Good News in Indiana
A county judge in Indiana has ruled that the autocratic State Superintendent of Education Tony Bennett could not impose a standard contract on every district in the state that would have violated all existing contracts.
From the story:
“A county judge has ruled that a state-pushed standard teacher contract form that would have allowed Indiana school districts to change or increase their hours without paying them more is illegal.
Marion County Judge Patrick McCarty permanently barred the Indiana Department of Education and state
From the story:
“A county judge has ruled that a state-pushed standard teacher contract form that would have allowed Indiana school districts to change or increase their hours without paying them more is illegal.
Marion County Judge Patrick McCarty permanently barred the Indiana Department of Education and state
A Refreshing View of the Importance of the Chicago Teachers’ Strike
Here is an excellent article that explains clearly why the strike was necessary. The article appears in the newsmagazine called F, published by the Art Institute of Chicago, a venerable institution.
Mayor Rahm said it was a “strike of choice.”
In this sense, he was right. The teachers could have just kept on teaching under dismal conditions for students, or they could strike and demand better conditions in the classrooms and schools for the students and teachers.
He chose to defend the status quo. The teachers said “no” to the status quo. They said the status quo was intolerable. And that is why they went on strike.
Mayor Rahm said it was a “strike of choice.”
In this sense, he was right. The teachers could have just kept on teaching under dismal conditions for students, or they could strike and demand better conditions in the classrooms and schools for the students and teachers.
He chose to defend the status quo. The teachers said “no” to the status quo. They said the status quo was intolerable. And that is why they went on strike.
Millions of Federal $$$ Wasted in Louisiana
When reformers say that New Orleans is a success, bear in mind that it is a low-performing district in a low-performing state, ranked 69th out of 70 districts in Louisiana. In addition, New Orleans got many millions in federal grants and private philanthropy to “prove” that privatization works.
A reader from Louisiana writes:
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/2012awards.html
I was just studying the Louisiana grants awarded this round and back in 2010. Astounded at the amounts of money coming from Feds to subversively promote their agenda. In 2010 New Schools For New Orleans received millions. Now, understand that NSNO is basically an arm of TFA. A major purpose of this grant is to develop effective CAREER teachers. I am going to file a public information Request to both the Feds and LDOE for the
A reader from Louisiana writes:
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/2012awards.html
I was just studying the Louisiana grants awarded this round and back in 2010. Astounded at the amounts of money coming from Feds to subversively promote their agenda. In 2010 New Schools For New Orleans received millions. Now, understand that NSNO is basically an arm of TFA. A major purpose of this grant is to develop effective CAREER teachers. I am going to file a public information Request to both the Feds and LDOE for the
The Bammy Awards
This was the first year of the Bammy awards, an effort to acknowledge educators who have achieved distinction in many different sectors of education. The Bammies are supposed to be the new equivalent of the Oscars for educators, presented by the Academy of Educational Arts and Sciences.
Emmy award-winning producer, broadcaster and journalist Errol St. Clair Smith organized this event, with red carpet, black tie and a sense of grandeur.
I was one of three who received awards for lifetime achievement. The others were
Emmy award-winning producer, broadcaster and journalist Errol St. Clair Smith organized this event, with red carpet, black tie and a sense of grandeur.
I was one of three who received awards for lifetime achievement. The others were
New York City’s Absurd School Grades
I live in a wonderful neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. For years, the local public school struggled. It had a poor reputation. Then a new principal arrived, attracted a stable and experienced staff, and the school flourished. Neighborhood families that once sought private school alternatives enrolled in the public school. It became the pride of the community.
A few years ago, when the city’s Department of Education started giving out letter grades to every public school, our neighborhood school got an A. Everyone was very proud. The mayor and the chancellor attended a ceremony
A few years ago, when the city’s Department of Education started giving out letter grades to every public school, our neighborhood school got an A. Everyone was very proud. The mayor and the chancellor attended a ceremony
After a Decade, Bloomberg Reforms Still Failing
Mayor Bloomberg prides himself on being data-driven. And he has certainly turned the public schools into data-obsessed institutions. Test scores rule all decisions. Accountability matters more than anything else.
One of the proudest achievements of Mayor Bloomberg and former Chancellor Joel Klein was the adoption of report cards for schools, with a single letter grade for each school. Unfortunately, the latest report cards show that the Mayor’s reforms have failed. The Mayor decreed that any school that received an F or a D or three
One of the proudest achievements of Mayor Bloomberg and former Chancellor Joel Klein was the adoption of report cards for schools, with a single letter grade for each school. Unfortunately, the latest report cards show that the Mayor’s reforms have failed. The Mayor decreed that any school that received an F or a D or three
Will the White House Listen?
A reader suggests we try these routes to get the attention of the White House. As you know, they take teachers and principals for granted and they don’t hear our voices. They assume our votes are already counted. Let’s help President Obama by contacting him and sending him a message.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petitions
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/how-why/frequently-asked-questions
Who will review petitions that cross the signature threshold?
The White House will convene a regular meeting with representatives from all of the major policy offices (like the National Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council and others) that will review petitions that have crossed the signature threshold for a response. This group will help determine which policy office in the White House or federal agency should review and respond to petitions and ensure that petition responses are posted as quickly as possible.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petitions
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/how-why/frequently-asked-questions
Who will review petitions that cross the signature threshold?
The White House will convene a regular meeting with representatives from all of the major policy offices (like the National Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council and others) that will review petitions that have crossed the signature threshold for a response. This group will help determine which policy office in the White House or federal agency should review and respond to petitions and ensure that petition responses are posted as quickly as possible.
A Line in the Sand
The billionaires want charter schools in Washington State.
It is very distressing to them that the voters have already turned down charter schools three times. So they have put up a few millions to try again. This time the charter referendum closely tracks the rightwing ALEC model. It allows either a majority of parents or teachers to give away the public school to a private charter corporation, even if the school is a good school. It also creates a super-commission to create more charters over the opposition of local school boards.
These are mechanisms found in ALEC’s privatization model laws.
Here are the facts from Melissa Westbrook of “Say No on 1240,” the parent group that is fighting to protect
It is very distressing to them that the voters have already turned down charter schools three times. So they have put up a few millions to try again. This time the charter referendum closely tracks the rightwing ALEC model. It allows either a majority of parents or teachers to give away the public school to a private charter corporation, even if the school is a good school. It also creates a super-commission to create more charters over the opposition of local school boards.
These are mechanisms found in ALEC’s privatization model laws.
Here are the facts from Melissa Westbrook of “Say No on 1240,” the parent group that is fighting to protect