Big Education Ape: Jul 25, 2012

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

by alkleen

Hats off to you, Chicago Teachers Union, once again you triumph, when so many other district unions have failed and or not had the courage to stand up to being bullied.
So much for the millions of dollars in advertisements that the anti-union forces put in the Chicago newspapers and on the airwaves. Didn’t work. So much for tough guy Emanuel and the miracle worker Bizard, or is it Bizarre ? So much for the Chicago Tribune’s relentless propaganda designed to destroy the teacher’s union. All failed.
The district did get their longer school day, and that’s probably a good thing. The teachers ? They will continue to work their previous amount of hours. Several hundred new teachers will be hired so none of the teachers needs to work a longer day.
Now the teachers can back off of their high salary request and settle for a more modest raise, and everyone can

Schools Matter: Reduce spelling, grammar, phonics, increase free voluntary reading: Research supports Rosen et al

Schools Matter: Reduce spelling, grammar, phonics, increase free voluntary reading: Research supports Rosen et al:

Reduce spelling, grammar, phonics, increase free voluntary reading: Research supports Rosen et al

by skrashen

Research: Rosen’s writers are right about reading and writing

Sent to the Guardian, July 24, 2012

Research supports Michael Rosen and 90 other writers and artists who urged a reduction in spelling, grammar and phonics teaching and testing, and an increased emphasis on reading for enjoyment (“Children must be free to read for fun,” July 24, 2012).
Studies done over the last 100 years show that spelling instruction has very little effect on spelling accuracy.
Studies done over the last 100 years show that the formal study of grammar does not improve students’ reading and writing.
Studies done over the last 25 years show that heavy phonics study (termed “systematic intensive phonics”) only

Oops, that old accountability thing again (And again and..) SacPD investigate former aide to Mayor Johnson | Sacramento News - KCRA Home

Sacramento police investigate former aide to Mayor Johnson | Sacramento News - KCRA Home:

VIEW LARGE

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) -

A former top aide to Mayor Kevin Johnson is now the subject of a criminal investigation conducted by the Sacramento Police Department, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Lisa Serna Mayorga, daughter of former Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna, resigned last week. She's accused of using a city-issued credit card for personal purchases.

Serna Mayorga had worked as the council operations manager before she was appointed to a position in the mayor’s office just weeks ago, Johnson’s spokesman said earlier this week.

Sacramento police are working with the City Manager's office along with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office to look further into her credit card usage.

Daily Kos: Support progressive champion Darcy Burner - and maybe win a quilt!

Daily Kos: Support progressive champion Darcy Burner - and maybe win a quilt!:

WED JUL 25, 2012 AT 05:49 PM PDT

Support progressive champion Darcy Burner - and maybe win a quilt!

byteacherken Follow

PERMALINK	1 COMMENT

Darcy Burner is a true progressive champion. Her primary is now less than two weeks away. She needs to finish first among the Democrats in the top-two primary in orderto advance to the general election. One of her opponents is a former Vice President of Microsoft who has contributed more than $1million to her own campaign, and has made it clear that she will align herself not with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, but with the "New Democrats." Another candidate has been the beneficiary of an independent PAC's expenditures, that PAC being almost exclusively funded by the candidate's mother.

Darcy does not have access to those kinds of resources. She depends upon the support of ordinary people. That is how she got endorsed by MoveOn.org - more than 50% of the members in the district chose Darcy as their choice to be the next Democratic Congressman from WA-01. Darcy depends upon the financial support of ordinary folks like us.

I have known Darcy for more than half a decade. She is a true progressive warrior. She is also a leader. In 2008 she organized a group of Democratic candidates for Congress to oppose our continued participation in war activities in Iraq. Among the others in that groups were Tom Perriello and Donna Edwards.

The typical request for contributions from Darcy's campaign is $14. If you can give that, great. If you can give even more, even better. Even if you can only give $5, it makes a difference.

I am now a retired school teacher, whose income is down significantly. I have already given Darcy over $100. My social security check gets deposited tonight. Even though we have had a number of unexpected recent expenditures, by the end of this week I will give Darcy another $50.

I am asking, - no, I am BEGGING - you to join me in supporting Darcy's campaign.

Click this thermometer to contribute to Darcy Burner's campaign and you may also win the quilt that was signed at NN12 in Providence, RI -- details below the orange itzyl...

top of the quilt signed in Providence

The entire month of July will be a quilt fundraiser for Darcy Burner, candidate for Congress, WA-01. There will be a drawing for the quilt signed in Providence at NN12 the first week in August. Everyone can get one chance per day, each and every day in July by EITHER donating $10 or more to Darcy Burner's campaign through this Act Blue page OR by writing a 50-word-or-less essay on this topic: How can we bend the arc of history more towards justice for all?. If we deem your essay to be on topic, it will count for a chance. Send essays to winglionquilts AT gmail DOT com with "Darcy Burner" in the subject line. To recap, earn an equal chance once a day every day in July by either donating or sending a short essay (one or the other). That means everyone who began at the beginning can have as many as thirty-one equal chances in this drawing. The first week in August, I will find a neighborhood child to do the drawing and someone will become the new owner of the quilt.

Quilt stats: It will be about 66" square, sleeved for hanging. The fabric is cotton, the batting a fine wool. I am quilting it by hand. It will be finished by the end of July.

Here are the quilt signatories:

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-25-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best:

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Invest in Teachers – The Art of Teaching « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 25 minutes ago

Invest in Teachers – The Art of Teaching « Cooperative Catalyst: Invest in Teachers – The Art of Teaching POSTED BY LINEDALILE ⋅ JULY 25, 2012 ⋅ LEAVE A COMMENT * * *A teacher is someone who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework – Lily Tomlin* Let us redefine the word “Teacher”. Teaching is not a job; it is an art. An art hidden behind a load of responsibilities. It lays the foundation of discovering mysteries, solving problems, and training our minds to question, explore, and investigate. To a world where knowledge is a treasure, teaching is a mirror that ... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Media Matters nails WSJ and ALEC on "Parent Trigger"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 34 minutes ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Media Matters nails WSJ and ALEC on "Parent Trigger": Media Matters nails WSJ and ALEC on "Parent Trigger" by Mike Klonsky According to Media Matters: The Wall Street Journal this morning failed to report ties between the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and controversial "parent-trigger" legislation that would allow parents to take over and convert public schools to charter schools. They also failed to report that the Journal's parent company, News Corp, is a member of ALEC. The Journal's treatment of the legislation al... more »

Schools Matter: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Schools Matter: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene *"Prior research, then, strongly suggests that charter programs have not lived up to their initial promise of transcending the segregating effects of traditional district boundary lines. In fact, these studies indicate charters exacerbate already rampant school segregation, particularly for Black students." — Erica Frankenberg, Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, Jia Wang* [image: The Smith and Carlos Statue at San José ... more »

Romney goes after the huge and growing US Anglo-Saxon voting bloc. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Romney goes after the huge and growing US Anglo-Saxon voting bloc. « Fred Klonsky: Romney goes after the huge and growing US Anglo-Saxon voting bloc. by Fred Klonsky So you know I’m not exactly this huge Barack Obama fan. But then there is this story out of England where Mittens has started his foreign tour, which will end at the feet of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. One of his people is quoted: “We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and (Romney) feels that the special relationship is special,” the adviser is quoted as saying. “The White House didn’t fully appreciate the shared hi... more »

2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book - Data Book 2012 - Data Book - KIDS COUNT Data Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book - Data Book 2012 - Data Book - KIDS COUNT Data Center: 2012 *KIDS COUNT Data Book*National and state-by-state data on key indicators of child well-being. download or order book media resources state rankings & interactive wheel create custom data reports Follow KIDS COUNT - *KIDS COUNT:* Join Email List - - - Download or Order the *Data Book* The 2012 *KIDS COUNT Data Book* introduces a new KIDS COUNT index, which provides a detailed picture of how children are faring in the United States. In addition to ranking states on overall child... more »

Bronx Educator Grows Organically Engaged Citizens

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Bronx Educator Grows Organically Engaged Citizens: Bronx Educator Grows Organically Engaged Citizens By Helen Weatherall / July 23, 2012 10:04 pm [image: Email]Share Stephen Ritz, Founder of The Green Bronx Machine There’s a lot to the Stephen Ritz story. As told in rapid fire by the man himself the whole quickly disperses like an exploding star. He’s a kid from the South Bronx, the world’s oldest 6th grader. As an athlete in a different life he spent time in NBA camps. For a spell he would consume two-dozen eggs a day. Yes, he has had a critical health issue – more than one even. ... more »

School Tech Connect: Jawanza Malone At City Hall

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Jawanza Malone At City Hall: Jawanza Malone At City Hall by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) *"We are done having people make decisions for us that don't care about us." * Jawanza Malone from KOCO spoke this morning at City Hall in support of the elected, representative school board. Popout Toward the end there, he says this: Everybody, *everybody* wants their children to grow and develop and be strong, right? Is there anyone who looks into their child's face, and says to that child, "I don't want you to be anything?" Is there any parent up here who believes th... more »

Alyssa Granacki: Until Schools Are No Longer Separate, We Must Strive for Equal

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Alyssa Granacki: Until Schools Are No Longer Separate, We Must Strive for Equal: Until Schools Are No Longer Separate, We Must Strive for Equal Posted: 07/25/2012 2:02 pm React AmazingInspiringFunnyScaryHotCrazyImportantWeird Follow Charter Schools , éducation , Education Reform , Segregation , Segregation , Chicago Schools , Public Schools , Race , Racial Segregation , School Reform , Education News SHARE THIS STORY 3 5 0 Submit this story As a first-year teacher, I believed the incredibleresults that my charter school produced couldn't be anything but positive. Then, in Feb... more »

Team Vallas Falsifies Documents to Avoid Competitive Bidding - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Team Vallas Falsifies Documents to Avoid Competitive Bidding - Wait, What?: Team Vallas Falsifies Documents to Avoid Competitive Bidding by jonpelto According to documents provided by City of Bridgeport employees, Paul Vallas, Bridgeport’s $229,000 Part-time Superintendent of Schools, or members of his senior staff, provided false information on official City documents in order to use a technique called “sole-sourcing” to give a major City contract to a company called the Public Consulting Group Inc. Vallas provided the same company with multi-million-dollars contracts when he w... more »

Is the Florida Department of Education Trying to Cover for Mistakes on School Grades? | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Is the Florida Department of Education Trying to Cover for Mistakes on School Grades? | Scathing Purple Musings: Is the Florida Department of Education Trying to Cover for Mistakes on School Grades? by Bob Sikes Scott Maxwell mocked Florida State University for missing the mistakes in the DOE’s school grades that were released on July 11. But the DOE made no mention of FSU validating the DOE’s calculus in its press release. The involvement of FSU’s role was not made pubic until the DOE’s press release on July 20 when the mistakes and improvements in 213 school grades were announ... more »

Amid rapid charter school growth, and stunning fraud charges, city leaders consider overhaul of District charter office | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Amid rapid charter school growth, and stunning fraud charges, city leaders consider overhaul of District charter office | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Amid rapid charter school growth, and stunning fraud charges, city leaders consider overhaul of District charter office by Benjamin Herold *By Benjamin Herold for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks*Even as federal investigators were finalizing a massive fraud indictment against one of Philadelphia’s most prominent charter school operators, the School Reform Commission was moving thousands of students andhundreds of millions of... more »

tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - An Interview with The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - An Interview with The Washington Post: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE WASHINGTON POST [image: Date]MONDAY, JULY 16, 2012 AT 11:12PM | [image: Print Article]PRINT ARTICLE | [image: Email Article]EMAIL ARTICLE | [image: Comment]4 COMMENTS *This interview, conducted by Laura Hambleton, was originally published at The Washington Poston July 16, 2012.* TOM HAYDEN, 1960S RADICAL AND EX-HUSBAND OF JANE FONDA, REFLECTS ON LIFE AT AGE 72 Few symbolized 1960s radicalism as boldly as Tom Hayden: co-founder of Students for a Democratic Society, Freedom Rider i... more »

Louisiana Educator: BESE Approves Whitewash on Voucher Accountability

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: BESE Approves Whitewash on Voucher Accountability: BESE Approves Whitewash on Voucher Accountability by Michael Deshotels Yesterday BESE approved the so called “accountability” rules developed by Superintendent White for private schools accepting public school voucher students under the Act 2 legislation. This was just a formality since White had been given sole authority by the legislature to make the rules. As I have pointed out before, BESE has become irrelevant since it has become clear that all but two of the members are firmly under the direction of Jind... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: This morning at CPS: The struggle continues...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: This morning at CPS: The struggle continues...: This morning at CPS: The struggle continues... by Mike Klonsky Jesse SharkeyChicago union teachers sent a powerful message to Rahm/Brizard and corporate school reformers this morning when hundreds of them marched outside CPS headquarters. The message was -- *It's not over yet. The struggle continues. * Union Veep Jesse Sharkey made that same point again to rousing applause, in his

Teachers Don't Suck !: What's Wrong Here? Plenty - That's What!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Teachers Don't Suck !: What's Wrong Here? Plenty - That's What!: What's Wrong Here? Plenty - That's What! by Walt S. *Last Month's Ruling on COLA Benefits for Retirees* The most important aspect of this ruling is that it opens up the door to have the state cut all benefits based on the debt limitation clause in the state constitution yet the

How Common Core will change testing in schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

How Common Core will change testing in schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: How Common Core will change testing in schools By Valerie Strauss This *was written by Stephen Krashen, professor of linguistics at the University of Southern California (emeritus), to explain how the adoption of the Common Core State Standards will change testing in the nation’s schools. This first appeared on Diane Ravitch’s blog.* By Stephen Krashen *How much testing?* At first glance, the assessments now being developed to accompany the Common Core standards do not appear to be much more tha... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Update The Problems With Chris Cerf: A Summary

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Cerf's Problems #3: Data Abuse: Cerf's Problems #3: Data Abuse by Duke Here again are the three problems I have with ACTING NJ Education Commissioner Chris Cerf: 1. He plays fast and loose with standards of ethics and transparency. 2. He has accrued too much power to himself. 3. He misrepresents research, data, and facts to push his policies. Time to take a look at #3. Tomorrow, the day of Cerf's long-awaited confirmation hearing, it will have been 507 days since Cerf promised a report on charter schools "as quickly as is humanly possible." Let's rememb... more »

Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing | Scathing Purple Musings: Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing by Bob Sikes Reports James Call in the *Florida Current*: A top lawmaker wants to call a time-out on statewide testing of Florida’s students and grading of public schools. “We’ve got teachers whose lives and students whose lives are impacted by an assessment system which is not accurate,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriation Education Committee. “We’ve got to stop, stop a... more »

Testimony of Secretary Duncan before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee | U.S. Department of Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Testimony of Secretary Duncan before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee | U.S. Department of Education: Testimony of Secretary Duncan before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee JULY 25, 2012 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov I want to thank the Chairman, the Ranking Member, and other Members of this Subcommittee for your support. Over the past three years, we've protected students at risk while investing in education reform that supports bold and courage... more »

RheeFirst! » Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide”

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

RheeFirst! » Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide”: Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide” by admin Written by Liz Dwyer for Good Education. Read the entire post here. “*The Olympic Games are a time for the world’s nations to showcase their very best, but a new ad from Michelle Rhee’s education reform group Students First has chosen to use the games to shine an unflattering spotlight on America’s public schools. …* *[I]t’s sad that an organization that calls itself Students First would choose to ridicule students and our schools in this way. The messaging of this ad also fee... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Cerf's Problems #2: NJ's Education Autocracy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Cerf's Problems #2: NJ's Education Autocracy: Cerf's Problems #2: NJ's Education Autocracy by Duke Once again, I see three problems with ACTING NJ Education Commissioner Cerf: 1. He plays fast and loose with standards of ethics and transparency. 2. He has accrued too much power to himself. 3. He misrepresents research, data, and facts to push his policies. Let's look at #2 now. Where should the control of schools lie? With elected school boards and the elected Legislature? Or with an unelected bureaucrat and his staff in the Department of Education? Chris C... more »

Secretary Duncan Testifies on Across-the-Board Budget Cuts | ED.gov Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Secretary Duncan Testifies on Across-the-Board Budget Cuts | ED.gov Blog: Secretary Duncan Testifies on Across-the-Board Budget Cuts Posted on July 25, 2012 by Cameron Brenchley [image: U.S. Capitol Building] Secretary Arne Duncan testified before Congress today on the impact of across-the-board cuts. Photo courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol. Earlier today Secretary of Education Arne Duncan testified on Capitol Hill about the impact of budget cuts called sequestration. Sequestration would mandate across-the-board cuts to the federal budget that will go into effect in January if... more »

Campus Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Campus Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court « Student Activism: Campus Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court by Angus Johnston One of the Supreme Court’s first cases when it returns in the fall will be Fisher v. University of Texas, scheduled for argument on October 10. The Fisher case concerns the constitutionality of affirmative action policies in undergraduate admissions at UT. Campus affirmative action has been on shaky legal ground since 2003, when the Supreme Court ruled in the 5-4 Grutter v. Bollinger decision that race-conscious policies could not be used to remedy ... more »

Student Activists Take the Stage at SOS Webinar « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Student Activists Take the Stage at SOS Webinar « Diane Ravitch's blog: Student Activists Take the Stage at SOS Webinar by dianerav A reader sent the following notice. I often correspond with Nikhil Goyal, whom I met on Twitter. If these young people raise their voices and rally their peers, they can drive the conversation and stop the obsession with testing and the monetizing of schooling. Please join the Webinar to talk to them and give them encouragement. *I am glad to see students participation in the education process because after all, it is THEIR future. I believe the students ... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, July 25, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Located in Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum is a complex of historic facilities and unique attractions. Widely regarded as North America's most popular railroad museum, there is something here for everyone! Throughout the year, experience lavishly restored trains, engaging exhibits, and unique special events. Every weekend April-September, ride behind a real locomotive! Education Headlines *Wednesday, July 25, 2012* A school of their ownA new academy will help academically, socially and emotionally troubled ... more »

To drop out you have to first drop in « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

To drop out you have to first drop in « Deborah Meier on Education: To drop out you have to first drop in by debmeier “I get so tired of reading about the “decline’ and ‘failure’ of American education. It is not true….” (Thanks Diane R and Kathy DuPois) And it’s been going on forever. Read Richard Rothstein’s classic: “The Way Things Were.’ Then weep or laugh. I think Al Shanker’s excuse was probably part of the misguided “game”. He thought that getting attention paid to the sorry state of our educational system was bound to be a good idea, regardless, he explained to me. The mor... more »

Geaux Teacher!: 90-DAY COMMENT PERIOD FOR VOUCHER ACCOUNTABILITY PROPOSAL

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Geaux Teacher!: 90-DAY COMMENT PERIOD FOR VOUCHER ACCOUNTABILITY PROPOSAL: 90-DAY COMMENT PERIOD FOR VOUCHER ACCOUNTABILITY PROPOSAL by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) Voucher accountability a sham? *Tuesday’s vote sets in motion a 90-day comment period during which the public may suggest changes in the policy to BESE. After that period, the rules will become part of a department policy bulletin. People who wish to suggest changes can contact BESE at 225-342-5840.* This post by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers reveals a fact that completely passed my sphere of a... more »

Charter school billionaire charged with massive fraud

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Teamster Nation: Charter school billionaire charged with massive fraud: Charter school billionaire charged with massive fraud Don't forget union-busting.As the blogger Atrios says, we'll find out soon what happens when all the public schools are shut down and all the charter school owners go to jail. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported yesterday, A charter school mogul was charged today in a multimillion-dollar fraud case by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Dorothy June Hairston Brown, who received accolades for students' test scores and gained notoriety for collecting large salaries a... more »

When Youth Get Involved « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

When Youth Get Involved « Diane Ravitch's blog: When Youth Get Involved by dianerav A reader in Louisiana points out that the research I cited this morning was prepared by a 19-year-old who is fighting for quality education and real science education, not religious indoctrination. This is an uphill battle in Louisiana today, in light of the state’s decision to give public funding to schools that teach creationism as science. * The young man whose blog you cited, Zach Kopplin – 19, is a shining example of the ability and power that our youth have when they speak out and take act... more »

Testing, Testing, and Testing: More Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Testing, Testing, and Testing: More Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Testing, Testing, and Testing: More Cartoons by larrycuban The U.S. has tests galore. Driving, alcohol, steroids, DNA, citizenship, blood, pregnancy–and on and on. Most serve a specific purpose and carry personal consequences if one passes or fails. School tests, however, to pass a course, to be promoted to another grade, to graduate and to judge whether the school is satisfactory or on probation have proliferated dramatically in the past three decades. Opinions are split among Amer... more »

NYC Educator: A Strong Union Embraces Diversity

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

NYC Educator: A Strong Union Embraces Diversity: A Strong Union Embraces Diversity by NYC Educator UFT has just scored a victory against Mayor4Life, conclusively establishing that even those as rich as Bloomberg need to listen to voices other than those in their heads. CTU has just provided proof that a determined and cohesive union can negotiate a win-win. However, there's work ahead on both fronts. In NY, it's likely an embittered mayor will move toward more traditional school closings, because he needs what he wants, when he wants, how he wants. And Chicago, just like NY, still ... more »

Geaux Teacher!: NEGLIGENCE - BEGINS WITH BESE BUT ENDS IN THE CLASSROOM

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Geaux Teacher!: NEGLIGENCE - BEGINS WITH BESE BUT ENDS IN THE CLASSROOM: NEGLIGENCE - BEGINS WITH BESE BUT ENDS IN THE CLASSROOM by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) Personal experiences are the best way to convey the realities of life stories without the spin. My own personal experience mirrored that of the last teacher quoted in this story. The "reform" movement designed to aid and abet the privatization of public education continues to attack the teaching profession in order to achieve its goals of removing collective bargaining, moving public dollars into the priv... more »

Education Research Report: First-Time Kindergartners in 2010-11

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Education Research Report: First-Time Kindergartners in 2010-11: First-Time Kindergartners in 2010-11 by Jonathan Kantrowitz First-Time Kindergartners in 2010-11: First Findings From the Kindergarten Rounds of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011), provides a snapshot of the 3.5 million kindergartners who were attending kindergarten in the United States for the first time in the 2010-11 school year. The ECLS-K:2011 is a longitudinal study that will follow students from their kindergarten year to the spring of 2016, when most of them ar... more »

The pension cost shift. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

The pension cost shift. « Fred Klonsky: The pension cost shift. by Fred Klonsky For some strange reason known only to Tribune columnist Eric Zorn, he decided to try and explain how Chicago Public Schools are *overfunded.* Answers to the paralyzing questions about school funding fairness. It’s an argument too stupid to even get started on. But at the end of his blog post, Zorn mentions the pension cost swap in passing. This is a topic worth addressing. The pension cost swap is Mike Madigan’s idea. The state owes the Teacher Retirement System maybe $80 billion dollars. Maybe more. Why... more »

Louisiana’s Worthless Accountability Plan for Voucher Schools « Education Talk New Orleans

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Louisiana’s Worthless Accountability Plan for Voucher Schools « Education Talk New Orleans: *Louisiana’s Worthless Accountability Plan for Voucher Schools*Wednesday, Jul 25 2012 Education Reform and Louisiana's Accountability System and Uncategorized edutalknola7:06 am Louisiana State Superintendent John White After all that fanfare about accountability, John White has crafted a completely worthlessaccountability plan for the voucher schools. It’s a shame that so many people on the BESE can’t read. All but 2 Board members voted to support the plan. Only members Lottie Beebe an... more »

Another Charter School Scandal: Ho-Hum « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Another Charter School Scandal: Ho-Hum « Diane Ravitch's blog: Another Charter School Scandal: Ho-Hum by dianerav I guess we will have to get used to this sort of thing. Some charter schools in Florida padded the enrollment–er, made a miscalculation–of the number of students in their program. Here is the story: *An audit of Coronado High School found there was no documentation to show 465 students participated in an on-* * * [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS WEBSITE CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS A compilation of news articles about charter s... more »

Update: Michigan For Sale - Progress Michigan

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Michigan For Sale - Progress Michigan: Michigan For Sale Who is Richard McLellan? As a longtime Lansing attorney, McLellan has spent decades helping big corporations cash in on all Michigan’s most precious assets. The Mackinac Center was started in 1987 with funding from the little-known Cornerstone Foundation, created by McLellan, then an attorney with Dykema Gossett. Its initial effort was toprivatize the Michigan Accident Fund, a state agency selling workers’ compensation coverage to businesses. The Accident Fund was privatized in 1994 under Gov. John Engler, and Dykema Gosse... more »

Cut Education Now, Pay Later: ‘What Does This Kind Of Negligence Do To Our Students?'

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Cut Education Now, Pay Later: ‘What Does This Kind Of Negligence Do To Our Students?': Cut Education Now, Pay Later: ‘What Does This Kind Of Negligence Do To Our Students?' Leila Chakravarty, a seventh-grade math teacher in the Los Angeles public school system, measures the cost of austerity cuts to education not in gym size, class size or even pink slips, but in kids. "There are plenty of days when I know someone needs help, and I simply cannot get the time to talk to him or her one-on-one before the bell rings," said Chakravarty, who noted that she has taught as many as 37 child... more »

Carolyn Foote: If It Is About the Students, Why Insult Them?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Carolyn Foote: If It Is About the Students, Why Insult Them?: If It Is About the Students, Why Insult Them? In her recent ad campaign linking failing education to a flabby American Olympian, Michelle Rhee insults American students everywhere, which is, of course, ironic for an organization known as Students First. The more I watched the ad, the more angry it made me. I'm sick and tired of these broad brush strokes about the state of American education anyway. But her ad was an appalling misstep and an insult to our students (and our Olympians, frankly.) The ad implies that our stud... more »

Top-Ranked High School Slapped With Civil Rights Complaint - High School Notes (usnews.com)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Top-Ranked High School Slapped With Civil Rights Complaint - High School Notes (usnews.com): Top-Ranked High School Slapped With Civil Rights Complaint By KELSEY SHEEHY July 25, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: Only 4 percent of the students enrolled at Thomas Jefferson during the 2009-2010 school year identified as black or Latino.] Only 4 percent of the students enrolled at Thomas Jefferson during the 2009-2010 school year identified as black or Latino. Getting into Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technologyis like winning the lottery, Suzanne Rheault, CEO of the test-prep ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: The Daily Kos Nails the Common Core Standards. They are Not "For the Children" on Any Level.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: The Daily Kos Nails the Common Core Standards. They are Not "For the Children" on Any Level.: The Daily Kos Nails the Common Core Standards. They are Not "For the Children" on Any Level. by stlgretchen ....and you'll find that it's rotten. Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. The Daily Kos has published an article entitled *"Common Core State Standards -- Are Dangerous".* I couldn't agree more. Progressives increasingly are understanding Common Core standards will not reform education in a positive manner. Many so-called conservatives ha... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-25-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

[image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Creationists in Louisiana Win State Funding by dianerav The voucher legislation in Louisiana will send millions of dollars to Christian academies that repudiate evolution and teach creationism. Their students will never learn about evolution other than to hear it ridiculed. At least 20 of the religious schools that receive voucher students teach creationism, and as this researcher shows, that may be only the tip of the iceberg. This is a descent into ignorance. But in the eyes of a group of state superintendents called Chiefs for C... more »

California nearly last in children’s well-being | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

California nearly last in children’s well-being | EdSource Today: California nearly last in children’s well-being ** July 25th, 2012 | Add a Comment | By Kathryn Baron Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services California is doing slightly better by its kids but still has a long way to go, ranking 41st out of 50 states in the overall well-being of children. The *2012 Kids Count *report, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, measures how well children are faring on 16 different indicators in education, economic well-being, ... more »

Were Chicago charter school operators the biggest losers yesterday? « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Were Chicago charter school operators the biggest losers yesterday? « Fred Klonsky: Were Chicago charter school operators the biggest losers yesterday? by Fred Klonsky Reading this morning’s newspapers (online, of course. I don’t buy those two rags) and reading the pundits, everyone is talking happy about yesterday’s announcement that the CTU and the CPS have reached a tentative agreement on the longer school day. CTU President Karen Lewis was very clear, however. There is a lot yet to bargain. My in box was loaded with emails this morning asking if we could trade our leaders for... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: No money to pay teachers. Really?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: No money to pay teachers. Really?: No money to pay teachers. Really? by Mike Klonsky Rahm & Burge But Rahm just settled another police torture case for over $5.375 million bringing the total so far to $53.6 million. That's the price taxpayers have been forced to pay to defend torturer Burge and his Area 2 cohorts, compensate torture victims and pay a special prosecutor to investigate the 110 torture cases we know about. The largest of the two new pay-outs — for $5.37 million — will go to Michael Tillman, who spent 23 1/2 years in the penitentiary base... more »

Too Many Chiefs? | AMPS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Too Many Chiefs? | AMPS: Too Many Chiefs? by Thomas J. Mertz The Wild Magnolias, Mardi Gras Indians. Click image for more information. Professor Longhair – ” Big Chief 1 and 2″ (click to listen or download). Just announced, special Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education meetings on Friday, July 27, Noon (Doyle Blg., rm 103), to create a new, one year Chief of Staff position at a cost of $170,000. This has to be done via a budget amendment, so it will require five votes. No public appearances; in order to weigh in write the Board at board@madison.k12.wi.us. I am a... more »

In the News: TFA pushes into political arena | catalyst-chicago.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

In the News: TFA pushes into political arena | catalyst-chicago.org: In the News: TFA pushes into political arena - Share on windycitizenShare on facebookShare on email *By: *Cassandra West / July 24, 2012 *Tags: *charter schools CPS budget Teach for America — the program that recruits recent college grads to work in underperforming schools — is making a push into the political arena. Former TFA grads, as they're known, have won seats in state houses and on local school boards. (Marketplace.org) The Chicago school board has nixed voting Wednesday on its 2012-13 budget bec... more »

Why Won’t They Let Teachers Teach? « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Why Won’t They Let Teachers Teach? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Won’t They Let Teachers Teach? by dianerav *I asked a question about the value of online learning, and this teacher responded somewhat off-topic. But what he says raises an interesting question. Are public officials and their cascade of programs making it impossible for teachers to teach? Are they destroying the last vestiges of professional autonomy? Do they talk “respect” but act top-down? Why won’t they let teachers teach? What do they expect to accomplish by their constant interference?* This teacher wrote: Well, ... more »

How Many Houses Have You Built? [On The Future of Teaching Blog] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

How Many Houses Have You Built? [On The Future of Teaching Blog] | The Jose Vilson: How Many Houses Have You Built? [On The Future of Teaching Blog] by Jose Excerpt: However, I can’t help but feel some sort of way about the risk / reward dynamic that’s played itself out when it comes to advocacy. As professionals, how long can teachers wait until our profession gets * completely* stripped away from us? How much will we tolerate policy committees and education panels without so much as a former teacher, much less a current one? How often do we value the opinions of self-proclaimed... more »

The Wall Street Journal Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization Law | Blog | Media Matters for America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

The Wall Street Journal Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization Law | Blog | Media Matters for America: *The Wall Street Journal* Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization LawBLOG ››› 5 HOURS AND 3 MINUTES AGO ››› MELODY JOHNSON 54 [image: Print] The *Wall Street Journal* this morning failed to report ties between the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and controversial "parent-trigger" legislation that would allow parents to take over and convert public schools to charter schools. They also failed to report that the *J... more »

School Tech Connect: Things Are Starting To Move In Chicago

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

School Tech Connect: Things Are Starting To Move In Chicago: Things Are Starting To Move In Chicago by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Busy morning tomorrow. The CTU rally outside the Appointed Board of Education starts at 9:00. Simultaneously, Communities Organized For Democracy in Education is having a press conference at 9:30 over a City Hall. I'll be at that. I'll post a more specific location inside City Hall when I find out. Lots going on. Meanwhile, last night people were standing in line to sign our petition for an elected, representative school board. I didn't even get... more »

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Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Sacramento police investigate former aide to Mayor Johnson

Criminal probe launched, looks at credit card usage

James Baldwin said it best:

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

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