Monday, January 28, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 1-28-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



Two new websites on the MAP test and boycott « Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
Two new websites on the MAP test and boycott « Seattle Education: Two new websites on the MAP test and boycott by seattleducation2011 [image: Scrap the MAP] The ramifications of high stakes testing are greater than some might imagine. Not only can test scores be used to evaluate a teacher’s performance in an erroneous manner, but they can also be used to “grade” a school, giving it the term “failing school”. That is then used as a rationale to close the school, leaving a neighborhood and community without a school or be replaced with a charter school. That is when tests are used as... more »

EDUCON: Shift Happens. « My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago
EDUCON: Shift Happens. « My Island View: EDUCON: Shift Happens. by tomwhitby This weekend I was again very fortunate to attend what many consider the premiere education Conference held each year in Philadelphia, EDUCON. It is the sixth year of this conference and it seems to just keep getting better with each year. It is not at a huge venue. It has no Exhibitors, so there is no Exhibitor Hall. There are no massive dining rooms. There are no planned Gala events. There is no schedule of Keynote speakers. Participation is limited to about 500 people. Students, rather than adults a... more »

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee just getting started on shaping California education policy Education Headlines *Monday, January 28, 2013* Sacramento schools will hold meetings on closuresFrom the moment the Sacramento City Unified School District named the 11 schools proposed for closure, parents with children at the affected campuses began questioning how their neighborhood schools ended up on the list. Beginning this week, community meetings will be held at each of the 11 campuses. Trustees are scheduled to vote on the ... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Michelle Rhee Speaks Locally

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 26 minutes ago
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Michelle Rhee Speaks Locally: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Michelle Rhee Speaks Locally January 24, 2013 by PRWeb 1 Comment [image: Email] inShare SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento Speakers Series brings Michelle Rhee to the stage on Tuesday, January 29th when she speaks at the Community Center Theater. Rhee, an education reform advocate as well as Founder and CEO of StudentsFirst, will be an appearance not to be missed as her work often provokes many differing thoughts and opinions of educators across the nation. While Michelle Rhee is most know... more »

L.A. school district’s college-prep push is based on false data | Hechinger Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 39 minutes ago
L.A. school district’s college-prep push is based on false data | Hechinger Report: L.A. school district’s college-prep push is based on false data by Sarah Butrymowicz [image: L.A. school district's college-prep push is based on false data] Eleven years ago, the San Jose school district began requiring all students to pass the classes necessary for admission to the state university systems. Educators elsewhere watched with enthusiasm as early results showed remarkable success. But San Jose Unified has quietly acknowledged that the district overstated its accomplishments. And a Time... more »

Prince George’s Co. school lets Muslim students out of class to pray

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 40 minutes ago
Prince George’s Co. school lets Muslim students out of class to pray: Prince George’s Co. school lets Muslim students out of class to pray Posted by Valerie Strauss on January 28, 2013 at 5:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: Parkdale High School (P.G. County Public Schools)] Parkdale High School,Riverdale. (Prince George’s County County Public Schools) The growing number of Muslim students seeking accommodations to practice their religion in public schools has stirred ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Obama's Education Legacy: The Worst President Ever?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 44 minutes ago
Ed Notes Online: Obama's Education Legacy: The Worst President Ever?: Obama's Education Legacy: The Worst President Ever? by ed notes online The end of almost 200 years of public education, the end of the concept of the neighborhood school, the promotion of charters no matter how crooked and self-serving, the destruction of teaching of a profession, the wipe out of teacher unions which even with their problems have often been the major bulwark defending schools and the students in them, the enormous waste of public monies into bogus reforms... we can go on -- and feel free to add ... more »

Joy Resmovits: Tom Harkin's Retirement Will Leave Education Committee Gap: Ed Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Joy Resmovits: Tom Harkin's Retirement Will Leave Education Committee Gap: Ed Today: Tom Harkin's Retirement Will Leave Education Committee Gap: Ed Today by Joy Resmovits *Tom Harkin Out?* This weekend, Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) announced he won't be running for reelection. While the "liberal lion's" announcement made news, what I didn't see mentioned in many stories about the retirement is that Harkin is chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions committee -- the very one that is in charge of dealing with the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. So what's next... more »

IEA President Cinda Klickna: It’s not what the petition says. It’s the people who wrote it. Welcome back Joe McCarthy. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
IEA President Cinda Klickna: It’s not what the petition says. It’s the people who wrote it. Welcome back Joe McCarthy. « Fred Klonsky: IEA President Cinda Klickna: It’s not what the petition says. It’s the people who wrote it. Welcome back Joe McCarthy. by Fred Klonsky A reader sends along Cinda’s explanation for banning members’ petition on pensions. *I’ve had a couple of inquiries about why IEA has declined to formally support or promote a member’s e-petition on the pension issue. Let me explain:* *The short answer is that the petition in question is not reflective of the IEA/... more »

Common Core [sic] Standards (Susan Ohanian Speaks Out)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Common Core [sic] Standards (Susan Ohanian Speaks Out): The Common Core State (sic) Standards Update on the Ten Commandments And Bill Gates spake, "I am your master who brought you out of the wilderness of teacher individualism and put an earbud into your ear, 28-page evaluation rubrics into your manager's back pocket, and biosensitive bracelets on every kid's wrist. I. I am the State, which has brought students out of the wilderness of teacher-led classrooms and into the kingdom of Common Core State Standards. Thou shalt have no other guidance before thee, and then it will follow... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-28-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Today is Student Data Day, Read This by dianerav If you can help with answers to the questions below, please chime in. How do parents “opt out” of sharing personal information about their children that is collected by the state and shared for purposes of marketing? *Diane, I am not sure where to post this but this is a request for you. This impacts almost every public school parent, student and child in the country and your forum would reach out to many. Would you post this in a prominent place to make par... more »

‘I would prefer to trust our teachers …’ | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
‘I would prefer to trust our teachers …’ | EdSource Today: ‘I would prefer to trust our teachers …’ - by Charles Taylor Kerchner by Charles Taylor Kerchner [image: Charles Taylor Kerchner]Charles Taylor Kerchner California’s back! Gov. Jerry Brown did himself proud in Thursday’s State of the State address, and he did California proud, too. In the details of the speech, there are prospects for boldness, greatness and innovation, not the tire patching and gridlock we’ve experienced as government. Others will comment at great length on the wisdom of the San Joaquin delta tunnel projec... more »

Complaint will be filed today about the Georgia private school tax credit that operates in secrecy | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Complaint will be filed today about the Georgia private school tax credit that operates in secrecy | Get Schooled: Complaint will be filed today about the Georgia private school tax credit that operates in secrecy by Maureen Downey *The AJC is reporting* that t*he Southern Education Foundation will file a complaint today *with the state Department of Revenue alleging widespread abuses in the controversial private school scholarship tax credit program. The tax credit has received national media attention because of allegations of misuse. Yet, state Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs... more »

Down the rabbit hole of education reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Down the rabbit hole of education reform: Down the rabbit hole of education reform Posted by Valerie Strauss on January 28, 2013 at 4:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: alice-falling-down-rabbit-hole]Former teacher Mark Phillips takes us on a scary trip through the *Wonderland of Educational Reform. Phillips is a*former high school teacher and a former teacher educator at the University of California at Santa Barbara and at San Francisco State. He writes a monthly column on education... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: This is Why We Are Against Common Core Standards

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: This is Why We Are Against Common Core Standards: This is Why We Are Against Common Core Standards by stlgretchen But I'm too young to read informational text. I'm only in kindergarten. Is this scenario coming soon to a kindergarten class in your school district? Teachers are mandated to teach developmentally inappropriate standards, assessments and curricula to district students. What do you think will happen? Will endlessly assessing students in kindergarten make them more ready for the global workforce or will they dissolve in tears and view sch... more »

Jeb Bush’s “Shaky Success Record” | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Jeb Bush’s “Shaky Success Record” | Scathing Purple Musings: Jeb Bush’s “Shaky Success Record” by Bob Sikes Jeb Bush’s recent hyperbole is that of a man who knows he’s under fire. Consider this from *Metro Pulse *reporter Cari Wade Gervin: On Monday, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush came to Nashville for a press event with Gov. Bill Haslam. “This is a time of great importance for our country, and this is the single most important thing we can be doing,” Bush stated at one point. What was this matter of such urgency? Did it involve national security? A fiscal crisis? The battle over gu... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES by Mike Klonsky The Seattle Times/Associated Press*"We've been raising our voices about this deeply flawed test for a long time," said Jesse Hagopian, who teaches history at Garfield High School, But now that the district is using the test for evaluations, we've drawn our line in the sand."* -- WSJ Valerie Strauss, Wash. Post *Here’s a question: Has anybody told President Obama that his education policies have resulted in a growing revolt against standardized testing? * -- The Answer Sheet Bill Gates *In the pas... more »

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE LAYS OUT THREE PRONGS OF THE PRIVATIZATION BATTLE PLAN (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE LAYS OUT THREE PRONGS OF THE PRIVATIZATION BATTLE PLAN (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com: SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE LAYS OUT THREE PRONGS OF THE PRIVATIZATION BATTLE PLAN (VIDEO) by Leonard Isenberg [image: San Francisco.jpg] On January 19, 2013 I went up to San Francisco for a conference on the privatization of public education. My part of the presentation at the conference had to do with the nationwide witch hunt to rid LAUSD and districts like it around the country of teachers at the top of the salary scale, about to vest in lifetim... more »

NYC Educator: Negotiation, New York Style

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
NYC Educator: Negotiation, New York Style: Negotiation, New York Style by NYC Educator There was a monster hit song by some guy named Psy, who I never heard of. It was called Gangnam Style. As far as I could determine, understanding no Korean whatsoever, in Gangnam everyone jumps up and down like a horse when they dance. Everyone was talking about it. A music teacher I know was horrified. It was garbage, he said. But most people seemed to like it. On the other hand, New York is a tough town. Our style is completely different. Frank Sinatra said if you could make it here, you could ... more »

Newark Parents and Activists Take School Closure Complaint to D.C. for Civil Rights Hearing - NJ Spotlight

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Newark Parents and Activists Take School Closure Complaint to D.C. for Civil Rights Hearing - NJ Spotlight: Newark Parents and Activists Take School Closure Complaint to D.C. for Civil Rights Hearing Complaint contends that Christie's school turnaround plan does nothing for poor black and Hispanic students print | email | share By John Mooney, January 28, 2013 in Education |Post a Comment [image: Sharon Smith, activist and mother of three, who filed the Newark civil rights complaint.] Sharon Smith, activist and mother of three, who filed the Newark civil rights complaint. Forty Ne... more »

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: I'm Not That Super Teacher: When Teaching Takes Its Toll!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: I'm Not That Super Teacher: When Teaching Takes Its Toll!: I'm Not That Super Teacher: When Teaching Takes Its Toll! by Lisa M My eyes are burning. My blood pressure is high for the first time in 53 years. My doctor swears that I have mild arthritis in my knees. * **"Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound"* * **Nope, not me, I'm not that Super Teacher. * I think it's all getting to me. No, I am not quitting. Withstanding all the crap stuff that comes with the job, I still ... more »

Davos Considers Learning’s Next Wave - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Davos Considers Learning’s Next Wave - NYTimes.com: Davos Forum Considers Learning’s Next WaveBy ALISON SMALEPublished: January 27, 201 - DAVOS, Switzerland — She may not have been the youngest speaker ever at the World Economic Forum in Davos, but Khadija Niazi, 12, was certainly captivating. Hundreds of the conference’s well-heeled attendees listened intently as Ms. Niazi, of Lahore, Pakistan, described her experience with massive open online courses, known as MOOCs, that are spreading rapidly around the globe. MOOCs are vastly extending the reach of professors at some of ... more »

One Teacher's Perspective: Far Right, But Far From Right

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
One Teacher's Perspective: Far Right, But Far From Right: Far Right, But Far From Right by Imagine Wisconsin *What’s right for public education is complicated. Opinions on what’s right are as diverse as the variables that affect school performance. My opinion of what’s right for public schools includes a Broader, Bolder Approach to Education, a culture of collaboration, teacher leadership, integration (racially and economically), respect for the teacher’s voice, ongoing professional development, student-centered learning, school-led community partnerships, recognition that learning... more »

Pension Panic Fueled by Anti-Worker Politics? | MyFDL

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Pension Panic Fueled by Anti-Worker Politics? | MyFDL: [image: User Picture]Pension Panic Fueled by Anti-Worker Politics?By: Michelle Chen Friday January 25, 2013 8:50 pm [image: Tweet]Tweet5 [image: digg] [image: stumbleupon] Pew Center on the States *Originally posted at In These Times* It’s a common refrain in local papers: State faces pension funding crisis! Retiree benefits out of control! Public pensions bog down taxpayers! Pension costs seem to loom over so many state and local budget battles like a sinister sword of Damocles, a dark reminder of Big Government’s tyrannical... more »

Defend public schools, our children, our democracy « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Defend public schools, our children, our democracy « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Defend public schools, our children, our democracy by millerlf Jan. 26, 2013 *This op-ed was submitted by 11 leaders of community and education organizations in Milwaukee.* We need communitywide discussion and action to protect the future of the Milwaukee Public Schools. We welcome input from all who believe in and support quality public education for all children. We represent thousands of parents, community members and educators who have been working – and will continue to work – to... more »

Students Last: Infraction Transaction: City To Fine Students For Misbehaving

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Students Last: Infraction Transaction: City To Fine Students For Misbehaving: Infraction Transaction: City To Fine Students by Students Last *New York City* - Facing a shortfall of almost half a billion dollars because his administration has failed to reach an agreement with city teachers over an evaluation system, Mayor Bloomberg has devised a new way to raise funds for education. He's going to allow schools to begin fining students for violating Department of Education policies. "The idea of there being consequences for actions is not a new one," said hizzoner on Friday at a p... more »

Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter: This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter by Larry Ferlazzo Guest post by Gwen Pescatore This Week’s #PTchat on Twitter – 9PM EDT – Wed, Jan 30th Tweetchat Link (for non-twitterers) Image credit: 25.media.tumblr.com Literacy is defined as the ability to read for knowledge and interest, write coherently, and think critically about the written word. The importance of good reading and writing skills will never disappear, and they cannot be achieved at school alone. This week on #ptchat we’ll share ideas on how can we encourage kids to ... more »

Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ | The Raw Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ | The Raw Story: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ By Samantha Kimmey Sunday, January 27, 2013 20:21 EST [image: Print Friendly] Share on facebookShare on redditShare on diggShare on twitterShare on farkShare on stumbleupon2 [image: mhp] Topics: Alliance for Quality Education ♦ D.C. ♦ Melissa Harris-Perry ♦ U.S. Department of Education in Washington On Melissa Harris-Perry on Sunday, s... more »

SI&A Cabinet Report – Teachers get hands-on instructing algebra to at risk middle school students

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *Teachers get hands-on instructing algebra to at risk middle school students * *By Tom Chorneau* Monday, January 28, 2013 There was a time when Mike Moser’s math classes at Park Middle School in Antioch would probably have looked a lot like every other in America. Students sitting in straight rows; eyes up front. No talking to neighbors and, certainly, everyone does their own work. Moser, too, would have led the room in a conventional manner, with his back mostly to the kids, scribbling on the board while explaining the problem that some stude... more »

School Choice Week: Are We Leaving Children Behind by Design? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
School Choice Week: Are We Leaving Children Behind by Design? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: School Choice Week: Are We Leaving Children Behind by Design? by Anthony Cody *Part 1 of 2* * * *National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Group: 1 in 5 charter schools not doing well enough to stay open* A group that oversees more than half of the nation's 5,600 charter schools said as many as one in five U.S. charter schools should be shut down because of poor academic performance. *http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019784379_charterschools29.htm... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Where Is Chris Cerf's Accountability?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Where Is Chris Cerf's Accountability?: Where Is Chris Cerf's Accountability? by Duke LEAP Academy, a charter school in Camden, has lost its non-profit status, which puts $8.5 million in bonds at risk for default. Since these bonds are guaranteed by Rutgers-Camden, either state taxpayers or tuition-paying students will have to take a haircut if the bonds go south. In addition, the school has been under-performing academically, not having made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the last two years. And yet, just this past fall, NJ Education Commissioner Chris Cerf prou... more »

School Tech Connect: In Which I Refer To Vomit

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
School Tech Connect: In Which I Refer To Vomit: In Which I Refer To Vomit by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I've been working the phones for my local school organization and not paying much attention to other issues, but I see that my friends have been flagging this astonishing post from Greg Hinz about the private pipeline Juan Rangel has to Illinois taxpayer money. I only just now read the whole thing, and I narrowly avoided vomiting directly onto the keyboard. Juan Rangel is behaving as a politically connected magnate is expected to behave, so I really have nothing to say a... more »

Diane in the Evening 1-27-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: What Hath Reform Wrought? by dianerav Veteran teacher Marc Epstein surveys the wreckage of “school reform” and wonders who will come along to put our nation’s education system back together again. He writes: “Today’s education reform rests on the premise that the civil rights movement that overturned Plessy and Chicago Charter Fines Mom $3,000 for Her Son’s Misbehavior by dianerav No excuses! The Noble Network of charter schools in Chicago is proud of its high test scores. Mayor Rahm Emanuel says Noble has some “secret sauce” that produces great success. ... more »

Va Dept of Ed Blows Off 60% of Virginia Students « PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Va Dept of Ed Blows Off 60% of Virginia Students « PWC Education Reform Blog: Va Dept of Ed Blows Off 60% of Virginia Students by pwceducationreform Va Dept of Ed Blows Off 60% of Virginia StudentsJanuary 27, 2013 — pwceducationreform This summer, after receiving a wavier from NCLB’s 100% passing requirements, the VA Dept of Ed established new goals for the percentage of students passing the SOL in all school divisions and public schools in the state. The new targeted percentage passing was set for the state overall and for groups of students; groups that are based on race. Th... more »

“Be More Interested Than Interesting” | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
“Be More Interested Than Interesting” | Connected Principals: “Be More Interested Than Interesting” by Chris Wejr Be more interested: Listen. cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo by Bindaas Madhavi: http://flickr.com/photos/mkuram/5961100771/ *Originally posted at The Wejr Board blog.* At some point in the past year (for a variety of reasons) the how, the why, and the when of social media slightly changed for me. I have been reflecting a ton on the purpose of social media to me – both professionally and personally (see Social Media in Education: Who Is It Really About?). I have ... more »

A Turning Tide? U of Puerto Rico Rolls Back Student Fees «

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
A Turning Tide? U of Puerto Rico Rolls Back Student Fees «: A Turning Tide? U of Puerto Rico Rolls Back Student Fees from Student Activism by Angus Johnston The University of Puerto Rico announced that it will roll back a huge fee increase that sparked years of massive student protests throughout the island, as Puerto Rico’s new governor pledged to increase funding to the university. This is big. Students shut down ten of eleven UPR campuses for two months in the spring of 2010 in an effort to stop the fee hike, but university administrators later reneged on a pledge to withdraw i... more »

Ed Notes Online: Eva Violation: Using Parents of Success Chater Schools Funded With Public Money for Poliitcal Operation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Eva Violation: Using Parents of Success Chater Schools Funded With Public Money for Poliitcal Operation: Eva Violation: Using Parents of Success Chater Schools Funded With Public Money for Poliitcal Operation by ed notes online The Success Charter outrages continue. It is time to call for an investigation of the use of schools to create a political operation. If they were private without feeding at the public trough, gey gezunt. But not with OUR money. Imagine if a public school principal organized parents to picket mayoral candidates and used school resources to... more »

Vallas in Wonderland Part II - Sentence first, verdict afterwards reappears - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Vallas in Wonderland Part II - Sentence first, verdict afterwards reappears - Wait, What?: Vallas in Wonderland Part II – Sentence first, verdict afterwards reappears by jonpelto The Queen of Heart’s strategy of “Sentence first, verdict afterwards” has reared its ugly head again in Bridgeport. A new week is beginning and more drama has surfaced related to the never-ending saga of the Bridgeport Board of Education’s effort to extend Paul Vallas’ contract as Superintendent of Schools. Almost ten days ago, out of the blue, and just barely meeting the state of Connecticut’s Freedom of... more »

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, ELDORADO, SHANGRI-LA, HOLY GRAIL, FRENCH REVOLUTION, AND EDUCATION REFORMERS « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, ELDORADO, SHANGRI-LA, HOLY GRAIL, FRENCH REVOLUTION, AND EDUCATION REFORMERS « Teachers Fight Back: THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, ELDORADO, SHANGRI-LA, HOLY GRAIL, FRENCH REVOLUTION, AND EDUCATION REFORMERS by alkleen Oh the excitement, the anticipation, the potential ! Yes, it is now upon us. Beginning on February 1st, the State of Illinois will be launching its new state survey on education. The survey, believed to be one of the largest state surveys of its kind in the nation is supposed to provide crucial information that will lead to improved schools. The sur... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Special Meeting This Thursday for Interim Plan Vote

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Special Meeting This Thursday for Interim Plan Vote: Special Meeting This Thursday for Interim Plan Vote by Melissa Westbrook From President Smith-Blum: SCHOOL BOARD TO VOTE ON CAPACITY MANAGEMENT PLAN AT JANUARY 31st SPECIAL MEETING The School Board is expected to vote on the Short Term Capacity Management Plan during a special meeting *at 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 31st at the auditorium* of the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence. On January 23rd, the Board decided to delay the vote by a week to review 2013-14 enrollment project... more »

IEA President Cinda Klickna banned this petition from the IEA website. Will that stop you from signing it? « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
IEA President Cinda Klickna banned this petition from the IEA website. Will that stop you from signing it? « Fred Klonsky: IEA President Cinda Klickna banned this petition from the IEA website. Will that stop you from signing it? by Fred Klonsky [image: banned] IEA President Cinda Klickna banned this petition from the IEA website. Will that stop you from signing it? From reposting it? From sending it to your colleagues, family and friends? We are approaching 3,000 signatures. The Illinois Retired Teachers Association put it on their website. Illinois Federation of Teachers President D... more »

Florida BOE to Local School Boards: Raise Property Taxes to Pay for Our Charter School Priorities | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Florida BOE to Local School Boards: Raise Property Taxes to Pay for Our Charter School Priorities | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida BOE to Local School Boards: Raise Property Taxes to Pay for Our Charter School Priorities by Bob Sikes The roll-out of Tony Bennett’s FLDOE budget included capital outlay for charter schools, but none for public schools. Consider this bit of nuance in Jason Shultz’ *Palm Beach Post *story which the FLDOE uses to justify their position : The state’s budget request reflects the Board of Education’s priorities to assist charter schools, said Pam Stewa... more »

Kelly: Despite hurtful words, teacher didn't deserve to be fired - NorthJersey.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Kelly: Despite hurtful words, teacher didn't deserve to be fired - NorthJersey.com: Kelly: Despite hurtful words, teacher didn't deserve to be fired SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2013, 12:36 PM By MIKE KELLY RECORD COLUMNIST PAGES: 1 2 > DISPLAY ON ONE PAGE | PRINT | E-MAIL JENNIFER O’Brien is not America’s poster child for free speech. Maybe it’s time to anoint her. O’Brien is the Paterson teacher who was fired almost two years ago for writing on her Facebook page that she does not feel like an educator in the classroom but the equivalent of a “warden for future criminals.” Was she insult... more »

Exploring the Origins of the Common Core « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Exploring the Origins of the Common Core « Diane Ravitch's blog: Exploring the Origins of the Common Core by dianerav Jim Martinez decided to research the sources of the Common Core State Standards. Given their importance as a redesign of the nation’s highly decentralized education system, we can expect to see many more such efforts to understand the origins of this important document. “Engaging the nonsense – a brief investigation of the Common Core” A teacher asked me where the Common Core came from, another suggested that I “teach” the Common Core in my Master’s degree level cou... more »

Excellence Happens in Vegas | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Excellence Happens in Vegas | EduShyster: Excellence Happens in Vegas by edushyster2012 It’s time once again to climb aboard the rephorm express. Today we’re headed west, to Vegas, baby: home to the legendary Strip, the Hoover Dam, and these days, plenty of excellence, Teach for America style. Alas, what happens in Vegas likely won’t be staying there for long… First, allow me to lay it on you historical style. Once upon a time, back at the peak of the economic boom, Nevada’s most populous county was opening upwards of 10 schools and hiring 2,000 new teachers—*every year*. Then the ... more »

USATODAY.com - Thousands of black teachers lost jobs

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
USATODAY.com - Thousands of black teachers lost jobs: Thousands of black teachers lost jobs By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY In the spring of 1953, with the Brown vs. Board of Education desegregation case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court, Wendell Godwin, superintendent of schools in Topeka, sent letters to black elementary school teachers. Painfully polite, the letters couldn't mask the message: If segregation dies, you will lose your jobs. "Our Board will proceed on the assumption that the majority of people in Topeka will not want to employ negro teachers next year for White children,"... more »

The Sunday Mail. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
The Sunday Mail. « Fred Klonsky: The Sunday Mail. by Fred Klonsky [image: logansquare07]*Logan Square El station. 1954.* *Young folks* stepping up. *Teacher unions.* We can fall apart or stand together. What’s it gonna be? *Alfie Kohn joins Debbie Meier at Bridging Differences.* Why punishment doesn’t work. *So what happens when teachers join forces* and make a carefully considered–and, importantly, collective–decision about what their students need? *How Senator Steans* greased the UNO charter deal. *The Los Angeles Times* has always hated teachers and public schools. *Why doesn’t ... more »

National Public Voice: Robin Lane: Dont Do Teach For America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
National Public Voice: Robin Lane: Dont Do Teach For America: Robin Lane: Dont Do Teach For America Why Not Teach For America (Guest Post by Robin Lane) LINK POSTED BY DLOITZ ⋅ DECEMBER 13, 2012 ⋅ 1 COMMENT *FILED UNDER* GUEST POST, NOT TEACH FOR AMERICA, TEACH FOR AMERICA [image: not teachforamerica]Well, it’s about that time of year — when seniors start frantically applying for fellowships and internships and jobs, the socially conscious among them aching for a career that will allow them to change the world, others looking for something they can put on their application for law ... more »

A revenue solution. A bill has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly calling for a graduated income tax. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
A revenue solution. A bill has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly calling for a graduated income tax. « Fred Klonsky: A revenue solution. A bill has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly calling for a graduated income tax. by Fred Klonsky * [image: House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment HC0002]* John Laesch of Northern Illinois Jobs With Justice writes to tell me that a bill has now been introduced in the General Assembly calling for a constitutional amendment creating graduated income tax. Such an amendment would then be placed on the 2014 ballot. ... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. The Secret Strategy of Corporate School Reform? Best of the Ed Blogs Diane Ravitch January 25, 2013 Are Charter Schools Better Able To Fire Low-Performing Teachers? ... more »

Testing education: Pisa envy | The Economist

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Testing education: Pisa envy | The Economist: Pisa envyResearch comparing educational achievement between countries is growing. Drawing conclusions from it is harderJan 19th 2013 |From the print edition - - PARENTS pore over them. Teachers protest about them. Politicians preen when they are positive—and blame their predecessors if they are not. International league tables have acquired a central role in debates about education policy. Data duels are a recent phenomenon. The OECD (a Paris-based developed-country think-tank) has published its PISA (Programme for Internati... more »

Florida ed reform: ‘A danger of all this imploding’

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Florida ed reform: ‘A danger of all this imploding’: Florida ed reform: ‘A danger of all this imploding’ Posted by Valerie Strauss on January 27, 2013 at 10:59 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: President Obama and Jeb Bush in 2011 (by Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America)] President Obama and former Florida governor Jeb Bush in 2011. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America) Educators in Florida have been screaming for some time about the irrationality of the state’s standardized test-ba... more »

Howard Zinn and the Failure of Standards Movements in Education | the becoming radical

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Howard Zinn and the Failure of Standards Movements in Education | the becoming radical: Howard Zinn and the Failure of Standards Movements in Education Posted on January 27, 2013 by plthomasedd The Zinn Education Project notes, “Howard Zinn passed away three years ago, on January 27, 2010. At the time, writer and activist Naomi Klein spoke for many of us: ‘We just lost our favorite teacher.’” The life and work of Zinn represents the personification of confronting the world from roles of authority that have historically been positioned as neutral—historian, teacher. But as Zinn came... more »

The Weekly Update: Seattle teachers stand firm, testing push back around the country, a parent offers ideas for those opt-out days and Yong Zhao on testing and standardization | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The Weekly Update: Seattle teachers stand firm, testing push back around the country, a parent offers ideas for those opt-out days and Yong Zhao on testing and standardization | Parents Across America: The Weekly Update: Seattle teachers stand firm, testing push back around the country, a parent offers ideas for those opt-out days and Yong Zhao on testing and standardization by DoraTaylor *The Weekly Update for the news and views you might have missed.* [image: weekly] It’s been quite a week in our fair city. Many of us here in Seattle have watched the destruction of the teaching... more »

How My ESL Class Evaluated Me This Semester | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
How My ESL Class Evaluated Me This Semester | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: How My ESL Class Evaluated Me This Semester by Larry Ferlazzo As usual, during the semester finals, I had my students provide anonymous evaluations of classes and me. I always tell them (and always follow-through) that I will be posting the results — warts and all — on my blog and also share it directly with colleagues. I doing that enhances the odds of their taking it seriously. I tell them that I put a lot of time into helping them become better learners, and now it’s their turn to help me bec... more »

A Student's Guide to Global Climate Change | US EPA

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
A Student's Guide to Global Climate Change | US EPA:

Privatizing Public Education, Higher Ed Policy, and Teachers - Alec Exposed

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Privatizing Public Education, Higher Ed Policy, and Teachers - Alec Exposed: Increasing Profits for School Companies, Undermining Teachers, and Promoting "Conservatives" on Campus [image: Privatizing Public Education, Higher Ed Policy, and Teachers] *This page reveals how ALEC bills would privatize public education, crush teacher's unions, and push American universities to the right.* Among other things, these bills make education a private commodity rather than a public good, and reverse America’s modern innovation of promoting learning and civic virtue through public schools staff... more »

Sub-par options: Charter schools as a class don't measure up - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Sub-par options: Charter schools as a class don't measure up - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: *Sub-par options: Charter schools as a class don't measure up* Now that the test scores for Pennsylvania charter schools have been recalculated, parents and taxpayers will be able to make more of an apples-to-apples comparison with the performance of traditional public schools. Until the U.S. Department of Education stepped in last year, charter schools in the state were evaluated under a less rigorous method, as if they were school districts and not individual schools. With that formula, 7... more »

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-27-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Exploring the Origins of the Common Core by dianerav Jim Martinez decided to research the sources of the Common Core State Standards. Given their importance as a redesign of the nation’s highly decentralized education system, we can expect to see many more such efforts to understand the origins of this important document. “Engaging the nonsense – a brief investigation of the Common Core” A teacher asked me where the Common Core came from, another suggested that I “teach” the Common Core in my Master’s degre... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Aftermath of the Newark Teachers Contract

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Jersey Jazzman: Aftermath of the Newark Teachers Contract: Aftermath of the Newark Teachers Contract by Duke *This blog proudly supports AFTNJ, the NTU, the AFT, and the Paterson Education Association.* I hate to say "I told you so," but... PATERSON, NJ – About 400 city teachers rallied at Wednesday night’s Board of Education meeting at the Kennedy High School complex, protesting because they are in their third year without a new labor contract. Chanting phrases like “Settle now!” and holding protest signs, the raucous crowd of educators complained that they have not received a pa... more »





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