Friday, July 27, 2012

by Judy Rabin

Looks like Parents Across America have a solid press operation. Nice work.

Schooling in the Ownership Society
The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization Law

BLOG ››› JULY 24, 2012 2:26 PM EDT ››› MELODY JOHNSON

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 also cited no criticism of the proposal, which has been described as an effort "to manipulate parents into letting [the charter school lobby] privatize more public schools.

In the July 23 article, the Wall Street Journal reported on legislation that, according to the article, "empowers parents to take control of a school if enough of them sign petitions" and convert it into a charter school. But the

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-27-12 #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

Character Assassination? « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Character Assassination? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Character Assassination? by dianerav Earlier today I posted a letter that appeared on the NYC parent blog, in which Students First was offering a gift to anyone who posted the most comments on blogs. I made no reference to the person who wrote the letter. Apparently it has been reprinted elsewhere, including the blog of Coach Bob Sikes blog in Florida. Coach Bob got a response from the letter writer at StudentsFirst. She said she was the target of a well funded campaign of hatred and character assassination, apparently because he... more »

Rich Miller’s Uncle Kenny. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Rich Miller’s Uncle Kenny. « Fred Klonsky: Rich Miller’s Uncle Kenny. by Fred Klonsky Rich Miller at CapitolFax: *I spent some time at my Uncle Kenny’s house in Ashkum last weekend. We went to the Iroquois County Fair, which is like taking a step back in time.* *The fair hasn’t changed much at all since I was a kid. They still don’t allow alcohol on the clean grounds where kids safely run free.* *I was at that fair every day back when I was growing up, often accompanied by my Uncle Kenny.* *I’m the oldest of five sons, so Kenny was like my big brother growing up. It was a nostalgi... more »

Diverse Neighborhoods and the Charter School Movement - Dana Goldstein

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diverse Neighborhoods and the Charter School Movement - Dana Goldstein: Diverse Neighborhoods and the Charter School Movement by Dana Goldstein [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] My colleague Sarah Garland has written a wonderful piece for *The Atlantic* about a local/federal/charter school partnership to racially and socioeconomically integrate the East Lake neighborhood of Atlanta. Across the country, more and more charter school movement leaders are realizing that if charters serve only poor, black, and Latino families, they will limit their potential e... more »

Outrageous ideas that must be considered « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Outrageous ideas that must be considered « Deborah Meier on Education: Outrageous ideas that must be considered by debmeier To continue. Read and consider the following news item, and keep in mind the recent Texas mandate against “critical thinking” skills. How do we respond? Whatever Happened to Reading, Writing and Arithmetic?*Washington, D.C.* – Today, *American Principles in Action (APIA)* condemned Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) for endorsing the indoctrination of children at a gathering of young progressives.“To so blatantly call for the indoctrination of our children... more »

Mother Crusader: Five Hours Of My Life I Can't Get Back; The Cerf Nomination Hearing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Mother Crusader: Five Hours Of My Life I Can't Get Back; The Cerf Nomination Hearing: Five Hours Of My Life I Can't Get Back; The Cerf Nomination Hearing by darciecima Below is the testimony I prepared and (sort of) delivered for the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the nomination of Commissioner Chris Cerf. Senator Doherty went on for what seemed like an ETERNITY (Check out Jersey Jazzman's timeline - it was at least 40 minutes of the five hour ordeal) but the five citizens that testified had their microphones abruptly turned off at exactly the three minute mark. It felt... more »

Won't Back Down - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Won't Back Down - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Won't Back Down by Nancy Flanagan July has been what Michelle Rhee might call a crappy month for democratic public education. • We have Emergency Manager Roy Roberts of Detroit Public Schools claiming that the new, imposed contract with teachers--which allows class sizes up to 60 for secondary classes and 40+ for elementary schools--is "good for kids." • Not only will kids across the country be taking more tests, they'll be taking them on-line--which means that schools in poverty will come up short-handed on e... more »

Finalists for National Teaching Award - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Finalists for National Teaching Award - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces 2012 State Finalists for Prestigious National Teaching Award SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has named six outstanding teachers as 2012 California State Finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The *mathematics* nominees are: *Jamie Garner*, a sixth grade mathematics teacher at the Walnut Elementary Education Center in the Turlock Unified School District, Stanislaus County;... more »

Gerard Robinson Sets Himself Up a The Heavy in Denying Polk County its Own Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Gerard Robinson Sets Himself Up a The Heavy in Denying Polk County its Own Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings: Gerard Robinson Sets Himself Up a The Heavy in Denying Polk County its Own Charter Schools by Bob Sikes Florida’s education commissioner Gerard Robinson explained to Polk’s superintendent Sherrie Nickell that there seems to be something “coloring the decision” in the delay in granting the OK for the Polk County School Board from going forward on it plans to open charter schools for at-risk students. Robinson’s shadowy admission became more clear today. From anothe... more »

Mother Crusader: Albert Shanker; Man Or Myth?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Mother Crusader: Albert Shanker; Man Or Myth?: Albert Shanker; Man Or Myth? by darciecima Today I received a comment on my post, Edith Shanker Puts Laura Waters, Chris Cerf, & Joel Klein In Their Place. Following your suggestion, I've written the following to Newsworks, my local NPR online newspaper: *I'm writing as a great fan of Newsworks to convey my dismay in your support of Laura Waters as a reliable voice in educational matters. * She severely crossed the line in this piece: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/new-jersey-more/item/41549-the-famous-international-scholar-and-t... more »

The Golden Rule vs Stop and Frisk! « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

The Golden Rule vs Stop and Frisk! « Deborah Meier on Education: The Golden Rule vs Stop and Frisk! by debmeier My eye was caught by Alan Chartok’s comment about “stop and frisk” in my local The Columbia Paper: “If you ask the general population their opinion, you had had better believe that they’ll tale the stop and frisk as long as it is someone else whose being frisked.” Is there anything that schools can do that would help citizens understand the trouble with this kind of thinking. In a racist society–one in which the odds are that the white majority lives largely separated fr... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Meet Todd. He's CPS' New Common Core Commissar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Meet Todd. He's CPS' New Common Core Commissar: Meet Todd. He's CPS' New Common Core Commissar by Mike Klonsky *Todd Babbitz* is Rahm's new Chief Transformation Officer. What the hell is that, you ask? I'm not sure. In all my years working in and around public school districts, I've never heard of a Chief Transformation Officer. Butaccording to CPS' announcement, Todd will "oversee the newly created Office of Strategy Management (OSM)." What the hell is the OSM, you ask? Again, not sure. I've never heard of an OSM. But according to CPS' announcement,... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Chris Christie: Liar, Fool, or Both?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Chris Christie: Liar, Fool, or Both?: Chris Christie: Liar, Fool, or Both? by Duke I got so caught up in Chris Cerf's coronation yesterday that I never got around to this poignant moment: Instead of vitriol and venom today, Gov. Chris Christie's interaction with a teary public school teacher ended with an apology. Tia McLaughlin invoked the Republican governor's frequent refrain that it's "harder to hate up close" in telling him she felt betrayed by his treatment of teachers when he took office two and half years ago. “You're right, it is much harder to hate u... more »

Khan Academy: The Hype and the Reality (Karim Kai Ami) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Khan Academy: The Hype and the Reality (Karim Kai Ami) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Khan Academy: The Hype and the Reality (Karim Kai Ami) *Karim Kai Ani is a former middle school teacher and founder of Mathalicious. This post appeared in Valerie Strauss’s “Answer Sheet” in the Washington Post on July 23, 2012. Following the post is Sal Khan’s response.* In a new profile in *Time* magazine, Sal Khan, founder of the popular Khan Academy, explains how he prepares for each of his video lessons. He doesn’t use a script. In fact, he admits, “I don’t know wha... more »

Teaching: Art or Science? « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Teaching: Art or Science? « Cooperative Catalyst: Teaching: Art or Science? by Aaron Eden It was posited to me recently that a professional development system for teachers designed to foster discussion about teaching and learning fits within the “teaching-as-intellectual-pursuit” model (“science” for short here), as opposed to the “teaching as art” model. To this person’s credit, this suggestion was more a musing than a statement of fact, but it got me thinking – both about whether teaching can be viewed as being solely in one or the other of those frameworks, and then, assuming t... more »

LAUSD • L.A. Unified Completes First Ever Social Media Survey

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

LAUSD • L.A. Unified Completes First Ever Social Media Survey: L.A. Unified Completes First Ever Social Media Survey New Media Could Improve Crisis Communications at LAUSD Information relayed through social media channels binds parents, staff and students faster during a crisis than other forms of communication, according to results of the first-ever social media survey released today by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The poll of more than 4,800 online users at the District’s website found that 36% believe school safety alerts can be issued most effectively through soc... more »

Learning from Really Bad Graphs & Ill-informed Conclusions: Thoughts on the New PEPG “Catching Up” Report « School Finance 101

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Learning from Really Bad Graphs & Ill-informed Conclusions: Thoughts on the New PEPG “Catching Up” Report « School Finance 101: Learning from Really Bad Graphs & Ill-informed Conclusions: Thoughts on the New PEPG “Catching Up” Report by schoolfinance101 A new policy paper from Eric Hanushek, Paul Peterson & Ludger Woessmann has been receiving considerable attention. This despite numerous completely outlandish assertions drawn from junk charts that fill the pages of this reformy manifesto. Look, I’ve said it before and will say it again. Eric Hanusek has contributed a great deal of...more »

Louisiana Educator: Legal Challenge

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: Legal Challenge: Legal Challenge by Michael Deshotels The Baton Rouge Advocate today carries a story about letters sent to voucher schools by the LAE attorney Brian Blackwell warning them that they may be subject to lawsuits from the LAE for participating in the voucher program. Some see this as an unfair scare tactic, and some believe the LAE is using strong arm *"Union"*tactics. I disagree. And I know who really used strong arm tactics to pass this privatization scheme with the use of our tax dollars. That "scholarship" money is money we all contributed for... more »

"AFT Convention: Weingarten unveils 'solution-driven unionism'." July 27, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

"AFT Convention: Weingarten unveils 'solution-driven unionism'." July 27, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org: AFT Convention: Weingarten unveils 'solution-driven unionism' NYSUT Newswire - July 27, 2012 [image: AFT_Conv2012_425px] Weingarten unveils 'solution-driven unionism' at AFT national convention *July 27, 2012* AFT President Randi Weingarten kicked off the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Detroit today by advocating "solution-driven unionism," a new vision of unionism that advances solutions focused on uniting union members, the peopl... more »

CTU will bring a refreshing spirit to the AFT convention. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

CTU will bring a refreshing spirit to the AFT convention. « Fred Klonsky: CTU will bring a refreshing spirit to the AFT convention. by Fred Klonsky Two years ago Diane Ravitch spoke to the NEA Representative Assembly. Last year and this it was Joe Biden. Two years ago Bill Gates spoke to the AFT Convention. This year it will be Diane Ravitch. Nothing goes in a straight line, does it? As EdWeek’s Stephen Sawchuk points out, there are what you might call cultural and historical differences in the way the two national teacher unions run their conventions. The NEA is more affiliate dri... more »

Students1st offering gift cards to those making “pro-reform” comments « Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Students1st offering gift cards to those making “pro-reform” comments « Parents Across America: *Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst is well known for its deceptive tactics of posting seemingly harmless petitions calling to an end to student bullying, for example, or opposing firing good teachers, and then claiming all the people who unknowing sign them as one of their members. Even well-informed PAA members, completely opposed to the goals of this astroturf group, have been caught in her trap.* ** *See the below email just sent out by the one of the managers of the StudentsFirst Florid... more »

Daily Kos: TEN REASONS TO ATTEND THE AUG. 3 - 5 SAVE OUR SCHOOLS CONVENTION

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Daily Kos: TEN REASONS TO ATTEND THE AUG. 3 - 5 SAVE OUR SCHOOLS CONVENTION: TEN REASONS TO ATTEND THE AUG. 3 - 5 SAVE OUR SCHOOLS CONVENTION by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Last year I helped organize the Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action in Washington DC. I am no longer involved in the leadership, and have a number of personal conflicts with this year's schedule. I am neverthless urging you to consider attending. Thus I offer you this: TEN REASONS TO ATTEND THE AUG. 3 - 5 SAVE OUR SCHOOLS CONVENTION Marriott Wardman Park hotel, Washington, DC - Hear author ... more »

ADL Alert! Is This Comment Acceptable? « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

ADL Alert! Is This Comment Acceptable? « Diane Ravitch's blog: ADL Alert! Is This Comment Acceptable? by dianerav I mentioned in a post this morning that I had received a letter form the Anti-Defamation League warning that comments on my blog displayed “insensitivity” and that I should take this opportunity to warn readers about the dangers of “hurtful analogies,” especially in referring to Hitler and the Holocaust. A reader wonders if he was the one who wrote the comment that was reported as offensive to the Anti-Defamation League: *I think that the comment referred to was mine. I... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, July 27, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *“Every time we sit at a table to enjoy the fruits and grain and vegetables from our good earth, remember that they come from the work of men and women and children who have been exploited for generations.”*César Chávez, Co-Founder, United Farm Workers Education Headlines *Friday, July 27, 2012* Rio School District approves teacher contractA divided Rio School District board approved a teacher contract on Thursday, ending a two-year impasse. Planners OK site for school downtownAfter listening to an overflow crowd's overwhelming s... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee - Trying to Buy Love ?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

*Rhee offering gift cards for blog comments* Also, starting right now, there will be a monthly contest for the best rapid response. The more comments you leave on blog posts, the more times you can enter! Post a polite and persuasive pro-reform comment and email me the link so I can check it out. That's all you have to do! At the end of the month (August 26th at midnight) I will announce the winner. Not only will that winner get a gift card to the restaurant or store of choice, but he or she will also be promoting the cause of real and transformative change in public schools! What... more »

Randi Weingarten Heads To Detroit, Aims To Force Contract Negotiations For Teachers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Randi Weingarten Heads To Detroit, Aims To Force Contract Negotiations For Teachers: Randi Weingarten Heads To Detroit, Aims To Force Contract Negotiations For Teachers by Joy Resmovits A few years ago, when Randi Weingarten and her colleagues at the American Federation of Teachers chose to set their 2012 convention in Detroit, the leadership of the nation's second largest teachers' union thought it would be nice to invest in the Motor City, a metropolis that once signified the innovation of the auto industry that had since become America's most visible example of the decay bro... more »

Leon County Superintendent, Others Call for Investigation of FCAT Grade Changes | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Leon County Superintendent, Others Call for Investigation of FCAT Grade Changes | Scathing Purple Musings: Leon County Superintendent, Others Call for Investigation of FCAT Grade Changes by Bob Sikes The *Tallahassee Democrat*‘s Travis Pillow reports: Leon County’s schools superintendent is demanding the state provide the districts with details of state testing data at the center of this month’s miscalculation of school grades. Superintendent Jackie Pons on Thursday sent state Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson a letter requesting the data on the learning gains made by stude... more »

Daily Kos: WARNING: False Premise Equals False Conclusion

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Daily Kos: WARNING: False Premise Equals False Conclusion: WARNING: False Premise Equals False Conclusion byplthomasEdDFollow 4 PERMALINK4 COMMENTS I have lived my entire life in the South, the upstate of South Carolina. My home state has the dubious distinction of being a nearly persistent focus of national derision on Jon Stewart's *The Daily Show* as we appear to be gifted at offering the sort of fodder for jokes that no one could make up and be believed (an ultra-conservative governor hiking the Appalachian Trail as cover for a mistress in South America, for example). At ris... more »

How well does Khan Academy teach? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

How well does Khan Academy teach? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: How well does Khan Academy teach? By Valerie Strauss Update: Fixing links Here *is a new critique of the Khan Academy, the subject of a widely read post I published Monday about the hype and reality of the academy.You can find that post here. And you can find a response to that post from the founder of the Khan Academy, Sal Khan, by clicking here.* *The following was written by Christopher Danielson and Michael Paul Goldenberg. Danielson holds a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Michigan State University.... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Can the NEA Learn From the NRA?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Can the NEA Learn From the NRA?: Can the NEA Learn From the NRA? by Duke Via Digby, here's an instructive story, no matter what you believe about gun control: I asked a Democratic legislative staffer for a first-person description of the NRA's power on the Hill. Here's the response I got, on the condition that I not provide any further identifying information. It's pretty breathtaking. We do absolutely anything they ask and we NEVER cross them—which includes asking permission to cosponsor any bills endorsed by the Humane Society (the answer is usually no) and co... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Ravitch, no Gates, at this year's AFT Convention

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Ravitch, no Gates, at this year's AFT Convention: Ravitch, no Gates, at this year's AFT Convention by Mike Klonsky Bill Gates addressed the 2010 ConventionI don't expect anything too new or exciting coming out of AFT Convention, just starting in Detroit. The meeting is pretty well scripted and delegates, representing the union's 1.5 million members, are nearly all aligned with the Unity/Progressive Caucus and the current leadership is not up for re-election. But given the intensity of the attacks on public education, teachers, and all public sector ... more »

Defining Definitions for ASCD « My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Defining Definitions for ASCD « My Island View: Defining Definitions for ASCD by tomwhitby This was originally posted in SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Education http://smartblogs.com/education I was lucky to have scored an invitation to the ASCD Leader to Leader Conference. ASCD is a premier education organization that engages a membership of about 150,000 educators internationally. This particular conference concentrates on the leadership of ASCD. It is a great effort by this organization to bring together its leadership as well as invite, introduce, promote and revere new leadershi... more »

UTLA Lawyer: The Scoop « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

UTLA Lawyer: The Scoop « Diane Ravitch's blog: UTLA Lawyer: The Scoop by dianerav I have a copy of the judge’s writ and will try to post it (it is in a pdf file and I don’t know how to copy that). Background: UTLA has resisted the imposition of value-added-assessments to evaluate teachers, knowing that research shows these measures to be highly unstable and inaccurate. UTLA was burned two years ago when the *Los Angeles Times* created its own rating system and used test scores to publish its ratings of thousands of teachers. Subsequently a California group called EdVoice, funded by... more »

States' DREAM Acts Could Deter High School Dropouts - US News and World Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

States' DREAM Acts Could Deter High School Dropouts - US News and World Report: States' DREAM Acts Could Deter High School DropoutsMaking college more affordable may encourage undocumented students to finish high school. By KELSEY SHEEHY July 27, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: State laws allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition could have a positive impact on high school graduation rates.] State laws allowing DREAMers to pay in-state tuition could have a positive impact on high school graduation rates. An estimated 700,000 K-12 students, including150,000 high schoolers, ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Video: my testimony before the Cuomo Commission

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Video: my testimony before the Cuomo Commission: Video: my testimony before the Cuomo Commission by Leonie Haimson Video of my testimony yesterday before the Cuomo Education Reform Commission, in a tiny crowded cafeteria room at Hostos College. My written testimony, complete with charts and citations, is posted here, as well as a description of a disappointing day in which many parents, educators and advocates were shut out of the tiny room and/or excluded from speaking. Also check out what Lauren Cohen, NYC teacher, of Change the Stakes would have sai... more »

Jersey Jazzman: A Matter Of Priorities in Newark

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: A Matter Of Priorities in Newark: A Matter Of Priorities in Newark by Duke When it comes to helping Newark's kids, Cami Anderson is getting right to the heart of the problem! Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson’s formula for boosting student achievement in struggling schools is built on a simple concept — *allowing principals to select their teaching staff regardless of seniority*. The union representing Newark teachers, however, believes the practice invites favoritism and puts older, more experienced teachers at a disadvantage. It plans to file a labor-relations... more »

Understanding the Unions' Internal Politics - Teacher Beat - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Understanding the Unions' Internal Politics - Teacher Beat - Education Week: Understanding the Unions' Internal Politics by Stephen Sawchuk *From Detroit* The American Federation of Teachers' convention begins this morning, and it's as good a time as any to review how the teachers' unions' internal politics govern what those of us attending these policymaking sessions see. Each local AFT affiliate gets to send a number delegates to the national convention, allocated proportionally based on the size of its membership. Here's where it gets complicated. The locals get to choose how th... more »

Hechinger Report | Q & A with Lynn Darling: The early childhood education gap in Mississippi

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Hechinger Report | Q & A with Lynn Darling: The early childhood education gap in Mississippi: Q & A with Lynn Darling: The early childhood education gap in Mississippi by Jackie Mader Lynn Darling *The Hechinger Report** **is taking a look at why the children of Mississippi often rank near the bottom in academic achievement. With increasing attention given to the nation’s achievement gap, education reformers and the government have started looking at early childhood education as part of a potential solution.* *Mississippi State University’s Early Childhood Institute** was created ... more »

Illinois pension cuts are a tax on seniors. But Motorola gets tax breaks. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Illinois pension cuts are a tax on seniors. But Motorola gets tax breaks. « Fred Klonsky: Illinois pension cuts are a tax on seniors. But Motorola gets tax breaks. by Fred Klonsky *Eric Schmidt, of Google, which owns Motorola, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.* When the he announced yesterday that Motorola was moving to downtown Chicago from suburban Libertyville, the Mayor had a big grin on his face. Not me. It cost the taxpayers $100 million dollars in tax breaks over the next ten years to keep the company from carrying out its threat to leave the state. In case you wanted to know ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core, Lattice Math Problems and a Parent's Frustration

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core, Lattice Math Problems and a Parent's Frustration: Common Core, Lattice Math Problems and a Parent's Frustration by stlgretchen Just wait until you see the Math lattice problem. I got a chuckle when I read this from e cards. How many of you remember word problems in Math that didn't seem to make sense? A blog on educational matters, *Learning in Maine*, had an article extolling Common Core math standards. The readers took exception to some of the writer's praises about Common Core's strengths (according to the writer) in an extraordinar... more »

Why the Racist History of the Charter School Movement Is Never Discussed Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Racist Roots of Charter Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Racist Roots of Charter Schools: Racist Roots of Charter Schools by Black Educator Why the Racist History of the Charter School Movement Is Never Discussed* **Touted as the cure for what ails public education, charter schools have historical roots that are rarely discussed.* *Christopher Bonastia * * **March 9, 2012* | http://www.alternet.org Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com As a parent I find it easy to understand the appeal of charter schools, especially for parents and students who feel that traditional public s... more »

Another bite at the common core standards – will they make a difference? | Educating Ourselves

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Another bite at the common core standards – will they make a difference? | Educating Ourselves: Another bite at the common core standards – will they make a difference? By Mary McConnell, Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 3:16 pm MST Leave a comment Share Supporters of the common core expressed dismay when education scholar and activist Diane Ravitch reserved judgment on the common core standards. A long time supporter of stronger, more specific core requirements, Ms. Ravitch explains on her education blog: I have neither endorsed nor rejected the Common Core national standards, for one s... more »

UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-27-12 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] Privatization in Pennsylvania: Worth Your Attention by dianerav One of my most valuable sources of information is an email blast from the Keystone State Education Coalition, which reports on school-related news from Pennsylvania and links to articles in the Pennsylvania press. I have been watching with fascination and horror the ongoing efforts of Governor Tom Corbett to undermine public education in his state. One of his closest education advisors and campaign donors also owns the state’s largest charter sch... more »

“Ultimately we’re not done until there is educational justice in the city of Chicago.” « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

“Ultimately we’re not done until there is educational justice in the city of Chicago.” « Fred Klonsky: “Ultimately we’re not done until there is educational justice in the city of Chicago.” by Fred Klonsky CTU VP Jesse Sharkey speaks to the rally Wednesday at the CPS board offices. The rally came the day following an agreement between the CTU and CPS that teachers will not teach a longer school day. 500 additional teachers will be rehired from the pool of CTU displaced teachers. More bargaining remains before a final contract is agreed upon. Popout

All Education Matters: NPR Interview - The Story: "Suicide and Student Debt"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

All Education Matters: NPR Interview - The Story: "Suicide and Student Debt": NPR Interview - The Story: "Suicide and Student Debt" by Cryn Johannsen Guest Host Sean Cole spoke to John Koch and me, as the founder & executive director of All Education Matters, about suicide, student loan debt, and the student lending crisis. Listen to the *podcast here*.

NYC Educator: If Diane Ravitch Were UFT, She Wouldn't Be at AFT Convention

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

NYC Educator: If Diane Ravitch Were UFT, She Wouldn't Be at AFT Convention: If Diane Ravitch Were UFT, She Wouldn't Be at AFT Convention by NYC Educator This week we've been examining precisely what it takes to represent the UFT at a national or state convention. The prime requirement, of course, is to be an invited member of the elite Unity Caucus, and to do that you must agree to support all union positions in public. Ravitch, though I like her very much, fails to meet the standard. Here's why. 1. She publicly opposes mayoral control. UFT supports it, and this alone would disqual... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

*UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* Does Uncle Mike and the DOE Know Make Shinola From Shit? by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) 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... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

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 w... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Pushing The Ethics Envelope

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day 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 »

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Friday, July 27, 2012

The Wall Street Journal Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization Law

BLOG ››› JULY 24, 2012 2:26 PM EDT ››› MELODY JOHNSON

James Baldwin said it best:

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

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