Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape Nite Cap 2-19-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 2-19-13 #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

Whoo-Hoo! Occupy the Schools - DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Whoo-Hoo! Occupy the Schools - DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: Whoo-Hoo! Occupy the Schools by Susan Ohanian [image: testingregime]In response to a poverty rate that tops 90% in many urban and rural schools –and 1.6 million homeless children—many in schools with no libraries–education reformers at the White House, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the National Governors Association call for a radical, untried curriculum overhaul and two versions of nonstop national testing to measure whether teachers are producing workers for ... more »

Congressional education report: 5 years and $700k to recommend "equity" | ZDNet

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Congressional education report: 5 years and $700k to recommend "equity" | ZDNet: *Congressional education report: 5 years and $700k to recommend "equity"* Summary: A lengthy effort to examine the state of education in American schools released their final report today. Apparently, we need equity in our schools. [image: Christopher Dawson] By Christopher Dawson for ZDNet Education | February 19, 2013 -- 18:20 GMT (10:20 PST) I don't think the rant that's about to follow was exactly what US Congressman Mike Honda's (D-CA) office had in mind when they sent me the press release this mo... more »

Hundreds to Rally to Stop School Closures | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Hundreds to Rally to Stop School Closures | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education: [image: Home] Hundreds to Rally to Stop School Closures by Kate_Lenox *Sacramento Community Stands United Against Closures Prior to Vote on February 21* SACRAMENTO, CA – The Putting Students First (PSF) Coalition will host a rally and press conference on*Wednesday, February 20 *to stand united against the proposed closure of 11 elementary schools. Led by Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP), the PSF Coalition is a diverse community of stakeholders including parents, teachers, advocates and... more »

LA School Report Expands Campaign Coverage - LA School Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

LA School Report Expands Campaign Coverage - LA School Report: LA School Report Expands Campaign Coverage by LA School Report *A* new section of *LA School Report* launches today, devoted to the three hotly contested Los Angeles School Board races. Election 2013, features in-depth information about each of the ten candidates, including questionnaires, biographies, endorsements, and the latest news on campaign contributions and spending. The enhanced coverage provides readers with easy access to information as the March 5 primary, for District 2, 4 and 6, draws near.

New Report Urges Education Secretary To Take Inequality ‘More Seriously’ - Jeff Bryant

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

New Report Urges Education Secretary To Take Inequality ‘More Seriously’ - Jeff Bryant: New Report Urges Education Secretary To Take Inequality ‘More Seriously’ By Jeff Bryant | February 19, 2013 - - Raising the alarm that “America has lost its place as a global leader in educational attainment,” a report issued today by an independent commission chartered by Congressto advise the U.S. Department of Education concludes that the “federal government must take more seriously its profoundly important responsibility” to address inequality in the nation’s K-12 public school... more »

Education Opportunity Network #2 EON #2 – Feb 12-19, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

EON #2 – Feb 12-19, 2013: [image: Education Opportunity Network -] What’s Keeping America From Doing What’s Right For Children (Jeff Bryant) “President Obama presented us with an opportunity to ‘do better’ for children when he included in his State of the Union address a call to provide education to every three- and four-year-old in America … But part of ‘getting it right’ for children is calling out and countering the forces intent on blocking this initiative and making the case to the American people in a way that clarifies minds, commits hearts and moves people to action.” Eq... more »

Diane in the Evening 2-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: What About the Good Charters? by dianerav This parent takes issue with Mark Naison and Bruce Bernstein, who wrote a post about how to tell whether your local charter school is avaricious. The few “good charters” are used by the corporate charter chains to clear the path. Superb list. Very true. However, I must disagree with this sentence: “We will not categorically write off charter schools because there are some great ones.” Maybe. But the privatizers declared war on our schools, our kids, our teachers, our parents and our taxpayers. We didn’t start thi... more »

Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 2-19-13 #soschat #edreform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* The Eduttante’s Balls by edushyster2012 *Eduttante: /ˌedjuˈtänt/ Noun: A shill or paid spokesperson advocating strict no-excuses charters for the urban communities in which he or she does not live. Related terms: educolonialist, whiteousness.* Today we meet a new character in our fast-paced edu-drama: the eduttante. This individual is among the most enthusiastic cheerleaders for the academies of excellence and innovation that are rapidly setting up shop in our urban centers. Among his traits: the eduttante, often paid for his efforts (an... more »

Race to the Bottom: A story about the strings attached to federal funding; - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Race to the Bottom: A story about the strings attached to federal funding; - Wait, What?: Race to the Bottom: A story about the strings attached to federal funding; by jonpelto On any given day, Governor Malloy, his Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor and other “education reformers” including superintendents in Bridgeport, Hartford and elsewhere are racing around – often in circles – in pursuit of some of the money that is being handed out by the United States Department of Education’s “Race to the Top” Program. Applications and waivers are the terms of the day as more and... more »

UPDATE: Special Education News Seattle Schools Community Forum: Events Update

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Events Update: Special Education News by Melissa Westbrook From SPS: Do you have a child with special needs headed for kindergarten, 1st, 6th or 9th grade in Seattle Public Schools in the next academic year (2013-14)? Do you have a child with special needs in other grades within SPS, but have questions about his/her building or program placement? Wednesday, Feb. 20th, Seattle Public School representatives, in conjunction with Seattle SPED-PTSA and SEAAC, will offer the chance to ask questions about the "riser" process in general and how it relat... more »

Are Some Charter Schools Becoming Parasitic? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Are Some Charter Schools Becoming Parasitic? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Are Some Charter Schools Becoming Parasitic? by Anthony Cody Are some charter schools functioning in a parasitic way in relationship to the school systems that host them? This is the provocative analysis offered this week by Bruce Baker at his School Finance 101 blog. In nature, there is a word for organisms that live together. They are called "symbiotic." When these organisms help one another, as bees that pollinate flowers and receive nectar in return, this is called mutualism. When one is... more »

The $400 senior dues bargain at KIPP High School | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The $400 senior dues bargain at KIPP High School | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: The $400 senior dues bargain at KIPP High School by Gary Rubinstein A few months ago I visited the New York City KIPP High School and wrote a post about it. That post was called ‘fair’ and ‘balanced’ by a lot of people on Twitter, which I’m happy about because it took a lot of restraint to write it that way. As they were very gracious over there and gave me free reign to go wherever I wanted into whatever class for whatever amount of time, I didn’t want to be too rude of a guest. I never said that I wou... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, February 19, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: [image: Mayor Bloomberg Your Money Sucks! (Learn More click picture)]*Los Angeles Unified school board election has nation's attention* Education Headlines *Tuesday, February 19, 2013* LAUSD to count student test scores as 30% of teachers' evaluationLos Angeles Unified Superintendent John Deasy announced Friday that student test scores will make up 30 percent of a new teacher evaluation system, sparking a dispute with union leaders who say that isn't what he promised. Tom Torlakson honors Hughes Middle School in North Long Beach f... more »

There’s Trouble Coming to Paradise – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

There’s Trouble Coming to Paradise – @ the chalk face: There’s Trouble Coming to Paradise by Kuhio Kane [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] Way down here in Hawai’i a lot doesn’t happen. The firestorm of resistance to the federal and private subsidizing of the ongoing extraction of more wealth from anyone outside the ruling uberclass in America is virtually non-existent. A couple of days ago, as I entered a nearby middle school office, I witnessed two teachers wearing red T-shirts and carrying signs. Two is better than none. I went up to them and asked them if they were the only... more »

Chicago Teachers Union demands end of standardized testing | The Daily Caller

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Chicago Teachers Union demands end of standardized testing | The Daily Caller: *Chicago Teachers Union demands end of standardized testing* The Chicago Teachers Union urged school administrators nationwide to discontinue the use of standardized tests, deriding them as corporate tools. The CTU recently released a report arguing that standardized tests are a faulty measure of student achievement. They also advance a pro-corporate agenda, the report said. *“*Corporate interests continue to push towards a test‐centered public education system that is clearly harmful to students,” ac... more »

Connecticut Students Plan Walkout Today if Regents Hike Tuition «

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Connecticut Students Plan Walkout Today if Regents Hike Tuition «: Connecticut Students Plan Walkout Today if Regents Hike Tuition by Angus Johnston The Board of Regents of Connecticut’s state university system is meeting today to consider a $778 fee increase, and a group of students and activists are promising a system-wide walkout it the hike goes through. In the last two years, state funding to public higher education has been slashed by more than 15 percent. Today’s planned hikes would amount to an aggregate fee hike of 11.8 percent in the same period — bringing in-state costs... more »

Reforms Targeting Teachers, Schools, Districts, and the Nation (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Reforms Targeting Teachers, Schools, Districts, and the Nation (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Reforms Targeting Teachers, Schools, Districts, and the Nation (Part 1) by larrycuban “History doesn’t teach lessons, historians do.” Because historians interpret the past they often disagree, even revise, the meaning of events from the French Revolution to the American Civil War to school reform. What historians can do is show that in the flow of time constant change occurs. As a wise ancient Greek said: you cannot step into the same river twice. Thus, t... more »

How the Waltons could contribute to real improvements in kids’ educations

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

How the Waltons could contribute to real improvements in kids’ educations: How the Waltons could contribute to real improvements in kids’ educations February 15, 2013 By Cathy In Tuesday’s State of the Union speech, President Obama proposed making universal preschool available to all American children. Implementation of early childhood education programs doesn’t come without some upfront costs, of course, but research demonstrates that it’s a great investment that leads to positive long-term outcomes in children’s lives. In particular, it benefits poor children, helping narrow achi... more »

How Trying to Get Rid of Bad Teachers Has Demoralized Our Best | California Progress Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

How Trying to Get Rid of Bad Teachers Has Demoralized Our Best | California Progress Report: How Trying to Get Rid of Bad Teachers Has Demoralized Our Best by callen *By Mark Naison* Every time I have a discussion with someone who claims to be passionately committed to improving schools, they bring up the subject of the "bad teacher." They see public schools as zones of cultural and economic stagnation in an otherwise dynamic society, saddled with a smug and incompetent teaching force that prevents schools from playing their assigned roles of creating a competitive global workforce... more »

UPDATE: My Richard Mell moment. + When it comes to screwing retirees, Illinois’ politicians are bi-partisan + Illinois SB 2404 provides for guaranteed pension funding. Plus 2%. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Illinois SB 2404 provides for guaranteed pension funding. Plus 2%. « Fred Klonsky: My Richard Mell moment. by Fred Klonsky [image: 66371026598c69296fadec08a529376a] *In the days after Harold Washngton’s death, Alderman Richard Mell rises to help the Machine stage a City Hall coup.* Chicago Reader’s Ben Joravsky writes about Alderman Richard Mell in his column today. It’s about the City Council moratorium on school closings that has been sent to Mell’s Rules Committee to die a parliamentary death at the behest of former UNO boss, now alderman Danny Solis. I may have told you about my... more »

Violence Against Teachers – An Overlooked Crisis? | NEA Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Violence Against Teachers – An Overlooked Crisis? | NEA Today: Violence Against Teachers – An Overlooked Crisis? by twalker *By Tim Walker* According to* a recent article *published by the American Psychological Association (APA), 80 percent of the teachers surveyed reported being victimized at school at least once in the current school year or prior year. Teacher victimization is a “national crisis,” says Dorothy Espelage, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who served as chair of the APA task force on Classroom Violence Directed at Teachers. And yet, the iss... more »

Modern School: NRA Says Arm Them, California Says Arrest Them

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Modern School: NRA Says Arm Them, California Says Arrest Them: NRA Says Arm Them, California Says Arrest Them by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons A middle school teacher in San Diego was arrested last week for bringing a gun and a lock-blade knife to school, the Los Angeles Times recently reported. The teacher, Ned Carter Walker, was arrested in the parking lot as he arrived at Farb Middle School and booked into San Diego County jail on two felony counts of possessing lethal weapons at school. So much for the NRA’s proposal to arm teachers to defend against the imminent ... more »

This Week In Education: Media: HuffPost Education Page, 2010-2013?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

This Week In Education: Media: HuffPost Education Page, 2010-2013?: Media: HuffPost Education Page, 2010-2013? *Attention Bootlicker ALERT!* Don't worry, all of you who like to have your education commentary appear on Huffington Post. In that regard, at least, the Huffington Post Education page seems unchanged. The HuffPost's education reporter, Joy Resmovits, is still pumping out stories. Her blog, Ed Today, is here. When it comes to other features, however, Huffington Post Education seems subtly but substantially different. The color scheme has changed to blue. The sub-... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Obama's Chicago speech

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Obama's Chicago speech: Obama's Chicago speech by Mike Klonsky I was glad, if skeptical, heading into President Obama's appearance in Chicago last Friday. But was once again left with that old post-speech, empty feeling as I sat in traffic coming back from the south side, waiting for the president's motorcade to clear out. It seems I wasn't the only one. Here's *Dr. Brittany Cooper,* writing in Ebony. *Almost as soon as he began to talk, I found myself deeply incensed at President Obama’s address in Chicago this past Friday. I hoped, along with t... more »

Joy Resmovits: Scott Walker's Voucher Fight; School Safety Questions: Ed Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Joy Resmovits: Scott Walker's Voucher Fight; School Safety Questions: Ed Today: Scott Walker's Voucher Fight; School Safety Questions: Ed Today by Joy Resmovits *Walker-Style Voucher Fight?* Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker first tangled with his state's teachers union when he signed a bill that upended collective bargaining. Now he's at it again, and this time, the fight is over school vouchers. "The debate over Walker's public education funding proposal and desire to grow alternatives such as private school vouchers is likely to be one of the fiercest in the Statehouse this year, ev... more »

MAP test manufacturer (NWEA, Inc.) memo: MAP test should not be used to evaluate teachers « Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

MAP test manufacturer (NWEA, Inc.) memo: MAP test should not be used to evaluate teachers « Seattle Education: MAP test manufacturer (NWEA, Inc.) memo: MAP test should not be used to evaluate teachers by seattleducation2011 [image: Race to the Top] According to a recent KUOW FM report, John Cronin of NWEA, Inc. apparently laughed about the Garfield MAP test protest, saying, “(…) I really can’t say that I know what’s motivating them.” See/hear: Seattle Superintendent And Testing Company Defend Standardized Test. But this same fellow wrote a* letter to the Charleston School District ... more »

Shanker Blog » Teacher Leadership As A School Improvement Strategy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Shanker Blog » Teacher Leadership As A School Improvement Strategy: Teacher Leadership As A School Improvement Strategy by David B. Cohen *Our guest author today is David B. Cohen, a National Board Certified high school English teacher in Palo Alto, CA, and the associate director of Accomplished California Teachers (ACT). His blog is at InterACT.* As we settle into 2013, I find myself increasingly optimistic about the future of the teaching profession. There are battles ahead, debates to be had and elections to be contested, but, as Sam Cooke sang, “A change is gonna come.” The ch... more »

Ed Notes Online: MORE's Julie Cavanagh Exposes Eva Charter Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: MORE's Julie Cavanagh Exposes Eva Charter Schools: MORE's Julie Cavanagh Exposes Eva Charter Schools by ed notes online On May 21, 2011 (2 days after the premiere of the GEM film response to the ed deform film Waiting for Superman, The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman that Julie co-narrated, co-produced and co-wrote), Community Board 12 in upper Manhattan convened a panel to discuss charter schools. Dennis Walcott was supposed to be on that panel but never showed up [he was as scared of Julie as Mike Mulgrew is]. Also Pedro Noguera, [former] chairma... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Los Angeles School Board Race: Follow the Money by dianerav This just arrived in my email box: LAUSD: Follow The Money by Joseph K *Mensaje se repite en Español)* *I have to do this my way. You tell me what you know, and I’ll confirm. I’ll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that’s all. Just… follow the money.* * * *-Deep Throat, “All the President’s Men” (1976)* *If you want to know the direction LAUSD School Board President Monica Garcia and new candidate Kate Anderson want to take the Los Angel... more »

Human intelligence is declining according to Stanford geneticist | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Human intelligence is declining according to Stanford geneticist | toteachornototeach: Human intelligence is declining according to Stanford geneticist by aristotlethewise *Human intelligence is declining according to Stanford geneticist* Ever can’t help but think you’re surrounded by idiots? A leading scientist at Stanford University thinks he has the answer, and the bad news is things aren’t likely to get any better. Dr. Gerald Crabtree, a geneticist at Stanford, has published a study that he conducted to try and identify the progression of modern man’s intelligence. As it turns ... more »

Et tu, Rube? | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Et tu, Rube? | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Et tu, Rube? by Gary Rubinstein On a post I wrote last week called ‘The Status Quo Miracle District,” I got a bunch of angry comments from people who seemed to feel betrayed by my ‘debunking’ of the media inflated claims of a ‘public’ school district. This is the first comment: *Very unhelpful. With friends like you, public education needs no enemies. You help the reformer deformers with this.* *And what do you know of Union City? I expect extremely little. You’re so busy venting a blogger’s ATTITUDE, that you’ve lost all thoughtfulness.* Mo... more »

Parent trigger and charters: As we offer more school choice, what happens to children left behind? | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Parent trigger and charters: As we offer more school choice, what happens to children left behind? | Get Schooled: Parent trigger and charters: As we offer more school choice, what happens to children left behind? by Maureen Downey [image: grabarart0920]Shanna Miles is an educator and a parent working in the metro Atlanta area. An avid literacy advocate, she lobbies to ensure that every child has access to a free and public library in a community. She wrote this piece for the Monday print AJC education op-ed page. By Shanna Miles In the 1840s, Irish Catholic parents lobbied for loca... more »

UPDATE: Why is Obama calling for a ‘rigorous curriculum’ for 3-year-olds? + How many ineffective teachers are actually out there?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

How many ineffective teachers are actually out there?: Why is Obama calling for a ‘rigorous curriculum’ for 3-year-olds? Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 19, 2013 at 10:22 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: (by David Tulis/EPA)] (by David Tulis/EPA) Given that research clearly shows big benefits of quality early childhood education, President Obama’s new proposal to greatly expand these programs seems like a no-brainer. In fact, the first question to ask might be this: Why didn’t h... more »

WHO CAN POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND A TEACHER’S FRUSTRATION ? « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

WHO CAN POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND A TEACHER’S FRUSTRATION ? « Teachers Fight Back: WHO CAN POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND A TEACHER’S FRUSTRATION ? by alkleen I’ve been thinking of people who could possibly sympathize with teachers and understand why teachers are extremely frustrated in their jobs. The following are people who I’m sure understand the plight of teachers. They probably understand the frustration of teachers who are expected to achieve certain results with their students despite dozens of obstacles that make that impossible. A heart surgeon who is directed by their superior to perfo... more »

Phil Hartman Alive and Well at PS 154 in the Bronx.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

http://www.southbronxschool.com: Phil Hartman Alive and Well at PS 154 in the Bronx Yeah, life imitates art. Though PS 154 is not a cooking school, this video succinctly characterizes the shit we go through day in and day out, hour upon hour, seconds forever taking their time turning into minutes. While mayhem is going about, having those tape dispenser cozies are invaluable. As Stu Schmelz once said, "You won't believe the shit that I have seen." Cooking is an allegory for education.

Jersey Jazzman: Gulen Charters Expand in New Jersey

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Gulen Charters Expand in New Jersey: Gulen Charters Expand in New Jersey by Duke In New Jersey's latest round of charter school approvals, two new charters were approved for Paterson: Paterson Arts and Sciences and Paterson Collegiate Charter School. Darcie Cimarusti over at Mother Crusader has been letting us know about the man behind PCCS, Steve Wilson, and his rather checkered past. But what about Paterson A&S? According to the state's records, Paterson A&S's contact is Mr. Nihat Guvercin; he is currently the CEO of anetwork of three charters in Garfield, Hacken...more »

Leonard Cooper’s Genius And What He Represents [Future of Teaching] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Leonard Cooper’s Genius And What He Represents [Future of Teaching] | The Jose Vilson: Leonard Cooper’s Genius And What He Represents [Future of Teaching] by Jose Vilson This is an excerpt from my latest offering at the Future of Teaching blog: Is it because so many either sympathize or empathize with a story about a kid who, already perceived as unintelligent due to his mannerisms, actually beats the competition? Is it because some of us have a very limited understanding of “knowledge” or what an educated person looks like? Do we still perceive intelligent as natural to some an... more »

The Educated Reporter: Students, Teachers Push Back Against High-Stakes Testing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: Students, Teachers Push Back Against High-Stakes Testing: Students, Teachers Push Back Against High-Stakes Testing by Emily Richmond While it's become a common refrain for students, teachers and parents to complain that too much time is spent preparing for – and administering – standardized tests in public schools, the level of dissatisfaction is arguably reaching previously unheard decibels. In what’s believed to be the first such example of a campus-wide testing boycott, teachers at Garfield High School in Seattle are refused to administer a state-mandat... more »

Daily Kos: apropos of nothing of importance

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Daily Kos: apropos of nothing of importance: apropos of nothing of importance by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) I have in the past 24 hours had a myriad of thoughts running through my mind. They do not on the surface seem to fit together, but in my warped way of thinking they do. So bear with me while I explore some seemingly unrelated topics, beginning at home. This afternoon Leaves on the Current begins chemo and resumes radiation. She has in the past few days had a positive mindset, as we allowed friends to come and visit - several who came were themselves survivors of medical... more »

CPS school closings and the homeless. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

CPS school closings and the homeless. « Fred Klonsky: CPS school closings and the homeless. by Fred Klonsky [image: 62103_10151384576637900_1247756188_n]

WHY THE PLAS EXPERIMENT MUST END AT ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL, Part II: THE NEW EAST LA CLASSIC: ROOSEVELT (PLAS) vs. GARFIELD (NON PLAS) by John Fernandez - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

WHY THE PLAS EXPERIMENT MUST END AT ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL, Part II: THE NEW EAST LA CLASSIC: ROOSEVELT (PLAS) vs. GARFIELD (NON PLAS) by John Fernandez - Perdaily.com: WHY THE PLAS EXPERIMENT MUST END AT ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL, Part II: THE NEW EAST LA CLASSIC: ROOSEVELT (PLAS) vs. GARFIELD (NON PLAS) by John Fernandez by Leonard Isenberg [image: John Fernandez.jpg] ** *Mensaje se repite en Español)* * * *The Rivals* The NEW EAST LA CLASSIC is about academics--not about football. It pits Roosevelt High School against Garfield High School. Roosevelt High School is under the Mayor's ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Susan Ohanian Update

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Susan Ohanian Update: Susan Ohanian Update by ed notes online *Confiscated Plan Books Languish in Death Valley Repository* NOTE: The product below is gluten-free; contains no peanuts, pesticides, or growth-enhancing hormones. However, exposure to sensitive content may cause rapid heartbeat, dizziness, blurred vision, rash, seizure, or temper tantrum. *by Susan Ohanian* Death Valley--At 282 feet (86 m) below sea level in the Mohave Desert, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation maintains the Substation for Confiscated Lesson Plans. It is a secure site that bears a... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Van Jones to Obama: "This is it!"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Van Jones to Obama: "This is it!": Van Jones to Obama: "This is it.!" by Mike Klonsky (Reuters pic) *Van Jones*, President Obama’s former Green Jobs Advisor, spoke directly to tens of thousands of people who rallied on the National Mall Sunday to protest the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. It is being called the largest climate protest ever. Jones aimed his remarks directly at the president: *Well, this is it. This is the last minute in the last quarter of the biggest most important game humanity has ever played. This is it. One thing I know... more »

SI&A Cabinet Report – Senate plan would give schools more time to prepare for common core testing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Senate plan would give schools more time to prepare for common core testing A leading member of the state Senate has proposed legislation that could give schools significantly more time to prepare students and teachers for assessments based on the new common core curriculum standards. As proposed, SB 247 by Sen. Carol Liu, D-Pasadena, would delay the suspension of California’s existing Standardized Testing and Reporting system until July, 2016 – two years later than existing law. The bill is silent as to when exactly statewide testing on the ... more »

The Rising Cost of Teachers’ Health Care | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

The Rising Cost of Teachers’ Health Care | toteachornototeach: The Rising Cost of Teachers’ Health Care by aristotlethewise *The Rising Cost of Teachers’ Health Care* *Private-sector employers pay much less* By Robert M. Costrell and Jeffery Dean The high-profile battle in Wisconsin over collective bargaining on public-sector benefits, as well as lower-profile battles in Ohio and Massachusetts, was to a great extent about health insurance costs for teachers. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker anticipated health care savings of $68 million for schools from his legislative proposal; actua... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter: This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter by Larry Ferlazzo Guest post by Joe Mazza This week on #PTchat (Wed., 2/20 9PM EDT) we’ll be working on our school websites and mobile app offerings. Today, most schools have a website. Whether the website is useful to the specific family needs at the school is the real question. Does the site serve as simply an information storage bank or does it offer two-way communication and an opportunity to build a relationship with the school? How do you know? Have parents been part of the team creat... more »

Children of the Core

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Children of the Core on Striking.ly: [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] Children of the Core: A Shameless Plug FEBRUARY 18, 2013 BY KRIS NIELSEN LEAVE A COMMENT In about two weeks, I will self-publish the product of my obsession. I will release a roughly 200-page book, geared toward informing parents and teachers about how the education policies built by reformers and their politician puppets are effectively damaging two important things: 1. The economic and geopolitical security of our country, and (way more importantly) 2. The future of our children That is followed by t... more »

One Teacher's Perspective: School Choice, A Free Market Fantasy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

One Teacher's Perspective: School Choice, A Free Market Fantasy: School Choice, A Free Market Fantasy by Imagine Wisconsin *I worry Act 10 and the subsequent recall attempts have muddied the Wisconsin waters to a point many cannot see clearly what is best for our kids and schools. Clearly, the expansion of Wisconsin’s voucher program is a bad choice for Wisconsin public schools. Certainly, some anecdotal success stories exist among voucher-using students, but (as Diane Ravitch explains) two decades of comprehensive educational research distinctly shows that, overall, voucher schoo... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Charter School "Chef" Makes More Than Teachers!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Jersey Jazzman: Charter School "Chef" Makes More Than Teachers!: Charter School "Chef" Makes More Than Teachers! by Duke Want to make money at a charter school? Don't become a teacher; be a chef! A March 2012 menu feature at Camden's LEAP Academy University Charter School was grilled cheese, tomato soup, peas, and fresh fruit. This month, the menu features grilled cheese, tomato soup, and strawberry applesauce. A more striking change than in the menu is what executive chef Michele Pastorello is getting for his work now - a $24,000 raise from last year. *He will make $95,000 thi... more »

Educational Eugenics » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Educational Eugenics » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names: The Corporate Reform of Public Schools Educational Eugenics by MARK GRAHAM Teachers and students are having a rough time in the United States—and not just because they are in danger of being murdered in their classrooms. Public education itself is under attack, fueled by foundation dollars, government policies and media hype. The problem isn’t international rankings, teacher pensions, or outdated theories. These are smokescreens. The enemies of American education hate it because it is public-powered, union... more »

Scott Walker Wants You To Think He Is Increasing Money to Public Schools by $129 Million « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Scott Walker Wants You To Think He Is Increasing Money to Public Schools by $129 Million « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Scott Walker Wants You To Think He Is Increasing Money to Public Schools by $129 Million by millerlf Funding for Wisconsin public schools is restricted by a revenue limit (cap). If that cap is not raised, any increase in State funding ($129 million) means there is a decrease in contribution from property tax by $129 million.*Revenue for school districts remains the same*. Example: If the revenue limit (cap) were $10,000 per student, $5000 from the... more »

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week: Seattle Schools This Week by Melissa Westbrook *Monday, Feb. 18th* No school for the Presidents' Day holiday. Reminder: Seattle Testing Tele Town Hall: *What’s Next After the MAP boycott?* Mon. Feb 18, 7pm PST. Toll-free dial in (866) 476-7782. A discussion of standardized testing in K-12 public education. Also, you DO call in today (even if a holiday) to get on the speakers list for the Board meeting on Wednesday. It's 252-0040 or boardagenda@seattleschools.org *Tuesday, Feb. 19th* Protest of Michelle Rhee before her... more »

Schools Matter: Robert D. Skeels: a community candidate for LAUSD School Board

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Schools Matter: Robert D. Skeels: a community candidate for LAUSD School Board: Robert D. Skeels: a community candidate for LAUSD School Board by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene *"Alongside this began a sharp rise in the costs of elections, which drove the political parties even deeper into the pockets of the corporate sector." — Professor Noam Chomsky* [image: Robert D. Skeels for LAUSD School Board]Readers have probably already seen the news of how the morning after I trounced the incumbent at a local candidate forum, that NYC Mayor Bloomberg increased my opponent's already obscene ... more »