Thursday, November 15, 2012

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 11-15-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2


Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE


Eli Broad Bad-Mouths NJ's Students & Teachers

by Duke

Eli Broad is a California billionaire who has decided to spend a considerable amount of his fortune wresting control of New Jersey's urban public schools from the citizens they serve. NJDOE insiders have detailed how state-level personnel, funded by Broad, have put together plans to cede local control over urban schools to the state through Regional Achievement Centers. Broad paid for the original plan to convert many of Newark's public schools into charters, against the will of the duly elected school board. And his protege, NJDOE Commissioner Chris Cerf, has made sure the state will retain control over Newark's schools for the indefinite future.

Now, speaking from 3000 miles away, Broad has given his blessing to the Newark teachers contract:
Every American worker deserves the opportunity to feel like they are making a difference, they are positioned to succeed, and their value and achievements are recognized. It is no different with teachers.
And yet great teachers, in contrast to nearly every other profession, remain underpaid, 

Yertel the Turtle In Detroit

by dianerav
The Detroit School Board voted to withdraw from the State’s Educational Achievement Authority after voters repeal the act granting broad powers to 


"CULTURAL SENSITIVITY" AND LAUSD

by Leonard Isenberg
Cultural sensitivity.jpg
(Mensaje se repite en Español) 

(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)

The most pernicious aspect of racism and prejudice as it presently exists in the Los Angeles Unified School Distirct's (LAUSD) and elsewhere in our society is that it tacitly defines Blacks and Latinos as inherently inferior and incapable of ever being able to evolve into something better. While this attitude is regrettably understandable in the mind of a racist, it also has become the dominant belief among many of the very same Latino and Black people against whom this prejudice continues to be practiced. 

It stands to reason that if we still live in a society that is more segregated today than it was in 1954, when the Supreme Court decided in the Brown case found that 

Part 2: High Stakes Testing: The Types of Tests

by DoraTaylor

High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Types of Tests  - Dora Taylor There are different types of tests that students typically take in a school year. One test the teacher creates and bases it on the information that has been provided in the classroom within a particular span of time. It provides information to the teacher, the parent and the student describing how much of a grasp the student has on the material. Another test is a standardized test. … →






so teacherken is going back into the classroom

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)


Yes, I know.  I retired from teaching in June.
Yesterday I got a phone call.  There is a non-profit charter middle school in DC that serves a very poor clientele with many of students several years behind in their reading and math skills.  The woman in charge of academics for this and the sister high school was my first principal and mentor.  They need a 7th grade social studies teacher for the rest of the year.   The dean of the middle school is the parent of three children I taught in AP Government in the school at which i was for most of my career.
These are children very much in need.
These are children who deserve help.
These are children who do not necessarily take school seriously.
These are truly children at risk.
It is a challenging task to take on.
It will stretch me.
It will probably - almost certainly - mean I will not be around here as much as I have been recently.
It is daunting, but an exciting opportunity.
Wish me well.
Peace.































Daiyu Suzuki posted an update in the group Edu4’s Public Bulletin Board: SAVE THE DATE - 12/10 Uptown HST forum High Stakes […]

Daiyu Suzuki posted an update in the group Edu4’s Public Bulletin Board SAVE THE DATE - 12/10 Uptown HST forum
High Stakes Testing: Helping or Hurting Education?
What: Panel discussion and community forum on the impact of high stakes testing on curriculum, instruction, and learning
When: Monday, December 10th, 6:00 - 8:30 PM (see flyer for details)
Where: The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center
3940 BROADWAY @ 165 STREET (A/C/1 trains to 168th Street station)
Panelists: Brian Jones, Dr. Pedro Noguera, Senior Deputy Chancellor Shael Polakow-Suransky (additional 


National group praises Washington state school data collection, urges better info usage

by The Associated Press
The national Data Quality Campaign wants to see the systems for student data improved in Washington and in many other states.



Everything You Wanted To Know About Family Literacy But Were Afraid To Ask…

by Larry Ferlazzo
The National Center For Family Literacy has announced the release of a treasure trove of research on family literacy.
Here’s their announcement:
We are pleased to announce the online publication of the 21st National Conference on Family Literacy Research Strand Conference Proceedings.This document is a collection of research papers from featured sessions presented at the NCFL conference in San Diego in March of this year.
This is the first time a published compendium of the presentations is available. This is possible in partnership 


A Letter To President Obama, On Education Working Conditions

by Jose

An excerpt from my latest at Education Week:
With that said, even if we reach the lofty goal of getting 100,000 more math and science teachers into classrooms, the problem will most likely not be recruitment but retention. Daniel Willingham, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia, recently cited new research re-confirming what so many of us have known all along: Math and science teachers leave the profession at or around the same clip as every other teacher does. Some of this is due to retirement, but they also tend to leave for higher salaries and, yes, working conditions.
For more, read the rest here. Share. Like. Comment. Let Obama know, too. Thanks.
Mr. Vilson, who can’t believe he posted more than twice today.
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Four Years of College, and What Do You Get? A Crappy Job and a Load of Debt

by Cryn Johannsen
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What do you think about this song? Does it resonate? Why or why not?



This Week’s Round-Up Of Good Posts & Articles On Education Policy

by Larry Ferlazzo
Here are some recent good posts and article on educational policy issues:
Asking Students about Teaching is a report from the National Education Policy Center with funding from the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice. I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Students Evaluating Classes (And Teachers).
Bad Teaching Practice #1: “I am Only Going to Teach Those Who Are Ready To Learn” is by Anthony Cody at


What's Wrong with Teacher Evaluation and How to Fix It: Osmosis — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
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School district in Idaho considers plan for propane-fueled buses

by The Associated Press
Western States Bus Services says the Twin Falls School District could save $17,240 in fuel costs each year.

The Texas Tribune: Defining ‘Adequate’ in Texas School Financing

by By MORGAN SMITH
With the sixth lawsuit in four decades over financing of public schools under way, some want to take another look at how the money is being spent and maybe the State Constitution itself.

School Districts, Eyeing Fiscal Crisis, Brace for Cutbacks

by By MOTOKO RICH
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