Will Education Nation Choose a Teacher?
Please read Students Last, who noticed the absence of any real, actual teachers at the New York Times conference on “Schools of Tomorrow.”
He says there is a rumor that NBC’s “Medication Nation” might invite a physician, to add to the panel of pharmaceutical giants.
He says there is a rumor that NBC’s “Medication Nation” might invite a physician, to add to the panel of pharmaceutical giants.
What You Need to Know About NBC’s Education Nation
This week, we will be subjected (or treated) to days of NBC’s celebration of corporate reform, which they call “Education Nation.”
Read this critique of the event.
They will hail the anti-union film of the year, as two years ago they hailed the anti-union propaganda film “Waiting for Superman.”
They will make a token effort to include teachers.
But the bottom line is that Education Nation is staged to persuade the American public that American education is in sorry shape because of bad teachers, that teachers must be judged by the test scores of their students (no matter that the research says it is wrong) and that our nation needs to privatize public education.
Condoleeza Rice will be there, explaining why our public schools are a “very grave threat to our national security.” She will explain why we need to provide more charters and vouchers so kids can escape public education. Please read my critique of the nonsensical report that she will talk about. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/jun/07/do-our-public-schools-threaten-national-security/?pagination=false
Education Nation Schedule
Read this critique of the event.
They will hail the anti-union film of the year, as two years ago they hailed the anti-union propaganda film “Waiting for Superman.”
They will make a token effort to include teachers.
But the bottom line is that Education Nation is staged to persuade the American public that American education is in sorry shape because of bad teachers, that teachers must be judged by the test scores of their students (no matter that the research says it is wrong) and that our nation needs to privatize public education.
Condoleeza Rice will be there, explaining why our public schools are a “very grave threat to our national security.” She will explain why we need to provide more charters and vouchers so kids can escape public education. Please read my critique of the nonsensical report that she will talk about. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/jun/07/do-our-public-schools-threaten-national-security/?pagination=false
Education Nation Schedule
2012 Education Nation Summit
(NBC News moderators and session timing may be adjusted due to breaking news)
Sunday, September 23
TBD Meet the Press at Education Nation TBD
8a – 10a Student Town Hall (Moderated by Melissa Harris-Perry)
msnbc special edition of Melissa Harris-Perry (broadcast from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
12p – 2p Teacher Town Hall (Moderated by Brian Williams)
LIVE msnbc special broadcast event
3:30p – 4:30p Parent Engagement/Advocacy Panel
Please Don’t Laugh
(NBC News moderators and session timing may be adjusted due to breaking news)
Sunday, September 23
TBD Meet the Press at Education Nation TBD
8a – 10a Student Town Hall (Moderated by Melissa Harris-Perry)
msnbc special edition of Melissa Harris-Perry (broadcast from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
12p – 2p Teacher Town Hall (Moderated by Brian Williams)
LIVE msnbc special broadcast event
3:30p – 4:30p Parent Engagement/Advocacy Panel
Please Don’t Laugh
Just in: An email that says, this is the panel for the parent engagement discussion at Education Nation.
Maybe it is a joke.
· Rep. George Miller
· Randi Weingarten
· Doreen Diaz, Desert Trails Parent Union (parent trigger takeover school in California)
· Michelle Rhee
· Joel Klein
· Vanessa Bush Ford, Black Star Project/The National PTA
Maybe it is a joke.
· Rep. George Miller
· Randi Weingarten
· Doreen Diaz, Desert Trails Parent Union (parent trigger takeover school in California)
· Michelle Rhee
· Joel Klein
· Vanessa Bush Ford, Black Star Project/The National PTA
If Every Teacher Did This….
This teacher had to make a tough decision about parent night.
Should he tell them how the state’s “reforms” are robbing their children of instruction?
Should he explain that the state is hunting “bad” teachers in his school even though it got a high rating?
See what he did.
If every teacher did this, we could turn the education debate around.
Should he tell them how the state’s “reforms” are robbing their children of instruction?
Should he explain that the state is hunting “bad” teachers in his school even though it got a high rating?
See what he did.
If every teacher did this, we could turn the education debate around.
A Lost Decade for the Middle Class?
The Economic Policy Institute has published its annual report on the state of working America.
There are some deeply worrisome trends. Here are some of the findings:
*America’s vast middle class has suffered a “lost decade” and faces the threat of another. The wages of typical Americans, including college graduates, are lower today than they have been in over a decade. Because hourly wages and compensation failed to grow after the 2001 recession, household incomes had declined even before
There are some deeply worrisome trends. Here are some of the findings:
*America’s vast middle class has suffered a “lost decade” and faces the threat of another. The wages of typical Americans, including college graduates, are lower today than they have been in over a decade. Because hourly wages and compensation failed to grow after the 2001 recession, household incomes had declined even before
Will Race to the Top Reduce Poverty?
This is an excellent analysis by economist Laura D’Andrea Tyson about poverty and educational opportunity. She provides excellent links to up-to-date statistics about children living in poverty. She understands that their opportunities are shadowed by the circumstances of their lives.
But at the end of this otherwise excellent article, she concludes that President Obama’s Race to the Top program is addressing the problem of poverty and limited opportunity.
I am guessing she has no idea what the Race to the Top consists of. I wonder if she knows that it is designed to
But at the end of this otherwise excellent article, she concludes that President Obama’s Race to the Top program is addressing the problem of poverty and limited opportunity.
I am guessing she has no idea what the Race to the Top consists of. I wonder if she knows that it is designed to
About Those Pennsylvania Test Scores
Scores dropped in Pennsylvania.
Many respected and some not-so-respected schools failed to make AYP.
School officials attributed the drop to budget cuts and anti-cheating measures.
The state Commissioner of Education said that deep budget cuts, loss of programs and personnel, had nothing to do with it.
Many respected and some not-so-respected schools failed to make AYP.
School officials attributed the drop to budget cuts and anti-cheating measures.
The state Commissioner of Education said that deep budget cuts, loss of programs and personnel, had nothing to do with it.
Scores Down, Beatings Will Continue
The following comes from the regular posting by the Keystone State Education Coalition, a pro-public education group that is fighting for public education in Pennsylvania and against budget cuts and privatization.
You can find them here: http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
COMMENTARY ON RELEASE OF 2012 PSSAs
Ten years ago when NCLB was passed we talked about unrealistic targets of 100% proficiency that would one day cause all public schools to be labeled “failing”. We are reaching that point. Lower Merion High School, one
You can find them here: http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
COMMENTARY ON RELEASE OF 2012 PSSAs
Ten years ago when NCLB was passed we talked about unrealistic targets of 100% proficiency that would one day cause all public schools to be labeled “failing”. We are reaching that point. Lower Merion High School, one
Gary Rubinstein Reviews “Won’t Back Down”
Gary Rubinstein, who teaches math at Stuyvestant High School in New York City, went to a preview of “Won’t Back Down.”
He had some trepidation because he had heard the speculation about its content.
But being an intrepid movie goer, he decided to watch it fo
He had some trepidation because he had heard the speculation about its content.
But being an intrepid movie goer, he decided to watch it fo
What Was at Stake in CTU Strike
This is an usually thoughtful reprise of the issues and context of the strike.
It pulls together a lot of different threads:
Research about class size; conditions of teaching and learning in Chicago; the ongoing efforts to destroy unions; the poverty level among children in Chicago.
I recommend it.
It pulls together a lot of different threads:
Research about class size; conditions of teaching and learning in Chicago; the ongoing efforts to destroy unions; the poverty level among children in Chicago.
I recommend it.
Are These Innovative Practices?
An article in the Washington Post describes the high rates of suspension and expulsion at some of DC’s charter schools.
They say they do it to keep the other children safe.
Charter advocates like to say that public schools should learn from their innovative practices. Kicking kids out is not all that innovative. Public schools used to do it years ago; maybe there are still some who do it.
Hope for the Children of Chicago: Despite Rahm
They say they do it to keep the other children safe.
Charter advocates like to say that public schools should learn from their innovative practices. Kicking kids out is not all that innovative. Public schools used to do it years ago; maybe there are still some who do it.
Hope for the Children of Chicago: Despite Rahm
Ms. Katie is one of the best education bloggers out there. She has deep experience working with children in need, she is passionate, and she writes from the heart.
In this post, she explains what the Chicago Teachers Union won for the children of Chicago.
And she makes clear why Rahm Emanuel should stop saying he is doing it “for the children,” for “our children.” He has not earned that right. Who is he doing “it” for? Why does he want to close another 100 public schools and turn them over to private managers? Read on.
In this post, she explains what the Chicago Teachers Union won for the children of Chicago.
And she makes clear why Rahm Emanuel should stop saying he is doing it “for the children,” for “our children.” He has not earned that right. Who is he doing “it” for? Why does he want to close another 100 public schools and turn them over to private managers? Read on.