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Why Not Teach For America (Guest Post by Robin Lane)
Well, it’s about that time of year — when seniors start frantically applying for fellowships and internships and jobs, the socially conscious among them aching for a career that will allow them to change the world, others looking for something they can put on their application for law school. Then comes along the recruiting powerhouse of Teach for America, to assure college students that yes, you can in fact change the world AND have an in to law school (or business school, or political office).
Key documents on closure recommendations
Superintendent William Hite's seismic announcement today that the cash-strapped Philadelphia School District has proposed an unprecedented 37 school closures will leave many anxious for answers. To address that, the District has released a number of documents on the methodology and criteria used in the downsizing process known as the Facilities Master Plan.
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The Real Fairy Tale - City Journal
The Real Fairy Tale
City Journal Some schools lose most of their teaching corps, destroying any continuity or momentum aschool in a poor neighborhood may have managed to build. In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the practice led to a successful ACLU lawsuit to end ... |
Another Michelle Rhee Stooge Writes in the Daily News
Oh it is always nice to read the Daily News op-ed page and see some shill for Uncle Mike, or Michelle Rhee, thinking they can speak for education, schools, teachers, their children with a artificial guise of independent thought.
Today we had another on of those type people write an opinionated op-ed in today's Daily News. Keoni Wright penned some gibberish about teacher quality and his twin daughters in the same school, PS 158 in Brooklyn, yet with disparate teachers.
Mr Wright at first glance is a manager (whatever that means) for the NYC Dept of Health & Mental Hygiene. He is also a card carrying member of MichelleRheeFirst.
While we here at SBSB applaud Mr Wright for taking an interest in his twin daughter's education, we hold our heads in indignation at the words that Mr Wright wrote of his own free mind and will. Words, that were his own. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Mr Wright wrote, I have a unique perspective on this, because I’ve got twin daughters in kindergarten. They go to the same neighborhood elementary school and sit in
Mr Wright at first glance is a manager (whatever that means) for the NYC Dept of Health & Mental Hygiene. He is also a card carrying member of MichelleRheeFirst.
While we here at SBSB applaud Mr Wright for taking an interest in his twin daughter's education, we hold our heads in indignation at the words that Mr Wright wrote of his own free mind and will. Words, that were his own. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Mr Wright wrote, I have a unique perspective on this, because I’ve got twin daughters in kindergarten. They go to the same neighborhood elementary school and sit in
Why one quiz did not work
I wrote earlier about a quiz – a single system of linear equations to be solved graphically, then solved again algebraically. I figured it was fifteen minutes, max. It took over forty.
Here’s the system:
and 
I took to heart comments some of you left here, and others made on facebook. But most of all, I had long conversations with the kids (two full classes) themselves. And then follow-up conversations.
Some of the more interesting points:
Here’s the system:
and I took to heart comments some of you left here, and others made on facebook. But most of all, I had long conversations with the kids (two full classes) themselves. And then follow-up conversations.
Some of the more interesting points:
- kids really liked the post-quiz analysis sessions. And honestly, they were good discussions. I think me walking in saying “I’m not sure what happened; I need your help” made it different than a regular class discussion.
- some kids have become more comfortable using point-slope to graph directly. However, not all of them have. And none of them had attempted any more than the most rudimentary manipulations of an equation
So Heartwarming, It Couldn't Wait
From our friends at the West Seattle blog, a story of kindness from students at West Seattle High School:
Often the first-hand raves (or rants) surface in the WSB Forums – but the past few days have yielded a couple of gems to share here in the news section. The latest is from Laurie:
“Parent Trigger: No Silver Bullet”
Often the first-hand raves (or rants) surface in the WSB Forums – but the past few days have yielded a couple of gems to share here in the news section. The latest is from Laurie:
I wanted to share a heart warming story about what my mom experienced (Tuesday).
She was heading to Safeway to get her groceries around 1 o’clock when her car stalled in the intersection by Jack in the Box on Admiral. She tried and tried to get it to start again while enduring all the rude people blowing their horns at her.
She couldn’t get it to start so she got out of the car and started to try and push it out of the way…
“Parent Trigger: No Silver Bullet”
“Parent Trigger: No Silver Bullet” is a new “policy brief” from the Annenberg Institute For School Reform.
I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning Why The Parent Trigger Isn’t Good For Parents, Kids Or Schools.
I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning Why The Parent Trigger Isn’t Good For Parents, Kids Or Schools.
Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 12-13-12 #soschat #edreform
* Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break * Teacher Tips for the Impending Apocolypse by NYC Educator As I'm certain you all know, the world is due to end a week from tomorrow. Not only that, but if the UFT does not agree to an evaluation that AFT President Randi Weingarten just labeled "junk science," Mayor Bloomberg will impose draconian cuts on the school system, just because he can. After all, mayoral control means he can do what he wants, when he wants, how he wants, and if you don't like it, you can just take a hike, pal. Me, I'm giving a test on Friday. This makes perfec... more »