Teacher:Preparing My Students for Failure
By now, everyone has been duly warned that the new Common Core tests will be “harder.”
The passing rates are expected to drop by 30%.
Advocates of privatization are excited and hoping the bad news will encourage parents to abandon their community schools.
Entrepreneurs are poised to sell stuff when everyone is desperate for the latest new thing.
But what about the kids?
This teacher describes what she sees in her classes: fear.
“I have been chatting with my classes explaining that we expect the tests to be tougher and that we are taking
The passing rates are expected to drop by 30%.
Advocates of privatization are excited and hoping the bad news will encourage parents to abandon their community schools.
Entrepreneurs are poised to sell stuff when everyone is desperate for the latest new thing.
But what about the kids?
This teacher describes what she sees in her classes: fear.
“I have been chatting with my classes explaining that we expect the tests to be tougher and that we are taking
A Broad Connection to the Atlanta Scandal?
This commentary, written two years ago, connects the dots.
The Atlanta school board was trained by the Broad Foundation.
Key officials were trained by Broad. Beverly Hall was not a graduate of Broad’s unaccredited training academy but she was sufficiently in step to speak at Broad training conferences, get Broad funding, and Broad-trained helpers. And she absorbed the Broad message that tests scores=performance, and nothing else matters.
The Broad philosophy, as best it can be deciphered from afar, is management by targets. Goal-setting. It is a business plan, not an educational vision for children. As Eli Broad once said, “I know nothing about curriculum
The Atlanta school board was trained by the Broad Foundation.
Key officials were trained by Broad. Beverly Hall was not a graduate of Broad’s unaccredited training academy but she was sufficiently in step to speak at Broad training conferences, get Broad funding, and Broad-trained helpers. And she absorbed the Broad message that tests scores=performance, and nothing else matters.
The Broad philosophy, as best it can be deciphered from afar, is management by targets. Goal-setting. It is a business plan, not an educational vision for children. As Eli Broad once said, “I know nothing about curriculum
Where Does Michelle Rhee Live?
Michelle Rhee keeps raising interesting questions. It is hard to ignore her, because she is the face of the corporate reform movement, the one who goes on television to complain about the huge numbers of “bad” teachers and the importance of weakening or eliminating collective bargaining and the great value of privatizing public schools. Apparently, despite her four years in D.C., plus the additional years of her deputy Kaya Henderson, the District of Columbia still has way too many “bad” teachers because it continues to be at the bottom of NAEP rankings. When will we see D.C. rise to the top as Rhee predicted?
Is she a public school parent? Yes, one daughter attends a public magnet school, and the other attends an elite
Is she a public school parent? Yes, one daughter attends a public magnet school, and the other attends an elite
L.A. Teacher: Is Reform a “Rich Folks’ Hoax”
Barbara Stam describes what passes for “reform” as “the rich folks hoax.”
The hoax is the idea that constant testing and test prep improves education.
This is a hoax.
It is not for their children.
But it is good enough for other people’s children.
So what if the teachers of art and music and PE lose their jobs?
Someone else can do it, even though it is not their subject.
It is good enough for other people’s children.
The hoax is the idea that constant testing and test prep improves education.
This is a hoax.
It is not for their children.
But it is good enough for other people’s children.
So what if the teachers of art and music and PE lose their jobs?
Someone else can do it, even though it is not their subject.
It is good enough for other people’s children.
In Texas, It is “Bidness As Usual”
One of the most adamant critics of the Texas legislation to reduce the number of tests that students must take to graduate happens to own franchises for Sylvan Learning Centers, which offer test preparation and tutoring.
Was it a conflict of interest? No, he said, everybody votes on things that affect their self-interest.
He was just concerned about keeping standards high.
In Texas, that is known as “bidness as usual.”
Was it a conflict of interest? No, he said, everybody votes on things that affect their self-interest.
He was just concerned about keeping standards high.
In Texas, that is known as “bidness as usual.”
The Walton Story: Link Added
Thanks to a reader for pointing out that I forgot to add the link in this story about a brave columnist in Arkansas who dares to criticize the Walton hegemony.
Here is the post. I added the missing link. Please read it.
Here is the post. I added the missing link. Please read it.
A Wise Connecticut Journalist Figures It Out
Those who understand the dangers of privatization and the fraud perpetrated when charters claim they do a better job with “the same kids” can take heart whenever someone in the mainstream media sees what is happening.
Here is a journalist in the Connecticut Post who has figured out what is going on. The charters are skimming the
Here is a journalist in the Connecticut Post who has figured out what is going on. The charters are skimming the
Proof That Independent Thought Survives in Arkansas
The Waltons, with their vast fortune, dominate the political life in their home state of Arkansas.
They use that vast wealth to promote market-based schooling and to undermine public education across the nation and even beyond.
But here is proof positive that they don’t own everyone in Arkansas.
Bravo to freedom of thought and expression!
Bravo to brave dissidents!
Keep thought alive in America, even in Arkansas.
They use that vast wealth to promote market-based schooling and to undermine public education across the nation and even beyond.
But here is proof positive that they don’t own everyone in Arkansas.
Bravo to freedom of thought and expression!
Bravo to brave dissidents!
Keep thought alive in America, even in Arkansas.
G.F. Brandenburg: Atlanta Details Remind Him of D.C. Details
Count on G.F. Brandenburg to read the fine print, have a long memory, and share what he has learned with his readers.
The excerpts from the Atlanta indictments may remind you of the PBS Frontline special about Michelle Rhee. Remember how she interviewed each principal and asked, “How many points will your scores go up?” “What can
The excerpts from the Atlanta indictments may remind you of the PBS Frontline special about Michelle Rhee. Remember how she interviewed each principal and asked, “How many points will your scores go up?” “What can
What Do Katrina, Camden, and Chicago Have in Common?
This just arrived in the morning email
It is a question for a multiple-choice test.
Write your own.
Here goes:
I am part of a small group of educators (hoping to grow teacher and parent awareness – via our facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Educators-United-to-Protect-Public-Education/350194368424508 – where – among other articles – we have been transcribing and posting YouTube “homerun” statements that you have made via speaking venues).
Anyway, here are my simple thoughts and a sample standardized question:
————————————————————-
Does history repeat itself? You bet!
It is a question for a multiple-choice test.
Write your own.
Here goes:
I am part of a small group of educators (hoping to grow teacher and parent awareness – via our facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Educators-United-to-Protect-Public-Education/350194368424508 – where – among other articles – we have been transcribing and posting YouTube “homerun” statements that you have made via speaking venues).
Anyway, here are my simple thoughts and a sample standardized question:
————————————————————-
Does history repeat itself? You bet!
The Victims of the Atlanta Cheating Scandal
According to the story in the New York Times, the schools in Atlanta where the scores soared lost federal aid for struggling learners. One school where cheating is alleged lost $750,000 that could have been used for reduce class size and to provide enrichment classes and tutoring. And that was only one school among many.
The rise in scores gained Beverly Hall a bonus of $500,000.
That must be one of the strategies that the Atlanta school board learned when they received training by the Broad Foundation about reaching targets and using incentives to succeed.
Remember the stories about the “New York City miracle”? That’s when the passing rates went up so fast and so
The rise in scores gained Beverly Hall a bonus of $500,000.
That must be one of the strategies that the Atlanta school board learned when they received training by the Broad Foundation about reaching targets and using incentives to succeed.
Remember the stories about the “New York City miracle”? That’s when the passing rates went up so fast and so
Parent to NYC Official: Stop the Intimidation!
Last year, Jeff Nichols and his wife Ann Stone wrote an article that appeared in the New York Times about taking the “practice” version of the third-grade English language arts test. The test was sent home with one of their children as “vacation homework,” an oxymoron in itself.
Both college professors, they did it for fun with two friends. All have Ph.D.s. they couldn’t agree on the right answers and concluded the test was ridiculous. They became activists in the opt-out movement.
Recently, Jeff wrote a high-ranking official at the New York City Department of Education to inform him that his children will not be taking the tests this spring. The official (who was once an anti-testing activist when he was a
Both college professors, they did it for fun with two friends. All have Ph.D.s. they couldn’t agree on the right answers and concluded the test was ridiculous. They became activists in the opt-out movement.
Recently, Jeff wrote a high-ranking official at the New York City Department of Education to inform him that his children will not be taking the tests this spring. The official (who was once an anti-testing activist when he was a
Rochester Teachers Union: Common Core Sets Us Up for Failure
The Rochester Teachers Union is running an ad campaign against the Common Core testing.
The state education department predicts that scores will drop by 30 percent.
“It’s a setup for failure,” said John Pavone of the Rochester Teachers Association. Teachers are worried they will be evaluated based on a curriculum that was rolled out this year. “They’re going to blame me if the kids can’t pass the test and the kids can’t pass the test. It’s set up in such a way that you can’t pass the test.”
The state education department predicts that scores will drop by 30 percent.
“It’s a setup for failure,” said John Pavone of the Rochester Teachers Association. Teachers are worried they will be evaluated based on a curriculum that was rolled out this year. “They’re going to blame me if the kids can’t pass the test and the kids can’t pass the test. It’s set up in such a way that you can’t pass the test.”
The Atlanta Investigation: The Documents
Erich Martel of D.C. posted the documents from the Atlanta investigation.
“These are the four Atlanta Public School (APS) Investigation Report documents:
There are some unexpected surprises. Supt. Hall hired two “experts” to do a review of a few schools in response to concerns. One is a well-known consultant, author of “Unpacking the Standards.” His report was very approving
“These are the four Atlanta Public School (APS) Investigation Report documents:
There are some unexpected surprises. Supt. Hall hired two “experts” to do a review of a few schools in response to concerns. One is a well-known consultant, author of “Unpacking the Standards.” His report was very approving
Di Carlo: The Camden Takeover
Matt D Carlo evaluates Néw Jersey’s
decision to take over the Camden school district.
Di Carlo says it may have been justified or not.
But state officials did not make their case.
Sounds like Chris Cerf should hire a statistician.
decision to take over the Camden school district.
Di Carlo says it may have been justified or not.
But state officials did not make their case.
Sounds like Chris Cerf should hire a statistician.
NYC Official Responds to Parent
I posted earlier today a letter from a parent to a high-level NYC official, complaining about the city’s threat to cut the school’s funding if too many children opted out of state testing.
What do you think the official replied: we must follow the law. We must do as we are told.
Don’t you long to hear a governor or mayor or superintendent say to the parent: You are right. The law is idiotic. We will join you in a mass action of civil disobedience.
Don’t expect to hear it from anyone who works for the testing-obsessed Bloomberg administration. This is a
What do you think the official replied: we must follow the law. We must do as we are told.
Don’t you long to hear a governor or mayor or superintendent say to the parent: You are right. The law is idiotic. We will join you in a mass action of civil disobedience.
Don’t expect to hear it from anyone who works for the testing-obsessed Bloomberg administration. This is a
Diane in the Evening 3-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Breaking News: Former Atlanta Superintendent Indicted by dianerav A report in the New York Times says that Dr. Beverly L. Hall was indicted by a grand jury for her role in the Atlanta cheating scandal. The story says, in part: *“Investigators laid blame for the biggest standardized-test cheating scandal in the country’s history on the superintendent, Dr. Hall, who led the 50,000-student school system from 1999 until her resignation in 2011. Dr. Hall, who was hailed as National Superintendent of the Year in 2009... more »
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