How to Join the Campaign for Our Public Schools
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. Knowing that many educators are fearful these days, you may send Anthony and me your letter without disclosing your name.
Please add as much detail as possible about your concerns. Be clear. Be specific.
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. Knowing that many educators are fearful these days, you may send Anthony and me your letter without disclosing your name.
Please add as much detail as possible about your concerns. Be clear. Be specific.
Box Office Flop: “Won’t Back Down”
Apparently audiences won’t pay to see a movie that demonizes teachers’ unions. “Won’t Back Down” had the worst opening weekend of any film in wide distribution (over 2,500 theaters) in the past 30 years.
And attendance has been dropping since then.
And attendance has been dropping since then.
Louisiana Voucher Decisions Shrouded in Secrecy
A Louisiana newspaper has blasted State Commissioner John White for refusing to release public documents about the selection of private schools to receive vouchers. People want to know the criteria and process for selection. White will not make these documents public, claiming they are not public documents.
Now, in a time of budget cuts, he has hired a public relations person who previously worked for Jeb Bush, to help him communicate. The cost? $12,000 a month!
If he just released the documents and told the truth, he wouldn’t need a PR team to spin his story.
Now, in a time of budget cuts, he has hired a public relations person who previously worked for Jeb Bush, to help him communicate. The cost? $12,000 a month!
If he just released the documents and told the truth, he wouldn’t need a PR team to spin his story.
Georgia Parent: vote NO on Constitutional Amendment
This Georgia parent warns other parents and families to vote against the ALEC-inspired constitutional amendment that would allow the governor to open an unlimited number of charter schools. The governor would be authorized to appoint a commission that could veto the decisions of local school boards. Charters, like the one her child attended, would be deregulated.
Here is her story:
Georgia Charter School Amendment. Vote No!
Georgia is in the midst of an intense debate over a proposed charter school amendment that will be on the ballot
Here is her story:
Georgia Charter School Amendment. Vote No!
Georgia is in the midst of an intense debate over a proposed charter school amendment that will be on the ballot
Spoiled Heiress Has Temper Tantrum
California Governor Jerry Brown has assembled a broad coalition to support a tax increase to make up for the devastating budget cuts to public education under his predecessor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Brown’s levy would raise the sales tax by 1/4 of 1% and increase income taxes of those making over $250,000 a year.
A wealthy heiress who also supports public schools prefers her own tax package and she is pouring more than
Brown’s levy would raise the sales tax by 1/4 of 1% and increase income taxes of those making over $250,000 a year.
A wealthy heiress who also supports public schools prefers her own tax package and she is pouring more than
This Is Crazy: Testing in Kindergarten for What?
A teacher writes about the testing program in her school. The goal is less about evaluating children than gathering data to evaluate their teachers. And they start early to learn the valuable skill of taking tests:
I teach in a public elementary school. Starting this year, our kindergartners must take the NWEA test three times, using a computer and a mouse. In order to begin the test, the child must find his or her name on a roster, click on it, and then enter a password. If the child cannot read, they must find the volume button, click on it, and listen to the questions being read out loud. To answer, they must click and drag the correct answer across the screen.
Five-year-olds are not adept at using a mouse. Children who have the same first or last name as another child
I teach in a public elementary school. Starting this year, our kindergartners must take the NWEA test three times, using a computer and a mouse. In order to begin the test, the child must find his or her name on a roster, click on it, and then enter a password. If the child cannot read, they must find the volume button, click on it, and listen to the questions being read out loud. To answer, they must click and drag the correct answer across the screen.
Five-year-olds are not adept at using a mouse. Children who have the same first or last name as another child
Another Teacher Running for Office
Maureen Reedy, who taught in the public schools of Ohio for 29 years, is running for the State Legislature.
I wrote a post about her in mid-July, but that was a long time ago. So it is time to remind you that she is well-qualified, she follows the money, and she intends to support our public schools in a state where the governor and the Legislature are hell-bent on privatization.
I wrote a post about her in mid-July, but that was a long time ago. So it is time to remind you that she is well-qualified, she follows the money, and she intends to support our public schools in a state where the governor and the Legislature are hell-bent on privatization.
A Superintendent Joins the Honor Roll
I am grateful to a reader for alerting me to the work of Dr. Teresa Thayer Snyder, who is the superintendent of schools in Voorheesville, New York.
She is a hero of public education.
What makes her a hero? She speaks out clearly and fearlessly about children and education. She explains the
She is a hero of public education.
What makes her a hero? She speaks out clearly and fearlessly about children and education. She explains the
Michelle Rhee’s Odd Metaphor
Yesterday I was on an NPR program interviewed by Michel Martin. I followed Arne Duncan, Margaret Spellings, Michelle Rhee, and Alberto Carvalho, the Miami superintendent.
Duncan said that Race to the Top did not require teaching to the test. Spellings praised NCLB.
Carvalho explained why he tried to help schools get better instead of closing them down. He said in several cases, he replaced the principal and made other changes, and the school improved.
The Case Against For-Profit Entrepreneurs in Education
Duncan said that Race to the Top did not require teaching to the test. Spellings praised NCLB.
Carvalho explained why he tried to help schools get better instead of closing them down. He said in several cases, he replaced the principal and made other changes, and the school improved.
The Case Against For-Profit Entrepreneurs in Education
A reader shared his response to the article praising the profit motive in education.
Hi Diane. I wrote the following reply to Tom Segal on their web page.
Eight years ago, I would have agreed with you on your perspective, Mr. Segal. Unfortunately, your efforts to paint the public education community as in dire need of the profit motive are profoundly misguided. I have spent the last 8 years teaching in public charters, which are nothing more than privatized public schools. My experience, and the data, show that they rarely perform any better and in 1/3 of the cases, perform worse than traditional
The Case for For-Profit Entrepreneurs in Education: UPDATE!!!
Hi Diane. I wrote the following reply to Tom Segal on their web page.
Eight years ago, I would have agreed with you on your perspective, Mr. Segal. Unfortunately, your efforts to paint the public education community as in dire need of the profit motive are profoundly misguided. I have spent the last 8 years teaching in public charters, which are nothing more than privatized public schools. My experience, and the data, show that they rarely perform any better and in 1/3 of the cases, perform worse than traditional
The Case for For-Profit Entrepreneurs in Education: UPDATE!!!
This is the most revolting article I have ever provided a link to. It is written by some money-grubbing entrepreneur who boasts that for-profit businesses are necessary to provide the innovation that education needs.
His insult to my friend Anthony Cody sets the tone (the article originally had the subtitle “How I Kicked Anthony Cody’s Ass,” but it was changed by the editors as “playful” but “out of bounds”</).
Apparently this guy was annoyed when Cody had the nerve to challenge the Gates Foundation for facilitating the
His insult to my friend Anthony Cody sets the tone (the article originally had the subtitle “How I Kicked Anthony Cody’s Ass,” but it was changed by the editors as “playful” but “out of bounds”</).
Apparently this guy was annoyed when Cody had the nerve to challenge the Gates Foundation for facilitating the