principals?: New De Blasio study on inclusion: where are the parents, teachers and principals? by Leonie Haimson There’s a new study put out by Public Advocate De Blasio’s office praising DOE’s inclusion program, based on the results of Phase I of their initiative. Today’s NYT carries an article about the reporthere. Interestingly, the author of the report only interviewed top brass at Tweed and cluster and network leaders. Not a single principal, teacher or parent, or student in an... more »
Opponents of charter schools amendment say backers are... | www.ajc.com
Opponents of charter schools amendment say backers are... | www.ajc.com: Opponents of charter schools amendment say backers are bullying, silencing them - SHARE - FAVORITE - VOTE (0) By Wayne Washington The Atlanta Journal-Constitution [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Opponents of a proposed charter schools constitutional amendment say supporters of the amendment are using “bullying and intimidation” in an effort to shut down debate on the topic. Supporters say they are not, and there is no secret campaign to squelch debate about the amen... more »
Back to school: Why public education is awesome (Julie Mack column) | MLive.com
Back to school: Why public education is awesome (Julie Mack column) | MLive.com: Back to school: Why public education is awesome (Julie Mack column) [image: Students by the busload] *KALAMAZOO, MI* -- Years ago, I interviewed a man who adopted a teenage boy from Central America. The boy had to adjust to life in Michigan, which included dealing with winters and going to a school where very few people spoke his language. But surprisingly, the teen had boundless enthusiasm for the latter. In his home country, educational options were very limited for poor children. The child could... more »
Saturday coffee. 9-1-12 « Fred Klonsky
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky Can we consider two stupid wars an entitlement? Here’s why I ask. The Illinois Policy Institute is a corporate think tank and lobbying outfit that has led the charge against public employee pensions in the state. Today they link to a *Wall Street Journal* article that makes the claim that entitlements cost too much and are ruining the *American character*, whatever that means. As Americans opt to reward themselves ever more lavishly with entitlement benefits, the question of how to pay for these government transfers ... more »
Educator Musing: Parent Revolution Pants on Fire
Educator Musing: Parent Revolution Pants on Fire: Parent Revolution Pants on Fire by Educator Musing “Ironically, the Desert Trails Parents’ Union initially had no interest in their school becoming a charter school.” David Phleps – National Communications Director of Parent Revolution http://parentrevolution.org/recent-criticism-regarding-won’t-back-down “This group of parents would do anything rather than bring in an
School Tech Connect: Nothing Is Ever True...
School Tech Connect: Nothing Is Ever True...: Nothing Is Ever True... by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) ....when Rahm talks about public education or crime. I rarely get in the car, but I did yesterday, and flipped on the radio and heard the Diminutive Prevaricator talking about how wonderful it is that fewer people have been getting shot to death over in Englewood. Chicago is burning down with gun violence, and there are predictable parallels between the lies that are told about education to with the lies that are told about public safety. The lies are propped on data-worship, ... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Why the Republicans Don't Want Common Core Rescinded.
Missouri Education Watchdog: Why the Republicans Don't Want Common Core Rescinded.: Why the Republicans Don't Want Common Core Rescinded. by stlgretchen You are invited to the educational reform party masqueraded as Common Core and School "Choice" Common Core allows State Longitudinal Data Systems to share information. The information does not only include state wide assessment scores and educational data, it will include invasive personal data on students and families. This data will be used to track children from birth into careers. This data will be supplied to various Fed... more »
Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-1-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] The Biggest Lie about Unions by dianerav A reader responds to someone who lambasted the unions for preventing the firing of bad teachers: *Only poor administrators can’t fire poor teachers. There has never been a union contract anywhere, ever that didn’t allow for a competent principal to remove an incompetent tenured teacher. And it’s even easier to just non-renew a loser before they become tenured. This is the biggest of all the lies told about unionized teachers.* * ** * A Brave State School Board Memb... more »
A teacher's take on testing: High demands, few resources | UTSanDiego.com
A teacher's take on testing: High demands, few resources | UTSanDiego.com: A teacher's take on testing: High demands, few resources[image: Veronica Valdivia with Loma Verde Elementary School in Chula Vista works with her 6th students during a reading and writing classroom assignment.]Veronica Valdivia with Loma Verde Elementary School in Chula Vista works with her 6th students during a reading and writing classroom assignment. — Nelvin C. Cepeda CHULA VISTA — Veronica Valdivia, 37, has taught in the Chula Vista Elementary School District for 14 years. She currently teaches sixt... more »
Daily Kos: Propaganda is one thing; prevarication is another.
Daily Kos: Propaganda is one thing; prevarication is another.: Propaganda is one thing; prevarication is another. by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) That is just one of the many powerful lines from a brilliant op ed in tomorrow's*New York Time* by the fantastic Charles M. Blow. The piece is titled The G.O.P. Fact Vacuum and begins: Honesty is a lost art. Facts are for losers. The truth is dead.Pick one. The piece has a major focus on the words of Paul Ryan from Thursday night, including the now-viral takedown on Foxnews.com by Sally Kohn (who is an unpaid op ed writer there). Aft... more »
This Week's Radical Scholarship 9-1-12
Radical Scholarship: Paul Thomas Paul Thomas Explains Why “No Excuses” Fails « Diane Ravitch's blog P. L. Thomas at Radical Scholarship - 2 hours ago Paul Thomas Explains Why “No Excuses” Fails « Diane Ravitch's blog "No Excuses" and the Culture of Shame: The Miseducation of Our Nation's Children | Alternet P. L. Thomas at Radical Scholarship - 2 hours ago "No Excuses" and the Culture of Shame: The Miseducation of Our Nation's Children | Alternet “Missionary Zeal”: The Miseducation of “Other People’s Children” | Dailycensored.com P. L. Thomas at Radical Scholarship - 23 hours ago “Miss... more »
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 9-1-12
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: *4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit* PENSION REFORM: Top-paid administrators to take biggest hit smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 hour ago By John Fensterwald, Ed Source Today | http://bit.ly/T659Dl August 29th, 2012 :: The retirement age for new teachers will be pushed back two years; they’ll have to fork over about another 1 percent of their pay into the retirement system. And their bosses – principals and administrators – will see a ceiling of $132,120 as the portion of their pay used to calculate ret... more »
Top Content this Week - 9-1-12 The Educator's PLN
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: 1[image: 50 SMARTPHONE APPS FOR TEACHERS]50 SMARTPHONE APPS FOR TEACHERS Added by Gianfranco D'Aversa on August 27, 2012 2[image: Why do we need Social Media in schools today? Facts versus Truths.]Why do we need Social Media in schools today? Facts versus Truths. Added by Dr. Raymond T. Heipp on August 14, 2012 3[image: The Global Transformation in Education (Updated)]The Global Transformation in Education (Updated) Added by Thomas Whitby on August 4, 2012 4[image: Are We Reaching Middle Schoolers?]Are We Reaching Middle Schoolers? Added by... more »
This Week's Answer Sheet 9-1-1212 - School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post
The Answer Sheet - School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Jeb Bush: How shopping for milk is like choosing a school Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 1 day ago Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said pretty much what you’d expect him to say about education reform at the GOP convention — schools are failing and teachers unions are bad — but you might not have expected this as his pitch for school choice: Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon] ... more »
This Week's Education Research Report 9-1-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* The Effects of School Vouchers on College Enrollment: Experimental Evidence from New York City Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 20 hours ago In this study, using a randomized experiment to measure the impact of school vouchers on college enrollment, Matthew Chingos and Paul Peterson, professor of government at Harvard University, examine the college-going behavior through 2011 of students who participated in a voucher experiment as elementary school students in the late 1990s. They find no overall ... more »
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 9-1-12 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL *Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day* [image: Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Problems.] Australian Parents Organization Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 12 hours ago The Australian Council of State School Organisations seems to be the primary national organization for parents in Australia. There are quite a few resources on their website. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On Parent Engagement In Countries Other Than The U.S. “Having gone to school doesn’t ... more »
Schools Matter: Investors Seek to Profit from Privatization of Public Schools
Schools Matter: Investors Seek to Profit from Privatization of Public Schools: Investors Seek to Profit from Privatization of Public Schools by Judy Rabin Popout From Real News Network
Teachers For Social Justice: SOJO Teachers Win Back Jobs! Students March Through Community
Teachers For Social Justice: SOJO Teachers Win Back Jobs! Students March Through Community: SOJO Teachers Win Back Jobs! Students March Through Community AUGUST 31, 2012 LEAVE A COMMENT Angela Sangha and Katie Hogan, founding teachers of the Social Justice High School (SOJO) who were fired on 8/24 as part of CPS’s move to dismantle the school, won back their jobs on 8/30. This is a huge victory – thanks to the strength of the parents, students, teachers and the CTU. * * *The struggle for SOJO is not over* Today, SOJO students, chanting “Where’s the Justice in Social justice” and we... more »
THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Where are Oakland's charter schools located?
THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Where are Oakland's charter schools located?: Where are Oakland's charter schools located? by The Perimeter Primate For the 2012-2013 school year, Oakland will have 40 active charter schools. 1. Ten of those charter schools are at sites where an OUSD school has been closed. - 100 Black Men of the Bay Area Community School at 3400 Malcolm Ave. is at the original site of Thurgood Marshall Elementary School (closed June 2012). - World Academy (K-3) & Achieve Academy (4-5) at 1700 28th Ave. are at the original site of Hawthorne Elementary Schoo... more »
SBE Agenda for September 2012 - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education)
SBE Agenda for September 2012 - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education): SBE Agenda for September 2012Agenda for the California State Board of Education (SBE) meeting on September 13, 2012. [image: Advisory Commission on Special Education Button] [image: State Board of Education Button] Watch the live webcasts of the State Board of Education (SBE) or the Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) by clicking either of the buttons above. ------------------------------ State Board Members Michael W. Kirst, President Trish Williams, Vice President Carl Cohn Bruce Holad... more »
CST scores rise, but achievement gaps persist | EdSource Today
CST scores rise, but achievement gaps persist | EdSource Today: CST scores rise, but achievement gaps persist ** August 31st, 2012 | Add a Comment | By Susan Frey Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services Student performance on California’s achievement tests, known as the STAR program, continues to improve — in almost every subject at almost every grade level by every ethnicity — despite recent cutbacks to education funding, according to 2012 STAR test results released by the California Department of Education today. But a substanti... more »
Hooray! The CT Mastery Test Report arrived today and my kid isn’t stupid! - Wait, What?
Hooray! The CT Mastery Test Report arrived today and my kid isn’t stupid! - Wait, What?: Hooray! The CT Mastery Test Report arrived today and my kid isn’t stupid! by jonpelto If you heard the sound of cheering in the distance a little while ago, it was because today’s U. S. Mail included an envelope with my child’s Connecticut Mastery Test Student Report (fourth generation version.) As a parent, one of the greatest moments is when you learn that your child isn’t stupid and my kid’s CMT report delivered that message…more or less. Turns out the child is “Advanced” in reading and at “... more »
Schools Matter: Jane Watson: "Doublethink" is alive and well
Schools Matter: Jane Watson: "Doublethink" is alive and well: Jane Watson: "Doublethink" is alive and well by skrashen Sent to Yakima Herald-Republic (WA) for "Saturday Soapbox" By Jane Watson August 31, 2012 “Doublethink” is alive and well. In 1948, George Orwell wrote 1984. “Big Brother is Watching You” was born. So was “doublethink,” the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously and accepting both of them. TVs watch YOU. Language is paradoxical. Less is more. War is Peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. The organization Stand For Child... more »
RheeFirst! » StudentsFirst Objects to Student Protest
RheeFirst! » StudentsFirst Objects to Student Protest: StudentsFirst Objects to Student Protest by admin Written by Diane Ravitch. Read the entire post here. “*Here is a video of students protesting against StudentsFirst because it supports:* *1) charter schools (which in NYC do not accept a fair share of ELLs)* *2) high-stakes testing* *3) an anti-immigrant Georgia state legislator* *The response of StudentsFirst: It claimed the students are just pawns of the teachers’ union, obviously not intelligent enough to be part of a discussion of education issues that matter.* *But note that... more »
Brizard report card not so hot Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Brizard report card not so hot: Brizard report card not so hot by admin I don’t know what was a bigger surprise – that a Chicago Board actually evaluated a CEO or that the Tribune reported on it. To the best of my knowledge, no one ever evaluated Paul Vallas, Arne Duncan or any of the rest of them. In fact, most did not even have a contract, certainly not one like Brizard’s with an end date. And yet there was the report, and it wasn’t too good: - The board gave Brizard low marks for the way he communicates and runs the... more »
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