Excellent Article about the Strike
Joanne Barkan just published an insightful article about Chicago, in which she asks “Who Is Really Victimizing the Kids?”
One of the most startling facts that she reports is that the proportion of African-American teachers was 45% in 1995, when Mayor Richard Daley took control of the schools. Today it is 19%.
Can any of the multiple defenders of the “reformers” in Chicago explain the disappearance of black teachers in CPS? The Chicago Tribune editorial board? Mayor Emanuel? Penny Pritzker? Nick Kristof?
One of the most startling facts that she reports is that the proportion of African-American teachers was 45% in 1995, when Mayor Richard Daley took control of the schools. Today it is 19%.
Can any of the multiple defenders of the “reformers” in Chicago explain the disappearance of black teachers in CPS? The Chicago Tribune editorial board? Mayor Emanuel? Penny Pritzker? Nick Kristof?
Five Things You Should Know About Teachers
Just received in the email an interesting commentary:
If you’ve been trying to talk politics with teachers lately, you know that many seemingly neutral statements have become political land mines.
In spite of a few divisive issues, however, teachers still share a lot of common ground that can lead to productive discussions.
Below you will find five statements almost all teachers agree with. They are also addressed in this 11-minute,
If you’ve been trying to talk politics with teachers lately, you know that many seemingly neutral statements have become political land mines.
In spite of a few divisive issues, however, teachers still share a lot of common ground that can lead to productive discussions.
Below you will find five statements almost all teachers agree with. They are also addressed in this 11-minute,
This House of Cards
In a recent interview, I predicted that what is now called (self-proclaimed) as “reform” would come tumbling down like a house of cards as the public realized the damage to children and to the quality of education.
This reader in Illinois picks up that theme, saying that the foundation of VAM (value-added assessment) rests on the standardized tests, and they are a weak foundation indeed. When the house of cards comes tumbling down, it will be apparent that they rested on a method of assessment that is flawed at its core. She responds here to the comment of another reader:
You nailed it in your next-to-last paragraph–”if my students understood pineapples and hare races a little
This reader in Illinois picks up that theme, saying that the foundation of VAM (value-added assessment) rests on the standardized tests, and they are a weak foundation indeed. When the house of cards comes tumbling down, it will be apparent that they rested on a method of assessment that is flawed at its core. She responds here to the comment of another reader:
You nailed it in your next-to-last paragraph–”if my students understood pineapples and hare races a little
Gary Rubinstein Skewers VAM
Gary Rubinstein is an extraordinary math teacher who has a terrific blog.
His analysis of New York City’s teacher data reports shows that they are inaccurate, unreliable, and meaningless.
Any district or state official who is considering VAM should read Gary’s six posts.
If you do, you will discover there is no there there.
Please help this post go viral.
Every pundit–from Nick Kristof to David Brooks to the editorial writers–should read this analysis.
His analysis of New York City’s teacher data reports shows that they are inaccurate, unreliable, and meaningless.
Any district or state official who is considering VAM should read Gary’s six posts.
If you do, you will discover there is no there there.
Please help this post go viral.
Every pundit–from Nick Kristof to David Brooks to the editorial writers–should read this analysis.
The Untold Story of Charters in Chicago
Mayor Rahm Emanuel boasts about the “success” of charters in Chicago. He plans to close more neighborhood schools to open another 60 charter schools.
But there is another side to the story.
Karen Lewis tells the other side here.
Should Schools Be Run Like Businesses?
But there is another side to the story.
Karen Lewis tells the other side here.
Should Schools Be Run Like Businesses?
Listen to a good panel discussion, featuring Joanne Barkan of Dissent. She wrote the great article “Got Dough? How Billionaires Rule Our Schools.”
What Is the Point of Democracy in Education?
This post is very provocative. It may or may not have relevance to the readers of this blog, because so much of it refers to a British context and pertains to higher education. But what is relevant is the discussion of the conflict between democracy and free market efficiency.
As I read it, I thought about the argument for mayoral control: “It may mean giving up democracy, but it is more efficient.” Look to Cleveland, Chicago and New York City, and what you see is that democracy has been abolished with no increase in efficiency or effectiveness. What we have instead is one-man control, no-bid
As I read it, I thought about the argument for mayoral control: “It may mean giving up democracy, but it is more efficient.” Look to Cleveland, Chicago and New York City, and what you see is that democracy has been abolished with no increase in efficiency or effectiveness. What we have instead is one-man control, no-bid