BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA
RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST
THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD : The Movie | Seattle Education
THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD : The Movie | Seattle Education: THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD : The Movie by seattleducation2011 For your holiday viewing pleasure. About these ads The Man Who Saved Christmas by seattleducation2011 This was originally published in the Oregon Encyclopedia. Alfred Carlton Gilbert (1884-1961) A.C. Gilbert—the inventor of the Erector Set and other educational toys—was born on February 13, 1884, in Salem, Oregon. As a young boy, he was very athletic and … Continue reading →
Poor Students Struggle as Class Plays a Greater Role in Success - NYTimes.com
Poor Students Struggle as Class Plays a Greater Role in Success - NYTimes.com: Poor Students Struggle as Class Plays a Greater Role in Success by By JASON DePARLE For Poor Strivers, Leap to College Often Ends in a Hard Fall Michael Stravato for The New York Times Angelica Gonzales, admitted to Emory, hoped to be the first college graduate in her family. By JASON DePARLEPublished: December 22, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - SINGLE PAGE - REPRINTS - GALVESTON, Tex. — Angelica Gonzales marched through high school in ... more »
UPDATE: Where did Chicago’s African American teachers go? « Fred Klonsky
Where did Chicago’s African American teachers go? « Fred Klonsky: Why should you care? The economic impact to the state’s economy cutting pension benefits. by Fred Klonsky [image: nekritz] *Representative Nekritz wants to cut pension benefits that bring economic benefit to her own district.* If you’re not a public employee who depends on their state pension to live on when you retire, why should you care about cuts in benefits. The Public School Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago has published the economic impact of CTFP pension benefits in each of the state’s House an... more »
Emergency Biscuits and the Bill Gates Common Core Imperative
Emergency Biscuits and the Bill Gates Common Core Imperative: Emergency Biscuits and the Bill Gates Common Core Imperative by Susan Ohanian Here’s today’s grocery list: cranberries, pickled herring, dill pickles, dill herb, cucumber, spinach, bottle of Merlot. The first six items are a request from my husband, who is recovering from surgery and finding his taste buds out of whack. Nothing tastes good, but he’s experimenting with sour things. Okay, the Merlot is for me, trying to cope with this taste phenomenon. We keep experimenting. Kosher dill pickles seemed to hit the spot, and... more »
School Tech Connect: The Discovery of the Age
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
School Tech Connect: The Discovery of the Age: The Discovery of the Age by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) You know what? I can't get this bizarre Common Core conversation video posted on TuttleSVC out of my head. Scroll down the post and watch it; it doesn't take long. If you have half a brain, or if you've taught English for more than five minutes, you'll be mesmerized. Basically it's a group of people who appear to have never dealt with a group of actual teenagers talking about something that doesn't exist in nature; that is to say, Tier I words and Tier II words. And then the... more »
Representative Nekritz at Aurora forum. Join us. « Fred Klonsky
Representative Nekritz at Aurora forum. Join us. « Fred Klonsky: Representative Nekritz at Aurora forum. Join us. by Fred Klonsky [image: dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls] *State Representative Elaine Nekritz.* I am pleased to have been asked by Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice to sit on a panel at this event. Join us. AURORA – A public forum on the state pension reform dilemma is planned for Wednesday at East Aurora High School.Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice and State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, an Aurora Democrat, will host town hall meeting to discuss current pension reform... more »
This Is What Teachers Learning to Shoot Guns Look Like - National - The Atlantic Wire
This Is What Teachers Learning to Shoot Guns Look Like - National - The Atlantic Wire: This Is What Teachers Learning to Shoot Guns Look Like by Alexander Abad-Santos In Utah, nearly 200 teachers came out to receive free firearm training. In Ohio, a pilot program to teach teachers how to use guns is at capacity. And in Arizona, the attorney general has outlined plan to arm school principals as the less "extreme" option. Even before new legislation is considered on the state or federal level in the wake of the Newtown school shooting, educators across the country are learning how ... more »
Simone Bernstein: Shaking Up America's Education System
Simone Bernstein: Shaking Up America's Education System: Shaking Up America's Education System Posted: 12/28/2012 12:09 pm At 17 years old, Nikhil Goyal is shaking up America's education system. Goyal is a senior at Syosset High School, a public school in New York. While most high school students focus on athletics, academics and socializing, Goyal aims to transform the American education system. Goyal's book, "One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student's Assessment of School," describes the flaws within America's education system and provides solutions to fix the present challenges. ... more »
Race to the Top Leads Most-Popular-Stories List - Politics K-12 - Education Week
Race to the Top Leads Most-Popular-Stories List - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Race to the Top Leads Most-Popular-Stories List by Alyson Klein [image: Politics K-12] Happy New Year! Before you run out and buy that bottle of champagne, check out Politics K-12's most-read stories of 2012. 10) Six More States Get Waivers: Waive goodbye to 2012. NCLB waivers—what they looked like and who got them and when—were a recurring story. 9) Five Issues Facing Arne Duncan: Right after the election, Michele speculated about what still-Secretary Duncan will have to deal with in his second term. ... more »
Technology Embedded Pedagogy | Connected Principals
Technology Embedded Pedagogy | Connected Principals: Technology Embedded Pedagogy by Johnny Bevacqua Popout This post was originally posted on Figuring It Out by J Bevacqua I get a little frustrated when I hear comments that continually relegate the use of technology in education as something supplemental to teaching learning. I suppose videos like the one above don’t help this situation – although the idea of “Learning empowered by technology” makes me feel better. Nonetheless, I wonder when we will stop seeing “technology” as an “add on” to sound teaching pedagogy. If we agree...more »
Jersey Jazzman: The Lawsuit That Might Change Everything
Jersey Jazzman: The Lawsuit That Might Change Everything: The Lawsuit That Might Change Everything by Duke I'm going to make a prediction: this lawsuit will change the entire conversation about education "reform": *CHICAGO -- *The oft-maligned Chicago Public Schools (CPS) policy of subjecting neighborhood schools to “turnaround” discriminates against African-American teachers and staff according to a federal lawsuit filed this week by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and three public school educators. More than half of the 347 tenured teachers who were terminated by CPS as a re... more »
Top Ed-Tech Trends of 2012: The Politics of Ed-Tech | Inside Higher Ed
Top Ed-Tech Trends of 2012: The Politics of Ed-Tech | Inside Higher Ed: Top Ed-Tech Trends of 2012: The Politics of Ed-Tech December 28, 2012 - 10:07am By Audrey Watters *Part 10 of my Top Ed-Tech Trends of 2012 series* Education is political — inherently so and despite the protestations from some quarters when what happens in our schools, in our textbooks, in our brains “becomes politicized.” Education is political not simply because of the governmental role — federal, state, local — in school funding and policies. It is political because of the *polis* — the connections between ... more »
Modern School: Knights of Labor Founded Today in Labor History
Modern School: Knights of Labor Founded Today in Labor History: Knights of Labor Founded Today in Labor History by Michael Dunn The Knights of Labor (From the Knights of Labor website) The Knights of Labor (KOL), officially known as the "Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor," was founded on December 28, 1869, when both American capitalism and the labor movement were young and relatively disorganized. It began as a secret society, but quickly grew into the largest and most significant labor organization in the U.S. by the 1880s. The Knights are considered by many to be a pre... more »
All My “Best Of 2012″ Lists In One Place! | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
All My “Best Of 2012″ Lists In One Place! | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: All My “Best Of 2012″ Lists In One Place! by Larry Ferlazzo *LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY* [image: Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Problems.] I’ve posted many “Best of 2012″ year-end lists, and I thought readers might find it useful for me to put them all together. You might also be interested in: All My “Best Of 2011″ Lists In One Place I apparently didn’t do this kind of compilation in previous years, but you can find all 1,050 “The Best…” lists categori... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-28-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why the Double Standards? by dianerav Arthur Goldstein, who teaches ESL and English in a Queens, New York, high school, writes a consistently excellent blog (nyceducator.com). In this post, he raises an intriguing question: Why is that reformers can criticize teachers nonstop and say ridiculous things about them but get twisted into paroxysms of outrage if anyone dares to defend teachers or– Inside Story on Louisiana Spin and Failures by dianerav If you are a fan
Schools Matter: Public Schools Falling Like Dominoes
Schools Matter: Public Schools Falling Like Dominoes: Public Schools Falling Like Dominoes by Judy Rabin *A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Bruce A. Dixon* *The forces of education privatization scored a major victory this November in Georgia, thru passage of a cleverly written constitutional amendment backed by a multiimillion dollar deceptive ad campaign, and the active backing or complicit silence of much of the black political class.* Those of us who have been closely following education policy over the past decade, have always known and understood that a test and punish pedago... more »
Rozy WOW Press: The voice of a UTLA teacher
Rozy WOW Press: The voice of a UTLA teacher: Rozy WOW Press: The voice of a UTLA teacher by Danny Weil *PLEASE FORWARD* You can read more about injured LA Unified teacher, Rozy Press at http://www.dailycensored.com/wp-admin/post.php?pos[image: nclb] *EXCITING NEWS* *REV. EDWARD PINKNEY IS COMING TO LA* *He is setting up Speaking Engagements, Press Conferences, Visiting LAUSD, Protesting **the NAACP and etc. Also, helping me with my case that’s at the Ca. Supreme Court.* *I’m so excited. He has given me a “voice” to tell my 12 year old **story of the nightmare that LAUSD has put me *...more »
Schools Matter: The fiction vs. non-fiction debate: A distraction from a more important question
Schools Matter: The fiction vs. non-fiction debate: A distraction from a more important question: The fiction vs. non-fiction debate: A distraction from a more important question by skrashen Sent to the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 27, 2012 The debate over fiction vs. non-fiction in the Common Core is diverting us from a more important question: should we have common core standards? The rational for the standards is the belief that our schools are “broken.” There is no evidence this is true: Middle class American students who attend well-funded schools score at the top of the world ... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Really, Gallup Poll?
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Really, Gallup Poll?: Really, Gallup Poll? by Mike Klonsky The latest Gallup Poll shows 54% of Americans supporting the NRA. But remember, these are the same guys who polled Romney winning the presidential election 51% to Obama's 46%. I think they must just poll the same people over and over again, ending up with the same result. Environmentalists I know were really looking forward to Obama's second term. This was supposed to be the four years, free from re-election pressures, that he and his EPA chief *Lisa Jackson* were going to sock it to 'em on ... more »
Statement and documents of Chicago Teachers Union on the suit charging CPS with racial discrimination. « Fred Klonsky
Statement and documents of Chicago Teachers Union on the suit charging CPS with racial discrimination. « Fred Klonsky: Statement and documents of Chicago Teachers Union on the suit charging CPS with racial discrimination. by Fred Klonsky 1. The oft-maligned Chicago Public Schools (CPS) policy of subjecting neighborhood schools to “turnaround” discriminates against African-American teachers and staff according to a federal lawsuit filed this week by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and three public school educators. More than half of the 347 tenured teachers who we... more »
Our Top 10 Blog Posts in 2012 — Whole Child Education
Our Top 10 Blog Posts in 2012 — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Our Top 10 Blog Posts in 2012 December 27, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers In the past year, experts and practitioners in the field, whole child partners, and ASCD staff have shared their stories, ideas, and resources to help you ensure that each child, in each school, in each community is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged and prepared for success in higher education, employment, and civic life. These are the top 10 posts you read in 2012. *Project-Based Le... more »
Parent Revolution’s California Parent Trigger Efforts Proved “Bitter, Divisive and Protracated.” | Scathing Purple Musings
Parent Revolution’s California Parent Trigger Efforts Proved “Bitter, Divisive and Protracated.” | Scathing Purple Musings: Parent Revolution’s California Parent Trigger Efforts Proved “Bitter, Divisive and Protracated.” by Bob Sikes *Education Week *reporter Katie Ash highlights a just released report on Parent Trigger Laws by the Annenberg Institute which concludes “that policymakers can address the shortcomings of academically low-performing schools in more productive ways.” Writes Ash: Part of the problem, the policy brief asserts, is that parent trigger laws rely on parents... more »
Ed Notes Online: MORE Retreat Friday 12/28 Harlem NYC- Join us
Ed Notes Online: MORE Retreat Friday 12/28 Harlem NYC- Join us: 32 of 7,873 MORE Retreat Friday 12/28 Harlem NYC- Join us by ed notes online Let’s make it happen... TOGETHER building more, training leaders OPEN MEETING Friday, Dec. 28 - 10a.m - 4 p.m Come for Part or All of Day 10:00-12:00pm Discussion-The Importance of Social Justice Unionism & Preparing for Political Attacks 12:00-1:00pm Lunch - Get to know MORE members (suggested $5 donation) 1:00-3:00pm Workshops, Breakout Groups on Leadership & Fighting Back for Public Education & Building MORE 3:00-4:00pm Committee on ... more »
Radical Scholarship: Becoming and Being a Teacher - Series list - Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe
Radical Scholarship: Becoming and Being a Teacher - Series list - Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe: Becoming and Being a Teacher - Series list - Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe by P. L. Thomas [image: Becoming and Being a Teacher] Becoming and Being a Teacher - Series list - Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe Book synopsis This volume unmasks tensions among economic, political, and educational goals in the context of becoming and being a teacher. Chapters frame becoming and being a teacher within commitments to democracy and political literacy while confronting neoliberal assumptions about American socie... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-27-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Where Are the Closing Schools? by dianerav Jersey Jazzman connects the dots about school closings. Do they close in white neighborhoods? No. Do they close in affluent neighborhoods? No. Guess where they close? In high-poverty neighborhoods. My guess: the white and affluent neighborhoods are next. An Armed Guard for Every School? by dianerav Eclectablog is one of my favorites. I don’t know the writer, but he or she is super smart and witty, which is a great combination. Here is a post explaining that an arme... more »
Predictions about High-Tech in K-12 Schools in 2023 | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Predictions about High-Tech in K-12 Schools in 2023 | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Predictions about High-Tech in K-12 Schools in 2023 by larrycuban For the past three years, I offered predictions (see December 26, 2009, December 30, 2010, and December 29, 2011 posts) of what I saw around the corner for high-tech in K-12 schools. With weekly reports of schools adopting iPads tablets for kindergartners as well as high schoolers, with vendors touting interactive whiteboards, clickers, and tablets engaging children and increasing academic achievement, with ... more »
Diane in the Evening 12-26-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: A Literacy Expert Opposes the Common Core Standards by dianerav Stephen Krashen is a professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, where he taught linguistics. He comments here in response to an earlier post about the Common Core standards: What this excessive detail also does is (1) dictate the order of presentation of aspects of literacy (2) encourage a direct teaching, skill-building approach to teaching. Both of these consequences run counter to a massive amount of research and experience. There is very good evidence from both first and sec... more »
January 3 & 4: Shout truth to power-in-hiding – Springfield, IL | Reclaim Reform
January 3 & 4: Shout truth to power-in-hiding – Springfield, IL | Reclaim Reform: January 3 & 4: Shout truth to power-in-hiding – Springfield, IL by kenpreviti [image: 564132_469111366468136_733241488_n]The Illinois House of Representatives was scheduled to meet January 3rd & 4th. We Are One Illinois, including the Illinois Education Association, planned a massive rally in the state capitol of Springfield in the dead of winter to oppose cuts to teacher and other public employee pensions that would do little or nothing to reduce the state debt. As a special surprise Christmas gift ... more »
UPDATE: Schools Matter: The consequences of excessive detail + Glen Ford on the Corporate Assault on Public Education and Black Progressivism
Schools Matter: Glen Ford on the Corporate Assault on Public Education and Black Progressivism: The consequences of excessive detail. by skrashen A reader of Diane Ravitch’s blog (http://dianeravitch.net), December 20, 2012, commented about the amount of detail in the standards: “ (The excessive) amount of detail reduces flexibility, ownership, and increases dependency on publishers and corporation produced curriculum and assessment. It leaves little room for education; to draw out and support the development of student’s unique talents. It leaves little time for teachers to rea... more »
ASCD Shares Civic Learning Recommendations — Whole Child Education
ASCD Shares Civic Learning Recommendations — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Melissa Mellor]ASCD Shares Civic Learning Recommendations December 26, 2012 by Melissa Mellor ASCD Shares Civic Learning Recommendations ASCD recently sent feedback to the U.S. Department of Education on reinvigorating civic learning and engagement across the country. This feedback is a response to the department's call for suggestions on four provisions in its road map for advancing civic learning (PDF). Research and test scores show that our students lack knowledge of the U.S. governmen... more »
ACLU Wins Lawsuit Against Cory Booker, Forcing Release Of Emails with Facebook Executives | FDL News Desk
ACLU Wins Lawsuit Against Cory Booker, Forcing Release Of Emails with Facebook Executives | FDL News Desk: ACLU Wins Lawsuit Against Cory Booker, Forcing Release Of Emails with Facebook ExecutivesBy: DSWright Wednesday December 26, 2012 9:16 am [image: Tweet]Tweet91 [image: digg] [image: stumbleupon] [image: Photobucket] Cory Booker and Mark Zuckerberg It started on *Oprah.* Facebook founder and Winklevii nemesis Mark Zuckerberg announced a $100 million donation to Newark schools to blunt PR damage from the release of* The Social Network* help school children. The money would not... more »
Common Core [sic] Standards (Susan Ohanian Speaks Out)
Common Core [sic] Standards (Susan Ohanian Speaks Out): Education-erator Note: All book titles are real. *by Susan Ohanian* Traditionally, the books we chose for our students reflected both our knowledge of those students and the values we hoped to impart (and a big value for many of us was "enjoyment." We actually held as primary value *kid pleasure in reading.* Now, money carries a big stick and with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation paying for the Common Core State (sic) Standards, we see a cosmic shift in the books consultants-for-hire put on student book lists. Thi... more »
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, December 26, 2012
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Teaching Braceros' impact on California Education Headlines *Wednesday, December 26, 2012* Kern schools use call systems for emergencies, informationNeither the California Department of Education nor the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office tracks how many districts have mass messaging systems, but an informal survey of Kern County schools found most everyone contacted has that capability. Salinas City Councilman Jose Castaneda mum on giving up school board seatSalinas City Council member José Castañeda, also a trustee for... more »
UPDATE: The in box. Pension forum in Aurora. Nekritz to answer questions. « Fred Klonsky
The in box. Pension forum in Aurora. Nekritz to answer questions. « Fred Klonsky: Tim Furman’s got a question for Representative Kelly Cassidy. A “progressive Democrat” who sponsors pension killing bills. by Fred Klonsky [image: headshot] Blogger and teacher Tim Furman has a question for his state rep: *Hi Kelly, * *I hope you’re well. * *I’m writing to ask if you could provide, or if you could ask TRS to provide, a few sample scenarios for how a retirement would look for employees hired the under the cash balance plan with a comparison of how that same employee’s retirement wo... more »
I Wish Everyone Connected To A Private Foundation Would Read This Article, But I Suspect My Wish Will Go Unfulfilled | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
I Wish Everyone Connected To A Private Foundation Would Read This Article, But I Suspect My Wish Will Go Unfulfilled | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: I Wish Everyone Connected To A Private Foundation Would Read This Article, But I Suspect My Wish Will Go Unfulfilled December 26, 2012 by Larry Ferlazzo | 0 comments I’ve written a fair amount sharing my perspectives on the role of private foundations. I’ve had a lot of experience directly relating to them during my community organizing career, and some dealing with their role in education. You can see these resources in The ... more »
Articles: The Case Against Public Education
Articles: The Case Against Public Education: The Case Against Public Education*By* *Daren Jonescu* * * * * If public education is allowed to survive, all efforts to resuscitate the inert husk of modern civilization will fail. It is time to unravel the most wasteful and destructive entitlement program of all. Cancer cells do not divide into healthy cells. A corrupted, power-intoxicated political class will not willingly raise a freedom-loving, self-reliant populace. Governments must no longer be allowed to pre-determine their nations' fates, by mass producing the populace tha... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-26-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why Does TFA Need Nearly $1 Billion? by dianerav To be exact, why does TFA need $907 million? That is the amount that TFA raised from 2006-2010. EduShyster has TFA and Other People’s Children by dianerav Mark Naison, professor of African-American Studies at Fordham University, asks whether Teach for America leaders are the Robert McNamaras of this generation? Parents: How to Support Your Public Schools by dianerav The best group now organizing and mobilizing to strengthen public education is Parents Acro... more »
Teaching Braceros’ impact on California Page 1 of 3 | UTSanDiego.com
Teaching Braceros’ impact on California Page 1 of 3 | UTSanDiego.com: Teaching Braceros’ impact on CaliforniaNew law aims to keep historic guest-worker program from being forgotten - Comments (1) - Share: TweetFacebookEmail - PrintSave José Alvarez, left, with granddaughter Izel Alvarez, 3, on his lap, came to the U.S. in the 1950s under the original Bracero program. At right is his son, San Diego City Councilman David Alvarez, right. — Peggy Peattie Sacramento [image: José Alvarez, left, with granddaughter Izel Alvarez, 3, on his lap, came to the U.S. in the 1950s unde... more »
Diane in the Evening 12-25-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: ‘Twas the Night Before Testing by dianerav Fred Smith worked for many years for the New York City Board of Education as a testing expert. Now he is a watchdog to guard against the misuse of tests. He writes opinion pieces and advises parent groups about the excesses of the testing industry. For non-New York City folk, Tisch is Merryl Tisch, the head of the New York State Board of Regents, which never sees the harm in adding more tests. The Tweed Courthouse is the building Reading a Christmas Carol for Our Own Times by dianerav Ken Previti has written ... more »
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Chicago's school-closing consultants
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Chicago's school-closing consultants: Chicago's school-closing consultants by Mike Klonsky Consultant Avani Patel, left, talks with mayoral adviser Desiree Tate after a school utilization meeting. (Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune / December 9, 2012)Byrd-Bennett's rump panel on Chicago school closings may not be paying much attention to the growing revolt in the neighborhoods, but they are listening to a gaggle of high-priced consultants with connections to the mayor. The Tribune reports: *The commission's hearings are being organized by publ... more »
School Tech Connect: Merry Christmas
School Tech Connect: Merry Christmas: Merry Christmas by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman)
Smart people doing dumb things — education edition
Smart people doing dumb things — education edition: Smart people doing dumb things — education edition Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 25, 2012 at 9:45 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Here’s a smart look at how smart people do really dumb things when it comes to school reform. It was written by Larry Cuban, a former superintendent of Arlington Public Schools for seven years, a former high school social studies teacher for 14 years and professor emeritus of education at Stanford Univer... more »
My Holiday Wishes for You « Diane Ravitch's blog
My Holiday Wishes for You « Diane Ravitch's blog: My Holiday Wishes for You by dianerav [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Dear Readers, I can’t bring myself to say “Merry Christmas,” because this Christmas season has been blighted by the tragedy in Newtown. We are still in mourning for the twenty babies who were lost there, the precious children who were so cruelly taken from their families. We are still in mourning for our brave colleagues, the educators who died defending the children, their children. Let us all this holiday season stop to honor their memory. L... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Merry Christmas from Gov. 'Squeezy' and the Civic Committee
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Merry Christmas from Gov. 'Squeezy' and the Civic Committee: Merry Christmas from Gov. 'Squeezy' and the Civic Committee by Mike Klonsky Retiree, living on fixed income, Thea Halvorson, uneasily envisions the possibility of losing here home. (Sim-Times)Sun-Times headline: Retired state workers in cross-hairs of Illinois’ pension crisis Cross-hairs is right. Who would have imagined that a gaggle of "progressive" Democrats, along with a Democratic governor who has a Dem majority in both houses, would be stuffing rocks in the Christmas stockings of the... more »
Peace to one and all… At a time when we must all redouble our work for Peace... - Wait, What?
Peace to one and all… At a time when we must all redouble our work for Peace... - Wait, What?: Peace to one and all… At a time when we must all redouble our work for Peace… by jonpelto Friends, In all times, but especially in these troubled times, we must never forget the essential words of Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677), the great philosopher who helped lay the ground work for the Enlightenment; “Peace is not an absence of war; it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.” - Baruch Spinoza In this season of hope, whether you are celebrating the... more »
tomhayden.com - Home - Christmas Lessons From Hanoi
tomhayden.com - Home - Christmas Lessons From Hanoi: CHRISTMAS LESSONS FROM HANOI [image: Date]MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2012 AT 6:41PM | [image: Print Article]PRINT ARTICLE | [image: Email Article]EMAIL ARTICLE | [image: Comment]POST A COMMENT The wreckage of an American B-52 shot down in the middle of a residential neighborhood during the Christmas air raids of 1972, Huu Tiep Lake, Hanoi. Today’s peaceful Hanoi, alight with Christmas ornaments, was the scene of a decisive battle forty years ago this week, one which the Pentagon prefers to forget. I will be there this week to take part ...more »
Happy Holidays from the Big Education Ape
*From My Family to Yours*
Canada's 'Idle No More' Movement Spreads Like Wildfire | Common Dreams
Canada's 'Idle No More' Movement Spreads Like Wildfire | Common Dreams: Published on Monday, December 24, 2012 by Common Dreams Canada's 'Idle No More' Movement Spreads Like Wildfire Chief Theresa Spence on 14th day of hunger strike - Craig Brown, staff writer The *'Idle No More'* movement, a campaign of grassroots First Nations protests, has spread like wildfire over the past week in response to bills passed by the conservative Canadian government. First Nations protesters march towards Parliament Hill during a demonstration as part of the spreading 'Idle No More' movement in Ottawa,... more »
Ed Notes Online: Christmas & Chanukah/ Letter to Santa
Ed Notes Online: Christmas & Chanukah/ Letter to Santa: Christmas & Chanukah/ Letter to Santa from Ed Notes Online by ed notes online An oldie, but appropriate to the season. Just in case anyone asks you what the difference is between Christmas and Chanukah, you will know what and how to answer. 1. Christmas is one day, same day every year, December 25. Jews also love December 25th. It's another paid day off work. We go to the movies and out for Chinese food and Israeli dancing. Chanukah is 8 days. It starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev, whenever that falls. No one is ever s... more »
Ted Chittenden Died… « Deborah Meier on Education
Ted Chittenden Died… « Deborah Meier on Education: Ted Chittenden Died… by debmeier …a few days ago, from a heart attack, thus breaking a lot of hearts this holiday season. He was one of the earliest allies we had in our critique of standardized testing–especially useful since he also worked at ETS–although not on tests. To everyone who knew Ted–including the many many children in the schools he worked with over the years (like CPE) he was their imagined godfather–patient, humorous, appreciative, gentle and insightful. He listened so carefully to others, including 4 and 5 year ol... more »
Education Roundup December 21, 2012 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)
Education Roundup December 21, 2012 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): Education Roundup for the Week Ending December 21, 2012 SACRAMENTO—The California Department of Education (CDE) today issued this week's Education Roundup of education-related announcements of public interest. California Career Tech Student is Harvard Bound One of the state's high-achieving career technical education students has earned early admission to Harvard University. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is congratulating Belinda Zeng of Monta Vista High School (Fremont Union High S... more »
Schools Matter: BOONDOGGLE!
Schools Matter: BOONDOGGLE!: BOONDOGGLE! by skrashen Released on Friday just before Christmas: “Consortium Releases Technology Guidelines for Common Core Tests” http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2012/12/consortium_releases_techology_.html: A list of technological requirements (minimum and optimal) to implement common core. No mention of how much it will cost. But it will clearly cost a lot. And we are told that this is “an ongoing process” – in other words, the boondoggle will continue forever. Not an experiment done with a modest sample to see if it will work, but ... more »
COUCHING THE STANDARDS DEBATE IN HISTORICAL TERMS, standarized tests, Nation at Risk, history of schooling, Sputnik, testing, Dewey, Gates, the Lumina Foundation, Walton, Broad, reactionaries
standards, standarized tests, Nation at Risk, history of schooling, Sputnik, testing, Dewey, Gates, the Lumina Foundation, Walton, Broad, reactionaries: COUCHING THE STANDARDS DEBATE IN HISTORICAL TERMS: Developing a dialectical understanding of the standards debate through historical awareness by Danny Weil *The need to couch the standard’s debate within historical context and develop a Marxist analysis of the role of capitalism and schooling is essential. Too much time has been expended fighting standards for almost one century. It is time to understand that capitalism has n... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Will Sandy Hook reshape ed reform policy?
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Will Sandy Hook reshape ed reform policy?: Will Sandy Hook reshape ed reform policy? by Mike Klonsky The heroism of the Sandy Hook teachers has helped reshape the national discussion about the policy direction of school reform -- or at least it should, according to AP education writer, Christine Amario: * **That gratitude for teachers is a respite from recent years in which politicians and the public have viewed them as anything but heroes. Instead, teachers have been the focus of increased scrutiny, criticized for what is perceived as having generous ... more »
Christmas Eve Freedom-Fighting in 1837 | Consortiumnews
Christmas Eve Freedom-Fighting in 1837 | Consortiumnews: Christmas Eve Freedom-Fighting in 1837 December 22, 2012 Americans often romanticize the early years of the Republic, averting their eyes from the crude racism in the U.S. Constitution and the cruel treatment of blacks and Native Americans in those decades. Overlooked are brave freedom fighters who resisted arrogant white supremacy, as William Loren Katz recalls. By William Loren Katz This Christmas Eve 2012 marks the 175th anniversary of an heroic battle for self-rule and liberty by a daring band of American freedom-fighters... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-24-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] This Is What Courage Means by dianerav Earlier today I posted about four teachers in Louisiana who started a recall campaign against Governor Bobby Jindal and the Speaker of the Louisiana House. The odds against them were overwhelming. They had no organization, no money, and no political experience. They didn’t collect enough signatures to get on the ballot. They confronted a powerful political machine. They filed their reports late and were Kudos for Superintendent Joshua Starr by dianerav Joshua Starr is ... more »
On the Economics and thus the Politics of Guns : blue cheddar
On the Economics and thus the Politics of Guns : blue cheddar: On the Economics and thus the Politics of Guns by Featured Wisconsin Blogger This is a guest post by Grant Petty. Unlike cars, TV sets, washing machines, and cell phones, guns rarely wear out, break, get lost or become obsolete. A typical handgun can easily fire tens of thousands of rounds with no decline in usability or lethality. The vast majority of privately held guns, owned for self-protection, hunting, or occasional target practice never even come close to this kind of usage. Guns are thus one of those rarest of ... more »
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: What About Me, Mrs. M?:He's Not the Child He Could Have Been!
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: What About Me, Mrs. M?:He's Not the Child He Could Have Been!: What About Me, Mrs. M?:He's Not the Child He Could Have Been! by Lisa M After a trying morning with one of my students, I walked over to his desk. In a quiet voice, I let him know that I was disappointed in the behavior he had been exhibiting. At least I thought I was being quiet. I forgot that my students can hear everything I say when I am NOT talking to them. One of the boys in my class leaned over to me and said, "What about me, Mrs.M? What about me?", I smiled inwardly. No, I gr... more »
Joy Reid: This holiday season, please thank a teacher Melissa Harris-Perry:
Melissa Harris-Perry: Joy Reid: This holiday season, please thank a teacher: *Joy Reid: This holiday season, please thank a teacher * Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Ms. Katie's Ramblings: A "Kerfuffle" to Cover Education Reform's Greatest Secret
Ms. Katie's Ramblings: A "Kerfuffle" to Cover Education Reform's Greatest Secret: A "Kerfuffle" to Cover Education Reform's Greatest Secret I am completely baffled by the recent "kerfuffle" on twitter and the blogosphere regarding the remarks of first Diane Ravitch and then later CTU president Karen Lewis regarding the tragedy in Newtown. EdReformers of all kinds are simply "outraged" over, well I'm not exactly sure, since it's not about what both Ravitch and Lewis actually wrote Honestly, I'm too tired of this silliness to write it out in full here so please see what the great J... more »
UTLA & TEACHER JAIL - WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE YOU DOING? - Perdaily.com
UTLA & TEACHER JAIL - WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE YOU DOING? - Perdaily.com: UTLA & TEACHER JAIL - WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE YOU DOING? by Leonard Isenberg [image: Warren Fletcher.jpeg] *(Mensaje se repite en Español)* * * *From LAUSD's point of view, what is the downside they face from screwing teachers? It is now close to 3 weeks since Scott Mandel wrote in a letter reproduced below that "UTLA President Warren Fletcher was actively working on your plight." So, other then staff-development-like rhetoric, what has been accomplished to address the... more »
The fundamental flaws of ‘value added’ teacher evaluation
The fundamental flaws of ‘value added’ teacher evaluation: The fundamental flaws of ‘value added’ teacher evaluation Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 23, 2012 at 2:00 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Evaluating teachers by the test scores of their students has been perhaps the most controversial education reform of the year because while it has been pushed in a majority of states with the support of the Obama administration, assessment experts have warned against the practice for a varie... more »
Diane in the Evening 12-23-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: In Defense of Tracking by dianerav When Marc Epstein, who was a history teacher at Jamaica High School in New York City (now closed to make way for small schools), read Carol Burris’s post opposing differentiated diplomas and tracking, he wrote to express his disagreement. I invited him to write a post, and he said he had already written it. It is here. What do you think? Ms. Katie Has the Last Word on the Meaning of the Twitter Kerfuffle by dianerav Katie Osgood teaches children in a psychiatric hospital in Chicago. She is one of our most eloquent blogge... more »
The New American Privateers
*The New American Privateers* During the early days of the United States, our government commissioned Privateers to attack and rob enemy vessels. Privateers were part of naval warfare of some nations from the 16th to the 19th century. The cost of commissioning privateers was borne bycorporate investors hoping to gain a significant profit from prize money earned. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without spending public money or commissioning naval officers. And for the “investors the pay off was the captured cargo and the prize vessel itself, if service... more »
Dialectics in Science: An Interview with Helena Sheehan - Online University of the Left
Dialectics in Science: An Interview with Helena Sheehan - Online University of the Left: Dialectics in Science: An Interview with Helena Sheehan by admin *By Ben Campbell* *The North Star* Dec 15, 2012 – While today’s left has frayed into many strands, there was a time when the left presented, or at least aspired to present, a coherent Weltanschauung. This was Marxism, founded on Karl Marx’s brilliant synthesis of materialism and the philosophy of G.W.F. Hegel, which led him and his collaborator Friedrich Engels to an unprecedented coalescence of existing human knowledge. Today’s ... more »
RSD announces latest management changes; moves toward all-charter system | NOLA.com
RSD announces latest management changes; moves toward all-charter system | NOLA.com: RSD announces latest management changes; moves toward all-charter system [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] New Orleans' Recovery School District will become a nearly 100 percent charter system in the 2013-2014 academic year, with the district running only five or six schools directly, down from 12 this year, Superintendent Patrick Dobard announced Thursday. Among the changes: three schools will close; three will become charters; one will merge with an existing charter; and... more »
Woman fired for being ‘irresistible’ blasts Iowa Supreme Court ruling | The Raw Story
Woman fired for being ‘irresistible’ blasts Iowa Supreme Court ruling | The Raw Story: Woman fired for being ‘irresistible’ blasts Iowa Supreme Court ruling A dental assistant who was fired from her job because her boss claimed she was “irresistible” spoke out on Saturday. Melissa Nelson told CNN she had no idea what changed. She had worked at the position for more than 10 years without incident. Nelson said she “absolutely” wasn’t having an affair with her boss, but did have a personal relationship with him and his family. The all-male Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that the fir... more »
Why Do Smart People Do Dumb Things? Thinking about School Reform | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Why Do Smart People Do Dumb Things? Thinking about School Reform | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Why Do Smart People Do Dumb Things? Thinking about School Reform by larrycuban Examples are legion. Recall President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Or Director of the Central Intelligence Agency David Petraeus resigning over extra-marital affair. Or shrewd investors in Bernard Madoff’s company losing their financial shirts. Switch to education and consider El Paso (TX) Superintendent Lorenzo Garcia who went to jail for inflating student test scores and giving a no-... more »
Infamous for Hosting Adult Parties After Hours – Miami Charter School Foreclosed | Scathing Purple Musings
Infamous for Hosting Adult Parties After Hours – Miami Charter School Foreclosed | Scathing Purple Musings: Infamous for Hosting Adult Parties After Hours – Miami Charter School Foreclosed by Bob Sikes [image: School Parties] Reports* South Florida Business Journal *reporter Brian Bandel: The former home of a shuttered charter school is set for auction after Great Florida Bank won a $2.24 million foreclosure judgment. The Miami-Dade County School Board voted in April to shut down the Balere Language Academy after parents complained of house parties with alcohol and distasteful pr... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-23-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] A Substitute Teacher Dies as a Hero by dianerav A teacher sent me this link and urged me to post it. This is a story about Lauren Rousseau, a substitute teacher who lost her life during the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School on one of the days that she was hired to teach. Teaching was what she most wanted to do, but Newtown had a declining enrollment and was not hiring teachers. It has laid off 10% of its teachers in the past few years. Lauren Rousseau worked for $75 a day with no benefits. She was a... more »
The Innovative Educator: Teacher dropouts
The Innovative Educator: Teacher dropouts: Teacher dropouts by noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen) More than 20 years ago John Taylor Gatto wrote a letter announcing his departure from the teaching profession, titled *I Quit, I Think. *The letter was published in the op-ed pages of the *Wall Street Journal *where he said he no longer wished to "hurt kids to make a living." He gave this advice: "We don’t need a national curriculum or national testing either. Both initiatives arise from ignorance of how people learn or deliberate indifference to it. I can’t teach this way any longe... more »
Schools Matter: Sanity Comes to Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools Matter: Sanity Comes to Charlotte-Mecklenburg: Sanity Comes to Charlotte-Mecklenburg by Jim Horn [image: and Charlotte-Mecklenburg] When Charlotte's former superintendent, Peter Gorman, was run out of town, he found work as another edu-henchman for Rupert Murdoch. Since then, Charlotte has hired someone who is willing to challenge the status quo of more high stakes testing. From the Charlotte Observer: Posted: Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 By Ann Doss Helms ahelms@charlotteobserver.com The barrage of new state tests being rolled out this year is “an egregious waste of taxpayer ... more »
New Orleans schools ban creationist curriculum, shun Texas revisionist textbooks | toteachornototeach
New Orleans schools ban creationist curriculum, shun Texas revisionist textbooks | toteachornototeach: New Orleans schools ban creationist curriculum, shun Texas revisionist textbooks by aristotlethewise *New Orleans schools ban creationist curriculum, shun Texas revisionist textbooks* [image: original] by Robert T. Gonzalez Sanity wins this round — at least for six schools in New Orleans. By a *unanimous vote*, N.O.’s Orleans Parish School Board voted on Tuesday to keep creationism out of its classrooms. Hallelujah. “No teacher of any discipline of science shall teach any aspect of ... more »
Poor Students Struggle as Class Plays a Greater Role in Success - NYTimes.com
Poor Students Struggle as Class Plays a Greater Role in Success - NYTimes.com: Poor Students Struggle as Class Plays a Greater Role in Success by By JASON DePARLE For Poor Strivers, Leap to College Often Ends in a Hard Fall Michael Stravato for The New York Times Angelica Gonzales, admitted to Emory, hoped to be the first college graduate in her family. By JASON DePARLEPublished: December 22, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - SINGLE PAGE - REPRINTS - GALVESTON, Tex. — Angelica Gonzales marched through high school in ... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Carol Burris on the Regents proposal for three different kinds of diplomas
NYC Public School Parents: Carol Burris on the Regents proposal for three different kinds of diplomas: Carol Burris on the Regents proposal for three different kinds of diplomas by Leonie Haimson Congratulations to Carol Burris, co-author of the principal lettercritiquing the APPR, the new NY state teacher evaluation system. Her school, South Side HS in Rockville Center, was just named the second best high school in the state, according to US News and World Report, and it is one of few non-selective relatively diverse schools on the list. Here is her explanation: "*We do great thi... more »
Diane in the Evening 12-22-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Uses and Abuses of Online Learning by dianerav The school district in Manchester, New Hampshire, is considering online classes–not blended learning–as Acosta-saving device. The idea is to put kids online and lay off teachers. Anyone who deals with children and adolescents knows that face-to-face contact, human-to-human relationships are very important. Something’s, Do We Care About Children? by dianerav This teacher asks, how can we show that we really care about children? Why Armed Guards Change Nothing by dianerav A reader explains why armed guards will ... more »
Common Core Toolkit for Principals: Part 1 | Connected Principals
Common Core Toolkit for Principals: Part 1 | Connected Principals: Common Core Toolkit for Principals: Part 1 by Gerald Aungst As part of my district’s plan to realign our curriculum with the Common Core State Standards (which we are calling the *C4 Project*, for Cheltenham Common Core Curriculum), I will be developing a Toolkit for Principals. Each month, I will prepare a four-part package of resources and activities they can use both for their own professional development and as part of faculty meetings with their staff members. The four parts each month will be [image: c4-pro... more »
Campbell Brown's Despicable Newtown Rant
Campbell Brown's Despicable Newtown Rant: Campbell Brown's Despicable Newtown Rant By Peter Hart 11 Comments digg [image: newtown]Former *CNN/NBC* anchor Campbell Brown demonstrates that "both sides do it" false balance is not just a problem with campaign journalism. In a new post at the *Daily Beast*(12/21/12), she explained that most reactions to the Newtown massacre have been touching and inspiring. But, she writes, ** *there have also been very unfortunate, even callous and disgusting, statements made by individuals who cannot help but use a slaughter of more than two dozen p...more »
More than 2,000 attend candlelight vigil in Newtown
SIGN the Sandy Hook Elementary School Global Sympathy Card | causes.com: PETITION: SIGN the Sandy Hook Elementary School Global Sympathy Card 24 DAYS LEFT PEOPLE SIGNED THE PETITION 2,370,233 More than 2,000 attend candlelight vigil in Newtown [image: newtown] More than 2,000 Newtown residents met on a soccer field tonight to remember the victims - and bring comfort to one another. NEWTOWN, Conn. - Thousands of townspeople – many in tears – gathered together at a candlelight vigil on a local soccer field Friday night to honor and remember the 27 victims in last week's el... more »
The National Center for Fair & Open Testing | FairTest
The National Center for Fair & Open Testing | FairTest: The National Center for Fair & Open Testing [image: Home] The *National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) *works to end the misuses and flaws of standardized testing and to ensure that evaluation of students, teachers and schools is fair, open, valid and educationally beneficial. Learn more about us and our mission. Spotlight What a Year! Dear Friend: Thanks to your activism, 2012 has been a great year for the growing national assessment reform movement. Now, FairTest needs your continued help to* build greater moment... more »
Charter Schools USA Got $6 Million More Than They Should Have During Tony Bennett’s Indiana Tenure | Scathing Purple Musings
Charter Schools USA Got $6 Million More Than They Should Have During Tony Bennett’s Indiana Tenure | Scathing Purple Musings: Charter Schools USA Got $6 Million More Than They Should Have During Tony Bennett’s Indiana Tenure by Bob Sikes From reporter Dan Goldblatt of *Indiana Public News*: A Marion County judge has decided that the Indiana State Board of Education misappropriated several million dollars of funding to charter schools. The money was being withheld from Indianapolis Public Schools. When private companies took over four Indianapolis Public Schools to become charters... more »
