Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-16-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-16-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS

Happy Father's Day from the Big Education Ape

Happy Fathers Day. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago

Happy Fathers Day. | Fred Klonsky: Happy Fathers Day. by Fred Klonsky [image: Fathers Day]

Can School Reform Hurt Communities? - NYTimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 26 minutes ago

Can School Reform Hurt Communities? - NYTimes.com: Can School Reform Hurt Communities? William Widmer for The New York Times Jeri Hilt taught students about copyright law at ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy, a charter school in New Orleans, last week. By SARAH CARRPublished: June 15, 2013 NEW ORLEANS — BEFORE Hurricane Katrina, about 74 percent of this city’s schools were considered “failing,” based mainly on their standardized test scores. By 2012, that figure had dropped to 42 percent, even as the bar for passing was raised. Average ACT scores for the city’s public school students have ... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Edgar Guest: in Praise of Father by dianerav by Edgar Guest My father knows the proper way The nation should be run; He tells us children every day Just what should now be done. He knows the way to fix the trusts, He has a simple plan; But if the furnace needs repairs, We have to hire a man. My father, in a day or two Could land big thieves in jail; Lewis Carroll on Father William by dianerav There are far better ways to celebrate Father’s Day, but here is one to ... more »

Anti-teacher groups get failing grade from teacher of the year | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Anti-teacher groups get failing grade from teacher of the year | toteachornototeach: Anti-teacher groups get failing grade from teacher of the year by aristotlethewise *Anti-teacher groups get failing grade from teacher of the year* by Laura Clawson Michigan’s teacher of the year has been taken up by StudentsFirst and the Mackinac Center as part of their campaign against teachers unions. But he’s not on board with their corporate education policy agenda, Eclectablog reports. The Koch brothers-funded, ALEC-affiliated Mackinac Center and Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst have been blastin... more »

Daily Kos: Merrow Is a Jolly Fellow (Not)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Daily Kos: Merrow Is a Jolly Fellow (Not): Merrow Is a Jolly Fellow (Not) by rss@dailykos.com (plthomasEdD) 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. To investigative journalist Merrow, Rand Paul, Anthony Cody, and Diane Ravitch are of equal credibility (that is, not credible). That's pure and utter lu... more »

The Washington Teacher: Why are DCPS & WTU President Saunders Downplaying the Excessing of 500-600 Teachers?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

The Washington Teacher: Why are DCPS & WTU President Saunders Downplaying the Excessing of 500-600 Teachers?: Why are DCPS & WTU President Saunders Downplaying the Excessing of 500-600 Teachers? by noreply@blogger.com (Candi Peterson) DCPS Excess Teachers & Staff Graveyard *By Candi Peterson* Vote Davis Slate for WTU Liz Davis /Candi Peterson *WTU Can Be Better!* In the years under the *Michelle Rhee and* *Kaya Henderson regime*, we have seen hundreds of teachers regularly excessed at the end of each school year. With the advent of 23 school closings in 2008 and now 15 school closi... more »

Last Day Of School Is Permanent At 7 Sacramento Campuses | KTXL FOX40

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Last Day Of School Is Permanent At 7 Sacramento Campuses | KTXL FOX40: Last Day Of School Is Permanent At 7 Sacramento Campuses - [image: See bio, contact info, and more articles from Lonnie Wong] SACRAMENTO- The last day of the school year at the Sacramento City Unified School District had extra meaning at seven elementary schools. They are being closed for good after the district made a move to move 2,300 students from under-enrolled elementary school campuses. The schools that are closing include Clayton B. Wire, Collis P. Huntington, Fruit Ridge, Jo... more »

Think the Job Performance of the NYC DOE Chief Officer Dennis Walcott Stinks? - ParentAdvocates.org

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Parent Advocates - ParentAdvocates.org: Think the Job Performance of the NYC DOE Chief Officer Dennis Walcott Stinks? * * * *Too bad. No one who works at Tweed (or City Hall, we hear) has a contract and no one is evaluated. That's how Bloomberg works, and how public money is spent. From the desk of Betsy Combier, Editor. Mike Bloomberg *Think the Job Performance of the NYC DOE Chief Officer Dennis Walcott Stinks?* Too bad. No one who works at Tweed (or City Hall, we hear) has a contract and no one is evaluated. That's how Bloomberg works, and how public money is s... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: From the Wall Street Journal: 'The marriage between companies and the state'

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: From the Wall Street Journal: 'The marriage between companies and the state': From the Wall Street Journal: 'The marriage between companies and the state' by Mike Klonsky The June 10th WSJ calls the Snowden affair, "a wake-up call for Booz Allen and us." I'm not sure who the us is here, but they do make some great points. *In the increasingly intimate marriage between companies and the state, Mr. Snowden is emblematic of many things: For business, he signifies the liabilities that companies doing intelligence work for the government have inheri... more »

STANDARDIZED Official Trailer

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

The official trailer for STANDARDIZED, an exposé of the standardized testing industry and how it has undermined public education. *United Opt Out * WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO OPT OUT? *What does it mean to “opt out”?* Opt out means a refusal to “buy into” something-in this case the stranglehold that high stakes testing has on public education. We believe that the quickest, swiftest, and most effective way to end the destruction of HST is for parents, students and teachers to refuse to participate in these mandated high stakes tests. However, we also recognize that this measure is easier s... more »

Happy Father's Day from the Big Education Ape

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

*Happy Father's Day from the Big Education Ape* * * * *

Two commentary pieces – one profound message - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Two commentary pieces – one profound message - Wait, What?: Two commentary pieces – one profound message by jonpelto Here are two commentary pieces that the education-industrial complex is afraid you will read…because they speak the truth. So needless to say, I urge you to read them and pass them on. The first is written by *Wendy Lecker* and appears in the Stamford Advocate and Hearst Media outlets and can be found here: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/default/article/Wendy-Lecker-Courts-repeatedly-uphold-the-right-4601396.php *Courts repeatedly uphold the right to a quality educat... more »

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education »

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: S.1117 Reengaging Americans in Serious Education by Uniting Programs Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 11 minutes ago A bill to prepare disconnected youth for a competitive future. Bill Introduced: H.R.2234 Diploma and Accreditation Integrity Protection Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 11 minutes ago To reduce and prevent the sale and use of fraudulent degrees in order to protect the integrity of valid higher education degrees that are used for Federal employment purposes. Bill Introduc... more »

California public records law 'eviscerated' in budget bill, critics charge - ContraCostaTimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

California public records law 'eviscerated' in budget bill, critics charge - ContraCostaTimes.com: California public records law 'eviscerated' in budget bill, critics charge By Thomas Peele and Josh Richman Staff writers Posted: 06/15/2013 11:08:50 AM PDT Updated: 06/15/2013 11:08:54 AM PDT Legislation tucked into the state budget bill would "eviscerate" the public's ability to track tax dollars and hold local officials accountable, open government advocates charged Friday. "This is the worst assault on the public's right to know I have seen in my 18 years of doing this," said ... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Problem with Teacher Evaluation by dianerav Michael Weston of Hillsborough County, Florida, explains what is wrong with teacher evaluation: “Of course we use the Danielson rubric in Hillsborough County Fl, where it forms one of the three pillars of the Gates funded “Empowering Effective Teachers”. The second pillar is value-added, the third is duplicity / deception. Quite frankly, whether Charlotte is spelled Charlatan, whether her rubric is valuable or trash, whether her resume is padded…..none of this matte... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Is College Becoming Out-of-Reach?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Is College Becoming Out-of-Reach?: Is College Becoming Out-of-Reach? by Melissa Westbrook An article in the Huffington Post about college costs caught my eye. [image: college costs] Over the past three decades, the inflation-adjusted income of the median American family has basically remained stagnant. The same can’t be said of college costs, which have simultaneously surged to almost unrecognizable heights, according to a new report by the left-leaning Center for American Progress. Costs at private nonprofit four-year colleges have

A New framework for Working and Learning | Lefty Parent

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

A New framework for Working and Learning | Lefty Parent: A New framework for Working and Learning by Cooper Zale [image: Circle of Hands]For many of us the rules of engagement at work are changing, from the traditional approach of being told what to do by “bosses”, to a new more egalitarian approach where a team of colleagues and peers collectively decide what to do. Those traditional “bosses” are being replaced by “managers” who are more facilitative than directive, conveying to us the basic business strategy from the company’s leadership team, making sure we have the time and reso... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Last night's parent-led Mayoral forum: how did they do on the hot-button issues?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Last night's parent-led Mayoral forum: how did they do on the hot-button issues?: Last night's parent-led Mayoral forum: how did they do on the hot-button issues? by Leonie Haimson The parent-led mayoral forum last night at Murry Bergtraum High School was terrific, with parents asking incisive yes/no questions, investigative reporter Juan Gonzalez doing inspired follow-up as only he knows how, and all the candidates giving thoughtful responses. Below is the livestream video; we will have sharper video uploaded next week, but the audio is quite clear. Th... more »

DIFFICULT TO FIRE A TEACHER ? A RIDICULOUS MYTH | Teachers Fight Back

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

DIFFICULT TO FIRE A TEACHER ? A RIDICULOUS MYTH | Teachers Fight Back: DIFFICULT TO FIRE A TEACHER ? A RIDICULOUS MYTH by alkleen The Chicago Public School Administrators are about to fire 420 teachers. More than a third of the teachers have tenure, but they were rated either unsatisfactory or satisfactory. The teachers union contract protects only those teachers with excellent or superior ratings. Tenured teachers being fired ? Yes, folks, it’s not all that uncommon. The Chicago Teachers Union is one of the most powerful teachers union in the nation, and even their tenured teac... more »

UPDATE: Martire for governor. Why not? So far the joke has been on us. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Martire for governor. Why not? So far the joke has been on us. | Fred Klonsky: Chicago Bull/Bull Connor. by Fred Klonsky [image: Chicago Bull-Bull Connor] Martire for governor. Why not? So far the joke has been on us. by Fred Klonsky [image: Ralph Martire] When I posted the idea of drafting the Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability to run for governor the other day the response was swift and positive. The question that I raise to the leaders of the state’s public employee unions. *Why not?* The list of announced and un-announced candidates is pretty dep... more »

Is the worm turning?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Is the worm turning?: Is the worm turning? By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 15, 2013 at 10:30 amE-mail the writer 0 Comments More [image: indiana]Indiana has been one of the most school reform-loving states in recent years — at least, that is, until now. Here is a look at what is happening there, by Karen Francisco, editorial page editor of The Journal Gazette, where this appeared. She has worked there since 2000 and for Indiana newspapers since 1982. She can be reached at 260-461-8206 or by email,kfrancisco@jg.net. By Karen Francisco How much does Indiana love school reform? So m... more »

solidaridad: Save LAUSD's SRLDP Preschools for English Language Learners

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

solidaridad: Save LAUSD's SRLDP Preschools for English Language Learners: Save LAUSD's SRLDP Preschools for English Language Learners by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene *Because we know that language learning doesn't occur in one year or even in a few months, it's over time.—Becky Palacios, Ph.D.* [image: Save LAUSD's SRLDP Preschools for English Language Learners]The School Readiness Language Development Program (SRLDP) is an amazingly effective Pre-K program for English Language Leaners. This isn't the first time that Broad and Gates' Superintendent John Deasy has tried to kill the pro... more »

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: photo] *Celebrating Freedom Day, Juneteenth in New Orlean’s Treme. 2011 Photo: Fred Klonsky.* This morning we provide a history lesson while you’re drinking your coffee. If you are in New Orleans it is possible that your coffee has chicory root in it. Although coffee with chicory root in it has a long tradition, most historians agree that it’s use in New Orleans coffee became more common as a result of the blockade of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Coffee beans became scarce. In other parts of the South ... more »

Great EXpectations | EduShyster

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Great EXpectations | EduShyster: Great EXpectations by edushyster2012 *Will the heaviest hitter of all lend His support to the civil rights i$$ue of our time?* Reader: there are already plenty of marquee names involved in the crusade to *crush* the achievement gap. But thus far the biggest name of all has yet to weigh in upon the civil rights i$$ue of our time. I am talking, of course, about the Big Guy, the Man Upstairs, Sky Daddy, Him… Thankfully, thanks to the efforts of a former Teacher for America, that may be about to change. Let’s learn more, shall we? Meet the Expectations P... more »

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 - 23 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] What Ralph Waldo Emerson Might Say About School Reform Today by dianerav This arrived in my email. It came from a retired school teacher in Nebraska. He said the retired teachers will not sit by and watch the capture of our public schools by corporations. The retires helped to defeat a charter bill in Nebraska. He wrote: Hi Diane Just received the following letter from Ralph Waldo Emerson with a request that I send it to the good people in Newark: The End of Neig... more »

Peg with Pen: Do Not Shake Hands with #commoncore

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] #edweek finds Nirvana. by Timothy D. Slekar A new piece of propaganda published by EdWeek and written by Crowe, Allen, and Coble begins with this assertion: Better-prepared teachers and greatly improved teacher-preparation programs are the essential ingredients of stronger academic outcomes for this nation’s K-12 students. It is then followed up with this evidence to support it. ?????????????????? That’s right. Nothing! It […] News Reel No. 2, Senate HELP and #ESEA by Chalk Face, PhD Part two of our series. Creating Artificia... more »

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

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 »