Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape Nite Cap 12-26-2012 #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

Is Florida spending its migrant education funds properly? | Education articles blog on schools in Florida & Tampa Bay: the Gradebook | Tampa Bay Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 minutes ago

Is Florida spending its migrant education funds properly? | Education articles blog on schools in Florida & Tampa Bay: the Gradebook | Tampa Bay Times: Is Florida spending its migrant education funds properly? Facebook 23 Email Share 30 Leaders of several Florida civil rights and non-profit organizations including LULAC, the NAACP and the United Chinese Association are demanding that Gov. Rick Scott prove that the state is following all the federal rules and guidelines for supporting migrant education. They want to make sure that Florida, which has more than 50,000 children eligibl... more »

YEAR END AWARDS « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 33 minutes ago

YEAR END AWARDS « Teachers Fight Back: YEAR END AWARDS by alkleen THE HYPOCRISY OF THE YEAR AWARD goes to some American corporations and millionaires who have decided they know what’s best for improving our inner city schools. They virtually ignored the problems of our inner city schools for 150 years, but now they are suddenly interested. What they are really interested in is destroying teacher unions and dismantling public education as we know it. Now that teachers make a decent wage and benefits, these corporations and millionaires have seen their property taxes rise dramati... more »

January 3 & 4: Shout truth to power-in-hiding – Springfield, IL | Reclaim Reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

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 »

Parenting Like a Principal | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Parenting Like a Principal | Connected Principals: Parenting Like a Principal by Dov Emerson Today, as I sat with a child in my office, one of the most fascinating discussions of my entire career began to ensue. Mind you, this particular student wasn’t kicked out of class, or called in for cutting. As a matter of fact, he’s not even enrolled in our high school. This was *my 5th grade son*, affectionately referred to on Twitter as “EmerKid2.” A little backdrop: Our son has recently been struggling with bringing home all of his homework materials. Today, yet again, he forgot an impo... more »

Are You Sick Of ‘Highly Paid’ Teachers? (HUMOR) | Addicting Info

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Are You Sick Of ‘Highly Paid’ Teachers? (HUMOR) | Addicting Info: Are You Sick Of ‘Highly Paid’ Teachers? (HUMOR) Posted by Guest Writer By Author Unknown (*if you know who wrote it, PLEASE let me know*) Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or10 months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do – babysit! We can get that for less than minimum wage. That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be ... more »

We’ve been there before… « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

We’ve been there before… « Deborah Meier on Education: We’ve been there before… by debmeier “The task of returning testing to its proper place will be difficult….Those of us who believe in educational equity are facing enormously difficult problems,,,,Our belief in democracy–that normal every day people can make sense of their world and learn to make decisions about it– is at stake…There…is arising a renewed interest in educational tracking…and in new legislative proposals to support private education… All these anti-egalitarian trends….are nourished by the renewed focus on testi... more »

Daily Kos: I will not go to an inaugural ball

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Daily Kos: I will not go to an inaugural ball: I will not go to an inaugural ball by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) I have gone twice. My wife and I went to the Southern States Ball in 1993. Four years ago I was technically one of the hosts of the Bloggers Ball (which was a ton of fun). Given that Virginia will be ground zero politically for our gubernatorial race in 2013, it is tempting to go to the Virginia Ball, which is actually less than a 1 mile walk from my home. But instead I am taking the money I would spend on that and donating it to specific non-profits whose work I th... more »

Jerry Brown's Next Trick in California: Weighted School Funding - State EdWatch - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Jerry Brown's Next Trick in California: Weighted School Funding - State EdWatch - Education Week: Jerry Brown's Next Trick in California: Weighted School Funding by Andrew Ujifusa [image: State EdWatch] In my story on the state fiscal outlook for K-12 in 2013, I mentioned that even with the passage of Proposition 30 in California, the school funding outlook in the Golden State wouldn't instantly go from rancid to rosy. But that's not the only conundrum facing Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, and state lawmakers in the next year. A nice article by Kevin Yamamura in the *Sacramento Be... more »

Technology Requirements for Common Core Assessments Released, But Not Costs | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Technology Requirements for Common Core Assessments Released, But Not Costs | Truth in American Education: Technology Requirements for Common Core Assessments Released, But Not Costs by Shane Vander Hart The Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) released their technologyrequirements last week. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) released theirs earlier this month. Both are noticeably quiet on the costs. Here are the five recommendations made by SBAC: 1. Move away from Windows XP (which is currently used by more than half ... more »

Taxpayer-Enriched Companies Back Jeb Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education, its Buddy ALEC, and Their "Reforms" | PR Watch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Taxpayer-Enriched Companies Back Jeb Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education, its Buddy ALEC, and Their "Reforms" | PR Watch: Taxpayer-Enriched Companies Back Jeb Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education, its Buddy ALEC, and Their "Reforms" by Lisa Graves — November 28, 2012 - 4:04pm Topics: Right Wing, Front Groups, Third Party Technique, Children, Corporations, Democracy, Education, Lobbying,Think Tanks Projects: ALEC Exposed [image: Share/Save] Share this This week in Washington, DC, Jeb Bush's "Foundation for Excellence in Education" (FEE) is meeting just five bloc... more »

UPDATE: Schools Matter: The consequences of excessive detail + Glen Ford on the Corporate Assault on Public Education and Black Progressivism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

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)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

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 »

UNPO: Hmong: California School Aims To Educate And Preserve Culture

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

UNPO: Hmong: California School Aims To Educate And Preserve Culture: Hmong: California School Aims To Educate And Preserve Culture *After surviving centuries of wars, genocide and migration mainly to the United States, the Hmong culture stands threatened. This has been acknowledged by a new elementary school in California, which has introduced an immersion program aiming to preserve the culture and connect migrant children with their roots.* *Below is an article published by Public Radio International:* At Susan B. Anthony Elementary, Mr. Vue’s kindergarteners sit on a brightly colo... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education Reading Round-Up

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education Reading Round-Up: Education Reading Round-Up by Melissa Westbrook From the Washington Post's The Answer Sheet, an article about D.C.'s county superintendent calling on President Obama and Secretary Duncan to call a moratorium on standardized testing. *He also said it was wrong to evaluate teachers based on the scores their students get on standardized tests because the method that is is based on “bad science.” He noted that he had previously worked in the New York City Department of Education, the nation’s largest school system, where wa... more »

School Tech Connect: Transforming Teaching...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Transforming Teaching...: Transforming Teaching... by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) ...one bad idea at a time. My recent letter to Kelly Cassidy, who is my own representative in Springfield. 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 would look under Tier I and Tier II. During the debate around SB512 in 2011, Daniel Biss aske... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, December 26, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

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 »

Glenda Ritz’ Opposition to Common Core Highlighted | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Glenda Ritz’ Opposition to Common Core Highlighted | Truth in American Education: Glenda Ritz’ Opposition to Common Core Highlighted by Shane Vander Hart Since Glenda Ritz is now the Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction-Elect she’ll need to be reminded of what she wrote prior to her election on November 7th. This is one of the primary reasons Tony Bennett lost. Erin Tuttle at Hoosiers Against Common Core highlighted her position statement: Common Core Standards must be re-evaluated. Indiana had exceptional standards before Common Core. The Indiana Department of Educatio... more »

We Are One - Illinois | Save the Dates: January 3 and 4 at the State Capitol in Springfield

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

We Are One - Illinois | Save the Dates: January 3 and 4 at the State Capitol in Springfield: Save the Dates: January 3 and 4 at the State Capitol in Springfield Political observers predict the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Quinn will try again to ram unfair and unconstitutional pension cuts through the General Assembly in early January. This could happen during “lame duck” session – so called because nearly three dozen lame duck lawmakers will be leaving public service and thus may never answer to the voters again. Our coalition proposed a framework in August for true re... more »

For KIPP charter schools, more computer time, less class time | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

For KIPP charter schools, more computer time, less class time | Seattle Education: For KIPP charter schools, more computer time, less class time by seattleducation2011 With the Race to the Top (RTTT) funds dwindling, charter schools are having to balance their books and keep their CEO’s well paid by cutting out face-to-face class time with teachers and instead, placing those students in front of computer screens. They refer to this as “blended learning”. I have another word for it but I won’t use that word here. First KIPP was replacing qualified and certified teachers with Teach ... more »

solidaridad: Featured Endorsements Robert D. Skeels for LAUSD School Board 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

solidaridad: Featured Endorsements Robert D. Skeels for LAUSD School Board 2013: Featured Endorsements Robert D. Skeels for LAUSD School Board 2013 by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene [image: Robert D. Skeels, a Social Justice Schoolboard Candidate] *Like to endorse Robert D. Skeels for LAUSD School Board? Simply fill out this form.* United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) Professor Diane Ravitch Unión del Barrio Southern California Immigration Coalition (SCIC) Cheryl Ortega Dr. Rosemary L. Lee Kathleen Hernandez Ron Gochez Susan Ohanian Professor Paul L. Thomas Professor James Horn Professo... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: CONTESTED UTLA HOUSE OF REPS ELECTIONS SIGNAL INTERNAL FISSURES

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: CONTESTED UTLA HOUSE OF REPS ELECTIONS SIGNAL INTERNAL FISSURES: CONTESTED UTLA HOUSE OF REPS ELECTIONS SIGNAL INTERNAL FISSURES Some union members fear outside groups – funded by non-profits like the Gates Foundation - encouraged teachers to run for UTLA's decision-making body to influence policy. BY HOWARD BLUME AND TERESA WATANABE, LOS ANGELES TIMES | HTTP://LAT.MS/W52LLA December 26, 2012, 4:56 a.m. :: The young staff at the Alexander Science Center has been hard hit by seniority-based layoffs, the main factor behind a turnover ... more »

The Visions of Common Core Standards Which Dance in the Heads Florida’s Leaders Doesn’t Snuff Out the Reality of More Tests | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The Visions of Common Core Standards Which Dance in the Heads Florida’s Leaders Doesn’t Snuff Out the Reality of More Tests | Scathing Purple Musings: The Visions of Common Core Standards Which Dance in the Heads Florida’s Leaders Doesn’t Snuff Out the Reality of More Tests by Bob Sikes *Associated Press *reporter Bill Kaczor takes a comprehensive look at Florida’s transition to national Common Core Standards. Interim state education commissioner Pam Stewart glows predictably as Common Core “is about the skills required in Florida.” This description by Kaczor sums up why the wh... more »

The Greatest Speech Ever | Education on GOOD

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The Greatest Speech Ever | Education on GOOD: The Greatest Speech Ever Continue to link This speech inspires me every single time I listen to it. It proves how the problems our society and species have had as well as their solutions are simply timeless; they've always been there one way or another, and perhaps now that people seem to be awakening and more eager to change their lives' conditions and quality, the time for real action on these words has come.

Daily Kos: Tests Fail South's Legacy of Inequity

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Daily Kos: Tests Fail South's Legacy of Inequity: Tests Fail South's Legacy of Inequity byplthomasEdDFollow harlotte-Mecklenburg (NC) Superintendent Heath Morrison along with Montgomery County Schools (MD) Superintendent Joshua Starr has challenged the costs of pursuing once again new standards and (more) state high-stakes tests: "'I am very troubled by the amount of testing we are being asked to do,' Morrison told The Charlotte Observer editorial board. 'We can teach our way to the top, but we cannot test our way to the top. We’re getting ready in the state of North Carolina to... more »

Not Right: Common Core & Inappropriate Tests | California Father

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Not Right: Common Core & Inappropriate Tests | California Father: [image: California Father] Not Right: Common Core & Inappropriate Tests by California Father

Modern School: CalSTRS Forces Sale of Bushmaster Investment—Retains Other Death Holdings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Modern School: CalSTRS Forces Sale of Bushmaster Investment—Retains Other Death Holdings: CalSTRS Forces Sale of Bushmaster Investment—Retains Other Death Holdings by Michael Dunn Image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.comLess than one day after the California teachers’ pension fund, CalSTRS, threatened to cut ties with the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, the company sold off its stake in Freedom Group (see Edsource), which includes Bushmaster, manufacturer of the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle used by Adam Lanza to massacre 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in ... more »

Top Ed-Tech Trends of 2012: The Platforming of Education | Inside Higher Ed

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Top Ed-Tech Trends of 2012: The Platforming of Education | Inside Higher Ed: Top Ed-Tech Trends of 2012: The Platforming of Education by Audrey Watters Blog: Hack (Higher) Education *Part 8 of my Top Ed-Tech Trends of 2012 series* *An Introductory Sidenote* *In late 2007, Web browser pioneer, entrepreneur, and now venture capitalist Marc Andreessen wrote a really great blog post about Internet platforms. When I decided I’d write about education platforms as one of my Top Ed-Tech Trends, I immediately searched for it. I had only a vague recollection of what Andreessen had written. B... more »

Thousands get ready to march on Springfield. Legislators go into avoidance mode. They will use their time to consider weed. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Thousands get ready to march on Springfield. Legislators go into avoidance mode. They will use their time to consider weed. « Fred Klonsky: Thousands get ready to march on Springfield. Legislators go into avoidance mode. They will use their time to consider weed. by Fred Klonsky [image: cheech-and-chong] As thousands of public employees make their reservations for seats on buses to Springfield next week, members of the General Assembly have tried to figure out how to deal with the pension issue, including taking avoidance measures. Nothing will keep the filled buses from rolling, ho... more »

Administrators of Color: Selling Out or Buying In? [From The Vault] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Administrators of Color: Selling Out or Buying In? [From The Vault] | The Jose Vilson: Administrators of Color: Selling Out or Buying In? [From The Vault] by Jose [image: Scene from Lean On Me] Scene from Lean On Me *This week, I’m releasing some of the pieces I’ve written that never saw the light of day for different reasons. Here’s the first.* Date: 5/10/12 Someone told me recently, “I think these kids respond better to males than females, especially as teachers.” That hasn’t been my experience, but I let them proceed. “It’s like, some of these kids need guidance or someone to loo... 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…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

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 »

Year in Review: Education — Public Education | The Texas Tribune

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Year in Review: Education — Public Education | The Texas Tribune: Year in Review: Education - by Reeve Hamilton and Morgan Smith - December 26, 2012 - - Print - Republish - Share - Comment - Email - Tweet - Recommend Enlarge Public school accountability, standardized tests, $10,000 degrees and the changing faces of state education leadership made headlines in 2012 in the Tribune. Here's a look back at the year's biggest stories on public and higher education. *Public education* For public education in Texas, 2012 was the year of accountability. Q... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-26-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

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 »

What High School Students Should Expect in 2013 - High School Notes (usnews.com)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

What High School Students Should Expect in 2013 - High School Notes (usnews.com): What High School Students Should Expect in 2013 By KELSEY SHEEHY December 26, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: High school students could see more collaborative coursework in 2013,] High school students could see more collaborative coursework in 2013. High school students and parents saw a lot of educational changes in 2012, includingexpanded digital initiatives, reconfigured school weeks, and anew set of common standards. Two main factors drove the changes: an influx of new technology and a heightened emph... more »

The Educated Reporter: EWA National Awards for Education Reporting: What Were the Best Stories of 2012?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: EWA National Awards for Education Reporting: What Were the Best Stories of 2012?: EWA National Awards for Education Reporting: What Were the Best Stories of 2012? by Emily Richmond I'm working on the Educated Reporter's annual roundup of the most memorable education journalism of the year. What were the stories that got you thinking, talking, and perhaps even doing? Email me your suggestions to erichmond@ewa.org. I'm looking forward to reading them. On a related note, EWA is now accepting submissions for its National Awards for Education Reporting. (You ca... more »

School districts are lining up against L.A. County's clean water fee - LA Daily News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

School districts are lining up against L.A. County's clean water fee - LA Daily News: School districts are lining up against L.A. County's clean water fee By Kelly Puente, Staff Writer Posted: 12/25/2012 09:27:12 PM PST Updated: 12/25/2012 09:29:12 PM PST LONG BEACH - The county's Clean Water, Clean Beaches Measure is meant to clear polluted waters, but educators say the plan will drain millions of dollars from cash-strapped schools. Under the plan, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is proposing an annual fee for all property owners to help clean up polluted waterway... more »

Best of 2012: Visionaries, Organizations, and Innovations Changing the Way We Learn | Education on GOOD

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Best of 2012: Visionaries, Organizations, and Innovations Changing the Way We Learn | Education on GOOD: Best of 2012: Visionaries, Organizations, and Innovations Changing the Way We Learn [image: e.o.y] In 2006, Sir Ken Robinson took the TED stage and delivered what is now the most viewed TED talk of all times. With wit and humor, and in less than 20 minutes, he dissected the modern educational structure, and asked a question few have dared to ask: Are schools killing our dreams? He argued that creativity needs to be instilled in education, and with that, sparked a movement. The... more »

Lessons from Newtown, Kudos to AERA :: Frederick M. Hess

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Lessons from Newtown, Kudos to AERA :: Frederick M. Hess: Lessons from Newtown, Kudos to AERA *by Frederick M. Hess • Dec 26, 2012 at 7:34 am* I've been surprised by some of the vitriol that greeted last week's short RHSU post on Newtown, in which I said it was disappointing to see anyone use the Sandy Hook tragedy as a way to score debating points. I thought the reaction may have hit a nadir when self-proclaimed Florida school safety advocate Lowell Levine wrote, "You just do not want to hear the truth ---it is writers like you who are in denial and contribute to violence in sch... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What happened to Runcie's anti-truancy plan?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What happened to Runcie's anti-truancy plan?: What happened to Runcie's anti-truancy plan? by Mike Klonsky Byrd-Bennett gets a whisper of advice on CPS truancy from state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie at a Nov.meeting. (Tribune )The CPS focus on the so-called "under-utilization" of schools is all wrong and their plan to close hundreds of schools is misdirected. That's the only reasonable conclusion one can come to, especially after reading the latest report on the district's failure to implement its own anti-truancy program. It turns out that the probl... more »

Teaching Braceros’ impact on California Page 1 of 3 | UTSanDiego.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

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 »

Kimble's Corner: A Christmas Message from Jack Kimble

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Kimble's Corner: A Christmas Message from Jack Kimble: A Christmas Message from Jack Kimble by Representative Kimble Merry Christmas! I hope this message finds you and your family well and enjoying the peace of this joyous season. If you are not Christian, I hope you are partaking of the joy of the season and worshiping as you see fit as well. For my Jewish friends celebrating the holiest of their holidays called Hannukah and my African-American friends ready to begin decorating their Kwanzaa Huts, I wish you peace. For my Christian friends, I hope you don't get too wrapped up ... more »

Schools Matter: Debunking Common Core Curriculum's so-called Four C's

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Schools Matter: Debunking Common Core Curriculum's so-called Four C's: Debunking Common Core Curriculum's so-called Four C's by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene *"When you go to doctors, they don’t take all your blood, they only take a sample." — Professor Stephen Krashen* [image: Common Core State Standards (CCSS) means profits for corporations and reduced critical thinking skills for working class people]Professor Diane Ravitch had a brief comment entitled The True Goals of Education? this morning where a reader suggested a sort of whole child approach based on virtues as opposed to t... more »

THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD : The Movie | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

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 →

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Chicago's school-closing consultants

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

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 »

Modern School: Retailers Have Scrooge Moment--Open Shelves to Everyone

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Modern School: Retailers Have Scrooge Moment--Open Shelves to Everyone: Retailers Have Scrooge Moment--Open Shelves to Everyone by Michael Dunn *A Christmas Miracle* * *Retailers were visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future last night. In response, they miraculously and unanimously decided to open their shelves to one an all. Police and firefighters, who received similar visits, voluntarily kept order using Nerfs, inflatable toys, Hula Hoops and Tickle Me Elmo dolls. (Image from Flickr, Mike Licht, Notions Capital.com)Unfortunately, the festivities were marred wh... more »

Miracle on St. Claude Avenue: All Souls Church and Community Center is a gift to 9th Ward children | NOLA.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Miracle on St. Claude Avenue: All Souls Church and Community Center is a gift to 9th Ward children | NOLA.com: *Miracle on St. Claude Avenue: All Souls Church and Community Center is a gift to 9th Ward children* Seven years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Lower 9th Ward, the area's residents are still struggling to rebuild. A walk around the neighborhood -- bounded roughly by the Industrial Canal, St. Bernard Parish, Claiborne and St. Claude avenues -- reveals patches of homes, beautifully rebuilt with clean porches and manicured lawns. But never far away are thousands of blig... more »

School Tech Connect: Merry Christmas

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

School Tech Connect: Merry Christmas: Merry Christmas by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman)

Thinking About Schools: NRA, Guns, School Culture, and Kids

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Thinking About Schools: NRA, Guns, School Culture, and Kids: NRA, Guns, School Culture, and Kids *T**he NRA statement was uninformed, grossly insensitive to children and the innocence of growing up, and flat out arrogant.* (They missed a great opportunity to lead rather than alienate). A reporter called for my thoughts on the NRA statement about armed guards in schools. I appreciate the call whether comments are used or not. I like to present context on issues for the public even if my opinion on a particular topic is not requested. In education, it's easy to bump into a tr... more »

Smart people doing dumb things — education edition

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

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 »

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