Rick Hess: Why Does Tom Friedman Have a Crush on Arne Duncan?
In another smart column, Rick Hess dissects Thomas Friedman’s fawning praise for Arne Duncan.
What puzzles me is why so many knowledgeable commentators continue to speak of Duncan’s great success in Chicago. I get confused about whether it was Paul Vallas or Arne who “saved” Chicago. Despite a string of saviors, Chicago remains un-saved.
In this column, Hess has it both ways, simultaneously praising Arne’s run in Chicago and pulling it apart.
Whatever: he remains the reigning iconoclast of the right.
What puzzles me is why so many knowledgeable commentators continue to speak of Duncan’s great success in Chicago. I get confused about whether it was Paul Vallas or Arne who “saved” Chicago. Despite a string of saviors, Chicago remains un-saved.
In this column, Hess has it both ways, simultaneously praising Arne’s run in Chicago and pulling it apart.
Whatever: he remains the reigning iconoclast of the right.
Will the Common Core Standards Reduce Time for Literature?
According to a story by Lyndsey Layton in the Washington Post, English teachers across the nation are cutting back on fiction, because they have been told that the Common Core standards say they must.
The standards say that reading must be 50% fiction/50% nonfiction, and increase in high school to 70% nonfiction. Teachers are dropping novels and poetry and short stories to comply.
But David Coleman says that people are misinformed.
He points to a footnote on page 5 of the 66-page document. He says that English teachers can keep teaching
The standards say that reading must be 50% fiction/50% nonfiction, and increase in high school to 70% nonfiction. Teachers are dropping novels and poetry and short stories to comply.
But David Coleman says that people are misinformed.
He points to a footnote on page 5 of the 66-page document. He says that English teachers can keep teaching
Competition Requires Competitors
As this story in the Wall Street Journal shows, over 1,000 public schools closed last year, involving some 280,000 students.
This is supposedly the result of competition. But it seems clear that in some districts, like DC, Chicago, and NYC, the leaders of the public schools are supporting the other team. How can you have competition when the home team has leaders cheering for and helping the other side?
Why doesn’t KIPP accept the KIPP Challenge and take over all of DC?
SCHOOLS RING CLOSING BELL
By STEPHANIE BANCHERO
WASHINGTON—At Davis Elementary in this city’s mostly poor southeast section, 178 students are spread out
This is supposedly the result of competition. But it seems clear that in some districts, like DC, Chicago, and NYC, the leaders of the public schools are supporting the other team. How can you have competition when the home team has leaders cheering for and helping the other side?
Why doesn’t KIPP accept the KIPP Challenge and take over all of DC?
SCHOOLS RING CLOSING BELL
By STEPHANIE BANCHERO
WASHINGTON—At Davis Elementary in this city’s mostly poor southeast section, 178 students are spread out
Beware the Boston Consulting Group
Wherever the Boston Consulting Group goes, certain outcomes are predictable:
1. It will recommend closing public schools.
2. It will recommend opening privately managed charter schools.
3. Most of the schools closed will be
1. It will recommend closing public schools.
2. It will recommend opening privately managed charter schools.
3. Most of the schools closed will be
Pedro Noguera Explains the Demise of Newark’s Global Village
Pedro Noguera, an urban sociologist at New York University, took the lead in crafting a comprehensive plan for education reform in a group of public schools in Newark’s central ward. Modeled on the Harlem Children’s Zone, the Global Village Zone was heralded as thoughtful and bold when it was introduced in 2010. But things went wrong, and Global Village did not survive.
I invited Pedro Noguera to describe what happened. He generously responded.
The End of the Global Village
In the fall of 2009, I was invited by an organization called America’s Promise Alliance, associated with General
I invited Pedro Noguera to describe what happened. He generously responded.
The End of the Global Village
In the fall of 2009, I was invited by an organization called America’s Promise Alliance, associated with General
“A Systematic Assault on Public Education in Michigan”
Below is a message that Sen. Rebekah Warren (MI-18) asked us to pass along in response to the petition “Stop the Takeover of Public Education in Michigan” (http://signon.org/sign/stop-the-takeover-of-1).
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Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to legislation that would transfer control from some of our public school districts to the newly created Education Achievement Authority (EAA).
House Bill 6004, along with House Bill 5923 and Senate Bill 1358, seeks to expand the scope of the EAA and allow unregulated school choice in Michigan. As you may know, the EAA was recently established to assume control of underperforming schools in the city of Detroit. This new package of bills broaden that power to allow
——————————————–
Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to legislation that would transfer control from some of our public school districts to the newly created Education Achievement Authority (EAA).
House Bill 6004, along with House Bill 5923 and Senate Bill 1358, seeks to expand the scope of the EAA and allow unregulated school choice in Michigan. As you may know, the EAA was recently established to assume control of underperforming schools in the city of Detroit. This new package of bills broaden that power to allow
Contact the White House
Please read this Facebook post and act now to stop the Race to the Test.
Teacher Sabrina Crashes ALEC Meeting
Sabrina Stevens somehow got herself into a closed-door meeting of the ALEC education task force, and she told the task force how disturbed she was by what she saw. They told her that she does not “understand the process,” and it is clear in the video that there were shocked to find a live teacher and advocate for public education In their midst.
I can’t wait to get a full account from Sabrina. Meanwhile, bravo, to our fearless champion!
I can’t wait to get a full account from Sabrina. Meanwhile, bravo, to our fearless champion!
Teacher of the Year Rated Unsatisfactory
A tweet from Arthur Goldstein, NYC teacher:
Meet Ms. Cook, 2012 teacher of the year, rated unsatisfactory due to VAM scores.
Tweet by Arthur Goldstein @TeacherArthurG
http://on.fb.me/Uk2xkc
Meet Ms. Cook, 2012 teacher of the year, rated unsatisfactory due to VAM scores.
Tweet by Arthur Goldstein @TeacherArthurG
http://on.fb.me/Uk2xkc
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-2-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Crybaby in Indiana by dianerav At Jeb Bush’s bipartisan conference on the privatization movement, outgoing Indiana Governor Mitch Danielscomplained that teachers used illegal tactics to defeat State Superintendent Tony Bennett. He claimed, with no evidence, that teachers campaigned for Glenda Ritz using school emails and facilities. Bennett, of course, was the hero of the privatization movement. Jeb Bush made him the chairman of his “Chiefs for Change,” a group of state superintendents devoted to high-stak... more »