“Brooklyn Castle” on the Jon Stewart “Daily Show”
Jon Stewart is public education’s best friend in the media.
Maybe because his mother was a public school teacher.
Of course.
He interviewed the director/producer of the wonderful film “Brooklyn Castle” and one of the lead students on the school’s chess team.
Stewart asked why New York City was willing to cut the funding for the school’s championship chess team while not cutting the amount of standardized testing.
We all wonder the same thing.
Maybe because his mother was a public school teacher.
Of course.
He interviewed the director/producer of the wonderful film “Brooklyn Castle” and one of the lead students on the school’s chess team.
Stewart asked why New York City was willing to cut the funding for the school’s championship chess team while not cutting the amount of standardized testing.
We all wonder the same thing.
Why Is Pennsylvania Welcoming More Cyber Charters?
Despite the miserable results that cyber charters get in study after study, the state has authorized more of them than any other state. It has 12 up and running, four more just approved, and more in line to be approved.
I mistakenly reported in an earlier post that only one cyber charter had ever made “adequate yearly progress,” but I was mistaken. NO cyber charter has ever made AYP in Pennsylvania. It was only because the State Education Commissioner dummies down the scoring that one crossed the bar. When held to the same standards as public schools, no cyber charter meets the NCLB requirement for academic progress.
I mistakenly reported in an earlier post that only one cyber charter had ever made “adequate yearly progress,” but I was mistaken. NO cyber charter has ever made AYP in Pennsylvania. It was only because the State Education Commissioner dummies down the scoring that one crossed the bar. When held to the same standards as public schools, no cyber charter meets the NCLB requirement for academic progress.
A Parent Leader Thanks Karran Harper Royal
Helen Gym is a brave and articulate parent leader in Philadelphia. She has been leading the fight to stop the privatization of the public schools in that district, particularly the plan proposed by he Boston Consulting Group (parent of Bain Capital) to shift 40% of Philadelphia’s children into privately managed charters.
This is Helen’s public letter of thanks to Karran Harper Royal, who ran a valiant race against a heavily funded charter advocate. Karran was outspent 20-1. Running for office educates the public. Eventually, they hear and get it.
From Helen to Karran:
“I just wanted to take a moment and congratulate Karran Harper Royal for a hard-fought, courageous and important struggle for school board in NOLA.
Karran, you put your values and heart on the line by stepping out front and running for school board in what
This is Helen’s public letter of thanks to Karran Harper Royal, who ran a valiant race against a heavily funded charter advocate. Karran was outspent 20-1. Running for office educates the public. Eventually, they hear and get it.
From Helen to Karran:
“I just wanted to take a moment and congratulate Karran Harper Royal for a hard-fought, courageous and important struggle for school board in NOLA.
Karran, you put your values and heart on the line by stepping out front and running for school board in what
Milkens Join with University of Pennysylvania
I received this communication from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Just think: You too can earn a cash prize for formulating the best business plan for education.
Maybe it would be like the Milkens’ very own K12 virtual school business, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, makes millions of dollars, and provides a shoddy education. Study after study shows that the
Just think: You too can earn a cash prize for formulating the best business plan for education.
Maybe it would be like the Milkens’ very own K12 virtual school business, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, makes millions of dollars, and provides a shoddy education. Study after study shows that the
An Appeal to George Lucas for Help
Anthony Cody has written an eloquent request to George Lucas, asking for help on behalf of the children and educators of America.
Lucas sold his company to Disney for $4 billion and announced that he would give much of his bounty to education.
Cody calls on him to think anew, to bring the same out-of-the-box thinking to his philanthropy that he brought to film-making.
If Lucas listened to Anthony, it would change the future of education in this country and clear the way for genuine innovation, not the stale rhetoric of testing, accountability, and choice.
It’s time for real ingenuity and creativity, not the blather of accountants and bean-counters.
Lucas sold his company to Disney for $4 billion and announced that he would give much of his bounty to education.
Cody calls on him to think anew, to bring the same out-of-the-box thinking to his philanthropy that he brought to film-making.
If Lucas listened to Anthony, it would change the future of education in this country and clear the way for genuine innovation, not the stale rhetoric of testing, accountability, and choice.
It’s time for real ingenuity and creativity, not the blather of accountants and bean-counters.
Duncan’s Weighty Responsibilties
It’s not easy being U.S. Secretary of Education these days.
Back in the old days, before No Child Left Behind, the Secretary was basically a cheerleader with a bully pulpit. He or she (there was one female Secretary, Judge Shirley Hufstedtler, appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 when the Department was created) ran a Department that oversaw many programs but had relatively little money and no authority to change what Congress authorized.
All that changed with NCLB. Suddenly, Congress declared that it was the judge of “adequate yearly progress.” It legislated the expectations for all school. Now the federal government was in charge of crucial decisions about issues that used to belong to states and localities.
But as 2014 grew nearer and no state in the nation was on target to get to 100% proficiency–how could the
Back in the old days, before No Child Left Behind, the Secretary was basically a cheerleader with a bully pulpit. He or she (there was one female Secretary, Judge Shirley Hufstedtler, appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 when the Department was created) ran a Department that oversaw many programs but had relatively little money and no authority to change what Congress authorized.
All that changed with NCLB. Suddenly, Congress declared that it was the judge of “adequate yearly progress.” It legislated the expectations for all school. Now the federal government was in charge of crucial decisions about issues that used to belong to states and localities.
But as 2014 grew nearer and no state in the nation was on target to get to 100% proficiency–how could the
