Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-15-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-15-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Newark: The End of Neighborhood Schools by dianerav Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson has proposed the end of neighborhood schools. All district schools and charter schools will be part of a pool. Or something. Reformers don’t like neighborhood schools. They like a free market where everyone chooses and no one has any loyalties. Michigan has boils he’d district lines and schools advertise for students. This is the business approach. Typically, what happens is that... more »

Peg with Pen: Do Not Shake Hands with #commoncore

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago

Peg with Pen: Do Not Shake Hands with #commoncore: Do Not Shake Hands with #commoncore by Peggy Some days it is terribly overwhelming to read the comments of despair and desperation from parents who are trying to figure out how to help their children who are suffering from severe anxiety after being told they will be retained due to failing the state test. Many of these children must take the test multiple times and must attend summer school - even when they have passing grades on their report cards. It is because of this that I have no tolerance for any sort of compromise to the ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Zombies in Central Park Plus Some Carpentry

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 31 minutes ago

Ed Notes Online: Zombies in Central Park Plus Some Carpentry: Zombies in Central Park Plus Some Carpentry by ed notes online The Zombies, our favorite group -- we went to London twice to see them, plus numerous viewings here in NYC -- are doing a 6PM free -- yes free -- concert in Central Park today and we are heading in for a (not-free) 4PM session with lead singer Collin Blunstone (who looks at us as stalkers) and Ron Argent. A fact you need to know from Wikki: Their 1968 album, Odessey and Oracle, comprising twelve songs by the group's principal songwriters, Argent and Chris Wh... more »

Fighting for Our Classrooms, and for the Human Beings Inside Them | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 31 minutes ago

Fighting for Our Classrooms, and for the Human Beings Inside Them | toteachornototeach: Fighting for Our Classrooms, and for the Human Beings Inside Them by aristotlethewise [image: gty_kotter_watn_3_mr_120815_ssh]*Fighting for Our Classrooms, and for the Human Beings Inside Them* by Richard (RJ) Eskow It seems as if same battle is being fought in every aspect of American society. On one side are the forces of egalitarianism, economic opportunity, and self-determination. On the other is a well-funded and entrenched elite bent on hijacking our media, our political process, and our in... more »

Daily Kos: three paragraphs worth reading

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 44 minutes ago

Daily Kos: three paragraphs worth reading: three paragraphs worth reading by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) occur at the end of This Isn’t How to Stop Hacking, today NY Times column by Joe Nocera, written from Wuhan China where he is on a trip for Western journalists rganized by the China-United States Exchange Foundation, and written in the context of the presence of Snowden in Hong Kong and the remarks he has made. They are the final 3 paragraphs of the column. I offer them without further comment in this diary, although I will make a few remarks in the tip jar. I don’t know wheth... more »

6-15-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 46 minutes ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] Report Back from the Trigger Happy Parent Revolution’s “Meet and Greet” with teachers and social justice organizers by rdsathene * Robert D. Skeels What troubles me is what you are doing with the millions you raise. You use it to sow dissension, to set parents against parents, parents against teachers, parents against principals. I don’t see this as productive or helpful. Schools function best when there is collaboration among teachers, parents, administrators, and students. Schools have a better […] Merrow Is a Jolly Fello... more »

NYC Educator: Financial Genius Mike Bloomberg Grades the English Regents Exam

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 46 minutes ago

NYC Educator: Financial Genius Mike Bloomberg Grades the English Regents Exam: Financial Genius Mike Bloomberg Grades the English Regents Exam by NYC Educator In the old days, English and ESL teachers used to grade the English Regents exam. There would be days set aside for grading, and the teachers would sit and grade. This, however, was a terrible system, because all teachers are assumed to be dishonest, and are also assumed to pass all their own students for no reason whatsoever. In January, a new system was begun. English teachers traveled to grading centers throughout the city... more »

Louisiana Educator: Career Diploma Promoted

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago

Louisiana Educator: Career Diploma Promoted: Career Diploma Promoted by Michael Deshotels Superintendent White has just launched a major effort to breathe life into the Career Diploma. Why is this necessary when Louisiana is in the middle of implementing the common core curriculum? Why another major initiative? Let's look at the recent history of the high school diploma in Louisiana. Louisiana education leaders have been on a mission to upgrade our high school curriculum for at least ten years now. The revelation by the Board of Regents several years ago that only 23% of our stude... more »

Pritzker – Public School Closings – Charter School Profits – Jail Program Investments – Goldman Sachs – Preschool Program Loans – Secretary of Commerce – Election Financing – ????? | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago

Pritzker – Public School Closings – Charter School Profits – Jail Program Investments – Goldman Sachs – Preschool Program Loans – Secretary of Commerce – Election Financing – ????? | Reclaim Reform: [image: Pritzker Penny]Pritzker – Public School Closings – Charter School Profits – Jail Program Investments – Goldman Sachs – Preschool Program Loans – Secretary of Commerce – Election Financing – ????? by kenpreviti Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce nominee and the billionaire Hyatt heiress who helped finance President Obama’s election, is the same person who, while an appointed Ch... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 6-15-13

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago

*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* STATE BOARD OF ED HANDED JOB OF DEFINING RULES OF NEW FUNDING SYSTEM + smf’s 2¢ smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 20 hours ago By John Fensterwald | EdSource Today http://bit.ly/10ipL1R June 14th, 2013 | The Legislature will vote today on a bill establishing Gov. Brown’s historic school funding system that punts to the State Board of Education some key decisions on how dollars for disadvantaged students must be spent and accounted for. The language for implementing the Local... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 6-15-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago

Education Research Report *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * Moral vs. Performance Character Development in Urban Adolescents Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 day ago This study compared the effects of emphasizing moral character development or performance character development at three high-performing, high-poverty urban middle schools. Performance character consists of the qualities that allow individuals to regulate their thoughts and actions in ways that support achievement in a particular endeavor. Moral character consists of the qualities relevant t... more »

All Week 6-15-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] Merrow Is a Jolly Fellow (Not) plthomasedd at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 1 hour ago I hate even to acknowledge John Merrow’s most recent venture into not having a clue, but his attempt at humor is yet more evidence that the evidence doesn’t matter: The Common Core and the End of the World In Merrow’s evidence-free world, all who question the Mighty Common Core are nothing more than end-of-the-world loonies. […] Report Back from the Trigger Happy Parent Revolution’s “Meet and Greet” with teachers and social justice o... more »

Ed Notes Online: Retired Chapter Leader Slams UFT in Eval Deal, ATRs and Support for RTTT

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Retired Chapter Leader Slams UFT in Eval Deal, ATRs and Support for RTTT: Retired Chapter Leader Slams UFT in Eval Deal, ATRs and Support for RTTT by ed notes online *The UFT claims we should be treated the same as regular teachers but they seem to have abandoned us and are sliding away from all members concerns....I and several others approached Amy, Jose and the other UFT leaders at the one ATR meeting and expressed our desire to contribute to the UFT our unique perspectives and substantiated concerns about violations to our contract. The UFT was not interested ... more »

More special-ed kids head to traditional schools - LA Daily News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

More special-ed kids head to traditional schools - LA Daily News: More special-ed kids head to traditional schools By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer Posted: 06/14/2013 07:02:06 PM PDT Updated: 06/14/2013 08:03:44 PM PDT April Muñoz and daughter Ashley take their message to the streets Friday, June 7, 2013 in Reseda, where they urged residents to protest LAUSD s plan to phase out some of its special-education centers. (Dean Musgrove/Staff Photographer) Los Angeles Unified will shift hundreds of disabled students from special-education centers to traditional schools this fall as it ... more »

Merrow's Mockery Misses the Mark on Common Core - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Merrow's Mockery Misses the Mark on Common Core - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Merrow's Mockery Misses the Mark on Common Core by Anthony Cody John Merrow is an intelligent man. But his latest post, The Common Core and the End of the World, is disappointing. First, rather than address the concerns raised by Common Core critics, Merrow compares us all to religious doomsayers like Pope Innocent III ("The world will end in 1284") and Cotton Mather ("Yea verily, the world will end in 1697"). As Merrow should know, critiques of the Common Core by myself and other writer... more »

Daily Kos: excuse my random thoughts on a Friday evening

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Daily Kos: excuse my random thoughts on a Friday evening: excuse my random thoughts on a Friday evening by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Today Leaves on the Current and I traveled to Jefferson County WV where we attended the spring version of the Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Fair. We have been going now for 30 years, at least once a year. Some of the craftspeople we most admire no longer come to this fair, but there are others we see regularly - painter Jefferson Stokes, and scrimshaw and jewelry artist Cathy Guss. We own multiple pieces by both, we always stop and chat, ... more »

Interactive graphic of state budget highlights for education | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

Interactive graphic of state budget highlights for education | EdSource Today: Interactive graphic of state budget highlights for education - by John Osborn by John Osborn California 2013-14 Budget Highlights for Education The Legislature on Friday passed a $96.3 billion budget plan for the state that includes a shift in how California funds schools and contains significant funding for education. Gov. Jerry Brown must sign the budget before the start of the fiscal year on July 1. *Click through our interactive graphics for budget highlights. Scroll over graphs for additional informa... more »

Populist Demagoguery or Economic Breakthrough? | Dissident Voice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Populist Demagoguery or Economic Breakthrough? | Dissident Voice: Populist Demagoguery or Economic Breakthrough? from Dissident Voice by Ellen Hodgson Brown On July 1, interest rates will double for millions of students – from 3.4% to 6.8% – unless Congress acts; and the legislative fixes on the table are largely just compromises. Only one proposal promises real relief – Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s “Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act.” This bill has been dismissed out of hand as “shameless populist demagoguery” and “a cheap political gimmick,” but is it? Or could Warren’s outside-the-b... more »

Fordham Institute: Next Generation Science Standards Five Flaws | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Fordham Institute: Next Generation Science Standards Five Flaws | Truth in American Education: Fordham Institute: Next Generation Science Standards Five Flaws by Shane Vander Hart How bad were the Next Generation Science Standards? So bad that the Fordham Institute which loved the Common Core couldn’t give these standard better than a C. A race to mediocrity in which Kanas finished the finish line. Here are five of the “significant flaws” as defined by Fordham: - Much essential content was omitted. - The grade-to-grade progression that was a strength of the NRC Framewor... more »

Ed Notes Online: Common Core: Commentary on NY TImes Sunday Piece from Ohanian and Daily Howler

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Common Core: Commentary on NY TImes Sunday Piece from Ohanian and Daily Howler: Common Core: Commentary on NY TImes Sunday Piece from Ohanian and Daily Howler by ed notes online *Our public schools were now being compared to the world’s most famous shipwreck! And by the way: As long as this Standard Story is told, our public school teachers will get blamed for the disaster they have produced. The wreck of the Hesperus will get blamed on them and their infernal unions. * *.....does it make sense to have a uniform set of “standards” for every child in each grade? ... more »

Engage and Motivate with ASCD's Summer Boot Camp Webinar Series — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Engage and Motivate with ASCD's Summer Boot Camp Webinar Series — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers] Engage and Motivate with ASCD’s Summer Boot Camp Webinar Series June 14, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: ASCD Summer Boot Camp] Delve into summer learning with tips and strategies from a few of your favorite ASCD authors. The first session in the ASCD Summer Boot Camp Webinar Series kicks off Thursday, July 18 at 3 p.m., eastern time, and presents a strategic approach to direct vocabulary instruction that helps students master key ... more »

UPDATE: Ralph Martire: “Nobody likes taxes. But everybody should be thankful Illinois increased its income taxes in 2011.” | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Ralph Martire: “Nobody likes taxes. But everybody should be thankful Illinois increased its income taxes in 2011.” | Fred Klonsky: Illinois Governor polling results. by Fred Klonsky [image: ..0321.no] As I suspected, there is great support for the draft movement to have Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability run for Governor against the present choices of Curley, Moe, Shemp and Lisa. It is interesting to me that “Any forgettable Republican” beats all the announced candidates, including the incumbent, Governor Squeezy. “Any forgettable Republican” comes in ... more »

How the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wages war on public schools | Dangerously Irrelevant

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

How the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wages war on public schools | Dangerously Irrelevant: How the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wages war on public schools by dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod) [image: US Chamber 03] Want to know how to wage war against public schools? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing campaign provides us some pointers… *1. Decide on a catchy title for your campaign.* How about *Breaking the Monopoly of Mediocrity?* Nice title! Pat yourself on the back! Wait a minute… Does this mean that the U.S. Chamber wants to be mediocre but someone else holds the monopoly o... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-14-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Unfairness of the “Parent Trigger” by dianerav I earlier posted about Steve Zimmer’s resolution proposing a change in the Parent Trigger law to permit full information to parents, both pro and con, before taking a vote that might lead to firing the principal, the staff, or privatizing the school. An educator in Los Angeles sent the following explanation as to why this change is necessary. Under the law as it stands, Parent Revolution can advocate to make changes, but educators at the school are under a gag o... more »

A Better Connecticut spends another $697,500 on ads to “Thank Governor Malloy.” - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

A Better Connecticut spends another $697,500 on ads to “Thank Governor Malloy.” - Wait, What?: A Better Connecticut spends another $697,500 on ads to “Thank Governor Malloy.” by jonpelto Forget campaign finance reform. Governor Malloy continues to benefit from record-breaking spending by the Education Reform front called A Better Connecticut. Formed by Jennifer Alexander and Alex Johnston, the present and former CEOs of ConnCAN, A Better Connecticut spent an additional $700,000 on television and other advertising in support of Governor Malloy’s Education Reform Initiatives. A Bet... more »

Exciting New Perspectives on the Scientific Method in Interdisciplinary Learning — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Exciting New Perspectives on the Scientific Method in Interdisciplinary Learning — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Kavita Singh]Exciting New Perspectives on the Scientific Method in Interdisciplinary Learning June 14, 2013 by Kavita Singh There has been some progress in the last few years for interdisciplinary studies. It's a trend still in its infancy, but it is beginning to catch on due to great successes from early adopters. Schools are challenging their students with problems requiring learning from traditionally disparate subjects. What will be the next tech... more »

UPDATE: what McGinn Had to say Seattle Schools Community Forum: Want a "Teacherpreneur" Making Education Policy?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Want a "Teacherpreneur" Making Education Policy?: Center School Award from the City (and what McGinn Had to say) by Melissa Westbrook At the Slog, they covered the mayor's award that The Center School received from the City's Human Services Coalition for student support of the race and social class at Center. What is interesting to me is that Mayor McGinn stood very clearly on the side of the students and didn't mince words (bold theirs). *Because it’s the mayor's award, it was given by Mayor McGinn himself and accompanied by a signed mayoral proc... more »

Loeb Gives More To Charter Schools To Tweak Teachers' Union | FINalternatives

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Loeb Gives More To Charter Schools To Tweak Teachers' Union | FINalternatives: Loeb Gives More To Charter Schools To Tweak Teachers' Union Jun 14 2013 | 10:02am ET *Give 'em Hell Randi AFT President Randi Weingarten.* Two months after cancelling an appearance to avoid tough questions from teachers' union representatives, Third Point's Dan Loeb is responding by opening his checkbook. Loeb said this week that he would give an extra $1 million to a group of charter schools to show his opposition to the American Federation of Teachers, whose plans to question him during a panel in Apr... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee talks about founding StudentsFirst | Bay State Banner | Serving the African American communities of Greater Boston since 1965

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rheetalks about founding StudentsFirst | Bay State Banner | Serving the African American communities of Greater Boston since 1965: [image: The Real I.R.S. Scandal] Michelle Rhee was born on Christmas Day, 1969 in Ann Arbor, Mich. A first-generation Korean-American descended from a long line of educators, she embarked on a career as a teacher in inner-city Baltimore soon after graduating from Cornell University with a B.A. in government. However, her star really started to rise after she earned a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University... more »

LCFF lemmings poised to leap? | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

LCFF lemmings poised to leap? | EdSource Today: LCFF lemmings poised to leap? - by Eric Premack / commentary by Eric Premack / commentary [image: Eric Premack] Eric Premack The current Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) legislation pending before the Legislature utterly fails to reach any of the key reform goals that Gov. Jerry Brown and his advisers articulated. The bill presents the Legislature and governor with a stark choice. The key goals of LCFF, as articulated by the governor’s astute adviser Mike Kirst and his colleagues in a seminal paper, were as follows: - *Allocate ... more »

Advisory panel would narrow teacher training to focus on age groups SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Advisory panel would narrow teacher training to focus on age groups California would abandon its long-time practice of issuing credentials that allow teachers to oversee instruction in the widest of grade spans – from pre-kindergarten to adult education – under a proposal pending before the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Currently, multiple subject credential holders are authorized to teach in self-contained settings and single subject credential holders are authorized to teach their subject matter in departmentalized settings of stud... more »

David Chura: The Many Faces of Teacher Activism

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

David Chura: The Many Faces of Teacher Activism: The Many Faces of Teacher Activism Posted: 06/10/2013 5:01 pm *Alice Mercer*[image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch]*Diane Ravitch* When I was recently asked if I thought teachers today needed to be activists I didn't hesitate in my answer. "Being a teacher, almost by definition, means being an activist." That might come as a surprise to those teachers who have never wrote a letter to the editor, marched in a rally, retweeted a Diane Ravitch tweet, or "Occupied" anything but their classrooms. But I'm holding to my belief, ... more »

The Notebook launches education job board | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

The Notebook launches education job board | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: The Notebook launches education job board by thenotebook The *Notebook, *in collaboration with two other education news publications, has introduced a new job board for education jobs in Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. The job board covers a range of opportunities, from teaching positions to counseling and administrative roles to ESL coordinating. A variety of jobs are located in Philadelphia, and other positions can be found in New York, New Jersey, and Colorado. Image: Photo Credits: Thinglass... more »

Common Core Withdrawal Bill Filed in New York Assembly | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Common Core Withdrawal Bill Filed in New York Assembly | Truth in American Education: Common Core Withdrawal Bill Filed in New York Assembly by Shane Vander Hart [image: New York State Capitol] Bill A07994 was filed yesterday in the New York Assembly and then referred to the education committee. This bill will halt the implementation of the Common Core State Standards and Race to the Top in the State of New York if passed. Below is the text of the bill: 2013 Race to the Top & Common Core Withdrawal Bill Draft by Al Graf Lisa Christiansen of Stop Common Core in New York State sent me... more »

Five Essential Schoolwide Conditions for Common Core Achievement | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Five Essential Schoolwide Conditions for Common Core Achievement | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Five Essential Schoolwide Conditions for Common Core Achievement by National Association of Secondary School Principals *By Mel Riddile, Associate Director of High School Services at the National Association of Secondary Principals(NASSP)* Principal leadership matters--perhaps now more than ever before. As much as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are changing instructional practice in the classroom, we must acknowledge that student learning under CCSS requires... more »

Daily Kos: BREAKING: StudentsFirst & ALEC group exploit Teacher of the Year to promote anti-union agenda

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Daily Kos: BREAKING: StudentsFirst & ALEC group exploit Teacher of the Year to promote anti-union agenda: BREAKING: StudentsFirst & ALEC group exploit Teacher of the Year to promote anti-union agenda byEclectablogFollow *This is offensive* In May of this year, Gary Abud, a science teacher at Grosse Pointe North High School, was chosen as Michigan's 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year by State Superintendent Mike Flanagan. It's an amazing accomplishment for a teacher who has only been at it for six years. Well-respected by both his students and his coworkers, Mr. Abud was a worthy choice. ...more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, June 14, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Fensterwald: State Board handed job of defining rules of new funding system * Education Headlines *Friday, June 14, 2013* Cause of Santa Ana Valley High School blast remains unknownFire and school officials have been unable to investigate the cause of an explosion at Santa Ana Valley High School because the building is too unstable to enter, officials said Wednesday. Natomas Unified trustee on campaign to videotape meetingsTrustee Ryan Herche wants Natomas Unified School Board meetings videotaped. He promised it when he campaig... more »

Why Don't We 'Fix' Poverty While We're at It? - Bridging Differences - Education Week

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Why Don't We 'Fix' Poverty While We're at It? - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Why Don't We 'Fix' Poverty While We're at It? by Deborah Meier *Deborah Meier concludes her recent discussion with Michael Petrilli today. The two hope to launch a new blog conversation in the fall. Next week, Todd Sutler of the Odyssey Initiative joins Deborah on Bridging Differences.* Dear Michael, Poverty and global warming are alike, as you say, in the sense that both are in large man-made (and women-made). And neither is easy to "fix." Urgent pleas to be more environmentally conscious in one... more »

L.A. Unified philanthropy taps wealthy Angelinos for projects near to superintendent's heart | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

L.A. Unified philanthropy taps wealthy Angelinos for projects near to superintendent's heart | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: L.A. Unified philanthropy taps wealthy Angelinos for projects near to superintendent's heart by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez [image: LA Fund] *Philanthropist Megan Chernin in the Century City offices of the Los Angeles Fund for Public Education.; Credit: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez* The Los Angeles Fund for Public Education was created two years ago to tap wealthy, high profile donors to help the mostly low-income kids in Los Angeles Unified School District. Founded by district Supe... more »

Daily Kos: the importance of June 14

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Daily Kos: the importance of June 14: the importance of June 14 by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) is wrapped in irony. in 1777 the Continental Congress adopted the American Flag. On that same day the United States Army, which would fight under that flag, was official established. In 1916 Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation establishing Flag Day on this day, something affirmed by Act of Congress in 1949. The irony comes from perhaps the most important Supreme Court decision most Americans do not know, issued this date in 1943. That case involved the Pledge of Allegiance. It is West ... more »

6-14-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] #highered needs some consistency in its #MOOC concerns. Please. #AAUP by Chalk Face, PhD We don’t really cover MOOCs here all that much. Perhaps we need to get on it. But I was cued into a post on the Chronicle over the AAUP’s concern with intellectual property rights and MOOCs. I like the AAUP. It’s a relatively strong organization that seems to be the last really supporting academic freedom, […] @educationgadlfy reviews state science standards, but something’s missing #NGSS by Chalk Face, PhD For the record, a “gadfly” is... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-14-13 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: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Public Education Is Not Failing, But NCLB and RTTT Are by dianerav Ron Berler has written about his year in a so-called “failing school” in Norwalk, Connecticut. The school has a dedicated staff trying its best to raise the achievement levels of students who enter school far behind. Yet it is a “failing school” because no matter how much progress the students make,the children are still not as “proficient” as those in nearby affluent New Canaan. Berler has a new b... more »