Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-2-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-2-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS

Rahm Emanuel, there’s a good reason people are mad at you — MSNBC

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 49 minutes ago

Rahm Emanuel, there’s a good reason people are mad at you — MSNBC: Rahm Emanuel, there’s a good reason people are mad at you Melissa Harris-Perry, @mharrisperry 12:46 PM on 06/01/2013 Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy The photo of this week’s *Time* magazine cover guy is accompanied by a question that I can only assume is rhetorical. Because the answer to the question about Chicago’s mayor–why are people mad at him?–should be readily apparent to anyone following recent headlines about the 50 Chicago schools slated to be closed. It’s certainl... more »

Education group to get more oversight - StamfordAdvocate

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Education group to get more oversight - StamfordAdvocate: Education group to get more oversightKen DixonPublished 8:56 pm, Saturday, June 1, 2013 [image: A little-known organization that was used by the state education commissioner Stefan Pryo to circumvent state bidding requirements last year would have several new layers of oversight and transparency under legislation that awaits action in the House. New State Department of Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor speaks at a news conference to announce his appointment the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn., Wednesday, Se... more »

Firing Day at a Charter School | Seattle Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Firing Day at a Charter School | Seattle Education: Firing Day at a Charter School An image of Dany Edwards. Art by Sean Flaherty, who was also fired from this charter school on June 1, 2011. I just quit my job as a teacher in an urban charter school. Even though I still don’t have another job and I support myself entirely, it is the best decision I ever made. It is especially liberating this week while my colleagues – and after five incredibly stressful years on the education front lines, my truly beloved friends – wait for the June 1 ax to fall. Every June 1, the exhausted teacher... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Should Police Departments Offer Iris Scans for Children?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Should Police Departments Offer Iris Scans for Children?: Should Police Departments Offer Iris Scans for Children? by stlgretchen Mexico launches national ID cards for children From *Granby police offer iris scans under child identification program sponsored by Hampshire County Sheriff's department:* Over the next couple of months, parents will be able to have their children's irises scanned under a child identification program sponsored by the Hampshire County Sheriff's Department. Police Chief Alan P. Wishart Jr. said consent forms to participate in t... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-2-13 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] “Mrs. Ratliff” Lives by dianerav I received a letter from a veteran teacher who recognized herself as my teacher Mrs. Ratliff, whom I wrote about in chapter 9 of my recent book *The Death and Life of the Great American School System*. When I read about all the schemes to measure the worth of students by the test scores of their students, I thought about Mrs. Ratliff, who was both my homeroom teacher and my literature teacher. She had high standards, she was no-... more »

Ed Notes Online: Mr. Merrow, how about reconsidering your adulation of RSD in New Orleans?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Ed Notes Online: Mr. Merrow, how about reconsidering your adulation of RSD in New Orleans?: Mr. Merrow, how about reconsidering your adulation of RSD in New Orleans? by ed notes online *It is a sham, just as Rhee is a sham..... deutsch29* John Merrow has done a mea culpa on Michelle Rhee and took particular aim at the Washington Post's coddling of that Cheatn' Rhee. Does Washington have an ‘Atlanta-style’ situation? In some respects, yes. There are four striking similarities: Irregularities at a majority of schools in both cities; a secret report buried by the school administrati... more »

6-2-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Gates, Murdoch and data mining by Activism in paradise - Voices from down under Gates and Murdoch like to say their interest in education is because their big hearts mean they really must help the poor wee kiddies learn better. Funny how they weren’t so interested until profit could be made, but hey, I’m just a bit cynical these days. And it’s no wonder I am when you learn […] Moving Beyond “A Great Majority Support…” by plthomasedd If you have a moment, take some time to glance through your middle school (or if you’re old like me, junior h... more »

Louisiana Educator: Help Stop Vouchers and Course Choice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Louisiana Educator: Help Stop Vouchers and Course Choice: Help Stop Vouchers and Course Choice by Michael Deshotels Now that the legislature is winding down, most of the remaining decisions will be in establishing budget priorities. Governor Jindal has been successful so far in expanding the funding for a very poorly designed and executed voucher system. The final budget will be negotiated in the next few days to find a compormise between the House and Senate versions of the budget. The Senate approved budget includes funding for an expanded voucher program even though there is n... more »

Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: How connected is your school? Take this quiz to find out.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: How connected is your school? Take this quiz to find out.: How connected is your school? Take this quiz to find out. by noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen) In our Web 2.0 world, schools can communicate, connect, interact and engage like never before. As we leave 2013 behind and move into the 2014 school year it is time to think about how we will replace the one-way communication of the backpack note home with a truly interactive and connected experience for the school community. This quiz will help you take a look at where you are so you can ... more »

Students Last: Baby-faced Blackmailers

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Students Last: Baby-faced Blackmailers: Baby-faced Blackmailers by Students Last NYC's youngest criminals major in reading, writing and extortion*New York -* Sometime on Thursday several elementary school students, who thought they were going on a field trip, were instead ushered into a police van and then taken to the local precinct. Their crime? The gang of eight-year-olds allegedly tried to shakedown their teachers. At a press conference held by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. Friday morning, prosecutors shared some information about the suspects in the plot to extor... more »

Name That Legislature to Win a Grand Prize | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Name That Legislature to Win a Grand Prize | Reclaim Reform: Name That Legislature to Win a Grand Prize by kenpreviti [image: Furlanetto] Below is a direct quotation. *Name the legislature being referred to for a Grand Prize!* “Whatever direction you look, you only see private interest, corruption, bribery. It’s really depressing. Most of the opera companies are struggling, severely struggling, and in the short term I do not foresee a positive future for any of them – or for music and art in general. The political class built there in this decade, the first thing that all of these ge... more »

Jersey Jazzman: EXCLUSIVE! First Look at NY Student Surveys for Teacher Evaluation!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: EXCLUSIVE! First Look at NY Student Surveys for Teacher Evaluation!: EXCLUSIVE! First Look at NY Student Surveys for Teacher Evaluation! by Duke Today, details of New York State's new teacher evaluation system were released: The state also said New York City *students in third through 12th grades should have a say in their teachers' ratings. Starting in the 2014-15 school year, student surveys will count for 5% of a teachers' grade in New York City,* the state said. Only one other school district in New York state, Syracuse, is currently using student surveys. The U... more »

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education »

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: H.R.2155 American Dream Accounts Act of 2013 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 10 minutes ago To award grants in order to establish longitudinal personal college readiness and savings online platforms for low-income students. Bill Introduced: H.R.2108 Foster Youth Higher Education Opportunities Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 10 minutes ago To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide information to foster youth on their potential eligibility for Federal student aid. Bill Introduc... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: G.F. Brandenburg Deconstructs Rhee by dianerav In this post, blogger and former math teacher G.F. Brandenburg dissects a speech by Michelle Rhee. What he finds especially amazing is that Rhee doesn’t acknowledge her own role as chancellor of the D. C. Schools as she rid into the flaws of public education. He notes that the achievement gap grew during her time in office. Why Other Nations Fear Race to the Top by dianerav A reader writes about his experience at an international conference: *Last May I had the privi... more »

Commissioner Pryor to Bridgeport Parents: DROP DEAD - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Commissioner Pryor to Bridgeport Parents: DROP DEAD - Wait, What?: Commissioner Pryor to Bridgeport Parents: DROP DEAD by jonpelto Back when it was Dan Malloy, instead of Dannel, the candidate running for governor said that increasing parental involvement in schools, especially through the utilization of Connecticut’s school governance councils was a high priority. In fact, candidate Dan Malloy even said he’d take the concept of school governance councils statewide, instead of just requiring them in poorer school districts. When Governor Malloy pushed through his “education reform”... more »

Ed Notes Online: Video: Since You Asked, Mr. Walcott

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Video: Since You Asked, Mr. Walcott: Video: Since You Asked, Mr. Walcott by ed notes online Excess'd - A Teacher Without a Room comes up with another in a series of videos this time spoofing Walcott's appearance at the principal's conference (Whining Walcott Misuses Public Funds and Public Space) two weeks ago. Popout

NYC Educator: Highlights of Reformy John's New Decree

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

NYC Educator: Highlights of Reformy John's New Decree: Highlights of Reformy John's New Decree by NYC Educator For third grade and above, 5% of your rating will come from students. Surveys will be piloted next year and will count the following year. While observations and whatever will count as 60% this year, they will be reduced to 55% the following year. So think twice before confiscating that cell phone, contacting parents, or demanding that homework assignment. A majority of the 55 or 60% must be based on observations from administrators. 20% to be determined at school level. Co... more »

Jersey Jazzman: DFER's Misleading and Innumerate "Research"

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: DFER's Misleading and Innumerate "Research": DFER's Misleading and Innumerate "Research" by Duke Bruce Baker has sort of cornered the market on critiquing stupid education policy graphs, so I feel like maybe I need to pay him a royalty or something when I say this: *Democrats For Education Reform has produced quite possibly the year's dumbest education policy graph.* Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes (p.4): Let's go right to the text of the policy brief this comes from, written by Mac LeBuhn, and see if we can figure out what the young gentleman is trying to sa... more »

State releases outline of evaluation system it’s imposing on NYC | GothamSchools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

State releases outline of evaluation system it’s imposing on NYC | GothamSchools: State releases outline of evaluation system it’s imposing on NYCby Philissa Cramer, at 5:29 pm;; Student surveys, observation options for teachers, and a role for educators at each school are part of the city’s new teacher evaluation system, which State Education Commissioner John King is imposing today. The plan appears to contain some elements that will please each of the Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers, which were not able to agree on a system by a January deadline. Th... more »

Student loans: The financialized economy of indentured servitude | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Student loans: The financialized economy of indentured servitude | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: Student loans: The financialized economy of indentured servitude by Danny Weil [image: chomskeydebt] Get ready students! Your college student loans are due to double on July 2013! The cost of higher education is spiraling and with it the cost of student loans, one of the biggest Wall Street rackets currently in existence. Both the Obama administration and the Republicans are seeking “market solutions” they say will staunch the bleeding ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: video: Diane Ravitch vs. Michelle Rhee

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: video: Diane Ravitch vs. Michelle Rhee: Warning to parents and CECs considering DOE's proposals to dezone your district schools by Leonie Haimson At the end of the school year and towards the end of the Bloomberg reign, DoE has been hurriedlyHazel Dukes of the NAACP, who spoke up against dezoning District 5proposing to dezone Districts 4, 5, 6 (twice), 7 (unzoned into two large preference zones this year), 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 23 (unzoned for MS this year). In order to achieve this, theCommunity Education Councils in these districts have to approve.... more »

NPE Webinar: Uncovering the Truth About Education Reform – June 4, 2013 | The Network For Public Education ← NPE News Briefs

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

NPE Webinar: Uncovering the Truth About Education Reform – June 4, 2013 | The Network For Public Education ← NPE News Briefs: *NPE News Briefs* NPE Webinar: Uncovering the Truth About Education Reform – June 4, 2013 | The Network For Public Education by NPE News Briefs Learn from the Experts: Mercedes Schneider and Michael Corwin Are you frustrated when corruption goes on and nobody even seems to notice? Do you want to learn how to uncover the truth about what is happening to our schools? We are presenting a special webinar where two outstanding experts will share tips and ... more »

Homeschool Academy Launched to Teach Science From Biblical Worldview | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Homeschool Academy Launched to Teach Science From Biblical Worldview | toteachornototeach: Homeschool Academy Launched to Teach Science From Biblical Worldview by aristotlethewise *Innovative New Home-school Academy* *Launched to Teach Science From Biblical Worldview* By Garrett Haley *DAYTON, Tenn.* – In 1925, a historic court case forever changed the way many Americans view science and religion. Today, nearly 90 years later, two professors are launching a new Christian science organization less than a mile from where that momentous trial unfolded all those many years ago. In the ea... more »

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: davidgoliath] The sun rose over a partly cloudy Illinois this morning and teachers still had their pensions intact. The attempt to allow Chicago to short their obligation to the teacher pension fund failed in spite of the attempts by both Madigan and Cullerton to pass a bill allowing another so-called *pension holiday. * That would be a holiday for the political hucksters. Not the teachers. Illinois public employees keep their constitutionally guaranteed benefits. What a David and Goliath battle that was. On the ... more »

Adventures in Late Koppitalism | EduShyster

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Adventures in Late Koppitalism | EduShyster: Adventures in Late Koppitalism by edushyster2012 Like its better known elder sibling, Koppitalism is increasingly global and relies upon a vast army of foot soldiers. No doubt you are familiar with capitalism, the economic system that has more Facebook likes than any other. But another powerful profit-making system is also making some waves. Known as Koppitalism, it has much in common with its better known elder sibling. Like capitalism, Koppitalism has a well-known figure head at its helm, is guided by an invisible hand and directs its b... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Philly HS Senior Asks the Big Question

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Philly HS Senior Asks the Big Question: Philly HS Senior Asks the Big Question by Duke I am increasingly convinced that the resistance to corporate reform that is most effective is being led by students. It certainly was in Newark, and it looks like it was in Philadelphia. Here's a clip of the Philly walkout, including a senior who boils it all down to one important question: Popout (1:24) *If you are unable to take care of us now, how do you expect us to take of you later?* * * Word.

Blue Jersey:: NJ Education News Round-Up, 6/1/13

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Blue Jersey:: NJ Education News Round-Up, 6/1/13: NJ Education News Round-Up, 6/1/13 by Jersey Jazzman Here's this week's NJ education news round-up:*- NJ School Funding Getting Increasingly Unequal* This is disturbing: according to Bruce Baker at Rutgers, New Jersey's school funding system - once considered one of the "fairest" systems for addressing the funding gap between rich and poor districts - is getting increasingly unequal: ** *We may or may not begin to see the fallout - the real damages - of these shifts this year, or even next. But there will undoubtedly be consequenc... more »

The Pedagogy-Public Opinion Gap | Connected Principals

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

The Pedagogy-Public Opinion Gap | Connected Principals: The Pedagogy-Public Opinion Gap by Johnny Bevacqua *This post was originally published by J. Bevacqua on Figuring It Out* I contend that there is a Pedagogy-Public Opinion Gap in education. For the sake of this post, I would define this Pedagogy-Public Opinion “gap” as: *The gap in understanding between what professional educators and researchers, who work with students on a daily basis, see as “best practice” in education (teaching, learning and schooling) and those “outside” the world of professional education – whose ideas, u... more »

CHICAGO TRIBUNE, ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NAZI GERMANY, AND THE NATIONAL DEBT | Teachers Fight Back

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

CHICAGO TRIBUNE, ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NAZI GERMANY, AND THE NATIONAL DEBT | Teachers Fight Back: CHICAGO TRIBUNE, ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NAZI GERMANY, AND THE NATIONAL DEBT by alkleen I want to thank the Chicago Tribune for contributing to the many reasons that “pension reform” didn’t happen during this recent Illinois General Assembly. I believe the Tribune’s constant bullying and belittling of Illinois legislators helped to defeat “pension reform”. The Tribune wrote dozens of editorials blasting legislators and trying to intimidate them into passing a pension law wh...more »

solidaridad: Right-wing groups stand behind Parent Revolution and Ben Austin—The FreedomWorks Teabaggers

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

solidaridad: Right-wing groups stand behind Parent Revolution and Ben Austin—The FreedomWorks Teabaggers: Right-wing groups stand behind Parent Revolution and Ben Austin—The FreedomWorks Teabaggers by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene Right-wing groups stand behind Parent Revolution and Ben Austin—The FreedomWorks Teabaggers. #LAUSD #parenttrigger twitter.com/FreedomWorks/s… — Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) June 1, 2013 While the community and social justice activists protest Ben Austin and his neoliberal wrecking crew, the birchers, birthers, and teabaggers have lined up behind them a... more »

The in box. What a pack of Wily Coyotes. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

The in box. What a pack of Wily Coyotes. | Fred Klonsky: The in box. What a pack of Wily Coyotes. by Fred Klonsky From my pal, Mark Stefanik: The war for our rights is far from over, but the GA’s salvo of dud bills did more damage to that chamber’s prestige than any session in recent memory. Schemes to excuse their malfeasance and renege on pension covenants failed. What a pack of Wily Coyotes. A bill to recognize same sex marriages fails in the House after passing in the Senate. What a flock of poliboobs. And yet, they still manage to pass a bill allowing concealed weapons in a s... more »

To be or not to be a drama major in this economy: Chancellor... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

To be or not to be a drama major in this economy: Chancellor... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: To be or not to be a drama major in this economy: Chancellor and drama major disagree By Maureen Downey Georgia higher education Chancellor Hank Huckaby recently gave a speech in Athens about the problems filling jobs in Georgia. *According to the Athens Banner-Herald*, Huckaby said large numbers of jobs are going unfilled “because students are studying the wrong things. If you can’t get a job, and you majored in drama, there’s probably a reason." The drama remark led to t*... more »

The clueless tweet of TFA’s Wendy Kopp

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

The clueless tweet of TFA’s Wendy Kopp: The clueless tweet of TFA’s Wendy Kopp By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 1, 2013 at 11:43 amE-mail the writer 0 Comments More [image: (TFA)] Wendy Kopp (TFA) Teach For America founder Wendy Kopp actually published the following tweet on the same day that Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission approved a budget without funding for things such as paper, new books, athletics, arts, music, counselors, assistant principals and more. In Philadelphia today.So much more to be done, but I can’t get over the progress in this city’s schools in ... more »

Safe Harbor in the Fight Against VAM | United Opt Out National

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Safe Harbor in the Fight Against VAM | United Opt Out National: Safe Harbor in the Fight Against VAM by admin The United Opt Out administrators realize that many educators are fearful of engaging in direct actions against state and district policy mandates that are not conducive to quality teaching and learning. The use of Value Added Measure (VAM) is one such mandate that most educators realize is a faulty and unfair method to evaluate teacher effectiveness. They also know using VAM has an impact on teaching and learning resulting in a narrowed curricular focus, pervasive cheati... more »

1/3 of kindergarten class banned from promotion ceremony because of school policy | news10.net

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

1/3 of kindergarten class banned from promotion ceremony because of school policy | news10.net: 1/3 of kindergarten class banned from promotion ceremony because of school policy Kindergartener Sierra was banned from her promotion ceremony at John Cabrillo Elementary School. SACRAMENTO, CA - A third of the kindergarten class at John Cabrillo Elementary school are banned from participating in an end of the year promotion ceremony. "It breaks my heart," Maria Peterson said. Peterson's daughter Sierra, 6, will move on to the first grade, but without the pomp and circumstance. It's t... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Will Your Child's Iris Scans Head for the Clouds....Like the Army's?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Will Your Child's Iris Scans Head for the Clouds....Like the Army's?: Will Your Child's Iris Scans Head for the Clouds....Like the Army's? by stlgretchen What is the Learning Registry gathering and sharing? Why is the Department of Defense partially funding the Learning Registry? The practice of iris scans being taken on children for "bus information and safety" was confirmed by the Polk County Board of Education. These scans were performed and parental consent was not asked for nor given before the scans took place. The company has assured parents th... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Teens and Drunk Driving - It's Prom and Graduation Season

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Teens and Drunk Driving - It's Prom and Graduation Season: Teens and Drunk Driving - It's Prom and Graduation Season This very sad video was made by the Issaquah Police Department and Eastside Fire and Rescue and was performed at Issaquah High School. Watch it. Show your teen. Don't shrug and say "Kids will be kids" or "I trust my kid." When my mother would express concern for me when I was a teen driver, I would tell her I was a good driver. (I also did not ever drink in high school.) She would look at me and say, "It's not your driving I'm w... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: While public ed suffers, private D.C. contractors ask, 'What sequester?'

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: While public ed suffers, private D.C. contractors ask, 'What sequester?': While public ed suffers, private D.C. contractors ask, 'What sequester?' by Mike Klonsky Life in the Ownership Society Public education and the public sector in general is being devastated by sequester's budget ax. But today's WSJ reveals how private sector federal contracting has created a new "gilded age" and a new class of super-rich in and around the nation's capital. Journal writer Elizabeth Williamson describes an incredible mansion built in the suburbs of D.C. by ... more »

How About a Peoples' Policy Conference? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

How About a Peoples' Policy Conference? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: How About a Peoples' Policy Conference? by Nancy Flanagan So the future-policy-for-Michigan confab at Mackinac Island has wound down. The media's preferred word to describe the 2013 Mackinac Policy Conference seems to be "confab," so I'm going to go with that. Consider this: "confab" is short for "confabulation" which has two basic meanings: "an informal, private conversation" and"filling in mental gaps with fabrications one believes are facts." So--confab is exactly right. The usual conf... more »

Is the Tea Party Right About the Common Core? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Is the Tea Party Right About the Common Core? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Is the Tea Party Right About the Common Core? by Anthony Cody Yesterday's Washington Post carried a banner story about growing Tea Party opposition to the Common Core. We learn that across the country, Tea Party activists have been organizing around opposition to the Common Core, and have succeeded in blocking or delaying the standards in at least nine states. There has been a contemptuous reaction from the highest levels of our educational system. Arne Duncan has implied that opponents a... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-1-13 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] On Common Core: The Leading Groups Are Wrong Again by dianerav Yesterday I posted a statement endorsed by leading education organizations that endorsed the Common Core but called for more time to implement the new standards. ############## This reader disagrees. The reader commented: “The joint statement issued by the National School Boards Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principles, and th... more »

6-1-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: New Research Cuts Oxygen to School Vouchers by Jim Horn The corporate reform schoolers continue to push their wheezing antiquarian agendas, and school vouchers, once on life support, have been revived with cash from ALEC and the Oligarchs (that’s not a rock band). Even though Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-people crusade has put him in a deep political hole, he, nonetheless, keeps digging, with renews efforts […] Right-wing groups stand behind Parent Revolution and Ben Austin—The FreedomWorks Teabaggers by rdsathene * Robert D. Skeels Right-wing g... more »

Mother Crusader: Could YOUR District Lose Real Funds To K12 Inc.'s Virtual Charter?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Mother Crusader: Could YOUR District Lose Real Funds To K12 Inc.'s Virtual Charter?: Could YOUR District Lose Real Funds To K12 Inc.'s Virtual Charter? by darciecima Well folks, it's getting close to that time of year again, when almighty Education Commissioner Chris Cerf decides which charters get to play in the big leagues and which need to sit back down on the bench for another year. One that was benched last year but is hoping to come up to the plate in September is K12 Inc.'s New Jersey Virtual Academy Charter School (NJVACS). K12 Inc. CEO Ron Packard celebrates the company’s ... more »