Will President Obama Read This?
This is an excellent summary of what’s wrong with the Obama education policies. Please read. Send it to the White House.
What Are “Reformers” Saying About the Election?
Andy Rotherham writes a regular column on education for TIME.
This is his take on the election.
He supports the testing, accountability, charter agenda that Beltway insiders refer to as “the bipartisan consensus.”
I think of it as the Democratic embrace of the Republican agenda. Andy worked in the Clinton White House
This is his take on the election.
He supports the testing, accountability, charter agenda that Beltway insiders refer to as “the bipartisan consensus.”
I think of it as the Democratic embrace of the Republican agenda. Andy worked in the Clinton White House
Bad News from Minneapolis
A reader sends news about the school board election in Minneapolis:
“Don’t know if you got Minneapolis school board results. TFAer Josh Reimnitz narrowly defeated Patty Wycoff. Margin was just 650 some votes out of over 21,000.This was a sad one. Dems were divided as normally intelligent Mpls Mayor R.T. Ryback gave his support to Josh, a 26-yr-old that only moved to Mpls last May, and
“Don’t know if you got Minneapolis school board results. TFAer Josh Reimnitz narrowly defeated Patty Wycoff. Margin was just 650 some votes out of over 21,000.This was a sad one. Dems were divided as normally intelligent Mpls Mayor R.T. Ryback gave his support to Josh, a 26-yr-old that only moved to Mpls last May, and
What the Elections Meant for Education
The recent elections contained powerful messages to supporters of public schools and real education:
Do not give up hope.
When the public is informed, it supports its public schools.
It does not want to outsource its public schools to entrepreneurs.
Money cannot buy the voters when they are informed about what is at stake.
Parents and teachers can win any election, no matter how much money is thrown into it by the privatizers if the
Do not give up hope.
When the public is informed, it supports its public schools.
It does not want to outsource its public schools to entrepreneurs.
Money cannot buy the voters when they are informed about what is at stake.
Parents and teachers can win any election, no matter how much money is thrown into it by the privatizers if the
See “Brooklyn Castle,” an Inspiring Documentary About Real Kids in a Real School
Tonight the director/producer of “Brooklyn Castle”–Katie Dellamaggiore–will be a guest on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central. One of the stars of the film, Pobo Efekoro will join her.
The documentary is about an amazing middle-school chess team in an inner-city school in Brooklyn that wins one title after another in national championships.
If “Waiting for Superman” and “Won’t Back Down” left a bad taste, see this film. It will remind you of how
The documentary is about an amazing middle-school chess team in an inner-city school in Brooklyn that wins one title after another in national championships.
If “Waiting for Superman” and “Won’t Back Down” left a bad taste, see this film. It will remind you of how
A Plea: Stop Using the Term “Achievement Gap”
Dr. Camika Royal explains here that the term “achievement gap” is offensive. She says that the comparison between whites and African Americans is inherently demeaning to the latter and ignores the reasons for what it claims to address.
Use the term “opportunity gap” or “wealth gap.” But, please, she says, stop using the term “achievement gap.”
My thoughts, Dr. Royal: This phrase (“the achievement gap”) is used cynically by self-proclaimed “reformers” who have no genuine interest in closing the opportunity gap or the wealth gap. In fact, if you mention the causes of test score differences, they will accuse you of making excuses. They don’t want to talk about poverty or segregation. They don’t want to hear anything about causes, only about test scores gaps. They will point to schools that get high test scores by operating as boot camps. They say that black children need a “different”
Use the term “opportunity gap” or “wealth gap.” But, please, she says, stop using the term “achievement gap.”
My thoughts, Dr. Royal: This phrase (“the achievement gap”) is used cynically by self-proclaimed “reformers” who have no genuine interest in closing the opportunity gap or the wealth gap. In fact, if you mention the causes of test score differences, they will accuse you of making excuses. They don’t want to talk about poverty or segregation. They don’t want to hear anything about causes, only about test scores gaps. They will point to schools that get high test scores by operating as boot camps. They say that black children need a “different”
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-8-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Lest We Forget: The Devastation Caused by Hurricane Sandy by dianerav The national election took center stage this week. But we should not forget the suffering of tho were in the path of Hurricane Sandy. These are graphic photos of the hurricane’s destructive force. Well worth viewing, as many people still lack power, heat, gasoline, and are now homeless. Do what you can to help. Give to the American Red Cross or other agencies that are providing temporary relief. Virtual Insanity by dianerav Florida law... more »