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Friday, March 1, 2013

Diane in the Evening 3-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:






Should Teachers Be Armed?

I must begin by saying this is satire.
If I don’t, some readers will take it seriously.
It was written by Paul Karrer, an elementary teacher in California.
He is responding to the demand from some quarters that teachers should be armed.
Read here and see what Paul thinks.

Will You Say This to Your School Board?

John Stoffel went to his school board in Indiana and delivered this message. Would you do the same in your district?

Stoffel said:

A little over two months ago, tragedy unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary.  By the next school day, my school had safeguarded every reasonable security measure.  Today, our district is still hammering out policy to best 

What Mayor Bloomberg Wants More Than Anything in the Schools

Mayor Bloomberg believes that having a high-quality teacher is crucial, and most people would agree with him.
Mayor Bloomberg also thinks that class size is unimportant, and most parents and teachers would disagree with him.
In the past, he said that he would be happy if he could double the class size and double teachers’ salaries, thus 


Why NYC Closes High Schools But Shouldn’t

The New York Times published a page one story about the closing of the Jonathan M. Levin High School in the Bronx. The school was opened ten years ago to commemorate the life and tragic death of a young teacher who happened to be the son of the CEO of AOL Time Warner. He was murdered by some of his students, who came to his apartment (he let them know that they were always welcome), murdered him, stole his credit cards, and his ATM card.
After a promising start, the school went into decline. As in most other closing schools, most of its students are black, Hispanic, poor, English language learners, and/or in need of special education. Where will these students 

Join NYC Protest Against Closing Schools: March 3

Most of the public schools that are closed enroll disproportionate numbers of students who are black, brown, poor, English-language learners, and in special education.
These kids get pushed from school to school because schools are graded by their test scores and they don’t want to take risky students, if they can avoid it.
This is wrong!
Insist that school officials take responsibility for all children!
Hold school officials accountable!
Accountability begins at the top!
Insist on equality of educational opportunity!
These kids don’t need closed schools. They need small classes, extra resources, a full curriculum, experienced teachers, wraparound services, and a school system that cares about every one of them.
If you are in New York City, join the march and protest on Sunday in Harlem:

Senator Bill Perkins, 30th District
Invites You To a Coalition and Movement
Against Public School Closings and Charter School Co-locations


Senator Bill Perkins’ Coalition and Movement
March 3, 2013 (Sunday), 2:00 p.m.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, WE WILL BE HEARD!
Join us, your fellow supporters, parents, teachers and students
from districts 3, 4, 5 and 6 for this amazing opportunity to be effectively HEARD and to be UNITED
For questions/information please call Cordell Cleare @ 212-222-7315
Date: March 3, 2013
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Where: State Office Building
163 West 125th Street, Suite 912



Great News from San Diego!

The San Diego school board has selected a highly respected, successful elementary school principal as its new superintendent.
Cindy Marten runs a terrific school that is child-centered and community-centered.
It is an exemplar of the San Diego concept of community-based school reform.
When I was in San Diego last year, the superintendent Bill Kowba made sure that I 

Does Effectiveness Matter? Or Profit?

A reader in New Mexico shares this information.
If the state commission does a study of effectiveness, the virtual charter schools will never win approval.
Here is the comment:
I thought this might be of interest to you. I live in New Mexico and recently our Public Education Commission denied the charter application for a new charter that will contract with Connections Academy.
Our Secretary of Education Designate Hanna Skandera (she has held the position for nearly 3 years, but has not gained senate approval because she doesn’t actually meet the criteria set forth by the constitution) overruled 


LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] PTA Mom Explains Why She Marched to Save Public Schools by dianerav Kim Burkett went to Austin with her children to speak out for public schools and her community. She noticed there were two different rallies. On one side of the building was a school choice rally, advocating for vouchers, attended by 30 people, including lobbyists. On the other side were thousands of parents, students, grandparents, and educators. Read her account. It gives a good portrait of th... more »