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
Schooling in the Ownership Society: 'Blowing up the system' -- Roberts confesses
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: 'Blowing up the system' -- Roberts confesses: 'Blowing up the system' -- Roberts confesses by Mike Klonsky Roy Roberts was told to "blow up and dismantle" Detroit's school system When Michigan'sTea Party Gov. *Rick Snyder* brought in *Roy Roberts *in May, 2011 *,* to replace the *Robert Bobb/ Barbara Byrd-Bennett *school management team in Detroit, he was told to, “blow up the district and dismantle it.” At least that's what the Detroit Free Press reported in an article that has since been revised and no longer includes such comments. Roberts, a ... more »
A Surprise in Court: A School Board, Thought to Be Obsolete, Still Exists - NYTimes.com
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
A Surprise in Court: A School Board, Thought to Be Obsolete, Still Exists - NYTimes.com: A Surprise in Court: A School Board, Thought to Be Obsolete, Still ExistsBy SAM ROBERTS On Jan. 9, 2003, Jamie Perez was slashed by two fellow students at Evander Childs High School in the Bronx. He recovered, and his mother, Nancy Torres, sued the City of New York for negligence, claiming lax security. [image: New York Board of Education seal]New York Board of Education seal Her lawyer, Richard J. Katz, might ordinarily have filed suit against the Board of Education, except that a year before t... more »
IS UTLA UNWITTINGLY HELPING LAUSD GET RID OF TEACHERS? - Perdaily.com
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
IS UTLA UNWITTINGLY HELPING LAUSD GET RID OF TEACHERS? - Perdaily.com: IS UTLA UNWITTINGLY HELPING LAUSD GET RID OF TEACHERS? by Leonard Isenberg [image: Twins.jpg] (Mensaje se repite en Español) * * *On April 26, 2013 the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) sent out a letter to all of the hundreds of teachers who are presently "housed" in LAUSD offices, their homes, or who have been put on protracted administrative leave with no pay or benefits in a process that normally goes on for years until the teacher is starved into accepting a nominal settlement to resign. What this... more »
Chicago teachers. Vote CORE May 17th. | Fred Klonsky
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Chicago teachers. Vote CORE May 17th. | Fred Klonsky: Chicago teachers. Vote CORE May 17th. by Fred Klonsky [image: 11955_10200463723888573_876107089_n] *http://www.coreteachers.com/*
Diane in the Evening 5-5-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
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Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Why Business Models Fail in Education by dianerav A comment on the post about “Zombie Education Policies”: Having spent years in business, I cringe at blindly applying business models to education. 360 evaluation is a business fad that will join MBOs and matrix management. I tried student evaluations. Students are usually upset over not getting a certain grade on the most recent test, angry over a detention, or at the other extreme, like the teacher and don’t want to say anything negative. I eavesdropped on two ... more »
‘I dare you to do better’ — Obama’s Ohio State commencement speech
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
‘I dare you to do better’ — Obama’s Ohio State commencement speech: ‘I dare you to do better’ — Obama’s Ohio State commencement speech Posted by Valerie Strauss on May 5, 2013 at 4:10 pm 0 Comments More [image: (By Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images)] (By Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images) Here is the text of the commencement address that President Obama gave on Sunday at The Ohio State University (as prepared for delivery by the White House): Hello, Buckeyes! Thank you Dr. Gee, the Board of Trustees, Congresswoman Beatty, Mayor Coleman, and all of you who make up The Ohio State University f... more »
The consistently wrong path to better schools by Wendy Lecker - Wait, What?
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
The consistently wrong path to better schools by Wendy Lecker - Wait, What?: The consistently wrong path to better schools by Wendy Lecker by jonpelto Wendy Lecker, the pro-public education advocate and fellow columnist hits it out of the park; again, with a new commentary piece in Stamford Advocate entitled “The consistently wrong path to better Schools. Improving education achievement in our major cities must be a top priority for all of Connecticut’s citizens. Access to higher quality public schools is a fundamental American right, and is even guaranteed by Connecticut’s Cons... more »
Beneath the Surface: More Public School Dismantling in SC – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Beneath the Surface: More Public School Dismantling in SC – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Beneath the Surface: More Public School Dismantling in SC by plthomasedd My home state of South Carolina is a poster child of disfunction, a self-loathing mutt of myopic bible-thumping, state-rights’ libertarianism mated with historical and systemic poverty born out of racism and the lingering burden of slavery. SC voted for Newt Gingrich in the 2012 Republican presidential primaries and now stands as the home of former-governor turned Appalachian-trail-hiking pro-family Mark Sanfor... more »
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » My Trip to #CaDem13 (the California Democratic Party Convention)
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » My Trip to #CaDem13 (the California Democratic Party Convention): My Trip to #CaDem13 (the California Democratic Party Convention) by alicemercer A few weeks back, the California State Democratic Convention came to Sacramento, and I was there. Although I was not able to win a seat as a delegate, I helped out at the CTA (California Teachers Association) booth and got a non-voting pass. During my booth time, I talked to a political consultant from the Southland. He bemoaned the unwillingness of teachers to engage in direct political campaign... more »
Ed Notes Online: Stop the Machine: Put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels...
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Stop the Machine: Put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels...: Stop the Machine: Put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels... by ed notes online “There's a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part! You can't even passively take part! And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels…upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop! And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, t... more »
Not guilty pleas entered in Atlanta cheating case - Yahoo! News
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Not guilty pleas entered in Atlanta cheating case - Yahoo! News: Not guilty pleas entered in Atlanta cheating case[image: Associated Press] By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY | Associated Press – Fri, May 3, 2013 [image: Former Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Beverly Hall, right, waits for motions at a Fulton County Superior Court hearing for several dozen Atlanta Public Schools educators facing charges alleging a conspiracy of cheating on the CRCT standardized tests in Atlanta, Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/David Tulis)] ATLANTA (AP) — A not guilty plea was entered Friday on behalf... more »
Rumpelstiltskin as Policy | Deborah Meier on Education
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Rumpelstiltskin as Policy | Deborah Meier on Education: Rumpelstiltskin as Policy by debmeier There she was–ordered by the King to turn straw into gold within 24 hours…as I recall. Terrified she agreed to give up her first born child to Rumpelstiltskin in return for his promise to do so. But, when the time came she recognized that she couldn’t go through with it… So she cheated and discovered his name–and was free at last. Now children are neither straw nor gold (see previous blog) but the deal we’re making with the devil bears similar risks–inch by inch the day of Rumpelstiltski... more »
UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week: Seattle Parks Invites You to Weigh In by Melissa Westbrook From the City of Seattle, Seattle Parks & Recreation (note there are specific meetings targeting teens and immigrant populations): Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the community to help plan the future of Seattle’s parks, programs, community centers and other facilities at one of six upcoming public meetings. Parks is starting an important public conversation to ensure we have a great park system for generations to come. The goal is to gather public input to b... more »
Paris Is For Lovers (Of Excellence) | EduShyster
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Paris Is For Lovers (Of Excellence) | EduShyster: Paris Is For Lovers (Of Excellence) by edushyster2012 * * *Bonjour tout le monde!* EduShyster has just returned from an exciting (and excellent) adventure in Paris. But what was I doing there, inquiring minds want to know? Like your own grand dame, the unstoppable Madam Wendy Kopp, I find that one continent is simply no longerenough to contain my ambition (or excellence). *C’est une blague!* (This is a joke!) I was really in Paris to celebrate the official international celebration of non-excellence: May Day. My excellent adventure ... more »
Go Public Project GO PUBLIC: A Day in the Life of PUSD
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Home « Go Public Project: Sparking A Dialogue Four of the GO PUBLIC shorts were screened at the High Falls Film Festival followed by a panel discussion with education experts from the area. […] read more » One Year Later… On May 8, 2012 we filmed! On May 8, 2013 we celebrate! GO PUBLIC: A Day in the Life of an American School District May […] read more » WATCH GO PUBLIC GO PUBLIC Voices Hear about PUSD from those who are living the experience of public education every day. read more » Meet the team. It takes 50 directors to shoot 50 films in a single day. Meet some of the talen... more »
Many Closets, One Fear: How Not to Be Seen | the becoming radical
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Many Closets, One Fear: How Not to Be Seen | the becoming radical: Many Closets, One Fear: How Not to Be Seen Posted on May 5, 2013 by plthomasedd This starts with caveats and clarifications so please be patient. I am white, male, and heterosexual—by the coincidences of my birth, many of my defining characteristics place me in the norm of my culture and combine to bestow upon me through no merit on my part a great deal of privilege. Below, then, I am making no claim that the closets I have suffered and that others suffer share some sort of ultimate *equivalence* even though they sha... more »
States Fighting Back Map Update | Truth in American Education
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
States Fighting Back Map Update | Truth in American Education: States Fighting Back Map Update by chascherrie Here is an updated map. North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have been added. You can download the map by clicking on the down arrow at the bottom of the document. You can get a download link and embed code by clicking the share this file envelope just to the left of the down arrow. *Retaining Constitutionally Guaranteed Liberty and State Sovereignty Rejecting the Common Core State Standards* The Pending Rejection states are so marked as a result of serious discussion... more »
Schooling in the Ownership Society: They come and they go
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: They come and they go: They come and they go by Mike Klonsky Catalyst follows the comings and goings of the cogs in Chicago's corporate reform wheel. The latest to catch my eye is *Oliver Sicat,* who leaves CPS to become the CEO and president of Edvocate, the charter management organization overseeing USC Hydrid High School in Los Angeles. SicatSicat was the founder of University of Illinois at Chicago College Prep, a campus of the Noble Street Charters Schools. USC Hybrid High, now in its first year, is a charter school authorized by the Los An... more »
UPDATE: A worry weekend + Sunday reads. | Fred Klonsky
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Sunday reads. | Fred Klonsky: A worry weekend. by Fred Klonsky Last week Madigan got what he wanted. 62 Illinois House Representatives voted for his amended Senate Bill 1 which would gut public employee pensions. It would cut cost of living increases, raise the age when COLAs would be applicable, cap pensionable earnings and increase worker contributions to the pension system. All unconstitutional in the opinion of many. Including me. 51 voted no. 2 voted present. Present? “How do you feel about the constitutionality and morality of cutting pensions to those who contributed to the s... more »
UFT elections: another look at New Action and MORE votes | JD2718
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
UFT elections: another look at New Action and MORE votes | JD2718: UFT elections: another look at New Action and MORE votes by jd2718 We’ve already seen that votes flipped to New Action from ICE/TJC in 2010, and back to MORE in 2013. But has the overall non-Unity vote changed? I’m hardly the first to draw this conclusion. It has changed, but not much. Let’s start with the raw numbers: YearELEMMS/JHS/ISHigh SchoolFunctionalRetireesNACI/T/MNACI/T/MNACI/T/MNAC I/T/MNACI/T/M20045561,2393114227001,4175129901,55887220075621,337273444521 1,5245481,0321,6161,06120109787034212487741,3691,175708... more »
NYC Educator: Letter to File
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
NYC Educator: Letter to File: Letter to File by NYC Educator Dear Ms. Teacher: On May 1st, I met with you and UFT Chapter Leader Sleepy McBraindead in my office. We discussed your failure to give the required anti-bullying instruction on your class. You admitted openly flaunting a direct order from me to teach anti-bullying. You claimed that anti-bullying lessons were implicit in your instruction of *To Kill a Mockingbird*. I directly instructed you not to teach this novel, and to focus more on Common Core non-fiction pieces. I suggested the excellent *The History of Cement* and ... more »
Rich Parents Love Small Class Sizes - Dana Goldstein
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Rich Parents Love Small Class Sizes - Dana Goldstein: Rich Parents Love Small Class Sizes by Dana Goldstein In the Sunday *Times*, Sara Mosle suggests that the way to square the circle on the class size debate--while working within current budget limitations--is to guarantee smaller classes for poor children only, while setting up pilot projects to test the thesis of Bill Gates, Arne Duncan, Mike Bloomberg, and Mitt Romney: That excellent teachers might be willing to take on 3-5 more students per class for a moderate pay raise, say $5,000 or $10,000, and that the result would be ... more »
Dallas Achieves leaders say Superintendent Mike Miles’ actions ‘pose serious risks’ to Dallas ISD | Education Blog
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Dallas Achieves leaders say Superintendent Mike Miles’ actions ‘pose serious risks’ to Dallas ISD | Education Blog: Dallas Achieves leaders say Superintendent Mike Miles’ actions ‘pose serious risks’ to Dallas ISD by Tawnell Hobbs Reporter Rudy Bush reports on Dallas Achieves leaders who say that Superintendent Mike Miles’ actions ‘pose serious risk’ to Dallas ISD. A three-page letter by the Dallas Achieves Commission was sent last night by co-chairs Arcilia Acosta, Pettis Norman and J. McDonald Williams. The commission was formed under former Superintendent Michael Hinojosa to r... more »
UPDATE: SACBEE's Laurel Rosenhall gives Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee a BIG WET KISS | SanLuisObispo.com
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
The Buzz: Michelle Rhee's StudentsFirst group under fire from liberal blogs | State | SanLuisObispo.com: The Buzz: Michelle Rhee's StudentsFirst group under fire from liberal blogs *Michelle Rhee* frequently says her*StudentsFirst* lobbying group is a bipartisan organization that backs Democrats and Republicans who support her vision for education: charter schools, vouchers and performance pay for teachers. But its left-leaning critics routinely cast it as Republican, out of step with union values many Democrats hold dear. Last month, California Democrats wouldn't let it have a boot... more »
Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Issue: Education Issue's Views - Today:18 - Past Seven Days:196 - All-Time:56,889 Most Recent Has Become Law Back to All IssuesView Hot Bills By Issues AreaSee Bills for Previous Sessions Latest Bills - H.R.1802 - Sandra Day O'Connor Civic Learning Act of 2013 To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to promote civic learning and engagement, and for other purposes. Introduced Apr 26, 2013133 Views - S.Res.126 A resolution recognizing the teachers of the United States for their contr... more »
UPDATE: Bragging about our students + RESPECTing the Best Teachers with Larger Classes – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
RESPECTing the Best Teachers with Larger Classes – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: RESPECTing the Best Teachers with Larger Classes by Jim Horn Sara Mosle, a charter corps member from TFA (Class of 1990), has written a propaganda piece in the NYTimes hailing the latest bad idea by corporate reform schoolers: larger classes for the teachers who do best raising test scores. If you were without mind enough to believe Mosle, this revival of an old idea of industrial-size classes spontaneously coalesced from the collective unconscious of individuals otherwise unrelated and oc... more »
Louisiana Educator: The Course Choice Cancer (promotional posting) | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Louisiana Educator: The Course Choice Cancer (promotional posting) | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Louisiana Educator: The Course Choice Cancer (promotional posting) by crazycrawfish [image: buy a degree] *Course Choice: What a steal. Get Yours Today!!!!!* You need to read this post by Mike Deshotels. One of the reasons John White is handing student data over to private, unaccountable vendors is to make it easy for them to enroll you kids in terrible virtual courses, taught by uncertified teachers, on the state’s/your dime. Not only are these often classes taught by uncertified “teach... more »
Risks Seen in Resegregation of Schools | Reporting Texas
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Risks Seen in Resegregation of Schools | Reporting Texas: Risks Seen in Resegregation of Schools Fourth-graders Braxton Brown (left) and Zaria Peace receive iPads at Rutherford Elementary in Mesquite. Many suburban school districts have seen minority growth outpace white enrollment. Photo by Nathan Hunsinger/Dallas Morning News. *Editor’s note: This story is part of a special report on resegregation and disparity in Texas public schools. The rest of the report includes stories on charter schools, magnet schools, Hispanic students, state funding, and crime in schools.* *By Caitlin P... more »
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: CALIFORNIA’S EDUCATION BECOMING THE TITANIC
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: CALIFORNIA’S EDUCATION BECOMING THE TITANIC: CALIFORNIA’S EDUCATION BECOMING THE TITANIC by smf [image: Titanic] BY PATRICE APODACA, NEWPORT BEACH DAILY PILOT | HTTP://BIT.LY/YNAI8N May 3, 2013 :: Underlying all the many issues in education is one big, persistent problem: income inequality. From preschool to college, from test scores to technology access, socioeconomic status is the single most important determinant of student opportunity and achievement. This has long been, and probably will always be the case, but it hasn't always ... more »
UPDATE: Disastrous Lindbergh DESE Common Core Meeting Missouri Education Watchdog: Explaining the Delphi Technique - Reactions from Readers
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Explaining the Delphi Technique Used in the DESE Common Core Meetings and Reactions from Readers: James Shuls Offers His Thoughts on the Disastrous Lindbergh DESE Common Core Meeting by stlgretchen From Lindbergh Crowd Halts Scripted Common Core Meeting: Officials from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are finding out that it might not be easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission, at least not when it comes to the Common Core State Standards. DESE adopted the standards without public knowledge and last night,... more »
MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-5-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
mike simpson 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] New Housing for TFA, Subsidized by Your Tax Dollars by dianerav The New York Times reports today about construction of new apartments in Philadelphia, meant specifically for teachers. The development is made possible by state and federal tax credits. But not for any teacher. Not for the teachers who live in the community. Not for veteran teachers who have put their hearts into the community schools for 10-20 years. They already have a place to live. No, these are ... more »
Ed Notes Online: Obama Supports Chicago Schools by Nominating Pritzger for Commerce Secretary
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Obama Supports Chicago Schools by Nominating Pritzger for Commerce Secretary: Obama Helps Chicago Schools by Nominating Pritzger Nomination for Commerce Secretary by ed notes online "She has caused so much damage to the children of Chicago, we found a brilliant way to get her out of town and into a job in Washington even though we now have to be concerned about the fate of the entire US economy with her in charge of Commerce. A win-win would be for the Republicans to hold up here nomination for years," said an Obama spokesperson. He was dressed to the nines in Prt... more »
Daily Kos: Of holy days and health: Leaves on the Current - and me
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Daily Kos: Of holy days and health: Leaves on the Current - and me: Of holy days and health: Leaves on the Current - and me by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Today for several hundred million Eastern Christian, Orthodox and Oriental, is Pascha, Easter, the Day of Resurrection, the most important day on their religious calendar. Last week was Holy Week, full of services of preparation. My wife is a serious Orthodox Christian, singing in her choir, serving in some services as a reader of the Epistle or other texts, serving on one national committee and representing the Orthodox Chu... more »
If You Hate Doing Assessment, You’re Doing it Wrong | toteachornototeach
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
If You Hate Doing Assessment, You’re Doing it Wrong | toteachornototeach: If You Hate Doing Assessment, You’re Doing it Wrong by aristotlethewise *If You Hate Doing Assessment, You’re Doing it Wrong* by Dean ShareskiFor many teachers, grading and assessment are the duties of teaching most would rather avoid. I get it. For many these things get in the way of learning in that they are contrived , mandated, artificial and time consuming. My personal evolution with assessment has been challenging, but as I continue to tweak my workflow, I am discovering that this is a powerfully enjoyabl... more »
Did D.C. schools cheat? Ask the students. - Class Struggle - The Washington Post
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Did D.C. schools cheat? Ask the students. - Class Struggle - The Washington Post: Did D.C. schools cheat? Ask the students. by Jay Mathews Did D.C. schools cheat? Ask the students. By Jay Mathews Dear D.C. parents and grandparents: Want to uncover the truth behind the D.C. schools’ test-tampering allegations? Ask your student if he or she ever made erasures on the annual D.C. tests, and let me know the answer. Five years ago, analysts found statistically improbable numbers of wrong-to-right erasures on D.C. test answer sheets. Several investigations have failed to determine the ca... more »
The in box. “The personal attacks on (Lewis) by the UPC in the media and campaign literature appearing in teachers’ mailboxes will probably backfire.” | Fred Klonsky
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
The in box. “The personal attacks on (Lewis) by the UPC in the media and campaign literature appearing in teachers’ mailboxes will probably backfire.” | Fred Klonsky: The in box. “The personal attacks on (Lewis) by the UPC in the media and campaign literature appearing in teachers’ mailboxes will probably backfire.” by Fred Klonsky In Response to my post Why I’m not voting for Karen Lewis and CORE. But wish I could. *Fred,* *I’m not a fan of Karen Lewis, but I don’t question her sincerity and devotion to the union. The smears against her from the right on the blogosphere are vi... more »
Daily Kos: School District Tells Gay Man He Can't Speak At Graduation
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Daily Kos: School District Tells Gay Man He Can't Speak At Graduation: School District Tells Gay Man He Can't Speak At Graduation by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) LITTLE ROCK, AR-- The graduate of a northeast Arkansas School has been uninvited to speak at Sloan-Hendrix High School's graduation this year.Bryant Huddleston feels because he is a gay man that Superintendent Mitch Walton told him he couldn't speak, because two school board members felt there were concerns for the community. That is the lead from this story from the local Fox News station His younger sister is one of t... more »
Special report: Born in hope, Newark charter school now embroiled in controversy | NJ.com
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Special report: Born in hope, Newark charter school now embroiled in controversy | NJ.com: Special report: Born in hope, Newark charter school now embroiled in controversy by Jessica Calefati/The Star-Ledger [image: bey4.JPG]In this file photo, Fredrica Bey proudly shows onlookers a mansion on 53 Lincoln Park in Newark that her community group, Women in Support of the Million Man March, later purchased and made its headquarters. The building also became the home of Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School, a city school state education officials have been threatening to shut down for m... more »
Democratic Leaders: Dedicated to alienating the Democratic Base - Wait, What?
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Democratic Leaders: Dedicated to alienating the Democratic Base - Wait, What?: Democratic Leaders: Dedicated to alienating the Democratic Base by jonpelto Public education advocate and CTNewsjunkie columnist, Sarah Darer Littman, has produced another “must read” column articulating the anger and frustration that so many of us are feeling toward much of the leadership of the Democratic Party. I pretty sure it was actually on my 18th birthday that I raced to the Old Town Hall to register as a Democrat. Less than two years later, I become, what I think, was the youngest Democratic T... more »
Official UOO Opt Out/Refusal Survey | United Opt Out National
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Official UOO Opt Out/Refusal Survey | United Opt Out National: Official UOO Opt Out/Refusal Survey by admin *United Opt Out National:* *Dan's Fresh Produce's photo.* *Copyright Infringement or good Marketing* * * We at United Opt Out (UOO) are collecting information on refusing or opting out of testing. Completion of this survey will enter you into a drawing to win an autographed copy of our official poster for Occupy2.0: The Battle for Public Schools. The deadline to complete this survey will be June 15th, 2013. It is becoming increasingly important to collect information to asse... more »
. . .In the Name of the Children | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
. . .In the Name of the Children | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: . . .In the Name of the Children by crazycrawfish I’ve been getting regular reports on progress and events taking place in the local and national arena in relation to the illegal student data sharing situation. One of the things that have been revealed recently in other states is that the costs associated with this inBloom project could become astronomical both from a direct annual fee based cost as well as from liability issues that will be created. The State of New York, the only other state as far along as Louisiana in... more »
Amen or not again? Students and teachers leave class for... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Amen or not again? Students and teachers leave class for... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: Amen or not again? Students and teachers leave class for three-hour prayer revival By Maureen Downey Not sure if V for Vendetta has followed us to the new blog, but this is a story that will interest V. And puzzle most of us. On Wednesday, a three-hour prayer revival occurred at Lumpkin County High School, drawing 50 students who left class to attend. According to the news coverage, the event began when one student sought out the weightlifting coach for guidance about questi... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: IN THE MAILBOX
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: IN THE MAILBOX: IN THE MAILBOX by Mike Klonsky SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND STUDENT'S' MENTAL HEALTH May 3, 2013 Dear Friends, We are writing to people with expertise in child development or mental health (social workers, counselors, psychologists) to ask for help in educating CPS and Chicago leaders about the likely negative impact of school closings on the social and emotional well-being of students affected. As you are no doubt aware, the Chicago Public Schools is planning to close over 54 schools this year. The closings and consolidations will affect ... more »
Ed Notes Online: Norm in The Wave: Opt Out Movement Grows
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Ed Notes Online: Norm in The Wave: Opt Out Movement Grows: Norm in The Wave: Opt Out Movement Grows by ed notes online *School Scope* * * *Opt Out Movement Grows* By Norm Scott Published May 3, 2013 http://www.rockawave.com/news/2013-05-03/Columnists/School_Scope.html [image: Norm blogs at ednotesonline.org] “My child vomited on your high stakes test,” is one of my favorite buttons. With two weeks of testing ending on April 26th, parent grassroots groups “Change the Stakes” and “Time Out from Testing” led a large after school protest of 500 on the steps of the Tweed headquarters...more »
Philadelphia Renovating Apartments to Lure Teachers - NYTimes.com
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Philadelphia Renovating Apartments to Lure Teachers - NYTimes.com: With an Old Factory, Philadelphia Is Hoping to Draw New Teachers Mark Makela for The New York Times Two buildings in Philadelphia that will contain apartments and offices intended to house mostly teachers and nonprofit educational organizations began their life as the Quaker City Dye Works in 1875. By JON HURDLEPublished: May 4, 2013 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - PHILADELPHIA — A Victorian-era dye factory is taking on a new role to help this ci... more »
Diane in the Evening 5-4-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: High-Stakes Testing of Students in Special Education by dianerav Louise Marr sent this from her book: **********£******* “Every spring, the Philadelphia public school students take the standardized tests, or PSSAs. (Starting in 2013, the district has switched to a different test called the Keystone Exams.) These tests are a huge part of how schools are evaluated and rated. It is from these scores that Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) is determined. There is a big push to prepare the eleventh graders for the tests fr... more »
REBIRTH: New Orleans »
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
REBIRTH: New Orleans »: *REBIRTH: New Orleans* *by Learning Matters* - HOME - THE FILM - THE FILMMAKERS - VIDEO - SCREENINGS - PRESS/REVIEWS - RESOURCES - SUPPORTERS *REBIRTH: New Orleans *is a documentary film following the transformation of New Orleans’ public school system after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath of the 2005 storm, Louisiana chose a radical approach: it took over New Orleans schools and decided not to rebuild the old system. Instead, New Orleans would rely on charter schools, public schools run by private operato... more »
The Washington Teacher: It's Official - I'm Running in the WTU elections!
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The Washington Teacher: It's Official - I'm Running in the WTU elections!: It's Official - I'm Running in the WTU elections! Written By Candi Peterson"Together We Are Better!" Liz Davis/Candi Peterson * * *Good afternoon to all of you. It's official on April 30, 2013- I declared my candidacy for Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) General Vice President again. This time, I am running on the**Elizabeth Davis (known as Liz) slate* *. It's an opportunity for a new start, for new beginnings- a time to take stock of where we've been, where we stand and how much needs to be done for DC teach... more »
