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Sunday, March 3, 2013

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-3-13 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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Hear John Kuhn Speaking Candidly

John Kuhn is recognized among many educators as our most eloquent spokesman, a champion of students, educators, and public school.
Here he is interviewed on “The Chalkface,” speaking as he always does, from the heart

What Happened in Alabama: The GOP Coup

The Republicans in Alabama are not usually thought of as the guardians of minority children, the poor, and oppressed. Last week, they slipped through a bill that allows tax credits for private and religious schools. The cover story is that it is “for the children.” The reality is that it is intended to destroy public education and support privatization.
Here is the story of how it happened.
Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst hailed the secretive legislation.

Your Child’s Data: Now Online

Crack investigative journalist Stephanie Simon has done it again. In this article, she describes the $100 million plan to collect confidential student data and put it into a giant database.
Simon writes:
“In operation just three months, the database already holds files on millions of children identified by name, address and sometimes social security number. Learning disabilities are documented, test scores recorded, 

Mother Crusader Calls on Charter School to Stop the Smear Campaign

Mother Crusader, a tireless New Jersey mom, discovered a p.r. campaign against those who criticize the siting of charter schools in their community.
The campaign charges that citizens who contacted their public officials to oppose the charter in question were illegally “colluding” against the charter.
The citizens in question–members of Save Our Schools New Jersey– are being sued by the foundation that 

Children’s Privacy: Gone Forever?

Sheila Kaplan of Education New York is a tireless advocate for the privacy rights of children and families.
Those rights are now under serious threat, since the U.S. Department of Education decided to change the regulations that protect them (FERPA).
She suggests you read the following:
Software Industries NPRM to US ED abou

Gary Rubinstein’s Brilliant Idea to Fix TFA

Gary Rubinstein has a brilliant idea to make TFA teachers better. His big complaint about TFA is that the organization doesn’t prepare its teachers for a real classroom. They get five weeks of training in the summer, practice teaching for only a few hours in front of small classes, and then take on large classes in poor schools where they confront class management issues that they can’t handle.
Spoiler alert: Gary says they should start their training the day after they graduate college, working as subs in 

Diane in the Evening 3-2-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Oregon: Fight to Protect Student Privacy Rules by dianerav This parent warns that BIG DATA is working its way into the schools, not only in Oregon but across the nation. Why do they want to know everything about your child? The most likely reason: for marketing stuff to them. We have already learned about the collaboration between the Gates Foundation and Rupert Murdoch to collect student data. Parents in Louisiana are worried about this. So should parents in New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky... more »

 LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 3-2-13 #SOSCHAT

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Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch