California Tightens Rules for Teacher Interns
In a move clearly intended to require greater supervision of Teach for America, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing tightened the rules about the training and supervision of interns.
At hearings, civil rights groups argued that it was unfair to put poorly trained interns in charge of students with high-needs, especially English-language learners and students with disabilities. Suporters of TFA argued the other side, claiming that the rules were simply bureaucratic hurdles. The “reformers,” in other words, demanded lower standards for those who teach the neediest children.
This excerpt from the article shows the two sides at their best:
“For us, it’s a fundamental issue of equity and a constitutional right to equal educational resources,” said Tiffany
At hearings, civil rights groups argued that it was unfair to put poorly trained interns in charge of students with high-needs, especially English-language learners and students with disabilities. Suporters of TFA argued the other side, claiming that the rules were simply bureaucratic hurdles. The “reformers,” in other words, demanded lower standards for those who teach the neediest children.
This excerpt from the article shows the two sides at their best:
“For us, it’s a fundamental issue of equity and a constitutional right to equal educational resources,” said Tiffany
UNO Charters in Chicago Will Allow Unions
The UNO charter chain has been in the news lately and not for good reason.
Its number two official resigned amid accusations that he steered contracts worth millions to relatives–his own plus relatives of lobbyists who managed to help UNO get a $98 million state appropriation for three new buildings.
Now UNO is in the news again.
It has decided that it will allow its teachers at its 13 charters to join a union, if they want to.
Here is the funny line in the article:
“Typically, privately run charters hire non-union teachers, which supporters say
Its number two official resigned amid accusations that he steered contracts worth millions to relatives–his own plus relatives of lobbyists who managed to help UNO get a $98 million state appropriation for three new buildings.
Now UNO is in the news again.
It has decided that it will allow its teachers at its 13 charters to join a union, if they want to.
Here is the funny line in the article:
“Typically, privately run charters hire non-union teachers, which supporters say
Philly Will Close 23 Schools
The ax of privatization swings again, this time in Philadelphia, where 23 schools will close. More are on the chopping block.
Charter schools will continue to open, despite ongoing investigations and poor performance, as the city and state retreat from its responsibility for public education.
Charter schools will continue to open, despite ongoing investigations and poor performance, as the city and state retreat from its responsibility for public education.
Occupy the DOE: The Full Details
Here is the full schedule and details for the organized protest against corporate education reform and high-stakes testing on April 4-7 in Washington, D.C.
I will speak on Thursday afternoon.
There is a stellar lineup of speakers and events.
Please come to Washington if you can.
I will speak on Thursday afternoon.
There is a stellar lineup of speakers and events.
Please come to Washington if you can.
The Big Lie About New Orleans, Exposed
Mercedes Schneider here examines how the New Orleans Recovery School District has been falsely portrayed as a “miracle.”
It is an important national story, which the privatization movement has endlessly retold in hopes of persuading the American public that the problem with public schools is that they are democratically controlled. They want us to believe, as Arne Duncan once said, that Hurricane Katrina was the best thing that ever happened to education in New Orleans. It wiped out the public school system, destroyed the teachers’ union, and cleared the way for massive privatization.
It is an important national story, which the privatization movement has endlessly retold in hopes of persuading the American public that the problem with public schools is that they are democratically controlled. They want us to believe, as Arne Duncan once said, that Hurricane Katrina was the best thing that ever happened to education in New Orleans. It wiped out the public school system, destroyed the teachers’ union, and cleared the way for massive privatization.
Retiring Principal: Stop the Madness!
Months ago, I hailed Don Sternberg, the principal of Wantagh Elementary School in Long Island, New York, as a hero of public education. He spoke out loud and clear against the misuse of standardized tests to evaluate students, teachers, principals, and schools.
Please read the letter below, in which he educates the parents of his students about the statistical madness that
Please read the letter below, in which he educates the parents of his students about the statistical madness that
Why Not Vouchers for Special Education Students?
One of the model laws promoted by ALEC creates vouchers for students with disabilities.
ALEC is the far-right group that brings together big corporations and very conservative state legislators to figure out strategies to advance privatization and protect corporate interests. ALEC does not like public education, does not like regulation, does not like unions, and does not like teacher professionalism. It likes vouchers, charters, online learning, all as unregulated as possible, and teachers who can enter the classroom with little or
ALEC is the far-right group that brings together big corporations and very conservative state legislators to figure out strategies to advance privatization and protect corporate interests. ALEC does not like public education, does not like regulation, does not like unions, and does not like teacher professionalism. It likes vouchers, charters, online learning, all as unregulated as possible, and teachers who can enter the classroom with little or
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-10-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] What a Professional Teacher Preparation Program Looks Like by dianerav One of the worst sins of Teach for America is that it has convinced politicians and corporate leaders that teachers need little or no professional preparation. Unlike doctors, lawyers, social workers, architects, engineers, or any other profession, teachers are allegedly well prepared to teach simply by holding a college degree and getting five weeks of training. In any other profession, this... more »