BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA
RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST
Ann Romney: ‘We need to throw out’ public school system
Ann Romney: ‘We need to throw out’ public school system: Ann Romney: ‘We need to throw out’ public school system Posted by Valerie Strauss on October 29, 2012 at 3:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Ann Romney on “GMA.” (IDA MAE ASTUTE – ABC) The magazine Good Housekeeping has a new interview with Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, in which she reveals “the answers” to ensuring that all students get “a proper education.” Here’s the relevant question and answer: *GH: Can you tell me, what campaign issu... more »
Educación Nominate Your Candidate for the Immigrant Youth Achievement Award - Hispanically Speaking News
Nominate Your Candidate for the Immigrant Youth Achievement Award - Hispanically Speaking News: [image: Nominate Your Candidate for the Immigrant Youth Achievement Award]* Educación * Nominate Your Candidate for the Immigrant Youth Achievement Award Educacion - 11 minutes ago The American Immigration Council is now accepting nominations for their 2013 Immigrant Youth Achievement Award. Each year the Council receives hundreds of nominations from around the country lifting up exceptional young people whose accomplishments and dreams inspire others. The Immigrant Youth Achievement Awar... more
UPDATE: Daily Kos: Eugene Robinson's column is about more than FEMA
Jersey Jazzman: NJEA Cancels Convention
Jersey Jazzman: NJEA Cancels Convention: NJEA Cancels Convention by Duke [image: Good News About New Jersey's Public Schools] This really is unprecedented: *For the first time in its 158-year history, the NJEA Convention has been cancelled.* NJEA President Barbara Keshishian announced the decision today, “in light of the natural disaster that has struck New Jersey and Atlantic City in particular. It was a difficult decision, but we believe it was the correct one, considering the statewide impact of this unprecedented storm.” Keshishian also announced that the leadership of NJEA is...Teachers union refuses to sign off on LAUSD Race to the Top grant - LA Daily News
Teachers union refuses to sign off on LAUSD Race to the Top grant - LA Daily News: Teachers union refuses to sign off on LAUSD Race to the Top grant by By Barbara Jones barbara.jones@dailynews.com, 818-713-3710 Twitter.com/LADNSchools Staff Writer The Los Angeles teachers union has refused to sign off on Los Angeles Unified's bid for a prestigious Race to the Top grant, costing the district a shot at winning $40 million in federal money, sources said Saturday. LAUSD had been negotiating for days with United Teachers Los Angeles, in the hope of gaining the endorsement it needed to ... more »
Merit Pay Contract Is Tough Sell for Newark Teachers - NYTimes.com
Merit Pay Contract Is Tough Sell for Newark Teachers - NYTimes.com: Merit Pay Contract Is Tough Sell for Newark Teachers by By KATE ZERNIKE The leaders of the local teachers union in Newark have agreed to a compromise with city management that includes merit pay with peer evaluations, although many teachers oppose the measure. By KATE ZERNIKEPublished: October 28, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - SINGLE PAGE - REPRINTS - NEWARK — On one side of the table was the union firebrand Randi Weingarten, president of the American Fed... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Fairly Unified on the Education Front Against I-1240
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Fairly Unified on the Education Front Against I-1240: Fairly Unified on the Education Front Against I-1240 by Melissa Westbrook [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] The No On I-1240 campaign has released an open letter rejecting I-1240. The people listed represent those from 260 school districts across Washington State. That's nearly 90% of the school districts in the state. “The open letter shows that opposition to I-1240 is not bound by geography or income,” said Michael DeBell, Seattle School Board President. “It’s a bad plan for every stu... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS News and Updates
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS News and Updates: SPS News and Updates by Melissa Westbrook This story from the Times on *Roosevelt's Rueben Van Kempen*, drama teacher and director extraordinaire who will be inducted into the Educational Theatre Association's Hall of Fame in San Diego this week. One interesting item that most don't know - RHS offers the only full-time theater program in SPS with multiple classes. His legacy (but he's not going anywhere) - this from a student: *"He instilled a belief in me, a belief in following my passions and dreams. Whether I'd gone on ... more »
LAUSD bracing for severe cuts if Prop. 30 loses - LA Daily News
LAUSD bracing for severe cuts if Prop. 30 loses - LA Daily News: LAUSD bracing for severe cuts if Prop. 30 loses By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer Posted: 10/31/2012 07:00:14 PM PDT Updated: 10/31/2012 07:17:45 PM PDT If voters reject Prop. 30 on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, when they head to the polls, Los Angeles Unified will face severe budget cuts. The district is bracing for the worst. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer) *POSSIBLE FALLOUT* The defeat of Proposition 30 would trigger budget cuts that could force Los Angeles Unified and other school districts to shorten this year's ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Where Are Your Former Presidents?
Jersey Jazzman: Where Are Your Former Presidents?: Where Are Your Former Presidents? by Duke As we here in Jersey sit in the dark, waiting for our aging electrical grid to crackle back to life, let's play a game to pass the time: *Where Are Your Former US Presidents Right Now?* Bill Clinton: The Big Dog is suddenly Barack Obama’s Top Dog – and the candidate is delighted at being upstaged by Bill Clinton. In the closing days of this epic campaign, the former President is dashing across the battleground states, trying to seal the deal for Obama with undecided voters and white, bl... more »
Sit-In; Mayor Rahm Emanuel Rescind School ClosingsSave Our Schools
Sit-In; Mayor Rahm Emanuel Rescind School ClosingsSave Our Schools: Sit-In; Mayor Rahm Emanuel Rescind School Closings by Server Sit-In; Mayor Rahm Emanuel Rescind Decision to Close Schools Popout *Video Footage Sent in Real Time. November 2, 2012 5:54:06 PM CT* Mayor Rahm Emanuel Rescind School Closings: http://youtu.be/M-kegILLSmo Sit-In. Save Our Schools joins concerned citizens in Chicago while they wait to speak with Mayor Emanuel about community school closings. With September’s teachers’ strike fading in the rear view mirror the Chicago School Board’s attention now turns to th... more »
Mr. Burns Endorses Romney | The Simpsons | Animation on FOX
MR. BURNS ENDORSES ROMNEY
*An election eve appeal from Montgomery Burns. Mr. Burns puts Shamus the dog to the test of choosing between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.*
Remember Your Place - Vote November 6
*Remember Your Place - Vote November 6* * * [image: Secretary of State banner] November 6, 2012, General Election ------------------------------ Election Information - Governor's Proclamation (pdf ~63KB) - Qualifications for Running for Office - General Election Calendar (pdf ~56KB) - Complete - 2012 California Election Calendar - Official Voter Information Guide - Random Alphabet Drawing (pdf ~40KB) Candidate Information - Certified List of Candidates (pdf ~513KB) - Certified List of Candidates - Abbreviated List (pdf ~88KB) - List of Nominated Candi... more »
LAUSD Board Filing Period Opens Monday - LA School Report
LAUSD Board Filing Period Opens Monday - LA School Report: LAUSD Board Filing Period Opens Monday by LA School Report Starting *Monday, November 5*, LAUSD Board candidates for the District 2, 4, and 6 seats can take the next necessary steps towards running for office by filing a “Declaration of Intention to Become a Candidate” with the City Clerk’s office. Official announcement here. Official candidate and election information here. But they shouldn’t wait too long. Prospective candidates have less than a week to submit their paperwork. The filing period ends *Saturday, November ... more »
News Flash: Mayor Finch and “Education Reformers” spend record amount to take away Bridgeport voter’s rights! - Wait, What?
News Flash: Mayor Finch and “Education Reformers” spend record amount to take away Bridgeport voter’s rights! - Wait, What?: News Flash: Mayor Finch and “Education Reformers” spend record amount to take away Bridgeport voter’s rights! by jonpelto *Mayor Mike Bloomberg and The Money Fairy have visited Bridgeport * Welcome to 21st Century America Lennie Grimaldi, Bridgeport’s leading political pundit, and author of the blog, Only in Bridgeport, broke the news today that Mayor Mike Bloomberg gave $20,000 to Residents For A Better Bridgeport, the political action committee behind the ... more »
Commentary: Parents deserve a better measure of school quality | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Commentary: Parents deserve a better measure of school quality | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Commentary: Parents deserve a better measure of school qualityby Helen Gym on Nov 02 2012 Posted in Blogger commentary - COMMENTS (3)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] Tags: - school choice Every once in a while, it becomes apparent just how differently parents view quality education from the reformers out there defining it purportedly for our own good. The GreatPhillySchools website (GPS) is just one of those examples. GreatPhillySchools launched Oct. 15, touting its “gro... more »
Are Education "Reformers" Becoming Privatizers? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Are Education "Reformers" Becoming Privatizers? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Are Education "Reformers" Becoming Privatizers? by Anthony Cody Quite a few "liberal" education reformers ought to be doing a bit of soul searching these days, as their movement seems to be veering into territory previously occupied by segregationists and anti-union business and political leaders. Diane Ravitch has begun calling people whom we used to know as "education reformers" by the more loaded term "privatizers." In California, we are seeing where this path is leading some of our s... more »
UPDATE: Diane in the Evening 11-2-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Big $$$ to Convince Bridgeport Voters to Abandon Democracy by dianerav Connecticut blogger and political insider Jonathan Pelto broke the story: Corporate reformers and privatizers have poured record amounts of campaign cash into Bridgeport, Connecticut, to persuade voters to turn control over their schools to the mayor. One of the big givers was NYC Mayor Bloomberg, who gave $25,000 to help Mayor Finch gain control over the NYC Marathon Cancelled by dianerav Responding to growing outrage, Mayor Bloomberg reluctantly canceled the annual marathon scheduled... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Update on plans for Monday and tragic losses suffered due to storm
NYC Public School Parents: Update on plans for Monday and tragic losses suffered due to storm: Update on plans for Monday and tragic losses suffered due to storm by Leonie Haimson Jessie and her dog, Max After a week of disruption due to Hurricane Sandy, NYC public schools are due to restart on Monday. Yet according to Schoolbook, forty-four school buildings were severely damaged, and students at those schools will likely be relocated to other buildings on Monday. The DOE is supposed to announce which schools will NOT re-open and the re-location sites, hopefully soon. Check bac... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-2-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Councilman in NYC Has Idea for Marathon Runners by dianerav The council member from southern Brooklyn suggested that marathon runners should deliver water, food, medicine and other supplies to elderly people trapped in high-rise buildings in the Coney Island area, who have no power. No elevator, no refrigerator, no heat. Mayor Bloomberg says the Marathon will go on, no matter what. The Most Astonishing Post Ever On This Blog Is… by dianerav When I printed the post by Kris L. Neilsen explaining why he quit ... more »
Charter schools amendment: Say “no” to ed biz “shamans” and “snake charmers” | Get Schooled
Charter schools amendment: Say “no” to ed biz “shamans” and “snake charmers” | Get Schooled: Charter schools amendment: Say “no” to ed biz “shamans” and “snake charmers” by Maureen Downey In the final stretch of the charter school amendment battle, I am going to run a few more pro and con pieces. Here is the con from high school educator Ian Altman of Athens. Stay tuned for a pro piece shortly. By Ian Altman Georgia voters will decide next week on Amendment 1 and whether to allow a politically appointed commission in Atlanta to override elected boards of education. Hence, they wi... more »
Top 10 List Of Things To Do For NYC Teachers Going To Work On Friday | The Jose Vilson
Top 10 List Of Things To Do For NYC Teachers Going To Work On Friday | The Jose Vilson: Top 10 List Of Things To Do For NYC Teachers Going To Work On Friday by Jose NYC schools are officially closed on Friday … for students. For teachers, Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott sent out a memo to all teachers and administrators to go back to school on Friday. The cynical me remembers the few days in the school year when I tell my students they don’t have school but I do and they giggle and point, to which I reply, “It’s OK. We don’t want you here, either.” Gasps from them. “Just ki... more »
Banda, School Board say charters would hamper efforts to improve Seattle public schools | Education | The Seattle Times
Banda, School Board say charters would hamper efforts to improve Seattle public schools | Education | The Seattle Times: Banda, School Board say charters would hamper efforts to improve Seattle public schools [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] School leaders, educators and parents from 260 of Washington's 295 school districts have signed a letter opposing I-1240, warning that charter schools would siphon off millions of dollars from other publicly funded schools with no guarantee they'd be any better. MOST POPULAR COMMENTS HIDE / SHOW COMMENTS No comments have been posted to t... more »
California's Prop 32: The Most Dangerous Ballot Measure in the Country | MyFDL
California's Prop 32: The Most Dangerous Ballot Measure in the Country | MyFDL: California’s Prop 32: The Most Dangerous Ballot Measure in the Country by Leighton Woodhouse Popout If you live in California, thanks to the Electoral College system, the box you check next Tuesday in the section of your ballot for the two presidential candidates won’t make an iota of difference to the outcome of the election. But further down the ballot is the second (if not first) most important vote in the country: Proposition 32. That’s no exaggeration. If Prop 32 passes, it will warp the landscape o... more »
An Urban Teacher's Education: Too Much Structure and Style; Not Enough Content
An Urban Teacher's Education: Too Much Structure and Style; Not Enough Content: Too Much Structure and Style; Not Enough Content by James Boutin Earlier in my career teaching writing, I often found myself focusing on structure and style. It's important to have appropriate conventions, to make your writing move logically throughout its delivery, to consider the way you communicate your ideas. But in considering the quality of a piece of writing, there is another factor that affects the outcome more: content. Perhaps I found it easier to focus on structure and style because they s... more »
IEA offers a deal on right-wing pizza. I wouldn’t order it in a million years. « Fred Klonsky
IEA offers a deal on right-wing pizza. I wouldn’t order it in a million years. « Fred Klonsky: IEA offers a deal on right-wing pizza. I wouldn’t order it in a million years. by Fred Klonsky *Papa John’s John Schnatter. * I have some friends coming over tonight. It’s a book club. Don’t laugh. All my friends at work predicted I would join a book club when I retired and I swore not. But I did. We get together every couple of months. It’s my pick this time. We were supposed to read Anthony Shadid’s*House of Stone.* Shadid was the New York Times correspondent in the middle east. His re... more »
Diane in the Evening 11-1-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: In New Orleans, Students Lead the Way by dianerav Several student groups convened an open forum for candidates running for the local school board. This gave students an opportunity to question candidates about where they stand on issues that affect students. Only one candidate did not appear: Sarah Usdin, who confirmed that she would show but did not. Usdin is the ex-TFA executive director of New Schools for New Orleans. She has received more than $110,000 from generous out-of-state donors like Joel Klein, who sells technology for Rupert Murdoch, and asso... more »
Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s CEO Greg Wasson on real parent involvement Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s CEO Greg Wasson on real parent involvement: Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s CEO Greg Wasson on real parent involvement by admin *An Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s* *on Real Parent Involvement* November 1, 2012 Sent by facsimile Dear Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s CEO Greg Wasson: PURE is a Chicago Public School (CPS) parent advocacy organization which has offered exceptional local school council and parent training and support for 25 years. We object to the ... more »
Schools Matter: Earning a Scholarship
Schools Matter: Earning a Scholarship: Earning a Scholarship by Storm *[The following is excerpted from the first chapter of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Aside from what is obvious regarding the continuation of this particular social "understanding" of the status of the Black American, I would offer that this is the primary perspective we operate within as members of an hierarchically managed society. The narrator is one who has beheld an incoherence. "All dreamers and sleepwalkers must pay the price, and even the invisible victim is responsible for the fate of all." I sup... more »
Ed group discloses donors, including Bloomberg - SFGate
Ed group discloses donors, including Bloomberg - SFGate: Ed group discloses donors, including BloombergJOHN MILLER, Associated Press, TODD DVORAK, Associated PressPublished 4:45 p.m., Wednesday, October 31, 2012 0 inShare Comments (0)Larger | SmallerPrintable VersionEmail This Font BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho nonprofit group forced to disclose the identity of its donors on Wednesday reported collecting more than $640,000 from a short list of contributors that includes New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Albertson's supermarket heir Joe Scott, according to documents filed w...more »
Diane Ravitch cuts check for local school board candidate | NOLA.com
Diane Ravitch cuts check for local school board candidate | NOLA.com: Diane Ravitch cuts check for local school board candidate It would be hard to find a more obscure election, overshadowed as it is by city council races, not to mention a multi-billion dollar presidential contest. Yet some of the country's biggest names in education are cutting checks to influence the outcome in the 3rd District of the Orleans Parish School Board. [image: diane-ravitch.jpg]Education historian Diane Ravitch. The latest celebrity contributor: New York University historian Diane Ravitch, the leading cr... more »
Mayor Bloomberg Is a Spiteful Little Man.southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Mayor Bloomberg Is a Spiteful Little Man by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) The Crack Team got the phone call today at around 3 PM. We had been monitoring Uncle Mike's news conference yet briefly called away when the Chinese food had arrived. On the other end of the phone was one of SBSB's news stringers. He called to share that the mayor had made a proclamation in concern to the remainder of the week about the schools. The mayor, our stringer reported, had declared that not only were students not to report to school on Thursday and Friday of th... more »
Ohio high school students disciplined for pro-LGBT shirts | The Raw Story
Ohio high school students disciplined for pro-LGBT shirts | The Raw Story: Ohio high school students disciplined for pro-LGBT shirts [image: LGBT flag via AFP] Topics: Celina High School ♦ Celina High School Superintendent Jesse Steiner ♦ Ohio high school Students at an Ohio high school were threatened with suspensions for refusing to remove shirts that contained messages supportive of LGBT individuals, according to HyperVocal. About twenty students wore the shirts to Celina High School after two other students were told to remove shirts that read “Lesbian 1″ and “Lesbian 2.” C... more »
Video: Romney Locks Up 1980s Lying Car Salesman Vote | Mother Jones
Video: Romney Locks Up 1980s Lying Car Salesman Vote | Mother Jones: Video: Romney Locks Up 1980s Lying Car Salesman Vote —By Adam Weinstein | Wed Oct. 31, 2012 10:36 AM PDT 2 - - Screenshot courtesy of YouTube It's an October surprise—October 1988, maybe: Reagan-era TV pitchman "Joe Isuzu" has endorsed Mitt Romney! In a series of iconic commercials, Joe Isuzuwas the Japanese car company's ballyhooed on-air spokesman through the late '80s, as well-known and zeitgeisty as later ad stars like "the most interesting man in the world" and the "Can you hear me now?" guy. Playe... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Will My Teacher Rating Have a Sandy Variable?
Jersey Jazzman: Will My Teacher Rating Have a Sandy Variable?: Will My Teacher Rating Have a Sandy Variable? by Duke So we're looking at missing at least a week of school where I am. That's a solid five days of test prep learning my students won't have compared to other students who are their "academic peers." Well, if I'm going to be missing out on a merit pay bonus because my score doesn't take this into account, I think I'll have no choice but to sue! So let's find a place in here somewhere: To put in a "Sandy variable." It's Insane Ideas I Have! by Duke Just had a crazy thou... more »
Best Questions: School Culture — Whole Child Education
Best Questions: School Culture — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Molly McCloskey]Best Questions: School Culture October 26, 2012 by Molly McCloskey We live in a parallel universe. Here at ASCD, we are committed to ensuring that each child, in each school and in each community, is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. And one of the things we know for sure is that for that to happen for kids, the adults around them must also be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. That parallel need is particularly striking this month as we consider the ... more »
UPDATE: Daily Kos: FEMA and "morality"
Daily Kos: FEMA and "morality": FEMA and "morality" by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) [image: Photo: "We cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids". I guess letting them all sink or swim on their own today is O.K. though. http://www.salon.com/2012/10/29/romney_in_2011_shut_down_fema_let_the_states_handle_it/] Mitt Romney is now trying to walk away from his statement to John King that to add additional funds to FEMA was "immoral" because it increased the deficit. 1. Most states and local government CANNOT run a deficit - while they can sell bonds,... more »
Sacramento Superintendent to Thomas Friedman: You Are Wrong « Diane Ravitch's blog
Sacramento Superintendent to Thomas Friedman: You Are Wrong « Diane Ravitch's blog: Sacramento Superintendent to Thomas Friedman: You Are Wrong by dianerav Jonathan Raymond, superintendent of the Sacramento City school district, has some lessons for New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. Friedman recently raved about the success of Race to the Top, claiming that it was preparing students for the high-skill jobs of the new economy. Raymond says this is wrong. Race to the Top is divisive and subjects schools to derision. It is top-down, heavy-handed and undermines the collaboratio... more »
Great news! State says deceased students can opt out of testing! Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Great news! State says deceased students can opt out of testing!: Great news! State says deceased students can opt out of testing! by admin I have been doing some research on testing in Illinois and Chicago in preparation for the strategy session and forum on Friday, and came across this chart from the Illinois State Board of Education which lists “reasons for not testing.” And you’ll be glad to know that among the reasons is the following: *Deceased:* Student was deceased prior to the start of the time of testing or died dur... more »
UPDATE: TRS Executive Director Ingram was taken to task at the October board meeting.Ten minute drawing. Thriller. « Fred Klonsky
Ten minute drawing. Thriller. « Fred Klonsky: TRS Executive Director Ingram was taken to task at the October board meeting. by Fred Klonsky On two occasions in the past year Richard Ingram, the Executive Director of the Illinois Retirement System, has spoken out on issues that did not fall within his pay grade. Ingram’s job is essentially to run the system in a way that serves the interests of people like me, members of the retirement system who depend of the promises made when I was first hired 30 years ago. Most recently Ingram seemed to call on the legislature to cut COLA benef... more »
What makes #Edcamp popular with teachers? « My Island View
What makes Edcamp popular with teachers? « My Island View: What makes Edcamp popular with teachers? by tomwhitby During the weekend, I attended my fourth #EdcampNYC. I have attended or participated in about a dozen Edcamps nationwide. I think that puts me in a solid position to make a few considered observations on the subject. In the interest of full disclosure, SmartBrief and SmartBlog on Education have supported the Edcamp Foundation during the past year. The Edcamp movement has been around for a few years. It is a widely known professional-development format that was spawned fr... more »
UPDATE: Proco, the Hipster Alderman, endorses Obama but voices his disappointment. « Fred Klonsky
Proco, the Hipster Alderman, endorses Obama but voices his disappointment. « Fred Klonsky Proco, the Hipster Alderman, endorses Obama but voices his disappointment. by Fred Klonsky For you out-of-towners, “Proco” Joe Moreno is the Alderman of the first ward. I don’t live in the first ward. I’m in the 35th. Our alderman is Rey “the invisible” Colon. Colon is considered an independent, That is because he is independent of taking any position on any issue facing the citizens of this city. The first ward is just a few blocks away from my house. In fact, as a result of the last redistri... more »
What would charter school Initiative 1240 mean for Catholic schools? | Seattle Education
What would charter school Initiative 1240 mean for Catholic schools? | Seattle Education: What would charter school Initiative 1240 mean for Catholic schools? by seattleducation2011 [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] *This post was provided by a guest columnist.* *Some Questions & Answers About This Initiative* *Q: What would happen to Catholic schools in Washington State if I-1240 passes?* A: No one knows for certain. But Catholic school enrollment has significantly declined in every other state that has approved charters. In many states, the number of Catholic schools are le... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-31-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Good Advice about How to Survive Reform Damage by dianerav In response to the post from North Carolina teacher Kris Neilsen on why he quit, this teacher has good advice on how to survive the deluge of mean-spirited policies now raining down on students, teachers, and schools. My suggestion: Hang in there until this house of cards collapses, as it will. *As a twenty-year veteran of public education (secondary ELA) I found many of my fears and frustrations in this letter. I could well have written it myself,... more »
School Tech Connect: Thoughts on Obedience
School Tech Connect: Thoughts on Obedience: Thoughts on Obedience by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) *I vant to eat a bone.* I just had a moment to read this address, *Against Obedience,* by Susan Ohanian from earlier in the year, over at*Critical Education*. It's the text of the remarks she gave over the summer at the Rouge Forum in Ohio. It's worth your time. I'm not going to lie-- I left the classroom because it was just too depressing, trying to be an English teacher in Arizona during the rise of the meaningless data obsession. I was the chair of an English department, and m... more »
Media spotlight: State Superintendent Tom Torlakson visits Cleveland High's Media Academy in Reseda - LA Daily News
Media spotlight: State Superintendent Tom Torlakson visits Cleveland High's Media Academy in Reseda - LA Daily News: Media spotlight: State Superintendent Tom Torlakson visits Cleveland High's Media Academy in Reseda by By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer State Superintendent of SchoolsTom Torlakson talks with Academy of Arts and Technology student Ciana Graham on the media set at Cleveland High on Oct. 30,2012. (David Crane/Staff Photographer) RESEDA -- Aspiring newscaster Ciana Graham didn't have even a moment to prepare for her interview Tuesday with state schools Superintendent T... more »
Daily Kos: A brief presidential comparison
Daily Kos: A brief presidential comparison: A brief presidential comparison by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) BUSH OBAMA August 6 PDB Bin Laden dead Bin Laden Strikes in US Bin Laden escapes from Tora Bora Starts two wars, not paid for Ends Iraq Ending Afghanistan Financial Collapse Wall Street recovered 800K/mo job loss 30+ consecutive months private sector ... more »
Modern School: Former Porn Actress Appealing Her Firing as a Teacher
Modern School: Former Porn Actress Appealing Her Firing as a Teacher: Former Porn Actress Appealing Her Firing as a Teacher by Michael Dunn Stacie Halas was a science teacher at Richard B. Haydock Intermediate School, in Oxnard, California, until she was fired for having once been a porn actress. Her school board argued that her past was disruptive to the teaching environment. Halas is now appealing her dismissal. Halas acted in pornographic films for 8 months from 2005 to 2006 because of financial duress, her attorney told a panel of judges last week, but she never acted in any... more »
Daily Kos: Frank Schaeffer is on fire today
Daily Kos: Frank Schaeffer is on fire today: Frank Schaeffer is on fire today by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) as I discovered by following his Twitter feed where he is laying it out bluntly for White Evangelicals who say they are voting for Romney, with tweets like these: point out they are working to elect a job-destroying tax-avoiding lying flip-flopping Swiss bank account collecting draft dodger who is running with a disciple of the God-hating, Jesus-mocking hater-of-the-poor Ayn Rand, for their presidential candidate and these back to back: at the very same time as Frankl... more »
Shanker Blog » Surveying The Teacher Opinion Landscape
Shanker Blog » Surveying The Teacher Opinion Landscape: Surveying The Teacher Opinion Landscape by Matthew Di Carlo I’m a big fan of surveys of teachers’ opinions of education policy, not only because of educators’ valuable policy-relevant knowledge, but also because their views are sometimes misrepresented or disregarded in our public discourse. For instance, the diverse set of ideas that might be loosely characterized as “market-based reform” faces a bit of tension when it comes to teacher support. Without question, some teachers support the more controversial market-based poli... more »
UPDATE: Should a teacher lose job for urging kids to check answers? | Get Schooled
Should a teacher lose job for urging kids to check answers? | Get Schooled: Should a teacher lose job for urging kids to check answers? 11:05 am October 30, 2012, by Maureen Downey [image: Precious Moon, APS tribunal photo] Kent D. Johnson, kdjohnson@ajc.com Precious Moon testifies during her tribunal Oct. 29, 2012. Moon, a teacher and CRCT test administrator at M.A. Jones Elementary School, is accused of prompting students to change the answers on their tests when she knew they had marked an incorrect answer. She also allegedly provided the students with the correct answers on the t... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-30-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] The Biggest Problem in U.S. Education Is….? by dianerav Chris Lehman has written an excellent post pulling together solid data about the “reformers’” solutions and the issue that refuse to address: poverty. What is the problem in U.S. education? What is the cause of low test scores? Is it bad teachers, as the reformers claim? Or is it poverty, where the U.S. leads the advanced nations of the world? Can school reform cure poverty? Has it? If you don’t address the causes, you will never solve the problem of low... more »
Boards, teachers must be careful to toe the line on advocacy | EdSource Today
Boards, teachers must be careful to toe the line on advocacy | EdSource Today: Boards, teachers must be careful to toe the line on advocacy ** October 30th, 2012 | Add a Comment | By John Fensterwald Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services The humanities professor from California State University, Monterey Bay who was sued by the conservative Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association this month for urging his students in an email to vote for the tax initiative Proposition 30 ran afoul of the state law (Government Code Section 8314) that... more »
Reflections of Teacher Ken NYTimes: A Big Storm Requires Big Government
*Reflections of Teacher Ken* *Dkos piece on Times eidtorial @Dailykos is down right now - so is Alternet so all you get is **Reflections of Teacher Ken* NYTimes: A Big Storm Requires Big Government by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Their editorial makes the argument for what big government does at the same time it takes Mitt Romney and Congressional Republicans apart. IT begins like this: ost Americans have never heard of the National Response Coordination Center, but they’re lucky it exists on days of lethal winds and flood tides. The center is the war room of the Federal Emergen... more »
Remember Your Place - Vote November 6
*Remember Your Place - Vote November 6* * * [image: Secretary of State banner] November 6, 2012, General Election ------------------------------ Election Information - Governor's Proclamation (pdf ~63KB) - Qualifications for Running for Office - General Election Calendar (pdf ~56KB) - Complete - 2012 California Election Calendar - Official Voter Information Guide - Random Alphabet Drawing (pdf ~40KB) Candidate Information - Certified List of Candidates (pdf ~513KB) - Certified List of Candidates - Abbreviated List (pdf ~88KB) - List of Nominated Candi... more »
Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s #PTchat
Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s #PTchat: This Week’s #PTchat by Larry Ferlazzo Guest post by Joe Mazza Image credit: http://www.becoming1.orgOn a typical Wednesday night, we hold a Parent-Teacher chat on an important and timely home-school topic. This week, we’re providing a special 60-day school year check-in and opening up the conversation to your individual and school needs. Think about the following. What does your class or school struggle with in engaging families? Need to throw an idea out there to the rest of the PTchat community? What would take your home-school e... more »
HOW TO USE PERDAILY AS A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR LAUSD BAD ACTS - Perdaily.com
HOW TO USE PERDAILY AS A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR LAUSD BAD ACTS - Perdaily.com: HOW TO USE PERDAILY AS A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR LAUSD BAD ACTS by Leonard Isenberg [image: Lennyjpg.jpg] *(Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post) After 3 years and the writing of 472 posts at perdaily, you now have a comprehensive reference database for anybody who is interested in documenting the premeditated and purposeful failing of public education by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and school districts like it around th... more »
Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-29-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] How Rhee Demonstrates Her Love for Teachers by dianerav Michelle Rhee, through her organization StudentsFirst, dropped $500,000 into a ballot initiative in Michigan, where there is an effort to establish the right to collective bargaining in the state constitution. Rhee thinks this is a terrible idea, because she loves teachers, but only “effective” teachers, the kind that get high test scores very year. If teachers join unions, the teachers won’t be effective any more or they might protect teachers who don... more »
Merit Pay Contract Is Tough Sell for Newark Teachers - NYTimes.com
Merit Pay Contract Is Tough Sell for Newark Teachers - NYTimes.com: Merit Pay Contract Is Tough Sell for Newark Teachers by By KATE ZERNIKE The leaders of the local teachers union in Newark have agreed to a compromise with city management that includes merit pay with peer evaluations, although many teachers oppose the measure. By KATE ZERNIKEPublished: October 28, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - SINGLE PAGE - REPRINTS - NEWARK — On one side of the table was the union firebrand Randi Weingarten, president of the American Fed... more »
Mitt Romney: Federal Disaster Relief For Tornado And Flood Victims Is 'Immoral,' 'Makes No Sense At All' | ThinkProgress
Mitt Romney: Federal Disaster Relief For Tornado And Flood Victims Is 'Immoral,' 'Makes No Sense At All' | ThinkProgress: Mitt Romney: Federal Disaster Relief For Tornado And Flood Victims Is ‘Immoral,’ ‘Makes No Sense At All’ By Brad Johnson on Jun 14, 2011 at 12:40 pm Obama meets victims of the Joplin tornado. Asked about federal disaster relief for recent tornado and flood victims at last night’s GOP debate, candidate Mitt Romney called the spending “immoral” and said the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be privatized. With greenhouse pollution on the rise, the United S... more »
Hurricanes | Ready.gov Hurricane Sandy: Essential Links
Hurricanes | Ready.gov: HURRICANES [image: View from space of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico] Inspire others to act by being an example yourself,Pledge to Prepare & tell others about it! [image: Pledge to Prepare] Get *Hurricane Sandy* updates at the National Hurricane Center A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone or severe tropical storm that forms in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. A typical cyclone is accompanied bythunderstorms, and in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the eart... more »
13 of Malloy’ Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners receive longevity payments - Wait, What?
13 of Malloy’ Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners receive longevity payments - Wait, What?: 13 of Malloy’ Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners receive longevity payments by jonpelto When it came to extra money in the state paycheck this month, most of the Connecticut news coverage related to the 21 Board of Regents employees who received illegal pay raises. However, although state employees are going another year without any pay raise, longevity payments were made as part of the Malloy-SEBAC State Employee Agreement. Among the recipients were thirteen (13) of Malloy’s commis... more »
One Teacher's Perspective: Another Distractor: School Report Cards
One Teacher's Perspective: Another Distractor: School Report Cards: Another Distractor: School Report Cards by Imagine Wisconsin Thrown under the school bus this week by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) were 76 Wisconsin schools, which "Failed to Meet Expectations" as calculated under the state's new-fangled school accountability system. DPI's new school report card system is pay off to Arne Duncan's Department of Education so most Wisconsin schools can avoid federal sanctions imposed by the poorly-designed No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. Trying to spin this f... more »
Fort Hernandez | California Father
Fort Hernandez | California Father: Fort Hernandez by California Father Every weekend I drive to Fort Hernandez in Van Nuys a few miles away from where I teach and drop off food. The Hernandez’s have been fighting eviction for years and now are getting help from 50+ Occupiers camped in their front yard. Housing *is *a human right. I hope they can keep there home.
Jersey Jazzman: The Newark Teachers Contract: My Final Word
Jersey Jazzman: The Newark Teachers Contract: My Final Word: The Newark Teachers Contract: My Final Word by Duke *Uh, wait... er... what I meant was... um...* Newark teachers were scheduled to vote Monday, 10/29, on the contract negotiated by their union. But the approach of Sandy could delay the vote. Regardless, this should be my final post about the deal. Once again - and contrary to what some of my commenters here have said - I am not urging anyone to vote either yes or no on this contract. I only ask that every Newark teacher understand what's at stake before they cast their ... more »
October’s Best Posts From This Blog | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
October’s Best Posts From This Blog | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: October’s Best Posts From This Blog by Larry Ferlazzo I regularly highlight my picks for the most useful posts for each month — not including “The Best…” lists. I also use some of them in a more extensive monthly newsletter I send-out. You can see my previous Best Posts of the Month at Websites Of The Month. These posts are different from the ones I list under the monthly“Most Popular Blog Posts.” Those are the posts the largest numbers of readers “clicked-on” to read. I have to admit, I’ve been a bit lax ... more »
Romano: Lawmakers need to tighten loopholes for charter schools - Tampa Bay Times
Romano: Lawmakers need to tighten loopholes for charter schools - Tampa Bay Times: Romano: Lawmakers need to tighten loopholes for *charter schools* No more excuses. No more self-serving propaganda. If Florida Department of Education officials and lawmakers fail to slow expansion and tighten loopholes in charter school regulations, they should all be dismissed as hypocrites or fools. That's not hyperbole, and it's not intended to shock. The simple truth is the current standards and policies have been exposed as a joke, and can no longer be ignored. Case in point: A charter high sch... more »
UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-28-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Invest in Charter Schools, Get a Green Card by dianerav Wealthy investors from around te world are pouring millions of dollars into new charter school construction in the US. In return, they get a green card, thanks to a federal program known as EB-5. Reuters investigative journalist Stephanie Simon has once again broken open a little known story. Here is a linkto some of her earlier stories. * An investor forum in China last spring, for instance, touted U.S. charter schools as a nearly fool-proof * How to Jo... more »
Daily Kos: If you are an educator thinking of not voting for Obama, you need to read Diane Ravitch
Daily Kos: If you are an educator thinking of not voting for Obama, you need to read Diane Ravitch: If you are an educator thinking of not voting for Obama, you need to read Diane Ravitch by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) My good friend, Diane Ravitch, has been one of the strongest critics of this administration on educational policy. Early in its first year, she trained her sharp wit upon the Secretary of Education, describing Arne Duncan as Margaret Spellings (Bush Secretary of Education) in drag. She has been a constant critic of Race to the Top and the Blue Print on education... more »
Video; Election 2012 Goes to School: Obama/Romney Policy DebateSave Our Schools
Video; Election 2012 Goes to School: Obama/Romney Policy DebateSave Our Schools: Video; Election 2012 Goes to School: Obama/Romney Policy Debate by Server Video of Taking the Election to School: Making Education a Focus of the 2012 ElectionPopout Taking the Election to School:*Exclusive Webcast on edweek.org* Taking the Election to School: Making Education a Focus of the 2012 Election Education Advisers to Obama and Romney to Debate at Teachers College, Columbia University *The Debaters:* *Jon Schnur*, co-founder of America Achieves. Previously, Mr. Schnur co-founded and served as C... more »
School Tech Connect: How I Vote Now 2012
School Tech Connect: How I Vote Now 2012: How I Vote Now 2012 by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Popout Go full screen. It's more fun. *Lemme tellya*..... early voting is no picnic. It took two hours. Apparently there was a glitch with the modem, or whatever. They got it fixed, but man that was a lot of standing--- and I had just walked a precinct handing out flyers. My feet feel someone used them to beat a rug. This was the most unsatisfying election experience of my life. The President is up 17 points in Illinois, and yet I felt like I couldn't risk voting Green for presiden... more »
THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Gulen charter school timeline
THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Gulen charter school timeline: Gulen charter school timeline (Updated 3/12/2012) Additional schools are added as they appear @ http://charterschoolscandals.blogspot.com/p/list-of-us-gulen-schools.html The largest charter school chain in the U.S. is run by the members of the Gulen movement, a controversial, secretive, religious, and highly nationalistic group out of Turkey that is operating in a manner with *no exact precedent.* The "movement" simultaneously promotes Islam, Turkey, and GM-affiliated Turkish businesses as it pursues a strategic, power-accum... more »
Teachers union refuses to sign off on LAUSD Race to the Top grant - LA Daily News
Teachers union refuses to sign off on LAUSD Race to the Top grant - LA Daily News: Teachers union refuses to sign off on LAUSD Race to the Top grant by By Barbara Jones barbara.jones@dailynews.com, 818-713-3710 Twitter.com/LADNSchools Staff Writer The Los Angeles teachers union has refused to sign off on Los Angeles Unified's bid for a prestigious Race to the Top grant, costing the district a shot at winning $40 million in federal money, sources said Saturday. LAUSD had been negotiating for days with United Teachers Los Angeles, in the hope of gaining the endorsement it needed to ... more »
Why are the Walton’s spending so much money on charter school Initiative 1240? | Seattle Education
Why are the Walton’s spending so much money on charter school Initiative 1240? | Seattle Education: ' Why are the Walton’s spending so much money on charter school Initiative 1240? by seattleducation2011 …and they don’t even live here. Do they care about us that much? I don’t think so. The following post on the *Walmart 1% *website clearly describes what they are doing in our state. *Endangering Public Schools* “Before considering the specific goals and activities of these foundations, it is worth reflecting on the wisdom of allowing education policy to be directed or, one might sa... more »
Let’s Have a Real Discussion about Education Policy | Lefty Parent
Let’s Have a Real Discussion about Education Policy | Lefty Parent: Let’s Have a Real Discussion about Education Policy by Cooper Zale Back in August President Obama gave a speech about education policy at Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas. Here’s a snippet posted in a blog piece… Education should not be a Democratic or a Republican issue. It’s an American issue. It’s about what’s best for our kids. And I haven’t just talked the talk, I’ve walked the walk on this. Over the past four years, we’ve broken through the traditional stalemate that used to exist between the left and... more »
Technology in the Classroom: Friend or Foe? | toteachornototeach
Technology in the Classroom: Friend or Foe? | toteachornototeach: Technology in the Classroom: Friend or Foe? by aristotlethewise *Technology in the Classroom: Friend or Foe?* by James Rosenberg The proliferation of technology has transformed modern society on many levels. In the classroom, technology is changing the way children learn, educators teach and how teachers and students communicate with one another. While technology provides greater access to information and new ways for students to learn, it can become a crutch hindering creative problem solving and cognitive developm... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Also, in the "Could This Happen under 1240?" Category
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Also, in the "Could This Happen under 1240?" Category: Also, in the "Could This Happen under 1240?" Category by Melissa Westbrook [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] Readers pointed out this news story - *a charter school in Sacramento, just 6 weeks into the school year, closed its doors to 400 students.* Just like that. The story comes from CBS Sacramento. The CEO claims there are "safety" issues in a building that Placer County said can only hold 75 but had 400. But the County also said that it didn't tell the CEO to shut down "not wantin... more »
Diane in the Evening 10-27-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: From One Pro Basketball Player to Another: LINK FIXED! by dianerav Kevin Johnson, who was a basketball star but is now the Mayor of Sacramento (and the husband of Michelle Rhee), recently visited Bridgeport, Connecticut, to urge its citizens to support a mayoral takeover of the public schools. He asked them to end the practice of electing their local school board. This is a big goal of privatizers, as it will remove an obstacle to closing more public schools and turning them over to charter operators. John Bagley wrote an opinion piece answering Kevin Jo... more »
Supt. Joshua Starr’s view of MCPS’s ‘seven keys to college readiness’
Supt. Joshua Starr’s view of MCPS’s ‘seven keys to college readiness’: Supt. Joshua Starr’s view of MCPS’s ‘seven keys to college readiness’ Posted by Valerie Strauss on October 27, 2012 at 4:37 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » I asked Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr for his view of the school system’s “Seven Keys to College Readiness” in response to a post calling for these “keys” to be abandoned. The keys, on the school district’s Web site, are a suggested “pathwa... more »
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: Communities Need Parent Trigger Laws | Debate Club | US News Opinion
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: Communities Need Parent Trigger Laws | Debate Club | US News Opinion: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: Communities Need Parent Trigger Laws 77 140 By MICHELLE RHEE , CEO at StudentsFirst October 26, 2012 About Michelle Rhee: *She will eat your brain first and then give you a parent trigger* Parents of children at Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto, Calif., didn't decide to seek an overhaul of the school using the state's 2010 parent-trigger law lightly, or with little thought. They sought changes on numerous occasions, giving admini... more »
Camden Education Association president's feisty letter against renaissance schools
Camden Education Association president's feisty letter against renaissance schools: Camden Education Association president's feisty letter against renaissance schools In anticipation of Monday’s school board meeting (if it happens), the Camden Education Association president put out a feisty letter asking all members to show up and speak out against any more privately run and publicly funded schools in the city. As I mentioned in my article in today’s Inquirer, officials involved with the KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy proposal, which was rejected in September by the Camden Board o... more »