NBC Sponsors Parent Trigger Movie
Last year I was invited to participate in NBC’s Education Nation. I had a head-to-head discussion with Geoffrey Canada. This year, I received an invitation to sit in the audience.
Now as a perk, I have been invited to a special screening of the parent trigger movie and its world premiere. Imagine all those private school parents and Wall Street titans sitting about and feeling sorry for the children trapped in those dreadful public schools.
So, I was doing this thought experiment, now that the elites are so excited by the idea that parents should be able to seize control of a public school and turn it over to a private operator.
What if the people in the New York Public Library decided to sign a petition and seize control? We could give it
Now as a perk, I have been invited to a special screening of the parent trigger movie and its world premiere. Imagine all those private school parents and Wall Street titans sitting about and feeling sorry for the children trapped in those dreadful public schools.
So, I was doing this thought experiment, now that the elites are so excited by the idea that parents should be able to seize control of a public school and turn it over to a private operator.
What if the people in the New York Public Library decided to sign a petition and seize control? We could give it
AFT Statement Supporting CTU
Just received from AFT press office:
AFT Statement in Support of Chicago Teachers Union
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| WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten in support of the Chicago Teachers Union.“Yesterday, on a call with her fellow AFT executive council members, including the union’s three national officers, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis reported on the status of the CTU’s ongoing negotiations with Chicago Public Schools, the CTU’s hope for a settlement, and its preparations for a strike if a settlement is not reached. “Chicago’s teachers want what is best for their students and for Chicago’s public schools. And they want to work in an environment that respects their work and their role as partners with administrators in ensuring that every Chicago child has a chance to succeed. The AFT and its members stand with the CTU. “Chicago teachers have already agreed to a longer school day—and offered ideas to make it not just a longer |
We R-E-S-P-E-C-T Teachers, Don’t We?
In New York City, when the Department of Education decides to close a school, all the teachers have to scramble to find a job. Some do, some don’t. If they can’t find a job, they join the Absent Teacher Reserve and they are known as ATR.
The ATRs are assigned to different schools, often every week. They are paid, but they have no position. Sometimes they substitute. This teacher was told to help out around the office.
Being an ATR doesn’t mean that you got a bad evaluation. They just had the bad luck to be in the wrong school at the wrong time.
This is the way teachers are treated in New York City.
The ATRs are assigned to different schools, often every week. They are paid, but they have no position. Sometimes they substitute. This teacher was told to help out around the office.
Being an ATR doesn’t mean that you got a bad evaluation. They just had the bad luck to be in the wrong school at the wrong time.
This is the way teachers are treated in New York City.
Making Sure That Poverty Is NOT Destiny
Paul Thomas reminds us that poverty is destiny if we do nothing about it.
Finland figured this out and it has a strong system of social protections for children and families.
If we keep expecting schools to close the achievement gap by testing more, by adopting higher standards, by closing schools with low test scores, by evaluating teachers by test scores, and by offering carrots and sticks to
Finland figured this out and it has a strong system of social protections for children and families.
If we keep expecting schools to close the achievement gap by testing more, by adopting higher standards, by closing schools with low test scores, by evaluating teachers by test scores, and by offering carrots and sticks to
An Exchange of Views about TFA
I received the following comment from a TFA advocate, in response to a blog about the outspoken and brilliant Camika Royal:
In my experience with TFA, which stretches across over a decade, at local and at national levels, Dr. Royal is not the exception, but a shining example of the kind of person who joins, then runs (she was on staff for a number of years) TFA and who then moves on to contribute in thoughtful ways to education. Granted, she is exceptionally incisive, but the difference between her and many other TFA alumni is one of degree, not of kind.
Whatever it may look like from the outside, TFA is one of the most self-critical organizations I have ever seen,
In my experience with TFA, which stretches across over a decade, at local and at national levels, Dr. Royal is not the exception, but a shining example of the kind of person who joins, then runs (she was on staff for a number of years) TFA and who then moves on to contribute in thoughtful ways to education. Granted, she is exceptionally incisive, but the difference between her and many other TFA alumni is one of degree, not of kind.
Whatever it may look like from the outside, TFA is one of the most self-critical organizations I have ever seen,
When Politics Trumps Education
Peter Goodman is one of the most astute observers of education in New York City.
His blog “Ed in the Apple” is a must-read for education buffs.
In this one, he says that the Department of Education puts more emphasis on burnishing the Mayor’s education reputation than on actually solving any problems.
The Mayor has had unlimited control of the city’s public schools for a full decade. No one could challenge his decisions. The laughable “board” rubber stamps whatever he wants.
He has relied on two strategies only: testing and choice.
He has closed over 100 schools, opened hundreds of small schools, and to the extent possible, eliminated
Rightwing Foundation in Chicago Backs Rahm
His blog “Ed in the Apple” is a must-read for education buffs.
In this one, he says that the Department of Education puts more emphasis on burnishing the Mayor’s education reputation than on actually solving any problems.
The Mayor has had unlimited control of the city’s public schools for a full decade. No one could challenge his decisions. The laughable “board” rubber stamps whatever he wants.
He has relied on two strategies only: testing and choice.
He has closed over 100 schools, opened hundreds of small schools, and to the extent possible, eliminated
Rightwing Foundation in Chicago Backs Rahm
The Heartland Institute in Chicago, a major advocate for charters and vouchers, has issued a statement supporting Rahm Emanuel and urging him to be firm in resisting the demands of the Chicago Teachers Union. Is Mayor Emanuel at the right convention?
Heartland Institute Education Expert Reacts to
The Chicago Teachers Union on Wednesday filed unfair labor practice charges against Chicago Public Schools, and CTU President Karen Lewis says the union will not extend its Monday, September 10 deadline to reach a
The Real Turnaround School in Massachusetts
Heartland Institute Education Expert Reacts to
Chicago Teachers Union Strike Threat
The Chicago Teachers Union on Wednesday filed unfair labor practice charges against Chicago Public Schools, and CTU President Karen Lewis says the union will not extend its Monday, September 10 deadline to reach a
The Real Turnaround School in Massachusetts
Andrea Gabor wonders why Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick drew national attention to Orchard Gardens while ignoring the true turnaround at Brockton High School, the state’s largest high school?
Orchard Gardens fits the Duncan script: Blame the teachers, fire 80% of them. But the school made modest gains and still has low scores. Contrary to what Governor Patrick claimed, it is not “one of the best schools in
Arne Duncan Opposes Teaching to the Test
Orchard Gardens fits the Duncan script: Blame the teachers, fire 80% of them. But the school made modest gains and still has low scores. Contrary to what Governor Patrick claimed, it is not “one of the best schools in
Arne Duncan Opposes Teaching to the Test
At the Democratic National Convention, Arne Duncan renounced many of his own policies.
He came out in opposition to teaching to the test, although his own Race to the Top demands it (he never mentioned Race to the Top.)
He denounced the millionaires and billionaires who are supporting the charter school movement and privatization of public education (he didn’t mention that either).
He didn’t mention that he wants education colleges to be graded by the test scores of the students of their
He came out in opposition to teaching to the test, although his own Race to the Top demands it (he never mentioned Race to the Top.)
He denounced the millionaires and billionaires who are supporting the charter school movement and privatization of public education (he didn’t mention that either).
He didn’t mention that he wants education colleges to be graded by the test scores of the students of their
The Problem with Computer Adaptive Assessments
Computer adaptive assessments are all the rage. They are supposed to be not only cost effective but they allegedly are objective and standardize grading. Also, and not incidentally, they are big business in an age of mass testing.
The idea behind them is that the student answers a question (picks a bubble), and if it is the right answer, gets a
The idea behind them is that the student answers a question (picks a bubble), and if it is the right answer, gets a
NJ Plans to Punish High-Poverty, High-Minority Schools
New Jersey has announced the schools that are targeted for aggressive intervention.
It will not surprise readers of this blog to learn that most of these schools serve children of color and children of poverty. Many, most or all of these schools will be closed. If Governor Christie has his way, many new charters will open to replace public schools.
According to the Education Law Center of New Jersey:
In early April, NJDOE released the list of schools in the new classifications. An ELC analysis of the list shows:
It will not surprise readers of this blog to learn that most of these schools serve children of color and children of poverty. Many, most or all of these schools will be closed. If Governor Christie has his way, many new charters will open to replace public schools.
According to the Education Law Center of New Jersey:
In early April, NJDOE released the list of schools in the new classifications. An ELC analysis of the list shows: