Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Schools Matter: Public Schools Falling Like Dominoes

Schools Matter: Public Schools Falling Like Dominoes:

Public Schools Falling Like Dominoes

The forces of education privatization scored a major victory this November in Georgia, thru passage of a cleverly written constitutional amendment backed by a multiimillion dollar deceptive ad campaign, and the active backing or complicit silence of much of the black political class.


Those of us who have been closely following education policy over the past decade, have always known and understood that a test and punish pedagogy would destroy public education, the souls of our nation's children, our democracy and our basic human rights. 

Once upon a time it was just cafeteria or janitorial services that were privatized. Slowly but surely, however, everything from pay and benefits for teachers to curriculum are increasing coming under the control of corporations and business '

Rozy WOW Press: The voice of a UTLA teacher

Rozy WOW Press: The voice of a UTLA teacher:


Rozy WOW Press: The voice of a UTLA teacher

Schools Matter: The fiction vs. non-fiction debate: A distraction from a more important question

Schools Matter: The fiction vs. non-fiction debate: A distraction from a more important question:


The fiction vs. non-fiction debate: A distraction from a more important question

Sent to the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 27, 2012

The debate over fiction vs. non-fiction in the Common Core is diverting us from a more important question: should we have common core standards?

The rational for the standards is the belief that our schools are “broken.” There is no evidence this is true: Middle class American students who attend well-funded schools score at the top of the world on international tests. Our unspectacular scores are because US has such a high percentage of child poverty, 23.1%, the second-highest percentage among 34 economically advanced countries. High-scoring Finland has less than 5.3% child poverty.

Poverty means poor diet, poor health care, and little access to books; all have a devastating effect on school performance.

There is no evidence that standards and tests improve school achievement. The money budgeted for standards and tests to enforce the standards should be used to protect children from the effects of poverty.

Stephen Krashen
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California

Re LA Times editorial: “What students read,” Dec. 27, 2012: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 12-27-2012 #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



Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Really, Gallup Poll?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Really, Gallup Poll?: Really, Gallup Poll? by Mike Klonsky The latest Gallup Poll shows 54% of Americans supporting the NRA. But remember, these are the same guys who polled Romney winning the presidential election 51% to Obama's 46%. I think they must just poll the same people over and over again, ending up with the same result. Environmentalists I know were really looking forward to Obama's second term. This was supposed to be the four years, free from re-election pressures, that he and his EPA chief *Lisa Jackson* were going to sock it to 'em on ... more »

Statement and documents of Chicago Teachers Union on the suit charging CPS with racial discrimination. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago
Statement and documents of Chicago Teachers Union on the suit charging CPS with racial discrimination. « Fred Klonsky: Statement and documents of Chicago Teachers Union on the suit charging CPS with racial discrimination. by Fred Klonsky 1. The oft-maligned Chicago Public Schools (CPS) policy of subjecting neighborhood schools to “turnaround” discriminates against African-American teachers and staff according to a federal lawsuit filed this week by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and three public school educators. More than half of the 347 tenured teachers who we... more »

Daily Kos: Let's talk about real national security

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 minutes ago
Daily Kos: Let's talk about real national security: Let's talk about real national security by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Many politicians will say that the first responsibility of a President is to ensure the national security. I would note that the Preamble to the Constitution lists two other things BEFORE "provide for the common defense" - "establish justice" "insure domestic tranquility" But I will grant for sake of discussion that a government that cannot provide security for its people will not long have the support of that people. It is in part because of that we have p... more »

Diane in the Evening 12-27-12Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Chicago Teachers Union Sues District, Claims Racial Discrimination by dianerav *This should be of interest to readers. The Chicago Teachers Union has filed a federal lawsuit against the Chicago Public Schools, claiming that African American teachers have been disproportionately harmed by school closings. Over the past decade, their numbers have dropped dramatically in the school system.* *Chicago Teachers File Federal Lawsuit Charging CPS with Racial Discrimination* *CHICAGO – *The oft-maligned Chicago Public Schools (CPS) policy of subjecting neighborh... more »

Legislators who cut pensions destroy jobs and the economy in their own communities | Reclaim Reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Legislators who cut pensions destroy jobs and the economy in their own communities | Reclaim Reform: Legislators who cut pensions destroy jobs and the economy in their own communities by kenpreviti [image: money country]This is a perfect example of what present pensions do for the economy; this should be shared by all. Short sighted legislators and tax payers would do well to think before they raid and cut pensions. Legislators preach the “improve small businesses and create jobs” mantra. Why would any legislator destroy the economy of the communities which elects them? The kind a... more »

Our Top 10 Blog Posts in 2012 — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Our Top 10 Blog Posts in 2012 — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Our Top 10 Blog Posts in 2012 December 27, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers In the past year, experts and practitioners in the field, whole child partners, and ASCD staff have shared their stories, ideas, and resources to help you ensure that each child, in each school, in each community is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged and prepared for success in higher education, employment, and civic life. These are the top 10 posts you read in 2012. *Project-Based Le... more »

Parent Revolution’s California Parent Trigger Efforts Proved “Bitter, Divisive and Protracated.” | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Parent Revolution’s California Parent Trigger Efforts Proved “Bitter, Divisive and Protracated.” | Scathing Purple Musings: Parent Revolution’s California Parent Trigger Efforts Proved “Bitter, Divisive and Protracated.” by Bob Sikes *Education Week *reporter Katie Ash highlights a just released report on Parent Trigger Laws by the Annenberg Institute which concludes “that policymakers can address the shortcomings of academically low-performing schools in more productive ways.” Writes Ash: Part of the problem, the policy brief asserts, is that parent trigger laws rely on parents... more »

School Tech Connect: Standards Porn, and Two Recommendations

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
School Tech Connect: Standards Porn, and Two Recommendations: Standards Porn, and Two Recommendations by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I wish I had written this. In fact, I'm going to pretend that I did. Apparently, it is vital that high school students read 70% non-fiction. This, of course, is because 69% is not enough and 71% is too much. David Coleman has reached into his extraordinarily gifted hind quarters and pulled out the perfect number. This is because students must be prepared to read things like train schedules and quarterly reports, and can't possibly do so unless ... more »

Race and Intellect, or Except for You, You’re The Smart One [Unreleased] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Race and Intellect, or Except for You, You’re The Smart One [Unreleased] | The Jose Vilson: Race and Intellect, or Except for You, You’re The Smart One [Unreleased] by Jose [image: Supreme Sonia Sotomayor on Sesame Street] Supreme Sonia Sotomayor on Sesame Street *This week, I’m releasing some of the pieces I’ve written that never saw the light of day for different reasons. Here’s the second.* Release Date: 12/03/2012 Dear New Teacher, A few questions to ask now that you’ve gotten your feet wet at your job: 1. How many friends of color do you have in your circle? 2. How often h... more »

Remembering Community's Responsibility to Education - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Remembering Community's Responsibility to Education - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Remembering Community's Responsibility to Education by Nancy Flanagan * * * * * Recent events have pulled our human and educational need for community into sharp focus. I asked my IDEA colleague, Sharon Trautwein, to comment on what the role that community plays in enriching lives and learning. Her thoughts:* Community. Currently, our society has many definitions for this word. There is a school community, a church community, the Global community, etc... And now with social me... more »

Evan Horn – Student Voice: An Appetite for Curiosity and Wonder | Student Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Evan Horn – Student Voice: An Appetite for Curiosity and Wonder | Student Voice: Evan Horn – Student Voice: An Appetite for Curiosity and Wonder by admin [image: photo-1]My consistent goal in life is to go to sleep more knowledgeable, cultured, and worldly than when I woke up that morning. I have spent nights scouring the internet and pouring over books until it was nearly time for class, yet also spend every Sunday sleeping until 2 in the afternoon and watching football well past nightfall. I strive to absorb as much information as I possibly can. I engage in such a tiresome tas... more »

John Thompson: Is Rising Poverty Sinking Hopes for College? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
John Thompson: Is Rising Poverty Sinking Hopes for College? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: Is Rising Poverty Sinking Hopes for College? by Anthony Cody *Guest post by John Thompson.* From the Clinton Administration's welfare reform until the Bush first term, my senior Government students loved to dissect the writings of Jason DeParle and, later, Paul Tough. We made the standard accommodations for low-skilled readers as they wrestled with the work of New York Times Magazine writers. Each student was provided photocopies with the key passages highligh... more »

Ed Notes Online: MORE Retreat Friday 12/28 Harlem NYC- Join us

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: MORE Retreat Friday 12/28 Harlem NYC- Join us: 32 of 7,873 MORE Retreat Friday 12/28 Harlem NYC- Join us by ed notes online Let’s make it happen... TOGETHER building more, training leaders OPEN MEETING Friday, Dec. 28 - 10a.m - 4 p.m Come for Part or All of Day 10:00-12:00pm Discussion-The Importance of Social Justice Unionism & Preparing for Political Attacks 12:00-1:00pm Lunch - Get to know MORE members (suggested $5 donation) 1:00-3:00pm Workshops, Breakout Groups on Leadership & Fighting Back for Public Education & Building MORE 3:00-4:00pm Committee on ... more »

UPDATE: Where did Chicago’s African American teachers go? « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Where did Chicago’s African American teachers go? « Fred Klonsky: Why should you care? The economic impact to the state’s economy cutting pension benefits. by Fred Klonsky [image: nekritz] *Representative Nekritz wants to cut pension benefits that bring economic benefit to her own district.* If you’re not a public employee who depends on their state pension to live on when you retire, why should you care about cuts in benefits. The Public School Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago has published the economic impact of CTFP pension benefits in each of the state’s House an... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, December 27, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: California may lose 'No Child Left Behind' waiver bid *It's My Way or the Highway * Education Headlines *Thursday, December 27, 2012* Educators oppose Los Angeles County's Clean Water, Clean Beaches measureThe county's Clean Water, Clean Beaches Measure is meant to clear polluted waters, but educators say the plan will drain millions of dollars from cash-strapped schools. Allergies, extra weight tied to bullyingKids who have food allergies or are overweight may be especially likely to get bullied by their peers, two new studies s... more »

Peg with Pen: Parents: Ask the Questions. Tell the Story. Take Action.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Peg with Pen: Parents: Ask the Questions. Tell the Story. Take Action.: Parents: Ask the Questions. Tell the Story. Take Action. by Peggy I have created a Facebook page to support parents in learning more about Colorado's schools, but specifically to learn *more about what to look for * - *what questions to ask in order to find out about real learning and real teaching in your child's classroom*. I have spent a lot of time in Colorado schools, much of that time supporting administrators and teachers in growing as reflective practitioners. While the Facebook page is set up specifi... more »

Top Posts of 2012 | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Top Posts of 2012 | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Top Posts of 2012 by obriena As we look ahead to what we hope to accomplish in education in 2013, it behooves us to also reflect on 2012. We reelected a president whose administration is committed to the issue (but whose policies we do not always agree with) and has granted many states waivers to key aspects of the nation’s top education law, No Child Left Behind. We moved closer to a vision in which students in Mississippi learn to the same high standards as those in Montana and Massachusetts as we worked to ... more »

Send me your art room. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Send me your art room. « Fred Klonsky: Send me your art room. by Fred Klonsky I saw a picture of Miriam’s art room on Facebook this morning. I love looking at people’s art rooms. To think that there are schools that don’t have one. I decided to start a project. Maybe it will work. Maybe not. But if you are an art teacher, send me a picture of your art room. Messy like mine was. Well organized like Miriam’s. No matter. Send it here. Or to fklonsky@mac.com Attach your name or send it anonymously. I’ll post them. Here are two: [image: 532388_10200158139382585_1326652764_n]

NYC Educator: What Percentage of Crap is Appropriate?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
NYC Educator: What Percentage of Crap is Appropriate?: What Percentage of Crap is Appropriate? by NYC Educator I've been following a thread on Diane Ravitch's blog about the Common Core standards. This is written by a teacher who was "leary" of the standards. Perhaps this refers to Timothy Leary, who urged us all to turn on, tune in, and drop out. I myself am somewhat leery of this practice, as I fear the use of hallucinogenics might detract from my teaching. But I digress. Apparently, it is vital that high school students read 70% non-fiction. This, of course, is because 69% is no... more »

Is an Elected Dingle-Berry-Pie Better Than an Appointed Dingle-Berry-Pie? « PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Is an Elected Dingle-Berry-Pie Better Than an Appointed Dingle-Berry-Pie? « PWC Education Reform Blog: Is an Elected Dingle-Berry-Pie Better Than an Appointed Dingle-Berry-Pie? by pwceducationreform Several days ago I posted an article about the election to fill the Woodbridge seat on the Prince William County School Board (see Playing Politics in Woodbridge). This seat was vacated when Denita Ramirez resigned from the School Board in November. An interim representative will be appointed to the Woodbridge seat on January 2, 2013 and will serve until a candidate is elected. For... more »

Radical Scholarship: Becoming and Being a Teacher - Series list - Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Radical Scholarship: Becoming and Being a Teacher - Series list - Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe: Becoming and Being a Teacher - Series list - Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe by P. L. Thomas [image: Becoming and Being a Teacher] Becoming and Being a Teacher - Series list - Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe Book synopsis This volume unmasks tensions among economic, political, and educational goals in the context of becoming and being a teacher. Chapters frame becoming and being a teacher within commitments to democracy and political literacy while confronting neoliberal assumptions about American socie... more »

Minneapolis: Land of 10,000 Rephorm Miracles | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Minneapolis: Land of 10,000 Rephorm Miracles | EduShyster: Minneapolis: Land of 10,000 Rephorm Miracles by edushyster2012 The Twin City’s Venture Academy is already raising expectations—not to mention a boatload of cash—despite the fact that the school hasn’t opened yet. ‘Tis the season for miracles and today I give you a miraculous one indeed. Imagine a school so excellent, so innovative that it succeeds in raising expectations and boosting achievement *before its doors have even opened*.Where is this miracle occurring? Reader: it’s time to squeeze into your ski pants and slip the... more »

DPS ignoring teacher experience for pay issues - The Denver Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
DPS ignoring teacher experience for pay issues - The Denver Post: DPS ignoring teacher experience for pay issues POSTED: 12/27/2012 12:01:00 AM MST *By Henry Roman* *Re:"Quality teaching vs. tenure rights,"Dec. 14 editorial.* * * Teachers across Colorado are encouraged by the independent arbitrator who took exception with Denver Public Schools' tactics to remove experienced teachers from the classroom in the name of Senate Bill 191. Experience matters in teaching, and ignoring this fact deprives our students of the most skilled, knowledgeable teachers we can offer. The Denver Post... more »

Modern School: Worse Than the Big One—California’s Looming Megaflood

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Modern School: Worse Than the Big One—California’s Looming Megaflood: Worse Than the Big One—California’s Looming Megaflood by Michael Dunn Sacramento, January 1862, USGS Intense rainstorms began to pound central California on Christmas Eve, 1861, and continued nonstop for 43 days, converting the rivers that flow from the Sierra Nevada into torrents that flooded the Central Valley. Entire communities were swept away. Sacramento was under water for the next six months, forcing the state government to be relocated to San Francisco. The Central Valley became an inland sea that was 300 ... more »

Emergency Biscuits and the Bill Gates Common Core Imperative

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Emergency Biscuits and the Bill Gates Common Core Imperative: Emergency Biscuits and the Bill Gates Common Core Imperative by Susan Ohanian Here’s today’s grocery list: cranberries, pickled herring, dill pickles, dill herb, cucumber, spinach, bottle of Merlot. The first six items are a request from my husband, who is recovering from surgery and finding his taste buds out of whack. Nothing tastes good, but he’s experimenting with sour things. Okay, the Merlot is for me, trying to cope with this taste phenomenon. We keep experimenting. Kosher dill pickles seemed to hit the spot, and... more »

Is you child left behind? - The Deming Headlight

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Is you child left behind? - The Deming Headlight: Is you child left behind? Two Cents Posted: 12/26/2012 11:50:49 AM MST No Child Left Behind. What a great idea. Unfortunately, like the Super PACs, the great name hides the terrible intent behind this legislation. NCLB, as it is generally called, was passed in 2001 by a Republican Congress and signed by Republican President George Bush. It represents the biggest federal intrusion into education since the founding of this country. The constitution clearly says that education is a state's right. So how did this happen? The rationa... more »

Professor: Education and Human Rights, Social Justice Intrinsically Tied - Higher Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Professor: Education and Human Rights, Social Justice Intrinsically Tied - Higher Education: Professor: Education and Human Rights, Social Justice Intrinsically Tied December 27, 2012 | Category: Subfeature | : inShare [image: Email] [image: Print Friendly] by T.A. Copper [image: Dr. Richard Benson] Dr. Richard Benson When Dr. Richard D. Benson II talks about education, he quotes Malcolm X, saying “Education is an important element in the struggle for human rights. It is the means to help our children and our people rediscover their identity and thereby increase their ... more »

Dangerous slogans for education and life | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Dangerous slogans for education and life | Get Schooled: Dangerous slogans for education and life 2:07 am December 27, 2012, by Maureen Downey Janusz Maciuba teaches English as a Second Language at a technical college in the Atlanta area. He has written several pieces for the AJC. Here is his latest: By Janusz Maciuba In the service of instilling self-esteem in students, teachers and other cheerleaders of scholastic and personal achievement have promoted slogans that are potentially dangerous if taken at face value by students. In fact, some of these motivational mottoes can actu... more »

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-27-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Where Are the Closing Schools? by dianerav Jersey Jazzman connects the dots about school closings. Do they close in white neighborhoods? No. Do they close in affluent neighborhoods? No. Guess where they close? In high-poverty neighborhoods. My guess: the white and affluent neighborhoods are next. An Armed Guard for Every School? by dianerav Eclectablog is one of my favorites. I don’t know the writer, but he or she is super smart and witty, which is a great combination. Here is a post explaining that an arme... more »

Are Sleepy Students Learning? | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Are Sleepy Students Learning? | toteachornototeach: Are Sleepy Students Learning? by aristotlethewise Are Sleepy Students Learning? [image: sleeping students] *How does the mind work—and especially how does it learn? Teachers’ instructional decisions are based on a mix of theories learned in teacher education, trial and error, craft knowledge, and gut instinct. Such knowledge often serves us well, but is there anything sturdier to rely on?* *Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field of researchers from psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, computer science, and an... more »

The ABC’s of Keeping Teachers (no apologies to the LA Times) « Classroom Struggle

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
The ABC’s of Keeping Teachers (no apologies to the LA Times) « Classroom Struggle: The ABC’s of Keeping Teachers (no apologies to the LA Times) by ClassroomStruggle *School reconstitution. Last minute classroom reassignments. Overbooked class-load assignments. Constant turnover of the best teachers at your school. Sounds familiar to you? If so, this post from a teacher at Fremont High captures a lot of what you’re probably feeling. And, note, that’s Fremont High in Los Angeles because unfortunately these problems are all too common. Let us know below if this story resonat... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: T-Party's version of gun-control

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: T-Party's version of gun-control: T-Party's version of gun-control by Mike Klonsky Aistov Alexey/ShutterStockIn case you were thinking that we ought to be more like the Tea Party... Here's the way the tea-baggers handle policy debates within their D.C. group called *FreedomWorks.* WaPo reports: *Richard K. Armey, the group’s chairman and a former House majority leader, walked into the group’s Capitol Hill offices with his wife, Susan, and an aide holstering a handgun at his waist. The aim was to seize control of the group and expel Armey’s enemies:... more »

Predictions about High-Tech in K-12 Schools in 2023 | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Predictions about High-Tech in K-12 Schools in 2023 | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Predictions about High-Tech in K-12 Schools in 2023 by larrycuban For the past three years, I offered predictions (see December 26, 2009, December 30, 2010, and December 29, 2011 posts) of what I saw around the corner for high-tech in K-12 schools. With weekly reports of schools adopting iPads tablets for kindergartners as well as high schoolers, with vendors touting interactive whiteboards, clickers, and tablets engaging children and increasing academic achievement, with ... more »

Ed Notes Online: PS 138 Eva Invasion: Speculation on going to court to question DOE giveaway to Success?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: PS 138 Eva Invasion: Speculation on going to court to question DOE giveaway to Success?: PS 138 Eva Invasion: Speculation on going to court to question DOE giveaway to Success? by ed notes online *the DOE specifically has earlier said that there would not be sufficient space for a similar projected enrollment - good evidence, though subject to argument. PS 138 would also have an advantage if they filed right now, before the SCN lottery takes place *---anon After seeing the video of the PS 138 princpal at the PEP (see below), when the question in the title of thi... more »

Oregon Save Our Schools: Oregon Reads: Left to Chance and Outsiders

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Oregon Save Our Schools: Oregon Reads: Left to Chance and Outsiders: Oregon Reads: Left to Chance and Outsiders by Oregon SOS by Joanne Yatvin [image: Putting the Public Back in Our Public Schools!] When wealthy individuals or foundations give grants to groups espousing new ideas in the public sector, no harm is done. Even if those ideas fail miserably, the givers have plenty of money left to try again, and at least somebody got a job out of the venture. But when a working person gambles his paycheck away, there’s nothing left to buy food for his family. Such is the case with... more »

Arizona plan would arm principals - CNN.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Arizona plan would arm principals - CNN.com: Arizona plan would arm principals By *Alan Duke*, CNN updated 7:02 PM EST, Wed December 26, 2012 *STORY HIGHLIGHTS* - Arming principals is "next best solution" to police in schools, Attorney General Tom Horne says - Schools could send the principal or a designee to gun, emergency training - Those schools could keep on firearm "locked in a secure place" for when needed *(CNN)* -- Arizona's attorney general proposed arming one principal or employee at each school to defend against attacks such as the recent Connecticu... more »

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: The "Charlie Brown" Syndrome:Cure with Video Supplements!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: The "Charlie Brown" Syndrome:Cure with Video Supplements!: The "Charlie Brown" Syndrome:Cure with Video Supplements! In "Charlie Brown" cartoons, the teacher was non-existent. All you heard was "Wah, wah,wah. I believe that's what our students hear at times. Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else. Sometimes you just have to see it. I have three sources I use as my go-to's. *Learnzillion:* I am a recent convert to Learnzillion, but I have used it religiously since I learned about it. Learnzillion describes itself as high quali... more »

Diane in the Evening 12-26-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: A Literacy Expert Opposes the Common Core Standards by dianerav Stephen Krashen is a professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, where he taught linguistics. He comments here in response to an earlier post about the Common Core standards: What this excessive detail also does is (1) dictate the order of presentation of aspects of literacy (2) encourage a direct teaching, skill-building approach to teaching. Both of these consequences run counter to a massive amount of research and experience. There is very good evidence from both first and sec... more »

Allergies, extra weight tied to bullying - LA Daily News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Allergies, extra weight tied to bullying - LA Daily News: Allergies, extra weight tied to bullying By Genevra Pittman, Reuters Health Posted: 12/26/2012 11:17:33 AM PST Updated: 12/26/2012 03:21:37 PM PST CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE Kids who have food allergies or are overweight may be especially likely to get bullied by... (Stock) Kids who have food allergies or are overweight may be especially likely to get bullied by their peers, two new studies suggest.Not surprisingly, researchers also found targets of bullying were more distressed and anxious and had a worse quality of life, in... more »

Is Florida spending its migrant education funds properly? | Education articles blog on schools in Florida & Tampa Bay: the Gradebook | Tampa Bay Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Is Florida spending its migrant education funds properly? | Education articles blog on schools in Florida & Tampa Bay: the Gradebook | Tampa Bay Times: Is Florida spending its migrant education funds properly? Facebook 23 Email Share 30 Leaders of several Florida civil rights and non-profit organizations including LULAC, the NAACP and the United Chinese Association are demanding that Gov. Rick Scott prove that the state is following all the federal rules and guidelines for supporting migrant education. They want to make sure that Florida, which has more than 50,000 children eligibl... more »

YEAR END AWARDS « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
YEAR END AWARDS « Teachers Fight Back: YEAR END AWARDS by alkleen THE HYPOCRISY OF THE YEAR AWARD goes to some American corporations and millionaires who have decided they know what’s best for improving our inner city schools. They virtually ignored the problems of our inner city schools for 150 years, but now they are suddenly interested. What they are really interested in is destroying teacher unions and dismantling public education as we know it. Now that teachers make a decent wage and benefits, these corporations and millionaires have seen their property taxes rise dramati... more »

January 3 & 4: Shout truth to power-in-hiding – Springfield, IL | Reclaim Reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
January 3 & 4: Shout truth to power-in-hiding – Springfield, IL | Reclaim Reform: January 3 & 4: Shout truth to power-in-hiding – Springfield, IL by kenpreviti [image: 564132_469111366468136_733241488_n]The Illinois House of Representatives was scheduled to meet January 3rd & 4th. We Are One Illinois, including the Illinois Education Association, planned a massive rally in the state capitol of Springfield in the dead of winter to oppose cuts to teacher and other public employee pensions that would do little or nothing to reduce the state debt. As a special surprise Christmas gift ... more »







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