John Thompson: Maybe The Goal of Reformers IS Privatization
A few days ago, John Thompson posted a blog wondering if I was too hasty in spotting a privatization movement on the near horizon.
The emergence of a secret memo in Tulsa has caused him to rethink his views.
The emergence of a secret memo in Tulsa has caused him to rethink his views.
Another Corporate Reform Group Sets Up Shop in Connecticut
Connecticut was the scene this year of a bitter battle over legislation that was intended to diminish teachers’ tenure and to impose a punitive evaluation plan tied to test scores. In efforts to promote this legislation (SB 24), There was a great deal of hostile talk about greedy, lazy teachers, protected by their union and tenure, getting paid just to show up.
Jonathan Pelto puts the events of this past year into perspective here.
Pelto is one of those people who follows the money, always a good place to begin any investigation.
Jonathan Pelto puts the events of this past year into perspective here.
Pelto is one of those people who follows the money, always a good place to begin any investigation.
Governor Perry: Won’t Back Down on Guns
Governor Rick Perry of Texas told a gathering of Tea Party faithful that he felt bad about what happened in Connecticut but warned that people should not have a “knee-jerk reaction” by trying to restrict guns. he made clear that Texas had no intention on changing its gun laws, which allow a person with a license to carry a handgun anywhere in the state.
The meeting was picketed by 30 members of the Save Texas Schools group protesting the cuts of $5.4 billion in
The meeting was picketed by 30 members of the Save Texas Schools group protesting the cuts of $5.4 billion in
A Teacher’s Letter to America
A teacher notes that the tragedy in Newtown has allowed the nation to see who teachers are and what they do. She says, please don’t forget. Don’t let the teacher-bashers take control of our image to distort our reality.
She writes:
Dear America,
It feels strange to hear your voice praising teachers for their selflessness, dedication, and love for their students. We’re listening to what you’re saying, but we must admit that we are listening with tilted head and quizzical eye.
She writes:
Dear America,
It feels strange to hear your voice praising teachers for their selflessness, dedication, and love for their students. We’re listening to what you’re saying, but we must admit that we are listening with tilted head and quizzical eye.
Politicizing the Tragedy?
I try to write clearly, because I understand that words matter.
In the aftermath of the terrible tragedy at Newtown, I posted dozens of statements from readers expressing their sorrow and shock and sympathy.
I wrote a tribute to the principal for her valor as an educator and a courageous person devoted to her students.
The next day, as I learned more about the other five members of the staff who died that day, I wrote a tribute to them, called “Hero Teachers of Newtown.” I expressed my hope that what happened in Newtown would quiet those who had been saying that unions and tenure were bad, since the teachers belonged to a union and some
In the aftermath of the terrible tragedy at Newtown, I posted dozens of statements from readers expressing their sorrow and shock and sympathy.
I wrote a tribute to the principal for her valor as an educator and a courageous person devoted to her students.
The next day, as I learned more about the other five members of the staff who died that day, I wrote a tribute to them, called “Hero Teachers of Newtown.” I expressed my hope that what happened in Newtown would quiet those who had been saying that unions and tenure were bad, since the teachers belonged to a union and some
New State Commissioner in Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ Governor Deval Patrick has selected Matthew H. Malone as the new state superintendent of education.
Malone has had an interesting past decade.
He is a graduate of the unaccredited Broad Superintendents Academy, class of 2003, which is a worrisome sign as Broadies tend to be lightning rods and alienate the communities they are supposed to serve.
He is currently superintendent in Brockton, Massachusetts, where the town board recently voted 5-2 not to
Malone has had an interesting past decade.
He is a graduate of the unaccredited Broad Superintendents Academy, class of 2003, which is a worrisome sign as Broadies tend to be lightning rods and alienate the communities they are supposed to serve.
He is currently superintendent in Brockton, Massachusetts, where the town board recently voted 5-2 not to
Romney and Obama: Bad Schools Cause Gun Violence?
During one of the Presidential debates, the candidates were asked about gun control.
Then came the biggest non sequiturs of the season.
Jersey Jazzman shows how they both twisted their answers into a criticism of the public schools without ever addressing the question. If young people don’t have good schools, don’t have opportunity, they are likely to resort to gun violence.
Huh?
Then came the biggest non sequiturs of the season.
Jersey Jazzman shows how they both twisted their answers into a criticism of the public schools without ever addressing the question. If young people don’t have good schools, don’t have opportunity, they are likely to resort to gun violence.
Huh?
Inflated Claims of Charter Success in NYC
A regular reader in New York City is a data hound. He gets annoyed when he sees the media repeating things that are factually wrong. Recently he noticed the repetition of inflated claims of charter success. Here, he goes to the sources to set the record straight.
A recent series of articles in the New York Times’ SchoolBook site examined charter schools in New York City. While the series was more honest than most reporting on charter schools, charter school advocates were still able to get away with untruths and the media reported them as the truth.
Throughout the series charter advocates claimed to be preparing students for college. Does their rhetoric match their results? The data suggests not. The average SAT score for charter high school graduates in New York City
A recent series of articles in the New York Times’ SchoolBook site examined charter schools in New York City. While the series was more honest than most reporting on charter schools, charter school advocates were still able to get away with untruths and the media reported them as the truth.
Throughout the series charter advocates claimed to be preparing students for college. Does their rhetoric match their results? The data suggests not. The average SAT score for charter high school graduates in New York City
A Teacher’s Critique of the Common Core Standards
From a reader:
For me the problem is not the common core standards, it is the amount of detail in them.
All of the Finnish National Standards for Math grades 1-9 fit on just 9 pages. In contrast, our K-8 Math Common Core Standards fit on 70 pages along with another 145 page appendix of requirements for grades 8-12. You could say that the US is easily 10 times more controlling in their standards.
This amount of detail reduces flexibility, ownership, and increases dependency on publishers and corporation
For me the problem is not the common core standards, it is the amount of detail in them.
All of the Finnish National Standards for Math grades 1-9 fit on just 9 pages. In contrast, our K-8 Math Common Core Standards fit on 70 pages along with another 145 page appendix of requirements for grades 8-12. You could say that the US is easily 10 times more controlling in their standards.
This amount of detail reduces flexibility, ownership, and increases dependency on publishers and corporation
Diane in the Afternoon 12-19-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Beware the Common Core Standards! by dianerav Kris Neilsen, a middle school teacher, was an early enthusiast for the Common Core Standards. He read them, explained them to parents at his schools, and was commended for his leadership. But he had a change of heart as he reflected on them. He is now an outspoken critic. He thinks the corporate reform movement is imposing them to standardize children and to stamp out originality. I have urged people to read the standards and come to their own judgment. This is Kris’s judgment. By the way, this is the same Kri... more »