Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape Nite Cap 2-24-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 2-24-13 #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

Reality Has Shown Itself in NY: The State and Districts Forge Ahead | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 minutes ago

Reality Has Shown Itself in NY: The State and Districts Forge Ahead | Truth in American Education: Reality Has Shown Itself in NY: The State and Districts Forge Ahead Posted on February 24, 2013 by chascherrie Ken Mitchell has written a report for the Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Ken is the District Superintendent of the South Orangetown School District in Rockland County in New York State. *Federal Mandates on Local Education: Costs and Consequences—Yes, it’s a Race, but is it in the Right Direction? *tell... more »

Yes, Virginia, There Really IS a Billionaire Boys Club - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 46 minutes ago

Yes, Virginia, There Really IS a Billionaire Boys Club - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Yes, Virginia, There Really IS a Billionaire Boys Club by Anthony Cody *The second largest school district in the nation, Los Angeles Unified, is in the midst of what must surely be the costliest school board race ever.* This month we have seen report after report of billionaire donations rolling in, totaling almost $3 million. First we learned that Eli Broad and former Univision head Jerrold Perenchio had each pitched in $250,000. Then New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg dropped a coo... more »

NEA’s Read Across America Cat-a-Van Tour Hits the Road | NEA Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago

NEA’s Read Across America Cat-a-Van Tour Hits the Road | NEA Today: NEA’s Read Across America Cat-a-Van Tour Hits the Road by twalker *By Tim Walker* This week, three Cat-a-Vans will log more than 5,100 miles as they travel from coast to coast to celebrate NEA’s Read Across America and deliver an important message about reading—and brushing their teeth. NEA’s Cat-a-Van Reading Tour – made possible through a unique partnership between the National Education Association and Renaissance Dental – begins on Monday, February 25, and concludes on Friday, March 1—the official Read Across ... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour 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 Image credit: stuvoice.org *This week’s chat hosted by Stuvoice.org Founder Zak Makamed. * The Student Voice movement strives to create an international network of empowered students by providing them with the tools they need to use their voice in policy discussions. While we are students working for students, the support of adult stakeholders has enabled us to take our movement above and beyond what we could have ever anticipated. This chat will se... more »

We Need to Move Away from One-Size-Fits-All Education | Lefty Parent

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

We Need to Move Away from One-Size-Fits-All Education | Lefty Parent: We Need to Move Away from One-Size-Fits-All Education by Cooper Zale [image: one-size-fits-all]On Thursday I read an Education Week blog piece, “Survey Finds Rising Job Frustration Among Principals”, highlighting the Metlife Survey of American Teachers documenting declining morale among both teachers, principals, and other school leaders. It rekindled my frustration with the mainstream approach to endless inside-the-box “reform” of our public education system rather than making some real substantive changes. I p... more »

Activists, teachers apply for charter commission | Local News | The Seattle Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Activists, teachers apply for charter commission | Local News | The Seattle Times: Activists, teachers apply for charter commission Education activists, teachers, lawyers, a PTA leader and a woman who used to work with charter schools in California are among the applicants to the new state commission that is expected to approve some of Washington’s first charter schools. By DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP Associated Press MOST POPULAR COMMENTS HIDE / SHOW COMMENTS The Charter Schools are nothing but a money maker for corporations, and a rip-off of... (February 24, 2013, by shardik) MORE ... more »

Charter School Parents Pull Trigger Then Get Sued By Charter School Management Corporation | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Charter School Parents Pull Trigger Then Get Sued By Charter School Management Corporation | Scathing Purple Musings: Charter School Parents Pull Trigger Then Get Sued By Charter School Management Corporation by Bob Sikes Only in the twisted world of for-profit charter schools and their political handmaidens is this possible. From*Sarasota Herald-Tribune *reporter Gabrielle Russon: Principal Justin Matthews eagerly awaits Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony as he looks to further expand the biggest charter school in Sarasota County. A day later, a court hearing is scheduled as Matth... more »

Kimble's Corner: Saturday on Twitter with Tom Morello

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Kimble's Corner: Saturday on Twitter with Tom Morello: Saturday on Twitter with Tom Morello by Representative Kimble Popout[View the story "Congressman Kimble Talks Music with Tom Morello" on Storify]

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Updates

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Updates: Updates by Melissa Westbrook Short film competition at MOHAI - open to all ages - *History is ________*. Submissions through March 31. There are several youth awards for students 17 and younger. Shout out to MAP boycott leader (and Garfield teacher) Jesse Hagopian for his appearance in Seattle Met's "Perfect Party" group. (See page 28 of the March issue.) I appeared on one of these lists but I was grouped with Eddie Vedder so I was very happy. Remember I was questioning why the Chief Communications Officer at Starbucks, Blair T... more »

10 things about being an artist that art teachers don’t tell you | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

10 things about being an artist that art teachers don’t tell you | toteachornototeach: 10 things about being an artist that art teachers don’t tell you by aristotlethewise *10 things about being an artist that art teachers don’t tell you* What art students need to know is:* Can I make a living from being creative? * The answer is more complex than you might think There are many misconceptions about the art world. Ask someone to describe what it means to be an artist, and they will probably paint a picture of one of two extremes. There is no perceived middle ground, no stability, no ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: The case of LA: why an elected school board doesn't necessarily mean more democracy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: The case of LA: why an elected school board doesn't necessarily mean more democracy: The case of LA: why an elected school board doesn't necessarily mean more democracy [image: Mayor Bloomberg Your Money Sucks! (Learn More click picture)][image: MAYOR BLOOMBERG YOUR MONEY Cant Buy My Vote! (LEARN MORE CLICK PICTURE)] Here in NYC, as is well known, since 2002 we have have a school board called the Panel for Educational Policy, with a super-majority of mayoral appointees that always rubberstamps any damaging school closing, destructive charter co-locatio... more »

I Began This Blog Six Years Ago: Here Are My All-Time Most Popular Posts | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

I Began This Blog Six Years Ago: Here Are My All-Time Most Popular Posts | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: I Began This Blog Six Years Ago: Here Are My All-Time Most Popular Posts February 24, 2013 by Larry Ferlazzo | 0 comments [image: [RFEE3 ELSHAN ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ]] Photo Credit: A♥ via Compfight Wow! Six years ago today, I began writing this blog. Ten thousands posts, a thousand “The Best…” lists, and five books later, I’m still at it….I hope I’ve got at least another six years of writing in me…. It’s been quite a ride, and I’m a better teacher, and person, because of it. Thank... more »

Short Notes: Mr. President, Please Stop Pointing Everything On Fathers of Color | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Short Notes: Mr. President, Please Stop Pointing Everything On Fathers of Color | The Jose Vilson: Short Notes: Mr. President, Please Stop Pointing Everything On Fathers of Color by Jose Vilson [image: malcolmxbyfaviannarodriguez] Malcolm X by Favianna Rodriguez A few notes: - Dr. Brittney Cooper (co-founder of the Crunk Feminist Collective) calls out President Barack Obama for his misinformation on the role of Black fathers in Chicago’s massive violence. A really good read. [Ebony] - This write up about Michael Jordan gives us a slice of MJ at 50 that few simply wo... more »

Whiteboard Advisors Education Insider | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Whiteboard Advisors Education Insider | Truth in American Education: Whiteboard Advisors Education Insider by chascherrie Whiteboard Advisors Education Insider: Digital Learning and Common Core Assessments February 2013 is available online and can be downloaded by clicking here. Here is the Executive Summary: - In the wake of the Senate hearing on No Child Left Behind waivers, 71 percent of Insiders think ESEA will not be reauthorized until at least 2015. - Insiders remain concerned about the two assessment consortia and for the first time more than half of Insiders sa... more »

Daily Kos: 309 confirmed kills

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Daily Kos: 309 confirmed kills: 309 confirmed kills by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) [image: Lyudmila Pavlichenko, female soviet sniper]thirty-six of whom were enemy snipers Not that we necessarily should glorify killing, although in wartime we certainly do I am reminded of the statement by Barry Goldwater about gays in the military, You don't need to be straight to fight and die for your country. You just need to shoot straight. In a time when our military is finally fully opening up combat positions to females, it is perhaps worthwhile to note the statistics I have cited are fr... more »

Diane in the Evening 2-24-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: *Diane Ravitch - Walkin' the Talk* What If the Diagnosis Is Based on Junk Science? by dianerav The letter-grading system that is spreading across many states originated in Florida during Jeb Bush’s tenure as governor. His goal was to show how poorly public schools were doing and to blame schools if students had low test scores, thus diverting attention from the social and economic causes of poor performance in school. Red states love letter grades, as does Mayor Bloomberg in New York City, who has advanced priv... more »

“I am the union.” | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

“I am the union.” | Fred Klonsky: “I am the union.” by Fred Klonsky [image: 422px-Louis_XIV_of_France] It’s good to see that Dan Montgomery, President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers is speaking tomorrow at4:30 up at Niles North on the pension issue. I hear he is also going to be speaking the same evening at the forum sponsored by Jobs With Justice out in the western ‘burbs. 6:30 to 8:30 at 374 Commons Drive (I55 and Route 53) in Bolingbrook. Would that the leadership of the IEA be so visible. The thing that gets me is that while the IEA suits do so little to mobilize their m... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Education reporting the way it's supposed to be done

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Education reporting the way it's supposed to be done: Education reporting the way it's supposed to be done by Mike Klonsky Woodard Congratulations to Colin Woodard, recipient of a 2012 George Polk Award for Education Reporting for his special report, "The profit motive behind virtual schools in Maine." Woodard writes: *Internal K12 Inc. emails obtained last winter by Seminole County Public Schools and forwarded to investigators suggest the company was using uncertified teachers in violation of Florida law, even after being warned by officials n... more »

The Weekly Cheddar : blue cheddar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

The Weekly Cheddar : blue cheddar: The Weekly Cheddar by bluecheddar Oh so much to talk about in this weekly round-up of Wisco political news that I call “The Weekly Cheddar”. I’m leaving shortly now to do actual walking in the actual fresh air far, far from a computer. Wish me luck and forgive me for my shortcomings in this [like no info. on the primaries] for I must skedaddle. Leave a comment with any stories you thought I really should have included. – blue cheddar *Transvaginal Invasion Imminent * Scott Fitzgerald said this about a forced ultrasound bill at a recent Wisconsin... more »

The Grammys, the Oscars… and now the Bunkum Awards

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The Grammys, the Oscars… and now the Bunkum Awards: The Grammys, the Oscars… and now the Bunkum Awards Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 24, 2013 at 11:21 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: award]February is the month of the Grammy Awards for music and the Academy Awards for movies and, now, the Bunkum Awards. Presented by the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the awards are given for what the presenters say is bad educational research. How bad?... more »

UPDATE: Jersey Jazzman: Is Rhee's Book a Flop?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Is Rhee's Book a Flop?: Is Rhee's Book a Flop? by Duke I know nothing about the book publishing business, so maybe I'm wrong. Maybe a book like Michelle Rhee's *Radical* needs months to build up buzz and become a best-seller. Maybe her autobiography is a sleeper and will catch fire after a few more weeks. *But right now, Radical looks like a flop.* According to Amazon.com, *Radical* was released on February 5, 2013, almost three weeks ago. In that time, Rhee has been on what must be any author's dream book tour: *The Daily Show*, *This Week*, *Charlie Rose, *an... more »

The Sunday Mail. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The Sunday Mail. | Fred Klonsky: The Sunday Mail. by Fred Klonsky [image: django]*It is a coalition of snakes (aka The Friends of Rahm)* that are running against Karen Lewis and the CORE slate to run the CTU. *UNO’s Juan Rangel* fronts for Mayor 2% in the school privatization movement. *You won’t read this in the NY Times.* Thousands in Texas rally for public education. *Don’t believe the hype.* The Illinois Teacher Retirement System had good returns on its investments. If only the state had paid its share. *Last chance.* Sign our petition for a constitutional solution to the pensi... more »

Independent Learning | Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Independent Learning | Cooperative Catalyst: Independent Learning by Tara S (Cross Posted from Life’s About the Journey) I saw this video on “The Independent Project” thanks to a shout out from my old principal Mr. Adams. Within minutes of checking out the premise of the project, their website and this video, I was fascinated and frankly, hooked. I think the idea behind a self motivated school situated inside a public school (a form that lends itself to more open learning if utilized to its full extent) is brilliant. That a bunch of interested students took focused time to work on... more »

Editorial: Florida needs no advice from Jeb Bush on education... | www.palmbeachpost.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Editorial: Florida needs no advice from Jeb Bush on education... | www.palmbeachpost.com: Editorial: Florida needs no advice from Jeb Bush on education policy By Jac Versteeg Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Former Gov. Jeb Bush has an undeserved reputation as an education reformer. Florida’s recent education progress has come not from implementing Mr. Bush’s policies but from cleaning up after them. Mr. Bush has been visiting legislators in Tallahassee to talk about education policy. Get out the mops and buckets. Taxpayers also should reach for their wallets, since the former governo... more »

Ed Notes Online: Feb. 27, 4PM - MORE Pres. Cand Cavanagh at Murry Bergtraum HS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Feb. 27, 4PM - MORE Pres. Cand Cavanagh at Murry Bergtraum HS: Feb. 27, 4PM - MORE Pres. Cand Cavanagh at Murry Bergtraum HS from Ed Notes Online by ed notes online *Julie Cavanagh, candidate for President of the UFT, @ Murry Bergtraum High School this Weds, 3:30 - 5:30 PM.* * * See her on MSNBC fighting for teacher rights and public education. [image: Inline image 1] Orginally booked as a debate between Cavanagh and Mulgrew (who ignored requests to participate).

Misleading media and public, Malloy Administration’s legislation to “Reform SERC” exempts agency from bidding laws - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Misleading media and public, Malloy Administration’s legislation to “Reform SERC” exempts agency from bidding laws - Wait, What?: Misleading media and public, Malloy Administration’s legislation to “Reform SERC” exempts agency from bidding laws by jonpelto It is a move that George Orwell would be proud of; Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor, the State Board of Education and the Malloy Administration recently explained that they were proposing a new law to ensure transparency and force the State Education Resource Center (SERC) to follow the state’s bidding laws. However, the pro... more »

UPDATE: Do Florida Lawmakers Revere or Fear Jeb Bush? + “….Already Lawmakers are Climbing Back in the Sack with Charter School Business Interests” | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

“….Already Lawmakers are Climbing Back in the Sack with Charter School Business Interests” | Scathing Purple Musings: “….Already Lawmakers are Climbing Back in the Sack with Charter School Business Interests” by Bob Sikes Here’s a bit from this morning’s column by the *Tampa Bay Times *John Romano: Theoretically, the role of a state legislator is simple. You are in Tallahassee to look out for the people back home. Special interest groups, lobbyists, political parties? In a perfect world, that’s just drama and noise. And yet here we are, just about a week before the Legislature is... more »

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-24-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Bridgeport Parents Call for Vallas’s Ouster by dianerav A report from Bridgeport, Connecticut: Connecticut Working Families Party 30 Arbor Street, Suite 210, Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 523-1699 http://www.connecticutworkingfamilies.org For an event occurring on February 25th, 2013, 4 pm Advisory – Parents Call on Bridgeport Board of Education not to renew Paul Vallas’ Contract as Superintendent For more information contact Taylor Leake at (860) 670-1408 or tleake@w... more »

Ungrateful Bastards – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Ungrateful Bastards – @ the chalk face: Ungrateful Bastards by wendihmhee There has been a lot of unnecessary hand-wringing surrounding the results of the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher which found that teacher job satisfaction has reached an all-time low. Let’s look at the data from a different perspective. Nearly forty percent of teachers LOVE their work. To which I say, “And why shouldn’t they?” Thanks to me and other education reformers, working conditions for teachers have steadily been improving for more than a decade. For example, teachers have the honor and pleas... more »

Does school reform perpetuate inequity?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Does school reform perpetuate inequity?: Does school reform perpetuate inequity? Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 24, 2013 at 5:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: unequal-shares]Many critics of modern school reform say that while reform efforts are intended to close achievement gaps and provide equitable educational experiences for all students, they are having the opposite effect. Here’s that argument by Paul Thomas, an associate professor of education at Furman University in S... more »

Ed Notes Online: Video: CTU chief of staff and founder of CORE, Jackson Potter, speaks on "Lessons of the Chicago Teachers Strike"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Video: CTU chief of staff and founder of CORE, Jackson Potter, speaks on "Lessons of the Chicago Teachers Strike": Video: CTU chief of staff and founder of CORE, Jackson Potter, speaks on "Lessons of the Chicago Teachers Strike" by ed notes online In an incisive video, Jackson Potter covers many of the issues we face here in NYC. The old union leadership in Chicago, much as Unity here in NYC, had the attitude that the members don't care and act accordingly. Top-down, lack of democracy, a sense of helplessness -- listen to Jackson as he describes the visit of a uni... more »

District Reforms Past and Present: An Interpretation (Part 3) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

District Reforms Past and Present: An Interpretation (Part 3) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: District Reforms Past and Present: An Interpretation (Part 3) by larrycuban There is no Google map for reformers to follow in turning around low-performing classrooms, schools, and districts. Nor have researchers been better than MapQuest. They have plotted out multiple (and conflicting) routes to the what and how of school reform. As I have pointed out in Parts 1 and 2, reform-minded policymakers, past and present, have jumped around searching for the best unit of... more »

Troubled area loses its heart in closing - Education - The Sacramento Bee

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Troubled area loses its heart in closing - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Troubled area loses its heart in closing By Phillip Reese preese@sacbee.com Published: Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 1A Fruit Ridge Elementary outlasted the Great Depression, two World Wars, the encroachment of urban Sacramento, dozens of principals and hundreds of teachers. But it couldn't overcome the deep, systematic problems reshaping the entire Sacramento City Unified School District. The south Sacramento school, opened in 1911, will close at the end of this school year, along with six other n... more »

NYC Educator: The Coolest Thing About Being Reformy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

NYC Educator: The Coolest Thing About Being Reformy: The Coolest Thing About Being Reformy by NYC Educator When Joel Klein left his job as NYC Schools Chancellor, he landed in a big old pile of cash, working for none other than extreme right-wing Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch. This certainly beats working for a living, and even beats being Bloomberg's mouthpiece while pretending to put "Children First. Always." As head of Amplify, Klein can devote his attention to selling crap we don't need to schools, and raking in a tidy profit for Rupey, who simply cannot amass enough money. An... more »

First World Education Problems in Detroit (Part II, Catherine Ferguson Academy) - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

First World Education Problems in Detroit (Part II, Catherine Ferguson Academy) - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: First World Education Problems in Detroit (Part II, Catherine Ferguson Academy) by Nancy Flanagan School closing protests--a first-world ed-problem, if there ever was one--are everywhere these days. In crumbling rust-belt urban centers and leafy suburbs, we're closing, consolidating, belt-tightening. It's hard to argue with population migration--Detroit lost a quarter of its citizens in the last decade--or for keeping every beloved neighborhood schoo... more »

State must take serious look at school funding (according to Wendy Lecker) - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

State must take serious look at school funding (according to Wendy Lecker) - Wait, What?: State must take serious look at school funding (according to Wendy Lecker) by jonpelto It is time for a real, serious and honest look at Connecticut’s school funding crisis, not the cop-out version that has been recently proposed as part of Connecticut’s budget plan. Fellow pro-public education blogger and commentator, Wendy Lecker, has another “MUST READ” column this week in the Stamford Advocate, CT Post and the other newspapers that are part of the Hearst Connecticut Media Group. You can ... more »

Northwest Philly community fights to keep three 'anchor institutions' open in Germantown | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Northwest Philly community fights to keep three 'anchor institutions' open in Germantown | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Northwest Philly community fights to keep three 'anchor institutions' open in Germantownby thenotebook on Feb 23 2013 Posted in Latest news ="" style="color: rgb(76, 153, 72); cursor: pointer; float: left; padding: 0px 2px;">Share on email COMMENTS (0)PRINT Photo: Nat Hamilton/NewsWorks School Reform Commission Chair Pedro Ramos listens to testimony on day two of the school-closing hearings. *by Aaron Moselle* The Philadelphia School District's plan to close... more »

State Assessment Results: “It Just Doesn’t Matter” – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

State Assessment Results: “It Just Doesn’t Matter” – @ the chalk face: State Assessment Results: “It Just Doesn’t Matter” by Chris Cerrone Even though we opted our oldest out of the third grade state assessments last year, an error occurred and her blank math test answer form was scanned and sent on to the New York State Education Department. As a result, we received a Parent Report from NYSED via our school. I am glad this occurred because it helped me to see the actual report for the first time. We informed the school and my child’s score will not count towards the school’s rat... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Greedy, Overpaid NJ Teachers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Jersey Jazzman: Greedy, Overpaid NJ Teachers: Greedy, Overpaid NJ Teachers by Duke *And it's pretty damn ugly right now.* Remember when Chris Christie used to run up and down New Jersey complaining about "*... the teachers union demanding raises at 4 to 5 times the rate of inflation...*"? Remember when I was one of the few places you couldgo to regularly find out this was absolutely ridiculous? Remember when I repeatedly wrote that the notion of "overpaid teachers" with "gold-plated benefits" was transparently idiotic? Good times... So, how is the allegedly greedy, overpaid teac... more »

Diane in the Evening 2-23-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Goliath Collects Millions in Los Angeles Race by garyrubinstein Monica Garcia is president of the Los Angeles school board and Superintendent John Deasy ‘s strong supporter in Los Angeles. He supports charter schools and evaluating teacgers by test scores. Los Angeles has more charters than any other city in the nation. They have little supervision. They get public money to do as they please (in reformer-speak, that is called “innovation”). Garcia’s friends do not want to take any chances. Here are the latest ... more »

Teachbad’s Secret Project | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Teachbad’s Secret Project | Mr. Teachbad: Teachbad’s Secret Project by teachbad For all the right reasons, I am trying to write a book about teaching in the modern era. I’ve been working on it for a long time and now it’s getting a little more serious. I don’t have anything to post because I’ve been working on that, so I’m going to give you a little taste of the book proposal. This is the first page; where I must grab a publisher’s attention so completely that she is compelled to read the second page. See what you think. (Maybe add a comment about what a great ide... more »

The Weekly Update: NPEC gives out the Bunkum Awards for bad studies, Duncan gets an “F” on education equity, Edushyter’s Eduttantes and much, much more | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

The Weekly Update: NPEC gives out the Bunkum Awards for bad studies, Duncan gets an “F” on education equity, Edushyter’s Eduttantes and much, much more | Seattle Education: The Weekly Update: NPEC gives out the Bunkum Awards for bad studies, Duncan gets an “F” on education equity, Edushyter’s Eduttantes and much, much more by seattleducation2011 [image: A protester at the Rhee event in Seattle.] A protester at the Rhee event in Seattle. We definitely had a better time outside than the audience did inside on Tuesday evening at the Rhee event. In fact, some members of the audience, a... more »

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Voucher Expansion: “Walker’s voucher plan goes too far, too fast” | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Voucher Expansion: “Walker’s voucher plan goes too far, too fast” | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Voucher Expansion: “Walker’s voucher plan goes too far, too fast” by millerlf http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/walkers-voucher-plan-goes-too-far-too-fast-ee8rbqm-191911461.html We urge the Legislature to substantially modify the governor’s plan or kill it outright. Feb. 19, 2013 MJS Editorial We have long supported choice in public education. We still believe that, despite its flaws, the Milwaukee Parental Ch... more »

Engaging Parents In School… » My Best Posts On Parent “Academies” & “Universities”

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Engaging Parents In School… » My Best Posts On Parent “Academies” & “Universities”: My Best Posts On Parent “Academies” & “Universities” by Larry Ferlazzo Parent “universities” or “academies” seem to be all the rage these days, with school districts organizing these trainings typically to help parents understand how the school works. I’ve written plenty of posts about these types of programs, and have been critical of many of them. They tend to fall on the parent “involvement” side of things instead of the “engagement” side. Parents usually don’t participate in determining their ... more »

Blue Jersey:: NJ Education Round-Up for 2/23/13

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Blue Jersey:: NJ Education Round-Up for 2/23/13: NJ Education Round-Up for 2/23/13 by Jersey Jazzman *Here's the plan: each Saturday, I'll have a round-up of the week's education news in New Jersey. I'm hoping this is the place all you non-eduwonky "dirty hippies" go to get your Garden State education news in one easily digestible post.Of course, I will be shamelessly linking to my own blog, Jersey Jazzman. But I'll also be relying heavily onMother Crusader's Darcie Cimarusti, NJ Farmer Blog's Bob Grundfest, the Education Law Center's News Page,NJ Spotlight, Rutgers professor Br... more »