Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 10-20-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #soschat #p2 #1u



BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA 

Recap of Last Week's Best Post 



The 6 P’s for Education « My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
The 6 P’s for Education « My Island View: The 6 P’s for Education by tomwhitby Dell Computer has sponsored four education Think Tanks over the last year, or so, and I have been fortunate to participate in three of them. At each get-together educators, education related organizers, education industry executives, and most recently students, were brought together in an open discussion on the weighty topics of education and education reform. All of the discussions were video-taped, and live-streamed, and even animated on a mural to a viewing audience. The final production was archived... more »

AP Classes Are a Scam - John Tierney - The Atlantic

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
AP Classes Are a Scam - John Tierney - The Atlantic: AP Classes Are a Scam inShare33OCT 13 2012, 8:15 AM ET 132 *The College Board earns over half of all its revenues from the courses -- and, in an uncertain environment, students keep being suckered.* [image: APLogoban.jpg]Fraudulent schemes come in all shapes and sizes. To work, they typically wear a patina of respectability. That's the case with Advanced Placement courses, one of the great frauds currently perpetrated on American high-school students. That's a pretty strong claim, right? You bet. But why not be straightforward whe... more »

Wealthy Foreigners Fund Charter Schools for Visas

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Wealthy Foreigners Fund Charter Schools for Visas: Wealthy Foreigners Fund Charter Schools for Visas Photo: Wikimedia Commons - By STEPHANIE SIMON, Reuters October 14, 2012 It's been a turbulent period for charter schools in the United States, with financial analysts raising concerns about their stability and regulators in several states shutting down schools for poor performance. The volatility has made it tough for startup schools to get financing. But an unlikely source of new capital has emerged to fill the gap: foreign investors. [image: submit] The Fiscal TimesFREE N... more »

Who Is the Real Mitt Romney?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
"Who Is the Real Mitt Romney?" highlights how the presidential candidate changes his story depending on his audience. Despite what he said during debates, in Massachusetts, Romney made cuts that led to teacher layoffs and higher college costs but gave tax breaks to the wealthiest. He'll do that again if he's elected President. The Romney-Ryan budget plan would cut education funding by 20 percent. Get the facts at www.edvotes.org.


Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Boost STEM Learning - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Boost STEM Learning - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): Basketball Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Serve as California's After School STEM Ambassador SACRAMENTO—Basketball legend and *New York Times* best-selling author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will help lead efforts to boost after school STEM learning opportunities for California's kids, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today at the California STEM Summit in San Diego. Education in STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math—is widely considered to be one of the keys to Califo...more »

LAUSD & UTLA: Headed To Mediation - LA School Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 34 minutes ago
LAUSD & UTLA: Headed To Mediation - LA School Report: LAUSD & UTLA: Headed To Mediation Posted on October 17, 2012 by Hillel Aron *LA School Report* has learned that LAUSD has filed a “declaration of impasse” in their negotiations with UTLA over teacher evaluations, and as a result the negotiations have gone to mediation with the Public Employee Relations Board. The “impasse” declaration was filed more than a couple of weeks ago, according to LAUSD Chief Labor and Employment Counsel Alex Molina, although he declined to provide a specific date or comment on how the process was going... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 10-17-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* Merit Pay Fairy Sighting in Newark? by Duke Oh, my: Newark and its teachers union on Thursday are expected to sign a tentative contract deal blessed by Gov. Chris Christie that would overhaul teacher pay, introducing lucrative merit bonuses and giving teachers a role in grading each other. The contract, fueled by about $50 million from the foundation started by Facebook Inc. founder Mark Zuckerberg, covers the next three years and would offer a compensation system that removes lifetime pay increases for those who earn advanced degree... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Movie of the year: 100% rating for Brooklyn Castle!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Movie of the year: 100% rating for Brooklyn Castle!: Movie of the year: 100% rating for Brooklyn Castle! by Leonie Haimson All New Yorkers who care about kids and who care about our public schools should see the wonderful movie, Brooklyn Castle, about the national chess championship team at IS 318, in Williamsburg Brooklyn, with an amazing cast of characters and more drama than you can believe. It even has a 100% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. * * *There is a screening hosted by GothamSchools this Sunday at 1:45 PM at Lincoln Center, discount t... more »

Nikhil Goyal, 17: the future education secretary? - Virginia Schools Insider - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Nikhil Goyal, 17: the future education secretary? - Virginia Schools Insider - The Washington Post: Nikhil Goyal, 17: the future education secretary? By T. Rees Shapiro The other morning I had coffee with Fairfax County School Board member Elizabeth Schultz, who represents the Springfield district. Shultz said she wants to address some of the school system’s biggest problems head on, even if it means having to turn the system upside down. When I sat down with her she was reading a book with an intriguing title:“One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student’s Assessment of School,” by Nikh... more »

Remarks of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the TIME Higher Education Summit | U.S. Department of Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Remarks of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the TIME Higher Education Summit | U.S. Department of Education: Remarks of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the TIME Higher Education Summit OCTOBER 18, 2012 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov It's great to be at the TIME Summit on Higher Education with such a distinguished group of leaders. All of you have thought long and hard about the future of higher education. And I'll try to be brief before we turn to the panel discussion. I know we would all agree that the future of higher education i... more »

Diane in the Evening 10-19-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: About That Newark Teachers Union Deal by dianerav I don’t understand all the details of the deal reached by the Newark Teachers Union and the Christie administration. The final details were hammered out by Randi Weingarten, NTU president Joseph Del Grosso, Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson, Acting State Commissioner Chris Cerf, and perhaps Governor Chris Christie as well. Some people (and I include myself) worry that the deal includes merit pay tied to “performance” (test scores). I don’t think that is ever a good idea. It produces perverse incentives f... more »

Report Card: Sac City school trustee Ellyne Bell will resign

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Report Card: Sac City school trustee Ellyne Bell will resign: Sac City school trustee Ellyne Bell will resign [image: AOC_SchoolConference_105w.JPG]Sacramento City Unified School District trustee Ellyne Bell announced Thursday night that she will be stepping down from the school board at the end of the year. Bell gave a 60-day deferred resignation after completing two years of her four year term. After taking a job in San Francisco six months ago, Bell said she plans to relocate there at the beginning of the year. "The work is increasing all the time and to run an organization and do... more »

John Thompson: Gates Foundation's MET Project Has Leaped Before Looking - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
John Thompson: Gates Foundation's MET Project Has Leaped Before Looking - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: Gates Foundation's MET Project Has Leaped Before Looking by Anthony Cody *Guest post by John Thompson.* * * * * The Measures of Effective Teaching Project (MET) is the Gates Foundation's flagship effort to fill what they believe is a huge void in the teaching profession. According to them, up until this project, there was no way to know how effective any given teacher is. Their goal has been to develop scientifically accurate means to accomplish this.... more »

UPDATE: The nation’s leading voice for public education calls Connecticut’s Carmen Lopez a hero of public education. - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
The nation’s leading voice for public education calls Connecticut’s Carmen Lopez a hero of public education. - Wait, What?: The nation’s leading voice for public education calls Connecticut’s Carmen Lopez a hero of public education. by jonpelto [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Today, one of Diane Ravitch’s blog posts focused on Judge Carmen Lopez and her contribution to fighting for public education in Connecticut. Ravitch writes, “She has stood up against the most powerful people in her state to defend the public schools and the basic principles of democracy. S... more »

Remarks by the President at the 2012 Alfred E. Smith Dinner | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Remarks by the President at the 2012 Alfred E. Smith Dinner | The White House: Remarks by the President at the 2012 Alfred E. Smith Dinner Waldorf Towers New York, New York 9:23 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. (Applause.) Everyone, please take your seats -- otherwise Clint Eastwood will yell at them. (Laughter.) Thank you to Al and Ann. To Your Eminence; Governor, Mrs. Romney; Governor Cuomo; Mayor Bloomberg; Senator Schumer; all the distinguished guests who are here. In less than three weeks, voters in states like Oh... more »

(Just Like) Starting Over

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
JOHN LENNON - (JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER LYRICS Our life together is so precious together We have grown, we have grown Although our love is still special Let's take a chance and fly away somewhere alone It's been too long since we took the time No-one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly But when I see you darling It's like we both are falling in love again It'll be just like starting over, starting over Everyday we used to make it love Why can't we be making love nice and easy It's time to spread our wings and fly Don't let another day go by my love It'll be just like starting ove... more »

Opting Out | Inside Higher Ed

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Opting Out | Inside Higher Ed: Opting Out by Afshan Jafar Blog: University of Venus I am opting out. Not out of my career, but out of the educational system. I have a seven year old who started second-grade this year. A few weeks into second-grade, we decided to finally act on a decision that’s been a long time coming. We decided we’re going to home-school her – at least for this year. We live in a rural community, where, besides our public school and one very expensive private school, we don’t have any other options. And although homeschooling seems more common than I had rea... more »


Are We Teaching the Academic or Are We Teaching the Whole Child? — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Are We Teaching the Academic or Are We Teaching the Whole Child? — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Sean Slade]Are We Teaching the Academic or Are We Teaching the Whole Child? October 18, 2012 by Sean Slade This question was tweeted out from the recent Australian Council for Educational Leaders Conference in Brisbane and sums up one of the key questions being asked not only Down Under, but around the globe. It is one of the bigger questions that must be to asked before we try and answer others around merit pay, large-scale testing (NAPLAN), national curriculum, ... more »

Gates-funded advocacy group to shut down - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Gates-funded advocacy group to shut down - latimes.com: Gates-funded advocacy group to shut down The Gates Foundation, the nation’s most influential education-policy organization, has quietly ended financial support for a locally based national group formed to push for favored reforms, including an overhaul of teacher evaluations. Communities for Teaching Excellence, headed by former L.A. school board member Yolie Flores, is planning to close its doors next month. Although based in Los Angeles, the group had a presence in Pittsburgh, Memphis and Hillsborough County in Florida — a...more »

Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-18-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Tonight on PBS by dianerav When I visited Austin recently, I taped an interview with Evan Smith for his PBS program “Overheard.” It will air tonight on PBS stations in Texas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Tampa, New Orleans, and other places. If you miss it, this is the link that will go live after the show airs. There was a live and very enthusiastic audience, which made it a lively setting. Just what you would expect in Texas. Who Needs Higher Education? by dianerav The New York City Department o... more »

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Pre-reading strategies get banished to the detention room of bad practices…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Pre-reading strategies get banished to the detention room of bad practices…: Pre-reading strategies get banished to the detention room of bad practices… by alicemercer Last spring, a number of pieces appeared about David Coleman (Common Core’s co-author), telling us to stop teaching pre-reading strategies. When I asked folks attending Common Core trainings at my district, they had no idea what I was talking about. Clearly, the message has gotten out to the consultant/trainer class over the summer. Here were a couple slide from a recent meet... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 10-17-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* Merit Pay Fairy Sighting in Newark? by Duke Oh, my: Newark and its teachers union on Thursday are expected to sign a tentative contract deal blessed by Gov. Chris Christie that would overhaul teacher pay, introducing lucrative merit bonuses and giving teachers a role in grading each other. The contract, fueled by about $50 million from the foundation started by Facebook Inc. founder Mark Zuckerberg, covers the next three years and would offer a compensation system that removes lifetime pay increases for those who earn advanced degree... more »

Florida Officials Defend Racial and Ethnic Learning Goals - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Florida Officials Defend Racial and Ethnic Learning Goals - NYTimes.com: Florida Officials Defend Racial and Ethnic Learning Goals By LIZETTE ALVAREZ Published: October 17, 2012 [image: From the Florida Board of Education's Strategic Plan for 2012 - 2018.] - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - MIAMI — When the Florida Board of Education voted this month to set different goals for student achievement in reading and math by race and ethnicity, among other guidelines, the move was widely criticized as discriminatory and harmful t... more »

Unions: Teachers pact in Newark includes merit pay | nj.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Unions: Teachers pact in Newark includes merit pay | nj.com: Unions: Teachers pact in Newark includes merit pay Oct. 17, 2012, 6:21 p.m. EDT AP Governor’s OfficeGovernor Chris Christie looks on while Cami Anderson speaks after being announced as Superintendent of Newark Public Schools in 2011. NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A tentative contract has been reached for teachers in the Newark Public School system, allowing for merit pay bonuses that will be funded mainly through a $100 million grant from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, a union official said. The contract allows for up to $12,... more »

Master of Deception: California Prop 32 Author Tom Hiltachk | MyFDL

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Master of Deception: California Prop 32 Author Tom Hiltachk | MyFDL: Master of Deception: California Prop 32 Author Tom Hiltachk by Matthew Fleischer (image: truthout.org / flickr) Any lawyer with some experience in Sacramento politics can draft language for a statewide initiative. But crafting deceptive ballot measures that can trick people into voting against their core beliefs is nothing less than an art form. For many years, the undisputed master of the misleading initiative in California has been Thomas Hiltachk. So it’s little surprise that Hiltachk is the author of Propositio... more »

Helping Adolescents Achieve Optimal Wellness: 5 Tips for Parents — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Helping Adolescents Achieve Optimal Wellness: 5 Tips for Parents — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Michael F. Opitz]Helping Adolescents Achieve Optimal Wellness: 5 Tips for Parents October 17, 2012 by Michael F. Opitz Physical and nutritional fitness are in the media spotlight and for good reason. Both help to fight against obesity. As important as they are to adolescent's health, so, too, are social and emotional fitness. Taken together, all four areas of fitness (physical, nutritional, social, and emotional) are necessary for the optimal wellness that leads to... more »


George McGovern - a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher plain

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
nixonland - bookforum.com / current issue: The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher plain. George McGovern NixonlandAn unpopular war, an economy in the dumps, a President with low approval ratings, his opponent revitalizing his base: How did the democrats lose in 1972, and by a historic margin? RICK PERLSTEIN Democrats started straggling into Miami Beach the second week in July, 1972. One of them was Robert Redford, arriving by train, promoting 'The Candidate' on a mock whistle-s... more »

Teaching Career Pathways: Leading Professional Development « InterACT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Teaching Career Pathways: Leading Professional Development « InterACT: Teaching Career Pathways: Leading Professional Development by David B. Cohen *Note: in October 2012, Accomplished California Teachers will release the policy report “Promoting Quality Teaching: New Approaches to Compensation and Career Pathways.” The following post is the first in a series of profiles showing how California teacher leaders are beginning to develop and follow diversified career pathways. California teachers, and our peers around the nation, are looking for opportunities to innovate and lead in ... more »

UPDATE: Diane in the Evening 10-17-12 Diane Ravitch's blog #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: TODAY IS THE DAY TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION by dianerav Two weeks ago, in response to many readers who were frustrated by destructive federal policies, this blog launched a Campaign for Our Public Schools. The immediate goal was to stimulate an outpouring of letters and emails to the President to let him know the views of many teachers, parents, students, administrators, and concerned citizens. A hoped-for additional goal is to mobilize a citizens’ group to speak up for our public schools. The target date for receipt of letters and emails is today, October... more »

TCRecord: Effects of Inequality and Poverty vs. Teachers and Schooling on America’s Youth

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
TCRecord: Article: Effects of Inequality and Poverty vs. Teachers and Schooling on America’s Youth by David C. Berliner — 2014 *Background/Context: This paper arises out of frustration with the results of school reforms carried out over the past few decades. These efforts have failed. They need to be abandoned. In their place must come recognition that income inequality causes many social problems, including problems associated with education. Sadly, compared to all other wealthy nations, the USA has the largest income gap between its wealthy and its poor citizens. Correlates as... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, October 17, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Engaging Parents In School… » Munger Comes To Her Senses* Education Headlines *Wednesday, October 17, 2012* Lodi Unified School District trustees upset by lack of enrollment in general-level coursesA lack of students enrolled in general courses at one Lodi Unified School District high school caused members of the board of trustees to grow visibly agitated during Tuesday's board meeting. Special ed teachers say e-mail broke lawA San Francisco Unified School District administrator raised the possibility of not offering summer scho... more »

Teaching to CCSS: Making Bricks Without Straw? « The Core Knowledge Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Teaching to CCSS: Making Bricks Without Straw? « The Core Knowledge Blog: Teaching to CCSS: Making Bricks Without Straw?by Robert Pondiscio *October 17th, 2012* * * * * Tags: Common Core State Standards, history, Teaching, writing Posted in Curriculum, Education Practice, Literacy, Parents | No Comments » *The following post originally appeared on Schoolbook, the education blog of WNYC, New York City’s public radio station. It appears here with the permission of the author. – rp * Bricks Without Straw By Matthew Levey A decade into the education reform movement in New York, we have... more »

UPDATE: For voters in Chicago, there’s another pension ballot item. It’s a hoax. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
For voters in Chicago, there’s another pension ballot item. It’s a hoax. « Fred Klonsky: For voters in Chicago, there’s another pension ballot item. It’s a hoax. by Fred Klonsky For voters in the City of Chicago there will be two public pension issues on the ballot on November 6th. The first one you will see is Mike Madigan’s Constitutional Amendment. I have written about it. So have others. We will have more to say. Vote no. When I got my sample ballot, there was another pension issue down on the bottom of the first page. *“Shall the State of Illinois provide funding for the norma... more »

Bleeding Money, Phoenix University Will Shut Down More than a Hundred “Campuses” « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Bleeding Money, Phoenix University Will Shut Down More than a Hundred “Campuses” « Student Activism: A New Round of For-Profit College Closings by Angus Johnston Three weeks ago for-profit college giant Kaplan announced it was closing thirteen campuses. Yesterday the Apollo Group, owner of Phoenix University, announced even larger cuts. With Phoenix enrollment falling nearly 14% in the latest quarter, the company plans to close 115 of its 227 locations throughout the country. Although the “campuses” facing closure are mostly among Phoenix’s smaller locations, the retrenchment refl... more »

Pass / Fail : Google awards grant to bolster STEM education in California | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Pass / Fail : Google awards grant to bolster STEM education in California | 89.3 KPCC: Google awards grant to bolster STEM education in California by By Vanessa Romo [image: Mercer 9858]*Credit: Darren Hauck/Getty Images* A brain trust of educators, philanthropists and business leaders convened in San Diego to discuss how science, technology, engineering and math – STEM subjects – are taught in California schools. The summit wrapped up Tuesday afternoon - but not before honoring a dozen “Leading Women in STEM”, all of whom work in science and technology-driven fields. Including LA’s... more »

UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-17-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Today Is the Day to Support Public Education by dianerav Two weeks ago, in response to many readers who were frustrated by destructive federal policies, this blog launched a Campaign for Our Public Schools. The immediate goal was to stimulate an outpouring of letters and emails to the President to let him know the views of many teachers, parents, students, administrators, and concerned citizens. A hoped-for additional goal is to mobilize a citizens’ group to speak up for our public schools. The target date ... more »

California Teachers Demand Group Cease and Desist Logo Abuse - California Teachers Association

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
California Teachers Demand Group Cease and Desist Logo Abuse - California Teachers Association: California Teachers Demand Group Cease and Desist Logo Abuse *Contacts: Becky Zoglman at 916-296-5271 (cell) or Claudia Briggs at 916-296-4087 (cell)* *CTA Supports Cathleen Galgiani for SD 5 *Sacramento, CA -- The California Teachers Association is calling on the Independent Expenditure group, Citizens for California Reform, to cease and desist using CTA’s logo in a deceptive political mail program attacking Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani of Stockton in her race against Assemblyman Bil... more »

Engaging Parents In School… » Munger Comes To Her Senses

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Engaging Parents In School… » Munger Comes To Her Senses: Munger Comes To Her Senses by Larry Ferlazzo It appears like the California PTA and others were able to bring Molly Munger to her senses and, as the Sacramento Bee reports, Molly Munger pulling ad critical of Jerry Brown’s Prop. 30. Her spokesperson says: *“We made our point, and now we’re moving on,” said Proposition 38 spokesman Nathan Ballard. “This isn’t the No on 30 campaign. It’s the Yes on 38 campaign. We listened to our allies, and we will continue to listen to our allies.”* I’m not quite sure what point he’s talk... more »


California PTA moms try to reach voters in a new way: gangsta rap comedy - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
California PTA moms try to reach voters in a new way: gangsta rap comedy - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: SHE ROCKS! @katymurphy Education reporter and blogger for the Oakland Tribune. Reach me at kmurphy@bayareanewsgroup.com. Oakland, CA · http://www.IBAbuzz.com/education California PTA moms try to reach voters in a new way: gangsta rap comedy By Katy Murphy Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 at 4:48 pm in Uncategorized. In case the sweet faces of underserved public schoolchildren aren’t enough to convince some California voters to approve Prop. 30 and/or 38... more »

Debate Non-Drinking Game « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Debate Non-Drinking Game « Student Activism: Debate Non-Drinking Game by Angus Johnston On Twitter a few minutes ago, I posted a list of ten topics I’d like to see discussed at tonight’s presidential debate, but don’t expect to. Since everything’s more fun when there’s something on the line, I’ve made the list into a contest — guess which ones will make it in, and whoever comes closest wins. Here’s the list: 1. Poverty. 2. Climate change. 3. Reproductive rights. 4. LGBTQ issues. 5. Student debt. 6. The drug war. 7. Voter

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Keep Your Eye on the Bouncing BEX Ball

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Keep Your Eye on the Bouncing BEX Ball: Keep Your Eye on the Bouncing BEX Ball by Melissa Westbrook Two more updates. This from the Board agenda as a change to the BEX list - an addition of *RBHS for seismic issues* and I note the new amount is at *$694.9M.* Also, below are notes from a parent who attended a meeting at Jane Addams last night. This is THEIR reading of what they heard. Anyone else attend who heard the same or different? *Here are a few details about the BEXIV bombshell delivered last night at a meeting at Jane Addams. District St... more »


Yoga and Mindfulness Educates the Whole Child — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Yoga and Mindfulness Educates the Whole Child — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Yoga and Mindfulness Educates the Whole Child October 16, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: Lara Veon - Mindful Practices] *Post submitted by Lara Veon, a team member at Mindful Practices. She is a body-centered psychotherapist, educator, writer, and yoga instructor who has been teaching and counseling in educational and community settings for more than ten years. Veon enjoys sharing the transformational impact of yoga and wellness with students in a... more »

Hechinger Report | Why Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts education plan backfired

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Hechinger Report | Why Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts education plan backfired: Why Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts education plan backfired by Sarah Butrymowicz Ask Mitt Romney to name his signature education initiative as governor of Massachusetts and he’ll likely answer that it was the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program. The scholarship, established in 2004, covers tuition at in-state public colleges and universities for students who score in the top 25 percent of their district on the state’s 10th-grade math and English standardized tests. Mitt Romney at a rally in Virginia Be... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Stand for Children Tells Board to Sit Down and Shut Up

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Stand for Children Tells Board to Sit Down and Shut Up: Stand for Children Tells Board to Sit Down and Shut Up by Melissa Westbrook Amazing. Not only is Stand for Children NOT a "education group"; now they are against basic democracy. Here's what they said yesterday: *"Ask Seattle Public Schools to let the people lead on charter schools. Instead of waiting to see what the will of the voters is, the Seattle School board wants to preempt our right to decide. That's not what we want from our elected officials"* (And I note they didn't put this on t... more »

Documentary about math education to premiere in Oregon this weekend | OregonLive.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Documentary about math education to premiere in Oregon this weekend | OregonLive.com: Documentary about math education to premiere in Oregon this weekend[image: Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian]By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian on October 16, 2012 at 10:01 AM [image: mathkids.jpg]In a scene from "The Biggest Story Problem," students at a New Mexico middle school confer about math. Incourtesy of ImagineEducation A provocative documentary about U.S. education will makes its public debut at the Eugene International Film Festival this weekend and excerpts will be presented at a national mi... more »

Education Research Report: How Recent Education Reforms Undermine Local School Governance and Democratic Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Education Research Report: How Recent Education Reforms Undermine Local School Governance and Democratic Education: How Recent Education Reforms Undermine Local School Governance and Democratic Education A new report, *Democracy Left Behind: How Recent Education Reforms Undermine Local School Governance and Democratic Education,* by Kenneth Howe and David Meens of the University of Colorado Boulder examines the impact on democratic ideals of vanishing local control over education. Howe and Meens describe local control as “the power of communities, made up of individuals bound t... more »

California STEM Summit 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
California STEM Summit 2012: *Twelve CALFORNIA WOMEN Honored as “LEADING WOMEN IN STEM” FOR ADVANCING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) EDUCATION* * * *Business, Education, and Nonprofit Women Leaders Honored at California STEM Summit for Achievements in Bolstering STEM Education and Job Creation Across California* *San Diego, CA – October 16, 2012 – *Twelve women from across California will be honored today as “Leading Women in STEM” at an awards luncheon taking place at the 2012 California STEM Summit at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego. The Le... more »

Public Schools: Fostering the Dreams of the First Generation | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Public Schools: Fostering the Dreams of the First Generation | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Public Schools: Fostering the Dreams of the First Generation by Tarsi Dunlop While a college education is acknowledged to be the pathway into the middle class, getting into the higher education system requires an understanding of the application process. For many first generation college students, especially those who are from low-income families, the process is daunting with an overwhelming amount of information and countless choices. My own experience, with signific... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: RFID Chipping: When Students are Determined to be Human Capital, then it's Necessary to Track them as Inventory.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: RFID Chipping: When Students are Determined to be Human Capital, then it's Necessary to Track them as Inventory.: RFID Chipping: When Students are Determined to be Human Capital, then it's Necessary to Track them as Inventory. by stlgretchen Human inventory needs to be tracked and monitored, just like eggs. One of the schools in my district is looking to implement fingerprint scans to hurry up the lunch line. Some parents express concern on this practice while others view it as an efficient method to solve a problem of impatient waiting children and ... more »

What did the New York Times say about the Chicago teachers? « JD2718

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
What did the New York Times say about the Chicago teachers? « JD2718: What did the New York Times say about the Chicago teachers? by jd2718 *Back a month ago, Chicago teachers stood up, struck, and backed their mayor down, at least a little.* *That’s important. And big. There are lots of important stories. And important details. Other people have written about them, and will write about them. One day, maybe I will, too. But today a small detail, really a footnote, is on my mind.* Chicago Teachers’ Follywrote the New York Times, in its own name. “Teachers’ strikes, because they hurt... more »

Register to Vote - October 22: Deadline to register to vote in California - California Secretary of State

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Register to Vote - Elections - California Secretary of State: [image: Secretary of State banner] Welcome to the California Online Voter Registration Website ------------------------------ español (Spanish) Important Technical Information Please read the information below before you apply to register to vote using the online application. Web Browser The California Secretary of State website is best viewed using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0 or higher, Firefox 12.0 or higher, Opera 10 or higher, or the latest version of Safari. If you are using an older version of any of these ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Munoz warns Byrd-Bennett on school closings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Munoz warns Byrd-Bennett on school closings: Munoz warns Byrd-Bennett on school closings by Mike Klonsky The Tribune reports Brizard had trouble connecting with aldermen almost since he took the job. His avowed support of charter schools made some residents skeptical of his motives, a situation *Ald. Ricardo Munoz *said Byrd-Bennett can avoid by seeking true collaboration on the politically sensitive question of which schools to close. *“As I’m sure (Byrd-Bennett) realizes, she has to have buy-in. With well over 30 members of the City Council signin... more »

National Health Education Week Kicks Off Today — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
National Health Education Week Kicks Off Today — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Kristen Pekarek]National Health Education Week Kicks Off Today October 15, 2012 by Kristen Pekarek [image: National Health Education Week 2012] National Health Education Week 2012 kicks off today! This year's celebration looks to promote and establish healthy behaviors among U.S. youth through the theme, "Adolescent Health: Planting Seeds for a Healthier Generation." As part of the awareness week, whole child partner the Society for Public Health Education will be offering free resour... more »

News Conference: Clear Channel Comes under Fire for Biased Advertisements Intended to Intimidate Voters « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
News Conference: Clear Channel Comes under Fire for Biased Advertisements Intended to Intimidate Voters « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: News Conference: Clear Channel Comes under Fire for Biased Advertisements Intended to Intimidate Voters by millerlf * Community Leaders Respond to Voter Suppression Billboards-* * Demand Clear Channel Remove Billboards Aimed at Intimidating Voters* Billboard at Corner of Holton and Nash *Today membe... more »

Debate Watch: Obama, Romney Education Advisers to Square Off Tonight - Politics K-12 - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Debate Watch: Obama, Romney Education Advisers to Square Off Tonight - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Debate Watch: Obama, Romney Education Advisers to Square Off Tonight by Michele McNeil This is the debate before the debate. Two key education advisers are facing off tonight in a debate at Teachers College, Columbia University, which is being co-sponsored by *Education Week *. You can watch it online at 7 p.m. by signing up here. In President Barack Obama's corner is *Jon Schnur*, an education adviser to President Obama who co-founded New Leaders for New Schools and has more recen... more »

C. M. Rubin: The Global Search for Education: The Education Debate 2012 -- Diane Ravitch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
C. M. Rubin: The Global Search for Education: The Education Debate 2012 -- Diane Ravitch: The Global Search for Education: The Education Debate 2012 -- Diane Ravitch [image: 2012-10-14-cmrubinworlddianeravitchnationaleducation500.jpg]*"I believe that it is a public duty to provide a good public school with adequate resources and a rich curriculum in every neighborhood." -- Diane Ravitch* Making education a focus during the 2012 election debates is our ongoing goal in The Global Search for Education series. Today I am honored to share the perspectives of Diane Ravitch as we contin... more »

Expeditionary Learning Charter for Toki? | AMPS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Expeditionary Learning Charter for Toki? | AMPS: Expeditionary Learning Charter for Toki? by Thomas J. Mertz The Replacements – “I Don’t Know” (click to listen or download). The biggest item on the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education committee agendas this weekis the “Expeditionary Learning Model at Toki Middle School and Timeline” before the Planning and Development Committee (Monday, October 15, 2012, 6:30 p.m. Doyle Administration Building, Room 103, there are Public Appearances on the agenda). The proposal is to convert Toki Middle School from a district ... more »

Study reveals ADHD children’s views on drugs, doctors | The Raw Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Study reveals ADHD children’s views on drugs, doctors | The Raw Story: Study reveals ADHD children’s views on drugs, doctors by Sarah Boseley, The Guardian [image: Boy smells something bad via Shutterstock] Topics: ADHD ♦ ADHD children ♦ Dr Ilina Singh *New research finds that children with disorder are concerned that doctors do not understand the condition* Children with hyperactivity problems do not feel that Ritalin and other drugs they are given turn them into zombies or robots, but say they feel the medication helps them control their behaviour, according to a study that has ... more »

Short Notes: Comments On Suicide From Bill, Heather, And … Anonymous | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Short Notes: Comments On Suicide From Bill, Heather, And … Anonymous | The Jose Vilson: Short Notes: Comments On Suicide From Bill, Heather, And … Anonymous by Jose Unbeknownst to me, October 10th was World Mental Heath Day, a day after I wrote my post on students and suicide. Rather than reflecting in meta, I’ll share some of my colleagues’ comments to the post, all of which moved me in a profound way. First, Bill Ivey: One of my former students, then a Senior at another local school, killed herself two weeks ago. Though she only passed through my classroom for a few weeks bef... more »

Daily Kos: Bus tour with teacherken - the Greed Agenda and education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Daily Kos: Bus tour with teacherken - the Greed Agenda and education: Bus tour with teacherken - the Greed Agenda and education by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) *Crossposted from Education Votes of the National Education Association for whom I was an embedded blogger aboard the Stop the Greed Agenda Bus Tour of Patriot Majority* Now that the Stop the Greed Agenda Bus Tour is complete, I want to take this occasion to try to reflect upon the Greed Agenda in the context of public education, and to explore in a bit of depth the issue of cyber charter schools, a key component of that A... more »

Peg with Pen: Teaching President Obama the Conditions for Learning

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Peg with Pen: Teaching President Obama the Conditions for Learning: Teaching President Obama the Conditions for Learning by Peggy Dear President Obama, I am done pleading with you. I am writing due to my great respect for Diane Ravitch, who has requested that everyone write to you by October 17th. I am going to use this opportunity to teach you something, as it appears your administration is very uneducated regarding real teaching and real learning. I want to share the Conditions for Learning by Brian Cambourne. Teachers know and implement CFL in their classrooms on a daily bas... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Hot Week for Seattle Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Hot Week for Seattle Schools: Hot Week for Seattle Schools by Melissa Westbrook *Monday, October 15th* Superintendent Banda will be busy as he bounces from the Seattle Special Education PTA meeting and theSeattle Council PTA meeting. Both are from 7-9 p.m. The Seattle Council meeting is in the auditorium but it is unclear where the Special Ed PTA is meeting. I'll find out and post it. The Seattle Council PTA meeting includes Q&A on I -1240. It also includes a presentation of the BEX IV levy. *Tuesday, October 16th* Operation Committee Meeting ... more »

Diane in the Evening 10-14-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: JOIN THE CAMPAIGN FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS by dianerav Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a student, a principal, a school board member, or a concerned citizen, please join the Campaign for Our Public Schools. Speak out against high-stakes testing and privatization. Write a letter to President Obama and other elected officials. Here are instructions. El Paso Cheating Scandal: who Is Next? by dianerav http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/education/el-paso-rattled-by-scandal-of-disappeared-students.html?hpw THIS is what Bush/Spellings/Obama/Duncan/Bloomberg/Kle... more »

Why Does the U.S. Department of Education Support Privatization? « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Why Does the U.S. Department of Education Support Privatization? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Does the U.S. Department of Education Support Privatization? by dianerav A reader points out that the U.S. Department of Education has the following program information on its website: “The U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program (CSP) has invested more than $255 million in charter schools this year. The purpose of the program is to increase financial support for the startup and expansion of these public schools, build a better national understanding of the public charter s... more »

Is Michelle Rhee the Ann Coulter of Education? « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Is Michelle Rhee the Ann Coulter of Education? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Is Michelle Rhee the Ann Coulter of Education? by dianerav Jeff Bryant asks whether Michelle Rhee is the Ann Coulter of education. Rhee expends great energy insisting that Democrats support the hard-right agenda of ALEC. She tries to sell the idea of a bipartisan consensus to eliminate collective bargaining rights, teacher tenure, test-based evaluation, and privatization via charters and vouchers. Democrats would be wise to stick to their historic agenda of equality of educational opportunity and public educati... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Attorney and Parents Send Letter to NYS Attorney General & Education Officials Questioning Legality of Providing Confidential Student Data to Limited Corporation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Attorney and Parents Send Letter to NYS Attorney General & Education Officials Questioning Legality of Providing Confidential Student Data to Limited Corporation: Attorney and Parents Send Letter to NYS Attorney General & Education Officials Questioning Legality of Providing Confidential Student Data to Limited Corporation by Leonie Haimson We had a press conference at noon at Norman Siegel’s law offices today; lots of TV cameras were there and WNYC radio so watch/listen for the story tonight and tomorrow. The letter Norman sent Friday to the Attorney ... more »

Dear Teacher, Johnny Is Skipping the Test Save Our Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Dear Teacher, Johnny Is Skipping the Test Save Our Schools: Dear Teacher, Johnny Is Skipping the Test by Server Dear Teacher, Johnny Is Skipping the TestBy SONI SANGHA *Originally Published October 12, 2012.* *The New York Times* LATER this month, children at 169 New York City elementary and middle schools will, for the second time in a calendar year, take a 40-minute “field test” in math and English language arts to determine which questions will go on future state standardized exams. Lori Chajet’s daughter will not be among them, though the tests are scheduled to be given at her ... more »

Traumatic lives of students affect teacher’s evaluation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Traumatic lives of students affect teacher’s evaluation: Traumatic lives of students affect teacher’s evaluation Posted by Valerie Strauss on October 14, 2012 at 12:30 pm Here is the story of Rebecca Cusick, a fourth-grade teacher in Fall River, Massachusetts, and her “value-added” evaluation score. This assessment method uses students’ standardized test scores to determine a teacher’s effectiveness. Assessment experts say the method is unreliable, but reformers still insist on using it. In state after state, teacher evaluations derived through this method are sometimes labeling ... more »

Will Vouchers, Charters and Virtual Schools Turn Out the Friday Night Lights? | Firedoglake

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Will Vouchers, Charters and Virtual Schools Turn Out the Friday Night Lights? | Firedoglake: Will Vouchers, Charters and Virtual Schools Turn Out the Friday Night Lights? by Glenn W. Smith Popout With a disgraceful and relentless disregard for America’s social fabric, Republicans around the country are doing what they can to destroy public education. Based on model legislation written by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the GOP is pushing vouchers, corporate virtual schools and charter schools. Meanwhile, they’ve rigged policy against public schools, draining the... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: From Concerned Eckstein Parents

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: From Concerned Eckstein Parents: From Concerned Eckstein Parents by Melissa Westbrook Sent to us: *Urgent Call To Action:* We are writing to urge, implore, BEG you to write to all members of the School Board *THIS WEEKEND!* The Superintendent and District Staff put their BEX levy proposal before the school board on Wednesday. The proposal includes a new middle school at Wilson-Pacific and repurposing the Jane Addams building for a 1000 seat comprehensive, attendance area middle school. The Board has *NOT* reached consensus on this topic, and... more »

The Sunday Mail. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
The Sunday Mail. « Fred Klonsky: The Sunday Mail. by Fred Klonsky *Diane Ravitch posts Glen Brown’s* explanation of why breaking a contract with teachers doesn’t count as reform. *Barbara Byrd Bennett.* *The right stuff* or just the next through the CPS revolving door? She’s already done New York, Cleveland and Detroit. *Life in Rahm’s Chicago.* Another deadly weekend. *Students “disappeared” at test time in El Paso.* But if they jailed every administrator who cheated or juiced

Jennifer Garner: C- Is Just Not Good Enough for Our Kids

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Jennifer Garner: C- Is Just Not Good Enough for Our Kids: C- Is Just Not Good Enough for Our Kids [image: Jennifer Garner] [image: Mark Shriver] Jennifer Garner and Mark Shriver * * * * * * * * * * *‘America’s Report Card 2012′ Gives U.S. A C-Minus On* *Ensuring Educational Opportunities, Providing For Children* A report card marked with too many C's and D's is not something to boast about. Unfortunately, those are just the kinds of grades America brought home yesterday, earning an overall C- in *America's Report Card 2012: Children in the U.S.*, released by Save the Children and F... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Pearson profits while parents protest N.Y. test madness

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Pearson profits while parents protest N.Y. test madness: Pearson profits while parents protest N.Y. test madness by Mike Klonsky PARENTS UNITED From left, Lori Chajet, Abby Subak and Martha Foote outside Public School 321 in Brooklyn. The New York Times reports today that many N.Y. parents are opting out of field testing the state's new round of standardized tests related to the Common Core standards. Brooklyn parent Lori Chajet says: *“I want my school to use tests to help instruction, to help find out if kids don’t know fractions. I don’t wa... more »

Pass / Fail So Cal education, LAUSD, the Cal States and the UCs | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: [image: save image] Parent Trigger group wins another legal battle By Vanessa Romo at Blog: Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC - 4 hours ago Parents in the desert community of Adelanto have won a critical victory in their mission to take over Desert Trails Elementary School under the “parent trigger law.” A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge has upheld a ruling that allowed the Desert Trails Parent Union to move forward with plans to convert the failing elementary school into a charter school. The judge also ordered the Adelanto School District to halt efforts ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Is Public Education For Sale?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Is Public Education For Sale?: Is Public Education For Sale? by Melissa Westbrook From The Answer Sheet in the Washington Post, a column about the high funding by a small group of wealthy people for I-1240. She asks some good questions. *Another billionaire occupies the No 2 spot — Alice Walton of Walmart Stores, Inc., fame, who, unlike Gates, doesn’t live in the state. Her Oct. 5 donation is listed at $1.1 million. She is also fourth on the list, with a July 11 donation of $600,000, giving her an aggregate total of $1.7 million.* * **Walton is ... more »

Sunday Dialogue - Transforming Our Schools - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Sunday Dialogue - Transforming Our Schools - NYTimes.com: Sunday Dialogue: Transforming Our Schools Till Hafenbrak Published: October 13, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - Readers react to a student’s ideas for a learning ‘revolution.’ *To the Editor:* When President George W. Bush signed No Child Left Behind into law, few would have predicted that the next decade of education policy would unfold into a disaster of epic proportions. The law was based on a flawed concept of a “good education” — high scores on standardiz... more »

“Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Came Down From The Mountain” Song | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
“Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Came Down From The Mountain” Song | Mr. Teachbad: “Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Came Down From The Mountain” 

My Letter to President Obama! October 17, 2012!:Write the President! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
My Letter to President Obama! October 17, 2012!:Write the President! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!: My Letter to President Obama! October 17, 2012!:Write the President! by Oldschoolteach * “One thing I never want to see happen is schools that are just teaching the test because then you’re not learning about the world, you’re not learning about different cultures, you’re not learning about science, you’re not learning about math,” the president said. “All you’re learning about is how to fill out a little bubble on an exam and little tricks that you need to do in order to take... more »Song by teachbad

Daily Kos: Bus tour with teacherken - we end in Kansas

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Daily Kos: Bus tour with teacherken - we end in Kansas: Bus tour with teacherken - we end in Kansas by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) *Cross-posted from Education Votes of the National Education Association (please visit), for whom I am served as an embedded blogger aboard the Stop the Greed Agenda Bus Tour of Patriot Majority USA* When I say "we: it is because on Friday both buses, the one I was on in the East and the one that had been traveling the West, caught up with one another in Topeka, the state capitol, and then finished the tour at a union hall in Kansas City. Oh yes, an... more »

Diane in the Evening 10-13-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: HOW TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS by dianerav As a result of many comments on this blog, and in response to a great yearning to raise our voices, many teachers, parents, students, administrators and concerned citizens plan to join together in a mass letter-writing campaign to the President. We want all letters submitted here to this blog or to Anthony Cody no later than October 17. You may write to the White House directly, and the mail address is in the instructions link. But if you do, you will be required to disclose your identity in full. ... more »

How Can One Teacher be Both the Best and the Worst? A Letter to President Obama - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
How Can One Teacher be Both the Best and the Worst? A Letter to President Obama - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: How Can One Teacher be Both the Best and the Worst? A Letter to President Obama by Anthony Cody Follow me on Twitter at @AnthonyCody I have volunteered to help Diane Ravitch collect and organize letters for the Campaign for our Public Schools, which will culminate on Thursday, October 17. All the letters collected by then will be sent to the White House and to the Department of Education. Instructions on how to send a letter are at the bottom of this post... more »

North Atlanta drama continues. Parents now alarmed over teacher resignation. | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
North Atlanta drama continues. Parents now alarmed over teacher resignation. | Get Schooled: North Atlanta drama continues. Parents now alarmed over teacher resignation. by Maureen Downey I am getting copied on emails between parents at North Atlanta High School and APS, and it doesn’t sound like detente has been reached over the purge of the school’s leadership team a week ago. I am also getting calls now on the resignation of an English/journalism teacher whose hiring created tensions between principal Mark MyGrant and APS, although it remains unclear why. The resignation of Amy ... more »

School Tech Connect: Relentless Spin

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
School Tech Connect: Relentless Spin: Relentless Spin by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Interesting. I covered Brizard’s tenure extensively. He engaged in gross misrepresentations of data and sometimes outright lied. He made promises he didn’t keep. He did one thing while saying another. But I was the only one holding him accountable. The business and political establishment loved the guy. The rest of the media in Rochester, particularly the *Democrat and Chronicle,* did not question the superintendent. (Around the country, the media has been slow to challenge the

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education News Roundup

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education News Roundup: Education News Roundup by Melissa Westbrook Well, look who's opting out of standardized tests? Parents in NYC. It's detailed here from the NY Times. *Ms. Chajet is one of a small but growing number of parent activists in New York City opposed to the system’s emphasis on high-stakes testing. Many of them took part in a boycott of the field tests in June, when parents at 47 public elementary and middle schools of the 1,029 tested had their children sit them out. In their eyes, it was a win-win situation: Children who skip... more »

Karran For Kids | Karran Harper Royal OPSB District 3

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Karran For Kids | Karran Harper Royal OPSB District 3: Karran Harper Royal kickoffs school board campaign By Mason Harrison Longtime education advocate Karran Harper Royal officially kicked off her campaign Thursday evening for the Orleans Parish School Board’s District 3 seat that encompasses parts of Gentilly, Mid-City, Lakeview and the City Park area. During a kick-off event at the Community Book Center, Harper Royal fashioned her campaign a movement to “redefine reform” in the Orleans Parish school system as the debate over how to best overhaul schools in the area continues. H... more »

Engaging Parents In School… » All Of My “Best” Lists On Parent Engagement

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Engaging Parents In School… » All Of My “Best” Lists On Parent Engagement: All Of My “Best” Lists On Parent Engagement by Larry Ferlazzo I thought readers might find it helpful for me to again post links to all my “The Best” lists related to parent engagement: The Best Ideas On How Parents Can Help Their Kids Succeed Academically “The Best Research Available On Parent Engagement” The Best Reasons Why Parents Should Be Looked At As Allies & Not Targets Of Blame The Best Overviews Of Parent Engagement My Best Posts, Articles & Interviews On Parent Engagement The Best Resources On Parent...more »

El Paso Rattled by Scandal of ‘Disappeared’ Students - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
El Paso Rattled by Scandal of ‘Disappeared’ Students - NYTimes.com: El Paso Schools Are Rattled by Scandal of Students Who ‘Disappeared’ at Test TimeBy MANNY FERNANDEZPublished: October 13, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - SINGLE PAGE - REPRINTS - EL PASO — It sounded at first like a familiar story: school administrators, seeking to meet state and federal standards, fraudulently raised students’ scores on crucial exams. Enlarge This Image Juan Carlos Llorca/Associated Press Roger Avalos, a former El Paso student, with his mot... more »

Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky Ten minute drawing. Elected school board. by Fred Klonsky Click on drawing to enlarge. *John Dillon discusses Executive Director Richard Ingram. Is Ingram a victim of Stockholm Syndrome?* We are one hour earlier here across the Lake. So my radio interview on WCPT (“Chicago’s Progressive Talk”) that was scheduled for 7AM was 8AM for me. Shower. Made some coffee I took care of Ulysses. Let him out for his morning piss. Fed him. I had to delay his morning walk until after the radio show. I was only on for less tha... more »

Bullied Teen Commits Suicide, Leaves Behind Heartbreaking Video | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Bullied Teen Commits Suicide, Leaves Behind Heartbreaking Video | toteachornototeach: Bullied Teen Commits Suicide, Leaves Behind Heartbreaking Video by aristotlethewise *Bullied Teen Commits Suicide, Leaves Behind Heartbreaking Video* A Canadian teen who posted a video to YouTube detailing her heart-wrenching story of being mercilessly bullied took her own life Wednesday night. Amanda Todd’s body was discovered in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, where she lived. She would have turned 16 next month. Police are investigating the teen’s death. Todd uploaded the nearly nine-minute vi... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 10-13-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * The Marshmallow Study revisited Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 day ago * Delaying gratification depends as much on nurture as on nature* For the past four decades, the "marshmallow test" has served as a classic experimental measure of children's self-control: will a preschooler eat one of the fluffy white confections now or hold out for two later? Now a new study demonstrates that being able to delay gratification is influenced as much by the environment as by innate ability. Children who ex... more »

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 10-13-12 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
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.] Sacramento Bee Calls On CA PTA To Contain Molly Munger Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago The campaign to fund or, in Molly Munger’s case, de-fund public education in California continues. Here are some excerpts from today’s Sacramento Bee’s editorial: The California PTA and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson are the most prominent supporters of ... more »