Nas, Lil’ Wayne, and Adolf Hitler: A Rap and Education Memo
I’ve heard about the ghostwriting bit for a while with Cormega and AZ helping in his earlier days with Illmatic and
Monday, August 20, 2012
Nas, Lil’ Wayne, and Adolf Hitler: A Rap and Education Memo | The Jose Vilson
Nas, Lil’ Wayne, and Adolf Hitler: A Rap and Education Memo | The Jose Vilson:
The latest news that may signal a sea change for hip-hop is that Nas, one of the most prolific and legendary artists in rap, may have asked for help with a few concepts in his album N*gger, or, as a few people have described it, had ghostwriters. The term “ghostwriting” has been reserved for guys like Dr. Dre and Diddy (Puff Daddy), those who would prefer to just let an unknown rapper write rhymes for them while they make executive decisions out there, or Foxy Brown and Lil’ Kim, who mostly served as counterparts for male rappers (Jay-Z, Biggie respectively). The term “ghostwriting” has served as a taboo these days because the hip-hop community still holds ideas of authentic composition of lyrics as virtues true MCs must uphold, and to many, Nas broke that.
I’ve heard about the ghostwriting bit for a while with Cormega and AZ helping in his earlier days with Illmatic and
I’ve heard about the ghostwriting bit for a while with Cormega and AZ helping in his earlier days with Illmatic and
Parent Trigger District Heading Back to Court « Diane Ravitch's blog
Parent Trigger District Heading Back to Court « Diane Ravitch's blog:
Parent Trigger District Heading Back to Court
Parent Trigger District Heading Back to Court
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| Rightwing website attacks Diane for post- they Lost |
The only school in the nation ever to vote to invoke the state “parent trigger” law is in Adelanto, California.
Parent Revolution, the organization funded by Gates, Walton and Broad to promote the trigger has been funding the fight in Adelanto.
It helped dissident parents form a union, organize a petition drive, collect signatures, and push for a charter school.
When the school board resisted the idea of turning the school into a charter, some of those who signed the
How Would You Evaluate This Teacher?
Parent Revolution, the organization funded by Gates, Walton and Broad to promote the trigger has been funding the fight in Adelanto.
It helped dissident parents form a union, organize a petition drive, collect signatures, and push for a charter school.
When the school board resisted the idea of turning the school into a charter, some of those who signed the
How Would You Evaluate This Teacher?
One man, one band teacher, united a town.
He taught instrumental music and band for 31 years at McFarland High School in Wisconsin.
He was admired, respected, loved.
He taught instrumental music and band for 31 years at McFarland High School in Wisconsin.
He was admired, respected, loved.
School Tech Connect: We Lied and We Lied
School Tech Connect: We Lied and We Lied:
We Lied and We Lied
As you know, I basically stalk Rep. Daniel Biss. Mainly because he's tall and nearby, but also because he's going to be a senator soon, and then God only knows what. His cash-balance plan is awful, and in my mind, he represents a kind of Democratic party that I could do without, at least in terms of education policy. In five years, he and Heather Steans will be opening charter schools inside every 7-11. Other than that, he's okay.
And he's at least an honest man, even a brave one, and certainly willing to state his positions-- and I wish I had attended this event, where he apparently said this:
“The State of Illinois has not been a trustworthy actor for a very long time. That stinks,” he said. “We lied and we lied and we lied. What did we lie about? We lied about how much stuff costs.”
Well, isn't that just exactly right. It's just impossible to move forward in the pension discussion until this fact is
Another Conveniently Timed Study With Jeb Bush’s Fingerprints On It | Scathing Purple Musings
Another Conveniently Timed Study With Jeb Bush’s Fingerprints On It | Scathing Purple Musings:
Another Conveniently Timed Study With Jeb Bush’s Fingerprints On It
Fund Education Now founder Kathleen Oropeza was having none of the most recent study that gushed over another Jeb Bush initiative. Noting the Harvard study which supports Florida’s 3rd grade retention based on FCAT came from a researcher works for a center chaired by Bush, Oropez had this for StateImpact reporter John O’Connor:
This is an echo chamber, a self-licking ice cream cone,” said Kathleen Oropeza, a co-founder ofOrlando-based Fund Education Now. “It is based on supposition and flies in the face of known longitudinal studies that stretch back 100 years.
“Real children are suffering right now because of this policy,” she said. “More children in other
USDA RELEASES CHECKLISTS FOR SCHOOL LUNCH AND BFAST TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE
USDA Releases Memo and Validation Review Checklists for School Lunch and Breakfast to Ensure Compliance with the Meal Pattern
USDA RELEASES MEMO AND VALIDATION REVIEW CHECKLISTS FOR SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEAL PATTERN
Permanent linkOn August 8, 2012, the USDA released prototypes of validation review checklists for compliance with the meal pattern. These are prototype lunch and breakfast Validation Review Checklists which support the School Year (SY) 2012-13. As indicated in the interim rule, during a validation review, State agencies must observe a meal service for each type of certified menu (i.e., each distinct menu by age grade grouping) and review the production records for observed meals to ensure the meal service meets the updated meal pattern requirements and is consistent with the menu/documentation on which certification was based. State agencies are instructed to provide technical assistance and if corrective action is immediate, then the School Food Authority may continue to earn the 6 cents. To read further about the checklists state agencies will be utilizing see the links below.
USDA Memo Discussing Prototypes of Breakfast and Lunch Validation Review ChecklistsLunch Validation Review ChecklistsBreakfast Validation Review Checklists
USDA Memo Discussing Prototypes of Breakfast and Lunch Validation Review ChecklistsLunch Validation Review ChecklistsBreakfast Validation Review Checklists
These materials as well as further information and resources regarding the meal pattern are available on www.schoolnutrition.org/mealpattern
News
 USDA Releases Memo and Validation Review Checklists for School Lunch and Breakfast to Ensure Compliance with the Meal Pattern (SNA News Releases) 8/16/2012 On August 8, 2012, USDA released prototypes of validation review checklists. |
NSLW 2012 “School Lunch – What’s Cooking?” Resources (SNA News) 8/15/2012 National School Lunch Week (October 15-19 2012) is right around the corner. It’s time to start cooking up celebration ideas! SNA has the tools to help you get started. |
 SNA’s 2012 Back to School Trends Report: School Cafeterias Find Creative Ways to Meet Healthy New School Meal Standards (SNA Press Releases) 8/13/2012 School Nutrition Association’s 2012 Back to School Trends Report shows that school foodservice professionals are finding creative ways to prepare and serve school meals that meet healthy new nutrition standards. |
Executive Summaries from ANC Available: Meeting the NSLP New Meal Pattern and Earning and Keeping Your 6 Cents (SNA News Releases) 8/10/2012 SNA is sharing Executive Summaries of popular sessions at ANC in order to share information covered at the sessions with all members. |
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-20-12 #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
Rahm Emanuel's close ties with a private consulting group leads to smearing Chicago teachers | Dailycensored.com
Rahm Emanuel's close ties with a private consulting group leads to smearing Chicago teachers | Dailycensored.com: Rahm Emanuel’s close ties with a private consulting group leads to smearing Chicago teachers by Danny Weil The corporate fascists will stop at nothing to assure they can break the backs of working teachers in Chicago and elsewhere. Using astro-turf groups and false propaganda, in February 2012, *Resolute Consulting*, a group with close ties to Mayor Rahm Emanuel paid protesters to smear Chicago Teachers Union at public meetings. Watch this clip and then watch the full... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: IN THE MAILBOX
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: IN THE MAILBOX: IN THE MAILBOX by Mike Klonsky Press Release: CPS Instructs Principals to Document Legal Union Activity As Teachers Fight For a Fair Contract BY *STEPHANIE GADLIN, MEDIA RELATIONS DIRECTOR* | 08/20/2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2012 *CHICAGO—* A confidential email recently obtained by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) encourages principals to closely monitor school employees for union activity. All Union activity is protected under federal and state law. The communication was written and distributed by Chicago Public School o... more »
Indiana public schools wage unusual ad campaign - SFGate
Indiana public schools wage unusual ad campaign - SFGate: *Editor's Note: Yes advertising would make schools more like a corporate business...* Indiana public schools wage unusual ad campaignTOM COYNE, Associated PressUpdated 1:06 p.m., Monday, August 20, 2012 1 of 4 VIEW: LARGER | HIDE - [image: Phillip Covington, right, talks with his son, Giovanni, as he works on a mathematics lesson in the library of Todd Academy in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. Struggling Indiana public school districts are buying billboard space, airing radio ads and even sending princ... more »
Fast, Free, Online: Because You Can’t Wait to Get Better — Whole Child Education
Fast, Free, Online: Because You Can’t Wait to Get Better — Whole Child Education: [image: Molly McCloskey]Fast, Free, Online: Because You Can’t Wait to Get Better August 16, 2012 by Molly McCloskey [image: ASCD School Improvement Tool] All educators want to improve what they do for kids, but they need help doing so. On a daily basis, we’re thinking, planning, and taking steps to improve school climate and culture, provide high-quality curriculum and instruction, be leaders, assess meaningfully, engage our families and communities, support our own professional development, build sta... more »
Four Chicago mega-corporations pay their CEOs more than they paid in federal taxes. « Fred Klonsky
Four Chicago mega-corporations pay their CEOs more than they paid in federal taxes. « Fred Klonsky: Four Chicago mega-corporations pay their CEOs more than they paid in federal taxes. by Fred Klonsky *Abbott Labs paid CEO Miles White $19 million, while the company received a $586 million federal tax refund.* *Barbara Gilhaus, who retired after teaching 31 years in Illinois, receives $28,000 a year from the Teacher Retirement System* *.* Governor Quinn gave Motorola a ten-year $100 million tax break. Motorola paid no federal corporate income taxes in 2011. It paid its former CEO San... more »
Can You Say Goodbye Middle Class? Former Englewood school secretaries not applying for outsourced jobs - NorthJersey.com
Former Englewood school secretaries not applying for outsourced jobs - NorthJersey.com: Former Englewood school secretaries not applying for outsourced jobs MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2012, 4:50 PM BY REBECCA BAKER STAFF WRITER THE RECORD PAGES: 1 2 > DISPLAY ON ONE PAGE | PRINT | E-MAIL ENGLEWOOD – None of the school secretaries who lost their job when the Board of Education outsourced nearly 100 positions has applied to the private staffing company hired to replace them. Nevertheless, Mission One Educational Staffing Services has had no difficulty finding applicants willing to take their... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Homeschoolers, Beware of Educational Carrots Offered by Virtual School Courses
Missouri Education Watchdog: Homeschoolers, Beware of Educational Carrots Offered by Virtual School Courses: Homeschoolers, Beware of Educational Carrots Offered by Virtual School Courses by stlgretchen Homeschoolers: Beware of the carrots of virtual school courses offered in Missouri in 2013. They may magically transform you into a public education student. We recently wrote* "Will Home Schooled and Private Schooled Students have to take Common Core Assessments" *and state legislation about this issue being questioned by a private school in Deland, Florida. The school was requ... more »
‘Won’t Back Down’: Realities the movie ignores - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
‘Won’t Back Down’: Realities the movie ignores - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: ‘Won’t Back Down’: Realities the movie ignores By Valerie Strauss * Rita Solnet "Won’t Back Down"* Though the film “Won’t Back Down,” starring Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal, is not being released in theaters until the end of September, its backers are already drumming up support for it and its subject: the controversial “parent trigger” laws that have passed in a few states and are being considered by many others. Screenings are being shown and a huge concert was staged and then broadcast ... more »
All power to…. « Deborah Meier on Education
All power to…. « Deborah Meier on Education: All power to…. by debmeier For some time parents have been the target of the new orporate “reformers” – promoting power to the parent as their rallying cry. The tool? They are called “Trigger Laws”–which enable schools to be take over by private charter companies if 51% of the parents vote to do so. They have hold of a legitimate idea–more on that later. But it’s worth noting that once they decide they decide “yes”, the parents lose all their new-found voting power, furthermore the law does not give them the right to vote to go back t... more »
It's Paul Ryan - Not School Teachers - Putting Children At Risk | OurFuture.org
It's Paul Ryan - Not School Teachers - Putting Children At Risk | OurFuture.org: It's Paul Ryan - Not School Teachers - Putting Children At Risk by Jeff Bryant Just like you can count on "Back to School" season cranking up retail sales this time of year, you can also count on it bringing on a new volley of criticism aimed at school teachers and their unions. Leading off the charge this year was an op-ed written by ex-NBC talent Campbell Brown. Writing in *The Wall Street Journal,* she claimed that "teachers unions go to bat for sexual predators" and that parents in New York City h... more »
Shanker Blog » Large Political Stones, Methodological Glass Houses
Shanker Blog » Large Political Stones, Methodological Glass Houses: Large Political Stones, Methodological Glass Houses by Matthew Di Carlo Earlier this summer, the New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO) presented findings from a longitudinal analysis of NYC student performance. That is, they followed a cohort of over 45,000 students from third grade in 2005-06 through 2009-10 (though most results are 2005-06 to 2008-09, since the state changed its definition of proficiency in 2009-10). The IBO then simply calculated the proportion of these students who improved, declined o... more »
Morning Read: The Powers That Be | LA School ReportLA School Report
Morning Read: The Powers That Be | LA School ReportLA School Report: School Board To Vote On Competing Ballot Measures by Hillel Aron When the LAUSD Board meets tomorrow morning at 9 am, the first item of business will be which of the competing tax measures on the November ballot to support. Governor Jerry Brown is pushing proposition 30while Molly Munger is pushing prop 38. The state’s rank-and-file Democrats are lining up to support the governor’s measure, and keeping mum on Munger’s. Board members Bennett Kayser and Steve Zimmer will introduce a resolution to support both propos... more »
Remarks by the First Lady at Kids' State Dinner | The White House
Remarks by the First Lady at Kids' State Dinner | The White House: Remarks by the First Lady at Kids' State Dinner East Room 11:49 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Well, that was really sweet, it really was. Marshall, we’re so proud of you. We’re so very proud of you and your mom, who actually has some serious guns going on, too. (Laughter.) People talk about my arms, but I felt them. They’re not -- (laughter) -- she’s no slouch. But I want to welcome everyone to the White House. Is this not cool? (Laughter and applause.) This is just so very cool. And understand it’s not just cool... more »
A Tale of Two Janesvillians: Paul Ryan & Me | One Teacher's Perspective
A Tale of Two Janesvillians: Paul Ryan & Me | One Teacher's Perspective: A Tale of Two Janesvillians: Paul Ryan & Me by Imagine Wisconsin *Like Mitt Romney’s running mate, Representative Paul Ryan, I am in my early 40’s and live in Janesville, Wisconsin with my wife and three kids. Purportedly, Rep. Ryan likes the Pack, Spotted Cow, brats, Wisconsin cheese, and the great outdoors--like most Wisconsinites and me. Similar to Ryan, I am loved by my family and generally well liked by my colleagues and others. I, too, serve ably the People of my community and am full of big rambling ide... more »
Chicago teachers walk the picket line this morning and all week. It’s informational for now. « Fred Klonsky
Chicago teachers walk the picket line this morning and all week. It’s informational for now. « Fred Klonsky: Chicago teachers walk the picket line this morning and all week. It’s informational for now. by Fred Klonsky *The signs are printed and ready to go.* Some Chicago schools, known as “E Schools” because they are on a different in-session schedule, are open this morning. Students and parents were greeted by CTU teachers walking informational picket lines. From the CTU: Although On Strike signs are rolling off the printing presses as a preparatory action, negotiations continue ... more »
The Gates Foundation Responds: Poverty Does Matter--But It Is Not Destiny - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
The Gates Foundation Responds: Poverty Does Matter--But It Is Not Destiny - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: The Gates Foundation Responds: Poverty Does Matter--But It Is Not Destiny by Anthony Cody * Guest post by Chris Williams of the Gates Foundation.* *This guest post is a response to Anthony Cody's post of a week ago, Can Schools Defeat Poverty by Ignoring It? This is the third topic in a series of five exchanges exploring critical issues in education reform. This post can also be viewed and commented upon at the Gates Foundation's Impatient Optimists blog.* In his ... more »
Teach for America in More Charter Schools - Rosa Ramirez - NationalJournal.com
Teach for America in More Charter Schools - Rosa Ramirez - NationalJournal.com: Teach for America in More Charter Schools Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailMore Sharing Services By Rosa Ramirez Updated: August 20, 2012 | 9:56 a.m. August 20, 2012 | 9:42 a.m. AP PHOTO/J PAT CARTER Jennifer Mojica, a Teach for America educator, works with her math students at Holmes Elementary School, in a distressed neighborhood north of downtown Miami. The mission of Teach for America is to offer “excellent education for kids in low-income communities,” but a third of its young educators... more »
Tony at the Red Line Tap. « Fred Klonsky
Tony at the Red Line Tap. « Fred Klonsky: Tony at the Red Line Tap. by Fred Klonsky *“Regrets?”* asks Tony as I sit down at the bar. *“I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption. I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way,”* I replied. *“I love a guy who can quote the Chairman of the Board.”* *“It was pretty funny this morning. First day of school. My teacher friends had to sit through the opening * * * Padres. Maestros. Estudiantes. UNIDOS! by ... more »
Why the Biggest Investigative News Journalism Story In Years Won't Get Covered — Sinking News Ships Look to Profiteering From Education To Lift Them Into New Markets | K-12 News Network
Why the Biggest Investigative News Journalism Story In Years Won't Get Covered — Sinking News Ships Look to Profiteering From Education To Lift Them Into New Markets | K-12 News Network: Why the Biggest Investigative News Journalism Story In Years Won’t Get Covered — Sinking News Ships Look to Profiteering From Education To Lift Them Into New Markets by admin The biggest investigative news journalism story in years — the wholesale attempt by the Gates, Broad, DeVos, and Walton Foundations and others to privatize K-12 public schools — won’t be reported as widely as it should. Why?... more »
Feminist Teacher Featured on Melissa Harris-Perry Show « Feminist Teacher
Feminist Teacher Featured on Melissa Harris-Perry Show « Feminist Teacher: Feminist Teacher Featured on Melissa Harris-Perry Show by feministteacher My national television debut on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show (photo credit: Cheryl Coward). Yesterday, I was honored to be on the Melissa Harris-Perry show on MSNBC. The show’s focus was on what makes a good education. Other guests who joined me throughout the four segments on education were: - Natasha Adams, student at the City College of New York and youth leader in Girls for Gender Equity - Derrell Bradford, executive direc... more »
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, August 20, 2012
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Monday, August 20, 2012* State's 'the check is in the mail' forces schools districts to break out credit cardLike a homeowner living beyond their means, California is paying some of its bills late, by months or even years. And this "the check is in the mail" method of balancing the state budget has forced many of California's 977 public school districts to either dip into shrinking financial reserves or pay borrowing fees and interest on short-term loans to cover their expenses in the meantime. Superintenden... more »
U.S. Department of Education Launches Enhanced Version of Online Learning Community for School Turnaround | U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Education Launches Enhanced Version of Online Learning Community for School Turnaround | U.S. Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Launches Enhanced Version of Online Learning Community for School Turnaround AUGUST 20, 2012 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov The U.S. Department of Education today launched the School Turnaround Learning Community (STLC), an enhanced version of its online learning community for school turnaround. The site now features improved search and chat functions and a user-friendly reorganization of S... more »
The Finnish Alternative: Reclaiming Public Education From Corporate Reform
The Finnish Alternative: Reclaiming Public Education From Corporate Reform: The Finnish Alternative: Reclaiming Public Education From Corporate ReformMonday, 20 August 2012 00:00By Dan Archer and Adam Bessie, Truthout | Graphic Journalism - 10 - font size [image: decrease font size] [image: increase font size] - Print - Email *Truthout combats corporatization by bringing you trustworthy news: click here to join the effort.* [image: The Disaster Capitalism Curriculum]*This is the third and final installment of Dan Archer and Adam Bessie's "The Disaster Capitalism ... more »
The Differentiated School: Making Revolutionary Changes in Teaching and Learning — Whole Child Education
The Differentiated School: Making Revolutionary Changes in Teaching and Learning — Whole Child Education: [image: Klea Scharberg]The Differentiated School: Making Revolutionary Changes in Teaching and Learning August 20, 2012 by Klea Scharberg Educators and administrators should take their ideas for reforming classroom instruction and work with one another to form a collective plan for school improvement. Collaborating with each other gives students the best possible education and to revolutionize the way they learn. In this video, teachers—both veteran and beginning—discuss ideas t... more »
Louisiana Educator: Choice Providers: Private Schools Authorized to Raid MFP
Louisiana Educator: Choice Providers: Private Schools Authorized to Raid MFP: Choice Providers: Private Schools Authorized to Raid MFP by Michael Deshotels *Note to my readers:*This is an expansion of my post of July 2, 2012 that alerted you to the new Choice Course Provider system. More information has come to light as a result of the LDOE web page giving detailed information on how the Department plans to proceed with this program. A new type of private school serving public school students at taxpayer expense was created by Act 2 of 2012. These new private schools will offer ... more »
NYC Educator: Journalism, American Style
NYC Educator: Journalism, American Style: Journalism, American Style by NYC Educator On Saturday I watched Diane Ravitch's interview on CNN. The interviewer, fancying herself clever, read a poorly written student paper and challenged Ravitch about the state of education. How can education be effective if one single student writes poorly? That would be like me asking how journalism can be effective if one single interviewer asks an incredibly stupid question. Alas, it was not a single question, but a series of them, in a pattern that's replicated widely. The interviewer asked quest... more »
Five ways privatization is ruining America - Salon.com
Five ways privatization is ruining America - Salon.com: Five ways privatization is ruining AmericaWe spend lifetimes developing community assets, then give them away to a corporation for lifetimes to come BY PAUL BUCHHEIT, ALTERNET - - 200 - 121 - - more - TOPICS: ALTERNET, MITT ROMNEY, PRIVATIZATION, REPUBLICAN PARTY, TAXES [image: Five ways privatization is ruining America] This article originally appeared on AlterNet. A grand delusion has been planted in the minds of Americans, that privately run systems are more efficient and less costly than tho... more »
Why label Paul Vallas Bridgeport’s $229,000, “part-time”, superintendent - Wait, What?
Why label Paul Vallas Bridgeport’s $229,000, “part-time”, superintendent - Wait, What?: Why label Paul Vallas Bridgeport’s $229,000, “part-time”, superintendent by jonpelto Over the weekend, a reader wrote to ask why I often refer to Paul Vallas as Bridgeport’s “part-time,” superintendent of schools. The reason is that, by comparison, Connecticut’s other superintendents approach their jobs as full-time leaders. Like a ship’s captain, they see their duty as being on the bridge, at all times. They believe their duty is to ensure that students, teachers, administrators, staff and par... more »
Louisiana's Voucher Program Fails Disabled Students - New America Media
Louisiana's Voucher Program Fails Disabled Students - New America Media: Louisiana's Voucher Program Fails Disabled Students[image: Louisiana's Voucher Program Fails Disabled Students] *Story* tools Comments AAAResize Print Share and Email New America Media, News Report, Zoe Sullivan, Posted: Aug 20, 2012 NEW ORLEANS, LA. -- Last April, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed a new voucher program considered to be the most sweeping in the country. For years, Louisiana's children have been scoring below their peers in other states on reading and math skills according to data from the ... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-20-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Removing the Mask From Reform in Bridgeport, CT by dianerav Thanks to Linda from CT for this article: [image: Connecticut Post] Removing the mask from Bridgeport education reformersPublished 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - There is always more than meets the eye, particularly when a mask camouflages a hidden agenda. Excel Bridgeport, a new education reform group, describes itself in flattering terms on its website. It announces: “1. We want every child in Bridgeport to have the opportunity fo ... more »
New school year: doubling down on failed ed policy - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
New school year: doubling down on failed ed policy - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] New school year: doubling down on failed ed policy By Valerie Strauss This *was written by Lisa Guisbond, a policy analyst for the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, known as FairTest, a Boston-based organization that aims to improve standardized testing practices and evaluations of students, teachers and schools.* ** By Lisa Guisbond Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt credited his teammate, Jamaican runner Yohan “The Beast,” Blake, with helping him improve by b... more »
Having gone to school doesn’t mean we all can run a school | EdSource Today
Having gone to school doesn’t mean we all can run a school | EdSource Today: Having gone to school doesn’t mean we all can run a school - by Seth Rosenblatt by Seth Rosenblatt [image: Seth Rosenblatt] Almost all schools need parent volunteers, and educators will universally agree that getting supportive parents and other family members to be part of the educational process is crucial. This involvement can be anything from just making sure a child does their homework all the way through volunteering at the school, tutoring, helping the PTA organize schoolwide events, raising mone... more »
Lucy Calkins and a True Success Story of Writer's Workshop.southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Lucy Calkins and a True Success Story of Writer's Workshop by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Last Monday, the cult of Lucy Calkins and her Teacher's College reading and writing thingy was thoroughly eviscerated on these pages. However in the comments section one lackey defended TC and Lucy Calkins, and while we disagree with this anonymous commenter, we salute this person for bringing up a point that opposing viewpoints must be heard. With this in mind, and in deference to the above mentioned commenter, we here at SBSB felt that is was not only... more »
More with Less? Really? Welcome to Back to School - Lily's Blackboard | Lily's Blackboard
More with Less? Really? Welcome to Back to School - Lily's Blackboard | Lily's Blackboard: [image: Lily's Blackboard Rotating Header Image] More with Less? Really? Welcome to Back to School Aug 18th, 2012 by Lily. Yeah, we all the got the memo, and here’s the thing: if one more person smiles at me and says, “Look, times are tough. You’ve got to learn to do more with less…” Well, let’s just say, you don’t want to be that person. Let me go on record as saying I am a Utah teacher.* The highest class sizes. The lowest per-pupil expenditures. A state motto that says: Stack ‘Em Deep/Teac... more »
Is Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future a Paper Tiger? | Scathing Purple Musings
Is Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future a Paper Tiger? | Scathing Purple Musings: Is Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future a Paper Tiger? by Bob Sikes Last month’s blurb in the *Tampa Bay Times *that wealthy ed privatization advocate John Kirtley was hosting a fundraiser for Jeb Bush to support his Foundation for Florida’s Future during the RNC caught the eye of Bush’s critics. Especially when it was revealed that two members of the Florida Board of Education – Kathleen Shanahan and Akshay Desai would be co-hosting the event. Whether of not the presence of the board me... more »
Schools Matter: Educational Groups Only Oppose INVALID Ways of Measuring Teacher Accountability
Schools Matter: Educational Groups Only Oppose INVALID Ways of Measuring Teacher Accountability: Educational Groups Only Oppose INVALID Ways of Measuring Teacher Accountability by skrashen Sent to the Los Angeles Times, August 20 Educational Groups Only Oppose Invalid Ways of Measuring Teacher Accountability “A Capitol Force” (August 19) claims that educational groups such as the California Teachers Union are opposed to increased teacher accountability. Not so. These groups are opposed to using measures that base teacher ratings on student test scores. A number of studies have s... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES by Mike Klonsky Friday's failed pension grab *“We all look like idiots. I’ll say it again: We all — not the governor, not the other side, not our side — we all look like idiots.” *-- Daniel Biss, Evanston Democrat L.A. charter cheating scandal *"Here I had been going around bragging about how awesome our school is, and now I wonder: Are we cheaters?" *--Former L.A. Charter School teacherLisa Sims. Racist voter suppression in Ohio *“I guess I really actually feel we shouldn’t contort the voting process to acco... more »
AT LAUSD, ADVOCATING FOR LATINO RIGHTS CAN COST YOU YOUR JOB ( AT LAUSD, DEFENSA DE LOS DERECHOS latinos pueden costarle su trabajo) - Perdaily.com
AT LAUSD, ADVOCATING FOR LATINO RIGHTS CAN COST YOU YOUR JOB ( AT LAUSD, DEFENSA DE LOS DERECHOS latinos pueden costarle su trabajo) - Perdaily.com: AT LAUSD, ADVOCATING FOR LATINO RIGHTS CAN COST YOU YOUR JOB ( AT LAUSD, DEFENSA DE LOS DERECHOS latinos pueden costarle su trabajo) by Leonard Isenberg [image: Coconut.jpg] *(**Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)* *Superintendent John Deasy called me tonight on a robo call to tell me how well they were doing at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). In ... more »
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's principals: “Class of ’08” continues to dwindle - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post
DC principals: “Class of ’08” continues to dwindle - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post: DC principals: “Class of ’08” continues to dwindle By Bill Turque In 2008, then-Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee turned over a third of the city’s public school principal posts, reassigning some leaders and hiring what the head of New Leaders for New Schools, a recruiting nonprofit, called “an army of believers.” But struggling urban school systems chew up principals. With each successive spring, more members of the DCPS 2008 cohort have moved on through resignation, retirement, terminatio... more »
Man who armed Black Panthers was FBI informant, records show | California Watch
Man who armed Black Panthers was FBI informant, records show | California Watch: Man who armed Black Panthers was FBI informant, records show by Seth Rosenfeld Seth Rosenfeld *Seth Rosenfeld was an investigative reporter for the San Francisco Examiner and San Francisco Chronicle and has won the George Polk Award and other journalism honors. He can be reached at seth@sethrosenfeld.com. This story was edited by Robert Salladay and copy edited by Nikki Frick.* *The Center for Investigative Reporting, parent organization of California Watch, is the nation’s oldest independent, nonprofit...more »
Steinberg seeks to change report cards for California schools - Education - The Sacramento Bee
Steinberg seeks to change report cards for California schools - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Steinberg seeks to change report cards for California schools by jsanders@sacbee.com (Jim Sanders) California schools spend all year grading student performance, but lawmakers are turning the tables with an issue that strikes at the heart of education: How should a school be graded? Geometry teacher Beth Riggs goes over first-day-of-class information with her students at El Camino High School last week. Senate Bill 1458 would change how schools are evaluated. MEASURING SCHOOLS Ca... more »
Daily Kos: Krugman deconstructs and detroys Ryan
Daily Kos: Krugman deconstructs and detroys Ryan: Krugman deconstructs and detroys Ryan by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) in a column for Monday's *New York Times* titled An Unserious Man. Krugman begins by noting that it is the "commentariat" which years ago decided that he was the Honest, Serious Conservative, whose proposals deserve respect even if you don’t like him. To which our Nobel Laureate responds simply But he isn’t and they don’t. Ryanomics is and always has been a con game, although to be fair, it has become even more of a con since Mr. Ryan joined the ticket. Award... more »
School Tech Connect: Come Out To The Heartland!
School Tech Connect: Come Out To The Heartland!: Come Out To The Heartland! by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) On my calendar for August 28, at Heartland Cafe: Dangerously informed, ordinary citizen Don Washington is hosting a Tutorial Fund Raiser for Raise Your Hand on education. On the eve of a possible strike in a city that can find $5.3 million to finance a billionaire member of the unelected school board’s latest hotel and millions for turnaround and charters while disinvesting in neighborhood schools surely there is a logical explanation. Such are the ironies and absurdit... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Obama Says Class Size Matters; Bill G, Are You Listening?
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Obama Says Class Size Matters; Bill G, Are You Listening?: Obama Says Class Size Matters; Bill G, Are You Listening? by Melissa Westbrook Via NYC Parents blog: Parent leaders throughout the nation thank President Obama for *recognizing the importance of class size in his weekly address, and for releasing a report that shows how the elimination of 60,000 teaching positions since 2009 is not only unprecedented in US postwar history, but has led to class size increases that are severely damaging the quality of our public schools. * Leonie Haimson, Exec... more »
To Survive, Some Catholic Schools Rebrand to Lure Wealthier Families - NYTimes.com
To Survive, Some Catholic Schools Rebrand to Lure Wealthier Families - NYTimes.com: To Survive, a Catholic School Retools for a Wealthier MarketBy JENNY ANDERSONPublished: August 19, 2012 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - SINGLE PAGE - REPRINTS - Catholic schools have been bleeding enrollment and money for years, and many have been forced to close. But some, like St. Stephen of Hungary, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, have found a way to thrive — attracting a more affluent clientele by offering services and classes more comm... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Policy Based on FICTIONAL Movies
Jersey Jazzman: Policy Based on FICTIONAL Movies: Policy Based on FICTIONAL Movies by Duke This is so ridiculous, I had to post from the road. Frank Bruni of the *NY Times* apparently thinks we should make education policy based on *fictional * movies: “Our very best teachers ought to be treated much, much better than they are today,” said Joe Williams, the executive director of Democrats for Education Reform. “But in order to get there, we need to be able to say out loud that some teachers are better than others.” That’s precisely what “Won’t Back Down” says. Although the movie ... more »
Sharing Sundays: A Renee Moore and Jesse Turner Sighting | The Jose Vilson
Sharing Sundays: A Renee Moore and Jesse Turner Sighting | The Jose Vilson: Sharing Sundays: A Renee Moore and Jesse Turner Sighting by Jose Last week, I wrote a post about students in Mississippi getting arrested for things as trivial as dress code.Renee Moore responded: Thank you so much for giving this sad story the attention and the angle it deserves. This is not just another excuse for people to point their fingers here at MS, but really to point a finger at our collective selves for becoming so callous. This was worth saying because it’s not just about Mississippi. Too many... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: A Teacher who knows what Common Core Means to the Teaching Profession
Missouri Education Watchdog: A Teacher who knows what Common Core Means to the Teaching Profession: A Teacher who knows what Common Core Means to the Teaching Profession by stlgretchen There is an interesting discussion on Hotair.com regarding teacher tenure. There are some interesting comments specifically about tenure but the conversation expanded on how the real problems in education are much deeper and wider than just teacher tenure. Read the full article and thread here. ********************************************************* All I want to do is teach. And I wish peopl...more »
View from the Inside: an endorsement of voice and vision for teachers « InterACT
View from the Inside: an endorsement of voice and vision for teachers « InterACT: View from the Inside: an endorsement of voice and vision for teachers by Lisa Alva Wood On August 8, I finished a four-week Fellowship at LAUSD Central Offices.The program is sponsored by Education Pioneers, a national foundation that takes MBA candidates and Teach for America teachers and puts them into policy-level offices in school districts and connected organizations for a time. This is the first summer that Ed Pioneers and LAUSD included school-based people. There were five of us – four class... more »
Diane in the Afternoon 8-19-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Ms. Katie Asks: What If Charters Served the Neediest Students? by dianerav Katie Osgood has a terrific blog. She works with children with high needs. I learn a lot from Ms. Katie whenever I read her writings: *Ms. Katie’s Ramblings* * **Saturday, April 21, 2012* ***What If Charter Schools Did What They Were Intended to Do?* * * *As I continue to meet dozens and dozens of charter school students from across Chicago, I am continually reminded how different the charter schools are from their nearby public neighborhood schools. Working in a psychiatric facility me... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Parent leaders hail the President’s focus on the need for smaller classes
NYC Public School Parents: Parent leaders hail the President’s focus on the need for smaller classes: Parent leaders hail the President’s focus on the need for smaller classes For Immediate Release: August 19, 2012 For more information: Leonie Haimson (NY): 917-435-9329; leonie@classsizematters.org Pamela Grundy (NC): 407-375-4222; shamrockparent@earthlink.net . Robin Hiller (AZ): 520-668-4634; rhiller@voicesforeducation.org Wendy Lecker (CT): 203-536-7567; paaconnecticut@gmail.com Becky Malone (IL); 773- 793-0355; wats7573@aol.com Karen Miller (TX): 281-893-8877; 832-372-4742; km... more »
Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s Parent/Teacher Chat On Twitter
Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s Parent/Teacher Chat On Twitter: This Week’s Parent/Teacher Chat On Twitter by Larry Ferlazzo Guest Post By Joe Mazza This week’s chat brings the most important lens to the table – our students. Students from StuVoice.org will join us as “experts” to talk about the ways family engagement impacted their own education growing up. Student Voice is a grassroots effort that is comprised of caring students and individuals that believe that the students should feel empowered and have a stronger voice. You can find
All Education Matters: More Thoughts About Recent Claims That Student Lending Crisis Does Not Exist
All Education Matters: More Thoughts About Recent Claims That Student Lending Crisis Does Not Exist: More Thoughts About Recent Claims That Student Lending Crisis Does Not Exist by Cryn Johannsen A few days ago, I wrote a piece in response to a discussion by higher education experts who are now claiming that, while student debt is growing, there is not a full blown crisis. Some of the panelists even went so far as to argue that stories about student loan debt are being "overblown" and "sensationalized." There are a number of reasons why this group of experts - who do not really e... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Answering the "For-Profit" Charter Question
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Answering the "For-Profit" Charter Question: Answering the "For-Profit" Charter Question by Melissa Westbrook I always get this question (and seemingly by people who are smart and savvy): *How could anyone make money off charter schools? * * * Below is just one explanation of the tip of this iceberg but it's a good one. This column from the Washington Post's Valerie Strauss and her blog, The Answer Sheet, really says it all. She posts an interview with the head of Entertainment Properties Trust which is: *“a specialty real estate investment t... more »
Schools Matter: No More Facebook
Schools Matter: No More Facebook: No More Facebook by Jim Horn I am just back from holiday, and one of the first things I noticed is the intrusive, controlling Facebook team has crossed the line with their new tracking and Timeline imposition. This comes atop their financing of segregated neo-eugenics camps like KIPP. I have deactivated my account before, but this one is permanent. If you are sending me stuff through Facebook, which is destined to be the next AOL, don't bother. My Email: ontogenyx@gmail.com Jim Horn
Requesting Letters: Action for the Week of 8/19/2012 | United Opt Out National
Requesting Letters: Action for the Week of 8/19/2012 | United Opt Out National: Requesting Letters: Action for the Week of 8/19/2012 by admin Good afternoon Liberators. The school year has started. United Opt Out National *weekly actions* are resuming and we need your help! We are asking everyone to write a letter to the citizens of our country explaining how you are opting out of corporate education reform. Parents, we’d love a letter explaining how and why you are opting out of the state test. Teachers, we’d love a letter detailing the many creative ways you are able to o... more »
Wait, What? A little help would mean a lot... - Wait, What?
Wait, What? A little help would mean a lot... - Wait, What?: Wait, What? A little help would mean a lot… by jonpelto *A little help would mean a lot…* *Wait, What? - **Working to educate, persuade and mobilize through “perceptive and acerbic” observations about Connecticut Government and Politics* Dear Friends, A little help would mean a lot… For 18 months, Wait, What? has been digging into the stories that aren’t being covered by the media, but should be. Through the blog I’ve been working to educate, persuade and mobilize our fellow citizens through “perceptive and acerbic” obs... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-18-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-11-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-4-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
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Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-19-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
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