Monday, November 12, 2012

Election Affirms Education "Reform" A Beltway, Rich Person Fetish | OurFuture.org

Election Affirms Education "Reform" A Beltway, Rich Person Fetish | OurFuture.org:


Election Affirms Education "Reform" A Beltway, Rich Person Fetish

Jeff Bryant's picture
By Jeff Bryant
November 12, 2012 - 10:23pm ET



 In President Obama's stunningly convincing reelection, only part of his education policies got reaffirmed -- the part he talked about most of the time during the campaign.
Meanwhile, the president's policies known to align with what is commonly called "education reform" -- which closely adheres to Beltway conventional wisdom and the druthers of rich folks -- appear to have little support on the ground.
His return to office is undoubtedly due, in part, to most Americans agreeing with his assertion that education is an essential "investment" in the future of our country.
This was "the softer part of his education agenda," as Joy Resmovits explains atHuffington Post, that he brought out in "speeches and debates" to differentiate himself from his opponent Mitt Romney.
Certainly, the President's support for spending on public education was a hit with minorities, single moms, and young voters -- communities tending to value 
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CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS narrowly win approval in Washington | Local News | The Seattle Times

Charter schools narrowly win approval in Washington | Local News | The Seattle Times:


CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS narrowly win approval in Washington


Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991


The Associated Press on Monday declared that the statewide CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS measure has passed.
By Linda Shaw
Seattle Times education reporter
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By a slim margin, Washington voters have approved Initiative 1240, which will allow up to 40 CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS to open here over the next five years.
The outcome makes Washington the 42nd state in the nation to allow charters. It's a latecomer to a movement that started 20 years ago in Minnesota and has since grown to include nearly 6,000 schools across the nation.
The Associated Press declared Monday that the initiative has passed.
Supporters declared victory Saturday, saying they look forward to opening high-quality charter schools here. Their lead has shrunk only slightly since election night, when the measure led with 51.2 percent of the vote. Opponents have not conceded, saying they will wait until all votes are counted.
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Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 11-12-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2


Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE







The Shocking Things Schools Are — And Aren’t — Teaching

by aristotlethewise
School Curriculums Face Controversial Changes Via Recent Bills, Legislation
The Shocking Things Schools Are — And Aren’t — Teaching
Over the past couple years, several states attempted — and in some instances, succeeded — in passing legislation that brought controversial changes to school curriculums.
For instance, under Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed sweeping new school voucher program, tens of millions of Louisiana taxpayer dollars will be used to offer vouchers to more than half of the state’s poor and middle-class public school students. These students can in turn use these vouchers to attend more than 120 private schools, including a number of small, Bible-based learning institutions that boast extreme anti-science and anti-history curriculums while championing creationism.
Meanwhile, several states have grappled with how to approach sex education in the classroom. A controversial


Kiss My Grit

by Nancy Flanagan
Sassy title aside, it's not my intention to contribute to the already-considerable mountain of post-election ed-policy antagonism.
But--I'm still torqued about grit. Yes, grit, the amazing new research topic-cum-magic formula for Good That Schools Could Do (If Only They Weren't Failing).
A couple of blogs ago, I admired Katie Osgood's Paul Tough is Way Off Base, and Stop Saying Grit piece--which identifies "grit" as just another trending soundbite, the next big thing in education. The kind of meme around which you could build a week-long media blabfest, not to mention a whole lot of curricula, grading templates, books, radio shows and grant opportunities.
And then--I heard from Paul Tough himself. He was polite, but wanted to know just why I thought he was off-


What A 55 Looks Like On This Side [Fail Is A Strong Word]

by Jose

Sifting through the multitude of ungraded papers, I looked for some sign that they actually learned something.
I hate entering in 55s in my Excel sheet. A teacher can say whatever they want to the kids, and threaten them about not doing well, but most of us prefer that all of our kids do well from the early going. Even when we hold high standards for our students, none of us actually want our students to get a 55.
I don’t necessarily let it happen. I more wait to see if the student gets the idea that I’m hopeful, encouraging, and downright reaffirming, but I’m not going to back down from the level I want them to achieve. I’ll meet them where they are, re-re-repeat my lesson, ask students to re-re-re-explain everything we just did, let them work together, in groups, in pairs, as a class, give them homework, or not, a lot of problems, a few problems, a long, short, medium problem that they have one or two days to complete, and …
Fail.
A few days before the end of the marking period, a couple of students will rescue themselves, not with extra


What Worked For The Obama Campaign Can Work For Us & Our Students In The Classroom

by Larry Ferlazzo
The New York Times just published and article detailing how the Obama campaign convened a group of social scientists to help them apply their research to campaign tactics (see Academic ‘Dream Team’ Helped Obama’s Effort).
I’ve written in this blog, in my Helping Students Motivate Themselves book, and in its upcoming sequel, how to apply some of the same research to the classroom.
Here are a couple of examples…..
Obama volunteers also asked people if they had a plan to vote and if not, to make one, specifying a time, according to Stephen Shaw, a retired cancer researcher who knocked on doors in Nevada and Virginia in the 


I-1240 Passes

by Melissa Westbrook
According to the Associated Press.

Apparently, charter supporters are hoping for some as early as next fall (and I wouldn't be surprised unless there are lawsuits which might give some charter operators pause).

According to the Times:

Some charter-school groups have already expressed interest in coming here, and the superintendent of Spokane Public Schools is interested in having a charter in her district, according to The Spokesman-Review.

Interestingly, only one member of the Spokane School Board came out against I-1240 so maybe so.  Unfortunately, the Times leads readers to believe that only the Charter Commission will be okaying charters but 


NEW SERVICES AND AN OLD FASHIONED WAY TO PAY FOR THEM

by alkleen
The services, equipment and items provided for students today are a hundred times more than what students received when I began teaching. Free school breakfasts, lunches, and yes in some cases even dinner. Way more special education and specialist teachers are provided today. The amount of social workers, school nurses, psychologists, counselors, advisors and other specialists is way up since I began teaching.
Mainstreaming special education students was unheard of back when I began. No school districts were attempting anything close to a “least restrictive environment” for special needs students.
Years ago there were no high-tech devices of any kind used in the classroom. A film strip projector was the most

The real problem in encouraging reading: lack of access to books. The solution: support libraries

by skrashen

Sent to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, November 12, 2012

I am a cross-over reader, an adult who loved Harry Potter and Hunger Games. But it isn’t true that “Books like 'Hunger Games' make reading cool again,” (Nov. 12). Contrary to popular opinion, reading has always been cool. Teen-agers today spend about the same amount of time reading as they did in 1946. Current data on reading includes reading from the internet, but book reading has not declined: In 1946, according the Book Manufacturers' Institute, 34% of teen-agers said they read a book yesterday; in 2005, according to a Pew report, 33% did.
The real problem in encouraging reading is that those who live in poverty have little access to books: they have few books at home, live in neighborhoods with lower quality libraries and few bookstores, and attend schools with lower quality classroom and school libraries. In most cases, their only chance to get access to books is the 

Bad Teaching Practice #1: "I am Only Going to Teach Those Who Are Ready To Learn"

by Anthony Cody
Have you ever heard this one? A number of times in my career, I heard teachers, usually new ones, it must be said, announce in frustration that they were sick and tired of dealing with the kids who were disrupting class, and that from that point forward, they were going to forget about the "ones who aren't ready to learn," and put their energy into those who are. I even had a teacher tell me she set up her seating chart and put the "bad" kids in the back. There are a number of reasons this is a bad practice.

In the first place, it will not work. As soon as you attempt to ignore students who are misbehaving, they are likely to act out even more, so as to make themselves impossible to ignore. Often, their behavior is a cry for attention. Many children have learned that they are unlikely to get positive attention, especially in school, so they settle for negative attention - because it is better than being utterly ignored. Thus, your attempt to ignore 

“Malloy sees vindication in 2012 election results” – Really?

by jonpelto
Categories: Malloy, State Politics
Tags: , , , 
The shift to the 2014 gubernatorial campaign kicked into gear even before the 2012 candidates had given their acceptance and concession speeches last week. As the polls closed this year, Chairwoman of the Connecticut Democratic Party wrote, “Now that voters have spoken, here’s what we know — Governor Malloy wins, the Republicans lose, and the [...]
(Read more...)

FDL Movie Night: Brooklyn Castle

by Lisa Derrick

Popout
The chess club. For decades it’s been the butt of jokes like Woody Allen’s classic chestnut:
I failed to make the chess team because of my height.
But that has changed, thanks to the chess team at I.S. 318 in Brooklyn, their dedicated coach Elizabeth Vicary Spiegel, and principal Fred Rubino and assistant principal/chess coordinator John Glavin. At I.S. 318, the chess team is king, having won thirty national titles – more than any other junior high school in the United States. And in April of this year, the I.S. 318 chess team they became first junior high school team to become High School National Champions. And this with 70% of school’s students living below the Federal poverty line.
Brooklyn Castle, directed by tonight’s guest Katie Dellamaggiore, tells the story of five chess team members over the course of a year as they use the lessons of chess at tournaments and in their home lives, and finally to 


Is learning cursive an ancient practice? Why typing skills may soon replace those swirly letters we rarely use

I love cursive. But I'm a type nerd, so I guess I'm biased. Is this a tragedy, or just time to move on?

Idaho schools chief plans another try at teacher merit pay after election defeat

by The Associated Press
Tom Luna says although voters rejected the merit-pay of his proposed education overhaul, that doesn't mean they want to stick with old ways of compensating teachers.

Cal State students decry proposed 'incentive' fees

Students make their way on the campus of California State University Northridge in 2011. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times
Large majorities of California State University students said they are more likely to take out additional loans and delay their graduation if administrators impose incentive fees designed to free up classroom space.
The results are included in a survey released Monday of more than 2,400 students at the university’s 23 campuses. It was conducted by the activist group Students for Quality Education in response to proposals to impose three new fees for fall 2013.
The university system’s Board of Trustees will consider the plan during scheduled board meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in Long Beach.
The proposed fees include:
-- A $372 per-unit supplement for so-called “super seniors” who have already accumulated 160 units. In 2014, the supplement would apply to students who have earned 150 units.
-- A $91 per-unit fee for students who want to repeat a class. Officials estimate that each term, about 40,000 


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Big Education Ape Nite Cap 11-12-12 #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



School Psychology Awareness Week: Know Your Own Strengths — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
School Psychology Awareness Week: Know Your Own Strengths — Whole Child Education: [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]School Psychology Awareness Week: Know Your Own Strengths November 12, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: School Psychology Awareness Week - NASP] This week whole child partner National Association of School Psychologists is hostingSchool Psychology Awareness Week. Designed around the theme "Know Your Own Strengths. Discover them. Share them. Celebrate them.," this year's program looks to help students and schools find and celebrate their strengths in the scho...more »

Jersey Jazzman: K12 Inc Comes Clean: "Reform" Is All About the $

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Jersey Jazzman: K12 Inc Comes Clean: "Reform" Is All About the $: K12 Inc Comes Clean: "Reform" Is All About the $ by Duke Ken Libby points us to the transcript of a K12 Inc. conference call to investors. K12 is a charter school management company that specializes in "virtual" or "blended" learning, replacing brick-and-mortal schools with on-line instruction. NEPC released a report this past summer that shows K12's students fall further behind students in traditional schools. K12's school in Tennessee is under fire for poor performance, and critics in Florida say the schools the... more »

On "Failing" High Schools and Reform Churn-and-Burn: Two Case Studies - Dana Goldstein

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
On "Failing" High Schools and Reform Churn-and-Burn: Two Case Studies - Dana Goldstein: On "Failing" High Schools and Reform Churn-and-Burn: Two Case Studies by Dana Goldstein [image: Crenshaw] *Between periods at Crenshaw High School in South L.A., May 2011.* Let's say a certain school's reform plan has yielded measurable academic gains (especially for disabled students), a decrease in student suspensions and expulsions, and is enthusiastically supported by the principal, teachers, and many parents. The plan has also garnered national interest, attracting funding from a major phil... more »

Schools Matter: Obama Pushes Apartheid Charter Movement in Georgia Over the Top

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Schools Matter: Obama Pushes Apartheid Charter Movement in Georgia Over the Top: Obama Pushes Apartheid Charter Movement in Georgia Over the Top by Jim Horn My first year of teaching was in Georgia in 1971, one year after the end of segregation in Washington County, where I would teach Title I English at TJ Elder Jr. High School. The personnel director (before people became human resources) wore a white suit and white patent leather loafers, and he grinned widely as he told me that he was glad to welcome another young white family to Sandersville. The head of the little Englis... more »

Diane in the Evening 11-12-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: A Bad Joke, Not Funny by dianerav A reader passed along this speculation about a possible replacement for Duncan. LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-12-12 Diane Ravitch's blog coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] A Superintendent’s Advice to President Obama by dianerav Jere Hochman runs an exemplary school district in Bedford, New York. Before the election, he wrote an eloquent letter (which I posted though I may not have used his name) on why everyone should support President ... more »

School Tech Connect: A Day With A Book

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
School Tech Connect: A Day With A Book: A Day With A Book by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) What a great, luxurious Veterans' Day. I treated myself to a CPL copy of *Caleb's Crossing*, by Geraldine Brooks. It's weird how that when I'm thirsty for reading, I actually check out a book and read it, rather than endure exercises in reading comprehension, context clues, or even that great Holy Grail of education, critical thinking. People who howl the loudest about the lack of critical thinking in others are very often on the darndest bandwagons. *Caleb's Crossing *isn't my typical fa... more »

Tony at the Red Line Tap. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Tony at the Red Line Tap. « Fred Klonsky: Tony at the Red Line Tap. by Fred Klonsky “Marty. Got any of the *Antares* from Argentina left?” “I saved a couple of bottles just for you, Freddy.” “You’re a sweet-heart.” “Damn, Klonsky. I haven’t seen you for weeks,” said Tony. “I thought you had fallen off a* fiscal cliff.”* “Right. What the hell is with that? Three things that I’m pretty sure didn’t get talked about during the past two years on the campaign trail or in a debate. Poor people. Education reform. And fiscal cliffs. And now all of a sudden it is a world ending crisis.” Tony... more »

Firestorm Erupts Over Virginia's Education Goals : NPR

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Firestorm Erupts Over Virginia's Education Goals : NPR: Firestorm Erupts Over Virginia's Education Goals by CLAUDIO SANCHEZ As part of Virginia's waiver to opt out of mandates set out in the No Child Left Behind law, the state has created a controversial new set of education goals that are higher for white and Asian kids than for blacks, Latinos and students with disabilities. Virginia Democratic state Sen. Donald McEachin first read about the state's new performance goals for schoolchildren in a newspaper editorial. "And I was shocked to find that the state board of education [w... more »

Obama’s next steps | Outside the Cave

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Obama’s next steps | Outside the Cave: Obama’s next steps by Stephen Lazar I was planning on writing a piece about things I hope will change in a second Obama administration, but Sam Chaltain and Jose Vilson pretty much nailed everything I wanted to say. Jose first: We thought you would bring fair trials to the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and close it in your first year. The gates remain open. We thought you would bring about actual peace in the Middle East. You might have killed Osama bin Laden, but you are equally responsible for the drones dropping on innocent civilians there... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race and Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race and Education: Race and Education by Melissa Westbrook We are just coming off a presidential election where, to some degree, race mattered. Governor Romney lost because the GOP seems to be tone-deaf to the fact that what they allowed various GOP officials, including Romney, to say about Hispanics and women really DID matter. The GOP can continue this at their own risk but the numbers are against them (and so is history and common decency). The NY Times had two articles about students and race and its impacts that I thought worthy of posting... more »

Relief Is Not Enough: Nov 14–20th Climate Solidarity Actions | OccupyWallSt.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Relief Is Not Enough: Nov 14–20th Climate Solidarity Actions | OccupyWallSt.org: Relief Is Not Enough: Nov 14–20th Climate Solidarity Actions by OccupyWallSt [image: tar sands blockade] In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, New Yorkers are showing the best of humanity, self-organizing to provide mutual aid in spite of the establishment's continued failure to turn the lights back on. Free kitchens were distributing hot meals within hours. Thousands of pounds of food, clothing, and other donations have been distributed across Red Hook, Staten Island, the Rockaways, and Coney Island. ... more »

Students Last: Over the Educational Cliff

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Students Last: Over the Educational Cliff: Over the Educational Cliff by Students Last *Washington D.C.* - U.S. Senator LaLa Verdad of New York released this statement today: "Louise, no matter what happens, I'm glad I came with you."Lately my office has been receiving communication from constituents about the state of education. Some of you have expressed annoyance over the frequency and length of the tests your child has had to take. Some of you were surprised to find out that the teacher you and your child love has been deemed "ineffective" as determined by value-added measures... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Gloria Romero gets it wrong: HALF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTORATE DIDN’T VOTE

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Gloria Romero gets it wrong: HALF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTORATE DIDN’T VOTE: Gloria Romero gets it wrong: HALF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTORATE DIDN’T VOTE *if we are to believe Romero’s fuzzy math:* *A quarter of eligible voters gave Democrats supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature. * *B**ut we shouldn’t …see following!* BY GLORIA ROMERO / OP-ED FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER | HTTP://BIT.LY/UK0XNHPublished: Nov. 9, 2012 Updated: Nov. 12, 2012 6:48 a.m. :: Pundits called it the most important election of our lifetime. Yet, half of...more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Sun-Times has a 'democracy problem" of its own

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Sun-Times has a 'democracy problem" of its own: Sun-Times has a 'democracy problem" of its own by Mike Klonsky The landslide victory for Chicago's elected school board referendum has the Sun-Times editorial board in a tizzy.Today's editorial begins by answering its own question: *"Does the Chicago Board of Education have a democracy problem? Without a doubt."* My guess is that most of the 65,763 yes voters (as compared to the 10,174 no voters) would have offered a slightly stronger response -- like " OH HELL YES!" I mean -- *problem with democra... more »

Oh Great A Pop News Quiz (on a holiday): Catching up on what happened before the hurricane | GothamSchools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
News quiz: Catching up on what happened before the hurricane | GothamSchools: News quiz: Catching up on what happened before the hurricane by Rachel Cromidas Much like the rest of New York City, for the last two weeks, we’ve been focused almost exclusively on Hurricane Sandy‘s effects on the city’s schools. Now, while Sandy’s aftermath will continue to be an education story for a long time, we’re also getting back to work on other stories that we’ve been following. It feels like it was far more than three weeks ago that we were publishing stories about college-readiness rates, a ci... more »

This Week In Education: Campaign 2012: CA Democratic Party Attacks Pro-Reform Democrat

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
This Week In Education: Campaign 2012: CA Democratic Party Attacks Pro-Reform Democrat: *Attention Bootlicker ALERT!* * * Campaign 2012: CA Democratic Party Attacks Pro-Reform Democrat Last week I told you about the substantive differences between pro-reform Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom and pro-teacher Betsy Butler (Showdown In Santa Monica). Over the weekend, I found out that it wasn't just the teachers unions fighting to protect Butler, the incumbent. The California Democratic Party joined in paying for negative flyers against Bloom. Yep, the California Democrats, who... more »

Chicago Teachers Union leaders to tell their story in Philadelphia | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union leaders to tell their story in Philadelphia | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Chicago Teachers Union leaders to tell their story in Philadelphia by Ron Whitehorne *The ideas expressed in this guest post are solely the opinions of the author. The *Notebook* invites readers to submit guest posts on current topics in Philadelphia education. Submissions should be sent to notebook@thenotebook.org.* ------------------------------ *by Ron Whitehorn* The recently concluded Chicago teachers strike has had an impact far beyond the Windy City. There are lessons to be... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends: Odds and Ends by Melissa Westbrook There's a sinkhole problem in West Seattle directly on the route that buses to Pathfinder take. This story from our friends at the West Seattle Blog. Thought-provoking story this morning on NPR about how Eastern and Western parents view their children and their ability to learn. (I have often thought that persistence, resilience, and encouragement are more important than what intellectual capacities you are born with.) Interesting article from the Huffington Post about who serves special needs c... more »

Pass / Fail : USC program trains counselors to help students in military families | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Pass / Fail : USC program trains counselors to help students in military families | 89.3 KPCC: USC program trains counselors to help students in military families by By Adolfo Guzman-Lopez [image: Military Families] *Duane Brown, his wife Marria and Rita Beal talk about their days in the Beal kitchen. Credit: Grant Slater/KPCC* By one count, close to 100,000 California public school kids have at least one parent serving in the military. Advocates say educators have done a poor job supporting these kids at school through the stressful times before, during, and after military deployme... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: 23 CANDIDATES FILE PAPERS TO RUN FOR 3 L.A. SCHOOL BOARD SEATS + List of Candidates

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: 23 CANDIDATES FILE PAPERS TO RUN FOR 3 L.A. SCHOOL BOARD SEATS + List of Candidates: 23 CANDIDATES FILE PAPERS TO RUN FOR 3 L.A. SCHOOL BOARD SEATS + List of Candidates The March election could change the course of a new teacher evaluation system, the union's dealings with charters and, possibly, the future of Supt. John Deasy. Voters will also pick community college board members. BY HOWARD BLUME, LOS ANGELES TIMES | HTTP://LAT.MS/SFN0P5November 11, 2012 :: The race for three Los Angeles school board seats — and an expected showdow... more »

What the Selection of Florida’s Next Schools Commissioner Will Tell Us | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
What the Selection of Florida’s Next Schools Commissioner Will Tell Us | Scathing Purple Musings: What the Selection of Florida’s Next Schools Commissioner Will Tell Us by Bob Sikes *Answer: What Money Can Buy* Gerard Robinson’s mysterious departure remains a blemish on Rick Scott’s record and an embarrassment for Jeb Bush. The ongoing collapse of Bush’s massive accountability system is happening on Scott’s watch. Robinson was clearly never right for the job and his selection can be attributed to the philosophical flaws of both men. Scott’s education naiveté was clear from the st... more »

Record Numbers of High School and College Graduates in 2012 | NewsTaco

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Record Numbers of High School and College Graduates in 2012 | NewsTaco: Record Numbers of High School and College Graduates in 2012 by NewsTaco By Hope Gillette, Voxxi The decline in educational attainment feared by many experts seems to be myth. According to a new report from the Pew Research Center, record numbers of young adults are graduating high school and then completing a college education. For the first time ever, the 2012 school year saw one-third of the nation’s 25- to 29-year-olds graduate with at least a bachelor’s degree. On average, 90 percent of individuals between 2... more »

TWITTER STORM! #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
*TWITTER STORM! #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling* * * * #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling* TWITTER STORM! Today, Veteran's Day, we are pleading with folks at the White House to Stop Race to the Top (#StopRTTT). Please join us! I have provided a whole mess of potential tweets below: @ArneDuncan Here is a study detailing the financial & educational costs of RTTT | http://tiny.cc/k7ynnw #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling @BarackObama Bubble testing is a skill & our kids are learning fast but how will that get them a job? #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling @DavidPlouffe Hig... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: K12 Inc. stock sinking like a stone

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: K12 Inc. stock sinking like a stone: K12 Inc. stock sinking like a stone by Mike Klonsky The king of the privatized virtual learning world, K12Inc. has investors checking to see if they're still wearing their shorts. The problem continues to be extravagant costs stemming from huge salaries paid to top execs, plus K12 students scoring behind kids in brick-and-mortar schools. Market Watch reports: K12 Inc.'s fiscal first-quarter profit slipped 5.3% as the online education provider saw a

CUNY Crisis Deepens as Admin Installs New Chair in Rebel Department « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
CUNY Crisis Deepens as Admin Installs New Chair in Rebel Department « Student Activism: CUNY Crisis Deepens as Admin Installs New Chair in Rebel Department by Angus Johnston The CUNY administration may have been forced to back down (for now) from their threats to dismantle the Queensboro Community College English Department, but they’ve launched a new attack in their effort to bring the rebellious department to heel. On October 24 the QCC English faculty voted to remove chair Linda Reesman. Throughout the department’s battle over the administration’s Pathways initiative, many fac... more »

Learning About Our Childhood from Our Children | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Learning About Our Childhood from Our Children | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network: Learning About Our Childhood from Our Children By Steve Truitt Several weeks ago I noticed a marked shift in my behavior and reactions. To bottom line it: I was losing it a lot with my children. As all parents know, children will test your resolve on a daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes minutely (is that a word?) basis. As the child of severely toxic parents, it was imperative in my run-up to parenthood that I learn to do my best to not lose my cool with my kids. That’s not to say I don’t belie... more »

The Quick and the Ed » Technology is More Than a Distraction

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
The Quick and the Ed » Technology is More Than a Distraction: Technology is More Than a Distraction by Mandy Zatynski It’s unsettling to hear that some 90 percent of teachers believe that today’s technologies are creating “an easily distracted generation with short attention spans.” Unsettling, not for the fear mongering it conjures about the future of student achievement, but for the belief that technology exposure actually reduces the ability to learn and progress and achieve. Technology is ever-present in our daily lives, and if educators are to train our nation’s youth to comp... more »

What to Keep an Eye on in Tony Evers’ Budget | AMPS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
What to Keep an Eye on in Tony Evers’ Budget | AMPS: What to Keep an Eye on in Tony Evers’ Budget by Thomas J. Mertz Eyeball sculpture by artist Tony Tasset from the Eye Si(gh)t blog. Mavis Staples, “Eyes On The Prize” (click to listen or download). Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers will reveal the remainder of his 2013-15 budget proposal on Monday (the first portion was released in September, but it lacks full school finance information; WisconsinEye will be covering the event). Evers has also announced he is seeking re-election next April(campaign web... more »

Voices: What Indiana’s ed reform upset means | EdNewsColorado

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Voices: What Indiana’s ed reform upset means | EdNewsColorado: Voices: What Indiana’s ed reform upset means Written by Ben DeGrow on Nov 12th, 2012. | Copyright © EdNewsColorado.org *The Independence Institute’s Ben DeGrow says Colorado school reformers should pay attention to last week’s Election Day loss for Indiana Schools Superintendent Tony Bennett.* Indiana’s election results sent shockwaves Tuesday throughout the education reform world. Widely known for his bold and assertive stances on school choice and accountability, state Superintendent Tony Bennett was narrowly upended b... more »

Is the Boston Globe’s Mad Luv 4 Charters on the Skids? | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Is the Boston Globe’s Mad Luv 4 Charters on the Skids? | EduShyster: Is the Boston Globe’s Mad Luv 4 Charters on the Skids? by edushyster2012 As regular *Boston Globe* readers know (and there are still a handful of you out there…),G has had MAD luv 4 our local laboratories of innovation and excellence, and none other than a certain UP Academy. Since UP began its steady UPward trajectory in the spring of 2011, the *Globe* has devoted untold column inches to singing her praises, including this doozy of a love letter from EduShyster fave Lawrence Harmon: There’s a lot at stake in the... more »

The Educated Reporter: Veterans Day: Trading the Battlefield for the Classroom

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
The Educated Reporter: Veterans Day: Trading the Battlefield for the Classroom: Veterans Day: Trading the Battlefield for the Classroom by Emily Richmond With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan moving toward an end, tens of thousands of U.S. veterans will be making the transition back to civilian life. For many of them, that means taking advantage of government funding for higher education. Writing for Inside Higher Ed, Wick Sloane released the results of his annual informal survey of elite colleges and universities to determine how many undergraduate veterans they have enrolled. S... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-12-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why Charter Lobby Pushed San Diego Bond Issue by dianerav San Diego had a bond issue on the ballot. It passed handily. It appeared to be a great victory for public schools. But unknown to many, there was a sweet deal tucked into the bond issue. The district will get $2.8 billion in loans, but $350 million is set aside for charters. Decisions about how to allocate the money will be made by a committee, this article says, dominated by representatives of the charter industry. Here is another name to add to the ... more »

Instead of a Tuition Hike, an Ambition Tax at Cal State « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Instead of a Tuition Hike, an Ambition Tax at Cal State « Student Activism: Instead of a Tuition Hike, an Ambition Tax at Cal State by Angus Johnston The passage of Proposition 30 in California last Tuesday saved the state’s three public higher education systems from devastation, providing funding to forestall huge tuition increases and enrollment cuts. Young voters made the difference in that vote, amounting to nearly a third of the electorate and supporting Prop 30 by a two-to-one margin. But the struggle over college accessibility in California is far from over, as new proposed... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES by Mike Klonsky Election Results *"Mitt Romney is the president of white male America."* -- Maureen Dowd, NYT Rehabilitating Michelle Rhee *Debate about how to improve schools will continue, as in the sadly effective effort by the teachers union in Chicago and in some election-day initiatives to defeat reform. Evidence that the common-sense changes engineered by Ms. Rhee are paying off should be part of the discussion and hopefully will spur other systems to follow the District’s lead. *-- Washington Post edit... more »

Teachers For Social Justice: 2012 TSJ Curriculum Fair Program & Speakers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Teachers For Social Justice: 2012 TSJ Curriculum Fair Program & Speakers: 2012 TSJ Curriculum Fair Program & Speakers by sarah-ji The 2012 Teaching For Social Justice Curriculum Fair is only a few days away, and we are excited to announce the program schedule and keynote speakers. Here are a few things to keep in mind: - Pre-register NOW if you haven't done so already. This will save you time Saturday morning as well as help us avoid a bottleneck during registration. - Please note the NEW LOCATION! Due to forces out of our control, we had to change the venue to Kenw... more »

Teacher Bashing Is a Loser - John Wilson Unleashed - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Teacher Bashing Is a Loser - John Wilson Unleashed - Education Week: Teacher Bashing Is a Loser By John Wilson on November 8, 2012 8:05 AM Across America, the final votes are being counted and recounted, but we can be sure of one result that will not change: bashing teachers is not a winning proposition in this country. American voters still believe in those teachers that helped shape their lives and that are doing the same for their children, and they are not willing to support ill-conceived policies that demoralize and destroy the careers of their favorite teachers. Even clearer... more »

Culture, Not Curriculum, May be Key to High School Reform - High School Notes (usnews.com)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Culture, Not Curriculum, May be Key to High School Reform - High School Notes (usnews.com): Culture, Not Curriculum, May be Key to High School Reform By KELSEY SHEEHY November 12, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: An education expert argues that school leaders can improve student achievement by empowering teachers and engaging parents.] School leaders can improve student achievement by empowering teachers and engaging parents, one expert says. Resurrecting a strugglinghigh school is more about changing culture than curriculum, according to Charles Payne, a University of Chicago professor ... more »

Historian David McCullough: No ‘professional teacher should major in education’

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Historian David McCullough: No ‘professional teacher should major in education’: Historian David McCullough: No ‘professional teacher should major in education’ Posted by Valerie Strauss on November 12, 2012 at 7:30 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » (cbsnews.com) Everyone’s a critic about the teaching profession. That includes award-winning historian David McCullough, who was profiled on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday by correspondent Morley Safer. Along with talking about teacher education, he ... more »

Obama Won, But Did Educators Lose In the Process? | Alternet

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Obama Won, But Did Educators Lose In the Process? | Alternet: Obama Won, But Did Educators Lose In the Process? As long as accountability remains the educational law of the land, students are bound to lose out, says a professor of education. *November 12, 2012* | Photo Credit: mistydawnphoto via Shutterstock.com For three decades, one block of American voters and workers has lost politically regardless of which party or candidate has won: educators. That was again likely the case in 2012 despite the re-election of Barack Obama and despite a few positive political victories vis ... more »

NYC Educator: Act of God No Excuse, Declares Mayor Michael Bloomberg

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
NYC Educator: Act of God No Excuse, Declares Mayor Michael Bloomberg: Act of God No Excuse, Declares Mayor Michael Bloomberg by NYC Educator If your house had ten feet of water rip through it, or if your living room is full of mud, or sand, or locusts,that's no reason for missing work. Michael Bloomberg is the mayor of New York, he has billions of dollars, and if he says so it must be true. After all, his brownstone is still there, and it was not damaged. Why the hell was your residence damaged? If you had half a brain, you would've bought an east side brownstone rather than a ranc... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Newark Teacher Contract Vote on Wednesday, 11/14

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Newark Teacher Contract Vote on Wednesday, 11/14: Newark Teacher Contract Vote on Wednesday, 11/14 by Duke The controversial Newark teachers contract vote is this Wednesday, November 14. Sandy pushed back the vote to this late date; now the teachers will have to decide whether to ratify a contract that features a whole lot of private money in exchange for accepting a merit pay system. I really don't have much to add to my last post on the subject. The private funds make this an unusual situation, so, as much as I have worried about this being a precedent for the r... more »

Arne Duncan’s federal School Improvement Grant Program forces schools to act like corporations reports two studies. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Arne Duncan’s federal School Improvement Grant Program forces schools to act like corporations reports two studies. « Fred Klonsky: Arne Duncan’s federal School Improvement Grant Program forces schools to act like corporations reports two studies. by Fred Klonsky Two studies that have recently been released by the Michigan-based Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice declare that Arne Duncan’s *School Improvement Grant Program* is in need of reform, and*that forcing schools to act like corporations runs counter to progress.* “The market-based character of turnaroun... more »

Eduflack: Just Say No to ALEC's Latest Move

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Eduflack: Just Say No to ALEC's Latest Move: Just Say No to ALEC's Latest Move by Eduflack Every three or five years, I changed school districts as a child. I spent my K-12 years in four different states. With each move, I was faced with a different set of academic standards and a different set of expectations. After some moves, I found myself greatly ahead of the curve. In another, I found myself behind what was expected. And in my final move, made before my junior year of high school, I actually had my new high school try to say I was ineligible to be valedictorian because ... more »

Diane Ravitch vs. the Education-Reform Movement : The New Yorker

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Diane Ravitch vs. the Education-Reform Movement : The New Yorker: ANNALS OF EDUCATIONPUBLIC DEFENDERDiane Ravitch takes on a movement.BY DAVID DENBYNOVEMBER 19, 2012 ABSTRACT: ANNALS OF EDUCATION about Diane Ravitch, who has emerged as one of the leading opponents of the education-reform movement. Now seventy-four, Ravitch has been a forceful voice in education debates for more than four decades. A research professor at New York University since 1995, she has taught at Columbia University’s Teachers’ College, served as an Assistant Secretary of Education, and edited educatio... more »

Obama’s Tears and No Voter Left Behind | Cedar's Digest

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Obama’s Tears and No Voter Left Behind | Cedar's Digest: Obama’s Tears and No Voter Left Behind Posted on November 11, 2012 Like many progressive Obama supporters, I was moved by his tears as he thanked his Chicago staff and volunteers this past week. Whether or not you believe he is a great president, it is pretty clear he is a good man and genuinely grateful for his audience’s service to his cause. This rare crack in the remarkable poise reminded me of Charles Pierce’s piece on the greatness of Obama in his Esquire blog: Part of what drives people crazy about him — and if you ... more »

OCCUPY EDUCATION - (via Imagining Learning | Why Contribute) JOIN US...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
OCCUPY EDUCATION - (via Imagining Learning | Why Contribute) JOIN US...: (via Imagining Learning | Why Contribute) JOIN US in creating a... (via Imagining Learning | Why Contribute) JOIN US in creating a national collective voice of the wisdom of young people on education by sponsoring a Listening Session. Please donate 10 dollars or more to help sponsor an upcoming listening sessions in the south! We have 4 listening sessions in the next week (Charleston, SC and Atlanta, GA) and another 5 planned for later this month including Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi and Florida. T... more »

Thinking About Schools: Dear Mr. President, Part 1

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Thinking About Schools: Dear Mr. President, Part 1: Dear Mr. President, Part 1 Dear Second Term President Obama: You are in an enviable position, perhaps the most enviable in the educational world today. You do not need to worry about re-election. You’ve got a good three years to affect substantial, meaningful change. You can say whatever the hell you want (sorry, but it's time to throw some Bill Russell elbows, Mr. President). You’ve got the microphone, the votes, and the next Supreme Court nomination(s). You’re a dad. You know the roots of American students, you know what i... more »

Diane in the Evening 11-11-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Teachers’ Facebook and Phone Campaign for Obama by dianerav Two teachers have started a campaign to take their message to the White House: stop the Race to the Top! The message of their campaign: Give all students the same education your girls are getting! Abandon Race to the Top and stop privatizing public schools. Join them! EduShyster Credits Stephanie Rivera for SFER Expose by dianerav Earlier, I published a post about Students for Education Reform, linking to a post by EduShyster. SFER is a junior version of Democrats for Education Reform, the group form... more »

A Novel and Worthy Cause « Teaching Between the Lines

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
A Novel and Worthy Cause « Teaching Between the Lines: A Novel and Worthy Cause by Laura You are frustrated with the testing emphasis in education, and you really resent politicians and non-educators trying to tell teachers what to do in their classrooms. You are especially upset over the shift away from creative, artistic pursuits in the classroom as drill-and-kill math and reading replace the arts. So what can you do to make a difference? Don’t despair, my friend! The Office of Letters and Light is a non-profit organization that believes in “*ambitious acts of the imagination... more »

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Being Right vs. Being Relevant….

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Being Right vs. Being Relevant….: Being Right vs. Being Relevant…. by alicemercer As I’ve said before, the saying goes that California is like the rest of the country, only sooner. The GOP in the Golden State has only remained politically relevant because of the bizarre requirement for a two-thirds majority to pass state budgets. Now they may have even lost that perk. I’ll share a couple of observations from what happened here that I think may be germane to the current situation nationally. The state GOP has never shaken the bad reputation ... more »

Update for Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Update for Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools | United Opt Out National: Update for Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools by admin This week please share this brief update on Occupy DOE 2.0, The Battle for Public Schools, April 4-7, 2013. We return to DC this year and will occupy the Dept. of Ed. for four days. Our schedule is filling quickly. Here is a sneak peek of what we currently have confirmed, followed by information on hotels, free sleeping arrangements and a few additional details . Please click on each name to learn more – we will have a full schedul... more »

NYC Public School Parents: PEP's Mayoral Bloc Rejects Call for Delay in Charter School Co-locations

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: PEP's Mayoral Bloc Rejects Call for Delay in Charter School Co-locations: PEP's Mayoral Bloc Rejects Call for Delay in Charter School Co-locations by Patrick J. Sullivan Thursday's Panel for Educational Policy meeting at Frank Sinatra HS started forty minutes late as Vice Chair Freida Foster waited for enough mayoral bloc appointees to ensure the mayor's super-majority was in place to approve resolutions. *Deferral of Co-Location Votes or "The People's Business"* Brooklyn representative Kelvin Diamond introduced a resolution to defer co-location votes fr... more »

School Tech Connect: Do Elections Have Consequences?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
School Tech Connect: Do Elections Have Consequences?: Do Elections Have Consequences? by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) We'll just see... One of the things I've learned in the past year is to not be shy about inviting policymakers to meetings. Just sent an email to my state representative.

Malloy’s decision to coddle the rich = State Budget Deficit - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Malloy’s decision to coddle the rich = State Budget Deficit - Wait, What?: Malloy’s decision to coddle the rich = State Budget Deficit by jonpelto When Governor Malloy proposed his $1.5 billion tax increase last year, anyone making over $1 million dollars was spared any increase in the state income tax rate. Concerned that the super-rich in Fairfield County might leave Connecticut – despite the fact that the income tax rate is higher in New York and New Jersey – and much higher in New York City – Malloy’s tax package only increased the income tax rate on people making LESS THAN $1... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Should Student Tweets Be Revealed?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Should Student Tweets Be Revealed?: Should Student Tweets Be Revealed? by Melissa Westbrook Here's a dilemma (or maybe not). Over at the Jezebel blog, they found that there were a number of teens who, after the reelection of President Obama, sent out very hateful and racist tweets. Jezebel looked these teens up and where they went to school, checked their school's code of conduct, and then contacted their respective administrations. In many cases, either the school code of conduct and/or student athletic code of conduct was violate. Jezebel say... more »

Fresh Awesome in the Teachbad Store!! | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Fresh Awesome in the Teachbad Store!! | Mr. Teachbad: Fresh Awesome in the Teachbad Store!! by teachbad Fresh Awesome in the Teachbad Store!! As mid-autumn teacher depres­sion and anx­i­ety finds its sweet spot, and in time for thought­ful hol­i­day gift-giving, Mr. Teach­bad is delighted to offer two BRAND NEW prod­ucts to our grow­ing line of *Strictly Home-Use Teacher Gifts*. Check ‘em out. I espe­cially like the *Pretty Good Teacher* mug.

Last Stand for Children First: Michelle Rhee's Policies Proven a Rousing Success

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Last Stand for Children First: Michelle Rhee's Policies Proven a Rousing Success: Michelle Rhee's Policies Proven a Rousing Success by Last Stand for Children I was overjoyed yesterday to see the Washington Post trumpeting a new report by the New Teacher Project trumpeting Michelle Rhee's success as Chancellor of the Washington D.C. schools. We've always known Ms. Rhee was a force of nature since she first appeared on our radar when she founded the New Teacher Project back in 1997. As Chancellor, Mr. Rhee was something of a lightening rod for controversy, but even the Washington... more »

Kimble's Corner: Congressman Kimble Meets the Nation to Talk about GOP Future

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Kimble's Corner: Congressman Kimble Meets the Nation to Talk about GOP Future: Congressman Kimble Meets the Nation to Talk about GOP Future by Representative Kimble Greg Roberts: The echoes of Tuesday night's crushing defeat for Mitt Romney and the rest of Republican candidates still echo through the beltway. The fiscal cliff awaits, but it seems what everybody is talking about is how the Republicans rebound with demographics seemingly working against them for years to come. Our guest, Jack Kimble from California was a rare Republican winner on Tuesday night, winning his home di... more »

Math Can Be Truly Painful, Brain Study Shows | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Math Can Be Truly Painful, Brain Study Shows | toteachornototeach: Math Can Be Truly Painful, Brain Study Shows by aristotlethewise *Math Can Be Truly Painful, Brain Study Shows* *For math-phobes, anticipation of math work activates pain centers in brain. * by Jeremy Berlin Does the thought of 1+1= ouch? If you hate math, it might—literally. According to a new study, the mere prospect of a math problem causes pain centers to light up in number-phobic brains. Researchers at the University of Chicago measured the neural activity of 28 adults—14 who’d been identified with high math anxi... more »

2012 election lessons. We don’t have to accept bad legislation. Oust those who proposed it. Build a democratic union. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
2012 election lessons. We don’t have to accept bad legislation. Oust those who proposed it. Build a democratic union. « Fred Klonsky: 2012 election lessons. We don’t have to accept bad legislation. Oust those who proposed it. Build a democratic union. by Fred Klonsky John Wilson is the former Executive Director of the National Education Association. Before that he led the N.C. Association of Educators. He taught special education for 23 years. He is a past chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the Learning First Alliance, and the N.C. Covenant for Children. Wilson pos... more »

Jersey Jazzman: The Deeply Flawed TNTP Report on DC Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: The Deeply Flawed TNTP Report on DC Schools: The Deeply Flawed TNTP Report on DC Schools by Duke UPDATE: Matt DiCarlo has, as is usual, an excellent analysis. I especially like what he says about the survey TNTP conducted: Unless I’m missing something, TNTP does not present any basic characteristics of their survey sample, to say nothing of trying to compare them with those of the larger DCPS group (the same was true of the districts in the “Irreplaceables” report). This is always required (even with random samples), but it’s especially important given that TNTP is... more »

All Education Matters: Rolling Jubilee: You Are Not A Loan

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
All Education Matters: Rolling Jubilee: You Are Not A Loan: Rolling Jubilee: You Are Not A Loan by Cryn Johannsen Occupy Wall Street has launched an ingenious campaign, something that is truly beyond capitalism. Just as they have stepped in to help victims of Sandy (OPERATION Occupy Sandy), the collective group of dreamers, activists, and community lovers have decided a new angle to the solving the debt crisis - *a bailout for the people and by the people.* The People's Bailout, cleverly called a Rolling Jubilee, begins on November 15th!

Short Notes: In a Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga Sorta Vibe | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Short Notes: In a Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga Sorta Vibe | The Jose Vilson: Short Notes: In a Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga Sorta Vibe by Jose Kendrick Lamar A few notes: - Lady Gaga posted a version of Kendrick Lamar’s “Don’t Kill My Vibe” which originally featured … her. Awesome. [Twitter / @LadyGaga] - According to Slate, NASA is also very happy with Obama’s re-election. To space and beyond. [Slate] - I’m not a fan of war, nor am I happy we have troops in places we don’t need to. This Wilfred Owen poem is a good reminder for us. [via Twitter / Alec Couros]

School Tech Connect: Put This On Your Calendar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
School Tech Connect: Put This On Your Calendar: Put This On Your Calendar by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I'll be at this event with some of the members of the new group up here, Rogers Park Neighbors for Public Schools. Come join us if you're up here, or even if you're close by. You folks down in Edgewater are going to have to organize locally as well, as far as I can tell.

Support for Elected School Board Growing in Chicago « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Support for Elected School Board Growing in Chicago « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Support for Elected School Board Growing in Chicago by millerlf *Aldermen push for city-wide referendum on elected school board* BY FRAN SPIELMAN AND ROSALIND ROSSI Staff Reporters November 8, 2012 Chicago Sun Times Independent Chicago aldermen vowed Thursday to push for a citywide referendum on an elected school board opposed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, emboldened by 86 percent support from voters in parts of 35 wards. Despite a parliamentary maneuver by a mayoral ally that blocked refere... more »

Tavis Smiley & Dr. Cornel West on Poverty: “The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto” | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Tavis Smiley & Dr. Cornel West on Poverty: “The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto” | Seattle Education: Tavis Smiley & Dr. Cornel West on Poverty: “The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto” by seattleducation2011 From Democracy Now: *As the most expensive presidential election in U.S. history comes to an end, broadcaster Tavis Smiley and professor, activist Dr. Cornel West discuss President Obama’s re-election and their hopes for a national political agenda in and outside of the White House during Obama’s second term. At a time when one in six Americans is poor,... more »




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