Do We All Love Teachers?
This is an excellent article, written by NYC charter school teacher Allison LaFave.
It was prompted by Bob Schieffer’s off-hand remark during the last Presidential debate that “We all love teachers.”
Do we all love teachers?
Why don’t we trust them to manage their classrooms?
Why must they be evaluated by
It was prompted by Bob Schieffer’s off-hand remark during the last Presidential debate that “We all love teachers.”
Do we all love teachers?
Why don’t we trust them to manage their classrooms?
Why must they be evaluated by
Charter Closes, Kids Abandoned
A charter school in Sacramento abruptly closed its doors, locked out the students, and called it quits.
The charter operator said the space could only handle 75 students, but he had enrolled 400.
The parents were not happy. They said the school had collected $2 million or so.
The charter operator said the space could only handle 75 students, but he had enrolled 400.
The parents were not happy. They said the school had collected $2 million or so.
Kevin Huffman Knows Exactly What He’s Doing
Kevin Huffman, the TFA Commissioner of Education in Tennessee, demands that the Metro Nashville school board authorize a charter in an affluent section of town. The Arizona-based charter, called Great Hearts, expects parents to offer a cash gift of $1200-1500 at the beginning of the school year to defray various costs. The school board worries about lack of diversity and lack of transportation.
The board has rejected Great Hearts four times. Huffman is punishing Nashville by withholding $3.4 million in
The board has rejected Great Hearts four times. Huffman is punishing Nashville by withholding $3.4 million in
Reform Insanity
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to get different results is said to be a form of insanity.
Paul Thomas of Furman University in South Carolina shows how this definition of insanity applies to what is called “education reform” today.
Thomas’s error in this chart is assuming that the goal of the current restructuring of education is to improve or
Paul Thomas of Furman University in South Carolina shows how this definition of insanity applies to what is called “education reform” today.
Thomas’s error in this chart is assuming that the goal of the current restructuring of education is to improve or
A Parent Hero of Public Education
Sharon Higgins of Oakland, California, is a hero of public education.
As a parent of children in the local public schools, Higgins was upset by the Broad Foundation’s takeover of her district. One Broad superintendent after another made decisions without consulting anyone who lived in the community.
Then, with the encouragement of the Broad superintendents, charter schools began opening, drawing students
As a parent of children in the local public schools, Higgins was upset by the Broad Foundation’s takeover of her district. One Broad superintendent after another made decisions without consulting anyone who lived in the community.
Then, with the encouragement of the Broad superintendents, charter schools began opening, drawing students
NC Teacher: “I Quit”
A letter from a disgusted teacher:
I QUIT
Kris L. Nielsen
Monroe, NC 28110
Union County Public Schools
Human Resources Department
400 North Church Street
Monroe, NC 28112
October 25, 2012
Monroe, NC 28110
Union County Public Schools
Human Resources Department
400 North Church Street
Monroe, NC 28112
October 25, 2012
Two Contrasting Views of the New Orleans Story
Is New Orleans a national model?
Simple formula: have a major catastrophe. Wipe out public education. Get rid of the unions. Hand schools over to private operators. A miracle. A national model for school reform. Read this article by a British reporter.
Simple formula: have a major catastrophe. Wipe out public education. Get rid of the unions. Hand schools over to private operators. A miracle. A national model for school reform. Read this article by a British reporter.
Why the Business Model Is Wrong for Education
Tim Holt wrote a terrific post a while back on why the business model is not right for education. He sent it here in a comment.
Tim is a science teacher in Texas.
He points out in his post that many new businesses open every year
Tim is a science teacher in Texas.
He points out in his post that many new businesses open every year
Big Money to Buy School Boards
It’s happening in local school board races around the nation.
Out-of-state money is pouring in to capture seats on local school boards.
The money comes from billionaires like Michael Bloomberg and Reed Hastings, owner of Netflix, and Alice Walton of the Walmart family. They fund candidates who support privatization of public education. Their resources overwhelm local candidates.
The first high-profile race to attract big money was last year in Denver, when large amounts of money arrived from
Out-of-state money is pouring in to capture seats on local school boards.
The money comes from billionaires like Michael Bloomberg and Reed Hastings, owner of Netflix, and Alice Walton of the Walmart family. They fund candidates who support privatization of public education. Their resources overwhelm local candidates.
The first high-profile race to attract big money was last year in Denver, when large amounts of money arrived from
Charter Plan to Privatize Public Education in San Antonio
With a favorable rightwing privatizing climate in Texas and bipartisan support in Washington, a group of charters have proposed a bold plan to take over one fourth of all the students in San Antonio. The time is right for privatization on a grand scle.
Diane in the Evening 10-26-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: A Tiny Brush with Greatness by dianerav Jacques Barzun, one of the great thinkers of our age, died at the age of 104 in San Antonio, after a long and distinguished career as a thinker, teacher, cultural critic, and author. The obituary in the New York Times describes his amazing career. We are not likely to see his like again. Our age moves too swiftly and demands too much interactivity to allow figures like Barzun to grow, ripen and flourish. He had the unusual ability to transmit his vast knowledge of history to the public. I did not know him well but I had... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-26-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Calling All Pro Bono Lawyers by dianerav A reader just raised an interesting question offline. He lives in New Jersey, where the state constitution requires that the state provide a “thorough and efficient” public education. New Jersey officials today are doing their best to dismantle and privatize the state’s public education system. Are they violating their oath of office? What does it say in other state constitutions where the privatizers are busy dismantling the public system for fun, power, profit and ide... more »