Big Education Ape: Oct 7, 2012

Sunday, October 7, 2012

SI&A Cabinet Report – Lift begins on new math frameworks, fret remains over money to use them

Lift begins on new math frameworks, fret remains over money to use them
By Kimberly Beltran
Monday, October 08, 2012

Educators charged with creating the blueprint for how California schools will teach new math standards tied to the common core jumped late last week into the bulk of that work – an exercise that while widely anticipated remains frustrated by the lack of funding for districts to ultimately take advantage of their efforts.

The new math frameworks will be used by publishers to update instructional materials and also to inform training and professional development teachers will need in the common core.

But the 19-member Math Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committee has also been asked to weigh in on the politically-charged question around eighth grade algebra.

With adoption last month of legislation needed to direct the activity, the frameworks panel

Meaning and Purpose | Connected Principals

Meaning and Purpose | Connected Principals:

Meaning and Purpose

by dkerr

So recently I had the wonderful opportunity to re-read one of of my favorite books, as well as the chance to have my eyes and heart opened by some unexpected people, in some unexpected places. Collectively, these experiences got me thinking a lot about the importance of meaning and purpose in our lives, and the responsibility we have as educators to instill this life focus in our students and children. Hopefully as teachers, we have eagerly and specifically chosen this profession because of the unmatched and unlimited purpose and meaning that comes with the territory. In my opinion, educating children and young adults is not only fulfilling, rewarding, and extraordinarily meaningful but hugely daunting as well. It’s not enough to simply teach our students the course content, or all we know about reading, writing, and arithmetic…….we NEED to teach them about courage, love, service, empathy, and all that goes into leading a life of meaning. We have a deep and urgent responsibility to prepare our kids for life outside of the school walls, and we need to be held

The Educated Reporter: Columbus Day: Different Viewpoints on `Discovering' America

The Educated Reporter: Columbus Day: Different Viewpoints on `Discovering' America:

Columbus Day: Different Viewpoints on `Discovering' America

by Emily Richmond

Growing up, my early education about Christopher Columbus didn’t drill much deeper than a sanitized version of the journeys of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. That perspective changed when a member of a New England American Indian tribe visited my eighth-grade history class. He described the devastating impact on his ancestors and subsequent generations following being “discovered” by European explorers. As philosopher George Santayana wrote, Columbus "gave the world another world." And that world was far more complex than had been hinted at in my middle school textbooks.

Bill Bigelow, co-director of the Zinn Education Project and co-editor of the Rethinking Columbus, writes that over the course of his 30 years of teaching history, he’s regularly asked students who was already “here” when the explorers' ships arrived. Not once has a student answered “the Tainos” – the name of the indigenous people who

Suneal and Kara (Oakland, CA) #UseYourTeacherVoice

Suneal and Kara (Oakland, CA) #UseYourTeacherVoice

All California students should have access to college. To learn more about Suneal and Kara's students' ballot initiative, visit www.collegeforcalifornia.org

UPDATE: We are now live! Petitions are up!

Help us reach our goal of 807,615 signatures.

Click here to download the petition
Click here to find out if you are eligible to collect signatures and who can sign the petition.

The College for California ballot initiative would eliminate tuition and fees for all California residents who are full time students at the University of California and the California State Universities. Students would be eligible for tuition-free education for four years if during each academic year they maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or perform 70 hours of community service. This initiative would be funded by increasing the state income tax rate from 9.3% to 10% for individuals making over $250,000 and to 11% for individuals making greater than $500,000. College for California is the result of months of hard work, research, and collaboration by students from two Oakland High Schools, Life Academy of Health and Bioscience and Oakland Unity High School.

You can make this happen! Here’s what you can do:

At the very least, print the petition, sign it yourself and get a few others to do the same, then send it to us at:

College For California PO Box 4418 Davis, CA 95617-4418

Go a little further, contact everyone in your network of friends and relatives and encourage them to print and sign the initiative as well as spread the word.
Or take it to another level, and carry copies of the initiative wherever you go, get as many signatures from eligible voters as you can, set up a table on campus or a farmer’s market or outside a stadium, contact the media, write editorials, call into radio shows, or help in any way which you feel comfortable.

Short Notes: Romney Flips The Big Bird | The Jose Vilson

Short Notes: Romney Flips The Big Bird | The Jose Vilson:

Short Notes: Romney Flips The Big Bird

by Jose

Mitt Romney Flips The Big Bird

A few notes:

Here are a few reasons why we should save PBS. Like you need any more. [Explore]
Do we still expect our favorite writers to be nice people? Or as complex as their writing? Case in point:David Foster Wallace. [New York Times]
Harlem schools are seeing a high turnover rate. Beth Fertig explores. [Schoolbook]
Christina Lewis Halpern notices the shift

Kimble's Corner: The Speaker and The Ford House Five

Kimble's Corner: The Speaker and The Ford House Five:

The Speaker and The Ford House Five

by Representative Kimble

[The following is an excerpt from my ebook Profiles in Courageousness: The Jack Kimble Story, which will be out for most electronic formats in the next few weeks.]

The Speaker and The Ford House Five - An Excerpt from Profiles in Courageousness: The Jack Kimble Story

Together the four of us made Ford House something special and even though Danny and Carlton have moved on and Tex, Bill, and I have grown older and a bit more mature, the days of the Ford House Five will always remain

Jersey Jazzman: Marie Corfield For NJ Assembly

Jersey Jazzman: Marie Corfield For NJ Assembly:

Marie Corfield For NJ Assembly

by Duke

I spend so much time on this blog cataloging the various sins of the corporate reformy crew that I often don't give enough space to what we parents and teachers can do to stop this assault on public education, especially in Jersey.

Well, I know just the thing. This is Marie Corfield, she's running for NJ Assembly, and she needs the help of every parent and teacher reading this blog.

The quick rundown on Marie is this: she is a terrific art teacher, she has two great kids, and she is a tireless crusader for public education and the middle class. Her opponent is a hardcore, right-wing Tea Bagger who is completely out of touch with the values of her district. This is probably the closest race in Jersey this election cycle: Marie Corfield can win this if she gets the support of everyone in Jersey and elsewhere who believes in public education.

Marie may be best known for being one of the very first teachers to stand up to the bullying of Governor Chris Christie. Her showdown with him made her a national celebrity; his blustering, obnoxious, overbearing response to her was the first indication many of us had that the man can't win a fair fight. I relish the thought of Christie having to deal with Marie on a regular basis in Trenton.

Marie needs all of the things any candidate does: contributions and volunteers. You can click on her picture in the left sidebar to donate, but I have cheap and fast way you can help her right now:

The national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee targets a select few state-level races every cycle for special support. They need to know that a winnable race, featuring a working teacher, is exactly the sort of campaign they should support.

So go to this link:

http://dlcc.org/2012races

Put in your name, Marie's name, tell them that you think we need teachers in state legislatures to support public education, and tell them Marie can win this race.

It will take you less than one minute, and it's important.

This post will live at the top of the blog until November 6. That night, with your help, we will be announcing some very bad news for Chris Christie and the reformy-types, and some very good news for parents and teachers. Thanks.

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 10-7-12 #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

Attention all PTAs: Action for the Week of 10/7/2012 | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 minutes ago

Attention all PTAs: Action for the Week of 10/7/2012 | United Opt Out National: Attention all PTAs: Action for the Week of 10/7/2012 by admin *The Niagara Region PTA in New York has written a resolution opposing high-stakes testing and calls for a moratorium on the 3-8 testing program. The following documents should be shared with all PTAs across the nation. United Opt Out National suggests adding the following – if the testing is NOT suspended, the PTA should recommend all parents opt their children out of the state test. Make this go viral. Well done Niagara Region PTA. Libe... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: A non-productive prison-based economy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 44 minutes ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: A non-productive prison-based economy: A non-productive prison-based economy by Mike Klonsky The hard economic times explain why many residents enthusiastically welcomed the abrupt announcement Tuesday that the Federal Bureau of Prisons is buying the mothballed prison for $165 million from Illinois.In Illinois, when pols talk about "job creation" they probably aren't talking about capital investment in manufacturing. Big corporate investors would rather do that in other countries where labor is cheap and

LAUSD begins accepting magnet school applications Monday - LA Daily News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 59 minutes ago

LAUSD begins accepting magnet school applications Monday - LA Daily News: LAUSD begins accepting magnet school applications Monday By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer Posted: 10/07/2012 02:54:24 PM PDT Updated: 10/07/2012 02:55:53 PM PDT Applications will be accepted beginning Monday for Los Angeles Unified's popular magnet programs and will be due Nov. 16, a month earlier than usual, because of the early start of the 2012-13 school year. Information and applications are available at echoices.lausd.net. Paper applications will be availale at local schools, city libraries and LAUSD ... more »

Creating the Conditions: Student Discipline | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Creating the Conditions: Student Discipline | Connected Principals: Creating the Conditions: Student Discipline by Chris Wejr *“The proper question is not, ‘How can people motivate others?’ but rather, ‘How can people create the conditions within which others will motivate themselves?’ ” — Edward Deci* In the past number of years we have gone through a very positive and significant transition at our school. Through the work of the staff (current and previous), we have moved from a punish and reward mentality to one that is focused on creating the conditions for students to learn t... more »

School districts warned about millions in expiring technology funds - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

School districts warned about millions in expiring technology funds - latimes.com: School districts warned about millions in expiring technology funds State officials have urged school districts and charter schools to use $66 million in vouchers to buy technology before they expire next year. The warning, issued Friday, pertains to funding remaining from an antitrust settlement with the Microsoft Corp. One set of vouchers must be redeemed by April; the other has a deadline in September. Most of the available dollars, $212 million, have been claimed, but substantial resources remai... more »

Schools Matter: Huck Finn On Interpretation: Jim Answers Coleman

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Schools Matter: Huck Finn On Interpretation: Jim Answers Coleman: Huck Finn On Interpretation: Jim Answers Coleman by Storm Coleman's Nihilistic Pedagogy Morse Peckham's non-final Answer The Instability of "Meaning" GOP Rep. Dr. Paul Broun (GA) offers an example asserting a "Young Earth" Answer Jim's goodness as answer to all of this (Huckleberry Finn) Huck in the fog *** Famously (apparently) David Coleman uttered the ultimate truth of the ground zero stance in his "pedagogical" nihilism: Common Core’s architect, David Coleman, says the new writing standards are meant to reverse... more »

School Tech Connect: Let's Hang Out In Rogers Next Sunday

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Let's Hang Out In Rogers Next Sunday: Let's Hang Out In Rogers Next Sunday by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) If you happen to be one my neighbors up here in the hub of the city, and by that, I mean Rogers Park, and you want to come talk about the negative impact of charter schools on the neighborhood, then by all means get out your calendar. *Sunday, October 14, 2012* *3 PM * *Community Meeting in Rogers Park * *Topic: No More Charters In Rogers Park!* * * Rogers Park now has UNO sitting in St. Scholastica's old building, which I have no doubt was a highly ... more »

Big Education Spenders Interactive | USC News21

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Big Education Spenders Interactive | USC News21: An estimated $4 billion of philanthropic money is spent on education each year in the United States. A large percentage of that pool comes from the pockets of reformers Bill Gates, Eli Broad and the Walton family. According to their 990 tax forms, these philanthropists spent over $500 million in 2009 on the promotion of education reform practices in school districts nationwide. CLICK EACH STACK FOR MORE Deep-Pocket Reformers: The Shadow Secretaries of EducationBy Catherine Cloutier *In advancing some interests, foundations hav... more »

Los Angeles: The Proving Ground of Education Reform | USC News21

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Los Angeles: The Proving Ground of Education Reform | USC News21: Los Angeles: The Proving Ground of Education ReformBy Catherine Cloutier [image: A College-Ready Academy #7 student hurried to class minutes after the afternoon bell.] A College-Ready Academy #7 student hurried to class minutes after the afternoon bell. Walter Rich’s history class atDavid Starr Jordan High School in South-Central Los Angeles spent the last 20 minutes of a spring school day watching *Schindler's List*. The classroom was dark, save for the flickering light of the projector and the bluish glow of a coupl... more »

Capitol Alert: Good Golly Miss Molly Munger calls Jerry Brown's ads 'utterly deceptive,' plans to be even more deceptive

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Capitol Alert: Molly Munger calls Jerry Brown's ads 'utterly deceptive,' plans to *be even more deceptive* Molly Munger calls Jerry Brown's ads 'utterly deceptive,' plans to be even more deceptive Molly Munger 'utterly deceptive' Accusing Gov. *Jerry Brown* of running "utterly deceptive" ads in his campaign to raise taxes, *Molly Munger* said on a Los Angeles TV show this morning that her own tax campaign will air television ads making a "distinction" between her measure and Brown's. Munger, the chief proponent of Proposition 38, said on NBC 4's "News Conference" that a series of ... more »

#ImHere - THE CALL: A choice no mother should face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

LEARN *Imagine* dropping your child off at school every day afraid that you won't be back at pickup time. *Imagine* staying with a violent partner because calling the cops could tear you away from your kids. *Imagine* arranging for a neighbor to take care of your children in case your disappear — which could happen any time. Tough to imagine? This is *reality* for millions of immigrant women in the United States. In June 2012, President Obama announced a historic plan to help make this country safer for over one million young immigrants who have built their lives here. Now it's t... more »

Teacher’s Coffee Spiked With Butt-Enhancing Drug | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Teacher’s Coffee Spiked With Butt-Enhancing Drug | toteachornototeach: Teacher’s Coffee Spiked With Butt-Enhancing Drug by aristotlethewise *Ellen Vick, North Carolina Teacher, Says Student* *Spiked Her Coffee With Butt-Enhancing Drug * A North Carolina teacher says her student “spiked her coffee with butt-enhancing pills.” According to WBTV, 61-year-old Ellen Vick, a teacher at Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C., told police Monday that a student put a “butt-enhancing” drug in her coffee during class. Investigators say the drug was “GluteBoost,” a supplement that claims to ... more »

Diane in the Evening 10-7-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OCTOBER 17 CAMPAIGN FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS! « DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGShared byDiane Ravitch *dianeravitch.net* - I will write about this every single day from now until October 17. Please write your thoughts about what needs to change in federal education policy and send a letter to President Obama by that da... Testing Runs Amok in Oklahoma by dianerav Florida pioneered the use of school grades. New York City followed. Now other states and districts are jumping aboard. The latest to adopt school grades is Oklahoma. The superintendents... more »

Schools may outsource substitutes | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Schools may outsource substitutes | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri: Schools may outsource substitutesUnfilled jobs are teacher concern. By CATHERINE MARTIN Sunday, October 7, 2012 When Columbia Public Schools sent out a survey about substitute teachers, the district got a big response — the second-largest of any employee survey since staff members were asked about funding cuts. "Teachers are passionate about this topic," said Dana Clippard, assistant superintendent for human resources. Clippard talked to the Columbia Board of Education last month about issues with... more »

Many students scared to go to school | WashingtonExaminer.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Many students scared to go to school | WashingtonExaminer.com: Many students scared to go to school *October 6, 2012 | 8:00 pm * [image: Photo - Students at Richard Montgomery High School (Examiner file photo)] *Students at Richard Montgomery High School (Examiner file photo)* By most regards, John F. Kennedy High School is a good high school in Silver Spring. The overwhelming majority of students pass state exams with flying colors, and 82 percent graduate within four years. Later this month, students will dress in university gear to celebrate College Readiness Day. So why do only h... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Understanding 1240 Thru the Lens of Other States' Experiences

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Understanding 1240 Thru the Lens of Other States' Experiences: Understanding 1240 Thru the Lens of Other States' Experiences by Melissa Westbrook [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] So let's run through the experience of other states with charter schools. *Trigger Law* Now the proponents of 1240 will say the word "trigger" isn't in there (it's called "conversion"). But if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck - it's a trigger. But wait, other states have trigger laws, right? Correct. But none have been able to legally use them. Here's a ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: "Silver Bullet" Watch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: "Silver Bullet" Watch: "Silver Bullet" Watch by Duke *Who was that masked man?* I'm going to start a new feature: the "Silver Bullet" Watch. It's well-known that corporate reformies push policies - test-based teacher evaluations, charters, merit pay, vouchers, gutting tenure, ending LIFO - that have little evidence to support them. But one thing I've noticed is that they always seem to sell these with a qualifier: "I'm not saying _____ is a 'silver bullet.' It's just one part of a larger program we need..." The "silver bullet" excuse is basically a way of saying... more »

UPDATE: The Sunday Mail. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

The Sunday Mail. « Fred Klonsky: The Sunday Mail. by Fred Klonsky *This monument to Civil Rights hero Fannie Lou Hamer was unveiled this week in her hometown of Rueville, Mississippi.* Glen Brown reprints this column by Jim Dey on the Constitutional Amendment you will find on the Illinois ballot November 6th. *“Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.” * Vote no. *Xian Barrett doesn’t get snarky* towards the corporate reform group, Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) until the last paragraph. Now that’s discipline. *Can you say*, “recall?” *It’s a bi... more »

Investigation under way on K12 virtual school used in Northeast Florida districts | Jacksonville.com Mobile Edition

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Investigation under way on K12 virtual school used in Northeast Florida districts | Jacksonville.com Mobile Edition: Investigation under way on K12 virtual school used in Northeast Florida districts By Trevor Aaronson & John O'Connor & Kate Howard Perry Student-teacher ratios at K12, the nation’s largest online educator, are nearly twice as high as Florida’s state-run virtual school, according to internal company documents obtained by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting and StateImpact Florida. A high school teacher working for K12 may have as many as 275 students, comp... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Small Classes: Great For Ivies, Not For Children?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Small Classes: Great For Ivies, Not For Children?: Small Classes: Great For Ivies, Not For Children? by Duke The eldest Jazzboy is a high school senior, and he's pretty bright. Which means we've been looking at colleges - a lot of colleges. And you know what? *The most elite colleges all brag on low student-to-teacher ratios and small class sizes.* Take the Ivies: Harvard: The faculty is highly accessible, and Harvard College class sizes are on average below 40, with over half the courses being offered each semester enrolling 10 or fewer students. This allows for... more »

Schools Matter: Paul Tough, KIPP, and the "Science" of Cultural Sterilizatiion

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Schools Matter: Paul Tough, KIPP, and the "Science" of Cultural Sterilizatiion: Paul Tough, KIPP, and the "Science" of Cultural Sterilizatiion by Jim Horn Paul Tough is touring the country promoting his new book, which is is to say he is on a nationwide tour promoting KIPP. For the book, *How Children Succeed:Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character* reads as an unabashed paean to the kind of segregated, bare-knuckled corporate education reform for the poor that has made KIPP the darling of the oligarchs and hedge funders. With the help of CIA consultant, Dr. Martin S... more »

The New Minimalism - Woodbridge, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

The New Minimalism - Woodbridge, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators: Looking Ahead The New Minimalism Over the past year, in my work with ASCD affiliates, we have been exploring ways to revolutionize the ways we serve their affiliate members. Why? The writing is on the wall that today’s educators have different needs and expectations. It’s difficult to get out of the classroom to attend conferences, and when educators can get away for professional development they want to be actively engaged in acquiring meaning and building ... more »

The Weekly Update: More on Initiative 1240, the Honorable Arne and do we really want Wal-Mart schools in our state? | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

The Weekly Update: More on Initiative 1240, the Honorable Arne and do we really want Wal-Mart schools in our state? | Seattle Education: The Weekly Update: More on Initiative 1240, the Honorable Arne and do we really want Wal-Mart schools in our state? from Seattle Education 2010 by seattleducation2011 *The Weekly Update for the news and views you might have missed.* First, a little business. From the No on 1240 campaign: We need *you* to provide the people power we need to counter the massive resources of the Yes campaign ($4.7 M and counting. It’s Gates and the Walton’s versus the... more »

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Is There Evidence to Support the Common Core: My Questions to New York Education Commissioner King

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Is There Evidence to Support the Common Core: My Questions to New York Education Commissioner King: Is There Evidence to Support the Common Core: My Questions to New York Education Commissioner King by YongZhao A number of people have asked me about my brief encounter with New York Commissioner John King at the NYSCOSS Fall Leadership Summit on September 24, 2012. Here is my recollection. A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor to listen to New York Education Commissioner Dr. John B. King, Jr. at the 2012 Fall Leadership Summi... more »

Schools Matter: It's Not You, It's Them

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Schools Matter: It's Not You, It's Them: It's Not You, It's Them by Judy Rabin In today's *New York Times* Sunday Week in Review, there's an article titled, It's Not Me It's You, However, when it comes to the clear message of this academic research on education reform and the need to end high stakes testing, what is comes across loud and clear is it's not you, it's them. It's just another fact-based research study that shows how the social implications of racism and poverty or gender bias can impact students' performance on standardized test scores. To all the teachers and stud... more »

Daily Kos: Bus tour with teacherken: Pittsburgh and African-American heritage

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Daily Kos: Bus tour with teacherken: Pittsburgh and African-American heritage: Bus tour with teacherken: Pittsburgh and African-American heritage Posted October 7, 2012 No comments *TAG* ALEC, Pittsburgh, Stop the Greed Agenda, teacherken, voter id, voter protection *Ken Bernstein is a recently retired National Board Certified Social Studies Teacher who was a 2010 Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher. Nationally known for hisblogging as teacherken at Daily Kos and elsewhere, he served until his retirement as the lead building representative (NEA) at Eleanor Roosevelt H... more »

Education chief defends PR hire | Shreveporttimes | shreveporttimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Education chief defends PR hire | Shreveporttimes | shreveporttimes.com: Education chief defends PR hire [image: State Superintendent of Education John White sits with students in Brandi Rivers' seventh-grade class recently at North DeSoto Middle School during a visit to the area.] Purchase Image State Superintendent of Education John White sits with students in Brandi Rivers' seventh-grade class recently at North DeSoto Middle School during a visit to the area. / Jim Hudelson/The Times State Superintendent of Education John White drew criticism last month when media outlets and ed... more »

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-7-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Helping Kids or Helping Charters? by dianerav Wendy Lecker, advocate for public education in Connecticut, raises important questions. Why was Hartford’s low-performing Milner School handed over to charter operator Jumoke Academy? Why did Hartford officials do nothing to help Milner until the charter school took over? Why did Jumoke get $2 million to fix Milner but no help was available to Milner before the takeover? Lecker asks: is the responsibility of the state to help the kids or to help grow the charter s... more »

College board: Students who take core curriculum score higher | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

College board: Students who take core curriculum score higher | Get Schooled: College board: Students who take core curriculum score higher by Maureen Downey Here is an op-ed by Kathryn Juric of the College Board on the coursework that students ought to be taking in high school. Juric is vice president of the College Board’s SAT Program and leads global program strategy for the SAT, which is administered annually to nearly three million students worldwide. By Kathryn Juric When it comes to education policy in the United States today, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: co... more »

Labor's Edge Blog : “Stop the Greed Agenda” Bus Tour Exposes Koch Brothers’ Link to Prop 32

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Labor's Edge Blog : “Stop the Greed Agenda” Bus Tour Exposes Koch Brothers’ Link to Prop 32: “Stop the Greed Agenda” Bus Tour Exposes Koch Brothers’ Link to Prop 32 *By Danielle Tipton, California Labor Federation* The notorious right-wing ideologues David and Charles Koch are some of the biggest spenders in American politics, dropping millions upon millions to buy elections and influence politicians all across the country. So why would they suddenly throw $4 million into Prop 32, a proposition that claims to “stop special interest money” from flooding politics? Simple -- because th... more »

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Morning Meeting Moments Create Critical Thinkers!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Morning Meeting Moments Create Critical Thinkers!: Morning Meeting Moments Create Critical Thinkers! by Lisa M I use two sites that promote critical thinking: BrainPop and Wonderopolis. Every morning we begin our day with Morning Meeting. I have really come to enjoy Morning Meeting, it gives me a chance to bond with my students. This year, I've added two elements, Brainpop and Wonderopolis. Their widgets are embedded on our class web page. After the greeting and sharing of the message, we begin with the

The Perennial Reform: Fixing School Time (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

The Perennial Reform: Fixing School Time (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: The Perennial Reform: Fixing School Time (Part 1) by larrycuban In the past quarter century, fixing school time has been a popular solution reform-minded policymakers have promoted to improve U.S. schools yet one that is least connected to what happens in classrooms or what Americans want from tax-supported schools. Since *A Nation at Risk* was published in 1983, *Prisoners of Time* in 1994, blue-ribbon commission recommendations in *Tough Choices, Tough Times* in 2007, and in... more »

Daily Kos: Faux Education Reform or Improved Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Daily Kos: Faux Education Reform or Improved Education: Faux Education Reform or Improved Education bytulticanFollow Two years ago, I had the opportunity to share my thoughts about education policy with Congresswomen, Susan Davis (Democrat CA-53). Like many high government office holders, Davis got her start in the 1980’s as a member of the local school board. I immediately launched into my heartfelt belief that standardized testing was destroying public education and leading to the privatizing of public schools. She almost immediately asked me what I find a peculiar and telling qu... more »

Back to School Night: Part II | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Back to School Night: Part II | Mr. Teachbad: Back to School Night: Part II by teachbad In Back to School Night: Part I, I sketched out differences between two schools. *School #1* is a public charter school, has pretty poor facilities, test scores are high, parent engagement is high, and the teachers appear to have a relatively high degree of freedom in the classroom and seem to be happy. *School #2* is a regular public school, has amazing facilities, test scores are low, parent engagement is low, and the teachers are strictly regimented and mostly unhap... more »

Teachers Launch Odyssey Initiative « InterACT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Teachers Launch Odyssey Initiative « InterACT: Teachers Launch Odyssey Initiative by David B. Cohen [image: sutler] In a recent post I wrote about the Education Department’s bus tour of the nation. It was quite the production, with high ranking department staffers, teacher ambassador fellows, public relations, media and logistics. But on the same afternoon, following the ED events, I also had the opportunity to learn about a smaller but more interesting project. Teachers Brooke Peters, Michelle Healy, and Todd Sutler have launched a project they call the Odyssey Initiative. Work... more »

Diane in the Evening 10-6-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: A Union Member Refutes the Propaganda by dianerav A teacher writes: I am a union member (AFT affiliate) and nothing in our union contract requires that I teach a certain way or limits the extent to which I stay late, come in early, or take work home. We do have limits on class size (28). Doesn’t this seem like a good idea for children as well as teachers? The only people who seem interested in constricting my work are the occasional administrators/suits who appear now and then with a stack of tests which I have to foist on my students. Instructions for th... more »

The in box. Jon Bauman, former TRS Director comments. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

The in box. Jon Bauman, former TRS Director comments. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Jon Bauman, former TRS Director comments. by Fred Klonsky *Fred,* *At the outset, I would like to send my thanks and compliments to you on a very informative and thought-provoking blog. I recently stumbled across your site via Capitol Fax.* *The wise man that tought me about PR and “messaging” often said “Short statements convey powerful messages.” For example, TRS’ Statement of Purpose-Retirement Security for Illinois Educators. Short, to the point, and words to live by for all TRS staff.* *I’m loath... more »

School Tech Connect: This Is A Good Feeling

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

School Tech Connect: This Is A Good Feeling: This Is A Good Feeling by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I just saw in my email that my own precinct will get to vote on the advisory referendum on the elected, representative school board. The revised total number of precincts stands at 327. I wasn't sure if we had achieved success in my own precinct until today. It's a good feeling--- a couple evenings walking around with a clipboard and now all my neighbors get to weigh in at the ballot box on whether or not they'd like to have a democratically elected school board, like normal peo... more »

An Urban Teacher's Education: Why I'll Be Voting Against Charter Schools (I-1240) In Washington State

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

An Urban Teacher's Education: Why I'll Be Voting Against Charter Schools (I-1240) In Washington State: Why I'll Be Voting Against Charter Schools (I-1240) In Washington State by James Boutin [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] This year, like in many previous years, Washington State voters will again have the opportunity to vote for or against legalizing charter schools in our state. Initiative 1240 would allow non-profit (for-profit charter managers would not be permitted) to open eight charter schools per year in WA over the next five years. Before I being to outline my reas... more »

Teachers Don't Suck !: Who Do You Trust? (Or is It "Whom Do You Trust?)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Teachers Don't Suck !: Who Do You Trust? (Or is It "Whom Do You Trust?): Who Do You Trust? (Or is It "Whom Do You Trust?) by Walt S. Popout More stuff by Walt at: www.wsautter.com

All Education Matters: Request for Online Support: Young Student Debtor Writes, "[B]eing dead would be a relief compared to a life without hope."

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

All Education Matters: Request for Online Support: Young Student Debtor Writes, "[B]eing dead would be a relief compared to a life without hope.": Request for Online Support: Young Student Debtor Writes, "[B]eing dead would be a relief compared to a life without hope." by Cryn Johannsen **The notes continue to land in my inbox or in the comments section here - so many people, with crushing debt, write to me and express in difficult tones how they have lost hope, how they wish to be dead, and how they see no future. As I said in my article published by the Huffington Post (written ... more »

Daily Kos: WHO knew that carcinogens had their own lobby in Washington?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Daily Kos: WHO knew that carcinogens had their own lobby in Washington?: WHO knew that carcinogens had their own lobby in Washington? by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) The title of this post is the 1st line of The Cancer Lobby, Sunday's *New York Times* column by Nicholas Kristof. He uses the example of formaldehyde, describing our various encounters with it, and reminding us that it causes cancer. He then writes: The chemical industry is working frantically to suppress that scientific consensus — because it fears “public confusion.” Big Chem apparently worries that you might be co... more »