A Big Education Ape Nite Cap
Questions on this month's Democratic primary ballot include charter schools, tax breaks | jacksonville.com: Questions on this month's Democratic primary ballot include charter schools, tax breaks 4 questions on this month's primary ballot to include charter schools, tax breaks *Posted:* July 14, 2012 - 6:58pm By Walter C. Jones [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] ATLANTA | The four questions Democratic leaders put on the primary ballot this month are designed to stimulate discussions in the general election and into next year’s legislative session. Voters ch... more »
Teaching in the Dark Times of Corp Edu-Reform (Guest Post by G. A. Steele) « Cooperative Catalyst: Teaching in the Dark Times of Corp Edu-Reform (Guest Post by G. A. Steele) by dloitz *(First written September of 2011 updated and revised June 2012)* Boxed Lotus: Negredo By G.A Steele Long, long ago, before the dark times of the federal education takeover, first with NCLB law during the reign of Bush II which was soon followed by the bait-and-switch corporate edu-reform days of RTTT during the reign of Obama, teachers had the freedom to create classrooms where students were actually... more »
Abele Confronted for Stand on Palermo Strike « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Abele Confronted for Stand on Palermo Strike by millerlf *Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele seems to be drawing a line in the sand about worker’s right to organize a union. On July 11, in a Journal op-ed, Abele presented his support for the President and CEO of Palermo’s Pizza, someone he knows.* *The only conclusion I get from his comments are that workers do not have the right to unionize. Isn’t this America?* *To see Chris Abele’s opinion piece on the Palermo strike go to:* * http://w... more »
Teachers Don't Suck !: Education Reform and Reformatory Reform - Are They Really Different?: Education Reform and Reformatory Reform - Are They Really Different? by Walt S. “This place is like a jail!” How many times have you heard kids say that about school? Well, out of the mouths of babes. They won’t be far from wrong in the near future! Prior to the 1980s private prisons were unheard of ! Since then the privatization of the prison systems with its over two million inmates has skyrocketed. I certainly think that *privatization of public schools* with its over fifty-eight million... more »
Schools Matter: "Research-based" is code for "systematic intensive phonics": "Research-based" is code for "systematic intensive phonics" by skrashen How to improve reading: What the research really says. Sent to the Christian Science Monitor, July 13 If students succeed in suing their school district for failure to help them learn to read well, what kind of intervention will follow? (“Michigan students sue school district for violating their 'right to read',” June 13). According to the Monitor, the district must use “research-based approaches.” Many of us in the language education... more »
Mother Crusader: Benjamin Rayer, New Jersey's King Of The Cybercharters: Benjamin Rayer, New Jersey's King Of The Cybercharters by darciecima This is the story of Benjamin Rayer, and how he got approval for not one, but TWO charter schools from the NJDOE. It's an unlikely story, since our protagonist isn't even a resident of our fair state!! But that didn't deter Benjamin from applying as the lead founder for both charters, no siree! After all, he knew he had the right reformy qualifications to get ahead in New Jersey! He is on the Springfield Township Board of Education in M... more »
Murky Waters: The Education Debate in New Orleans: Murky Waters: The Education Debate in New OrleansFriday, 13 July 2012 00:00 By Adam Bessie and Dan Archer, Truthout | Comics Series - 86 - font size [image: decrease font size] [image: increase font size] - Print - Email *[image: The Disaster Capitalism]Archer and Adam Bessie offer part II of "The Disaster Capitalism Curriculum: The High Price of Education Reform."* In our first episode of The Disaster Capitalism Curriculum: The High Price of Education Reform, we exposed readers to the corporate philosophies and pr... more »
PRIVATIZATION IS A KILLER: Zombie Takeover at the UC Regents’ Meeting | Dailycensored.com: PRIVATIZATION IS A KILLER: Zombie Takeover at the UC Regents’ Meeting by Danny Weil Come out with us to protest the Regents’ most recent plans to consider a 20.3% fee hike for the Fall if Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative (Prop 30) is not approved by voters. Let them know enough is enough! We refuse to have the budget balanced on the backs of students and workers, who are being asked to pay more in taxes or see further cuts to public services. Get on your zombie gear (or come as you are!) t... more »
Blue Jersey:: That's "Big" Money?: That's "Big" Money? by Jersey Jazzman This is what the local press gets excited about these days: Democratic governors are breaking in a new SuperPAC by attacking one of their most prominent Republican colleagues, Gov. Chris Christie.DGA Action, a group run by the Democratic Governors Association that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, is running ads on the Internet needling Christie. And it doesn't plan to stop the campaign it began in April anytime soon. So far the organization has spent *$1,000 in media markets "in and around Ne... more »
Florida GOP Pols Still Default to “Choice” Rhetoric As Justification for Education Policy | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida GOP Pols Still Default to “Choice” Rhetoric As Justification for Education Policy by Bob Sikes *Orlando Sentinel * writer, Aaron Deslatte takes the next step in capturing the real story of the state’ education battles. Deslatte’s poignant column, “*Campaign Could Turn On Whether GOP is Starving Schools – or Remaking Them”* effectively* *encapsulates the policy, politics and the rhetoric. TALLAHASSEE – Has Florida’s political leadership defended public educa... more »
Guest Commentary: Advocate for your child within school systems - The Denver Post: Guest Commentary: Advocate for your child within school systems POSTED: 07/14/2012 01:00:00 AM MDT *By Maya Wheeler* * * With school around the corner, I have flashbacks of how I could help my daughter be more successful in school. For the last 10 years, I have been fighting a battle with her for not doing well in school. It was not until I saw a brochure titled "My Child Hates School ... and I Do, Too," developed by the Denver Metro Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), that things finally cli... more »
Gordon Brown on Why Education Is Every Human’s Right - The Daily Beast: Gordon Brown on Why Education Is Every Human’s RightJul 14, 2012 12:00 AM EDTAUTHOR [image: Gordon Brown] Gordon Brown The pain of a child excluded from school may not evoke the same heartache as seeing an infant starving to death or a child suffering from AIDS. Yet for millions of children, writes former British prime minister Gordon Brown, an education is the only route out of famine, poverty, disease, and conflict. - Print - Email - Comments (26) - - - The only international la... more »
Wealthy throwing money at charter-schools initiative | Local News | The Seattle Times: Wealthy throwing money at charter-schools initiative The donors who have given $2.3 million so far to put a charter-schools initiative on the ballot include only three families that have given less than $50,000 and only one family that has contributed less than $1,000. By Brian M. Rosenthal Seattle Times political reporter MOST POPULAR COMMENTS HIDE / SHOW COMMENTS Heck, if the rich people want it, it must be good for us all, right? (July 13, 2012, by stratoonist) MORE http://www.nytimes.com/201... more »
Data Center: California 2011-2012 Dropout Rates - ContraCostaTimes.com: Data Center: California 2011-2012 Dropout Rates Daniel Willis and Theresa Harrington Bay Area News Group Posted: 07/12/2012 02:07:32 PM PDT Updated: 07/13/2012 07:06:18 AM PDT Related - John Swett school district's intense intervention shows in vastly improved graduation and dropout rates - The Education Report: New data on Oakland's dropout rates - A closer look at graduation and dropout rates in Contra Costa County school districts - More students graduating and fewer dropping out sta... more »
The Answer Sheet - School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] How underfunding schools really hurts kids Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 39 minutes ago This *was written by Wendy Lecker, a former president of the Stamford Parent Teacher Council and former staff attorney at the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, plaintiffs in a school funding lawsuit in New York. This first appeared in the Stamford Advocate.* Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon]... more »
Answers Given | The G Bitch Spot: Answers Given by G Bitch What is this wave of “school” “Reform” about? Is it about education? Improving teachers? Making functional, literate, thoughtful citizens? Safe, healthy buildings for our children? Are the main stakeholders parents, children, teachers? Oh, no, not at all—once again, the truth slips out like a tiny turd: Both men *[Scott Cowen and Norman Francis]* steered away from any disparaging remarks about sitting board members, whose four-year terms end in December, but they made no secret of their wish to find more candidates alig... more »
*Big Education Ape 2nd Banana * * * *Recap of Last Week's Best Post * Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU by Mike Klonsky Obama, Emanuel & AxelrodWell, mercy me! Look who's behind those ads blasting the CTU. Why, it's ASGK Public Strategies and AKPD, David Axelrod's old firms. ... more »
Education Research Report: This Week's Education Research Report Counseling program reduces youth violence, improves school engagement Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 19 hours ago Study estimates program's benefits to society at 3 to 31 times its cost A new study by the University of Chicago Crime Lab, in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools and local nonprofits Youth Guidance and World Sport Chicago, provides rigorous scientific evidence that a violence reduction program succeeded in creating a sizable decline in violent crime arrests among youth who parti... more »
Larger Class Sizes, Education Cuts Harm Children's Chance To Learn: Larger Class Sizes, Education Cuts Harm Children's Chance To Learn by Joy Resmovits *This article is part of a Huffington Post series on the global impact of austerity -- "A Thousand Cuts" -- from affordable housing funds lost in San Francisco to increasing class sizes in New York, food inspector cuts in Canada, disability benefits taken away in the United Kingdom, decimation of France's solar industry, and more. Click here for information on how you can help people affected by these measures.* NEW YORK -- When S... more »
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: Rank1[image: Personalized Feedback With ScreenChomp]Personalized Feedback With ScreenChomp Added by Dan Spencer on April 4, 2012 2[image: Practical Ideas for Differentiation]Practical Ideas for Differentiation Posted by Morgan Kolis on July 21, 2010 3[image: Imagine Making Learning a Lifelong Adventure]Imagine Making Learning a Lifelong Adventure Added by Kathy Miller on July 13, 2012 4[image: PBL & Edmodo]PBL & Edmodo Added by Thomas Whitby on June 15, 2012 5[image: TEDxNYED - Will Richardson - 03/05/2011]TEDxNYED - Will Richardson - ... more »
Students sue school district for violating their ‘right to read’ | The Raw Story: Students sue school district for violating their ‘right to read’ By The Christian Science Monitor Saturday, July 14, 2012 3:45 EDT [image: students reading via Shutterstock] Students are suing the state of Michigan and their Detroit-area school district for violating their “right to read.” The class-action lawsuit appears to be the first of its kind, and potentially signals a new wave of civil rights litigation in the United States to enforce laws intended to boost academic achievement, education law... more »
solidaridad: Protesting the Mónica GarcÃa Privatization Celebration Event: Protesting the Mónica GarcÃa Privatization Celebration Event by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene Popout On the morning of Friday July 13, 2012 wealthy charter corporation heads, billionaire funded 501c3 "non-profits," and well heeled business leaders celebrated a "Decade of Corporate Education Reforms" courtesy of LAUSD President Mónica Garcia. Community members, students, educators, and social justice activists showed up on last minute notice to let Ms. GarcÃa know that her tenure has been, and continues to be, ... more »
Schools Matter: Philadelphia Schools to Lose $139 Million They Don't Have to Corporate Charters?: Philadelphia Schools to Lose $139 Million They Don't Have to Corporate Charters? by Jim Horn Rule 1: When you want to know facts about about charter schools, don't ask the people put in charge to run them, or any of their Wall Street and foundation patrons who have made a new art form out of lying to promote their corporate ideology at all costs. The most recent case is Philadelphia, where the ALEC-owned governor and state legislature have taken a meat ax to education spending in the... more »
No Excuses?: Giving Power a Pass | National Education Policy Center: No Excuses?: Giving Power a Pass Share Paul Thomas July 13, 2012 - Daily Kos - Paul Thomas - Neo-Liberal Reform(s) [image: Arne Duncan] "After several decades of rigorous effort, it is fair to say that the majority of our attention in political science has been given to interstate war and civil war," *explains Christian Davenport*, adding: "I would say that it would be interesting to count the number of articles over the last five years on terrorism and compare it to the number of articles on repre... more »
Is the Common Core a Runaway Train? Is it Unstoppable? Let’s Ask Stephen Krashen « Living Behind the Gates: Is the Common Core a Runaway Train? Is it Unstoppable? Let’s Ask Stephen Krashen by livingbehindthegates *The Common Core train has left the station. Is it a runaway train? Is it unstoppable? * *Americans, get ready. Common Core State Standards have already left the station, according to Stephen Krashen, who was featured in NABE Weekly eNews, (2012), and the National Association for Bilingual Education, see S. Krashen, “Poverty is the problem that must be solved: Our sc... more »
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: [image: Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Problems.] Teachers To Visit Homes Of 7,000 Students — In One Day! Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 20 hours ago The homes of all 7,000 students in Henderson County, Kentucky will be visited by the District’s 1,000 teachers (I assume that number also includes other staff) in one day. It sounds pretty impressive, and you can read more about it in this article. Appointments won’t be made in advance, and, ordinarily, I d... more »
Days before its charter hearing, Truebright fired 8 teachers - Philly.com: Days before its charter hearing, Truebright fired 8 teachers July 13, 2012|By Martha Woodall, Inquirer Staff Writer - - - Share on emailShare on printShare on redditMore Sharing Services - - - - Just days before a hearing began to prove that it should be granted a new operating charter, Truebright Science Academy Charter suddenly told eight of its 15 certified teachers - plus its technology director - that they would be terminated, staff members told The I... more »
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky Anne, Ulysses and I are taking our Saturday coffee on the road this morning. Here’s a interview with Steve Earle, one of my favorite singers and songwriters. He’s talking about Woody Guthrie on the 100th anniversary of the great bard’s birth. *Songwriter Steve Earle has often acknowledged how artists such as Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt have influenced his songwriting career. But Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan arguably played the biggest parts in his musical evolution. Since his debut album, 1986′sGuitar Town, Earle ... more »
Growing Up in the South « Diane Ravitch's blog: Growing Up in the South by dianerav [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] A reader writes about growing up in the South. She brings back memories to me of growing up in Houston when it was segregated: *I don’t think PUBLIC schools should be catering to one ethnic or religious group either and I don’t think that schools that do so should receive public money. I grew up under segregation. My high school integrated when I was in the 11th grade. The chemistry teacher asked if I minded being lab partners with ”the colo... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: You Tell Me; What Does This Mean?: You Tell Me; What Does This Mean? by Melissa Westbrook [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] There are several passages in I-1240 that I cannot discern what they mean. I have read them out loud, had others read them and we can't find a consensus on the meanings. First up, how the Board of Education picks its final cut, once it receives all the approved charter proposals from authorizers (either approved School Boards and the Charter Commission). Unclear part in italics: *Section 215, Page... more »
Improper fractions and scale, on a warm summer day - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: Improper fractions and scale, on a warm summer day By Katy Murphy Friday, July 13th, 2012 at 11:14 am in Uncategorized. [image: Staff Photojournalist]*photo by D. Ross Cameron/Bay Area News Group* On a hot (by Oakland standards) summer afternoon this week in Oakland’s Sobrante Park neighborhood, a group of almost 50 soon-to-be middle schoolers were in the thick of problem solving at their local school. I mean, check out that whiteboard! The topic was measurement and scale... more »
Poll: Do you support charter schools?: Poll: Do you support charter schools? *As a member-driven organization, we look to you for input on the most controversial issues.* Last week, supporters of Initiative 1240 submitted enough signatures to the Secretary of State to qualify for the November ballot. *I-1240 would open the door to charter schools in Washington.* Supporters of the charter school initiative say the measure will bring innovation to struggling public schools and improve the quality of education in Washington.1 The initiative would authorize the creation of as man... more »
Summertime, time, time, Child, the living's easy. Fish are jumping out And the cotton, Lord, Cotton's high, Lord, so high. Your daddy's rich And your ma is so good-looking, baby. She's looking good now, Hush, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, No, no, no, no, don't you cry. Don't you cry! One of these mornings You're gonna rise, rise up singing, You're gonna spread your wings, Child, and take, take to the sky, Lord, the sky. Until that morning Honey, n-n-nothing's going to harm you now, No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,... more »
Your Summer PD: Aligning Health and Education — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Your Summer PD: Aligning Health and Education July 13, 2012 by Klea Scharberg [image: 2012 ASCD Whole Child Virtual Conference] ASCD conducted its second Whole Child Virtual Conference in May. This free conference showcases schools, authors, and research about implementing a whole child approach for a worldwide audience. View and share archived session recordings, presenter handouts, and related resources at www.ascd.org/wcvirtualconference. Gain further insight into ways... more »
Some Parents Think Segregation Is Wrong. Me Too. « Diane Ravitch's blog: Some Parents Think Segregation Is Wrong. Me Too. by dianerav This post contains one of the comments on the Minnesota charter story that I missed while my Internet service was down. It contributes more to the discussion earlier about whether segregation is okay if it is voluntary. Let me add that I have never supported the creation of public schools (are charters still public schools?) that welcome one race, one cultural group, one point of view, one group to the exclusion of others. I got death threats twenty ... more »
For the Record: CPS budget favors special programs, charters | catalyst-chicago.org: For the Record: CPS budget favors special programs, charters - Share on windycitizenShare on facebookShare on email *By: *Sarah Karp and Rebecca Vevea (WBEZ-Chicago Public Media) / July 13, 2012 *Tags: *finance and budgets [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] If a budget is a document that shows an organization’s priorities and direction, the CPS budget released last week reveals in stark black-and-white the undercurrent of much of the discussion so far: District o... more »
Attorney in Miramonte sex abuse case calls for federal investigation into LAUSD - LA Daily News: Attorney in Miramonte sex abuse case calls for federal investigation into LAUSD By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer Posted: 07/13/2012 04:35:24 PM PDT Updated: 07/13/2012 04:36:47 PM PDT Attorney in Miramonte sex abuse case calls for federal investigation into LAUSD A lawyer for 11 alleged victims of sexual abuse at Miramonte Elementary called Friday for an independent federal investigation into Los Angeles Unified's handling of allegations. During a morning news conference outside his P... more »
Urban Ed: Another Arbitration Ruling Is Overturned By the Courts: [image: Urban Ed] Another Arbitration Ruling Is Overturned By the Courts This is becoming a trend! A district 75 teacher and dean turned a student's suicide note over to the student's father -instead of the OSI investigators (the student never followed through). The DOE charged her with conduct unbecoming of a teacher (3020-a proceedings in DOE parlance). She was found guilty of interfering with a DOE investigation. The punishment? A $7,000 fine!! Now outside the DOE, interfering with the police is only pu... more »
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-24-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
