Being a Reformer Means Excuses Are OK for You, Not Students
Here is teacher Arthur Goldstein, at his sardonic best, explaining why reformers never make mistakes and if they do, it is not their fault.
Clueless Bill Gates, Redux
In the year that I have had this blog, I have never posted the same article twice.
I posted this one yesterday, and I am posting it again, to draw attention to some curious statements made by Bill Gates in the course of an interview. I am not picking on Bill, but drawing attention to his assumptions. What he believes matters a great deal because his billions, in tandem with federal policy (which he shapes) has a large impact on tens of millions of students and their teachers. His influence is multiplied yet again because almost every other foundation follows his lead, assuming that he knows best because he has the most money.
Yesterday I posted the interview to draw attention to the fact that his favorite technology startup is one that his foundation started, though that was not mentioned. It is inBloom, the new tech company Gates funded with $100 million, in partnership with Rupert Murdoch, to collect confidential student data, which may be used by vendors. The vendors will use the data to design and market new products, based on their access to children’s names,
I posted this one yesterday, and I am posting it again, to draw attention to some curious statements made by Bill Gates in the course of an interview. I am not picking on Bill, but drawing attention to his assumptions. What he believes matters a great deal because his billions, in tandem with federal policy (which he shapes) has a large impact on tens of millions of students and their teachers. His influence is multiplied yet again because almost every other foundation follows his lead, assuming that he knows best because he has the most money.
Yesterday I posted the interview to draw attention to the fact that his favorite technology startup is one that his foundation started, though that was not mentioned. It is inBloom, the new tech company Gates funded with $100 million, in partnership with Rupert Murdoch, to collect confidential student data, which may be used by vendors. The vendors will use the data to design and market new products, based on their access to children’s names,
Another Pearson Foul-Up
Pearson made scoring errors on tests for gifted programs in Néw York City.
13% of the students who qualified were wrongly rejected.
New York City is the only school district that uses a single exam to determine admissions to gifted programs. Because of differences in opportunity to learn, the children with the most advantages in life win the most places.
It is surprising that Dennis Walcott, once active in the civil rights movement, would defend this approach, which
13% of the students who qualified were wrongly rejected.
New York City is the only school district that uses a single exam to determine admissions to gifted programs. Because of differences in opportunity to learn, the children with the most advantages in life win the most places.
It is surprising that Dennis Walcott, once active in the civil rights movement, would defend this approach, which
ALEC and Cato: Frat Brothers on the Far Right
Mercedes Schneider checks out the linkages between ALEC and Cato, the think tanks that are doing their best to advance freedom from government, I.e. deregulation and privatization of everything in the public sector.
One common link: the billionaire Koch brothers.
One common link: the billionaire Koch brothers.
The Master Plan for Obama Education Reforms
Here it is in one neat package: the Obama reform program, drafted by the Broad Foundation and published in April 2009.
Please review the names of those who participated in drafting the plan. Many will be familiar to you. Here you will find the agenda for Race to the Top, which was revealed to the public three months later. These are the people and these are the policies that forged a strong link between No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. Here is the framework that saddled the nation with more high-stakes testing, more privatization, more closing schools, more layoffs, attacks on tenure, and other policies that lack any research or evidence.
Please review the names of those who participated in drafting the plan. Many will be familiar to you. Here you will find the agenda for Race to the Top, which was revealed to the public three months later. These are the people and these are the policies that forged a strong link between No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. Here is the framework that saddled the nation with more high-stakes testing, more privatization, more closing schools, more layoffs, attacks on tenure, and other policies that lack any research or evidence.
Sorry, Great Hearts Academy!
The Tennessee legislature failed to pass the bill to gut local control. Greats Academy will not be able to open in the most affluent section of Nashville. Not this year. ALEC legislation failed. Charters unhappy. Angry moms prevail.
An informed public will not sell or give away public education
An informed public will not sell or give away public education
Breaking News! Corporate Reform Setback in Tennessee!
A reliable source in Tennessee sent this news to me.
Angry Moms of Tennessee scored a big victory!
Here is the report:
“No state charter authorizer. No vouchers. No charter trigger law expansion. No for-profit charter schools.
“BAM!
“Cost to StudentsFirst, etc. this election cycle- $2M. Cost of Angry Mamas- nothing. :)
“Wanted to make sure you knew. Huge Victory! Big celebrating down here!
“The end of session yesterday was nuts. The Lt. Gov. decided to hold the authorizer bill hostage to force the
Angry Moms of Tennessee scored a big victory!
Here is the report:
“No state charter authorizer. No vouchers. No charter trigger law expansion. No for-profit charter schools.
“BAM!
“Cost to StudentsFirst, etc. this election cycle- $2M. Cost of Angry Mamas- nothing. :)
“Wanted to make sure you knew. Huge Victory! Big celebrating down here!
“The end of session yesterday was nuts. The Lt. Gov. decided to hold the authorizer bill hostage to force the
Is Corporate Education Reform Coming to North Dakota?
A comment from a reader in North Dakota. Guess who BG is and why he is coming to Fargo? Is he a modern evangelist, selling salvation by technology?
Any suggestions for our friends in North Dakota? I suggest they join the Network for Public Education, organize parent-teacher groups, and prepare to defend public education, doors open to all.
“The same thing is going on in Fargo right now. I’m just discovering Corporate Education Reform and I’m 99%
Any suggestions for our friends in North Dakota? I suggest they join the Network for Public Education, organize parent-teacher groups, and prepare to defend public education, doors open to all.
“The same thing is going on in Fargo right now. I’m just discovering Corporate Education Reform and I’m 99%
Why So Many Hours for Testing?
This writer, a parent in New York, wonders why so much time is set aside for testing.
The hours spent testing should be devoted to the arts, reading, play, a million other things.
Our top officials think it doesn’t matter because in many or most cases, it doesn’t affect their children.
The hours spent testing should be devoted to the arts, reading, play, a million other things.
Our top officials think it doesn’t matter because in many or most cases, it doesn’t affect their children.
John White Pulls Louisiana Student Data Out of Gates Warehouse
John White, Louisiana State Superintendent, announced that he was recalling all confidential student data from inBloom, the massive data warehouse funded by the Gates Foundation with $100 million.
Is this for real? Time will tell.
Parents in the state loudly protested the release of their children’s identifying information to the data warehouse, which was developed by Rupert Murdoch’s Amplify. Murdoch’s News Corporation is under investigation in
Is this for real? Time will tell.
Parents in the state loudly protested the release of their children’s identifying information to the data warehouse, which was developed by Rupert Murdoch’s Amplify. Murdoch’s News Corporation is under investigation in
A Fawning Interview with Bill Gates
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:
“After almost two decades of pursuing improvements in U.S. education through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates maintains a sweeping and grand ambition. His goal for the next 20 years, he says, is to
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:
“After almost two decades of pursuing improvements in U.S. education through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates maintains a sweeping and grand ambition. His goal for the next 20 years, he says, is to
Diane in the Evening 4-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: *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 »