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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 12-9-12 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



Tony Bennett’s Plan to Degrade and Cheapen the Education Profession | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago
Tony Bennett’s Plan to Degrade and Cheapen the Education Profession | Scathing Purple Musings: Tony Bennett’s Plan to Degrade and Cheapen the Education Profession by Bob Sikes In two days, recently ousted Indiana education boss Tony Bennett will sit down for an interview with members of the state board of education at the Tampa Airport Marriott. He’ll find kindred spirits on the board as with the exception of one, all were appointed by either former governor Jeb Bush or current governor Ricks Scott. The loan exception, John Padget, was appointed by Charlie Crist. It’s noteworthy... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Is CREDO really part of the charter in-crowd? You bet.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Is CREDO really part of the charter in-crowd? You bet.: Is CREDO really part of the charter in-crowd? You bet. by Mike Klonsky Chris Cerf claimed CREDO wasn't part of the charter bandwagon. He lied. The CREDO study in 2009 found that nationally only 17% of charter schools were outperforming their public counterparts. This, even though CREDO is a group connected with the right-wing, pro-charter Hoover Institute and funded by the likes of Walton and Pearson. Problem is that facts, as they say, are stubborn fellows. What followed the study was an ... more »

Response: Teaching Writing by Respecting Student Ideas - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Response: Teaching Writing by Respecting Student Ideas - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo - Education Week Teacher: Response: Teaching Writing by Respecting Student Ideas By Larry Ferlazzo on December 9, 2012 10:09 PM ** *(Note: This is the fifth and final post in a series on teaching writing. You can see Part One here, Part Two here, Part Three here and Part Four here )* Katie Ciresi asked: *What advice can you give to help teachers be more effective in helping students become better writers?* This series is a companion to last year's five posts on Helping Our Students Become Bett... more »

Charter schools with failing grades still featured at quality schools fair

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Charter schools with failing grades still featured at quality schools fair: Charter schools with failing grades still featured at quality schools fairOne-third of schools featured at New Schools Expo 6.0, mostly charters, are low achievers. December 8, 2012 By: Linda Lutton (WBEZ/Linda Lutton) Teachers, principals and other staff plug charter schools at the New Schools Expo in 2010. This year, one-third of schools being featured at the expo have been rated "Performance Level 3" by the district, the lowest grade possible. A high-profile Chicago schools fair today is supposed to show ... more »

'Normalistas' fight changes in Mexican education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
'Normalistas' fight changes in Mexican education: 'Normalistas' fight changes in Mexican education David Agren, Special for USA TODAYShare 0Comments The students have demonstrated against eliminating the practice of allowing retiring teachers to sell their jobs to the highest bidder. [image: Mexico protest] (Photo: David Agren, Special for USA TODAY) STORY HIGHLIGHTS - The students have protested the teaching of English and computer skills to rural children 8:11AM EST December 9. 2012 - MORELIA, Mexico — College student Eduardo DĂ­az considers his participation in protests t... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Letting the Cat Out of the Bag by dianerav With each new expansion of charters, the public is assured that “charters are public schools,” and “competition will be good for everyone,” and “everyone should have choice.” But as this article explains, there is another agenda at work. The author, a former executive director of the Georgia Republican Party, explains the agenda. The current public school system will turn into the equivalent of “public welfare” schools, akin to public housing or public transit, the ... more »

Remember the vote suppression billboards? Their funder is now suspected of "pay-to-play" with Scott Walker : blue cheddar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Remember the vote suppression billboards? Their funder is now suspected of "pay-to-play" with Scott Walker : blue cheddar: Remember the vote suppression billboards? Their funder is now suspected of “pay-to-play” with Scott Walker by bluecheddar I read this, and I felt that the name “Einhorn” was familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it: Conservative Milwaukee financier Stephen Einhorn and his wife, Nancy, donated $25,000 to Gov. Scott Walker a month before Einhorn’s firm won a contract to manage $1 million of taxpayer money, potentially triggering federal “pay-to-play” conflict of... more »

The in box. Who are you? « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
The in box. Who are you? « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Who are you? by Fred Klonsky *Mark Stefanik is veteran middle school Language Arts teacher. He is a member of the IEA and the Park Ridge Education Association.* *Who Are You?* * **I’m no lawyer…BUT…* *Why aren’t we pursuing criminal charges for politicians who voted for ‘payment holidays’? Even that source of toxic emission, Ty Fahner, has admitted that laws were broken. Why aren’t we giving the boys and girls in Springfield something to think about if they vote for this latest reform abomination? Forget votes; give them cri... more »

Ed Notes Online: Rockaway Update: Almost Normal - Let There Be Light

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Ed Notes Online: Rockaway Update: Almost Normal - Let There Be Light: Rockaway Update: Almost Normal - Let There Be Light by ed notes online One of the major lessons I've learned in recovering from the Sandy disaster is that to remain optimistic you have to make some progress, no matter how little, every day. Don't be impatient but look to gain at least an inch a day. And for the most part I can say that a day hasn't gone by without moving ahead. By the way, I can apply that same principle to organizing efforts in the UFT -- build it right a step at at time. (I know there are lot... more »

What real school reform looks like | CharlotteObserver.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
What real school reform looks like | CharlotteObserver.com: What real school reform looks like By P. L. Thomas Special to the Observer Posted: Sunday, Dec. 09, 2012 Michael Petrilli’s recent charge on the Observer’s Opinion page that the elections confirm “[t]eachers unions remain the Goliath to the school reformers’ David” is neither a brave claim to make in a paper serving a right-to-work area of the U.S., nor an accurate portrayal of the balance of power in education reform. First, a question: If teachers unions are the primary causes of public education failures, why do right-... more »

Take the Day Off for Teachbad’s Anniversary!! | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Take the Day Off for Teachbad’s Anniversary!! | Mr. Teachbad: Take the Day Off for Teachbad’s Anniversary!! by teachbad [image: teaching_sucks_mug] Before we get into today’s post about days off work, I’d like to point out that today, Decem­ber 9, 2012, is the three-year anniver­sary of *Mr. Teachbad’s Blog of Teacher Dis­gruntle­ment: Where Teach­ers Laugh and Com­plain*; short­ened now mostly to the more com­pact and effi­cient * Teach­bad*. As a spe­cial treat, there is a 72-hour *20% off sale* in the Strictly Home-Use Teacher Gift Store. This extends to pre­ex­ist­ing quan­tity ... more »

solidaridad: Robert D. Skeels' Talk at Association of Raza Educators on December 6, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
solidaridad: Robert D. Skeels' Talk at Association of Raza Educators on December 6, 2012: Robert D. Skeels' Talk at Association of Raza Educators on December 6, 2012 LAUSD District 2 candidate Robert D. Skeels speaking, and the following roundtable discussion at the December 6, 2012 meeting of theAssociation of Raza Educators Los Angeles. The topic was 'Reclaiming Education is a Human Right during this era of Neoliberalism.' The talk was in preparation for the anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, celebrated on the December 10 of each year. [image: Robert D. Ske... more »

Speaking Truth to Power: Great Oakland Public Schools Is as Anti-Democratic as ALEC « Classroom Struggle

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Speaking Truth to Power: Great Oakland Public Schools Is as Anti-Democratic as ALEC « Classroom Struggle: Speaking Truth to Power: Great Oakland Public Schools Is as Anti-Democratic as ALEC by ClassroomStruggle The recent Oakland school board elections, where close to 200,000 private sector dollars were dumped into the Great Oakland Public School’s (GOPS) campaign coffers for three candidates, are a perfect example of what this courageous teacher is addressing to the American Legislative Exchange Council. (ALEC is an extremely right-wing organization composed of legislators, bu... more »

Ed Notes Online: Juan Gonzalez Moderates: Brian Jones, Pedro Noguera, Shael Polakow-Suransky, Diane Zavala: Dec. 10, 6PM

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Juan Gonzalez Moderates: Brian Jones, Pedro Noguera, Shael Polakow-Suransky, Diane Zavala: Dec. 10, 6PM: Juan Gonzalez Moderates: Brian Jones, Pedro Noguera, Shael Polakow-Suransky, Diane Zavala: Dec. 10, 6PM by ed notes online *Change the Stakes Sponsors: High Stakes Testing: Helping or Hurting Education?* You know that Change the Stakes, which began life as the testing committee of GEM, is my favorite of all the groups I currently work with, partly because of how productive the people involved in it are. This should be one exciting event. MORE's Brian Jones a... more »

Mother Crusader: For Laura Waters, Newark Charters Have A Certain... Special... Something...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Mother Crusader: For Laura Waters, Newark Charters Have A Certain... Special... Something...: For Laura Waters, Newark Charters Have A Certain... Special... Something... by darciecima Once again, Laura Waters demonstrates that facts, or even common sense, mean very little in the world of reform. I've written a couple of posts already about the CREDO study. I've written about the questionable conclusions drawn by the authors of the study, and how their ties to the reform world may explain how they came to such conclusions. Bruce Baker has dissected the Newark Effect demonstrate... more »

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week 12 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week 12 2012: Week 12 2012 by alicemercer [image: Clock number 12] Hmm, where to start? How about with writing! I’ve been doing a bit with that getting ready for an all day training on Monday on Common Core (more on that later). Here are some things that I’ve been doing lately: - Having students work with questions they themselves have generated; - Having students work on single paragraph writing around an organizational pattern to guide their analysis; - Having students return to the same topics, and same text to dig in deepe... more »

Bill Moyers: United States of Alec | www.kochwatch.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Bill Moyers: United States of Alec | www.kochwatch.org: Bill Moyers: United States of Alec by CD Popout Moyers & Company presents "United States of ALEC," a report on the most influential corporate-funded political force most of America has never heard of -- ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. A national consortium of state politicians and powerful corporations, ALEC presents itself as a “nonpartisan public-private partnership”. But behind that mantra lies a vast network of corporate lobbying and political action aimed to increase corporate profits at public expense wi... more »

Take Police Officers Off the School Discipline Beat - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Take Police Officers Off the School Discipline Beat - NYTimes.com: Opinion: Take Police Officers Off the School Discipline Beat by By DONNA LIEBERMAN Do police in city schools create more problems than they solve? KENNETH screwed up. The 11th grader made a crude joke about the police officers in his Bronx high school — and an officer overheard. Enlarge This Image Sam Kalda “What did you say?” the officer demanded. “Say it again and I’m going to punch you in the [expletive] mouth.” “You can’t [expletive] touch me,” said Kenneth, who has Asperger syndrome. And so it began ... The office... more »

Guest blog. Cost shift is the acid test of independence for Southland Democrats. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Guest blog. Cost shift is the acid test of independence for Southland Democrats. « Fred Klonsky: Guest blog. Cost shift is the acid test of independence for Southland Democrats. by Fred Klonsky [image: 68147_1502068072028_2875202_n] *The following commentary is from the Southland Star. It is written by my good friend and colleague, Jerry Mulvihill, a 5th grade teacher in my old school district. Jerry lives in Alsip, is a former school board member, public school and union activist and father of two students in Southland public schools. * *Legislators have reconvened in Springfield ... more »

How To Recover From A Classroom Train Wreck…. | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
How To Recover From A Classroom Train Wreck…. | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: How To Recover From A Classroom Train Wreck…. by Larry Ferlazzo [image: Leipzig Train Station] [image: Creative Commons License] Photo Credit: Trey Ratcliff via Compfight I wouldn’t want to teach at any other school than where I’m teaching now, and I think the same goes for the vast majority of our faculty. And I think the same percentage of our students wouldn’t want to be attending any other school either. Since we’re in Program Improvement, every year we need to provide forms to our students w... more »

15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC - Wait, What?: 15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC by jonpelto At least 15 family members and employees of a company that financially benefits from Connecticut public policy is one of the biggest donors to Malloy’s Political Action Committee, according to an article written by investigative reporter Jon Lender, and that will run in tomorrow (Sunday’s) Hartford Courant. Wait, What? readers are already familiar... more »

Boys and Girls HS vs DOE - Report from Public Meeting 12/4/12 6 Coalition for Public Education/CoaliciĂłn por la EducaciĂłn PĂşblica

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Coalition for Public Education/CoaliciĂłn por la EducaciĂłn PĂşblica: *Boys and Girls HS vs DOE - * *Report from Public Meeting 12/4/12 6* * Principal Gassaway with Boys & Girls Students* Approximately 450 parents, students, educators and community leaders attended the December 4 meeting at Boys and Girls High School in Bedford Stuyvesant to respond to the DOE’s “Report to the Community on the Performance of Boys and Girls High School” and its proposal concerning the future of the school. Brooklyn HS Superintendent Karen Watt...more »

The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally. by Fred Klonsky All IEA Retired Members served by the IEA Skokie Office will be receiving postcards early next week – please see attached. Please call the Skokie Office (847-329-7756) to reserve a spot on the bus, and invite family, friends, former colleagues, etc. IEA membership is not required – the bus, donuts/coffee, and lunch are donated by the IEA for all attendees. Also attached is information from Fred Klonsky’s Blog < http://preaprez.wordpre... more »

The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part V: The Playroom Edition.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part V: The Playroom Edition by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Oh, there is fun to be had every day at The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, but only if you seek it. The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School has turned into nothing more than a playroom. A place where students, those students that disrupt their classes, throw chairs, run through the halls, punch and kick teachers are punished by being able to finger paint play with dolls, and have ice cream parti... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter: Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter by Leonie Haimson The State of Texas is being sued for inadequate school funding; with over $5 billion cut from school budgets last year alone, leading to unprecedented increases in class sizes. About two-thirds of the school districts in Texas— serving three-quarters of the state’s public school students — are plaintiffs. What’s particularly tragic is that Texas was the first state in the country to systematical... more »

Do Schools Kill Creativity? | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Do Schools Kill Creativity? | toteachornototeach: Do Schools Kill Creativity? by aristotlethewise *Do Schools Kill Creativity? * [image: schools-kill-creativity] by Ken Robinson I’ve spoken twice at TED. The first time was in 2006. TED was a very different event then. It was a private conference for about 1,200 people. After the event, the talks were packaged in a box set of DVDs and sent just to the attendees. I gave a talk called “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” A few months later, Chris Anderson, the curator of TED, called to say they were planning to put a few talks on their websit... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing: Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing by Duke Diane Ravitch points us to a story about yet another reformy "school leader" who can't get the job done; consequently, throws a tantrum: A Franklin County school superintendent vented publicly this week about the slow pace of reforms he wants to see at one of the largest public high schools in the area, Bellows Free Academy-St. Albans. Robert Rosane, superintendent of the Franklin Central Supervisory Union, blasted faculty and administration for blocking innovationin an ema... more »

Top Content this Week - 12-8-12 The Educator's PLN

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: 1[image: How to Ignite Passion in Your Students: 8 Ways Educators Can Foster Passion-Based Learning]How to Ignite Passion in Your Students: 8 Ways Educators Can Foster Passion-Based Learning Added by Tess Pajaron on October 12, 2012 2[image: World Languages activities]World Languages activities Posted by GĂ©rard Gatoux on November 29, 2012 3[image: Language Learners]Language Learners Added by Jessica Owens on October 19, 2009 4[image: Our Changing Schools]Our Changing Schools Added by Alyson Thorp on September 7, 2012 5[image: Again; Relevanc...more »

Cannibalizing the system Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Cannibalizing the system: Cannibalizing the system by admin From today’s Tribune: Chicago Public Schools said Friday it plans to add four more charter schools to the nine charters previously approved for the coming year, which quickly became fuel for critics of the district’s plans to close many neighborhood schools. “It simply makes their argument, ‘We have to close schools,’ sound ridiculous,” said Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education. “It would be one thing

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 8, 2012 at 1:12 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » In October, a former teacher and education activist named Greg Harris was tapped as director of StudentsFirst Ohio, part of former D.C. public schools chancellor Michelle Rhee’s national anti-union education advocacy organization. But not long before that, he had been decidedly anti-Rhee, publicly at... more »

Ed Notes Online: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing by ed notes online *We know everything about your child* From Robert Rendo*:* First the deformers, Pearson et al for example, push for self interested legislation, they help write the wording of the law even though they themselves are not educators, then they over test the kids, then the tax system prevents any of their profits from trickling down to schools and teachers for better resources, then they push for starving the schools of funding from government, then when the school ... more »

Saturday coffee and the Pension Reform Revolt « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: img_2807] *Chicago teachers marched past Marshall High School during the strike.* Anne and I took two cars to Peets this morning. After my latte and bagel I headed off to Marshall High School on Chicago’s west side. The CTU and other community and parent groups are meeting all day today to talk about the next steps. They are calling it an education summit. There are issues of funding, curriculum, school closings and charters. And, of course, an elected school board. The summit began in the beautiful auditoriu... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Announces New Appointments

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Announces New Appointments: District Announces New Appointments by Melissa Westbrook From SPS Communications (bold mine): After six months as your Superintendent, it has been a pleasure to get to know our schools, staff, students and families. I know this has been a time of change, and I am looking forward to solidifying our team to ensure we are all working together in the best interest of our students. Today I am pleased to announce several appointments in our District. I will also be providing you with some additional information regard... more »

In Albuquerque, A Charter School that Recruits Drop-Outs? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
In Albuquerque, A Charter School that Recruits Drop-Outs? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: In Albuquerque, A Charter School that Recruits Drop-Outs? by Anthony Cody Last month I visited ACE Leadership High School, a charter school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. What I saw there challenged some of my thinking about this sector. [image: ACE1.jpg] As regular readers know, I have been critical of efforts to expand charter schools, which are often in competition with regular public schools for students and funding. I have cited reasons of fairness, because some charter school... more »

10 truisms of capitalism from the mouths of robber barons » peoplesworld

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
10 truisms of capitalism from the mouths of robber barons » peoplesworld: 10 truisms of capitalism from the mouths of robber barons - Print - Email to a Friend [image: assets/Uploads/_resampled/CroppedImage6060-NormanMarkowitz.jpg] by: NORMAN MARKOWITZ november 13 2008 tags: capitalism, economy, labor, worker rights, history The callousness and greed of today’s bankers, financiers and corporate CEOs calls to mind the 19th century robber barons. Here’s a relevant sample of classic statements made by some of the worst U.S. capitalists in history. 1. “We are not in business f... more »

10 Things to Know About What Happened in Michigan On Thursday « Main Street

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
10 Things to Know About What Happened in Michigan On Thursday « Main Street: 10 Things to Know About What Happened in Michigan On Thursday *Photo by @PeterKlein77 on Twitter* *1.) The Michigan House and Senate yesterday passed so-called “right to work” bills.*“Right to work” laws effectively defund the ability of workers to have a voice at their workplace. In 23 other states, these laws have lowered wages, weakened benefits, raised the poverty rate, and led to increased workplace injuries and deaths. The House passed one such bill and the Senate passed two. *2.) Republican le... more »

Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones | EduShyster: Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones by edushyster2012 Today we raise our collective wine boxes to a man who has the biggest, boldest *edu-cojones* in the business. Reader: meet Joel Klein, former NYC schools Chancellor turned edu-preneur—and most definitely turning a profit. When last we encountered Mr. Klein he’d just finished sounding the alarm bell about the greatest national security threat our country faces: our union-stifled public schools. But there is good news, reader. Joel Klein has now figured out the solution to the national security threat o... more »

Pass / Fail : California sees fewer teachers as enrollment trends up | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Pass / Fail : California sees fewer teachers as enrollment trends up | 89.3 KPCC: California sees fewer teachers as enrollment trends up by Christina Hoag / AP [image: Challenger School]*A student at Christa McAuliffe High School in Challenger probation camp listens to a teacher lecture about math. “The kids are beginning to see that somebody really cares about their environment, and they’re taking better care of it themselves,” said L.A. County Office of Education Superintendent Arturo Delgado. Credit: Tami Abdollah/KPCC* Years of pink slips have taken a toll on California's teach... more »

Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade” | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade” | Scathing Purple Musings: Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade” by Bob Sikes From the editors of the *Tampa Bay Times*: It was obvious to Florida public school teachers six weeks ago that the state’s new system for evaluating them uses imperfect data that makes the evaluations of dubious value. Now a statewide snapshot of results should make that clear to everyone else. The state Board of Education and legislative leaders need to fix the evaluation system that is the foundation for movin... more »

Jersey Jazzman: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study by Duke *Cross-Posted from Blue Jersey* Much ink has been spilled in the last two weeks over the release of the NJ charter schools report, published by Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). Below is an index of commentary on the report. I encourage you to read as much as you can, but let me summarize it here: - The report shows that the "benefits" of charters are almost all concentrated in Newark. *Charters in the oth... more »

Jersey Jazzman: KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Jersey Jazzman: KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network": KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network" by Duke If America is really going to be a meritocracy, admissions into elite colleges has to be blind to socio-economic status. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, gifted students from poor families often don't attend the most selective universities. Part of this seems to that the high achievers who don't have money engage in different patterns of behavior when applying to colleges than the high achievers who do. But there's also the "old boys network." While we regularly hear stories about th... more »

Chip Mosher: Teachers’ bleak landscape | Las Vegas CityLife

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Chip Mosher: Teachers’ bleak landscape | Las Vegas CityLife: Chip Mosher: Teachers’ bleak landscape [image: (no description)
] (no description) 1 When I was 16, in October 1963, a week after my best friend in high school murdered his abusive father and then put the shotgun into his own mouth and pulled the trigger, I had a dream. I dreamt President Kennedy had been shot by a rifle, and wounded, in the backyard of the White House. A month later, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, by a rifle. As they did to the cursed Cassandra in Greek mythology, snakes seemingly have licked m...
 more »

NAACP Unveils Plan to Fix the Education Achievement Gap

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
NAACP Unveils Plan to Fix the Education Achievement Gap: Yet Another Plan to Fix the Education Gap?The NAACP unveils one, and here's what sets it apart. Plus, we spoke with the U.S. education chief. - By: Sheryl Huggins Salomon | Posted: December 8, 2012 at 12:36 AM From left: Alma Powell, Arne Duncan, Benjamin Jealous (Sheryl Huggins Salomon) (*The Root*) -- On Wednesday the NAACP released a plan for ensuring that all children, including those who are black, brown or poor, can achieve their full potential in education. *Oh, no, not another report about inequity by a civil ... more »

Quote of the Day « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Quote of the Day « Student Activism: Quote of the Day by Angus Johnston “When people talk about “the sixties,” what they are thinking of is about two years. You know, 1968, 1969, roughly. A little bit before, a little bit later. And it’s true that student activism today is not like those two years. But, on the whole, I think it’s grown since the 1960s. So, take the feminist and the environmental movements. I mean, they’re from the seventies. Take the International Solidarity Movement — that’s from the eighties. Take the Global Justice Movement, which just had another huge meetin... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-8-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Vermont Superintendent Orders Staff to Innovate by dianerav The superintendent of schools in Franklin County, Vermont, “blasted” the faculty and administration of the high school for resisting innovation. He demanded a faster pace of change because the school is not making progress towards the NCLB goal of 100% proficiency, The school’s proficiency rates are about the same as the state average. EduShyster: The Solution to Our National Security Crisis by dianerav Here it is, folks. When your nation is in th... more »









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