Why She Left Teaching
From a teacher who gave up:
After 13+ years as a successful special education teacher in Los Angeles and then Virginia, I resigned last year. I just felt like I could no longer teach one more year in the current atmosphere that the teaching profession has become. I decided to take at least a year off, but it may be permanent. I know I have helped so many students and families over the years, and the students remained the only pleasant part of being a teacher at all. The excessive paperwork and lack of funding and support from society, the administration, and the government got worse and worse with every year, and the major down-slide began with No Child Left Behind and the increasing
After 13+ years as a successful special education teacher in Los Angeles and then Virginia, I resigned last year. I just felt like I could no longer teach one more year in the current atmosphere that the teaching profession has become. I decided to take at least a year off, but it may be permanent. I know I have helped so many students and families over the years, and the students remained the only pleasant part of being a teacher at all. The excessive paperwork and lack of funding and support from society, the administration, and the government got worse and worse with every year, and the major down-slide began with No Child Left Behind and the increasing
Is the Common Core in Trouble?
AFT President Randi Weingarten called for a moratorium in the rush to impose the Common Core. Several states are considering proposals to withdraw from the Common Core. The Republican National Committee lambasted it as federal intrusion. Progressives like Stephen Krashen and Susan Ohanian object to standardization. Defenders try to paint critics as far-right extremists.
Is the Common Core too much, too soon? Did the Obama administration nd the Gates Foundation move too fast, without adequate buy-in from educators?
What happens next? Stay tuned.
Is the Common Core too much, too soon? Did the Obama administration nd the Gates Foundation move too fast, without adequate buy-in from educators?
What happens next? Stay tuned.
Good News! Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Opposes Voucher Expansion
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has been friendly to school choice experiments, but now has turned cool.
Why?
In this editorial, the newspaper says the evidence DOES NOT SUPPORT SCHOOL CHOICE.
Governor Scott Walker wants to lift the income limits on the voucher program and expand it beyond Milwaukee,
Why?
In this editorial, the newspaper says the evidence DOES NOT SUPPORT SCHOOL CHOICE.
Governor Scott Walker wants to lift the income limits on the voucher program and expand it beyond Milwaukee,
Her Daughter Opted Out
From a reader:
Libbie, my daughter with Rett Syndrome, could not talk or use her hands functionally to communicate, yet she was forced to go through the state testing every year. Her IEP “accommodations” forced her teacher to work with her 1 on 1, and ask each question so Libbie could eye-gaze at her chosen answer, as an “alternative assessment”. In 5th grade, she figured how to “opt-out” on her own. She would simply close her eyes and refuse to participate. Her teacher frantically called me to somehow remedy the situation, but I only smiled with pride at
Libbie, my daughter with Rett Syndrome, could not talk or use her hands functionally to communicate, yet she was forced to go through the state testing every year. Her IEP “accommodations” forced her teacher to work with her 1 on 1, and ask each question so Libbie could eye-gaze at her chosen answer, as an “alternative assessment”. In 5th grade, she figured how to “opt-out” on her own. She would simply close her eyes and refuse to participate. Her teacher frantically called me to somehow remedy the situation, but I only smiled with pride at
Massive Giveaway of Public Property! Call the Police! The FBI!
The North Carolina legislature is about to approve a massive giveaway of public property to private charter operators.
The charter corporation will be able to get public property for $1, then open a “school” staffed by uncertified teachers. No criminal background check required.
Call the cops!
The charter corporation will be able to get public property for $1, then open a “school” staffed by uncertified teachers. No criminal background check required.
Call the cops!
New York’s Evaluation System: Junk Science at Work!
Arthur Goldstein is a teacher-blogger who terrifies corporate reformers like State Commissioner John King. That is because Goldstein is a career teacher who knows what he is talking about; also, he writes lucidly and has a dry sense of humor. King, on the other hand, taught for two years in a “no excuses” charter school with a high suspension rate (at the same time that he miraculously earned both a law degree from Yale and a doctorate in education from Teachers College). King has one big advantage over Goldstein: He was a classmate of Merryl Tisch in one of TC’s QuickTime doctorate programs, and Dr. Tisch is now Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, which hired the inexperienced King to be State Commissioner.
In this post on his marvelous blog, Golstein describes the sheer absurdity
In this post on his marvelous blog, Golstein describes the sheer absurdity
LA Daily News Endorses Monica Ratliff
The Los Angeles Daily News just endorsed Monica Ratliff for the open seat on the school board.
The newspaper said that it was not right to let very wealthy people buy a school board seat for their inexperienced and uninformed candidate.
Monica now has the support of the Los Angeles Times and the LA Daily News.
It is time for her union, the UTLA, to withdraw its dual endorsement and support her.
She is a working classroom teacher. She cannot campaign between 7:30 am and 2:45 pm because she teaches every day.
I sent Monica a donation of $100. She now has collected nearly $10,000.
Her opponent has nearly $1 million.
Please support Monica. Send her $5, $10, whatever you can afford.
The newspaper said that it was not right to let very wealthy people buy a school board seat for their inexperienced and uninformed candidate.
Monica now has the support of the Los Angeles Times and the LA Daily News.
It is time for her union, the UTLA, to withdraw its dual endorsement and support her.
She is a working classroom teacher. She cannot campaign between 7:30 am and 2:45 pm because she teaches every day.
I sent Monica a donation of $100. She now has collected nearly $10,000.
Her opponent has nearly $1 million.
Please support Monica. Send her $5, $10, whatever you can afford.
Me on Sirius-XM
I mentioned a few days ago that I will have a regular Monday conversation with Pete Dominick on Sirius-XM at 7:35 am EST or thereabouts. At the time I did not know which channel the show is on.
It is 104.
Last week we talked about testing. Pete takes callers, so call in.
It is 104.
Last week we talked about testing. Pete takes callers, so call in.
Gary Rubinstein: TFA’s Three Biggest Lies
In one of his most brilliant posts, Gary Rubinstein calls Teach for America on the carpet for continual lying. Gary, who is one of TFA’s most illustrious alumni, thinks TFA has many achievements in which it should take pride but he can’t tolerate these big lies.
1. the training for TFA teachers is adequate.
2. High expectations works miracles.
3. TFA produces miracle teachers or schools or districts.
Read his post to see why each of these claims is a lie.
Gary is a fearless myth buster.
TFA should take his good advice.
1. the training for TFA teachers is adequate.
2. High expectations works miracles.
3. TFA produces miracle teachers or schools or districts.
Read his post to see why each of these claims is a lie.
Gary is a fearless myth buster.
TFA should take his good advice.
Diane in the Evening 4-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Don’t You Love the Providence Student Union? by dianerav The Providence Student Union delivered the First Annual State of the Student Address today, right before State Commissioner Denorah Gist gave her annual State of Education Address. ********************** Hello. Attached please find the materials from the Providence Student Union’s First Annual State of the Student Address, including a press release, a list of PSU’s policy recommendations, and a one-page document detailing PSU’s idea for assessment reform.... more »