Teachers Running for Office in Ohio
What’s the best way to stop the attack on teachers?
Run for office.
Many teachers in Ohio figured that out, and they are running for legislative seats.
Some are taking on impossible tasks, but, hey, you never know.
When the legislators refuse to listen, then run against them.
Organize parents and others who care about public education.
Run for office.
On the list linked here
Run for office.
Many teachers in Ohio figured that out, and they are running for legislative seats.
Some are taking on impossible tasks, but, hey, you never know.
When the legislators refuse to listen, then run against them.
Organize parents and others who care about public education.
Run for office.
On the list linked here
A Student Activist and a Hero of Public Education
Zack Koppelin is a hero of public education.
Zack is the first student to join the honor roll.
Zack is 17 years old. He opposes the use of public funds for voucher schools that teach creationism.
He is outspoken. He is fearless. He is smart. He is courageous.
He is a model for the adults who wring their hands
Zack is the first student to join the honor roll.
Zack is 17 years old. He opposes the use of public funds for voucher schools that teach creationism.
He is outspoken. He is fearless. He is smart. He is courageous.
He is a model for the adults who wring their hands
How GERM Spreads
In his excellent book Finnish Lessons, Pasi Sahlberg explains the nature of the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM). GERM adores testing, accountability, competition, and choice. GERM squeezes all joy out of learning. GERM treats educators as interchangeable parts with no wisdom. GERM relies on market mechanisms, which are totally inappropriate in education.
This is an email regularly published in Australia. It succinctly explains how Joel Klein persuaded the Australian minister of education that New York City had experienced a miraculous transformation: test more, hold teachers and principals accountable, close schools, open schools, and scores go through the roof. Australia is now following New York City’s model.
Unfortunately, no one informed the Australian government that the New York City miracle collapsed in the
This is an email regularly published in Australia. It succinctly explains how Joel Klein persuaded the Australian minister of education that New York City had experienced a miraculous transformation: test more, hold teachers and principals accountable, close schools, open schools, and scores go through the roof. Australia is now following New York City’s model.
Unfortunately, no one informed the Australian government that the New York City miracle collapsed in the
Indiana Superintendent Bennett Gets Support of Far Right
Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett is running for re-election. He has raised more than $1 million from supporters of an anti-public school agenda.
He just received $25,000 from a gubernatorial candidate who wants vouchers for private and religious schools
He just received $25,000 from a gubernatorial candidate who wants vouchers for private and religious schools
TFA Builds a Political Empire
Most people think of Teach for America as an organization that recruits young college graduates to teach in distressed urban and rural schools.
As the organization has matured, however, it is preparing a cadre of leaders to enter political office and take the reins of power. But power for what?
In this article, TFA is shown to be leading the movement
As the organization has matured, however, it is preparing a cadre of leaders to enter political office and take the reins of power. But power for what?
In this article, TFA is shown to be leading the movement
Obama Is Out of Touch on Education
Yesterday I announced my intention to vote for President Obama, and given the choice confronting us, I will vote for President Obama.
I will vote for him despite his terrible education policy known as Race to the Top.
It is a disaster. It has all the faults of No Child Left Behind, and it is worse.
It is incentivizing the creation of more privately managed charter schools, which are more segregated than the
I will vote for him despite his terrible education policy known as Race to the Top.
It is a disaster. It has all the faults of No Child Left Behind, and it is worse.
It is incentivizing the creation of more privately managed charter schools, which are more segregated than the
Vouchers for Tennessee?
An article in a Nashville paper describes the discussions about vouchers in Tennessee and generally quotes voucher supporters.
Given that the Governor is a conservative Republican, given that the Legislature is Republican, given that the Legislature often passes ALEC legislation without changing a word, and given that the state has a TFA
Given that the Governor is a conservative Republican, given that the Legislature is Republican, given that the Legislature often passes ALEC legislation without changing a word, and given that the state has a TFA
“Won’t Back Down” Goes Down, Down, Down
It was supposed to be the movie of the year.
Big stars, big budget for promotion.
All of Rupert Murdoch’s publications sang its glories.
CBS held a greatly hyped rock concert to “honor teachers” just as the fi
Big stars, big budget for promotion.
All of Rupert Murdoch’s publications sang its glories.
CBS held a greatly hyped rock concert to “honor teachers” just as the fi
Texas Democrats See the Pattern on the Rug
These past few years, some of us have been trying to awaken the public to the goals and strategy of the privatization movement.
First, they demand high-stakes testing, and they claim they want to “reduce the achievement gap” or “it’s all for the kids.”
Second, they use the scores to give grades to schools and to declare that those with the lowest scores are
First, they demand high-stakes testing, and they claim they want to “reduce the achievement gap” or “it’s all for the kids.”
Second, they use the scores to give grades to schools and to declare that those with the lowest scores are
Do the Wealthy Need Segregated Charters?
I borrowed the provocative title from a post by Julian Vasquez Heilig of the University of Texas.
Heilig wrote a post recently about Great Hearts, the charter chain that has been trying to locate in an affluent neighborhood in Nashville, thus far without success. As readers of this blog may recall, the Metro Nashville school board has turned Great Hearts down four times. For exercising discretion, the district has been punished by TFA Commissioner Kevin Huffman, who has withheld $3.4 million in state aid from the district. Huffman, of
Heilig wrote a post recently about Great Hearts, the charter chain that has been trying to locate in an affluent neighborhood in Nashville, thus far without success. As readers of this blog may recall, the Metro Nashville school board has turned Great Hearts down four times. For exercising discretion, the district has been punished by TFA Commissioner Kevin Huffman, who has withheld $3.4 million in state aid from the district. Huffman, of
What Happened When I Spoke in Chicago
An astute observer in Chicago reports on my appearance at the Chicago City Club.
As usual, I did not pull punches.
I don’t have time for that.
The amazing thing is that even though everything I said contradicted the axioms of Chicago-style “reform,” I got a standing ovation from a warm and friendly crowd of civic leaders at the City Club.
As usual, I did not pull punches.
I don’t have time for that.
The amazing thing is that even though everything I said contradicted the axioms of Chicago-style “reform,” I got a standing ovation from a warm and friendly crowd of civic leaders at the City Club.
Diane in the Afternoon 10-24-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: What Happened When I Spoke in Chicago by dianerav An astute observer in Chicago reports on my appearance at the Chicago City Club. As usual, I did not pull punches. I don’t have time for that. The amazing thing is that even though everything I said contradicted the axioms of Chicago-style “reform,” I got a standing ovation from a warm and friendly crowd of civic leaders at the City Club. Yong Zhao to Commissioner King in NY: There Is No Evidence to Support Common Core by dianerav As readers of this blog know, I am agnostic about the Common Core standards... more »
My View: Why I will vote for President Obama – Schools of Thought - CNN.com Blogs
My View: Why I will vote for President Obama – Schools of Thought - CNN.com Blogs: My View: Why I will vote for President Obama [image: Courtesy Jack Miller]By *Diane Ravitch*, Special to CNN *Editor’s note: Diane Ravitch** was Assistant Secretary of Education in the administration of George H.W. Bush. She is a historian of education and is now a Research Professor at New York University. She is the author of several books on education, including her latest “The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education.” She blogs daily... more »
Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-24-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] I Will Vote for Obama by dianerav I have decided to vote to re-elect President Barack Obama. As readers of this blog are well aware, I strongly oppose what he is doing to our nation’s education system. I dislike Race to the Top, which in many respects is far worse than the failed No Child Left Behind. I know how the Obama administration has outsourced its education policies to the Gates Foundation, the Broad Foundation, and the Wall Street hedge fund managers (the alleged Democrats for Education Reform). Bu... more »