The Privatizing of San Antonio Schools
A big foundation in Texas is creating a $50 million fund to open 145 new charters for 80,000 children in San Antonio. The city already has one-quarter of its students in charters. One of the chains likeliest to grow there are Great Hearts, BASIS, KIPP, AND IDEA.
It seems that the goal is to create a privatized system of schools in San Antonio, with whatever public schools remain enrolling the kids the charters don’t want.
It seems that the goal is to create a privatized system of schools in San Antonio, with whatever public schools remain enrolling the kids the charters don’t want.
Teachers Are First Responders
Connecticut blogger and political consultant Jonathan Pelto points out that teachers are first responders.
He commends teachers for their daily dedication.
But he puts his reflections in the recent plague of teacher-bashing, which was in vogue until December 14. Pelto writes:
“….we’ve seen a growing trend in which politicians have used teachers as pawns or even scapegoats in a terrible game of political pandering and maneuvering. Unfair, inappropriate and mean-spirited verbal attacks on teachers and their unions have become commonplace.
“It wasn’t long ago that a Democratic state legislator in Rhode Island called teachers, “pigs at the public trough”
He commends teachers for their daily dedication.
But he puts his reflections in the recent plague of teacher-bashing, which was in vogue until December 14. Pelto writes:
“….we’ve seen a growing trend in which politicians have used teachers as pawns or even scapegoats in a terrible game of political pandering and maneuvering. Unfair, inappropriate and mean-spirited verbal attacks on teachers and their unions have become commonplace.
“It wasn’t long ago that a Democratic state legislator in Rhode Island called teachers, “pigs at the public trough”
Last night’s Twitter Kerfuffle
Last night I posted a tribute to “The Hero Teachers of Newtown,” briefly describing each of them , noting that they were members of a union, they were career educators, and that the attacks on career educators and unions should stop.
Shortly after, a TFA officer demanded on Twitter that I retract the post, calling it reprehensible.
I was baffled. The post made no reference to TFA.
Someone then wrote on the blog that I was casting aspersion on non-union teachers, which I was not. I was
Shortly after, a TFA officer demanded on Twitter that I retract the post, calling it reprehensible.
I was baffled. The post made no reference to TFA.
Someone then wrote on the blog that I was casting aspersion on non-union teachers, which I was not. I was
In Defense of the Common Core Standards
Roz Linder is tired of reading uninformed rants against the Common Core standards. She says most of the comments come from people who have never read them.
she says that it would be a worthy exercise to read the Common Core standards as informational text before making unfounded claims about what they recommend.
You can find them here. Please read them.
she says that it would be a worthy exercise to read the Common Core standards as informational text before making unfounded claims about what they recommend.
You can find them here. Please read them.
Junk Science in Florida
This year, Florida rolled out its shiny new teacher evaluation program.
In Alachua County, a teacher of the year was rated unsatisfactory.
Officials realized there many errors, and they revised the scoring.
Now 99.5% of the county’s nearly 1,200 teachers are effective or highly effective.
In Alachua County, a teacher of the year was rated unsatisfactory.
Officials realized there many errors, and they revised the scoring.
Now 99.5% of the county’s nearly 1,200 teachers are effective or highly effective.
Veteran Teacher in Pittsburgh: We Are the First First Responders
A veteran teacher in Pittsburgh explains what she does every day to serve and protect her students. She is a special education teacher.
Looking at the courage of the Newtown teachers, she sees in them the ethos that career educators share: we protect our students.
She writes: “Yet these same teachers are members of a profession that is increasingly being attacked for what we don’t do, for how much money we make, for how powerful some of our unions have come to be. After the dreadful tragedy in Newtown, it is time to reestablish our faith in our nation’s teachers.
“We need to remind ourselves why teachers do what they do, how they care for our children, how they are co-guarantors, along with parents, of our future. Far beyond instruction, fidelity to curriculum, Common Core State
Looking at the courage of the Newtown teachers, she sees in them the ethos that career educators share: we protect our students.
She writes: “Yet these same teachers are members of a profession that is increasingly being attacked for what we don’t do, for how much money we make, for how powerful some of our unions have come to be. After the dreadful tragedy in Newtown, it is time to reestablish our faith in our nation’s teachers.
“We need to remind ourselves why teachers do what they do, how they care for our children, how they are co-guarantors, along with parents, of our future. Far beyond instruction, fidelity to curriculum, Common Core State
NYC Value-Added Ratings Released, No Fanfare
The New York City teacher evaluations were released, and there was nearly no media coverage.
Mayor Bloomberg noticed. Ad Peter Goodman points out on his blog,
“The mayor didn’t like the original law, didn’t like the law which protected teachers from the public release of the scores and doesn’t like the requirement that the details of the plan must be negotiated with the collective bargaining agent, the union.
“On his weekly radio program he made it clear – he has no intention of negotiating a plan – he’ll accept the $250
Mayor Bloomberg noticed. Ad Peter Goodman points out on his blog,
“The mayor didn’t like the original law, didn’t like the law which protected teachers from the public release of the scores and doesn’t like the requirement that the details of the plan must be negotiated with the collective bargaining agent, the union.
“On his weekly radio program he made it clear – he has no intention of negotiating a plan – he’ll accept the $250
The Most Common Spelling Error When Writing on a Computer Keyboard
Anyone who writes on a computer–as almost everyone does these days–is subject to two kinds of dangers.
One is auto-correct. This feature, which I frankly loathe, will take a minor spelling error made in haste and substitute completely different language that changes the meaning of what you wrote.
The other is that if you make a mistake and leave out a letter, the word may make sense yet be embarrassingly wrong.
The most common spelling error for anyone who writes often about education is to type the word “public” as in
One is auto-correct. This feature, which I frankly loathe, will take a minor spelling error made in haste and substitute completely different language that changes the meaning of what you wrote.
The other is that if you make a mistake and leave out a letter, the word may make sense yet be embarrassingly wrong.
The most common spelling error for anyone who writes often about education is to type the word “public” as in
2,000,000+ Page Views!
Thank you, readers of this blog.
Last week, this blog has passed the mark for 2,000,000 page views.
I started it on April 26, 2012. It reached one million hits in mid-September. And reached a new milestone a few days ago.
The number of page views, however, is far less significant than the fact that the blog has created a space where educators, parents, school board members, and many others concerned about the future of schools tune in. We have become a community, a place to discuss issues, a place where the voices of educators and parents are heard and respected.
I moderate everything myself. I don’t censor any opinions, although I do not permit cursing and as a matter of
Last week, this blog has passed the mark for 2,000,000 page views.
I started it on April 26, 2012. It reached one million hits in mid-September. And reached a new milestone a few days ago.
The number of page views, however, is far less significant than the fact that the blog has created a space where educators, parents, school board members, and many others concerned about the future of schools tune in. We have become a community, a place to discuss issues, a place where the voices of educators and parents are heard and respected.
I moderate everything myself. I don’t censor any opinions, although I do not permit cursing and as a matter of
StudentsFirst Silent on Michigan Bill to Allow Guns in Schools
StudentsFirst has decided to remain neutral on a bill just passed by the Michigan legislature to allow concealed guns in schools.
Most of the candidates supported by StudentsFirst in the recent election voted for the legislation.
“Asked about its stance, StudentsFirst spokeswoman Ileana Wachtel said, ‘StudentsFirst believes that schools have to be a safe haven for kids. It is incumbent upon our elected officials to ensure that every single child is protected, particularly those under the care and direction of our public schools.’”
Most of the legislators supported by Michelle Rhee’s group are far-right Republicans. Their idea of making
Most of the candidates supported by StudentsFirst in the recent election voted for the legislation.
“Asked about its stance, StudentsFirst spokeswoman Ileana Wachtel said, ‘StudentsFirst believes that schools have to be a safe haven for kids. It is incumbent upon our elected officials to ensure that every single child is protected, particularly those under the care and direction of our public schools.’”
Most of the legislators supported by Michelle Rhee’s group are far-right Republicans. Their idea of making
Diane in the Afternoon 12-17-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Most Absurd Comment on the Massacre by dianerav Mike Huckabee said that the murderous spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School happened because we have “systematically removed God” from the schools. So, let me get this right: If the children had been praying every day in school, the killer would never have entered the building? I don’t follow the logic. Public figures should get their facts right before they sound off. Michigan GOP Wants Concealed Guns in Schools and Churches by dianerav Eclectablog reports that the lame duck legislature in Michigan was set t... more »
