What Kind of Education Do “Reformers” Want for Their Kids?
Krazy TA asks a relevant question: Do reformers put their own children in no-excuses schools?
He writes:
The charterites/privatizers have toned it down a bit, but remember the electrifying mantra “we want to give poor kids the same education that rich kids get”? [chant in alternating patterns with "poverty is not destiny."]
All right then. Go to the websites of the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, Cranbrook, Harpeth Hall, Chicago Lab Schools, Sidwell Friends. If you don’t like my choices pick similar ones that suit your individual tastes. Read
He writes:
The charterites/privatizers have toned it down a bit, but remember the electrifying mantra “we want to give poor kids the same education that rich kids get”? [chant in alternating patterns with "poverty is not destiny."]
All right then. Go to the websites of the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, Cranbrook, Harpeth Hall, Chicago Lab Schools, Sidwell Friends. If you don’t like my choices pick similar ones that suit your individual tastes. Read
EduShyster Discovers Eduttantes
What is an “eduttante”?
Here is EduShyster’s definition:
“Eduttante: /ˌedjuˈtänt/
A shill or paid spokesperson advocating strict no-excuses charters for the urban communities in which he or she does not live. Related terms: educolonialist, whiteousness.”
The eduttante raves about the virtues of a strict, military-style school for “other people’s children.”
He or she would never send one’s own child to such a rigid, punitive school.
EduShyster points out that the leading advocate of lifting the cap on charters
Here is EduShyster’s definition:
“Eduttante: /ˌedjuˈtänt/
A shill or paid spokesperson advocating strict no-excuses charters for the urban communities in which he or she does not live. Related terms: educolonialist, whiteousness.”
The eduttante raves about the virtues of a strict, military-style school for “other people’s children.”
He or she would never send one’s own child to such a rigid, punitive school.
EduShyster points out that the leading advocate of lifting the cap on charters
Michelle Rhee’s Dishonorable Attack on the Garfield Teachers
In this brilliant essay, John Prosser dissects Michelle Rhee’s attack on the teachers of Garfield High School in Seattle.
The teachers decided unanimously to boycott the MAP test for their students.
On March 6, Rhee wrote (or someone in her organization wrote) an opinion piece in a Seattle newspaper making false claims about the teachers and what they were doing and why they were doing it.
She first refers to them as “union members,” not as teachers, immediately suggesting that they are acting from selfish motives, to do something that their union wants, rather than acting as teachers, in the best interest of their students.
She claims that the teachers don’t want to give the test because they don’t want to be evaluated, but the tests
The teachers decided unanimously to boycott the MAP test for their students.
On March 6, Rhee wrote (or someone in her organization wrote) an opinion piece in a Seattle newspaper making false claims about the teachers and what they were doing and why they were doing it.
She first refers to them as “union members,” not as teachers, immediately suggesting that they are acting from selfish motives, to do something that their union wants, rather than acting as teachers, in the best interest of their students.
She claims that the teachers don’t want to give the test because they don’t want to be evaluated, but the tests
Douglas County, CO: Destructive School Board
A teacher in Douglas County, Colorado, reports that the school board and superintendent are determined to wreck the public school system for which they are responsible.
The teacher writes:
I can’t begin to tell you how your sharing the information about the LA school district victory for kids is boosting the morale of fighters for public education in Douglas County, Colorado. We’re in a fight for our public school life here too. The school board elections in November will determine the future of our public schools.
The teacher writes:
I can’t begin to tell you how your sharing the information about the LA school district victory for kids is boosting the morale of fighters for public education in Douglas County, Colorado. We’re in a fight for our public school life here too. The school board elections in November will determine the future of our public schools.
Texas Will Cut Back on Testing Requirements
This is big news.
State Senator Dan Patrick, the chair of the Senate Education Committee in Texas, wants to reduce the number of tests needed to graduate from the current 15 to “only” four or five.
At present, students in Texas must pass 15 tests to graduate. Yes, you read that right: 15.
That is more testing than any other state in the nation.
Texas is test-mad.
Maybe it is because Pearson hired the best lobbyists in the state, led by the architect
State Senator Dan Patrick, the chair of the Senate Education Committee in Texas, wants to reduce the number of tests needed to graduate from the current 15 to “only” four or five.
At present, students in Texas must pass 15 tests to graduate. Yes, you read that right: 15.
That is more testing than any other state in the nation.
Texas is test-mad.
Maybe it is because Pearson hired the best lobbyists in the state, led by the architect
Diane in the Evening Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Corporate Reform in Idaho by dianerav A reader in Boise sends the following comment about the trial of Khan Academy videos, funded by the Albertson Foundation: From the article linked in Diane’s post: “The statewide pilot received $1.5 million for training, technology, technical assistance and assessment from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.” The Albertson Foundation has given over $500 million to Idaho schools over the years, but for the past few years its efforts have been devoted to promoting some... more »