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Saturday, March 23, 2013

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-23-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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

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News from the Network for Public Education

Here is the most recent newsletter of the Network for Public Education.
It contains a clear statement of principles: what we are for and what we oppose.
Please read and forward to your friends.
If you belong to a group that is fighting for public schools, send them a copy of the newsletter and ask them to join us as an ally in the struggle to beat back corporate reform, privatization, mass school closings, and the punitive use of testing to stigmatize children, teachers, and schools.

TFA Mentor Speaks Out

David Greene mentors many young TFA recruits in the New York City public schools. They need his help because they are assigned to some of the city’s toughest schools. He made this comment in response to an earlier post about how Nevada hopes to replace some of its career teachers with TFA youngsters.
David Greene writes:
Another business plan – not education policy.
This has become the (hopefully unintended) consequence of TFA.
It has a become a scab organization to allow this type of political maneuvering and make teaching a “temp” job 

Social Studies Teacher: Common Core Threatened by Hasty Implementation

Stephen Lazar, a National Board Certified Teacher in New York City, was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the Common Core. He is worried now about the speed other which the standards are being pushed into the schools.

Governor Malloy Abandons Equitable Funding Plan in Connecticut

In this important article, civil rights attorney explains how Governor Malloy switched sides on the funding formula for Connecticut public schools.
What hypocrisy! As mayor of Stamford, he was a plaintiff in the lawsuit. As governor, he now opposes the views he once espoused.
Lecker writes:
“As Stamford’s mayor, Dannel Malloy was an original plaintiff in the pending school funding case, The 

How ALEC Influenced Legislation in New Jersey

This article gives an excellent overview of the ALEC education agenda and shows how states–in this case, New Jersey–copy the ALEC model legislation almost verbatim.

An Open Letter to Governor Scott

The recent MetLife survey of the American teacher showed a high level of demoralization among the Marion’s teachers. For those wondering why, read on.
John Louis Meeks Jr. Is a Florida social studies teacher. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He wrote an open letter to Governor Scott to protest the disrespect shown to the state’s teachers. He points out that the Starr’s evaluation system makes no sense.
Governor Scott, please listen to Mr. Meeks:
Dear Governor Scott,
I have been teaching gifted social studies for over ten years in Florida and never have I experienced the type o

Venice High School: How Do You Choose to Die?

Yesterday I wrote a post about a decision by the Los Angeles school board to reject Steve Barr’s request to put a “pilot school” in Venice High School. Presumably the rejection was influenced by a massive outpouring of opposition by parents and students. Barr is an entrepreneur, not an educator. He started Green Dot charter schools but resigned over a financial issue involving misuse of school funds.
Thus far, I have had to rely on accounts from local parents about what is happening in Venice because the story has gotten almost no media attention, other than an incomplete blog entry at the Los Angeles Times.
This comment just in on the fate of Venice High School.
The writer says:

Diane in the Evening 3-22-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: What Matters Most: Neighborhoods or Schools? by dianerav I have to take my hat off to Jersey Jazzman. He has endless patience to read the tendentious “studies” produced by corporate reformers with the intent of proving that poverty doesn’t matter. Here he takes on another one, asserting that “quality” teachers trump everything. There is a simple way to prove the proposition. Why not take the entire staff of New Jersey’s highest performing A Long Hot Summer in 2013? by dianerav Philadelphia journalist Will Bu... more »