A MODEL LETTER FOR OCTOBER 17
The deadline to send emails to the President to support the Campaign for Our Public Schools is October 17. Here are instructions about where to send them.
Send them either to this blog or to Anthony Cody at Anthony_Cody@hotmail.com.
Below is a model letter for teachers. It can be revised to make it appropriate for parents or anyone else.
Write your own letter, in your own words.
Send them either to this blog or to Anthony Cody at Anthony_Cody@hotmail.com.
Below is a model letter for teachers. It can be revised to make it appropriate for parents or anyone else.
Write your own letter, in your own words.
Read This to Understand TFA’s Outsize Influence in DC
Alexander Russo has written an interesting paper on how TFA has managed to have unusual influence inside the Beltway.
If you wonder why members of Congress seem determined to support unpopular and ineffective programs like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top, read this.
Interesting that the two TFA state commissioners (John White in Louisiana and Kevin Huffman of Tennessee) work for two of the nation’s most reactionary governors
If you wonder why members of Congress seem determined to support unpopular and ineffective programs like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top, read this.
Interesting that the two TFA state commissioners (John White in Louisiana and Kevin Huffman of Tennessee) work for two of the nation’s most reactionary governors
If You Have Friends in Washington State…
If you have friends in Washington State, call them and tell them to vote no on 1240.
Friends don’t let friends fall for propaganda campaigns funded by billionaires.
Friends don’t let friends be fooled into voting to privatize public education.
Friends don’t let friends give their public schools away to Wall Street and entrepreneurs.
Tell them what is at stake.
A reader writes with an update:
Right now the charter school polling in WA is showing 49% for, 30% against, and 21% undecided. Unfortunately
Friends don’t let friends fall for propaganda campaigns funded by billionaires.
Friends don’t let friends be fooled into voting to privatize public education.
Friends don’t let friends give their public schools away to Wall Street and entrepreneurs.
Tell them what is at stake.
A reader writes with an update:
Right now the charter school polling in WA is showing 49% for, 30% against, and 21% undecided. Unfortunately
A Lawyer Offers Good Advice to the President
Sound advice, and it didn’t cost anything.
Dear President Obama:
I am writing to you as a fellow magna cum laude Harvard Law grad (’73) and fellow Democrat.
Please reconsider two of your Administration’s Race-to-the-Top education policies – 1) high-stakes testing, and 2) charter schools. Under superficial analysis, these policies appear sensible; under in-depth analysis, they are
Dear President Obama:
I am writing to you as a fellow magna cum laude Harvard Law grad (’73) and fellow Democrat.
Please reconsider two of your Administration’s Race-to-the-Top education policies – 1) high-stakes testing, and 2) charter schools. Under superficial analysis, these policies appear sensible; under in-depth analysis, they are
Diane Ravitch speaks at City Club of Chicago
Storified by Catalyst Chicago Mag on Monday, October 15th 2012, 8:39 pm
In a Monday morning speech at the City Club of Chicago, education reformer turned critic Diane Ravitch slammed the initiatives she once supported as "the status quo." She said Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn asked the City Club, normally a platform for more conservative speakers, to invite her.
No Tests for MY Child, says This Teacher
This teacher will not allow her children in pre-K and K to be tested. If everyone opted out, the testing regime would collapse.
I have been a high school teacher for 16 years. My own children begin pre-K and K this year. I have already informed their schools that my children will be “ill” on standardized test days. I had to take this route because as far as I can find, WA does not have an “opt out” opportunity for testing. The pre-K and K teachers voiced the concern that if the kids were absent the they would be counted as a zero for test scores and that would reflect
I have been a high school teacher for 16 years. My own children begin pre-K and K this year. I have already informed their schools that my children will be “ill” on standardized test days. I had to take this route because as far as I can find, WA does not have an “opt out” opportunity for testing. The pre-K and K teachers voiced the concern that if the kids were absent the they would be counted as a zero for test scores and that would reflect
Why He Is Voting for Obama
A reader sent this comment:
If I may be so bold and presumptuous, it is time for a deep breath, a time-out from the issues of the day, and a focus on the issues of tomorrow: THIS ELECTION IS LIFE OR DEATH FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I got a wake up call on many fronts on Sunday in dialogue / debate with a staunch union member who, understandably, is really angry. I appreciate Diane’s honest comments to me. Aside from the issues at hand, and there are many, the bottom line is that this teacher can’t see casting a vote for President Obama.
Are there really a few, hundreds, thousands of teachers (and unions and parent activists) considering not voting
If I may be so bold and presumptuous, it is time for a deep breath, a time-out from the issues of the day, and a focus on the issues of tomorrow: THIS ELECTION IS LIFE OR DEATH FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I got a wake up call on many fronts on Sunday in dialogue / debate with a staunch union member who, understandably, is really angry. I appreciate Diane’s honest comments to me. Aside from the issues at hand, and there are many, the bottom line is that this teacher can’t see casting a vote for President Obama.
Are there really a few, hundreds, thousands of teachers (and unions and parent activists) considering not voting
A Teacher Offers Good Advice to President Obama
As part of our Campaign for Our Public Schools, this teacher wrote a fine letter to the President:
Dear President Obama,
While I was and remain your supporter I respectfully disagree with many of your ideas about education policy. I have been working in education for more than ten years and I can say confidently that high stakes testing does nothing for the low-income, high-need students population I have been working with diligently.
What does matter? Strong relationships with teachers and other adults, supports at the school setting that help
What “Reform” Is Doing to Teachers
Dear President Obama,
While I was and remain your supporter I respectfully disagree with many of your ideas about education policy. I have been working in education for more than ten years and I can say confidently that high stakes testing does nothing for the low-income, high-need students population I have been working with diligently.
What does matter? Strong relationships with teachers and other adults, supports at the school setting that help
What “Reform” Is Doing to Teachers
A teacher reflects on how teachers are perceived, how little support they get, and how teaching has changed:
Being in the teaching profession, most of the public generally hates you because they ‘see’ you with the summer off and a pension, which most of us hope will be intact by the time we get there. If summers off were only true. During the summer is when most of your planning and professional growth goes on…’behind the scenes.’
I went into this profession because of kids and making an impact in their lives. Believe me it wasn’t for the
Kevin Huffman Punishes Nashville Board for Disobeying His Orders
My Talk to the Chicago City Club: Two Visions of School Reform
A Teacher Offers Good Advice to the President
Tony Bennett: Fiasco in Indiana
Testing Madness Is Sick
Being in the teaching profession, most of the public generally hates you because they ‘see’ you with the summer off and a pension, which most of us hope will be intact by the time we get there. If summers off were only true. During the summer is when most of your planning and professional growth goes on…’behind the scenes.’
I went into this profession because of kids and making an impact in their lives. Believe me it wasn’t for the
Kevin Huffman Punishes Nashville Board for Disobeying His Orders
Tennessee’s TFA Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman ordered the Metro Nashville school board to grant a charter to a school run by Arizona-based Great Hearts. The School board voted no. It voted no four times. It said the school wanted to locate in a neighborhood where it would draw mainly from well-to-do white families; the board wanted assurance that the school would serve a diverse enrollment. Great Hearts expects families to make a “voluntary” contribution of $1200-1500 upfront.
Huffman retaliated by cutting state funding to the Nashville schools by $3.4 million in the middle of the term. It’s
Huffman retaliated by cutting state funding to the Nashville schools by $3.4 million in the middle of the term. It’s
My Talk to the Chicago City Club: Two Visions of School Reform
I was honored to be invited to speak to the Chicago City Club today.
The invitation was arranged by Governor Pat Quinn, who introduced me.
I spoke about two visions of school reform, one grounded in reality and evidence, the other grounded in ideology and wishful thinking.
I put the Chicago teachers’ strike in a national context.
This post has a link to the video
The invitation was arranged by Governor Pat Quinn, who introduced me.
I spoke about two visions of school reform, one grounded in reality and evidence, the other grounded in ideology and wishful thinking.
I put the Chicago teachers’ strike in a national context.
This post has a link to the video
A Teacher Offers Good Advice to the President
So many articulate letters. This one has sound suggestions.
Dear Mr. President:
I strongly supported you in last election because Linda Darling-Hammond was your education adviser. I really believed you would be going in a direction that supported public school students and not privatization and increasing the profits of testing and charter companies.
I suspect you are receiving many letters and emails regarding the failure of your Race to the Top policy. Instead,
Dear Mr. President:
I strongly supported you in last election because Linda Darling-Hammond was your education adviser. I really believed you would be going in a direction that supported public school students and not privatization and increasing the profits of testing and charter companies.
I suspect you are receiving many letters and emails regarding the failure of your Race to the Top policy. Instead,
Tony Bennett: Fiasco in Indiana
Social media has allowed educators to contact one another and express their views. The news they tell does not often get covered in the local press. The educators’ insights are worth sharing.
Read this post from Indiana about State Superintendent of Education Bennett, no friend of public schools.
Bennett is running for re-election against veteran educator Glenda Ritz.
Read this post from Indiana about State Superintendent of Education Bennett, no friend of public schools.
Bennett is running for re-election against veteran educator Glenda Ritz.
Testing Madness Is Sick
The Wall Street Journal reports that New York City has adopted a new test for its gifted and talented classes. It is said to be “harder” than the previous test. The Bloomberg administration uses a test as the sole means of getting into these highly coveted classes.
Critics say it will reduce the proportion of black and Hispanic students in these classes even lower than it is now, but the test-maker disagrees.
Parents who have invested thousands in test prep for the old test are worried. Now they must invest thousands in test prep for the new test.
One parent has already started her three-year-old on test prep so he will be ready to take the test next year.
Critics say it will reduce the proportion of black and Hispanic students in these classes even lower than it is now, but the test-maker disagrees.
Parents who have invested thousands in test prep for the old test are worried. Now they must invest thousands in test prep for the new test.
One parent has already started her three-year-old on test prep so he will be ready to take the test next year.