Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)

Leading the STEM Challenge

From the Huffington Post: NEA President Dennis Van Roekel

If the United States is to hold a competitive edge in a rapidly changing global workforce, bolstering the nation’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce is essential.

The nation needs to connect students to jobs of the future by reengaging them in these important fields, says NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, and we must have the teachers to help get them there.

Watch the official announcement here:

NEA - Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM):

STEM Resources, ideas and articles:

SMILE Website Offers 1,000s of Searchable Science & Math Lessons

Science Superhero Michelle Shearer

Gender Gap in STEM Fields Persist

Building 21st Century Skills

The 21st-century learner is here–is your classroom ready?

Big Education Ape SPECIAL PRE DEBATE Nite Cap 10-3-12 #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

Charter school battle turns ugly as legal arguments heat up

by Maureen Downey

Proponents of the November charter school amendment have protested state School Superintendent John Barge’s public stand against the amendment on the DOE web site, which led the state Department of Education to take down a 29-point position paper highlighting the reasons. A link to that paper was on the Georgia Department of Education’s home page.
Today, Attorney General Sam Olens notified Barge to alert local school boards that they “do not have the legal authority to expend funds or other resources to advocate or oppose the ratification of a constitutional amendment

The in box. Richard Ingram, let’s have a conversation about pensions that doesn’t scapegoat teachers.

by Fred Klonsky

As stated by Ingram, “the number is so bad [regarding the COLA]… that you have to start having those conversations… that if you look at the pension math, the single biggest cost is the COLA,” in other words, “…the math is not trueing up with what is constitutional or fair or earned or whatever else.”
Well, since Ingram has changed his once stated “neutral” position since last fall, how about asking Ingram to include conversations concerning tax breaks and loopholes for corporations and

We Can Do Better Than “Wrong” [Future of Teaching]

by Jose

Wrong Way

Excerpt:

As a teacher, I have a few ways to say “that’s wrong” without actually saying it. The point isn’t to sanitize the class or soften the critique. For students, they often see the word “wrong” as a gateway to devaluing their own potential, as if their wrong answer determines their competency in the subject. We have to find ways for students to own and play on their mistakes without feeling like they’ll never get it.
Here are some ways to do this:

“How did you get that?”
This question often elicits thinking from the students to say more about how they arrived at their

AN EDUCATION DEBATE

by alkleen

Forget about presidential debates for a moment. We need a nationally televised debate about the direction of education in this country. There would be spokesperson for those who believe education should be built on a business model. The opposing side would feature a person who believes the business model has no place in education. We need to let the entire country see both sides present their arguments and may the best man or woman win.
These are questions that should be posed by the moderator:
Do you believe a teacher’s pay should be determined by their students’ test scores?

Profiles in Courageousness: Juan Rangel

by Representative Kimble

With the publication of my memoirs Profiles in Courageousness: The Jack Kimble Story in electronic format this month, it seemed prudent to look at those courageous individuals who are making a real difference in the world today. While my memoirs actually began as a Twilight fan fiction called 50 Shades of White, I believe that they provide a real inside view of politics and of my efforts through my own courageousness to change Washington.

Our first honoree is Chicago charter school magnate Juan Rangel who manages 13 Chicago charter schools as head of the United Neighborhood Organization or UNO. Yesterday, Juan was out a big rally for more funding for charter schools, which a lot of people immediately attacked because

solidaridad: Help Save LAUSD's Crenshaw and Dorsey High Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

solidaridad: Help Save LAUSD's Crenshaw and Dorsey High Schools: Help Save LAUSD's Crenshaw and Dorsey High Schools by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene PREVENT SCHOOL CLOSURE/RECONSTITUTION! Join Crenshaw and Dorsey High Schools at an EMERGENCY Community Meeting Join Us at Our Community Meeting *Thursday, October 4, 5:30pm – 7:30pm* *African-American Cultural Center* 3018 W. 48th Street, LA, 90043 (at corner of 9th Avenue) [image: Save LAUSD's Crenshaw and Dorsey High Schools.]After years of instability and lack of support from LAUSD, Crenshaw High School has been on its way back. A dedica... more »

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Parent testing opt-out meeting tomorrow

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Parent testing opt-out meeting tomorrow: Parent testing opt-out meeting tomorrow by admin This meeting started out as a small parent meeting for Drummond school and is not being advertised it as a huge event, but there is so much interest in this topic that I just want people to be aware that it is happening. Meanwhile, several parent groups are working on a larger testing forum for later in the fall. PSAT for 9-2-12: How to boycott hedge funder “reformers”? by admin Have been spending some time thinking about how to call f... more »

The State of Education | ED.gov Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

The State of Education | ED.gov Blog: The State of Education Posted on October 3, 2012 by Cameron Brenchley [image: Arne_Press_Club] Secretary Duncan spoke on the state of education at the National Press Club. Official Department of Education photo by Joshua Hoover. “States and districts, schools and communities are driving more change than ever before,” Secretary Arne Duncan told reporters during a speech at the National Press Club yesterday. “Educators at every level are being more and more creative — pairing good schools with struggling schools, creating smaller, more manageable ... more »

The Responsibility Myth: Asking Kids To "Own" Our Choices — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

The Responsibility Myth: Asking Kids To "Own" Our Choices — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Bob Sullo]The Responsibility Myth: Asking Kids To “Own” Our Choices October 3, 2012 by Bob Sullo Adults rightfully want children to take responsibility for their actions. I'm guessing the following scenarios are familiar to you: - Cassandra, a 2nd grade student, is doodling rather than completing her work in class. A competent student, Cassandra frequently squanders time and has been spoken to by her teacher on numerous occasions. Today, her teacher says, "Cas... more »

Civil rights complaint filed over Philadelphia school closings | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Civil rights complaint filed over Philadelphia school closings | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Civil rights complaint filed over Philadelphia school closings by thenotebook Photo: Benjamin Herold/NewsWorks Theodore Stones speaks to the rally outside School District headquarters Wednesday morning - COMMENTS (0)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] *By Benjamin Herold* *for WHYY/NewsWorks, a *Notebook *news partner* Seeking a moratorium on dozens of plannedschool closings, community organizing group Action United filed a federal civil rights complaint Wednesday against the Schoo... more »

Mis-Education Nation: Why Were Student Voices Silenced at NBC's Town Hall? | Education on GOOD

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Mis-Education Nation: Why Were Student Voices Silenced at NBC's Town Hall? | Education on GOOD: Mis-Education Nation: Why Were Student Voices Silenced at NBC's Town Hall? [image: education.nation] When an event is advertised as a student town hall you expect that the people driving the conversation will be, well, students. Last week I had the privilege of speaking at NBC’s Education Nation Student Town Hall hosted by Melissa Harris-Perry. While I was initially thrilled that NBC wanted to involve students in the discussion, my optimism quickly soured. Half of the "student" town hall ... more »

Chinese funding Florida charter schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Chinese funding Florida charter schools: *Chinese funding Florida charter schools* By Meisha Perrin [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991]中國的融資佛羅里達州特許學校 Investment money is pouring into Florida from wealthy Chinese who find that Florida has exactly what they are looking for — and what they need to secure US green cards. Chinese investors are taking advantage of the EB-5 investment visa program, the so-called "green card via red carpet," by putting millions into Florida's charter schools and an aquaculture farm in Central Florida. Under the EB-5 pr... more »

UPDATE: Daine in the Evening 10-3-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: A Parent’s Letter to President Obama by dianerav This came from a parent in California, who revised my draft: Submitted on 2012/10/03 at 6:02 pm I second the motion for a similar letter coming from parents. Here’s my draft… *** Dear President Obama, We assume you know that there are many thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of parents, who are disappointed in your education policies. We assume you know that some will vote for you reluctantly, some will vote for a third party candidate, and some will not vote at all. Our votes will make... more »

Will the real parents please stand up? | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Will the real parents please stand up? | Parents Across America: Will the real parents please stand up? by pureparents *The following article by Chicago public school parent Wendy Kattan was originally published in Catalyst Magazine.* *Parents don’t want a “war.” They want a district that’s looking out for all children, that is capable of collaboration and able to hear the views and voices of real parents in the system.* *By: *Wendy Katten / October 1, 2012 Now that the strike is over and parents, students and teachers are finally settling into the routine of the school year, many... more »

Mother Crusader: Is Chris Cerf Picky Or Gun-Shy About Charters?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Mother Crusader: Is Chris Cerf Picky Or Gun-Shy About Charters?: Is Chris Cerf Picky Or Gun-Shy About Charters? by darciecima John Mooney of NJ Spotlight reported on the two charters that were approved by Comissioner Chris Cerf and team on Monday. He said the fact that only two were approved demonstrates that "The Christie administration continues to be picky about new charter schools." I have a different take on it. I have read a NJDOE press release or two in my day, and the ones that come out about charter approvals tell a much different story. Here are some highlights from ... more »

Schools Matter: To Dissect a Polemic: First, Examine the Polemicist

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Schools Matter: To Dissect a Polemic: First, Examine the Polemicist: To Dissect a Polemic: First, Examine the Polemicist by Storm Dissecting The Atlantic's Reform Manifesto: Part IV Go to Part I; Part II; Part III "Why Kids Should Grade Their Teachers," by Amanda Ripley I had an instructive moment in my education well after I left the educational institutions at which I'd been vacationing ("all work and no play," right?): I was working at a bookstore, naturally, as I was "between" my eight or nine Clinton-approved careers (there are no right-left divides when it comes to power, p... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Is Chris Cerf AFRAID Of Your Questions?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Is Chris Cerf AFRAID Of Your Questions?: Is Chris Cerf AFRAID Of Your Questions? by Duke Better duck out the back door, Commissioner Cerf! Someone may ask you a question! Popout Of course, he could have had the courage of Superintendent Cami Anderson and Mayor Cory Booker, who valiantly addressed Newark's lack of local control by completely evading the question. Everyone knows why the state is hanging on to control of Newark: local control might imperil Eli Broad's grand

MTEA's Bob Peterson talks with Jonathan Kozol at opening of Martin Haber...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

WEACvideo has uploaded *MTEA's Bob Peterson talks with Jonathan Kozol at opening of Martin Haberman Library*.

Obama and Romney Education Advisors to Debate | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Obama and Romney Education Advisors to Debate | Truth in American Education: Obama and Romney Education Advisors to Debate by Shane Vander Hart Edweek announced a debate taking place on October 15th. Be sure to register to watch. The information is below: Exclusive Live Webcast Hosted by *Education Week* on edweek.org Teachers College, Columbia University, will host “Taking the Election to School: Making Education a Focus of the 2012 Election,” a debate between Jon Schnur, education adviser to President Barack Obama, and Phil Handy, education adviser to Republican presidential ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: As votes in Chicago are being counted...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: As votes in Chicago are being counted...: As teachers' votes in Chicago are being counted... by Mike Klonsky ...the struggle continues *On Tuesday, [CTU President Karen] Lewis framed the school-closing issue as community participation in decision-making. “The student voices were heard, but they were ignored,” Lewis said. “These decisions are badly made. They don’t take into account the community, but rather sit in rooms amid spreadsheets.”* *After voting , Lewis joined a group of Dyett students, flanked by members of the Kenwood Oakland Community Org... more »

Blue Jersey:: Kristen Zimmer, Darcie Cimarusti: Couple of Jersey Girls With Something On Their Minds

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Blue Jersey:: Kristen Zimmer, Darcie Cimarusti: Couple of Jersey Girls With Something On Their Minds: Kristen Zimmer, Darcie Cimarusti: Couple of Jersey Girls With Something On Their Mindsby: Rosi Efthim*Wed Oct 03, 2012 at 01:08:27 PM EDT* *Well, I guess she told him* ...From a site called *The Everlasting GOP Stoppers*, Bergen County resident and Jersey City Gay Relationship correspondent for The Examiner Kristen Zimmer lets Mitt Romney have it. Boom. Presented to you as a public service and a little taste of blood as we all get ready for the first presidential debate - on domesti... more »

Momsrising: Get Your MomsRising BINGO Card!!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Momsrising: Get Your MomsRising BINGO Card!!: Get Your MomsRising BINGO Card!!*PLAY PRESIDENTIAL BINGO WITH US! * Break out the popcorn, gather 'round your young ins,' and turn on the TV! We've made a great MomsRising Presidential Bingo card for you and yours to print & play while watching the candidates debate this week. *How does it work? *As the candidates debate, use the MomsRising Presidential Bingo card to mark down one point each time they mention supporting economic security policies like: Healthcare, Paid Family Leave, and Childcare (Don't worry, all the words are on the... more »

Online schools face backlash as states question results | Reuters

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Online schools face backlash as states question results | Reuters: Online schools face backlash as states question results [image: Students at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School work on their laptops during a class in Dorchester, Massachusetts June 20, 2008. REUTERS/Adam Hunger] By Stephanie Simon Wed Oct 3, 2012 8:29am EDT (Reuters) - Virtual public schools, which allow students to take all their classes online, have exploded in popularity across the United States, offering what supporters view as innovative and affordable alternatives to the conventional classroom. Now a ... more »

Inglewood Administrator Appointed - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Inglewood Administrator Appointed - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Appoints Inglewood High Alumnus as State Administrator for Inglewood Unified School District INGLEWOOD—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today appointed Kent Taylor—himself a graduate of Inglewood High School—as State Administrator over the financially troubled Inglewood Unified School District. "My top priority is to keep Inglewood's schools open and serving its students, while returning the district to fiscal solvency, and ultimately, local control," To... more »

Skype - The Big Blog - NASA and Seven Other Organizations Join Skype in the Classroom to Take Kids on New Educational Adventures

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Skype - The Big Blog - NASA and Seven Other Organizations Join Skype in the Classroom to Take Kids on New Educational Adventures: NASA and Seven Other Organizations Join Skype in the Classroom to Take Kids on New Educational Adventures When I was a kid, I had some very big dreams. My imagination would run wild with all the possibilities of answering the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" On any given day, I would have given you wildly different answers: I wanted to be a firefighter, an astronaut, a ship captain, a writer, amongst many, many others. One of the reason... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Is Southern Poverty Law Center's Mix It Up Day Coming To Your School?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Is Southern Poverty Law Center's Mix It Up Day Coming To Your School?: Is Southern Poverty Law Center's Mix It Up Day Coming To Your School? by Anngie Mix It Up At Lunch Day is coming October 30th. Hundreds of schools across the county will be joining in this celebration of diversity and yours could be one of them. The idea is for kids to sit with someone new at lunch that day in order to demonstrate their tolerance for those who are different from them. Sounds harmless enough, unless you look at whose brain child this is. As part of their Teaching Tole... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: RBHS Featured in NY Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: RBHS Featured in NY Times: RBHS Featured in NY Times by Melissa Westbrook A really great story appeared in the NY Times recently about a partnership between Rainier Beach High School and Microsoft to help with technology learning there. I hesitate to say anything bad but there are some ironies in it. *That teacher, Steven Edouard, knows a few things about the subject. When he is not volunteering as a computer science instructor four days a week, Mr. Edouard works at Microsoft. He is one of 110 engineers from high-tech companies who are part of ... more »

Conservative Education Concerns? Liberty Watch Introduces New Freedom Grading Scale for Private School Choice Laws « edlibertywatch.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Education Liberty Watch Introduces New Freedom Grading Scale for Private School Choice Laws « edlibertywatch.org: Education Liberty Watch Introduces New Freedom Grading Scale for Private School Choice Laws The concept of trying to rescue poor and minority students from failing public schools is a noble one. However, if the private schools are forced to teach the public school standards, which are at grave risk of becoming nationalized via the Common Core and its accompanying tests in 45-1/2 states and the District of Columbia (Minnesota accepted the English standards but not the ...more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, October 3, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: [image: image]This measure was placed on the ballot by the Lincoln Club of Orange County, the ultra-conservative group that was the driving force behind the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that has led to the explosion of Super PACs. Education Headlines *Wednesday, October 3, 2012* School financing methods attracting attentionConcern among county officials about Fontana Unified's financing methods comes at a time when more eyes are on school financing, in part because of the high-profile financing woes in San Diego County'... more »

UPDATE: Q and A. Getting the word out about Constitutional Amendment 49. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Q and A. Getting the word out about Constitutional Amendment 49. « Fred Klonsky: Q and A. Getting the word out about Constitutional Amendment 49. by Fred Klonsky * Fred,* *I would be interested in contacting via mail, the union members in this state who will be affected by the amendment on the ballot in November to inform them on how a “yes” vote will negatively (a mild word) affect their pensions forever. I am willing to donate time and money to getting the word out. Is this necessary, or has everyone concerned been informed?* *- Ann* *Ann,* *I applaud your enthusiasm and willin... more »

Modern School: California’s Inflated Number of Non-Credentialed Teachers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Modern School: California’s Inflated Number of Non-Credentialed Teachers: California’s Inflated Number of Non-Credentialed Teachers by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons Everyone knows that the nation’s lowest performing schools (generally also the poorest) have the highest number of poorly trained or Non-Credentialed teachers. This common wisdom may very well be true. These are the toughest schools to teach at, with the greatest pressure for quick, miraculous improvements and the greatest expectations for teachers to work longer and harder to solve the schools’ myriad probl... more »

It’s Not Just Connecticut: Problems with “Educational Reform” Come Directly from Washington - Jonathan Kantrowitz - Connecticut News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

It’s Not Just Connecticut: Problems with “Educational Reform” Come Directly from Washington - Jonathan Kantrowitz - Connecticut News: It’s Not Just Connecticut: Problems with “Educational Reform” Come Directly from Washington by Jonathan Kantrowitz A new study has found that across the country has found the the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program treats our lowest-performing schools as corporations and fails to engage educators and families in the most racially and socio-economically segregated communities. Their success or failure is tied mainly to the performance of t... more »

Do charter schools ever kick out students whose parents fail to honor volunteer commitments? | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Do charter schools ever kick out students whose parents fail to honor volunteer commitments? | Get Schooled: Do charter schools ever kick out students whose parents fail to honor volunteer commitments? by Maureen Downey [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] A charter school administrator sent me a note that an ed group opposed to the November charter school amendment “posted a piece of serious misinformation on their Facebook page and web site alleging that charter schools remove students if their parents don’t fulfill the obligations they take on when they e... more »

Shanker Blog » Are Charter Caps Keeping Great Schools From Opening?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Shanker Blog » Are Charter Caps Keeping Great Schools From Opening?: Are Charter Caps Keeping Great Schools From Opening? by Matthew Di Carlo Charter school “caps” are state-imposed limits on the size or growth of charter sectors. Currently, around 25 states and counting set caps on schools or enrollment, with wide variation in terms of specifics: Some states simply set a cap on the number of schools (or charters in force); others limit annual growth; and still others specify caps on both growth and size (there are also a few places that cap proportional spending, coverage by ind... more »

Shanker Blog » Are Charter Caps Keeping Great Schools From Opening?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Shanker Blog » Are Charter Caps Keeping Great Schools From Opening?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

The Charter School Achievement First - Hartford and their “Reorientation Room” - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

The Charter School Achievement First - Hartford and their “Reorientation Room” - Wait, What? The Charter School Achievement First – Hartford and their “Reorientation Room” by jonpelto According to a recent Hartford Courant story about Achievement First –Hartford’s newly opened high school, “Rolling one’s eyes at a teacher will get a freshman sent to the school’s Reorientation Room, where Dean of School Culture Peter Uwalaka said “’they get the extra culture they need.’” The Achievement First Family Handbook goes into far more detail about the school’s discipline policy. Having spok... more »

Public School State of Mind

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Published on Sep 24, 2012 by xtrand3 This music video is dedicated to public school employees across America who work hard every day to make a difference in the lives of our children. Please send this to everyone you know in their honor. (Expand for Lyrics) There are many ways that schools across America celebrate public education. This music video is an upbeat and creative way the Blue Valley School District chose to highlight its dedicated staff and hard-working students. The Public School State of Mind sings the praises of the educational journey from elementary to middle and th... more »

Nigeria Campus Massacre May Be Linked To Student Union Election « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Nigeria Campus Massacre May Be Linked To Student Union Election « Student Activism: Nigeria Campus Massacre May Be Linked To Student Union Election by Angus Johnston As many as forty people were killed early Tuesday morning in a student hostel adjoining Federal Polytechnic Mubi, a college in northeastern Nigeria, and authorities are trying to piece together why. Initial suspician centered on Boko Hiram, a violent Islamist group whose name literally means “western education is forbidden.” But given the nature of the killings and the reported targets, officials now believe that the ... more »

Diane Ravitch on the "Effort to Destroy Public Ed"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Diane Ravitch on the "Effort to Destroy Public Ed": *Diane Ravitch on the "Effort to Destroy Public Ed"* ABBY RAPOPORT OCTOBER 2, 2012 Part 2 of the *Prospect*'s interview with the former assistant secretary of education Diane Ravitch receiving a National Education Association award in 2010. Click here to read part 1 of the *Prospect*'s interview with the former assistant secretary of education. When Diane Ravitch changed her mind about education reform, she became one of the leading critics of a movement that dominates American policy. For the most part, both Democrats and Republi... more »

Education dept. again turning down records request

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Education dept. again turning down records request: Education dept. again turning down records request Oct 3, 2012 6:52am Email Print Facebook NEW ORLEANS (AP) — After saying last August that a public records request would be fulfilled, Louisiana's education department is again refusing to provide The Associated Press with records on how schools were chosen to participate in Gov. Bobby Jindal's new statewide voucher program. The Associated Press requested the records on June 12. The department initially rejected the request on Aug. 3. However, a spokesman for Education Supe... more »

Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-3-12 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] Beware the Reorientation Room! by dianerav What kind of a school has a “reorientation room?” What kind of a school has a “Dean of School Culture?” What kind of a school has large numbers of uncertified teachers? Would you send your own child there? What kind of school is this? Read the link. Unfair to Kozol? by dianerav An admirer of Jonathan Kozol faults the *Washington Post* for asking Wendy Kopp to review his latest book. Wendy likes to say that we don’t need to fix poverty,just “fix” schools with more ... more »

Back to $chool: College Is the Past, Prison Is the Future | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Back to $chool: College Is the Past, Prison Is the Future | toteachornototeach: Back to $chool: College Is the Past, Prison Is the Future by aristotlethewise *College Is the Past, Prison Is the Future* by Andy Kroll It was the greatest education system the world had ever seen. They built it into the eucalyptus-dotted Berkeley hills and under the bright lights of Los Angeles, down in the valley in Fresno and in the shadows of the San Bernardino Mountains. Hundreds of college campuses, large and small, two-year and four-year, stretching from California’s emerald forests in the north... more »

Daily Kos: Reflecting upon an experience with a student

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Daily Kos: Reflecting upon an experience with a student: Reflecting upon an experience with a student by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) I still remember her. She was a shy girl, very pretty, but concerned because she wore glasses and braces. She was quite bright, but easily panicked, particularly when taking tests. I talked with her counselor and her parents, and then talked with her. When she took a test and she saw other students sailing through the material she got very anxious and could not get what she knew in her head out onto her paper or to a scantron. She would worry that s... more »

NJ Save Our Schools March Update, October 2012Save Our Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

NJ Save Our Schools March Update, October 2012Save Our Schools: NJ Save Our Schools March Update, October 2012 by Server NJ Save Our Schools March Update, October 2012 *Chicago Teachers Union* hangs tough and wins a significant victory. I won’t go into the details as the event has been well covered and analyzed extensively. In my opinion, one factor that’s worth mentioning is that the union fought for the rights for teachers, children and the schools in Chicago started as a small rank and file study group, CORE (Caucus of Rank and File Educators) intent on questioning and inevitabl... more »

LAUSD'S CLEAR PURPOSE: TEACHING POOR AND COLORED FOLK TO KNOW THEIR PLACE - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

LAUSD'S CLEAR PURPOSE: TEACHING POOR AND COLORED FOLK TO KNOW THEIR PLACE - Perdaily.com: LAUSD'S CLEAR PURPOSE: TEACHING POOR AND COLORED FOLK TO KNOW THEIR PLACE by Leonard Isenberg [image: George Carlin.jpg] *(Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)* *When it comes to explaining why public education in this country- and more specifically at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)- continues to fail, every convoluted and implausible explanation is given except the most obvious: The people who own this c... more »

Head of national teachers union: Touring Philadelphia schools, assessing political obstacles - Philly.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Head of national teachers union: Touring Philadelphia schools, assessing political obstacles - Philly.com: Head of national teachers union: Touring Philadelphia schools, assessing political obstacles October 02, 2012|By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer - - - Share on emailShare on printShare on redditMore Sharing Services - - - - Image 1 of 2 View Gallery - [image: Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, with new Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. (left) at Jackson Elementary in South... more »

IEA’s Illinois Political Action Recommendations. The stuff hits the fan. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

IEA’s Illinois Political Action Recommendations. The stuff hits the fan. « Fred Klonsky: IEA’s Illinois Political Action Recommendations. The stuff hits the fan. by Fred Klonsky *Not a dime more to GOP House Leader Tom Cross.* Many IEA members were stunned this week when they received the brochure with the recommendations for the Illinois House and Senate. I didn’t see it, since I’m out here in Michigan for the month and I don’t get my mail. But I got plenty of email. Plenty. I went to the IEA website and pulled up the list. Jeez. No wonder people are pissed. Remember that these rec... more »

Veto pits charter school autonomy against affordable meals | California Watch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

Veto pits charter school autonomy against affordable meals | California Watch: Veto pits charter school autonomy against affordable meals Joanna Lin DC Central Kitchen/Flickr Arguing that he did not want to "erode the independence and flexibility" of charter schools, Gov. Jerry Brown last weekend vetoed legislation that would have required charters to provide low-income students free or reduced-price meals. Brown's veto message [PDF] of AB 1594, authored by Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Alhambra, pits student nutrition against charter school autonomy – issues that supporters said should ... more »

Staten Island Teacher John Webster Fights For Himself.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

http://www.southbronxschool.com: Staten Island Teacher John Webster Fights For Himself by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) I am still trying to figure out if yesterday's article in the New York Post about phys ed teacher John Webster is supportive or derisive of him. Just to catch you all up to speed, John Webster is a phys ed. teacher at PS 330 in Staten Island. John, who is 5'10" and 220 lbs, was attacked by a 50 pound (SBSB guidelines prohibit the naming of the student) student at his school. According to the Post, John claims; *a pupil fractured his ankle, injured his knee ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: My debate with Goldhaber on Nevada public radio about (you guessed it) class size

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: My debate with Goldhaber on Nevada public radio about (you guessed it) class size: My debate with Goldhaber on Nevada public radio about (you guessed it) class size by Leonie Haimson I debated Dan Goldhaber on the radio today, on KNPR in Nevada. Please listen to the podcast here. Also participating was a Las Vegas reporter and deputy superintendent, as well as some great callers, mostly teachers. Goldhaber, who works at the Gates-funded Center for Education Data and Research in the state of Washington, and predictably enough would like to focus on te... more »

Jersey Jazzman: How Long Do Teachers Have To Keep Taking It?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: How Long Do Teachers Have To Keep Taking It?: How Long Do Teachers Have To Keep Taking It? by Duke Twitter is not conducive to good-faith arguments; the 140-character restriction severely limits the qualifiers necessary to go a few friendly rounds with an ally. So when David Atkins of Hullabaloo - my favorite political blog - and I started a back-and-forth last night, I got a little nervous. David is a terrific writer and a shrewd observer of the dynamics of the political left; he's also someone who genuinely is on the side of teachers. But he said something I ha... more »

On Talking Teachers Down Off That Ledge [A True PLC] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

On Talking Teachers Down Off That Ledge [A True PLC] | The Jose Vilson: On Talking Teachers Down Off That Ledge [A True PLC] by Jose All ears “I‘ve had it up to here with them. They just … oooohhhh …” She sobbed. I sat there in my classroom hoping to decompress from another long day with my sixth grade homeroom class when she walked in, needing a colleagues’ ear. “You think you’re coming in to teach. You plan, grade papers, and plan some more, and you think it’s going to go so well, and … I just don’t know.” She shook her head. “I understand,” I said as I nodded my head, hoping to ju... more »