Tonight on PBS
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.
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?
The New York City Department of Education intends to ask the state Board of Regents to allow it to grant certification, bypassing the higher education route.
The Regents have already given permission to TFA and to the charter training program Relay to award certification. The Museum of Natural History also has that authority.
Soon there will be Mom-and-Pop certification programs, or maybe online programs, or gosh darn it, just put your money on the barrel, Sony, and presto! You are a certified teacher.
Two thoughts:
1. We are not trying to elevate the profession.
2. Bye-bye Ed schools.
The Regents have already given permission to TFA and to the charter training program Relay to award certification. The Museum of Natural History also has that authority.
Soon there will be Mom-and-Pop certification programs, or maybe online programs, or gosh darn it, just put your money on the barrel, Sony, and presto! You are a certified teacher.
Two thoughts:
1. We are not trying to elevate the profession.
2. Bye-bye Ed schools.
The Absurdity of NCLB
Commenting on an earlier post, a teacher pointed out that students in his/her district in a low-performing school are allowed to transfer (thanks to No Child Left Behind) to a higher-performing school.
In my district, parents have the right to transfer their child to a “higher performing” school in the district if their local school is “lower performing”. Because my local school is in one of the more affluent areas of town, it usually scores a C, which is one of the higher grades in town. Because it scores higher, parents do transfer their kids, which means it has the largest class sizes in the district. I’d sooner send my kids to a “lower performing” school with smaller class sizes.
Now the higher-performing school is overcrowded and has larger classes. In time, it may well become a low-
In my district, parents have the right to transfer their child to a “higher performing” school in the district if their local school is “lower performing”. Because my local school is in one of the more affluent areas of town, it usually scores a C, which is one of the higher grades in town. Because it scores higher, parents do transfer their kids, which means it has the largest class sizes in the district. I’d sooner send my kids to a “lower performing” school with smaller class sizes.
Now the higher-performing school is overcrowded and has larger classes. In time, it may well become a low-
Ironies of the First Parent Trigger
At Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto, California, the “parent trigger” law is taking effect after court battles.
Parents who asked to take their name off the petition to hand their school off to a charter chain were told by a judge that they were not allowed to remove their names.
Now, it turns out, only parents who signed the petition in favor of a charter will be allowed to participate in choosing the charter operator. The others have no voice.
And, hmm, the parent who has been most vocal, will not be a parent in the school when the charter takes over.
Parents who asked to take their name off the petition to hand their school off to a charter chain were told by a judge that they were not allowed to remove their names.
Now, it turns out, only parents who signed the petition in favor of a charter will be allowed to participate in choosing the charter operator. The others have no voice.
And, hmm, the parent who has been most vocal, will not be a parent in the school when the charter takes over.
A Way to Test the “Bad Teacher” Theory
In response to an earlier post, a reader suggests a simple way to evaluate the oft-repeated assertion tat low test scores are caused by bad teachers:
I wonder why the reformers don’t try this experiment: Take the staff of an underperforming school and switch them for a year with the staff in a high performing school. Let’s see if the results are that different.
I say try it for three years. Compare the results in both schools. Good idea.
I have heard this proposed many times. With privatizers in control of so many districts and states (e.g.
I wonder why the reformers don’t try this experiment: Take the staff of an underperforming school and switch them for a year with the staff in a high performing school. Let’s see if the results are that different.
I say try it for three years. Compare the results in both schools. Good idea.
I have heard this proposed many times. With privatizers in control of so many districts and states (e.g.
You Must Not Say What You Think
The new Broad leader in Dallas has hired a communications director and a PR team to craft a list of “power words” and “power phrases” that teachers and principals are supposed to use when communicating with the public.
Dallas principals and teachers: Please take care to say what you are told. Memorize your lines. If you say the wrong thing, you are in trouble. Let the superintendent and his PR team do your thinking for you. Just do as you
Australia Claims the GERM Title
Dallas principals and teachers: Please take care to say what you are told. Memorize your lines. If you say the wrong thing, you are in trouble. Let the superintendent and his PR team do your thinking for you. Just do as you
Australia Claims the GERM Title
Is Australia the GERM capital of the world?
I was sure that the U.S. was first in the world when it came to testing and accountability, choice, competition, and privatization. Sad to discover we are number 2.
Australia – The GERM Capital of the World
GERM is an acronym for the giant scato-meme that testucators [vis-a-vis educators] have helped to spread
I was sure that the U.S. was first in the world when it came to testing and accountability, choice, competition, and privatization. Sad to discover we are number 2.
Australia – The GERM Capital of the World
GERM is an acronym for the giant scato-meme that testucators [vis-a-vis educators] have helped to spread
When Mr. Rogers Saved PBS
At a time when Mitt Romney is threatening to remove federal funding from PBS, please watch what Mr. Rogers said to Congress in 1969 when President Nixon wanted to cut funding to PBS. Senator Pastore got “goose bumps” when he listened. I got tears in my eyes. Please watch.
It reminds you of when we thought about children’s feelings, not their test scores. It reminds you of a man who was gentle and kind. Remember that?
It reminds you of when we thought about children’s feelings, not their test scores. It reminds you of a man who was gentle and kind. Remember that?
Crucial Referendum in Georgia
In November, voters in Georgia will vote on an important referendum to amend their state constitution.
The goal of the amendment is to allow the government to appoint a commission that can impose charter schools in districts over the objection of local school boards. More than 90% of the money to support the referendum is pouring into Georgia from out of state contributors.
This proposal comes from ALEC, which is so eager to push privatization that it is ready to abandon local control.
The goal of the amendment is to allow the government to appoint a commission that can impose charter schools in districts over the objection of local school boards. More than 90% of the money to support the referendum is pouring into Georgia from out of state contributors.
This proposal comes from ALEC, which is so eager to push privatization that it is ready to abandon local control.
Will Two Very Rich Men Buy the Oakland, CA, School Board
Very strange, the large sums of money suddenly appearing in local school board elections, sometimes from wealthy individuals who have no children in the schools or don’t even live in the district. That happened earlier this year in the Dever school board election and is happening now in A New Orleans school board race.
In Oakland, California, two wealthy men have contributed almost $100,000 to the corporate reform slate.
This description comes from a public school parent in Oakland:
Today I learned about two individuals who are attempting to control Oakland’s upcoming school board election
In Oakland, California, two wealthy men have contributed almost $100,000 to the corporate reform slate.
This description comes from a public school parent in Oakland:
Today I learned about two individuals who are attempting to control Oakland’s upcoming school board election
A Cry from the Heart
Dear President Obama,
I am disheartened by the state of education and the course we are heading as a nation.
Today, I was forced to administer an assessment which will be used to judge me, as a professional educator. I watched eight year olds crumble under the pressure for fear of getting an answer wrong. I held a young girl who burst into tears because she couldn’t decipher a term she will not be exposed to until January. As a compassionate human being, I reassured her, but deep down inside I was sickened, disgusted and angry
I am disheartened by the state of education and the course we are heading as a nation.
Today, I was forced to administer an assessment which will be used to judge me, as a professional educator. I watched eight year olds crumble under the pressure for fear of getting an answer wrong. I held a young girl who burst into tears because she couldn’t decipher a term she will not be exposed to until January. As a compassionate human being, I reassured her, but deep down inside I was sickened, disgusted and angry
Marc Tucker Says that Choice Is “Beside the Point”
In a recent essay for Education Week, Marc Tucker took issue with advocates for choice, charters and competition. He dismantled the libertarian argument for free markets in schooling. That’s not what enables top-performing nations to succeed, he says. Worth reading.
Can 10 Very Rich People Change Public Education in Washington State?
Ten people have supplied 91% of the $8.9 million raised to promote a charter school referendum in Washington State.
Prominent among the super-donors are Bill Gates, Walmart heiress Alice Walton, Amazon Titan Mike Bezos,
Prominent among the super-donors are Bill Gates, Walmart heiress Alice Walton, Amazon Titan Mike Bezos,
