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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 11-24-12 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS


Florida Tax Credit Scholarhip’s “Selective Robinhoodism” | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
Florida Tax Credit Scholarhip’s “Selective Robinhoodism” | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida Tax Credit Scholarhip’s “Selective Robinhoodism” by Bob Sikes From *Orlando Sentinel *reporter Dave Weber: More than four out of every five low-income students receiving a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship are attending religious schools. The rapidly expanding state-scholarship program allows students to attend private schools at taxpayer expense, and 83 percent are choosing church schools. Schools run by Baptist, Lutheran, Seventh-day Adventist, Catholic, Jewish and Islamic religious organi... more »

NYC Educator: On Debate

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
NYC Educator: On Debate: On Debate by NYC Educator This week I had to delete a number of comments. Some likened this blog to Fox News, and others called me all sorts of names. Others laid out what they thought I should write about, and criticized my choice of topics. Apparently these readers know what belongs here better than I do. Perhaps they should start their own blogs and write about whatever they wish. Some told me what I think, and were invariably incorrect. I'm not sure what passes for debate elsewhere, but to me that's blatantly ridiculous. You say this, therefore you bel... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-24-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 minutes ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Checker Finn Opposes the “For-Profit Model in Education” by dianerav Back when I was a conservative, I was a founding member of the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, which is now the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. TBF was a continuation of work that Checker Finn and I started in the early 1980s as the Educational Excellence Network. We advocated for liberal education and for higher standards for all students. Checker was always more enthusiastic about choice than I was, but we worked together harmoniously in our ... more »

The GOODEST: Our Favorite Things to Learn and Do This Past Week | Business on GOOD

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 minutes ago
The GOODEST: Our Favorite Things to Learn and Do This Past Week | Business on GOOD: The GOODEST: Our Favorite Things to Learn and Do This Past Week Fish Poo Power: A Genius Countertop Aquaponics Garden “We’ve been doing this [testing the gardens] for eight months, and it still blows my mind when I see the first one sprouting—out of rock. It’s just crazy. I get so excited about it, but imagine a little kid seeing that.” With a bit of the wonder that dwells in any farmer, Arora adds, “They’re never going to forget that for the rest of their lives.” 'Solutionaries': Why Adults Need to ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Taking Down Ed Deform -- Blogger Jersey Jazzman on National Thanksgiving Crisis

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 minutes ago
Ed Notes Online: Taking Down Ed Deform -- Blogger Jersey Jazzman on National Thanksgiving Crisis: Taking Down Ed Deform -- Blogger Jersey Jazzman on National Thanksgiving Crisis by ed notes online There are so many juicy tidbits in here, it tastes better than turkey. Have a Reformy Thanksgiving! *We have a national Thanksgiving crisis.* *Corporate Ed Reform: The New GMO?* International comparisons clearly show our turkeys are drier, our mashed potatoes are waterier, and our pumpkins pies have less pumpkin per slice than every other developed country in the world (save Finland). ... more »

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Walmart Workers and Respect

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 minutes ago
SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Walmart Workers and Respect: Walmart Workers and Respect by Duane Campbell A Statement of Jobs with Justice (Nov 22) In a historic move, nearly a thousand actions have begun around the country as a part of a rolling series of walk-outs by Walmart’s store associates. The Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), called for the strike after numerous unfair labor practices (ULPs) the company committed against worker and in protest of Walmart’s ongoing attempts to silence workers for speaking out for better jobs. This strike follow su... more »

Shop Local on Small Business Saturday - Rosemont, CA Patch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 26 minutes ago
Shop Local on Small Business Saturday - Rosemont, CA Patch: Shop Local on Small Business Saturday [image: AOL Chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong gives advice to small business owners via Patch Partners.]Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves. What about the mom-and-pop businesses in town and nearby that are the backbone of America’s economy? Just when do they get their day? That’s basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born. Small Business Saturday is “a... more »

In this class, the final exam could be The Final Exam - Philly.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 28 minutes ago
In this class, the final exam could be The Final Exam - Philly.com: In this class, the final exam could be The Final Exam November 23, 2012|By Susan Snyder, Inquirer Staff Writer - - - Share on emailShare on printShare on redditMore Sharing Services - - - - - [image: Instructors of such classes include Rutgers-Camden's Stuart Charmé, above, and Temple's Barry Vacker.] Instructors of such classes include Rutgers-Camden's Stuart Charmé,… When religion professor Stuart Charmé decided to teach a course on the end of the world t...more »

Digital Natives (2): Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 36 minutes ago
Digital Natives (2): Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Digital Natives (2): Cartoons by larrycuban If you are like me, when stuck on what to do on my laptop or mobile, I will ask the youngest person in the room for help. I do not feel shame. I offer no excuses about not knowing what to do. I just ask. “Digital natives” has become a cliche but, like all cliches, has a kernel of truth to it, particularly when you see 18-month olds swiping their iPads searching for the app they want. What follows is another selection of cartoons that I have found that pok... more »

Daily Kos: Ezra Klein: Why rich guys want to raise the retirement age

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 36 minutes ago
Daily Kos: Ezra Klein: Why rich guys want to raise the retirement age: Ezra Klein: Why rich guys want to raise the retirement age by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) *Hey Rich Guys!* is a must-read piece which somehow I had missed before this morning's email from Reader Supported News. Ezra takes words Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs, made to CBS, about raising the retirement age for Social Security. This is a common argument, usually offered by people who really do not themselves need Social Security, that since we now live longer than when the program was established, the a... more »

Modern School - Don't Miss the DAILY DUNN 11-24-12

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 41 minutes ago
Modern School: [image: save image] Today in Labor History—November 24 Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 hour ago Future Slayer of God, Charles Darwin, Age 7 *November 24, 1859* -- Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species was published. (From the Daily Bleed) *November 24, 1875* - The Cigar Makers International Union, Local 144, was chartered with Samuel Gompers as president. (From Workday Minnesota) Mollie Steimer c1918 (public domain) *November 24, 1921* – Mollie Steimer, after doing 18 months for handing out leaflets, was shipped off to Soviet Russia along with three other radical... more »

#WalmartStrikers Prove the 99% Can Fight Back | OccupyWallSt.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 46 minutes ago
#WalmartStrikers Prove the 99% Can Fight Back | OccupyWallSt.org: #WalmartStrikers Prove the 99% Can Fight Back by OccupyWallSt [image: Stand Up!! Live Better!!] According to the Organization United for Respect at Walmart, 1,000 protests occurred at Walmart stores across 46 states, with hundreds of workers walking off the job in an unprecedented decentralized, open-source strike at the retail giant. Local Occupy groups supported actions in dozens of cities. OWS joined with 99 Pickets, ALIGN, the Retail Action Project, and others to show solidarity to Walmart workers in Secaucus, New... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 11-24-12

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 48 minutes ago
*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* LAO Report: The 2013-14 Budget - CALIFORNIA’S FISCAL OUTLOOK smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago …your rose-colored-glasses are located in a compartment under the center armrest. From the 11/20 CCSA email to their members: The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) released its annual Fiscal Outlook last week, updating its projections on the state’s fiscal situation. With the passage of Propositions 30 and 39, the LAO reports that “the budget situation has improv... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 11-24-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 50 minutes ago
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * Dance boosts young girls' mental health Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 days ago Young girls can dance their way to better mental health. Symptoms like depression, stress, fatigue, and headaches are alleviated with regular dancing. This is shown in a study run by Anna Duberg, a physical therapist at Örebro University Hospital and a doctoral candidate at Örebro University in Sweden. Regular dance training can thereby be regarded as a strategy for preventing and treating low spirits and depress... more »

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 11-24-12 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL *LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY* [image: Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Problems.] Self-Control Resources Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 9 hours ago Here are the newest additions to The Best Posts About Helping Students Develop Their Capacity For Self-Control: November’s (2012) Best Tweets — Part Two Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 15 hours ago Every month I make a short list highlighting my choices of the best resou... more »

Schools Add In-House Farms as Teaching Tools in New York City - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Schools Add In-House Farms as Teaching Tools in New York City - NYTimes.com: Schools Add In-House Farms as Teaching Tools in New York City by By LISA W. FODERARO Teachers at schools with their own gardens are bringing their classrooms to nature, encouraging students to plant, harvest and experiment with solar and wind energy. Ángel Franco/The New York Times By LISA W. FODERAROPublished: November 23, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - In the East Village, children planted garlic bulbs and harvested Swiss cha... more »

NALEO Educational Fund Elects Dallas Mayor as New Chair | HispanicallySpeakingNews.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
NALEO Educational Fund Elects Dallas Mayor as New Chair | HispanicallySpeakingNews.com: NALEO Educational Fund Elects Dallas Mayor as New Chair [image: NALEO Educational Fund Elects Dallas Mayor as New Chair]The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund announced the election of its new chair, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano along with new board members. The chair and board leadership were elected at the organization’s board of directors meeting on November 16 in Washington DC during the organization’s 9th Biennial NALEO National I... more »

Kimble's Corner: Congressman Kindle Begins Food Stamp Challenge

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Kimble's Corner: Congressman Kindle Begins Food Stamp Challenge: Congressman Kindle Begins Food Stamp Challenge by Representative Kimble Today, I began the Food Stamp Challenge. I did this not because it is easy, but because even in a prosperous district like mine, there are many people who are hurting. There many unemployed and underemployed people who rely on food stamps to feed their families. I read today that 80% of Walmart employees are on food stamps and I wanted to know their struggle first hand. Please check out the challenge for yourself. According to the challenge,... more »

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: The Bullying Teacher:Can the Damage They Cause Be Fixed?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: The Bullying Teacher:Can the Damage They Cause Be Fixed?: The Bullying Teacher:Can the Damage They Cause Be Fixed? by Lisa M My car was hit the other day. I'm not worried about it. I was fine. My insurance will cover the damages and my car will be fixed. The damage to my car caused an "education connection". It made me think about that kid who is being bullied by their teacher or teachers and no one knows. We have all seen videos of the extreme cases where teachers are bullying kids. But what about the student who is bullied every day and it's n... more »

Teacher Raises Earlier Correlates To Better Student Performance | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Teacher Raises Earlier Correlates To Better Student Performance | toteachornototeach: Teacher Raises Earlier Correlates To Better Student Performance by aristotlethewise *Teacher Raises Earlier In Career Correlates To Better Student Performance: Study* A new study has found that front-loading teacher salaries —that is, awarding larger raises early in a teacher’s career and smaller raises later — are associated with better student performance in multiple grades. To test their hypothesis that districts are likely to benefit from a front-loaded salary schedule, the study’s authors —... more »

Personal and Professional vs. Public and Private | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Personal and Professional vs. Public and Private | Connected Principals: Personal and Professional vs. Public and Private by George Couros cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker During my time over in Australia, there was a lot of talk about the notion of having both a “personal” and “professional” identity on social media. The “personal” account would be one that is used with friends and family, where as the “professional” account would be one that is used with the work that you do in school. Although I understand the notion behind what is being s... more »

SAT ‘Problem of the Day’ gives wrong answer

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
SAT ‘Problem of the Day’ gives wrong answer: SAT ‘Problem of the Day’ gives wrong answer Posted by Valerie Strauss on November 23, 2012 at 5:55 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » The College Board’s SAT “Problem of the Day” is supposed to be helpful – but that’s hard when it cites the wrong answer. Over at the Rational Mathematics Education Web site, math assessment reform activist Michael Paul Goldenberg explains the problem with the problem, provided by the Educational Testing Service, whi... more »

Daily Kos: It should be personal to all of us - Please help the reservation Propane Project

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Daily Kos: It should be personal to all of us - Please help the reservation Propane Project: It should be personal to all of us - Please help the reservation Propane Project by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) [image: indians at Rosebud Reservation] I have never REALLY known cold. I am a middle class white American of Jewish background.The house in which I grew up had an old oil burner, for which fuel had to be delivered. It heated hot water which was sent upas steam to old-fashioned radiators. So long as we had fuel, we had heat. We had a gas stove until we remodeled the kitchen, a... more »

Dedicated to the Children of Gaza | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Dedicated to the Children of Gaza | Seattle Education: Dedicated to the Children of Gaza by seattleducation2011 Chris Hedges America: The Silence of a Nation The author spoke at the Revolution Books Town Hall Meeting at Ethical Culture Society on January 13, 2009 condemning Israel and the United States’ complicity in Israel’s murderous destruction and genocide of innocent men, women and children of Gaza and the West Bank. About these ads Share this: -

A Conference Perspective - The Educator's PLN

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
A Conference Perspective - The Educator's PLN: A Conference Perspective by Thomas Whitby When I accepted an invitation to attend the World Innovation Summit on Education, WISE2012, in Doha, Qatar, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. In my own arrogance I thought I was a seasoned education conference attendee. I have been to maybe a hundred education conferences both good and bad. I planned or helped plan at least a dozen local or statewide conferences. I even considered myself an experienced critic having done several well-received posts on various professional educ... more »

Schools Matter: Walmart "Associates" and Charter School "Scholars"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Schools Matter: Walmart "Associates" and Charter School "Scholars": Walmart "Associates" and Charter School "Scholars" by Jim Horn The Gates Team out in Washington are trying to scare up some media attention on a "study" bought by the charter reform school industry that purportedly shows that charters, long known to exclude special ed kids, are, indeed, enrolling larger numbers of them. Even if you were to believe the findings, we still have the more serious and widespread law-breaking that takes place when no special ed teachers are to found in the charter reform schools that h... more »

Mi Pueblo DBQ available for download! « Classroom Struggle

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Mi Pueblo DBQ available for download! « Classroom Struggle: Mi Pueblo DBQ available for download! See below for a great resource from two OUSD teachers for teaching about the 1-9 audit at Mi Pueblo. —- *Please share with other educators! Check-out the lesson materials here! * Dear teacher colleagues in OUSD and other Bay Area schools, Many of you have probably heard about the impending 1-9 audit of Mi Pueblo stores (more info below) that poses a serious threat to the economic livelihood and stability of many of students’ families throughout the Bay Area. Both of us work at Oakla... more »

In Mississippi, solutions follow funding setbacks for early childhood education | Hechinger Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
In Mississippi, solutions follow funding setbacks for early childhood education | Hechinger Report: In Mississippi, solutions follow funding setbacks for early childhood by Sarah Carr McComb, Miss. — With Mississippi officials steadfastly refusing to fund public pre-kindergarten at a statewide level, local leaders across the state have taken matters into their own hands. Kindergarten students at Kennedy Early Childhood Center. (Photo courtesy McComb School District) From the Gulf Coast to the Delta, school district leaders are cobbling together resources, partnering with community ... more »

Expert on teacher evaluation has concerns about Louisiana's new system | NOLA.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Expert on teacher evaluation has concerns about Louisiana's new system | NOLA.com: *Expert on teacher evaluation has concerns about Louisiana's new system* [image: Grading the graders] The new teacher evaluation systemLouisiana launched this fall may be too simplistic, according to the architect of one of the most widely used evaluation systems in the country -- and the one on which Louisiana's new system is based. Charlotte Danielson is the creator of a method of observing and rating teachers based on their performance in the classroom known as theFramework for Teaching. Louisiana... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open Thread

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open Thread: Friday Open Thread by Melissa Westbrook A few updates: One - with less than 8,000 votes to count statewide, I-1240 appears to have passed. (I'm sure it's true but I'm not the Secretary of State and in a position to officially call it.) The margin appears to be 1.36% of the vote which is just under 41,000 votes. A win for sure but certainly no mandate. Two - Thanks to SPS Leaks for some very illuminating reading. To whit: Lynne Varner gets it wrong in an Times editorial and SPS gently points this out to her. I note that V... more »

What is the “Status Quo?” And What the Heck is a “Reformer?” | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
What is the “Status Quo?” And What the Heck is a “Reformer?” | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: What is the “Status Quo?” And What the Heck is a “Reformer?” by Cheryl S. Williams As I mentioned in a previous post, I am delighted with the election results from earlier this month. Well, I’m delighted with *most* of the election results. I’m sorely disappointed that my friend and colleague, Helen F. Morris, lost her position on the Alexandria City (VA) School Board, where she serves as Vice Chairman and has put countless hours into advocating for strong schools a... more »

Washington lawmakers scrambling for education cash | OregonLive.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Washington lawmakers scrambling for education cash | OregonLive.com: Washington lawmakers scrambling for education cash*Where is Bill Gates when you need him?* Lawmakers are making their holiday school funding wish list and it's a short one: please send cash. They need the money to give every child free all-day kindergarten, to pay for bus service for about a million school children and to take the pressure off local tax levies that help pay for basic education. A down payment on all of that will cost at least a billion dollars in the next biennium to answer the Supreme Court's orde... more »

Charter school corruption and Other CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Charter school corruption: Charter school corruption Posted by Valerie Strauss on November 23, 2012 at 1:27 pm [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Here’s how The Arizona Republic started a story detailing its investigation into charter school corruption in the state: *Board members and administrators from more than a dozen state-funded charter schools are profiting from their affiliations by doing business with schools they oversee.* *The ... more »

117 ALEC Members Voted Out of Office in 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
117 ALEC Members Voted Out of Office in 2012: 117 ALEC Members Voted Out of Office in 2012Friday, 23 November 2012 11:17 By Rebekah Wilce, PRWatch | News Analysis - 1 - font size [image: decrease font size] [image: increase font size] - Print - Email In primary and general elections in 2012 and recall elections in 2011 and 2012, a total of 117 members and alumni of the American Legislative Exchange Council(ALEC) were voted out of office, according to research and analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), ColorOfChange, and others. Arizona Down 14 ALEC ... more »

Thinking About Schools: One for the "Education 'Signs of the Apocalypse'"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Thinking About Schools: One for the "Education 'Signs of the Apocalypse'": One for the "Education 'Signs of the Apocalypse'" Each week Sports Illustrated includes a "Signs of the Apocalypse" - a "can you believe this?" story or event like... SI May 28, 2012 - *"A 12-year-old San Antonio boy received a one-day suspension from middle school after he had a portrait of Spurs forward Matt Bonner—a fellow redhead and his favorite NBA player—shaved into the back of his head; the school declared the haircut a distraction and a violation of the dress code."* SI APRIL 4, 1994 - *"In resp... more »

Chris Hedges on where we are and education as a caste system | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Chris Hedges on where we are and education as a caste system | Seattle Education: Chris Hedges on where we are and education as a caste system Posted on November 23, 2012 by seattleducation2011 | Leave a comment Chris Hedges spoke at West Virginia State University last year just before Occupy Wall Street. He begins about 15 minutes into the video. A highly recommended watch this weekend. For me, his best talk to date. Dora

Talking Turkey on Junk Food in Schools « MomsRising Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Talking Turkey on Junk Food in Schools « MomsRising Blog: Talking Turkey on Junk Food in Schools by Monifa Bandele Whatever your cultural or ethnic background, conversations inevitably turn to food this time of year. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving or just “get together”? Do you eat meat and is it free-range? Are the vegetables organic? What is a healthy dessert? Gluten free? What about sugar? And then there is the ever-present concern; how will we all keep off those extra holiday pounds? Getting family members together with different practices, politics and palates for one big meal... more »

Jersey Jazzman: The Incoherent World of Nick Kristof

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: The Incoherent World of Nick Kristof: The Incoherent World of Nick Kristof by Duke Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnist, 11/21/12: So time and again, we see the decline of public services accompanied by the *rise of private workarounds for the wealthy*. [...] Are public schools failing? Well, superb private schools have spaces for a mere $40,000 per child per year. [emphasis mine] Kristof, 10/14/09: It’s difficult to improve failing schools *when you can’t create alternatives such *

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Expose of Charter Corruption in The New Republic Best of the Ed Blogs Diane Ravitch November 21, 2012 In Pearson We Trust. Really? But Our Blood is Never Blue Best o... more »

New York Teacher | Edwize

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
New York Teacher | Edwize: New York Teacher by W.J. Levay [image: New York Teacher, Nov. 22, 2012] Highlights from the latest issue of *New York Teacher*: Resupplying relocated students with 30,000 backpacks Calling it the “best of New York City coming together” UFT President Michael Mulgrew praised the efforts of educators, administrators, elected officials and corporate citizens who all pulled together with the goal of raising $1.5 million to deliver 30,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to students whose schools were flooded by Hurricane Sandy. Members roll up their sleeves... more »

Pennsylvania’s charter cheaters. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Pennsylvania’s charter cheaters. « Fred Klonsky: Pennsylvania’s charter cheaters. by Fred Klonsky They tried to bury the news of Pennsylvania’s charter school cheaters by releasing it right before the Thanksgiving holiday. But they got busted anyway. Cheaters. The back story is this: The Duncan Department of Education requires schools to meet certain benchmarks to qualify as making Annual Yearly Progress (AYP). They require districts to meet a more lenient benchmark. So the Pennsylvania Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis treated charter schools as districts, not schools. But didn’t ... more »

Thankful (After Thanksgiving) | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Thankful (After Thanksgiving) | The Jose Vilson: Thankful (After Thanksgiving) by Jose Charlie Brown Thanksgiving I try to be thankful everyday. I’m always reminded that I have ancestors who didn’t and don’t have the same fortune I have, and how blessed I am to partake in meals with *all* of my family. It’s hard to celebrate a day you know was dedicated to what pilgrims perceived as manifest destiny but that the victims and survivors perceive as the pillage, rape, and genocide of their people. Of our people. Our blessings in the present came from a legacy of a foul philosophy place... more »

Grading Schools Isn’t the Answer. It’s the Problem. - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Grading Schools Isn’t the Answer. It’s the Problem. - NYTimes.com: When ‘Grading’ Is Degrading Bee Things By MICHAEL BRICKPublished: November 22, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - Austin, Tex. Related in Opinion - Times Topic: Education [image: Opinion Twitter Logo.] Connect With Us on Twitter For Op-Ed, follow@nytopinion and to hear from the editorial page editor, Andrew Rosenthal, follow@andyrNYT. IN his speech on the night of his re-election, President Obama promised to find common ground with oppos... more »

It's Black Friday. Time to support Walmart workers. Here's how. : blue cheddar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
It's Black Friday. Time to support Walmart workers. Here's how. : blue cheddar: It’s Black Friday. Time to support Walmart workers. Here’s how. by bluecheddar Overpass Light Brigade holds light-up letters that spell "Respect the workers" in front of a Kenosha, Wisconsin Walmart. November 22, 2012 (Go all the way to the bottom of this to see the Kenosha Walmart security visit photo.) If you said to me, “Hey. I really need to get to the nearest Walmart. Where do I go?” I would have to say, “I have no idea. There’s a big one on the West side of Madison somewhere.” I also don’t re... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Grading or Degrading?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Grading or Degrading?: Grading or Degrading? by Mike Klonsky *Michael Brick*, writing in yesterday's N.Y. Times, ("When Grading is Degrading") offers a devastating appraisal of current reform policies which are based increasingly on fostering competition and on grading schools and teachers. Brick takes a look at the situation in Texas, which he calls "nobody’s model for educational excellence", where the state has long used complex algorithms to assign grades of Exemplary, Recognized, Acceptable or Unacceptable to its schools. *So far, such competiti... more »

Obama's 2nd term to test his education program - CBS News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Obama's 2nd term to test his education program - CBS News: *Obama's 2nd term to test his education program* * * President Obama has already begun to sketch the outlines of an ambitious second-term agenda, touting his mandate on tax rates and making comprehensive immigration reform a top legislative priority. But when it comes to education reform, looming battles over politics and funding threaten to leave students and educators nationwide in the lurch - and could derail the president's legacy on an issue he's long touted as paramount to his vision for governing. The Department of E... more »








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