Why the Double Standards?
Arthur Goldstein, who teaches ESL and English in a Queens, New York, high school, writes a consistently excellent blog (nyceducator.com).
In this post, he raises an intriguing question: Why is that reformers can criticize teachers nonstop and say ridiculous things about them but get twisted into paroxysms of outrage if anyone dares to defend teachers or–
In this post, he raises an intriguing question: Why is that reformers can criticize teachers nonstop and say ridiculous things about them but get twisted into paroxysms of outrage if anyone dares to defend teachers or–
Inside Story on Louisiana Spin and Failures
If you are a fan of mystery writing and novels, this will interest you.
If you love non-fiction, it will also interest you.
This is a true-life drama from Baton Rouge about a school that was taken over by the state in 2008 and has seen no improvement. The story involves money, politics, power, hidden agendas, intrigue and data. What could be better?
In trying to get to the bottom of the story, it is mandatory that you read the comments. That’s where the best stuff is.
If you love non-fiction, it will also interest you.
This is a true-life drama from Baton Rouge about a school that was taken over by the state in 2008 and has seen no improvement. The story involves money, politics, power, hidden agendas, intrigue and data. What could be better?
In trying to get to the bottom of the story, it is mandatory that you read the comments. That’s where the best stuff is.
Time to Crack Down on Cheating
Matthew Di Carlo at the Shanker Institute has a good post about the importance of test security in an era of high-stakes testing.
As long as we have high-stakes testing–which I oppose–we need to guard against cheating.
He points out that the scandal in Atlanta was thoroughly reviewed by independent and well-trained investigators. They got to the bottom of it.
But the other major cheating scandal in D.C. was swept under the rug by officials who wanted to see it
As long as we have high-stakes testing–which I oppose–we need to guard against cheating.
He points out that the scandal in Atlanta was thoroughly reviewed by independent and well-trained investigators. They got to the bottom of it.
But the other major cheating scandal in D.C. was swept under the rug by officials who wanted to see it
Value-Added Ratings for Our Secretaries of Education
A little known group called Educators for Shared Accountability designed a rubric for evaluating Secretaries of Education. It incorporates multiple measures.
By its metric, Richard Riley was our best national leader.
Check out Secretary Duncan’s value added rating.
By its metric, Richard Riley was our best national leader.
Check out Secretary Duncan’s value added rating.
Another Way to Crush Teacher Morale
The Louisiana Department of Education is bringing to fruition the acme of corporate reform salary schedules for teachers. It may have been jointly designed by ALEC and TFA.
Neither experience nor degrees count. The only thing that matters is value-added test scores. The LDOE recommends big bonuses–merit pay–of $10,000 or more for the teachers whose students get higher scores.
Bear in mind that the budget for the schools is stagnant. The law doesn’t permit salary reductions, so any bonuses will be funded by freezing the salaries of the overwhelming majority of teachers.
This is a recipe for massive demoralization of the state’s teachers.
Neither experience nor degrees count. The only thing that matters is value-added test scores. The LDOE recommends big bonuses–merit pay–of $10,000 or more for the teachers whose students get higher scores.
Bear in mind that the budget for the schools is stagnant. The law doesn’t permit salary reductions, so any bonuses will be funded by freezing the salaries of the overwhelming majority of teachers.
This is a recipe for massive demoralization of the state’s teachers.
I Need Your Help
I am in search of information and I can’t find it by googling.
So I am turning to you to help me answer these questions.
1. In your state, are special education students required to take the same grade-level tests as regular students? Are there exceptions based on IEPs?
2. Are charters in your state required to administer the state tests?
3. In your state, which state regulations are charters exempt from?
When you reply, please identify your state.
Thanks,
Diane
So I am turning to you to help me answer these questions.
1. In your state, are special education students required to take the same grade-level tests as regular students? Are there exceptions based on IEPs?
2. Are charters in your state required to administer the state tests?
3. In your state, which state regulations are charters exempt from?
When you reply, please identify your state.
Thanks,
Diane
The Ultimate Reform School!
Drop whatever you are doing, and read this. EduShyster serves up a delightful portrait of an award-winning school in Minneapolis that embodies every new reform strategy. And here is the best part: It hasn’t opened yet! It won’t open until next September and it is already a great success!
Chicago Teachers Union Sues District, Claims Racial Discrimination
This should be of interest to readers. The Chicago Teachers Union has filed a federal lawsuit against the Chicago Public Schools, claiming that African American teachers have been disproportionately harmed by school closings. Over the past decade, their numbers have dropped dramatically in the school system.
CHICAGO – The oft-maligned Chicago Public Schools (CPS) policy of subjecting neighborhood schools to
Chicago Teachers File Federal Lawsuit Charging CPS with Racial Discrimination
The Happiest Teachers in America?
A few weeks ago, I spoke at he annual conference of the New York State Music Teachers Association in Rochester. As I was going through the lobby of the conference center, I saw many teenagers carrying their musical instruments, preparing to practice and play together. There was a spirit of happy anticipation in the air–at least, that’s what I sensed. It occurred to me that teaching music must be the most joyful of all teaching jobs. The students come to you with different skill levels. They want to learn to play. They understand that they can’t
On the Transiency of Big Ideas in Education
Diana Senechal has written a thoughtful reflection on the tendency of policymakers to foist big ideas on education. Fads come and go. The ones we live with today, say I, seem especially pernicious because they are backed by the power of the state in alliance with the profit motive.
Yet I remain confident that truly bad ideas will fade away. This is not from a sense of resignation or historical inevitability, but because I believe that educators and parents and school boards will rise up and say “Enough!” It is beginning now, and the roar of protest will grow.
Yet I remain confident that truly bad ideas will fade away. This is not from a sense of resignation or historical inevitability, but because I believe that educators and parents and school boards will rise up and say “Enough!” It is beginning now, and the roar of protest will grow.
What Is the Point of Reading?
A post about the Common Core standards “No One Opposes Reading Non-Fiction”) was followed by a lively discussion among readers. Among many excellent comments, this one stood out. Written by Robert D. Shepherd, it raises important issues about how publishers will interpret the standards. And even more important, why do we want to read?
Back in the 1960s and ’70s, many educators around the country implemented Phase Elective Programs. Students would take mini-courses, six or nine weeks long, on specific topics like American Transcendentalism or The French Revolution and read a bunch of related materials–fiction, poetry, plays, and nonfiction–on those topics. These programs came under heavy fire from conservatives because many of the topics dealt with popular culture or left-wing politics (e.g., Superheroes, The Literature of Protest, The Haves and the Have Nots). What
Back in the 1960s and ’70s, many educators around the country implemented Phase Elective Programs. Students would take mini-courses, six or nine weeks long, on specific topics like American Transcendentalism or The French Revolution and read a bunch of related materials–fiction, poetry, plays, and nonfiction–on those topics. These programs came under heavy fire from conservatives because many of the topics dealt with popular culture or left-wing politics (e.g., Superheroes, The Literature of Protest, The Haves and the Have Nots). What
Diane in the Evening 12-27-12Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Chicago Teachers Union Sues District, Claims Racial Discrimination by dianerav *This should be of interest to readers. The Chicago Teachers Union has filed a federal lawsuit against the Chicago Public Schools, claiming that African American teachers have been disproportionately harmed by school closings. Over the past decade, their numbers have dropped dramatically in the school system.* *Chicago Teachers File Federal Lawsuit Charging CPS with Racial Discrimination* *CHICAGO – *The oft-maligned Chicago Public Schools (CPS) policy of subjecting neighborh... more »