Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 3-13-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2


Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE


CORPORATE ED REFORM




John Legend and the Well-Meaning Corporatists


Davis Guggenheim, John Legend, Michelle RheeDavis Guggenheim, John Legend, Michelle Rhee
Last Wednesday, Huffington Post Education’s Twitter feed tweeted this out:
John Legend: out to save schools? huff.to/14pCkEs
— HuffPostEducation (@HuffPostEdu) March 7, 2013

In the pithiest attempt at a response, I said “From what?”
After a more thorough read on all the school board races around the country, I noticed a disturbing trend of pundits funding their favorite candidates in influential districts. Places like Chicago, West Sacramento, and Los Angeles started getting funding from people like Michael BloombergMichelle Rhee, and, yes, John Legend.
John Legend’s presence in this debate particularly disturbs me because of the allure and seduction of having a 


Connecting the Dots on Equity

As a young child, I loved those connect-the-dots coloring books. Searching for the next number was sometimes tough (but not too tough) and it was fun to watch the picture emerge from what was, just a few minutes before, a messy array dots. I’ve been thinking of that a lot recently as I’ve read, and [...]


Senate Bills 35 and 1 may be voted on in the Illinois Senate. Call NOW!

Read John Dillon’s blog post. And Glen Brown’s. They’re linked right down on the right column of this blog.
Then call your State Senator. Tell them no way.
In fact, call first. Then read.
Action time folks.
Get off the Internet and pick up the phone.

Teacher remixed: 5 ways to change our profession

[Author's noteoriginally posted on Classroots.org.]
Maker @timmmyboy With More Pompadour Cc @drgarcia @leelzebub by giulia.forsytheMaker @timmmyboy With More Pompadour Cc @drgarcia @leelzebub by giulia.forsythe
I am keenly missing the #dml2013 fellowship this week. While I’m not quite writing Ignite talks that will never be heard (or drawing sad-face slides), sniffle, I am thinking a lot about how public school teachers, in particular, can make it safe for kids to participate meaningfully in their own educations. As I look forward to the videos of this year’s Ignite talks, I am also thinking back to last year’s talks. Specifically, I’m thinking of Nishant Shah’sfantastic talk on remix. (Harlem Shake = aura remix?)
As #DML2013 looks toward democratic futures, I look for democratic education and a remix of what it means to be a teacher – a remix that is a return (as Nishant might say) to the essence of teaching and learning both at 


Update on Student Data Mining and Privacy Issues

From Mark Garrison in DataGate Update: Press Conference on Student Privacy:

There will be a press conference regarding growing concerns about student privacy this Thursday. Background to the issue can be found here, in addition to my recent post opposing the initiative.

It appears the New York State Department of Education will be issuing a “field memo” regarding the issue to school personal throughout New York State in the near future, likely in response to growing public concern, a concern that seems to be at least in part a result of growing opposition to the anti-public school reform movement (even more testing, more corporate charters, more