2nd Banana 4-20-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #soschat #p2 #1u

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA 

RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST

#occupy All Live Streams #ows

All Live Streams:

OCCUPY STREAMS

• Occupy Wall Street NYC

• Occupy Wall Street - Global Revolution

• Occupy Italy

• Occupy Seattle

• Occupy Boston

• Occupy Madrid

• Occupy Wall Street Los Angeles

• Occupy London Stock Exchange

• Occupy Berlin - CastorTV

UPDATE: A teacher explains: Why I won’t resign + New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee | Get Schooled: A teacher explains: Why I won’t resign. A letter of resolution. by Maureen Downey [image: downeyart0401]I have shared some very passionate teacher resignation letters on the blog, including an incredible one from former local teacher Jordan Kohanim. (*If you missed her piece, read it here.*) But here is a letter from a teacher explaining why she is not resigning. New York teacher Christine McCartney published this letter on her terrific* “An Educator’s Re-education” blog.* McCartney has been at the Uni... more »

Contact Your Senators to Co-Sign Grassley’s Request to Halt Common Core Funding | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Contact Your Senators to Co-Sign Grassley’s Request to Halt Common Core Funding | Truth in American Education: Contact Your Senators to Co-Sign Grassley’s Request to Halt Common Core Funding by Shane Vander Hart [image: View of the Capitol from the Newseum] I reported at Caffeinated Thoughts that Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) office emailed me about a letter they were sending to the Senate Appropriations Committee on education to request that they prohibit future funding for the Common Core State Standards, their assessments, and the assessment review panel that was recently laun... more »

UPDATE: Voters send mixed signals to school reformers in L.A. + How closing schools hurts neighborhoods

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

How closing schools hurts neighborhoods: How closing schools hurts neighborhoods Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 6, 2013 at 6:00 am 0 Comments More [image: (thenotebook.org)] (thenotebook.org) On Thursday, the Philadelphia school district’s governing board, the School Reform Commission, will be voting on the most massive one-time downsizing of the system ever proposed. The district’s recently revised plan, which has encountered widespread community and teacher opposition, calls for closing 29 out of 239 district schools next fall – a step down from the original proposal to shutte... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-18-13 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: Karen Lewis Teaches Torah in Evanston by dianerav Karen Lewis taught a powerful lesson from the Torah at a synagogue in Evanston. This is the rabbi’s account of her moving reading of Numbers, in which she connects the Biblical story to recent events in Chicago. “Her portion, Shelach Lecha (Numbers 13:1-15:41) relates, among other things, the story of the twelve scouts send by by Moses to report on the Promised Land. Ten of them return with words of discouragement – they reported that they saw giants in the land.... more »

Pearson admits major errors in gifted and talented exam scoring | GothamSchools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Pearson admits major errors in gifted and talented exam scoring | GothamSchools: Pearson’s gifted test score errors affected thousands of families by Philissa Cramer In the latest in a series of embarrassing snafus, the testing company Pearson miscalculated thousands of city students’ scores on tests to screen for giftedness. According to the Department of Education, 2,698 children who were told they did not hit the city’s threshold for gifted and talented program eligibility actually made the cut. Another 2,037 children had scores high enough to apply to citywide gifted programs,... more »

[HIP] Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum - PLEASE JOIN US

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

[HIP] Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum - PLEASE JOIN US Dear Parents, Teachers and Community Members, We ask for your support by joining HIP, parents, students and other community members to share your experience in the fall-out of the school closures and map out our next steps to hold the Board accountable. Nearly two months after SCUSD voted to close seven schools in Sacramento's most vulnerable neighborhoods, families continue to struggle with the District's poorly developed transition plans. *Wrong-sizing Fall-out Forum* Wednesday, April 17 6:00 - 8:00 pm Lemon Hill Community Ro...more »

This resolution was passed today at the California Democratic Party Convention.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

*This resolution was passed today at the California Democratic Party Convention.* This is a resolution that is being brought forth at the California Democratic Convention this coming weekend. What kind of conversations do you think it will spark? Supporting California’s Public Schools and Dispelling the Corporate “Reform” Agenda Whereas, the reform initiatives of Students First, rely on destructive anti-educator policies that do nothing for students but blame educators and their unions for the ills of society, make testing the goal of education, shatter communities by closing ... more »

California Science Center is sued for canceling a film promoting intelligent design -- latimes.com

"California Science Center is sued for canceling a film promoting intelligent design

The American Freedom Alliance says the center bowed to pressure from the Smithsonian. The science center says a news release hadn't been submitted to the museum, violating the contract."

L.A.'s California Science Center will start the new year defending itself in court for canceling a documentary film attacking Charles Darwin's theory of 

2nd Banana 4-13-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA 

RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST

NYC Public School Parents: video: Occupy the DOE, talking about class size & big data

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: video: Occupy the DOE, talking about class size & big data: video: Occupy the DOE, talking about class size & big data by Leonie Haimson Talking about class size, the depersonalization of learning, Bill Gates, big data, Big Brother, inBloom Inc. and online learning on April 4, the first day of Occupy the US Department of Education in DC. Popout *A collection of links from Occupy the DOE 2.0 #uoodc13 – @ the chalk face* coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago A collection of links from Occupy the DOE 2.0 #uoodc13 – @ the chalk face: A collectio... more »

Pearson admits major errors in gifted and talented exam scoring | GothamSchools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Pearson admits major errors in gifted and talented exam scoring | GothamSchools: Pearson’s gifted test score errors affected thousands of families by Philissa Cramer In the latest in a series of embarrassing snafus, the testing company Pearson miscalculated thousands of city students’ scores on tests to screen for giftedness. According to the Department of Education, 2,698 children who were told they did not hit the city’s threshold for gifted and talented program eligibility actually made the cut. Another 2,037 children had scores high enough to apply to citywide gifted programs,... more »

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 4-19-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Diane in the Evening 4-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: *Oh Look Arne, a Picture of Diane Ravitch!* A Fawning Interview with Bill Gates by dianerav Read this and prepare to gag unless you are the president of your regional Bill Gates Fan Club. Did you know that Bill is warm and cuddly when he talks about how he plans to make US education the very best in the world without spending more? Don’t doubt for a minute that he knows how to do it. He has been reforming education for years, and think of all he has done. Well, let’s see, there is….. The article begins: “Afte... more »

Randi Weingarten's Pension Veto - WSJ.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Review & Outlook: Randi Weingarten's Pension Veto - WSJ.com: *Randi Weingarten's Pension Veto* The teachers union chief tries to blackball hedge funds that support school reform. Public pension funds are frantically chasing higher yields to reduce their roughly $3 trillion in unfunded liabilities. But don't tell that to Randi Weingarten, the teachers union el supremo, who is trying to strong-arm pension trustees not to invest in hedge funds or private-equity funds that support education reform. That's the remarkable story that emerged this week as the American Federation of Tea... more »

Leading PBL Schoolwide? Tips to Get Started — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Leading PBL Schoolwide? Tips to Get Started — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Andrew Miller]Leading PBL Schoolwide? Tips to Get Started April 19, 2013 by Andrew Miller Many schools are making major changes in structures and professional development (PD) to make sure teachers are implementing effective project-based learning (PBL) schoolwide. I've been honored personally to be part of that journey with many schools. I have seen many different kinds of PBL schools, and with it, many kinds of PBL projects. This work has also reaffirmed the belief that the principal ... more »

Criminalizing Children at School - NYTimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Criminalizing Children at School - NYTimes.com: Criminalizing Children at SchoolBy THE EDITORIAL BOARD The National Rifle Association and President Obama responded to the Newtown, Conn., shootings by recommending that more police officers be placed in the nation’s schools. But a growing body of research suggests that, contrary to popular wisdom, a larger police presence in schools generally does little to improve safety. It can also create a repressive environment in which children are arrested or issued summonses for minor misdeeds — like cutting class or talking back — that once... more »

UPDATE: Indiana C of C History of Backing Poor Education Policy + Ohio House Strips PARCC Funding from Budget | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Ohio House Strips PARCC Funding from Budget | Truth in American Education: Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s History of Backing Poor Education Policy by Erin Tuttle [image: Indiana Chamber of Commerce]The Indiana Chamber of Commerce promotes itself as a steward for the people and businesses of Indiana. No doubt it has done a lot of good for the state. But its support of the Common Core, a new national set of K-12 academic standards and tests in math and English, isn’t doing Indiana any favors. The Chamber has a poor track record on education issues. From *A Nation at Risk* in 1986, thr... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-19-13 AM Posts 

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

UPDATE: GUEST POST: Nipping Dissent + ANNOUNCEMENT: At the Chalk Face and Schools Matter to join forces – @ the chalk face

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

ANNOUNCEMENT: At the Chalk Face and Schools Matter to join forces – @ the chalk face: GUEST POST: Nipping Dissent, By Edwin Mayorga and Julie Gorlewski by plthomasedd Nipping Dissent: The Hollow Centrality of Neoliberal Democracy and Multiculturalism By Edwin Mayorga and Julie Gorlewski (with support from reclaimAERA) “I am weary of the abuse of social media by writers hurling anonymous, venomous insults—a practice that encourages the general retreat to intellectual neighborhoods. Our work and our interactions with one another should model productive conversation about the nature ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: NYT: More cops in schools wrong approach to school safety

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: NYT: More cops in schools wrong approach to school safety: NYT: More cops in schools wrong approach to school safety by Mike Klonsky Thank you, New York Times Editorial Board, for affirming what many of us have been arguing for years. School violence is not mainly a policing problem, and adding more cops in schools doesn't make those schools any safer. Instead, it tends to criminalize students, especially students of color, and raises the expectation of violence, contributing to a culture that is antithetical to teaching and learning. According to ... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-18-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE* * * ** *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Chicago Students Organizing to Save Our Schools Like This Page · about an hour ago Now is the time to fight for what is right. It's never to late to go back to the times of building- NOT destroying! Support the Chicago Students Organizing to Save our Schools on a student-led city-wide Boycott on April 24TH (2ND Day of PSAE) to send the message to Rahm Emanuel and CPS Board of Education- that CPS students are Under-resourced, Over Tested, and Fed UP! Now is the time to fight for what is right! CSOS... more »

MichelleRhee is the fault of the teacher unions. Just ask John Merrow. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

MichelleRhee is the fault of the teacher unions. Just ask John Merrow. | Fred Klonsky: Michelle Rhee is the fault of the teacher unions. Just ask John Merrow. by Fred Klonsky [image: john_merrow]John Merrow is freakin’ unbelievable. The guy once was in love with MichelleRhee.* *While I don’t think my reporting for the NewsHour was puffery, we did produce twelve (!) pieces about her efforts over the 40 months — about two hours of primetime coverage. That’s an awful lot of attention.* *Did anyone else get that much air time from us? Well, yes, we also produced twelve reports about Pa... more »

New York ELA day 3 more #pearson & #NYSED fail – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

New York ELA day 3 more #pearson & #NYSED fail – @ the chalk face: New York ELA day 3 more #pearson & #NYSED fail by Chris Cerrone [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] Here are some early updates: - *Nike sneakers in 6th grade reading passage. * Our children face enough commercialization in their lives as it is. We do not need this is our schools. I guess we can call the passages *“Infomercial texts”* (credit to Leonie for that quote) - From the NY Post on product placement. ( Yeah, I know) The future of our schools thanks to Common Core? Or are they the “Corporate ... more »

Leaders Develop Leaders — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Leaders Develop Leaders — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Steven Weber]Leaders Develop Leaders April 18, 2013 by Steven Weber Do you remember your first year in the classroom? It was an adrenaline rush everyday! We wanted to change the world, inspire students to become great, support struggling students, establish our own reputations as excellent teachers, and earn the respect of our colleagues. I would not trade my first year of teaching for other opportunities. Whether we recognize it or not, the first several years of teaching and administration focus on pers... more »

Who Created “Michelle Rhee”? | Taking Note

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Who Created “Michelle Rhee”? | Taking Note: Who Created “Michelle Rhee”? by John Merrow We know that the flesh and blood Michelle A. Rhee was born in Michigan 43 years ago, the second child of South Korean immigrants Shang Rhee, a physician, and Inza Rhee, a clothing store owner. She spent most of her childhood in Ohio, where she attended public and private schools. My question is about the public phenomenon known as *“Michelle Rhee.”* The one that’s has become America’s most prominent education activist. She’s loved by some, hated and/or feared by others. To her admirers, she’... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-18-13 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: Karen Lewis Teaches Torah in Evanston by dianerav Karen Lewis taught a powerful lesson from the Torah at a synagogue in Evanston. This is the rabbi’s account of her moving reading of Numbers, in which she connects the Biblical story to recent events in Chicago. “Her portion, Shelach Lecha (Numbers 13:1-15:41) relates, among other things, the story of the twelve scouts send by by Moses to report on the Promised Land. Ten of them return with words of discouragement – they reported that they saw giants in the land.... more »

UPDATE: Luetkemeyer Addresses Common Core Concerns With Arne Duncan + Peacefully Surrendering Our Republic | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Peacefully Surrendering Our Republic | Truth in American Education: Luetkemeyer Addresses Common Core Concerns With Arne Duncan by Shane Vander Hart [image: 399px-Blaine_Luetkemeyer]Via Missouri Coalition Against Common Core: Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) has written, and is gathering co-signers in Washington for, a letter expressing serious concerns with the manner in which the US Department of Education has involved itself with Common Core standards. The letter also notes the highly irregular process used to change the Congressional FERPA allowing the sharing of individual... more »

What Is a Principal? — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

What Is a Principal? — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]What Is a Principal? April 18, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers A recent Metlife survey (PDF) found that 75 percent of principals feel that the role has become too complex and a third are looking to move out of the role within the next five years. The role of principal has changed dramatically in the last decade and has, to many, become overwhelming. So what is the role of a principal? Or rather, what are the roles of a successful and effective principal? It seems that each year ano... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-18-13 AM Posts

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

Pulling the Trigger

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Pulling the Trigger: Pulling the Trigger By Yasha Levine When NSFWCORP sent me to Victorville this January, I little expected that the neighboring town of Adelanto would become ground zero for a fight between billionaires on one side, and poor, vulnerable minority parents and children on the other. I first heard about the fight through the local right-wing paper, the Victorville Daily Press, which gleefully announced on its front page that a local school, Desert Trails Elementary, had just made history as the first school in the nation to be privatized under California's new "... more »

Remember teachers, as this happens, YOUR jobs are on the line. Think about it. – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Remember teachers, as this happens, YOUR jobs are on the line. Think about it. – @ the chalk face: State test “puke” policy trumps parents refusal attempts. by Timothy D. Slekar After the first week of opt out or “refusals” across the country there have been some interesting stories emerging—one that is bit troubling. I won’t call it a trend but it is worth mentioning. Principals and teachers are coercing children into taking state tests even after parents have made it clear that they do not want their children to take the tests. Example: Last night I posted the following Facebo... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-18-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Raleigh, NC: Show Your Support for Public Schools This Saturday by dianerav A teacher in North Carolina contacted me to let me know that Students for Education Reform, an offshoot of DFER, will hold a rally this Saturday from 2-5 pm at Halifax Court in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. No doubt they will mimic their parent group in demanding more high-stakes testing, more privatization, more evaluation of teachers by test scores (but NOT in charter schools), a... more »

Support for AB 420 (Dickinson) – Disruption and Defiance: Reducing Grounds for Harsh Discipline National Lawyers Guild of Sacramento

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

National Lawyers Guild of Sacramento April 16, 2013 The Honorable Joan Buchanan Chair, Assembly Education Committee State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 Fax: (916) 319-2187 RE: Support for AB 420 (Dickinson) – Disruption and Defiance: Reducing Grounds for Harsh Discipline Dear Assemblymember Buchanan, and Committee: The National Lawyers Guild of Sacramento supports the passage of Assembly Bill 420, which would limit the use of suspension and expulsion for acts of disruption and defiance. We support elements of the measure, including encouraging the use of other means of correction ... more »

Photos from Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum created by Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP) 4-17-13

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

*Photos from Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum created by Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP) 4-17-13 * * *

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-17-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE* * * ** *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Informative CCSS Conference Call Scheduled in Wisconsin by chascherrie Daniel Webster once said: “If truth be not diffused, error will be.” *Common Core State Standards* in education have garnered a growing degree of attention from all sides of the educational policy field in the last several months. Wisconsin was one of the first states to adopt this new set of academic standards and is right at the center of this lively debate. Common Core’s advocates say it raises the educational bar in Wisconsin.... more »

The in box. North suburb forum and rally on pension justice. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

The in box. North suburb forum and rally on pension justice. | Fred Klonsky: The in box. North suburb forum and rally on pension justice. by Fred Klonsky From Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice: The Daily Herald and a billionaire funded, for-profit media site (called Reboot Illinois) are holding a Pension Forum at Harper’s Wojcik Conference Center next Wednesday on April 24th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Speakers include State Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook (sponsor of a key pension cutting measure, HB 3411), State Rep. Tom Morrison of Palatine, and Cinda Klickna, president of the ... more »

Contact Your Senators to Co-Sign Grassley’s Request to Halt Common Core Funding | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Contact Your Senators to Co-Sign Grassley’s Request to Halt Common Core Funding | Truth in American Education: Contact Your Senators to Co-Sign Grassley’s Request to Halt Common Core Funding by Shane Vander Hart [image: View of the Capitol from the Newseum] I reported at Caffeinated Thoughts that Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) office emailed me about a letter they were sending to the Senate Appropriations Committee on education to request that they prohibit future funding for the Common Core State Standards, their assessments, and the assessment review panel that was recently laun... more »

Katie Osgood A collection of links from Occupy the DOE 2.0 #uoodc13

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

*Katie Osgood at Occupy the Dept of Ed* A collection of links from Occupy the DOE 2.0 #uoodc13 – @ the chalk face coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago A collection of links from Occupy the DOE 2.0 #uoodc13 – @ the chalk face: A collection of links from Occupy the DOE 2.0 #uoodc13 by Chalk Face, PhD As the dust finally settles on a great event, there’s still work to be done. Namely, collecting coverage of the event. I’m going to start posting links here. If I’ve missed any, please let us know in the comments. We’re expecting some long form pieces in the coming days, so the... more »

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 4-17-13 

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Diana Rodriguez for State Assembly, District 9

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Diana Rodriguez for State Assembly, District 9: *Diana Rodriguez for State Assembly, District 9* *About Diana* Diana Rodriguez represents families in the 9th Assembly District as an elected trustee of the Sacramento City Unified School District. First elected in 2008, and then re-elected to a second term in 2012, she has been a leading voice against harmful school closures, proper spending of the district’s $440 million budget, and increased transparency. Diana has been an advocate for working families and children and has supported policies to improve schools and put the be... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-17-13 AM Posts 

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

There’s a lot of ‘acting’ at U.S. Education Department

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

There’s a lot of ‘acting’ at U.S. Education Department: There’s a lot of ‘acting’ at U.S. Education Department Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 17, 2013 at 10:51 am Education Secretary Arne Duncan Nearly six months after the presidential election, the Education Department is still riddled with “acting” officials, and Secretary Arne Duncan is losing some of his key aides. Deputy Secretary Tony Miller is departing within the next month, according to Acting Press Secretary Darren Briscoe, and Assistant Secretary Carmel Martin, who ran the office of planning, evaluation and policy deve... more »

UPDATE: The Ignored Arm of the Commons and the Invisible Hand of the Market – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

The Ignored Arm of the Commons and the Invisible Hand of the Market – @ the chalk face: On thoughtful disagreements and righteous anger by Barbara Madeloni I have been writing this post in my head since at least Occupy the DOE, so it is not simply a direct reply to president of the American Educational Research Association Bill Tierney’s recent email in which he, I expect in anticipation of the protests planned for Arne Duncan’s invited talk at the AERA conference, wrote: “I am weary of the abuse of social media by writers hurling anonymous, venomous insults—a practice that encour... more »

UPDATE: Rahm Emanuel and the myth of invincibility + Appearing to be invisible: An Oxymoron. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Appearing to be invisible: An Oxymoron. | Fred Klonsky: Tony at the Red Line Tap. by Fred Klonsky [image: TonyattheRedLine] It was a dark and stormy night. It seemed like Chicago hadn’t had a day without rain for weeks. “Good for the ducks,” my mom used to say. “What’ll you have Freddy?” Marty asks. “Hmmm. How about a cold bottle of Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René” I said. “I was guessing that’s what you would be asking for so I happen to have one right here.” She reached down into Call now. They will vote on whether to gut pensions this week. by Fred Klonsky [image: 602002_6444736889118... more »

Shanker Blog » America’s Union Suppression Movement (And Its Apologists), Part One

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Shanker Blog » America’s Union Suppression Movement (And Its Apologists), Part One: America’s Union Suppression Movement (And Its Apologists), Part One by Leo Casey *Last week, in “Is There A ‘Corporate Education Reform’ Movement?”, I wrote about the logic of forming strategic alliances on specific issues with those who are not natural allies, even those with whom you mostly disagree. This does not mean, however, that there aren’t those – some with enormous wealth and power – who are bent on undermining the American labor movement generally and teachers’ unions specifically. This... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-17-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Governor Hunt, Where Are You? by dianerav Governor Jim Hunt spent years persuading the North Carolina legislature to reduce class size. Now he is out of office, and the radicals in the legislature want to abolish all limits on class size, allegedly in the interest of “flexibility.” It is certainly not in the interest of improving education or helping kids. The research showing the benefits of Fifth-Grader: I Don’t Want to be a Test Slave by dianerav This comm... more »

Daily Kos: An important column from Harold Meyerson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Daily Kos: An important column from Harold Meyerson: An important column from Harold Meyerson by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) in today's *Washington Post*. Let me begin with the ending: Problem is, the Wal-Mart model of employment and service not only reflects but also reinforces the declining economic prospects of the majority of Americans. The nation’s largest private-sector employer has used its market power to impose its low-wage model all along its supply chain, leaving millions of Americans with no shopping option other than the kind of discount, and frustrating, experien... more »

More than half of suspensions are for “willful defiance” of school authorities | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

More than half of suspensions are for “willful defiance” of school authorities | EdSource Today: More than half of suspensions are for “willful defiance” of school authorities - by Louis Freedberg by Louis Freedberg More than half of all suspensions and a quarter of expulsions in California schools are for “willful defiance” of school authorities, according to a new database that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is scheduled to release this Friday. Until now, only very limited data on school suspensions and expulsions by school were available to researcher... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-16-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE* * * ** *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Leaders Urge Colleges to Expand Sports Programs for Students With Disabilities from Diverse by cmaadmin [image: Illinois Athletes]At the University of Illinois, work has been done since 1949 to provide programs specifically for disabled students on adaptive methods to include disabled students. The world watched as Oscar Pistorius eased his prosthetic racing legs into the starting blocks on the track at the Olympics last summer, taking the first steps to making history as the first amputee to race... more »

John Thompson: Did Duncan Load the Bullets into Michelle Rhee's Smoking Gun? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

John Thompson: Did Duncan Load the Bullets into Michelle Rhee's Smoking Gun? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: Did Duncan Load the Bullets into Michelle Rhee's Smoking Gun? by Anthony Cody *Guest post by John Thompson.* The current headline is that John Merrow found "the smoking gun," or the confidential memo warning Michelle Rhee of the extent of cheating that may have occurred in Washington D.C. schools in response to her draconian "reforms." Merrow's "Michelle Rhee's Reign of Error" summarizes the evidence of an inexcusable failure to investigate the ... more »

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 4-16-13

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

The Business of American Business Is Education | Ideas & Innovations | Smithsonian Magazine

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

The Business of American Business Is Education | Ideas & Innovations | Smithsonian Magazine: The Business of American Business Is EducationFrom corporate donations to workplace restrictions, what’s taught in the classroom has always been influenced by American industry || |SHARE ON REDDITREDDIT|SHARE ON DIGGDIGG|SHARE ON STUMBLEUPONSTUMBLE|SHARE ON EMAILEMAIL|MORE SHARING SERVICES - By Dana Goldstein - Smithsonian.com, April 15, 2013, Subscribe [image: Tuskegee Institute] Industrialist Andrew Carnegie (front row, center) financially supported the Tuskegee Institute and its... more »

2012-13 Academic Achievement Award Recipients - Academic Achievement Awards (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

2012-13 Academic Achievement Award Recipients - Academic Achievement Awards (CA Dept of Education): 2012-13 Academic Achievement Award RecipientsSchools honored with the Title I Academic Achievement Award for 2012-13. ------------------------------ CountyDistrictSchoolAlamedaFremont UnifiedJ. Haley Durham ElementaryEl DoradoSBC - Aspire Public SchoolsAspire Titan AcademyFresnoClovis UnifiedLincoln ElementaryFresnoFowler UnifiedMarshall ElementaryFresnoSanger UnifiedFairmont ElementaryFresnoSelma UnifiedAndrew Jackson ElementaryFresnoSelma UnifiedJames Garfield ElementaryFresnoCen... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: John White’s Budget Tricks in Louisiana by dianerav John White is pulling some fast tricks with public school funding in Louisiana. Fortunately the state has smart bloggers who protect the public interest and blow the whistle. There is no end to White and Jindal’s efforts to transfer public dollars into private hands. He wants to eliminate arequirement that high schools have one guidance counselor for every 450 students. He says they can hire private Who Is Paying to Privatize Public Schools in Los Angeles?... more »

Principals: Reach Beyond the Walls of Your School — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Principals: Reach Beyond the Walls of Your School — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Ken Endris]Principals: Reach Beyond the Walls of Your School April 16, 2013 by Ken Endris For the past five years, Fouke (Ark.) Elementary School has witnessed academic improvement in all six grade levels, K–5. Attendance has also improved over the same time period. These accomplishments have not happened by accident, instead they are the results of the hard work by staff, students, and families. Not I as principal, not one teacher, or not one program alone is responsible for the... more »

PCAPS plans its next steps | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

PCAPS plans its next steps | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: PCAPS plans its next steps by Ron Whitehorne The Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools will hold a general assembly on Wednesday, April 17 to launch new campaigns around school funding, charter school accountability, and community schools. The coalition, formed a year ago, has grown to include 15 labor and community-based organizations, embracing school staff, parents, students, and neighborhood activists. Over the last year, PCAPS developed an alternative to the School Reform Commission's blueprint in... more »

Rather than fess up to a budget shortfall (and make Jindal sad), White chooses to steal money from schools | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Rather than fess up to a budget shortfall (and make Jindal sad), White chooses to steal money from schools | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Rather than fess up to a budget shortfall (and make Jindal sad), White chooses to steal money from schools by crazycrawfish I just read an article on The Lens that tripped my BS meter. (Pretty much anytime John White opens his mouth it goes off these days.) It’s about school counts and funding, which I was in charge of for almost 9 years before John White arrived on this scene with his band of bandits. Only a few months before their fiscal year ends,... more »

NEA - NEA, FEA file a federal lawsuit over Florida’s teacher evaluation procedure

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

NEA - NEA, FEA file a federal lawsuit over Florida’s teacher evaluation procedure: *NEA, FEA file a federal lawsuit over Florida’s teacher evaluation procedure * [image: NEA Logo] WASHINGTON - April 16, 2013 - The National Education Association (NEA) and the Florida Education Association (FEA) filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the evaluation of teachers based on the standardized test scores of students they do not teach or based on subjects they do not teach. The lawsuit is brought by seven accomplished teachers and the local education associations in Alachua, Escambia and ... more »

UPDATE: So, I spent more time than necessary in the #stopcommoncore thread + Reminder of the #edreform Mad Lib you can share and use. – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Reminder of the #edreform Mad Lib you can share and use. – @ the chalk face: New Contest: Worst (Best) Test Prep Videos by Timothy D. Slekar Inspiration. You never know when it will hit you. However, I would like to thank Mr. Chris Cerrone. After his last post I decided to see how many “test prep” video’s I could find. Someone has to say it! “Holy Crap!” If we actually spent some time teaching instead of making ridiculous videos imagine the possibilities. Not now though. It’s Game Time Vote for your “favorite” Pennsylvania (PSSA) test prep video below. In the comment section pl... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Anti-Bullying PSA Project [LESSON] Best of the Ed Blogs Bill Ferriter April 16, 2013 The New Jersey Kidz Are Alright Best of the Ed Blogs EduShyster April 16, 201... more »

UPDATE: #StopCommonCore Twitter Rally Today (And We Will Be Broadcast!) | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

#StopCommonCore Twitter Rally Today (And We Will Be Broadcast!) | Truth in American Education: So, I spent more time than necessary in the #stopcommoncore thread by Chalk Face, PhD Wow. Pretty wild. Basically, a very active stream of mainly conservative leaning folks stormed twitter at noon today to show their distaste of the CCSS, egged on mainly by it looks like uber-conservative blogger Michelle Malkin. Let me be clear:* I do not support the common core at all*. But there are some key differences in my arguments against it, as a left of center progressive and advocate for publi... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] EduShyster to TFA: Enough Is Enough by dianerav EduShyster writes a personal letter to Teach for America. Please, she says, we know you are excellent. We know you are beyond excellent. We know that there is no one more excellent than you. Please, we get it. Enough. But consider what all this self-praise does: “Every time you toot the horn of triumph, alerting us to the good news that your new teachers are better than our new teachers, even though the evidence is i... more »

[HIP] Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum - PLEASE JOIN US

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

[HIP] Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum - PLEASE JOIN US Dear Parents, Teachers and Community Members, We ask for your support by joining HIP, parents, students and other community members to share your experience in the fall-out of the school closures and map out our next steps to hold the Board accountable. Nearly two months after SCUSD voted to close seven schools in Sacramento's most vulnerable neighborhoods, families continue to struggle with the District's poorly developed transition plans. *Wrong-sizing Fall-out Forum* Wednesday, April 17 6:00 - 8:00 pm Lemon Hill Community Ro...more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-15-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE* * * ** *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Iconic L.A. teacher Sal Castro who led East L.A. Walkouts in the 1960s, dies by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez Sal Castro, the Lincoln High School social studies teacher who inspired students to stage mass walkouts from classes to demand better school in 1968, died in his Silver Lake home on Monday. He was 79. Castro was an educator for decades -- and for years he ran an empowerment group for latino youth. A middle school is named after him. But few events were as important to him as the walkouts, said UC Santa ... more »

One Teacher's Perspective: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

One Teacher's Perspective: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew by Imagine Wisconsin *Curiously, George Will, the renowned political columnist, joined the demolition crew hastily trying to tear down Wisconsin’s public school system. *** * * *Over the past two years, Wisconsinites have become accustomed to outsiders trying to raze our public school system proudly built by generations of Wisconsin taxpayers, parents, students, and educators--**conservatives and liberals alike**.* * * *Will joins the ranks of corporate associations ... more »

BAD WEEK FOR Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family business - Yahoo! Sports

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family business - Yahoo! Sports: FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family businessBy STEVE MEGARGEE (Associated Press) | The Associated Press – 2 hours 21 minutes ago KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents on Monday locked down the headquarters of Pilot Flying J, the truck stop business owned by the family of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and his brother, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. FBI spokesman Marshall Stone told The Associated Press that the move was part of an ongoing investigation, but he would not provide ... more »

Supporting California’s Public Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Supporting California’s Public Schools: Supporting California’s Public Schools by Server Supporting California’s Public Schools Posted on April 14, 2013 by Server *SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS* *and DISPELLING THE CORPORATE “REFORM” AGENDA* At its annual convention this past weekend in Sacramento, the California Democratic Party passed a resolution opposing corporate education reform, specifically naming Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst organization and “Democrats for Education Reform”. Resolution 13-04.47, sponsored by CTA, CFT and CFA, is being lauded by those interested in ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents.: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents. by Leonie Haimson *Here's a sample opt-out/refusal letter you can send with your child tomorrow. * *Here's a report from the press conference by NY1.* **** *NYC PARENTS BOYCOTT HIGH STAKES STATE TESTS* Media Contact: Jane Hirschmann, 917 679 8343 Jane Maisel, 917 678 1913** *3rd THROUGH 8TH GRADE PARENTS IN OVER 33 SCHOOLS REFUSE TO ALLOW THEIR KIDS TO BE TESTED* Parents in New York City as well as across NY St... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer by Melissa Westbrook [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] In a somewhat old-school turn of events, Yakima School District has been added to the list of 12 districts that have filed letter of intent to become charter school authorizers. Now the State Board of Ed didn't specify how the letter was to come to them so, according to their office, most of the districts send their letter via e-ma... more »

D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case - The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case - The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times: D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed the certification of a class in a sprawling lawsuit against the District of Columbia over the provision of special education services, a setback for the plaintiffs more than a year after a judge found the city liable. In the April 12 ruling, the appeals court vacated the liability finding, ordering U.S. District Chief Judge Royce Lamberth to reconsider class certification under... more »

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 4-15-13 

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Seattle Schools Community Forum: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 minutes ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform by Melissa Westbrook Man, did they ever. From the LA Times: *The clash over education had been building throughout the three-day convention, underscoring a larger debate taking place in education circles. * * **California Democrats on Sunday condemned efforts led by members of their own party to overhaul the nation's schools, arguing that groups such as StudentsFirst and Democrats for Education Reform are fronts for Republicans and corporate interests.*... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Great Disconnect

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Great Disconnect: The Great Disconnect by Mike Klonsky Pasi SahlbergI went over to the Hilton this morning to take part in the Reframing Reform Conference. Aside from getting to hang out with some of my favorite school activists, I was interested in hearing the conference keynoter, Pasi Sahlberg, Director General of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. In Finland, that's roughly the equivalent in rank to *Arne Duncan*, although the comparison stops there. Pasi is a real thinker and a man of action. I've been a fan of his ever since I s... more »

2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon - NorthJersey.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon - NorthJersey.com: 2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY APRIL 15, 2013, 4:31 PM *Photos: Explosions rock Boston Marathon finish line* [image: In this image from video provided by WBZ TV, spectators and runners run from what was described as twin explosions that shook the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2013, in Boston.] AP/WBZ-TV In this image from video provided by WBZ TV, spectators and runners run from what was described as twin explosions that shook the ... more »

How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? - State EdWatch - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? - State EdWatch - Education Week: How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? by Andrew Ujifusa The biggest national education story of the past week was John Merrow's discussion of a memo about possible, even likely cheating in D.C. Public Schools under former Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and how she may have swept the issue under the rug, or just passively let it get buried and lost under other paperwork, depending on how you look at it. (As my colleague Lesli Maxwell documents, Rhee claims not to... more »

NYC Public School Parents: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies by Leonie Haimson Today, Walcott announced there will be a "Common Core" public campaign to justify the new more difficult and developmentally inappropriate standards and the much harder tests. This campaign will include ads placed on subways, buses, and the Staten Island ferry, costing $240,000, paid for by an anonymous donor. All Walcott would ap... more »

Lawsuit: Stop evaluating teachers on test scores of students they never taught

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Lawsuit: Stop evaluating teachers on test scores of students they never taught: Lawsuit: Stop evaluating teachers on test scores of students they never taught Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 15, 2013 at 3:27 pm [image: Teacher Kim Cook ((By Brian Kuger)] Teacher Kim Cook (By Brian Kuger) A group of teachers and their unions are filing a lawsuit against Florida officials that challenges the state’s educator evaluation system, under which many teachers are evaluated on the standardized test scores of students they do not teach. The nine teachers filing the lawsuit include Kim Cook,... more »

Jersey Jazzman: NY Chancellor Merryl Tisch: Another Reformy Hypocrite

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: NY Chancellor Merryl Tisch: Another Reformy Hypocrite: NY Chancellor Merryl Tisch: Another Reformy Hypocrite by Duke The children of New York are under incredible, age-inappropriate stress this week due standardized tests that are based, for the first time, on the untested Common Core Standards: At Public School 10 on the edge of Park Slope, Brooklyn, parents begged the principal to postpone the lower school science fair, insisting it was going to add too much pressure while they were preparing their children for the coming state tests. On Staten Island, a commu... more »

Money Behind Walker’s Voucher Expansion | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Money Behind Walker’s Voucher Expansion | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Money Behind Walker’s Voucher Expansion by millerlf $10 Million In 10 Years Drives School AgendaWalker expanding program after millions in backing by voucher supporters*April 15, 2013 Wisconsin Democracy Campaign* *Madison – *Wealthy campaign contributors and shadowy electioneering groups that back school voucher programs have spent nearly $10 million in 10 years in Wisconsin – much of it to help twice elect a governor who is trying to sharply expand the program, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign r... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-15-13 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: A Teacher’s Pledge for the Ethical Use of Test Data by dianerav Anthony Cody met teacher Michelle Gunderson at Occupy the DOE. When he heard her ideas about testing, he invited her to write a guest blog. Gunderson explained that she has seen test used to sort children, to punopish children, and now–to privatize schools. She has developed her own credo for the ethical use of tests. Please read it. The essence of the pledge is that a student’s test scores should be Terrible News: Terrorist Attack on Boston Marathon... more »

UPDATE: Pension post from IEA elections. A process that would make the Chicago Machine jealous. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

IEA elections. A process that would make the Chicago Machine jealous. | Fred Klonsky: Pension post from IEA. by Fred Klonsky FYI- Please share with your readers. Janet Kilgus IEA-Retired Chair ———————————————– The following has been posted by the IEA on their website today, April 15. Immediate action is needed to protect your pension and the pensions of other IEA members. A pension-cutting bill, HB 3411 (known as the Nekritz-Cross bill) is expected to be called for a vote this week in the Illinois House Of Representatives. Protect your pension: Call 888-412-6570 to be connected with... more »

NYC Public School Parents: “NAKED SHORTING” OUR KIDS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: “NAKED SHORTING” OUR KIDS: “NAKED SHORTING” OUR KIDS by Molly “NAKED SHORTING” OUR KIDS – Why is New York State Testing a Curriculum It Hasn’t Even Delivered Yet? By Susan Crawford Starting next week New York State students from grades 3-8 are expected to take tests on a Common Core curriculum that they have not yet been taught. If there was ever a case of “the emperor having no clothes,” this is it! Actually, another “naked” analogy came to mind for this situation. If the corporate reform movement has been trying to apply business practices to educ... more »

Does making change count? | My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Does making change count? | My Island View: Does making change count? by tomwhitby An advantage that I have as one who is fortunate enough to attend many education conferences, or special education events is the contact I have with many of the thought leaders in education. Of course most of those folks do not think of themselves as thought leaders, but just educators. The fact is that we are often defined by the perception of others. This holds true for institutions as well. I was invited to attend a special leadership event sponsored by Discovery Education. My association with D... more »

Read DISD trustee Lew Blackburn’s emails regarding Spruce High School fight | Education Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Read DISD trustee Lew Blackburn’s emails regarding Spruce High School fight | Education Blog: Read DISD trustee Lew Blackburn’s emails regarding Spruce High School fight By Matthew Haag mhaag@dallasnews.com 11:08 am on April 15, 2013 | Permalink 0 0 0 Emails between Dallas ISD board president Lew Blackburn and administrators reveal he has had ongoing concerns about the district’s handling of an student-teacher assault at Spruce High School. The student, Delvron Turner, sits in a jail charged with assaulting teacher Bryan Porzio in December. A grand jury reduced the felony assault ch... more »

UPDATE: A teacher explains: Why I won’t resign + New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee | Get Schooled: A teacher explains: Why I won’t resign. A letter of resolution. by Maureen Downey [image: downeyart0401]I have shared some very passionate teacher resignation letters on the blog, including an incredible one from former local teacher Jordan Kohanim. (*If you missed her piece, read it here.*) But here is a letter from a teacher explaining why she is not resigning. New York teacher Christine McCartney published this letter on her terrific* “An Educator’s Re-education” blog.* McCartney has been at the Uni... more »

UPDATE: biggest hedge-fund asshole + How the blame game works. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

How the blame game works. | Fred Klonsky: The second biggest hedge-fund asshole on Wall Street. by Fred Klonsky *Dan Loeb. The second biggest hedge-fund asshole on Wall Street.* Matt Taibbi: [image: 20130411-dan-x600-1365695998]But here’s the catch. Dan Loeb, who isn’t known as the biggest hedge-fund asshole still working on Wall Street (only because Stevie Cohen hasn’t been arrested yet), is on the board and co-founder of a group called Students First New York. And Students First has been one of the leading advocates pushing for states to abandon defined benefit plans – packages... more »

The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Walter McKenzie]The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech April 15, 2013 by Walter McKenzie So you're actively working to implement the tenets of the Whole Child Initiative? Excellent! How about your*whole tech initiative*? What's your vision for technology in education? Not what you have in your inventory or what you're comfortable using: your action plan for technology empowering the whole child. Why? Because in today's world, technology is not an add-on or a nice-to-have; it's an essential array o... more »

Common Questions About Common Core | InterACT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Common Questions About Common Core | InterACT: Common Questions About Common Core by ACT Guest Blog Posts Chris Miraglia [image: Chris Miraglia]*Today’s InterACT guest blog post was written by Chris Miraglia, an intermediate school US history teacher from Santa Ana USD. A frequent commenter at this blog, Chris also writes at his own blog and is active on Twitter. He wrote this post as a follow-up to his comment on a prior InterACT blog post,Common Core Presentations and Omissions.* As California schools approach the implementation of the Common Core, I wonder how much thought has ... more »

UPDATE: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-15-13 AM Posts 

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why the Hateful Talk about Children? by dianerav In the past few days, education officials in New York have made some breathtakingly hostile comments about children. Merryl Tisch, the chancellor of the New York Board of Regents, responded to reports about test anxiety by saying that it was time to jump into the deep end. By that, she meant that it was time to throw these little children in grades 3-8 into the deep end, as I presume she will not be jumping in with ... more »

Public Education Justice Alliance of Minnesota(PEJAM): TFA's 'Transformational' Public Money Grab

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Public Education Justice Alliance of Minnesota(PEJAM): TFA's 'Transformational' Public Money Grab: *SAY NO TO $1.5 MILLION IN PUBLIC MONEY TO TFA!* * * * * Teach for America (TFA) is a tax exempt nonprofit with "reported annual operating surpluses of $35 million, $114 million and $37 million" from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, they received a $50 Million grant from the federal Department of Education, and another $8.3 million funded under the Supporting Effective Educators Development (SEED) program. The government further subsidizes TFA with student loan forbearance and education awar... more »

Growing charter network under SBE draws interest from lawmakers SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Growing charter network under SBE draws interest from lawmakers [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] A sharp increase in the number of charter schools petitioning – and receiving – permission to open from the California State Board of Education has attracted the attention of the Legislature. Just three years ago, there were eight schools operating under state board supervision. Today there are more than 30. Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, R-Oceanside, said the expanding network – now comparable to a mid-size school district ... more »

Last Stand for Children First: Where is Students First?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Last Stand for Children First: Where is Students First?: Where is Students First? by Last Stand for Children Like everybody who believes in putting students first, I have come to look forward to and count on updates from Michelle Rhee and her advocacy organization Students First. Ms. Rhee provides a valuable service to the education community by holding teachers responsible for the success of their students. We want to be nice and supportive, but test scores have consequences and if a teacher isn't advancing her students, it's time to put someone else in the classroom. H... more »

Daily Kos: E. J. Dionne's must-read column on the Newtown families

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Daily Kos: E. J. Dionne's must-read column on the Newtown families: E. J. Dionne's must-read column on the Newtown families by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) is titled Newtown’s call to reason. The key point he makes is that those playing on emotion are not the Newtown families, but rather those who seek to scare us about guns. The heart of the column is these three paragraphs: The truth is that the Newtown slaughter has finally moved the gun debate away from irrational emotions, ridiculous assumptions, manipulative rhetoric — and, on the part of politicians, debilitating terror... more »

NYC Educator: Being Reformy Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

NYC Educator: Being Reformy Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry: Being Reformy Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry by NYC Educator Reformy Rhee is besieged by suggestions Erase to the Top was bigger and badder than she'd ever acknowledged. The smoking memo has been released, and she's all Scarlett O'Hara: "What? Little old me? Well I never saw any blessed memo. Let them look at it tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day." Apparently, her successor, Kaya Henderson never saw the memo either, yet now deems it to be flawed. One of the great things about being reformy is thi... more »

California Dem’s Resolving not to be suckered by corporate “reformers” | Persephone's Mother

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

California Dem’s Resolving not to be suckered by corporate “reformers” | Persephone's Mother: California Dem’s Resolving not to be suckered by corporate “reformers” I came back today after spending the week-end in Sacramento at the 2013 California Democratic Convention. A contingent of labor groups, including the California Teachers Association, the California Federation of Teachers, submitted a resolution titled, “Supporting public education and dispelling the corporate reform agenda”. It not only calls out the corporate reformers, but so-called democratic organization (in name o... more »

Bush, Obama focus on standardized testing leads to ‘opt-out’ parent movement - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Bush, Obama focus on standardized testing leads to ‘opt-out’ parent movement - The Washington Post: *Bush, Obama focus on standardized testing leads to ‘opt-out’ parents’ movement* *http://unitedoptout.com/* By Lyndsey Layton, Sunday, April 14, 5:42 PM A decade into the school accountability movement, pockets of resistance to standardized testing are sprouting up around the country, with parents and students opting out of the high-stakes tests used to evaluate schools and teachers. From Seattle, where 600 high school students refused to take a standardized test in January, to Texa... more »

Common Core Non-Fiction Reading Task #1: The DC Erasure Study Memo - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Common Core Non-Fiction Reading Task #1: The DC Erasure Study Memo - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Common Core Non-Fiction Reading Task #1: The DC Erasure Study Memo by Anthony Cody As all educators know, the reading of non-fiction is supposed to be significantly increased as a result of the new Common Core (wanted to be national) Standards. It seems to me that the recently uncovered "Erasure Study" memo, written by investigator Sandy Sanford in 2009 makes a fine primary source document to be used as the basis for student inquiry. This memo has been hidden since i... more »

Jersey Jazzman: NJ's New Reformy School Report Cards: Peer Grouping Mysteries

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: NJ's New Reformy School Report Cards: Peer Grouping Mysteries: NJ's New Reformy School Report Cards: Peer Grouping Mysteries by Duke The reformies at the NJDOE, little data maniacs that they are, have released a brand new format for the annualSchool Performance Reports. In the old days, good test scores meant you were a good school - no longer: The new reports include the usual information on state test results and high school graduation and dropout rates. *But the first page provides what Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said is what most parents want to know: ho... more »

Schools Matter: Exxon-Mobil Concerned with Teachers As Its Tar Sands Oil Spreads in Arkansas

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Schools Matter: Exxon-Mobil Concerned with Teachers As Its Tar Sands Oil Spreads in Arkansas: Exxon-Mobil Concerned with Teachers As Its Tar Sands Oil Spreads in Arkansas by Jim Horn [image: Article image] If you are watching golf for the past 4 days, you would see hundreds of millions spent by Exxon-Mobil to push the Common Core Corporate Standards and to convince Americans there is some educational emergency in our schools. I guess I would be trying to change the subject at hand, too, if I were responsible for ruining another American community with a flood of dirty oil. From... more »

Bill Gates' warning on test scores - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Bill Gates' warning on test scores - latimes.com: Gates' warning on test scoresIn a recent op-ed article, he cautions against overusing students' standardized test scores in evaluating how well teachers are doing their jobs. [image: Bill Gates] By The Times editorial board April 11, 2013 A recent op-ed article in the Washington Post warned against overusing students' standardized test scores in evaluating how well teachers are doing their jobs. There would be no surprise about that — if it had been penned by the leader of a teachers union. But it was written by Bill Gates, arguab... more »

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 4-14-13

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

This resolution was passed today at the California Democratic Party Convention.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

*This resolution was passed today at the California Democratic Party Convention.* This is a resolution that is being brought forth at the California Democratic Convention this coming weekend. What kind of conversations do you think it will spark? Supporting California’s Public Schools and Dispelling the Corporate “Reform” Agenda Whereas, the reform initiatives of Students First, rely on destructive anti-educator policies that do nothing for students but blame educators and their unions for the ills of society, make testing the goal of education, shatter communities by closing ... more »

NOW HERE'S A SHOCKER: Catania: No plans to investigate Rhee-era cheating allegations - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Catania: No plans to investigate Rhee-era cheating allegations - The Washington Post: NOW HERE'S A SHOCKER:Catania: No plans to investigate Rhee-era cheating allegations By Emma Brown, Sunday, April 14, 12:54 PM The chairman of the D.C. Council’s education committee said Sunday that he has no plans to reinvestigate allegations of widespread cheating on standardized tests during the tenure of former Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Council member David Catania (I-At Large) said he will instead focus on improving the integrity of future tests, which are used to evaluate schools and teach... more »

Ed Notes Online: The Moral Imperative: Julie Cavanagh Opts in on Opt Out Issue

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: The Moral Imperative: Julie Cavanagh Opts in on Opt Out Issue: The Moral Imperative: Julie Cavanagh Opts in on Opt Out Issue by ed notes online *From a Chicago CORE teacher* *A teacher who, in conversations with students or parents, takes a position on testing contrary to the school district's educational program may potentially be charged with misconduct or insubordination and could be subject to disciplinary action. --- Richard Iannuzzi, President, NYSUT* *Ultimately opting-out and boycotts are a parent choice. However, teachers do have a role. There is a mor... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Has Common Core Practice Invaded the Spelling Bee?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Has Common Core Practice Invaded the Spelling Bee?: Has Common Core Practice Invaded the Spelling Bee? by stlgretchen One of the talking points of Common Core Math Standards proponents is that a child shouldn't just know equations, the child must understand the process of getting the answer and have to explain how he/she arrived at the answer. Memorization of facts is not of primary importance. The process by which you can explain your answer is largely how your child will be graded. The answer 2 x 2 = 4 is not a sufficient answer. Now the student... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-14-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Celebrated California Charter School Implodes in Dissension by dianerav The American Indian Model Schools has turned into a long-running drama. This week it took a sharp turn for the worse, as the board fired top administrators, some board members denounced other board members, and everyone was angry. All this followed the revocation of the charters due to fiscal improprieties. For years, it was the toast of conservative pundits because of its high test scores, its no-excuses discipline, and the epithets hurle... more »

LAUSD chief John Deasy draws fire as he pursues aggressive reform plan - LA Daily News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

LAUSD chief John Deasy draws fire as he pursues aggressive reform plan - LA Daily News: LAUSD chief John Deasy draws fire as he pursues aggressive reform plan by By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer) During a recent speech at Loyola Marymount University, John Deasy recalled his promotion from deputy superintendent to chief of Los Angeles Unified two years ago, tasked with turning around a district plagued by failing schools, struggling students and an epidemic of dropouts. "I agreed to take this job and lead a transformat... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: PTA News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: PTA News: PTA News by Melissa Westbrook A bit of a roundup of PTA news. (Please keep in mind that I am a long-time PTA parent. I think, on paper, PTA is a good thing but it doesn't always play out the way you might hope in practice.) First up from the Washington State PTA, news from their upcoming convention. You may recall that they have teamed up with McDonald's for sponsorship of the convention. I recall that, at the time, it seemed like an odd pairing given the childhood obesity rates in this country and the food that McDonald's serves. ... more »

On Anne Frank, In Defense of Justin Bieber |

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

On Anne Frank, In Defense of Justin Bieber |: On Anne Frank, In Defense of Justin Bieber by Angus Johnston So yeah, Justin Bieber visited the Anne Frank House and left a note in the guestbook calling her “a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber.” Of course everyone went nuts, myself not excluded. There’s the narcissism thing, and the weird time traveler thing — is he imagining her as a belieber now, in her 80s, or imagining himself as a wartime pop star? But there’s another layer down below all that. Check out this clip, the only film footage of Anne Frank known to ex... more »

California Senate president attacks ‘diseased’ financial system in education reform speech | The Raw Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

California Senate president attacks ‘diseased’ financial system in education reform speech | The Raw Story: California Senate president attacks ‘diseased’ financial system in education reform speech by Eric W. Dolan [image: California Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg screenshot] California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) blasted the financial industry in a speech calling for educational reform. At the California Democrats State Convention in Sacramento on Saturday, Steinberg touted the party’s recent victories in the state. “No more cuts to educ... more »

How they cheated on D.C. tests: Excerpts from new report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

How they cheated on D.C. tests: Excerpts from new report: How they cheated on D.C. tests: Excerpts from new report Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 14, 2013 at 12:11 pm 0 Comments More [image: test1]How many ways did D.C. educators cheat on the 2102 high-stakes Comprehensive Assessment System tests given to students? Here are some excerpts from a new official report that details how teachers in 18 District classrooms cheated on the exams. You can see the entire report below or by clicking here but in the meantime, here are some excerpts. Classes were flagged on the basis of the nu... more »

Schools Matter: Former KIPP Principal Demonstrates Why Honesty Should Be Added to the KIPP Character Trait List

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Schools Matter: Former KIPP Principal Demonstrates Why Honesty Should Be Added to the KIPP Character Trait List: Former KIPP Principal Demonstrates Why Honesty Should Be Added to the KIPP Character Trait List by Jim Horn Former KIPP "stallion," Elliot Witney, has somehow earned a spot across from Deborah Meier at theBridging Differences blog (surely thre's no Gates influence in that decision by Ed Week). And the first thing I noticed in reading Witney's dissembling responses to Meier's questions on KIPP is 1) his effort to distance himself from KIPP, and 2) how quickly he would ... more »

Long Island Will Be Heard | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Long Island Will Be Heard | United Opt Out National: Long Island Will Be Heard by admin Long Island parents are currently rising up, opting out and refusing in mass to allow their children to be used for profit. They are awake. They are empowered – *and their children will not be taking the test.* Join their Facebook groupwith almost 7,000 members and growing. Learn from them. Tweet this post. Email it. Share it on Facebook. Force mainstream media to listen. Here is theiropt out guide. Long Island is opening a window for all of us – we must take this opportunity and share their me... more »

Count the errors - D.C. Council’s Committee on Education is holding a hearing on test security

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Count the errors: Count the errors Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 14, 2013 at 11:04 am 0 Comments More [image: dccouncilseal]The D.C. Council’s Committee on Education is holding a hearing on test security this week, and the description of that event is written up on the council Web site. Someone was apparently in a rush, because the post is filled with spelling and other errors. Even the committee’s name is missing a letter in one reference. Find all of them: Committee on Education Public Hearing on Bill 20-109 the Testing Integrity Act of 2013 The purpose of the hearing is to... more »

More Dispatch for the FLDOE’s Charter School Superiority Study | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

More Dispatch for the FLDOE’s Charter School Superiority Study | Scathing Purple Musings: More Dispatch for the FLDOE’s Charter School Superiority Study by Bob Sikes There are few education writers who can claim to be peers of Walt Gardner. Earlier this month, the former teacher effectively unmasked the half-truths the charter school industry are telling the nation. In a post titled*Questioning Charter School Superiority*, Gardner responded to one such half-truth propaganda which - not unsurprisingly – came from Nina Rees, president/CEO of the National Charter School Alliance. Fr... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-14-13 AM Posts

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Scandal: The Memo #MichelleRhee = #EraseToTheTop

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

*Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Scandal: The Memo* * * * * OPEN FULL SCREEN: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7wdDUUSR15ddFczU2t2M3pmcUk/edit?usp=sharing

Sacramento Council Update: Drug Prevention Sacramento Council PTA

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Sacramento Council PTA: [image: Sacramento Council of PTAs]April 14, 2013Sacramento Council PTA UpdateFrom the American Academy of Pediatrics, here are some facts about kids and drug use:[image: Drugs] - 40% of U.S. teens say they expect to use a drug in the future. - One out of every five kids in eighth grade has already tried marijuana. - Teens who smoke cigarettes are more likely to drink alcohol. - Teens who smoke and drink are more likely to use marijuana. And those who use all three are more likely to use other illicit drugs. - Long-term studies show that use o... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-14-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] New York Parents Are Opting Out by dianerav The movement to opt out of state testing is spreading in Néw York. State leaders are threatening parents and schools with loss of funding; teachers are threatened with disciplinary action if they encourage parents. PARENTS, DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED. It is your choice. If everyone stands together, the petty tyrants in Albany can’t do anything. Here is an email from a parent in Long Island: ***** I want to make you aware of a ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Choose to Refuse: Rocking the World of Ed Deform as Parents Revolt Against Testing Child Abuse

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Choose to Refuse: Rocking the World of Ed Deform as Parents Revolt Against Testing Child Abuse: Choose to Refuse: Rocking the World of Ed Deform as Parents Revolt Against Testing Child Abuse by ed notes online Parents: CHOOSE TO REFUSE! -- Change the Stakes *I've got to find my button: My child puked on your high stakes test* *Let me remind you that at 3PM Sunday, at the Earth School on the Lower East Side, Jesse Hagopian who led the Seattle teacher test boycott, will be * *appearing with MORE presidential candidate Julie Cavanagh, who will take time off from col... more »

Rhee Cheating Sh*tstorm: Part I | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Rhee Cheating Sh*tstorm: Part I | Mr. Teachbad: Rhee Cheating Sh*tstorm: Part I by teachbad There was an intensely-guarded internal memo about possible cheating on the DC CAS during Michelle Rhee’s tenure as chancellor in Washington, DC. After nearly five years, the memo has been freed. *Learning Matters* reporter John Merrow had been trying to get it for a long time. The work he has done in the run-up to this has been fantastic. The memo in question is an internal DCPS communication summarizing the results of studies conducted by outside organizations hired to look into test irre... more »

‘Jews Are Evil’ Assignment Results In Student Boycott | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

‘Jews Are Evil’ Assignment Results In Student Boycott | toteachornototeach: ‘Jews Are Evil’ Assignment Results In Student Boycott by aristotlethewise *‘Jews Are Evil’ Assignment Results In Student Boycott * By William McGuinness An Albany High School teacher raised eyebrows and a flurry of complaints when an assignment required students to write from the perspective of the Nazis, New York Magazine reports. Students were tasked with writing an argument that Jews are evil. “You must argue that Jews are evil, and use solid rationale from government propaganda to convince me of your loya... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Collaboration: Detrimental for Leadership Qualities?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Collaboration: Detrimental for Leadership Qualities?: Common Core Collaboration: Detrimental for Leadership Qualities? by stlgretchen Common Core standards stress collaboration and groupthink. The proponents will tell you it is necessary to make students successful, global thinkers and ready for the 21st century economy, whatever a 21st century economy looks like. Not so fast. An article in forbes.com details what makes a leader and it's not what the CCSS proponents are promising will equip your child with strong work skills and success... more »

Real teachers, real leaders head up CORE’s slate for the CTU. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Real teachers, real leaders head up CORE’s slate for the CTU. | Fred Klonsky: Real teachers, real leaders head up CORE’s slate for the CTU. by Fred Klonsky [image: 251876_4152866427447_1933173358_n] They are real classroom teachers. And their past term as leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union has proven that they are real union leaders. They are all members of the Caucus of Rand and File Educators. The CTU election is May 17th. *Karen Lewis* is running again as President. Karen taught chemistry for 22 years. She has become an iconic figure across the country as a leader with vision,... more »

Addressing the Out-of-School Suspension Crisis

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Addressing the Out-of-School Suspension Crisis: [image: Click on the slide!]*http://www.otlcampaign.org/* Addressing the Out-of-School Suspension Crisis* * [image: Addressing the Out-of-School Suspension Crisis: A Policy Guide for School Board Members cover image] Download the Entire Report While overly harsh school discipline policies can affect all students, they have disproportionately impacted students of color. In the past few years, numerous reports and studies have highlighted the racial disparities in school suspension and expulsion as well as their negative impact on student ... more »

WARNING!!! All Those Seeking Open Market Transfer, Stay Away From PS 154 in the Bronx!!!!.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

http://www.southbronxschool.com: WARNING!!! All Those Seeking Open Market Transfer, Stay Away From PS 154 in the Bronx!!!! by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Pennywise is alive and still at work in the South Bronx. Only this time, Pennywise is not only destroying the lives of children, but of teachers as well. Pennywise in and of itself has a benign appearance to children and adults, but the true form of Pennywise, the IT entity, resides in PS 154 in the Bronx. With Open Market season soon upon us, this is an open warning to all teachers interested in a transfer to PS 154. Sta... more »

California Father | Educating Sullivan

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

California Father | Educating Sullivan: [image: California Father] Deborah Meier by California Father Popout

October 2012: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s @StudentsFirst Threw a Party in NY. Were You Invited? – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

October 2012: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s @StudentsFirst Threw a Party in NY. Were You Invited? – @ the chalk face: October 2012: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s @StudentsFirst Threw a Party in NY. Were You Invited? by Kris Nielsen Since our friend, Michelle Rhee, is finally (maybe) getting her comeuppance, this seemed to be a timely topic to bring up. Last October, New York Governor Cuomo’s Education Reform Commission visited Long Island for an event, where citizens could listen to speakers and ask questions about how to go forward with the future of New York’s publ... more »

#msnbc Chris Hayes talks to Merrow: Twitter bomb @chrislhayes – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

#msnbc Chris Hayes talks to Merrow: Twitter bomb @chrislhayes – @ the chalk face: #msnbc Chris Hayes talks to Merrow: Twitter bomb @chrislhayes by Timothy D. Slekar I’m sure by now most of you know the pressure is on Queen Rhee after the memo concerning cheating in D.C. was leaked to John Merrow. In case you didn’t get a chance to see it, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes interviewed John about Rhee, the memo, the cheating, and the disastrous statistics that plaque the D.C. district. http://video.msnbc.msn.com/all-in-/51523921?ocid=twitter#51523921 The interview was a great first step at expos... more »

NYC Educator: Advice from UFT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

NYC Educator: Advice from UFT: Advice from UFT by NYC Educator *All chapter leaders should engage principals on all aspects of a new teacher evaluation system. You should focus on the fact that visits by the talent coaches should be supportive, not intimidating for teachers, and you should establish the ground rules and advocate for comprehensive professional development so our members will be ready when the new system is implemented in September.* Well, that's something to think about. Problematic is the fact that the system does not actually exist. Of course no teacher wants ... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-13-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: One of the Dumbest NY Times’ Opinion Pieces Ever by dianerav Today, the New York Times gave a lot of column inches to an article by a Harvard professor who claims to know how to fix the teaching profession. He begins with the assertion that despite the many reforms of the past 30 years, the performance of our K-12 education system “remains stubbornly mediocre.” His “evidence” is the test scores on the 2009 PISA in which the US scored about average. Wouldn’t you expect a Harvard professor to check out the socioe... more »

Denver schools to pay millions to reverse controversial 2008 bond deal - The Denver Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Denver schools to pay millions to reverse controversial 2008 bond deal - The Denver Post: Denver schools to pay millions to reverse controversial 2008 bond deal POSTED: 04/13/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT UPDATED: 04/13/2013 12:37:50 AM MDT *By Kevin Simpson* *The Denver Post* Blog: Colorado Classroom Colorado Classroom covers local and state education issues affecting K-12 and higher education students in the state of Colorado. Denver Public Schools, which entered a risky and controversial variable-rate pension bond deal a few years ago, next week plans to finish converting those bonds... more »

New Jersey native, 27, named chief operating officer of NYC's Department of Education | NJ.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

New Jersey native, 27, named chief operating officer of NYC's Department of Education | NJ.com: New Jersey native, 27, named chief operating officer of NYC's Department of Education by Julia Terruso/The Star-Ledger A 27-year-old New Jersey native who has sprinted up the ladder of success has been named chief operating officer of New York City's Department of Education, the New York Post reports.[image: prodigy.jpg]Lawrence native Andrew Buher, a 2007 graduate of Rider University, has been named chief operating officer of the New York City Department of Education .Rider University ... more »

Ed Notes Online: "I Am Not a Crook," Rhee Heading for Perp Walk?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: "I Am Not a Crook," Rhee Heading for Perp Walk?: "I Am Not a Crook," Rhee Heading for Perp Walk? by ed notes online I imagine some of you think this Rhee "head on Nixon body" photoshop I keep up on the Ed Notes sidebar was just done. In fact David Bellel did it for me many years ago fairly early in her reign as DC supt. I was so sure it would come in handy time and again. I think we did them for Joel Klein, Chris Cerf, John White. We never thought of Beverly Hall but should have. In fact I know so much about who cheated and when in some districts here in NYC, c... more »

"NYSUT adopts resolution against high-stakes testing." April 13, 2013. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

"NYSUT adopts resolution against high-stakes testing." April 13, 2013. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org: NYSUT adopts resolution against high-stakes testing WASHINGTON, D.C. April 13, 2013 - Just days before New York state students sit for yet another round of standardized tests, delegates to New York State United Teachers annual policymaking convention unanimously passed a resolution criticizing SED's rocky implementation of new Common Core standards and demanding that this year's test results not be used for high-stakes decisions affecting students and teachers.... more »

UPDATE: Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky: The in box. Retiree Joyce Siska on NBI 16: “That was MY New Business Item.” by Fred Klonsky I reported earlier on the report that IEA Executive Director Audrey Soglin gave to the IEA Representative Assembly as she was directed to do by last year’s New Business Item 16. NBI 16 directed the Executive Director to investigate and report on the negative impact Senate Bill 7 has had on teachers in the state. Audrey along with Stand for Children’s Jonah Edelman helped create the language for Senate Bill 7. Many delegates felt Audrey’s report was not respons... more »

2nd Banana 4-13-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Has One Jeb Bush’s Chiefs for Change Been Implicated in Michelle Rhee’s DC Cover-Up? | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Has One Jeb Bush’s Chiefs for Change Been Implicated in Michelle Rhee’s DC Cover-Up? | Scathing Purple Musings: Has One Jeb Bush’s Chiefs for Change Been Implicated in Michelle Rhee’s DC Cover-Up? by Bob Sikes The jig is up on Michelle Rhee. The DC test results she used as the holy writ to base her empire on were fraudulent. The adults cheated and Michelle Rhee and her Teach for America buddy Kaya Henderson covered it up. It’s always the cover-up that gets you in the end. All that’s left now are who else goes down as a result. At some point the Florida media will start pointing out... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Investigation Memo Renews Calls For Further Probe Of D.C. Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Investigation Memo Renews Calls For Further Probe Of D.C. Schools: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Investigation Memo Renews Calls For Further Probe Of D.C. Schools by Joy Resmovits More than five years after Michelle Rhee took over Washington, D.C., public schools, and nearly three years after she left her position as chancellor, critics are still looking for closure and demanding a more rigorous investigation of the seeming rise in student test scores under her reign. In what's become an annual ritual of sorts, D.C. schoo... more »

Yes, Rhee saw the test cheating memo

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Yes, Rhee saw the test cheating memo: Yes, Rhee saw the test cheating memo Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 13, 2013 at 9:40 am 0 Comments More Michelle Rhee (Susan Biddle for The Washington Post) The education world is abuzz over the publication by independent journalist John Merrow of a secret memo that says nearly 200 D.C. educators may have cheated on standardized tests in 2008 when Michelle Rhee was schools chancellor. (You can read the memo and more here.) Just to be clear, because some have wondered, Rhee *did* see the memo, according to Merrow. He wrote in a post on his bl... more »

Protect Children's Privacy in New York State | Protect Children's Privacy | causes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Protect Children's Privacy in New York State | Protect Children's Privacy | causes.com: Protect Children's Privacy in New York State - Posted to Protect Children's Priva… by Penni Blizzard-McGrath - Apr 12 - Invite Friends 28 shares SHARE TWEET REPOST GOOGLE+ EMAIL To: New York State Government - New York State Dept of Education New York and several other states have recently agreed to share confidential student information with corporate entities related to the Gates Foundation and the News Corporation (owned by Rupert Murdoch). The shared data will include children'... more »

Jewish groups solidarity against school closings Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Jewish groups solidarity against school closings: Jewish groups solidarity against school closings by admin From CReATE member Diane Horwitz: Jewish Solidarity And Action for Schools: The Jewish Community takes a stand against school closings. Please sign their letter. The text of the letter can be found at: tinyurl.com/jews4schools and on their Facebook page. It is also below including the list of signers as of April 10. Karen Lewis will speak at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17. He... more »

RHEE CAP: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Scandal

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

*RHEE CAP: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Scandal * Hearing on Test-Cheating Claim in Washington - NYTimes.com coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago Hearing on Test-Cheating Claim in Washington - NYTimes.com: Hearing on Test-Cheating Claim in Washington by By MOTOKO RICH Michelle A. Rhee, the former schools chancellor in Washington, said she did not recall a memo describing test cheating. By MOTOKO RICHPublished: April 12, 2013 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - The City Council in Washington will hold a hearing next we... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-13-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Julian Vasquez Heilig: Parent Trigger and the Big $$$ by dianerav This is Julian Vasquez Heilig’s continuing series called the Teat, in which he follows the money behind corporate reform. This one focuses on the so-called parent trigger. Previous installments have looked at TFA and KIPP. I posted Gary Cohn’s excellent analysis of the funding behind Parent Revolution, the group created by charter advocates to trick parents into turning their public school over to... more »

Opening the Cradle to Prison Pipeline — The Newest Jim Crow | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Opening the Cradle to Prison Pipeline — The Newest Jim Crow | toteachornototeach: Opening the Cradle to Prison Pipeline — The Newest Jim Crow by aristotlethewise *Opening the Cradle to Prison Pipeline — The Newest Jim Crow* by Steve Nelson In her brilliant book, The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander makes a compelling argument that young men of color in America are the victims of systemic and systematic racism, resulting in mass incarceration: the de facto 21st century version of the Jim Crow laws in the 19th and 20th centuries. The most recent education news provides alarming indi... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-13-13 AM Posts 

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

This Week's Education Research Report 4-6-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * Texting, social networking and other media use linked to poor academic performance Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 day ago The widespread use of media among college students – from texting to chatting on cell phones to posting status updates on Facebook – may be taking an academic toll, say researchers with The Miriam Hospital's Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine. According to a new study, freshmen women spend nearly half their day – 12 hours – engaged in some form of media use, ... more »

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 4-13-13 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL *LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY* *LOOK FOR MY BOOK IN MARCH, 2013*[image: Ferlazzo200(1)] "Self-Driven Learning: Teaching Strategies for Student Motivation" will be a sequel to"Helping Students Motivate Themselves" This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good Posts & Articles On Education Policy Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 7 hours ago Here are several relatively recent useful articles on education policy: Seattle eases rules on exams teachers are boycotting is from The Seattle Times. I’m addin... more »

Hearing on Test-Cheating Claim in Washington - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Hearing on Test-Cheating Claim in Washington - NYTimes.com: Hearing on Test-Cheating Claim in Washington by By MOTOKO RICH Michelle A. Rhee, the former schools chancellor in Washington, said she did not recall a memo describing test cheating. By MOTOKO RICHPublished: April 12, 2013 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - The City Council in Washington will hold a hearing next week after a memo warning officials of cheating on standardized tests during the chancellorship of Michelle A. Rhee surfaced Thursday night.... more »

You Don’t “Hella Love” Oakland Teachers OR Students with Research Like This | Classroom Struggle

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

You Don’t “Hella Love” Oakland Teachers OR Students with Research Like This | Classroom Struggle: You Don’t “Hella Love” Oakland Teachers OR Students with Research Like This by ClassroomStruggle [image: iwanttocommodify hella love oakland teachers] the true agenda of the NCTQ report? if it’s not, can you clarify why? You Don’t “Hella Love” Oakland Teachers OR Students with Research Like This. A Critique of the NCTQ’s “Teacher Quality Roadmap” Report Table of Contents: 1. Intro – A Racist/Classist Report for Oakland’s Schools 2. The NCTQ’s Four Main “Reforms” 3. No Social C... more »

All Things Education: Quick Thoughts on the Missing Memo & Erase to the Top

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

All Things Education: Quick Thoughts on the Missing Memo & Erase to the Top: Quick Thoughts on the Missing Memo & Erase to the Top by Rachel Levy Some quick thoughts on the discovery of the "missing" memo in DCPS/ Michelle Rhee cheating allegations: a) Everyone and their mom, or should I say dad, knew there was something fishy going on. How does this one memo change anything? Rhee doesn't recall receiving the memo? *Right.* Rhee says all kinds of things all of the time: to reporters, to pundits, under oath, to investigators, on the StudentsFirst blog. How will this lie be differ...more »

MUST SEE! CHRIS HAYES JOHN MERROW Memo warns of rampant cheating in D.C. public schools All In — MSNBC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

All In — MSNBC: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Video: The Education of Michelle Rhee | Watch FRONTLINE Online | PBS Video

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Video: The Education of Michelle Rhee | Watch FRONTLINE Online | PBS Video: Program: FRONTLINEEpisode: The Education of Michelle Rhee FRONTLINE correspondent John Merrow was granted unprecedented access to Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools as she attempted to fix a broken school system. • Visit the The Education of Michelle Rhee webpage Watch The Education of Michelle Rhee on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE. Watch The Education of Michelle Rhee on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE. Watch The Education of Michelle Rhee on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE. W... more »

RNC Passes Resolution Against Jeb Bush’s Common Core Standards | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

RNC Passes Resolution Against Jeb Bush’s Common Core Standards | Scathing Purple Musings: RNC Passes Resolution Against Jeb Bush’s Common Core Standards by Bob Sikes Apparently the Republican National Committee didn’t check with Jeb Bush before drafting a resolution against Common Core Standards that is the cornerstone of his corporate takeover of public schools. Here’s the text of the resolution as it was printed in self-described conservative website, *Illinois Review:* RESOLUTION CONCERNING COMMON CORE EDUCATION STANDARDS *WHEREAS,* the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are...more »

Audrey reports. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Audrey reports. | Fred Klonsky: Audrey reports. by Fred Klonsky [image: IMG_0278] *IEA Executive Director Audrey Soglin.* At the end of last year’s IEA RA New Business Item 16 was passed. It directed Executive Director Audrey Soglin to prepare a report on the negative impact of Senate Bill 7 on teachers in the state. Audrey, as you might recall, was one of the authors of Senate Bill 7. It effectively did away with tenure and seniority protections, tied performance reviews and job security to student test scores and required a 75% authorization vote by members of the Chicago Teachers U... more »

Highlights from the April 11 issue of New York Teacher: | Edwize

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

New York Teacher | Edwize: New York Teacher by W.J. Levay Highlights from the April 11 issue of *New York Teacher*: [image: New York Teacher, April 11, 2013]State budget a major victory for schools City schools are set to receive $319.5 million in new state funding for the coming school year, part of a statewide 4.9 percent increase in education aid that is the largest since the 2007 recession. The final budget, approved by state lawmakers on March 29, also extends the millionaire’s tax another three years. Trailer park school The field next to Richmond Hill HS in Queens doesn’t hav... more »

Daily Kos: Hell NO!!! No grand bargain.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Daily Kos: Hell NO!!! No grand bargain.: Hell NO!!! No grand bargain. by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) One problem of being a poster at the end of a long stream of a blogathon is the fear that anything one can offer will probably have already been said. Despite that, I asked for this slot for a reason - because there are some things still left to be said. Much of our discussion has focused on the impact of applying Chained CPI to social safety net programs. As someone who is already on Social Security, that of course affects me personally. As I consider the impact of this idea... more »