Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape Nite Cap 12-21-2012 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best:

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting Agenda January 9 and 10, 2013 - CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 minutes ago

Agenda January 9 and 10, 2013 - Administration & Support (CA Dept of Education): Agenda January 9 and 10, 2013Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting agenda. ------------------------------ Advisory Commission on Special Education Members Kristin Wright, Chair Diane Fazzi, Vice Chair Feda Almaliti Janice Brown Maureen Burness Kenneth Denman Morena de Grimaldi Betty Karnette Tomislav Peraic Gina Plate Naomi Rainey Mariano Sanz Barbara Schulman Jaclyn Vincent Student Members Matthew Stacy Timothy Higgins Legislative Members Carol Liu, Senate Joan Buchanan, Assembly Sta... more »

Los Angeles nonprofit receives $30 million from U.S. Department of Education - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago

Los Angeles nonprofit receives $30 million from U.S. Department of Education - latimes.com: Los Angeles nonprofit receives $30 million from U.S. Department of Education A Los Angeles-area nonprofit that provides education services to low-income families and poverty-stricken communities received a $30-million grant from the U.S. Department of Education on Friday. The Youth Policy Institute is one of seven agencies in the nation to be awarded a Promise Neighborhood grant, implemented in 2010 by President Obama, and will receive $6 million every year for five years. The grant will b... more »

Daily Kos: On the issue of arming people in schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 40 minutes ago

Daily Kos: On the issue of arming people in schools: On the issue of arming people in schools by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) *crossposted from Blue Virginia* [image: BUSHMASTER AR-15] I oppose putting more guns into schools A policeman with a sidearm will be no match for someone with the AR-15 Bushmaster shown above. I do not want to turn our schools into armed camps. I wrote a version of this as a comment in an on-line discussion about Terry McAuliffe's proposal to place armed policemen in every school in the Commonwealth. Since then we have had a parallel proposal from Wayne La... more »

Michelle Obama’s advice on talking to young people about Newtown

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Michelle Obama’s advice on talking to young people about Newtown: Michelle Obama’s advice on talking to young people about Newtown Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 21, 2012 at 4:45 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Here is an open letter released today from First Lady Michelle Obama with ideas for teachers and parents on discussing the tragedy in Newtown with children and young people. Dear parents, Like every American, Barack and I are absolutely heartbroken about the unspeakable traged... more »

The NRA, Newtown, and Columbine « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

The NRA, Newtown, and Columbine « Student Activism: The NRA, Newtown, and Columbine by Angus Johnston Today’s press conference by NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre has been greeted with a storm of derision and outrage from across the political spectrum. Even moderates and conservatives were appalled — New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s comment that the speech reflected a “paranoid, dystopian vision” of America was distinctive more for its phrasing than its sentiment. One of the most ridiculed elements of LaPierre’s appearance was his call for a national volunteer force of armed guar... more »

Moulding Young Minds through the militarization of education: US Public Schools Preaching the Virtues of War On Iran

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Moulding Young Minds through the militarization of education: US Public Schools Preaching the Virtues of War On Iran: Moulding Young Minds through the militarization of education: US Public Schools Preaching the Virtues of War On Iran by Danny Weil Moulding Young Minds: US Public Schools Preaching the Virtues of War On Iran Patrick Henningsen 21st Century Wire Dec 18, 2012 What exactly are we teaching your children? I remember my history lessons in school. Among many things, I can recall Normandy, Patton’s march through France and the Battle of the Bulge, Korea, Vietnam and how ab... more »

School Tech Connect: Labor Ruling On Chicago Gulen School

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Labor Ruling On Chicago Gulen School: Labor Ruling On Chicago Gulen School by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) NLRB just ruled on the Chicago Math and Science Academy--- the Gulen charter in Rogers Park that doesn't want to be subject to the IELRB. In other words, they want to be a private employer, even though they're a public school. It's a complex ruling, and I've posted it below, but I think the union won.. You read it and tell me if I'm wrong. I have to get to a train.

Jersey Jazzman: Campbell Brown: Queen of the Pearl Clutchers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Campbell Brown: Queen of the Pearl Clutchers: Campbell Brown: Queen of the Pearl Clutchers by Duke The Reformy Ladies Sewing Circle and Pearl Clutching Society is apparently auditioning new members. Who better to join than the queen of teachers union bashers, Campbell Brown? For example, the unions’ newest patron saint, education writer Diane Ravitch, wrote a post titled “The Hero Teachers of Newtown.” Just three days after the shooting, *Ravitch described the teachers’ bravery not in individual terms*, but by linking it to their union membership. *The implicatio... more »

An Urgent Message from Teaching Tolerance

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

An Urgent Message from Teaching Tolerance: An Urgent Message from Teaching Tolerance by Server December 16, 2012 Dear Friend of Teaching Tolerance, When the news about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School broke on Friday, we quickly issued someadvice for teachers heading back to school on Monday. Sadly, we had that advice ready. In the wake of last summer’s shootings at the movie theater in Aurora, Colo. and at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., we had decided to write a magazine article exploring ways teachers could help students cope in the aftermath of violence. We kne... more »

Arm Teachers? « My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Arm Teachers? « My Island View: Arm Teachers? by tomwhitby I hate the fact that this country has been thrown into this discussion the way that it has. The events leading to this discussion were costly and horrific. As I have stated before we need to discuss the facts and not propaganda or demagogy. We should also examine the facts without emotion which, in light of events and the victims, seems an impossible task. Educators have now been thrust into the discussion as a result of so many schools being victimized. There is also a consideration by some to arm teachers. In a recent ... more »

NYC Educator: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

NYC Educator: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! by NYC Educator I opened my DOE email today to see the message below. You can imagine how thrilled I must have been. It's very gratifying to know that I'm among the few, the proud, the elite, selected by my principal to grade the papers of abject strangers. It will be really exciting for me to contribute to the grades of kids I've never met, and likely never will. Oddly, this message, though full of praise, neglects to mention the real reason I'm being shipped off to Bayside High School---I cannot be trusted to grade... more »

Current US Public Education Kills Creativity Video Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: *Current US Public Education Kills Creativity Video* * The Business Model of Public Education has no use for youthful creativity since it pursuesmore and more profits to help the 1% maintain and increase their wealth as they maintain the US masses' pursuit of ignoramousness... becoming real life "Dumb and Dumber" characters that do the gruntwork and bidding of the rich and superrich.* Popout

Common Core’s One Goal: To Create Common People | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Common Core’s One Goal: To Create Common People | Truth in American Education: Common Core’s One Goal: To Create Common People by Shane Vander Hart This is from a teacher in Indiana, Kris Nielsen, who was an avid supporter of the Common Core State Standards, he did a presentation on the Common Core for parents to ease their concerns. Now he apologizes for that and says they should be concerned: First, I want to offer you my apologies. It wasn’t long after my presentation that I had a crushing realization that the entire thing (minus the hands-on stuff) was completely misguided... more »

Karen Lewis Keeps the Haters at Bay - The ITT List

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Karen Lewis Keeps the Haters at Bay - The ITT List: Karen Lewis Keeps the Haters at BayBY SARAH COBARRUBIAS CTU president Karen Lewis chimed in to chide TFA vice president David Rosenberg for his Twitter attack against education historian Diane Ravitch. (Chicago Teachers Union / Flickr / Creative Commons.) On Monday, education historian Diane Ravitch posted some thoughts on her blog concerning the heroism of the teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary, noting that they were unionized. Some, such as David Rosenberg, vice president of Teach for America, were incensed by the piece, but Chica... more »

Who is leading us over what cliff? « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Who is leading us over what cliff? « Deborah Meier on Education: Who is leading us over what cliff? by debmeier Ask any true blue/red revolutionary–left or right–and they’ll tell you that the trick is to act fast and furiously when you have a chance (there may be a short window before the opposition recoups). That mens moving fast on changes that are hard to undo. Who would of dreamed, even a decade ago, that so many public schools could be closed and so many charters could be fitted into existing public buildings, and that the contracts signed between teachers and management cou... more »

Ed Notes Online: Same Old PEP Except When PS 138 Principal Gives Tweed and Eva Tongue-Lashing Over Co-loco

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Same Old PEP Except When PS 138 Principal Gives Tweed and Eva Tongue-Lashing Over Co-loco: Same Old PEP Except When PS 138 Principal Gives Tweed and Eva Tongue-Lashing Over Co-loco by ed notes online *"Now you want to take my school and say Success Academy will give them choice when the choice is PS 138 ... I am a choice too."* There wasn't much different at the PEP yesterday other than a somewhat rare event -- the outrage of the principal of a school *(PS 138) *that has a good rep but us in an increasingly gentrifying zone and thus became a target for an Eva inv... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Hey Wayne - You are Disingenious, Wrong and an Idiot

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Hey Wayne - You are Disingenious, Wrong and an Idiot: Hey Wayne - You are Disingenious, Wrong and an Idiot by Melissa Westbrook I rarely call people names here. Not useful and there are better ways to say you disagree with people in their professional lives. But head of NRA, Wayne LaPierre - an idiot. Here's what he is saying in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shootings: - *"How can we possibly even guess how many, given our nation's refusal to create an active national database of the mentally ill?"* Wayne, your group d... more »

Obama calls Idaho teacher's cellphone, asks her to help with math goals | OregonLive.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Obama calls Idaho teacher's cellphone, asks her to help with math goals | OregonLive.com: Obama calls Idaho teacher's cellphone, asks her to help with math goals by The Associated Press IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — President Barack Obama has asked a high school math teacher in eastern Idaho to help with the math segment of the new national Common Core education standards. Skyline High School instructor Julie Nawrocki tells the Post Register that she at first didn't recognize the president's voice when he called her Wednesday on her cellphone to make the request. Nawrocki will head to Park... more »

Diane in the Evening 12-21-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: The Baltimore Sun Joins the Honor Roll by dianerav So many news media have thoughtlessly or knowingly jumped on the bandwagon of corporate reform that it comes as a shock to encounter one saying simple truths. Te *Baltimore Sun* wrote, in response to the massacre of innocent children and educators in Newtown, that it’s time to stop the vilification of our nation’s teachers and principals. Today the *Sun* joins our honor roll of Merican education for writing in support of our nation’s educators in this time of sadness. They wrote (read the link for the ful... more »

Two Head Start reports find problems and some hope | HechingerEd Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Two Head Start reports find problems and some hope | HechingerEd Blog: Two Head Start reports find problems and some hope The benefits children reap from Head Start, the preschool program for low-income families, disappear almost completely by third grade. While social support for children in the program is high, academic supports are low. Nearly all of children in the program live near the poverty line, more than half do not live with their fathers, and a third have a parent who is unemployed. These are the findings from two separate reports released Friday by the Administration f... more »

Wait, What? They took that money too? - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Wait, What? They took that money too? - Wait, What?: Wait, What? They took that money too? by jonpelto It was created in 2007 as a way to fund education technology programs in Connecticut public schools and help develop public oriented local and state cable programming. Its short-form name was the State Account for Community Access and Educational Technology. In fact, its official title was the *“public, educational and governmental programming and education technology investment account*.” The account and its programs are funded by one of the taxes on your cable bill, and each ... more »

Playing Politics in Woodbridge « PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Playing Politics in Woodbridge « PWC Education Reform Blog: Playing Politics in Woodbridge by pwceducationreform As most of the you know, Denita Ramirez, who long served the residents of Woodbridge on the PWC School Board, resigned from the school board in November. Shortly after she announced her resignation PWCS issued a press release stating that the election to replace Denita would be sometime in the Spring of 2013. This struck me and several others as odd, so I contacted Mr James Fagan, the school division counsel, to understand why the election would be in the Spring and ... more »

UPDATE: Illinois pensions. Alice Through the Looking Glass. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Illinois pensions. Alice Through the Looking Glass. « Fred Klonsky: Illinois pensions. Alice Through the Looking Glass. by Fred Klonsky [image: alice2] I listened to Representative Kelly Cassidy on the Live from the Heartland radio show last Saturday morning (WLUW 88.76FM). While I have no doubt that Cassidy considers herself a progressive Democrat and demonstrates that by her support for many progressive issues, she is simply on the wrong side of the pension issue. And what is truly weird about it is how self-proclaimed progressive Democrats in Illinois act as mirror opposites The... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, December 21, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Friday, December 21, 2012* State dings Coast Unified School District over plan for English learnersThe California Department of Education has upheld a parent’s claim that the Coast Unified School District hasn’t met all the legal requirements for providing a framework in which parents of English learner students can meet and confer. Parents seek charter school in Orange UnifiedThe Orange Unified School District's Board of Education will hear the case for a new charter school next month from a group of parent... more »

SI&A Cabinet Report – Ed Secretary Duncan proposes new accountability rules on grant money

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *Ed Secretary Duncan proposes new accountability rules on grant money* *By Tom Chorneau* Friday, December 21, 2012 In an effort to tighten up performance benchmarks that schools, districts and states may have to reach in exchange for federal funds, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has proposed a new rule that would increase accountability while also giving grant recipients some new flexibility in meeting the mandates. The proposed rule, released this week for a 28-day public comment period, would be included in Part 75 of the Education ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Lisa Donlan Comments on Tweed Inability to Manage Schools: Is it Centralized Mayoral Control?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Lisa Donlan Comments on Tweed Inability to Manage Schools: Is it Centralized Mayoral Control?: Lisa Donlan Comments on Tweed Inability to Manage Schools: Is it Centralized Mayoral Control? by ed notes online *No checks, no balances, no levers of power except for the mayor, his chancellor and the principals. The next Mayor had better tread carefully- the public school system is land mined w/ a dozen years of structural changes contradictory and uneven bad policy, and even worse implementation. --- Parent activist Lisa Donlan* Leonie posted this link: UFT calls of... more »

Will a Florida Superintendent of Schools Stand Up Against Testing? | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Will a Florida Superintendent of Schools Stand Up Against Testing? | Scathing Purple Musings: Will a Florida Superintendent of Schools Stand Up Against Testing? by Bob Sikes Ann Doss Helms reports in the *Charlotte Observer*: The barrage of new state tests being rolled out this year is “an egregious waste of taxpayer dollars” that won’t help kids, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Superintendent Heath Morrison said Thursday. He joins a band of superintendents across the country fighting the push to use student testing to rate teachers and schools. Earlier this month, the superintendent in Mo... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. The Year in Research on Market-Based Education Reform: 2012 Edition Best of the Ed Blogs Matthew Di Carlo December 21, 2012 Race to the Top Results are In: 16 Winner... more »

Sandy Hook Sympathy Card

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Sandy Hook Sympathy Card: [image: SIGN the Sandy Hook Elementary School National Sympathy Card | causes.com] SIGN THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NATIONAL SYMPATHY CARD (click picture)

Winter Solstice 2012: Myths and facts about the shortest day of the year - Capital Weather Gang - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Winter Solstice 2012: Myths and facts about the shortest day of the year - Capital Weather Gang - The Washington Post: Winter Solstice 2012: Myths and facts about the shortest day of the year By Justin Grieser Sunrise and sunset times in major world cities on the winter solstice. Locations in the Northern Hemisphere see their shortest daylight period of the year. Click here to explore sunrise and sunset times in other cities. (Justin Grieser) The world won’t end on December 21, but the 2012 winter solstice is still on the astronomical calendar. On *Friday at 6:12 a.m. (EST)*, Earth... more »

Mass school closings: Why the numbers don’t add up

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Mass school closings: Why the numbers don’t add up: Mass school closings: Why the numbers don't add up by Valerie Strauss (Photo by Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post) A number of school systems around the country are looking to close big numbers of public schools, ostensibly to save money. In Washington D.C., Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson is considering closing 20 schools for budget reasons, even though the district’s last effort to shut down 23 schools actually wound up costing $40 million, according to a city audit. (You can read about that here.) In Philadelphia there are p... more »

Obama Replies to Gun Control Petitions with YouTube Address - Politics - The Atlantic Wire

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Obama Replies to Gun Control Petitions with YouTube Address - Politics - The Atlantic Wire: Obama Replies to Gun Control Petitions with YouTube Address by J.K. Trotter Well it looks like when things get really serious, the White House's online suggestion box gets a look from the boss. The "We the People" section of the administration web site has been flooded with 32 separate petitions since the Newtown shootings — some calling for a federal ban on assault weapons, some imploring President Obama to increase funding for mental health services — and early Friday the president release... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-21-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Kaya Henderson Abandons 20 More Schools by dianerav Kaya Henderson, chancellor of the DC public schools, intends to close another 20 public schools. DC is now the second largest urban district with the greatest proportion of its students in privately managed charter, after New Orleans. Unlike New Orleans, DC did not suffer a natural dupes aster. Instead, its leaders don’t know how to improve its Katie Osgood Defends Karen Lewis by dianerav Karen Lewis spoke up on my behalf when a TFA officer denounced my... more »

Louisiana Educator: Letter to the Baton Rouge Advocate Exposes RSD Snow Job

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: Letter to the Baton Rouge Advocate Exposes RSD Snow Job: Letter to the Baton Rouge Advocate Exposes RSD Snow Job by Michael Deshotels *This letter to the editor of the Baton Rouge Advocate by Dr Mercedes Schneider, copied here verbatim, exposes the fraud perpetrated on the state and nation by the Louisiana Recovery School District. I have included also the comments by readers of The Advocate which I believe has been complicit in supporting the RSD propaganda machine.* *Letter: Publicize school letter grades RSD* DECEMBER 19, 2012 I have been reading about Gov... more »

‘Hey, Mr. Russell, it’s show and tell, can we see your Glock 9?’

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

‘Hey, Mr. Russell, it’s show and tell, can we see your Glock 9?’: 'Hey, Mr. Russell, it's show and tell, can we see your Glock 9?' by Valerie Strauss [image: Glock 17 - 9mm pistol] Here's Bill Moyers on the issue of safety in school and community, urging people to reject the notion that there is nothing they can do in the wake of the deadly shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Below the video is the transcript. This essay will be part of this weekend's "Moyers & Company" broadcast. THE TRANSCRIPT Welcome. The bells rang for the lost: Charlotte Bacon, Olivi... more »

California near bottom in number of school counselors | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

California near bottom in number of school counselors | EdSource Today: California near bottom in number of school counselors ** December 21st, 2012 | Add a Comment | By Susan Frey Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services As a mourning nation focuses on the need for more mental health support for students, California has regularly ranked at or near the bottom among the states in the number of counselors per student. In California, there was one counselor for every 810 students in 2009-10. Nationally, there were almost twice as many.... more »

Michigan Schools To Close Early Due To Mayan Apocalypse | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Michigan Schools To Close Early Due To Mayan Apocalypse | toteachornototeach: Michigan Schools To Close Early Due To Mayan Apocalypse by aristotlethewise *Michigan Schools To Close Early Due To* *Mayan Apocalypse ‘Rumors,’ Threats Of Violence* [image: openingmayas] More than 30 Michigan schools have closed two days early for the holiday break, in part, one official says, because of rumors surrounding the belief that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world on Friday. Five districts — covering 33 schools in Lapeer county — will cancel all classes and extracurriculars ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The rabid ferrets

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The rabid ferrets: ' The rabid ferrets by Mike Klonsky *Obama* is trying desperately to avoid the so-called*fiscal cliff* by putting more Medicare and Social Security cuts on the table and letting all but all but the super-rich off the tax hook. *Boehner* tried to cover his ass with House Republican loonies by coming up with a ludicrous "Plan B." But as Krugman writes in a great NYT piece, Obama was once again "saved from himself by the rabid ferrets." Hopefully the union leadership of the We Are One Coalition will be saved from themselves by pension... more »

Private Enterprise & Public Education :: Frederick M. Hess

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Private Enterprise & Public Education :: Frederick M. Hess: Private Enterprise & Public Education *by Frederick M. Hess • Dec 21, 2012 at 6:37 am Cross-posted from Education Week* Print Send RSS [image: Share] Share [image: Frederick M. Hess] On Tuesday in the *Wall Street Journal*, I noted that McGraw-Hill's recent $2.5 billion sale of its education publishing unit to private equity firm Apollo Global Management elicited only yawns. That same lack of interest greets the tens of billions that are routinely spent on everything from writing utensils to professional development in ... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Byrd-Bennet's "independent" panel on school closings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Byrd-Bennet's "independent" panel on school closings: Byrd-Bennet's "independent" panel on school closings by Mike Klonsky Ha!The news keeps getting worse for Byrd-Bennett's "independent" commission of school closings. First, the Tribune gets hold of a secret CPS document revealing a list of targeted schools in black and Latino communities slated for closing and/or charter-izing. But if the list is already in play, than what's the point of Frank Clark's panel and all the phony public hearings? Then comes the revelation of Commission head, Clark's... more »

Schools Matter: Concerns about day workers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Schools Matter: Concerns about day workers: Concerns about day workers by skrashen Some background: A few weeks ago, a letter was published in the Malibu Surfside News about a Thanksgiving dinner for day workers who use the Malibu Labor Exchange. About 300 people showed up. The next week, a letter appeared in the Surfside News accusing the organizers of the dinner of aiding and abetting “criminal misconduct. Illegal aliens break our laws by virtue of their presence here. When they work, they break more laws, to say nothing of committing identity theft with forged and stolen docu... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Updates

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Updates Seattle Schools Updates by Melissa Westbrook *Dear families,* *The Seattle School District is reviewing whether it should apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver, to allow the three full-day parent teacher conference schedule to continue for elementary and K-8 schools. The waiver also seeks one day for middle and high schools.* *Your input is valuable to us as we consider this decision. Parent-teacher conferences are important to ensuring direct communications between classroom teachers and families, and we want to... more »

Oakland school district mishandled federal money, state finds | California Watch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Oakland school district mishandled federal money, state finds | California Watch: Oakland school district mishandled federal money, state finds Will Evans Michael Short/California Watch St. Andrew Missionary Baptist Church and private school in West Oakland The Oakland Unified School District failed to follow federal regulations in doling out taxpayer money to benefit local private schools and must pay some of it back, a state review has found. The state Department of Education cited Oakland Unified for not meeting federal requirements in its distribution of federal Title I and Tit... more »

The Educated Reporter: From Doomsday to Revolt, Guessing How to Keep Students Safe

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: From Doomsday to Revolt, Guessing How to Keep Students Safe: From Doomsday to Revolt, Guessing How to Keep Students Safe by Emily Richmond Fears over the Mayan calendar doomsday myth and rumors of threats to student safety were enough to shut down 33 schools in Michigan Thursday, and districts across the country are expected to have increased security on campus today. Concerns over the rumors, many of which spread rapidly via Twitter and Facebook, prompted investigations by police and school authorities from Maine to Washington state. No credible evidence ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Reformy Pearl Clutchers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Reformy Pearl Clutchers: Reformy Pearl Clutchers by Duke The Reformy Ladies Sewing Circle and Pearl Clutching Society has worked itself into froth of outrage over the defense of teachers by Diane Ravitch and Karen Lewis. What did these women say that has our delicate, reformy flowers running for the fainting couch? *Ravitch and Lewis made the impolite observation that the brave teachers who died in Newtown were union members and tenure-track career educators*. Poor RiShawn Biddle was overtaken by the vapors. Andy Rotherham finds the whole affair to be "obscene."P... more »

Sam Cooke - Wonderful World (lyrics)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

*How do you think ole Sammy will do on the Standardized Test?* *(the basis of your next ev(i)luation)*

School Tech Connect: Fun With Data.... And The New Data Guy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Fun With Data.... And The New Data Guy: Fun With Data.... And The New Data Guy by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) There is simply nobody doing more interesting data work than Jeanne Marie Olson of *Apple to Apples*, and her crew of intensely talented volunteers. In a nutshell, she's figured out the flaws in the CPS "utilization" formula, and created a more accurate list of schools that are "overcrowded," "efficient," and "underutilitized," all using crowd-sourced data and Google Fusion Tables. In a suburban district, run by elected people, she would be invit... more »

Reclaim Reform | by Ken Previti

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Reclaim Reform | by Ken Previti: Starve the Beast: Us – In spite of Newtown Posted on December 19, 2012 by kenpreviti “Starve the Beast” is a political strategy employed by neoconservatives in order to limit government spending by cutting taxes, especially corporate taxes and those of the wealthiest, in order to deprive the government of revenue in a deliberate effort to force the federal government to reduce and cripple social programs thus forcing the privatization-profitization programs to be the only alternative to failed programs. The short and medium term effect of the stra... more »

School Tech Connect: The More Things Change..

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

School Tech Connect: The More Things Change..: The More Things Change.. by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) WBEZ has been doing a pension series for the past few days. I have arguments with it, and it's insanely incomplete, but all in all it's fair and I believe accurate. Some of the illustrations on this page are mind-boggling; I'm going to steal one here: Welcome To Blogging, Ken Priviti by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Longtime activist, agitator, philosopher, humorist, educator, and free-range intellectual Ken Priviti has a new space online; let's hope he keeps at it. It's... more »

How To Get Your Blog Banned From Your School District [It Takes A Nation Of Millions] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

How To Get Your Blog Banned From Your School District [It Takes A Nation Of Millions] | The Jose Vilson: How To Get Your Blog Banned From Your School District [It Takes A Nation Of Millions] by Jose [image: public-enemy-it-takes-a-nation-cover] To whom it may concern: Kick butt. Take names. Write them somewhere in your mind. Write to them when you’re writing. See their reactions. Smirk. Repeat. At first, you’ll just write because it feels good to get your thoughts out. You’ll participate in a few blog roundups, showcase your work, and talk to some of the more influential parties in... more »

Blue Ribbon Nominees 2013 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Blue Ribbon Nominees 2013 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Nominates 35 California Schools for 2013 National Blue Ribbon Honor SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today the nomination of 35 California public schools for the coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools Program award. "I applaud the principals, teachers, staff, and families whose commitment to learning has led to success in the classroom," Torlakson said. "Schools nominated for this significant recognition are performing at very high levels or ar... more »

The ABCs of Hmong | Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

The ABCs of Hmong | Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics: The ABCs of Hmong Submitted by Momo Chang on December 20, 2012 - 1:59pm - Education - Culture - Diaspora - History - Immigration - Parenthood - Social Issues - dual language immersion - Hmong immersion - Lee Yang - Sacramento - Susan B. Anthony Elementary 0 24[image: Email this page]Email this page *Ninety percent of instruction is in Hmong for kindergartners in the Hmong immersion program at Susan B. Anthony Elementary. Photo by Andria Lo.* *The ... more »

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: WA State Supreme Court Ruling to Leg - Get Busy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: WA State Supreme Court Ruling to Leg - Get Busy: New Interim Principal at Lafayette Elementary by Melissa Westbrook From the West Seattle Blog: *Seattle Public Schools* just announced that another elementary principal from West Seattle is being promoted to management downtown – this time Lafayette’s newest principal *Shauna Heath*, after just a few months. From the district: *Today I’m announcing a leadership change at Lafayette. Your principal, Shauna Heath, has been appointed Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction. In her new role, M... more »

Mass school closings: Why the numbers don't add up | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Mass school closings: Why the numbers don't add up | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Mass school closings: Why the numbers don't add upby Helen Gym on Dec 20 2012 Posted in Commentary ="" title="Facebook_like" href="http://thenotebook.org/blog/125462/mass-school-closings-why-numbers-dont-add#" style="text-decoration: initial; color: rgb(76, 153, 72); cursor: pointer; float: left; padding: 0px 2px;">Share on email COMMENTS (0)EMAILPRINT *by Helen Gym* * * * * Like most of the public, I’ve been baffled by the District’s latest rationale for closing down an unprecedented number o... more »

A PAA welcome to new members of the Senate HELP Committee | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

A PAA welcome to new members of the Senate HELP Committee | Parents Across America: A PAA welcome to new members of the Senate HELP Committee by pureparents We just sent the following letter to Senators-elect Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin(D-WI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) who will be new members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee: December 20, 2012 Dear Senator-elect: Congratulations on your election! There are so many challenges ahead and we wish you the best as you begin your term. We are a grass-roots network of activist public school parents fr... more »

Fiction vs “Information” « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Fiction vs “Information” « Deborah Meier on Education: Fiction vs “Information” by debmeier The debate on the Common Core’s mandate that schools put less emphasis on fiction and more on “informational books” is an odd one. I get a lot of my information about the world from fiction, even from pulp fiction (mysteries, sci fi, etc) I read “information” when I want “information”–google or otherwise. I don’t read history books for information, but to get insight into another way of seeing the story–a plot with characters. I read books on education for the same reason. I often pick up... more »

Diane in the Evening 12-20-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: Jersey Jazzman on Reprehensibility by dianerav What does it men to be reprehensible? Jersey Jazzman explores the question here. Anthony Cody on the Lessons of Newtown by dianerav Anthony Cody, an experienced middle-school teacher in California, regularly blogs at *Education Week*. He has won national attention because he writes eloquently, seeks dialogue with those who disagree with him, displays the compassion and sensitivity of an educator, and writes from many years of experience. Please read his reflections on the heroism of the Newtown educators and... more »

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