Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Big Education Ape Nite Cap UPDATE 7-26-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2




UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE


Does Uncle Mike and the DOE Know Make Shinola From Shit?

Last week my wife and I went to register our son for his new middle school. He will be starting 6th grade, not only in a new school, but a new school district as well.

As we were waiting in the guidance office to meet with the guidance counselor, I picked up the school's 2012 yearbook and leafed through it. My eyes bugged out of their sockets like when Bugs Bunny fell for the female robot bunny that Elmer Fudd had created. Or was it Daffy Duck?

Aside from the color portraits of the stu






Boring Lessons? ReVamp with Videos!



I wanted to spice up my lesson on fact and opinion, but I wanted to make sure I was in the upper echelon ofBloom's Taxonomy. At this point in their schooliverse, my students are well versed in writing F and O on a worksheet. Not because of me, because you know how I feel about worksheets. I wanted to step it up! What to do? What to do?

 Wellllll, now that we have access to Youtube, I decided to take advantage of it! I was already a big fan of using 

What Went Wrong in Louisiana?

A reader posted the following comment.
As a public school teacher on the Northshore across the lake from New Orleans, educated in parochial schools for most of my elementary and high school years, I have been wanting to discuss the truth of education in the State of Louisiana for years, but it cannot be discussed publically, even though most people know the truth, a person could get killed or maimed at worst or at best, fired from a teaching position by openly speaking the unspeakable in today’s irrationally violent world. Under federal mandatory desegregation in 1969, I student taught English IV at a public high school in a Northshore Parish. Prior to this law, schools across the State were segregated into all black or all white public schools—“separate but equal” they called it. My senior high school class was composed of 10 white students and 10 black students, as were all of the other classes in the school. My white students could all read and write at grade level able to do “A, B or C” work. Half of my black students 



Taking Care of Education

Whenever there's an inaccurate statement about taxation in Illinois, the Illinois Policy Institute is nearby.

“The tax increase was supposed to take care of education…it didn’t,” Yelverton said


I suppose I could replay the tapes from the debate, but really, what would the point be? The tax increase was about generating enough revenue to keep the rating agencies from making it impossible to borrow money. It was also about 


Miss Laura Gets The Vapors Again!

Why, I do declare! It's time to get the fainting couch again for Miss Laura Waters!
Last week in this space, I wrote a rebuttal to Dr. Diane Ravitch's response to N.J. Education Commissioner Chris Cerf's charter school editorial. Dr. Ravitch, the leading conservative spokesperson in education today, contended that New Jersey is "beginning to revolt" against charters "because the state is trying to push them into suburbs that have great public schools and don't want them."
I tried to temper that argument, reinforce Comm. Cerf's definition of charters as "public schools, with public school students and public school teachers, funded with public dollars," and inject a little sanity into a debate that seems to polarize many people who otherwise share a passion for public education.
While I received some very supportive emails, the post ignited a host of negative comments, which


Strange Politics: Tracing Campaign Donations Part I

Categories: Campaign FinancePaul VallasStefan PryorSteven Adamowski
Tags: 
Examining who someone gives political donations to will often tell you a fair amount about their relationships, ideology, politics or priorities. Now that the 2012 campaign season is kicking into high gear, we’ll begin a new semi-regular segment called… Wait, What?  They Gave to Whom? Somewhat tongue in cheek, we’ll start by examining the contributions [...]
(Read more...)



 


Labor Beat: Jesse Sharkey Speech to Rally before CPS Board Meeting


A rally of several hundred teachers union members and community supporters took place on the street right before the July 25, 2012 Chicago Public Schools Board meeting. The big crowd breathed in the refreshing atmosphere of a new, successful offensive by the union that has opened up significant cracks in the Board's positions. 'We have met their attack arm-in-arm with our partners in the community." This counter-attack, Sharkey noted, "is what has caused the political powers that be and the Board [CPS] to climb out of their bulldozer...and they can no longer bulldoze us. Now they want to talk to us." But with these successes of the CTU and community, he added, "we should be under no illusions that the tiger has changed its stripes." Length - 4:59

Please make a Donation to Labor Beat (Committee for Labor Access) and help rank-and-file tv:
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Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-26-12 #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



Jersey Jazzman: Pushing The Ethics Envelope

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 minutes ago
Jersey Jazzman: Pushing The Ethics Envelope: Pushing The Ethics Envelope by Duke *Star Ledger Editorial Board* Ruh-roh: The co-chair of the state legislature’s Joint Committee on the Public Schools (JCPS) says news of acting state education commissioner Christopher Cerf’s meeting secretly in a private residence in 2011 with some Board of Education members and Councilman Steven Fulop to discuss future action on then-superintendent Charles Epps’ contract is something the committee would want to investigate, as is the way in which Jersey City’s new schools superintendent was hired. ... more »

IS LAUSD A NOT SO SMART A.L.E.C.? - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 minutes ago
IS LAUSD A NOT SO SMART A.L.E.C.? - Perdaily.com: IS LAUSD A NOT SO SMART A.L.E.C.? by Leonard Isenberg [image: ALEC.jpg] (Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post) *The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a prime mover in the race to privatize public education for profit and what they see as the collateral benefit of further dumbing down the American public, so they not only don't think of questioning authority, but literally no longer have the education or vocabulary necessary to do so. By pushing thr... more »

Summer Reading: What Congress Needs to Know About Kids in 2012 | First Focus

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
Summer Reading: What Congress Needs to Know About Kids in 2012 | First Focus: [image: First Focus - Making Childen and Families the Priority] Top of Our List Summer Reading: What Congress Needs to Know About Kids in 2012By Megan Curran July 26, 2012 As the clock ticks down on the remaining months of the 112th Congress, the series of year-end tax and budget deadlines loom ever larger. The primary cash assistance program for low-income families with children, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), expires on September 30, 2012. Among the number of tax items due to expire on D... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Another anti-teacher film backed by

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Another anti-teacher film backed by: Another anti-teacher film backed by by Mike Klonsky *Won't Back Down* Major studio films with celebrity stars have become the latest weapon of choice in the war against teachers and public education. It all began with *Waiting for Superman *and will be joined in September by *Won't Back Down*, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal as a parent and Viola Davis as a teacher who work together to organize support for a petition to overhaul the school and resuscitate it academically. The more than obvious parallel here is w... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Banda Won't Vote for Charters?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Banda Won't Vote for Charters?: Banda Won't Vote for Charters? by Melissa Westbrook Haven't had time to listen but a reliable source tells me that Superintendent Banda, in an interview today on KUOW's The Conversion, said he wouldn't be voting for 1240. Listen for yourself. Understand that this is man who already has his hands full - put a few charters in and/or have a charter takeover Times Provides Real Data and Real Insights On Funding of 1240 by Melissa Westbrook Well, it's not exactly hell freezing over but the Times has a very good piece a... more »

Chicago Teachers Union Have History of Tension and Strikes | Chicago Detours Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union Have History of Tension and Strikes | Chicago Detours Blog: Teachers on Strike in Chicago? History of Teachers Unions Posted on July 19, 2012 by Marianna The hot weather isn’t the only aggressive heat you’ll find in Chicago this summer. The city has been overwhelmed with the feverish debate between Mayor Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools versus the Chicago Teachers Union. The contention between CPS and CTU involves many issues, some of the most talked about are CPS’s intentions to lengthen the school day by 40 minutes and a potential salary raise for teacher... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Poor planning shown by the Cuomo Commission at their only NYC hearings this morning

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Poor planning shown by the Cuomo Commission at their only NYC hearings this morning: Poor planning shown by the Cuomo Commission at their only NYC hearings this morning by Leonie Haimson Me at the Cuomo Commission hearings with other panelists todayThe Cuomo Education Commission had its first and only public hearing in NYC for three scant hours this morning and they packed us all in a small cafeteria room at Hostos College in the Bronx. There were still people waiting outside the building at 10:15 AM when I was finally let in; not everyone could fit in t... more »

Andre Agassi’s group reflect shift toward serving a more affluent demographic The Nashville Ledger

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
The Nashville Ledger: Charter schools as a west side alternativeGreat Hearts Academy, tennis star Andre Agassi’s group reflect shift toward serving a more affluent demographic By Linda Bryant Updated 11:23AM Print | Front Page | Email this story There was a time when Nashville’s push for charter schools centered on low- and modest- income neighborhoods and the need to rescue children from failing schools. Now, with the help of the state legislature, charters are open to all students, and the focus is shifting to the more affluent west side of town. Discussions of LEAD Academy, Libe... more »

BLUSHING… - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
BLUSHING… - Wait, What?: BLUSHING… by jonpelto *Diane Ravitch, a true American hero and the Patron Saint to all of us who believe in the importance of saving and improving American Education* No, the red in my checks is not a sun burn. And yes, I know our society frowns on grown men blushing… But who wouldn’t blush when confronted by the extraordinarily generous words of Diane Ravitch, a true American hero and the Patron Saint to all of us who believe in the importance of saving and improving American Education. Diane Ravitch’s blog at http://dianeravitch.net/ is the first thin... more »

GOT CREAM? Cityview leaves North Minneapolis special education students behind | Twin Cities Daily Planet

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Cityview leaves North Minneapolis special education students behind | Twin Cities Daily Planet: Cityview leaves North Minneapolis special education students behind BY ALLEEN BROWN, TC DAILY PLANET July 24, 2012 [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Last week, the families of 40 Minneapolis students with significant special needs received an unwelcome phone call. The promise that their children would be able to return to their North Minneapolis classrooms when school starts in just over a month would be broken. The children, who have disabilities such as autis... more »

Executive Order -- White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Executive Order -- White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans | The White House: President Obama Signs New Initiative to Improve Educational Outcomes for African Americans *Executive Order Establishes the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans* On Wednesday, during his remarks at the National Urban League conference in New Orleans, LA, President Obama announced he would sign an Executive Order today to improve outcomes and advance educational opportunities for African Americans. The President has made providing a complete... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Zombie Charters Will Not Die!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Zombie Charters Will Not Die!: Zombie Charters Will Not Die! by Duke It's alive! Alive, I say! July 26, 2012 *RE: Parent Meeting *Dear Regis Academy Charter School Parents: Frederick Douglas once said, *“Where there is no struggle, there is no progress”. *We are continuing to progress forward with our mission and goal to teach, train and prepare the coming generation of leaders by establishing a learning community that will prepare children for the real world in the classroom and in life. Additionally, we would like to take this time to express our sincere gratit... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Chris Cerf Confirmed - What That Means

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Chris Cerf Confirmed - What That Means: Chris Cerf Confirmed - What That Means by Duke First of all, no one should be surprised at the outcome; it was inevitable. You shouldn't hold up a nominee just because you don't like the governor, and the Senators understood that. While some of the issues I've detailed came up, others did not, and that's bothersome. Senator Weinberg apparently had her fears about what happened to Cerf in NYC allayed, but the fact is we still don't know all the details, and probably never will. Cerf got to claim his tenure at Edison was a su... more »

Invitation to the Schools To Watch Program - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Invitation to the Schools To Watch Program - Letters (CA Dept of Education): July 26, 2012 Dear District and County Superintendents and Middle School Principals: *INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2012–13** SCHOOLS TO WATCH™—TAKING CENTER STAGE PROGRAM* I am pleased to announce that the California Schools to Watch™—Taking Center Stage (STW™—TCS) application process for 2012–13 is now open. The STW™—TCS program identifies model middle grades schools that are academically excellent, developmentally responsive, socially equitable, and have a culture of strong collaborative leadersh... more »

Teachers Don't Suck !: Eliminating "Poor Teachers" Is a Poor Excuse

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Teachers Don't Suck !: Eliminating "Poor Teachers" Is a Poor Excuse: Eliminating "Poor Teachers" Is a Poor Excuse by Walt S. I have posted today's Star Ledger editorial in its entirety and highlighted the most objectionable part - "a tenure system that has protected bad teachers for a century". What about the good teachers that it has protected? I guess that doesn't count. Will the tenure "reform" law continue to protect: Those who speak their minds and are then harassed, poorly evaluated and fired by a vindictive administrator (many of whom have been appointed via political connec... more »

IMPORTANT TRANSLATIONS « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
IMPORTANT TRANSLATIONS « Teachers Fight Back: IMPORTANT TRANSLATIONS leave a comment » All teachers need to be aware of the following translations, most of which involve phrases used by district administrators during the course of negotiations, or by legislators and anti-teacher union people. “We all need to share in the pain”. Translation – ”you teachers will experience pain while everyone else reaps the benefit.” Currently a favorite phrase with state legislators gearing up for pension “reform”. “Our district has no money for any type of salary increase”. Translation – ”sorry... more »

Chris Hedges on “Why the United States Is Destroying Its Education System” | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Chris Hedges on “Why the United States Is Destroying Its Education System” | Seattle Education: Chris Hedges on “Why the United States Is Destroying Its Education System” by seattleducation2011 *I posted an excerpt from this article in a Weekly Update last year and believe that this would be a good time to revisit this essay considering the campaign to privatize our schools in the state of Washington once again, this time by Bill Gates and the Waltons, through Initiative 1240.* This article was originally posted in truthdig on April 11, 2011. Why the United States Is Destroying I... more »

RheeFirst! » StudentsFirst ‘Olymic’ ad reaction roundup

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
RheeFirst! » StudentsFirst ‘Olymic’ ad reaction roundup: StudentsFirst ‘Olymic’ ad reaction roundup by admin - The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Online picked up on all the backlash that Rhee’s new “ad” has created. - EdWeek also took notice of the commercial’s poor reception. - Gary Rubinstein took umbrage at the inaccuracies of the ad. - Liz Dwyer took offense at the tone. - Anthony Cody pointed out that the commercial’s message is homophobic. - Diane Ravitch called the ad “disgusting” The coverage wasn’t all bad, however. RedState loved it.

Shanker Blog » Labor Market Behavior Actually Matters In Labor Market-Based Education Reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Shanker Blog » Labor Market Behavior Actually Matters In Labor Market-Based Education Reform: Labor Market Behavior Actually Matters In Labor Market-Based Education Reform by Matthew Di Carlo Economist Jesse Rothstein recently released a working paper about which I am compelled to write, as it speaks directly to so many of the issues that we have raised here over the past year or two. The purpose of Rothstein’s analysis is to move beyond the talking points about teaching quality in order to see if strategies that have been proposed for *improving* it might yield benefits. In par... more »

The Sun-Times’ creative writing. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
The Sun-Times’ creative writing. « Fred Klonsky: The Sun-Times’ creative writing. by Fred Klonsky The in box. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking that pension funds were diverted because Springfield politicians wanted to do something the majority of Illinois residents needed and elected them to do.” by Fred Klonsky *Fred,* *“Because for over fifty years the state either hasn’t paid what they owed or used TRS funds to build bridges, roads and, ironically, schools without raising taxes.”* *I’m going to disagree with this as any politician in office now will tell you that we need roa... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, July 26, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: [image: Maria Shriver - The California Museum's 2008 California Hall Of Fame Induction]*The California Museum's California Hall Of Fame Induction **in Downtown Sacramento * * * Education Headlines *Thursday, July 26, 2012* Chino Valley district to delay start of Mandarin language academyChino Valley Unified kindergarteners will have to wait at least another school year to learn how to speak Mandarin. Board members recently reversed a decision to implement a foreign-language academy in the district in the fall. Superintendent steps ... more »

Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal | Dailycensored.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal | Dailycensored.com: Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal by Susan Ohanian Parents and teachers are faced with a volcanic eruption of curriculum claiming to deliver the Common Core State [sic] Standards. Here’s a look at one coterie (check out the third meaning: *a group of prairie dogs occupying a communal burrow*) gathered under the Verizon Foundation umbrella. Verizon invites Partners to join them at Thinkfinity to bring “thousands” of Common Core standards-based lesson plans from ... more »

Schools Matter: Why All the Khan-troversy?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Schools Matter: Why All the Khan-troversy?: Why All the Khan-troversy? by P. L. Thomas At *The Answer Sheet*, Valerie Strauss has spurred a debate over the definition of slope—not exactly the sort of detailed intellectual stuff we might expect in a newspaper. The discussion of the finer points of mathematics is more akin to the nuanced conversations you may find in a university math department or a scholarly journal. But the source of this controversy is Sal Khan and his Khan Academy—which leads us to our need to pull back from the slope debate and address just why is there a co... more »

Charter Schools Initiative 1240 bankrolled by tech millionaires | UW Election Eye 2012 | Seattle Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Charter Schools Initiative 1240 bankrolled by tech millionaires | UW Election Eye 2012 | Seattle Times: Charter Schools Initiative 1240 bankrolled by tech millionaires Posted by Kathy Gill *For the fourth time since 1996, Washington State will have a ballot measure on charter schools this November. This one, like its predecessors, is the brainchild of a handful of technology giants.* [image: school bus] Image courtesy Michigan Department of Education SEATTLE — Coming to our ballot in Novemberis a measure, Initiative 1240, asking Washington voters to allocate public tax revenues to al... more »

The Motorless City: @AFT Convention Ed Notes Online

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: The Motorless City: @AFT Convention *As I got closer to one massive beautiful brick building that in most cities would be a high-priced condo, it was clear that it was a building for cars. Maybe it is a condo of sorts where people get a parking spot and live in their cars.* Thursday, July 26, 10AM All I can say is "Detroit seems to be trying." Parking lots, parking garages seem to be the major industry. I don't get it. Some of the newest and best built buildings are parking garages. Is this the post-post industrial age of a city in its last days - like a white ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Star-Ledger: Privatizers? What Privatizers?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Star-Ledger: Privatizers? What Privatizers?: Star-Ledger: Privatizers? What Privatizers? by Duke *Star-Ledger Editorial Board meeting* Whatever you think about ACTING NJDOE Commissioner Chris Cerf's nomination, this sentence by the* **Star-Ledger* editorial board is simply absurd: Sen. Ron Rice (D-Essex) started this ball rolling. *He insists that Cerf is at the center of some apocalyptic conspiracy by hedge fund managers to take over public schools and privatize them for profits.* [emphasis mine] Yeah, about that crazy "conspiracy": The three of the four virtual c... more »

Update: How New Orleans Did Not Get Turned Around « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
How New Orleans Did Not Get Turned Around « Diane Ravitch's blog: A Member of State Board Opposes Jindal Reforms by dianerav I received an email from Lottie Beebe, a member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. She is an experienced educator who won a seat on the board and has been a voice of sanity in a dark time. *As a member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), I want to thank you for your continued efforts to inform education stakeholders across our wonderful country and beyond of the concerns related to Louisiana’s educati... more »

Remarks by the President at the National Urban League Convention | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Remarks by the President at the National Urban League Convention | The White House: Remarks by the President at the National Urban League Convention Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, Louisiana 7:00 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Urban League! (Applause.) Thank you. It is good to be with the Urban League. (Applause.) And it's good to be in the Big Easy. (Applause.) Now, I don’t know if the fact that this is called the Morial Convention Center had anything to do with folks coming down to New Orleans -- (laughter) -- but it is good to be with all of you. And I'm... more »

Jersey Jazzman: That's One Cruel Fairy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: That's One Cruel Fairy: That's One Cruel Fairy by Duke The Merit Pay Fairy is showing some teeth: There's been little evidence that teachers’ performance bonuses have any meaningful effect on student achievement. But a new study out of Chicago took a brand-new tack, dividing 150 teachers into two groups. The first group received a $4,000 advance, with the understanding that if students didn’t do better than average on standardized tests, they would have to pay it back. If achievement did go up, teachers stood to earn as much as another $4,000. The second group of ... more »

Unionized Charter School Teachers Need Your Support | Edwize

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Unionized Charter School Teachers Need Your Support | Edwize: Unionized Charter School Teachers Need Your Support by Rob Callaghan [image: AECI teachers need your support] In January 2010, educators at the NYC Charter High School for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industries (AECI) in the Bronx formed a union at their school to provide a positive and stable school culture for their students. Educators delivered letters to the school’s principal and board of directors that called for a more formal voice in school operations to “strengthen our school community and enhance ... more »

School Tech Connect: The Lazy Lede

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
School Tech Connect: The Lazy Lede: The Lazy Lede by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I see this phrase more often than I care to: That's from WBEZ's reporting on the press conference yesterday. I've also seen it on *Chicago Tonight.* I think it would be reasonable for a reader to assume from that sentence that prior to 1995, the people of Chicago elected their school board directly, like they do in the suburbs and downstate. The trouble is that it never happened, and I think it's a bit lazy to summarize the situation as its summarized in the example above. It's the sort of thi... more »

NYC Educator: Those Who Can, Teach, Until They Don't

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
NYC Educator: Those Who Can, Teach, Until They Don't: Those Who Can, Teach, Until They Don't by Miss Eyre I am doing some professional development this summer. At one of these sessions, I heard from a professor at one of our city's great universities, who has done some work with high school students over the summer. This gentleman was lovely and learned, and very respectful of and attuned to his audience, which was composed almost entirely of New York City high school teachers. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but listen to this man's remarks and feel like a bit of a chump. This g... more »

Are Florida Legislators Involved in Stalling Polk County’s At-Risk Charter Schools? | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Are Florida Legislators Involved in Stalling Polk County’s At-Risk Charter Schools? | Scathing Purple Musings: Are Florida Legislators Involved in Stalling Polk County’s At-Risk Charter Schools? by Bob Sikes In what could turn out to be a bombshell story on Florida’s political battle over charter schools, *Lakeland Ledger *reporter Merissa Green writes that powerful Florida legislators may be stalling Polk counties desire to open its own charter schools to serve at-risk kids. Their reason is to get the business for one of their for-profit cronies: BARTOW | Polk County School Boar... more »

Dubious math on charter schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Dubious math on charter schools: Dubious math on charter schools [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] By Lawrence F. Jones Jr. READER FEEDBACK Post a comment During a recent School Reform Commission meeting, Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky decried the cost of independent charter school expansion under the Philadelphia School District's reform plan, saying district Renaissance Schools have been less costly. We at the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools disagree with the commissioner's math as well as his philosophy on education reform. Dworetzky ... more »

Times Higher Education - Speculation links Diane Ravitch's criticism of Romney with thinktank exit

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Times Higher Education - Did partisan politics 'terminate' doyenne?: Did partisan politics 'terminate' doyenne? Share on twitterShare on facebookMore Sharing Services1 26 July 2012 By *Jon Marcus* * * Speculation links Diane Ravitch's criticism of Romney with thinktank exit. Jon Marcus writes US politics has become so mean-spirited and polarised that not even the esoteric world of education policy scholarship appears to be safe. So when Diane Ravitch, a high-profile research professor at New York University, was dismissed from her unpaid position as a fellow of the Brookings Institut... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-26-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] The Connecticut Watchdog for the Public Interest by dianerav A reader reminded me of a post by blogger Jonathan Pelto about Hartford, Connecticut, that shows how districts can “game the system” to meet testing target. And that reminded me that Jon Pelto is someone you should know about. Subscribe to his blog if you want an insider’s view of education reform in Connecticut. Pelto was a legislator for several years and cares passionately about public education. He knows how to follow the money and watches for ... more »

What next for Brown’s school finance reform? | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
What next for Brown’s school finance reform? | EdSource Today: What next for Brown’s school finance reform? ** July 26th, 2012 | Add a Comment | By John Fensterwald Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services A termed-out state senator who’s been a leader on education issues offered advice Wednesday to Gov. Jerry Brown on how to get the Legislature to pass significant school finance reform: Don’t try to jam lawmakers; ally yourself with a respected legislator who’s got more than a couple years left to serve; and implement the ref... more »

School Tech Connect: After The Shipwreck

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
School Tech Connect: After The Shipwreck: After The Shipwreck by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Meet Adrian Rosu, a teacher I met today who was furnishing some Romanian wisdom for the edification of the Board. *The arts are the plank after the shipwreck, that save us.* * --Constantin Brancusi* * * I know it matters very little what I think, but I need to point out that the reason Rahm felt he could just wave a magic wand on the longer school day is that there is segment of the

Obama Executive Order Focuses On Black Educational Excellence | Resurgence | Big Think

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Obama Executive Order Focuses On Black Educational Excellence | Resurgence | Big Think: Obama Executive Order Focuses On Black Educational Excellence Kris Broughton on July 26, 2012, 4:55 AM After President Obama's announcement at the National Urban League conventionin New Orleans yesterday of his latest executive order establishing a new White House initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, all I can say is “WOW!” For me this announcement is serendipitous. A week ago, I was in New Orleans, seeing firsthand what my often woefully undereducated African American bret... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: National School Board Association's Concern on Cost of Unfunded Federal Mandates is Valid: "We are Where We've Never Been Before"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: National School Board Association's Concern on Cost of Unfunded Federal Mandates is Valid: "We are Where We've Never Been Before": National School Board Association's Concern on Cost of Unfunded Federal Mandates is Valid: "We are Where We've Never Been Before" by stlgretchen Think local school district cost was bad four years ago? Just wait until you find out what those costs are now. Graphic from http://freezethebudget.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/state-mandate-lollapalooza/ The National School Board Association's concern on local district spending... more »

Geaux Teacher!: TESTED: WHY STANDARDIZED TESTS DON'T MAKE SENSE

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Geaux Teacher!: TESTED: WHY STANDARDIZED TESTS DON'T MAKE SENSE: RECALL BOBBY JINDAL REASON #3 noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) at Geaux Teacher! - 7 hours ago STUDENT VOICE - ZACK KOPPLIN noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) at Geaux Teacher! - 7 hours ago http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-la-halt-the-implementation-of-louisiana-s-creationist-voucher-program# 19 year-old student Zach Kopplin started this petition. Check it out. Zack testified Tuesday before the BESE board and offered research indicating that at least 20 of the approved vouche... more »

Pension talking points. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Pension talking points. « Fred Klonsky: Pension talking points. by Fred Klonsky As we have battled for our pension rights over the past year, we have used the basic talking points provided by the IEA: - Any changes to TRS must be constitutional. - Any changes must bring financial stability to the system. - Any changes must be fair to members. These have been good. But not enough as we head into an August House session in Springfield and a veto session of the General Assembly following the November election. Following discussions with many TRS members around the state, let... more »

21st Century PLNs for School Leaders | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
21st Century PLNs for School Leaders | Connected Principals: 21st Century PLNs for School Leaders by George Couros cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by krossbow *I have to admit that I was pretty excited to write my first post for the Edutopia group that has a great list of educators sharing some of their best practices. I wanted to share the piece in my own learning space, but you can see the original article posted on the Edutopia site.* As many school administrators are enjoying their summer break, we all tend to think of ways that we can make Getting Started with Informa... more »

Florida Legislative Candidates Assail Education Cuts; Urge Testing Reforms | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Florida Legislative Candidates Assail Education Cuts; Urge Testing Reforms | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida Legislative Candidates Assail Education Cuts; Urge Testing Reforms by Bob Sikes From *Orlando Sentinel *reporter John Busdecker: More than any other issue discussed at Wednesday’s “Florida’s People, Florida’s Promise” forum for legislative candidates, it was education that dominated the conversation. Several of the 16 candidates — both Democrats and Republicans — who spoke called for increased funding of public education and the need to reform the Florida Comprehensive As... more »

LAUSD IS NOT ALONE IN THEIR MILITANT AND DESTRUCTIVE IGNORANCE - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
LAUSD IS NOT ALONE IN THEIR MILITANT AND DESTRUCTIVE IGNORANCE - Perdaily.com: LAUSD IS NOT ALONE IN THEIR MILITANT AND DESTRUCTIVE IGNORANCE by Leonard Isenberg [image: King Kong.jpg] (Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post) I know it's not Halloween yet, but If you want to get a scary vision of the confederacy of dunces that seems to be fungible in public school districts throughout this state and the country, check out belowDr. Mary Sieu, Deputy Superintendent in Cerritos of the ABC Unified School. When asked i... more »

CTU ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THE WIMPY DISTRICTS HOW IT’S DONE « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
CTU ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THE WIMPY DISTRICTS HOW IT’S DONE « Teachers Fight Back: CTU ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THE WIMPY DISTRICTS HOW IT’S DONE 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 p...more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
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 do... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Sacramento police investigate former aide to Mayor Johnson | Sacramento News - KCRA Home: Sacramento police investigate former aide to Mayor JohnsonCriminal probe launched, looks at credit card usage UPDATED 5:50 PM PDT Jul 25, 2012[image: Sacramento Police Car] 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. - MAYOR'S AIDE RESIGNS AMID CREDIT CARD QUESTIONS A top aide to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson resigned amid alle...more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
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! byteacherkenFollow 3 PERMALINK1 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 al... more »

Invest in Teachers – The Art of Teaching « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day 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 »




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