A “Push Poll” by University of Chicago and Tribune to Support Rahm Agenda
Have you ever gotten one of those seemingly innocuous phone calls where the caller asks if you will participate in a survey? You know, market research or social science.
Here is a fascinating account of a “push poll” that starts off innocuous and then turns into advocacy for Mayor Rahm Emanel’s agenda of privatization and teacher-bashing.
Was the caller really working for the University of Chicago? Who knows?
They called the wrong person. He knew too much.
Here is a fascinating account of a “push poll” that starts off innocuous and then turns into advocacy for Mayor Rahm Emanel’s agenda of privatization and teacher-bashing.
Was the caller really working for the University of Chicago? Who knows?
They called the wrong person. He knew too much.
Charter Scandal In New Jersey
The LEAP charter school in Camden, New Jersey, is now caught up in allegations of incompetence, cronyism, and abuse, reports Jersey Jazzman.
The finances of the school are a mess, its academic performance is poor, yet State Commissioner of Education showers it with praise. It’s problems are long-standing, but the department close to ignore them. Just last fall,
The finances of the school are a mess, its academic performance is poor, yet State Commissioner of Education showers it with praise. It’s problems are long-standing, but the department close to ignore them. Just last fall,
Oklahoma Chief Channels Jeb Bush
Coach Bob Sikes in Florida knows how phony that state’s A-F grading system is. (This was confirmed recently by Matt Di Carlo of the Shanker Institute, who pointed out that the state changed the system to improve the results.)
Now he finds that Oklahoma State Superintendent Janet Barresi is copying the Jeb Bush playbook.
This is hardly surprising because she is a member of the Jeb Bush group of rightwing state superintendents called “Chiefs for Change.”
Barresi wants Oklahoma to grade its schools with a simple-minded A-F grade, just like Jeb Bush did. If Jeb did
Now he finds that Oklahoma State Superintendent Janet Barresi is copying the Jeb Bush playbook.
This is hardly surprising because she is a member of the Jeb Bush group of rightwing state superintendents called “Chiefs for Change.”
Barresi wants Oklahoma to grade its schools with a simple-minded A-F grade, just like Jeb Bush did. If Jeb did
Naison: A Letter from a New Teacher
Mark Naison received a letter from a first-year teacher who is working in a school that the New York City Department of Education is closing because of low test scores. How would you advise this teacher?
This is the letter Naison received:
“I wanted to touch base with you about the chaotic and seemingly fatal
status of my school. Tonight, I attended a Joint Public Hearing between
the DOE and the School Leadership Team, along with an opportunity for
public comment. All 3 proposals that were introduced [all including
This is the letter Naison received:
“I wanted to touch base with you about the chaotic and seemingly fatal
status of my school. Tonight, I attended a Joint Public Hearing between
the DOE and the School Leadership Team, along with an opportunity for
public comment. All 3 proposals that were introduced [all including
Will This New Teacher Survive?
One of the great myths of the current corporate reform movement is that they want to elevate the teaching profession. They want to change it so that future teachers are drawn from the top third of their college graduating class. They advocate merit pay tied to test scores to create high-paying positions (always a small minority of all teachers). They push to fire teachers whose students get low scores or see small changes in their scores (even though researchers find that such teachers usually are teaching students with disabilities, or ELLs, or gifted students). They insist on eliminating all job protections for teachers, presumably to make it easier to fire those they consider laggards (and at the same time, removing any academic freedom from teachers). They demand longer working days and longer school years. Will their ideas make teaching more or less attractive to those they expect to attract into teaching? It seems impossible to imagine that they can elevate the teaching profession by their methods, their rhetoric, and their indifference to teachers’ voices.
A reader commented in response to an earlier post:
What the Public Needs to Know about Teaching
As a first-time commenter, I need to preface with how grateful I feel for Diane’s tireless advocacy (and blogging)
A reader commented in response to an earlier post:
What the Public Needs to Know about Teaching
As a first-time commenter, I need to preface with how grateful I feel for Diane’s tireless advocacy (and blogging)
What the Best and Wisest Parent Wants for His Child……
John Dewey wrote this great sentiment over a century ago:
“What the best and wisest parent wants for his child, that must we want for all the children of the community. Anything less is unlovely, and left unchecked, destroys our democracy.”
I do not begrudge any parent their decision to send their child to a private or religious school, so long as they pay for it themselves. What I object to is when parents choose a private school for its small classes, its experienced faculty, its wonderful curriculum, its great arts programs, and its freedom from standardized testing…..but advocate for something far different for other people’s children.
Instead of fighting to get comparable programs for public schools, they insist that other people’s children should
“What the best and wisest parent wants for his child, that must we want for all the children of the community. Anything less is unlovely, and left unchecked, destroys our democracy.”
I do not begrudge any parent their decision to send their child to a private or religious school, so long as they pay for it themselves. What I object to is when parents choose a private school for its small classes, its experienced faculty, its wonderful curriculum, its great arts programs, and its freedom from standardized testing…..but advocate for something far different for other people’s children.
Instead of fighting to get comparable programs for public schools, they insist that other people’s children should
How Governor Kasich Lied to Poor Kids in Appalachia
At a legislative hearing in Ohio, a representative of a high-poverty district asked whether state funding might help provide a basic education for the kids he represents.
Republican Representative Ryan Smith said:
“Olentangy schools have German 1,2 and 3, Jewelry 1, Ceramics 1, Sculpture 1, Stage Craft 1, Concert Orchestra,” said Smith. ”These are things that children of Appalachia don’t get exposed to.”
“I’m not asking for synchronized swimming or a swimming pool or anything extra. I’m not asking for violin lessons or cello lessons. What I want for is my kids is music. And art… just give them a basic education,” pleaded Smith.
State Rep Smith also tells the story of Symmes Valley School District where the Superintendent had to layoff
Republican Representative Ryan Smith said:
“Olentangy schools have German 1,2 and 3, Jewelry 1, Ceramics 1, Sculpture 1, Stage Craft 1, Concert Orchestra,” said Smith. ”These are things that children of Appalachia don’t get exposed to.”
“I’m not asking for synchronized swimming or a swimming pool or anything extra. I’m not asking for violin lessons or cello lessons. What I want for is my kids is music. And art… just give them a basic education,” pleaded Smith.
State Rep Smith also tells the story of Symmes Valley School District where the Superintendent had to layoff
Diane in the Evening 2-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Two Determined Moms in Indiana Take On Common Core by dianerav These days, parents and educators often feel powerless in the face of the powerful forces that are steamrolling them. In Indiana, two moms started a campaign against he Common Core standards. They started with small groups, then organized large ones, and eventually made their voices heard in the state legislature. The battle is far from over, but hey made an important point. This is still a democracy. Two informed citizens can make a difference. How One Man Makes a Difference by dianerav Tim ... more »