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Thursday, June 20, 2013

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-20-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2


James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."


A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP


Loan companies charge students for services available for free - The Denver Post

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 minutes ago
Loan companies charge students for services available for free - The Denver Post: Loan companies charge students for services available for free POSTED: 06/20/2013 08:12:45 AM MDT UPDATED: 06/20/2013 11:36:32 AM MDT ByJohn Hechinger, Bloomberg News In this Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011 file picture, students attend graduation ceremonies at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (Butch Dill) BOSTON — Polly Williams, a single mother who had recently lost her job, was desperate to lower the payments on her $23,000 in student loans. So last June, she called one ... more »

Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 6-20-13 #soschat #edreform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 41 minutes ago
*SPECIAL **Mid Day Banana Break* Student Engagement—Essential for Success in School—Is More Complex, Changeable Than Previously Thought by Jonathan Kantrowitz *“Enhancing student engagement has been identified as the key to addressing problems of low achievement, high levels of student misbehavior, alienation, and high dropout rates.” – Pitt professor Ming-Te Wang* A student who shows up on time for school and listens respectfully in class might appear fully engaged to outside observers, including teachers. But other measures of student engagement, including the student’s emotiona... more »

New Federal Registry for Educational Excellence (FREE) Site Features Open Data and Mobile-Friendly Design | ED.gov Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
New Federal Registry for Educational Excellence (FREE) Site Features Open Data and Mobile-Friendly Design | ED.gov Blog: New Federal Registry for Educational Excellence (FREE) Site Features Open Data and Mobile-Friendly Design Posted on June 20, 2013 by Jill James [image: FREE] Visit the new Federal Registry for Educational Excellence (FREE) Homepage! We are excited to announce that a beta version of FREE’s new website will launch tonight! The new version of the Federal Registry for Educational Excellence (FREE) is powered by the Learning Registry, an open database for sharing digital... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-20-13Diane 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: L.A. Parents Score Big Victory Over pRev at Board Meeting by dianerav Los Angeles parent Karen Wolfe here recounts the hilarious showdown at the meeting of the LAUSD school board between real parents and the organizers from Parent Revolution. The subject at issue was whether the board would assure an open, transparent, public process when some outside group (ahem) seeks to gather signatures to seize control of the school. That is, when someone decides to pull the “parent trigger” and fire it at staff or the sc... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm's great longer-school-day hoax. Charging students $500 for extra classes.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm's great longer-school-day hoax. Charging students $500 for extra classes.: Rahm's great longer-school-day hoax. Charging students $500 for extra classes. by Mike Klonsky (Fred Klonsky toon)The hoax began with a mega-political campaign which tried unsuccessfully to convince CPS parents and teachers that the magic bullet in school reform was more seat time for students. When hardly any schools bought into this bogus, baseless notion, the mayor imposed his will on schools, as usual, from the top down. It was Karen Lewis and the CTU who, without oppo... more »

Roger Dickinson California State Senate, District 6

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Roger Dickinson, California State Senate: MEET ROGER Assemblymember Roger Dickinson represents the 7th Assembly District, centered in the city of Sacramento and the surrounding areas. Roger has been a dedicated public servant for over four decades, representing California as a consumer protection advocate, educator and Supervisor. A strong advocate for youth, the environment and job creation, Roger has been at the forefront of reform in California. He believes in working together to create lasting solutions. With a history of bipartisan corporation, he won't sacrifice his pri... more »

Duncan grants relief to some schools facing two sets of standardized tests next year | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Duncan grants relief to some schools facing two sets of standardized tests next year | EdSource Today: Duncan grants relief to some schools facing two sets of standardized tests next year - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has just made the challenge of transitioning to the Common Core standards a less burdensome for about one in five schools in California. [image: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan during a visit this spring to Fremont High in Sunnyvale. Photo by Kathryn Baron.] U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan during a vis... more »

Make All Students Feel Special — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Make All Students Feel Special — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Make All Students Feel Special June 20, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show] *Post written by Rachel Syms, a native of Los Angeles who moved to Chicago to pursue a degree in journalism at Columbia College. She hopes to write for a magazine after graduation.* "How many of you, yourselves, were challenging, disruptive, or unmotivated back when you were in school?" That's the question Brian Mendler, adjunct professor at St. John Fish... more »

What Makes a Phenomenal Teacher? Diane Ravitch joins us to help answer this question - The Takeaway

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
What Makes a Phenomenal Teacher? - The Takeaway: What Makes a Phenomenal Teacher?Thursday, June 20, 2013 - Share - - - Print - Email Play 00:00 / 00:00 ListenAddDownloadEmbed Stream m3u Dmitriy Shironosov/Shutterstock (Dmitriy Shironosov/Shutterstock) A truly great teacher can be unforgettable. But according to a recent report released by the National Council on Teacher Quality, U.S. education programs are not preparing teachers for the classroom. The data shows that fewer than one in nine programs for future elementary teachers actually properly prepare teachers to ... more »

Bahamian Rhapsody | My Island View

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Bahamian Rhapsody | My Island View: Bahamian Rhapsody by tomwhitby This week I attended another international education conference – the Net.1 Conference (The 1st Annual Nassau Education Technology Conference.) It was the first of its kind to be held in the Bahamas. There were over 200 educators from the Bahamas and several other surrounding island nations. Often as American educators we are faced with the day-to-day problems of our own system and are unaware of the challenges and real obstacles faced by other countries as they also strive to educate their young. Many of the thi... more »

NYC Educator: Thompson Says No Raises for Teachers, to Near-Universal Acclaim of UFT Delegate Assembly

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
NYC Educator: Thompson Says No Raises for Teachers, to Near-Universal Acclaim of UFT Delegate Assembly: Thompson Says No Raises for Teachers, to Near-Universal Acclaim of UFT Delegate Assembly by NYC Educator What happens when you publicly announce teachers don't deserve the raise all other city employees got between 2008-2010? Well, you get the UFT endorsement, of course. Now it's a little more complicated than that, of course. During the last mayoral run, it appeared that Thompson and the UFT were BFFs. In fact, sometimes I heard Thompson say things that could just as well have c... more »

Compromise in the works for bill restricting schools use of long-term bonds SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Compromise in the works for bill restricting schools use of long-term bonds Stakeholders battling over legislation that would restrict schools from using long-term bonds appeared Wednesday to find compromise on amendments that would make the bill more palatable to districts. The Senate’s education committee decided to delay further action until next week, giving Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, time to consider proposed changes to AB 182. Meanwhile, the panel moved several other key education bills including one that would rewrite the ... more »

Peg with Pen: A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Peg with Pen: A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore: A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore by Peggy Dear Educator Friends, While the common core may not be an issue for you, or your school, do know that for others it will be a major issue. And the problem is this, while the standards might work for you and your school, there are many standards in CC that do not work for many students and many communities. Creating a set of national standards that cannot be changed, in which only 15% can be added (which must be approved by the DOE) is a serious problem when w... more »

Problems with new ratings of teachers colleges, point by point

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Problems with new ratings of teachers colleges, point by point: Problems with new ratings of teachers colleges, point by point By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 20, 2013 at 10:50 amE-mail the writer [image: ranking]It was big news this week when a conservative organization called the National Council on Teacher Quality released ratings of teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities and essentially slammed nearly all of them as being subpar. While there certainly a good number of ineffective teacher prep programs, it would be hard to know which ones from the council’s ... more »

UPDATE FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, June 20, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *LAUSD passes guidelines for Parent Trigger, seeks changes in state law* Education Headlines *Thursday, June 20, 2013* Conejo School District accepts bid for surplus propertyThe Conejo Valley Unified School District's Board of Education accepted a $3.286 million bid for surplus property it owns in the Rancho Conejo Industrial Park in Thousand Oaks. Moorpark schools fill budget gap with general fund moneyThe Moorpark Unified School District on Tuesday adopted a budget for the next fiscal year, with questions raised by board member... more »

Courant examines effort to develop home-grown teacher evaluation plans…But… - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Courant examines effort to develop home-grown teacher evaluation plans…But… - Wait, What?: Courant examines effort to develop home-grown teacher evaluation plans…But… by jonpelto In a news article today, the Hartford Courant examines the effort to develop home-grown teacher evaluation plans…But the Courant article fails to explore or discover why the Malloy administration added new legislative language to limit the rights of parents, teachers, boards of education and local towns during the recent legislative session. The Hartford Courant’s education reporter, Kathy Megan, writes ab... more »

6-20-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] At the Chalk Face is back, this Sunday, June 23rd, 6PM EST by Chalk Face, PhD At the Chalk Face is back, this Sunday, June 23rd at 6PM EST. Educated educators talking education, this time on the recent NCTQ report on teacher preparation. Remember, we are at the helm in the BTR chatroom, live tweeting @thechalkface, and you can always call in to speak with us live, 805-727-7111. Tagged: at the […] Does this qualify as “intimidation” from NCTQ? Watch out #highered and #teacherprep by Chalk Face, PhD I received an email message ... more »

Stop School Funding Ignorance Now! A Philadelphia Story | School Finance 101

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Stop School Funding Ignorance Now! A Philadelphia Story | School Finance 101: Stop School Funding Ignorance Now! A Philadelphia Story by schoolfinance101 [image: Slide1] On a daily basis, I continue to be befuddled by the ignorant bluster, intellectual laziness and mathematical and financial ineptitude of those who most loudly opine on how to fix America’s supposed dreadful public education system. Common examples that irk me include taking numbers out context to make them seem shocking, like this Newark example (some additional context), or the repeated misrepresentation of per ... more »

Federal guidelines on school safety: Don't arm educators | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Federal guidelines on school safety: Don't arm educators | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: Federal guidelines on school safety: Don't arm educators By Maureen Downey *The federal government released its guidelines for school emergency operations plan*s this week under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education with Homeland Security, Justice, and Health and Human Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The publication is a resource for schools, not a mandate they must adopt. Most of the recommendations are common s... more »

A Playbook for the Common Core'ites: Part 2 :: Frederick M. Hess

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
A Playbook for the Common Core'ites: Part 2 :: Frederick M. Hess: A Playbook for the Common Core'ites: Part 2 On Tuesday, I tried to explain how Common Core enthusiasts have gotten themselves into their current fix, where their dazzling, Race to the Top-fueled victories of 2010 and 2011 have given way to a divisive, frustrating slog. Today, the Common Core'ites have some serious challenges. Among these: 1] They have no one who seems able to credibly address concerns on the Tea Party right; 2] are dismissive of practical questions, like whether the technology will actually support... more »

Germantown High School's final graduation was a celebration, not a funeral | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Germantown High School's final graduation was a celebration, not a funeral | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Germantown High School's final graduation was a celebration, not a funeral by thenotebook *by Brian Hickey for NewsWorks* A newly minted Germantown High School graduate, Shyhiem Crump stood outside the New Covenant Church posing for pictures just before noon Wednesday. In his hands was a framed black-and-white graduation photograph of his late father Darnell. Crump conceded that he was both a little nervous before the big day and bummed since he and his classmates represe... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: More problems with N.Y. testing privatization madness. T(est) for Texas

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: More problems with N.Y. testing privatization madness. T(est) for Texas: More problems with N.Y. testing privatization madness. T(est) for Texas by Mike Klonsky Columbia University's Teachers College held two Masters convocations on May 21. During the ceremonies students held up signs that read "I am not a number" and "not a test score." Photo by George JosephFrom today's Daily News *McGraw-Hill will pay overtime to teachers to work nights and weekends to catch up on grading the high school exams after a scanning glitch prevented the educators... more »

UPDATE: Seattle Superintendent Performance Evaluation Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Growth Boundaries Project

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Growth Boundaries Project: Work out of sequence will create problems by Charlie Mas The attendance area boundary work is scheduled out and will end in a motion before the Board introduced in October and approved in November. There is also work scheduled out for discussion and decision about the re-vision of Advanced Learning and Special Education. The timetable for that work should have it finish up some time around January of 2014. There is no current timetable set for the Equitable Access Framework. It was supposed to be done by Ap... more »

City Council final session today | Parents United for Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
City Council final session today | Parents United for Public Education: City Council final session today by parentsunitedphila Today is City Council’s last session. It isn’t lost on us that City Council plans to end its year without giving our children a guarantee about school funding. The good news is that the activism of parents and community members on the ground has sent a clear signal all the way to the governor’s office to do more for Philadelphia. The bad news is that they still want to play political games, making all funding conditional on exorbitant givebacks from the teac... more »

Update “Do you have any idea what your doing to us … our school … even to me?” | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
“Do you have any idea what your doing to us … our school … even to me?” | Fred Klonsky: Ten minute drawing. Chicago toilet paper. by Fred Klonsky [image: Toilet paper] Click on image to enlarge. Union-hating Republican Rauner is a Democratic pal. Further adventures in Bizarro World. by Fred Klonsky [image: g12c0000830333e65360c49a61a7f75dc312de62dfc4f5bf38c5f4c581e] Here’s a political prediction. Millionaire Bruce Rauner will never be governor of Illinois. Here is why I say that. Rauner has decided to make his gubernatorial campaign a run against public employee unions. That’s it. Th... more »

Schools & What We Mean by Being 'Successful' - Bridging Differences - Education Week

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Schools & What We Mean by Being 'Successful' - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Schools & What We Mean by Being 'Successful' by Deborah Meier *Today, Deborah Meier files her first blog response to Todd Sutler of the Odyssey Initiative, who joins her on Bridging Differences this week and next.* Dear Todd, I notice that even you and I talk in terms of success, so it makes me wonder: What do we mean by words like "the best" or "successful," whether in personal or organizational terms? Does it assume one has to "stand out" from others or a ranking order of celebrity, power, fame... more »

UPDATE NEA - Raise Your Hand

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
NEA - Raise Your Hand: Raise Your Hand for Public Education Empowering Educators to Lead Pin It Join us for a day of innovation, inspiration and invitation! Are you on Facebook? You can RSVP to this event there. Agenda Pre-opening Music Presentation – DJ Spinderella Moderator: Pat Dolan, TURN (Teacher Union Reform Network) *Opening Remarks – NEA President Dennis Van Roekel* *Collaboration to Lead the Profession* Speaker: Dr. Jerry D. Weast, Former Superintendent of Schools, Montgomery County, MD Affiliate Engagement: ISTA ESP’s Leading the Profession with School Safety – Donna Niel... more »

Education Reform at 20: What Lies Ahead |

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Education Reform at 20: What Lies Ahead |: Education Reform at 20: What Lies Ahead June 20, 2013 by Alyssa Haywoode [image: Noah Berger, president Mass Budget; Eileen Rudden, founder, Sankaty Growth Partners; John Jackson, president and CEO, Schott Foundation for Public Education; John Bissell, executive vice president, Greylock Federal Credit Union. Photo: Alyssa Haywoode for Strategies for Children] Noah Berger, president MassBudget; Eileen Rudden, founder, Sankaty Growth Partners; John Jackson, president and CEO, Schott Foundation for Public Education; John Bissell, executive vice... more »

First Lady Michelle Obama and Epicurious Announce Winning Recipes in Nationwide “healthy Lunchtime Challenge” | The White House

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
First Lady Michelle Obama and Epicurious Announce Winning Recipes in Nationwide “healthy Lunchtime Challenge” | The White House: First Lady Michelle Obama and Epicurious Announce Winning Recipes in Nationwide “healthy Lunchtime Challenge” by The White House *54 Kids to Attend "State Dinner" at White House on July 9 To Celebrate Nutritious, Delicious Lunchtime Dishes* *Washington, DC – *First Lady Michelle Obama, Epicurious, the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture today announced the winners of a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy lunches as part ... more »

Teachers won't give up when it comes to common sense gun laws | Lily's Blackboard

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Teachers won't give up when it comes to common sense gun laws | Lily's Blackboard: Any Gun to Anyone, But We Will Never Give Up by Lily [image: Lily's Blackboard Rotating Header Image] Columbine. Aurora. Newtown. Virginia Tech, We can whisper a litany of locations like a prayer, and without saying anything more than the names of these places, heads will bow and people understand how they are connected. Gabby Giffords greeting voters in an Arizona supermarket parking lot. Patients waiting in a Ft. Hood doctor’s office. Folks standing in a movie to see Batman in Colorado. We don’t ne... more »

Accumulation by Dispossesion | educarenow

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Accumulation by Dispossesion | educarenow: Accumulation by Dispossesion Posted on June 19, 2013 | Leave a comment Kirsten L. Buras has written a scathing indictment of the neoliberal reform agenda in Race, Charter Schools, and Conscious Capitalism: On Spatial Politics of Whiteness as Property (and the Unconscionable Assault on Black New Orleans).. Though it was written 2 years ago (2011), and though it focuses on New Orleans in its Post Katrina reform, this paper outlines what is now going on across the country. It’s an important contribution to naming and recognizing a pattern co... more »

Daily Kos: Badass Teachers Association - teachers fight back

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Daily Kos: Badass Teachers Association - teachers fight back: Badass Teachers Association - teachers fight back by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) [image: Candaloo Gonzalez] Mark Naison is a professor of African-American Studies at Fordham University, and an activist FOR public education and against the "reform" movement. Earlier this week he established a Facebook Group called Badass Teachers Association (and yes, I have joined). News of this has spread like wildfire. Today is the 6th day of the group's existence. It is already over 5,800 members as of 8 AM EDT. It is one more exam... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-20-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Michigan: How to Destroy Communities by dianerav I was tempted to call this post “the outrage of the day.” It is hard to read it without a sense of blood-boiling rage. It was written by Stacy Erwin Oakes, a Democratic legislator from Saginaw. Governor Rick Snyder wants to eliminate public education. He wants a state where every family shops for an education provider. As this article shows, his latest gambit was an effort to dissolve the state’s school districts. T... more »

Connecticut: The Republic of Debt - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Connecticut: The Republic of Debt - Wait, What?: Connecticut: The Republic of Debt by jonpelto The 2013 session of the Connecticut General Assembly ended with the adoption of record amounts of additional state borrowing. They adopted $750 million in state bonds to pay a portion of the cost associated with moving Connecticut to Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles (GAAP). Then there was the $1.6 billion for Malloy’s UConn initiative “to overhaul the state’s flagship university over the next decade,” this coming after the state’s $2.3 billion UConn 2000 program. And then, o... more »

Guess how much we invest in our students | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Guess how much we invest in our students | EdSource Today: Guess how much we invest in our students - by Jeff Camp / commentary by Jeff Camp / commentary [image: Jeff Camp] Jeff Camp In the course of a public K-12 education, how much money will be invested in the average California student? How much does a basic, public K-12 education actually cost? Do you know? Can you guess? I will answer the question in a moment. But first, I want to help you feel as uncomfortable as possible about the fact that you don’t know. Because I bet you don’t, and I think you should. After all, you are ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Oh, No, Thompson

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Oh, No, Thompson: Oh, No, Thompson by ed notes online Another UFT/AFT-devised disaster in the making.....the UFT leadership instead went with the candidate who said Bloomberg did the right thing by screwing teachers out of the 8% pattern. ... You can be sure if Thompson is elected, he will turn his back on teachers and pursue the ed deform policies his co-chair, Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch, and his DFER/charter buddies want him to pursue.... Perdido Street School We predicted this on May 18: 3-card monte scamUFT Tilts to Thompson: Tisch, D'Amato, New Action O... more »

New augmented reality glasses let teachers know when their students are falling behind | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
New augmented reality glasses let teachers know when their students are falling behind | toteachornototeach: New augmented reality glasses let teachers know when their students are falling behind by aristotlethewise *New augmented reality glasses let teachers * *know when their students are falling behind* By Lauren Hockenson For teachers, it can be tough to tell when students are actually absorbing new information. They’re often so focused on the materials and on trying to keep the class alert that they can easily miss body language that suggests that a student is completely lost. ... more »

Bill Schecter: Remembering a Teacher With an Uncommon Core - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Bill Schecter: Remembering a Teacher With an Uncommon Core - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Bill Schecter: Remembering a Teacher With an Uncommon Core by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Bill Schecter.* A Boston-area college recently asked if I would like to blog about the Common Core, the national curriculum standards soon to be implemented in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Supposedly the brainchild of the nation's governors, the Common Core represents the latest approach to reforming our educational system and ensuring equal opportunity for all American children. The goal ... more »

On gunfights in Old Sacramento, school-board lawsuits and Kevin Johnson as Kings salesman - Bites - Opinions - June 20, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Sacramento News & Review - On gunfights in Old Sacramento, school-board lawsuits and Kevin Johnson as Kings salesman - Bites - Opinions - June 20, 2013: On gunfights in Old Sacramento, school-board lawsuits and Kevin Johnson as Kings salesman On shoot-outs in Old Sacramento, school-board legal woes and Kevin Johnson as the Kings' No. 1 salesman *The Sacramento City Unified School District* Board intentionally sacrificed poor neighborhoods and protected affluent ones with its school-closure plan earlier this year. That’s the gist of a *lawsuit* filed by several Sacramento student... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Put school closings behind us? 'NO WAY'! Families occupy classrooms at Lafayette.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Put school closings behind us? 'NO WAY'! Families occupy classrooms at Lafayette.: Put school closings behind us? 'NO WAY'! Families occupy classrooms at Lafayette. by Mike Klonsky Three weeks ago, a well-orchestrated call could be heard, coming from Clark Street and the 5th Floor at City Hall. "“We are putting the past behind us,” *Byrd-Bennett* said. “It is time to turn the page” on school closings. Yesterday, the community resistance movement answered back. As the first wave of schools were being shuttered, with more than 850 CPS teachers and sta... more »

JUNE/JULY 2013 EDUCATOR- California Teachers Association

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
- California Teachers Association: *JUNE/JULY 2013 EDUCATOR* [image: image] View Digital Version EDITOR'S PICKS [image: image]Common Core pilot programs [image: image]What boundaries do you set for yourself with students? [image: image]New budget contains more funding for all districts [image: image]Teacher-written play educates students about date rape INSIDE EDUCATOR - FEATURES - TAKE A STAND - MAKE A DIFFERENCE - ACTION - Features[image: image] Common Core pilot programs Features[image: image] Stop workplace bullying Features[image: image] Perspective... more »

Educators, artists, lawmakers urge more emphasis on the arts - Education - The Sacramento Bee

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Educators, artists, lawmakers urge more emphasis on the arts - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Educators, artists, lawmakers urge more emphasis on the arts By Renee Schoof McClatchy Washington Bureau Published: Wednesday, Jun. 19, 2013 - 7:53 pm [image: Ken Burns] Dennis Van Tine / Abaca Press/MCT Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns supports the humanities Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/19/5509624/educators-artists-lawmakers-urge.html#mi_rss=Education#storylink=cpy WASHINGTON -- America needs to invest more in the humanities and social sciences in order to preserve its cu... more »

Jersey Jazzman: An Exchange With Jonah Rockoff

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: An Exchange With Jonah Rockoff: An Exchange With Jonah Rockoff by Duke This is a long post, but I think it's valuable. Let me set it up a bit: Earlier this month, I was given a remarkable piece of audio: testimony by Jonah Rockoff, professor of finance and economics at Columbia University, before the New Jersey State Board of Education. Rockoff's subject was the use of test score data in teacher evaluation, which is obviously a subject near and dear to my heart. I've reposted the audio below if you care to listen. After I posted the audio, I wrote a series of post... more »

"WTU Alerts Teachers About a "Fake Debate Scheduled for McKinley Tech High School." The Washington Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
The Washington Teacher: *"WTU Alerts Teachers About a "Fake Debate Scheduled for McKinley Tech High School." * *WTU Dust-up * Today right before the close of the school day, the WTU President Nathan Saunders had a major meltdown and sent out an email blast to WTU members titled "WTU Alerts Teachers About a "Fake Debate Scheduled for McKinley Tech High School." What caught my attention was that Saunders actually sent the first email from his own WTU email account. Followed by a second email blast minutes later from the WTU Communication Director. Saunders email to union members s... more »

An 18-Year-Old’s Partially Successful Campaign for School Board Student Voice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Student Voice: An 18-Year-Old’s Partially Successful Campaign for School Board by Miranda Hubbard In April 2013, I launched a campaign for a position on the Norwich City School District Board of Education. I just happened to be the youngest candidate for office in the history of my district, city, and county. Unfortunately I did not win; I did, however, receive over a third of the vote in a seven person race for three seats, which I believe is an achievement on its own. Most 18-year-old candidates for school board run on a typical platform (bring a student’s perspective to educat... more »

Sacramento News & Review - Hmong Innovating Politics shakes up Sacramento political establishment - News - Local Stories - June 20, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Sacramento News & Review - Hmong Innovating Politics shakes up Sacramento political establishment - News - Local Stories - June 20, 2013: Hmong Innovating Politics shakes up Sacramento political establishment HIP announced federal injunction filings against the Sacramento City Unified School District last week By Raheem F. Hosseini raheemh@newsreview.com This article was published on 06.20.13. Learn more about Hmong Innovating Politics athttp://hipsacramento.tumblr.com . *Related stories:* Culture shock Sacramento’s gang-prevention efforts may not work on Asian kids. SN&R, 12.15.11...more »

Update Seattle Schools Community Forum: Harsh Words at Seattle Weekly about the Board

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Harsh Words at Seattle Weekly about the Board: Charter Commission Meeting Update by Melissa Westbrook I checked the agenda for tomorrow's Charter Commission meeting and it is truncated because they will be doing interviews for Executive Director in the morning. So there will be nothing of import for the public to see until 12:50 pm when there will be Public Comment. They will then discuss rulemaking and planning, reviewing the proposal for work by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, Chairman report, Staff report, and Conflict of... more »

solidaridad: Speaking even more truth to Parent Revolution plutocrat power

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
solidaridad: Speaking even more truth to Parent Revolution plutocrat power: Speaking even more truth to Parent Revolution plutocrat power by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene First published on @TCFKSM on June 19, 2013 ------------------------------ * * * * * * *"The resolution by board member Steve Zimmer requires the district to independently verify the signatures and how they're gathered by Parent Revolution, the group that helps to organize parents in efforts to take over schools. The district will also increase the amount and types of information available, such as an analysis of fiv... more »

Is Michelle Rhee a Fraud? | Taking Note

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Is Michelle Rhee a Fraud? | Taking Note: Is Michelle Rhee a Fraud? by John Merrow “Thank you for showing the world that Michelle Rhee is a fraud.” The woman who said that to me at a banquet at the Harvard Club last week is known to serious education wonks. “I have been sending your exposé to governors and legislators all over the country,” she added. “In fact, Governor (name withheld by me) told me he was grateful for your one-man crusade against Rhee because she is hurting the teaching profession.” This was a crowded and noisy social event, and so I could correct only one part o... more »

The American School for Indentured Servants | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The American School for Indentured Servants | Reclaim Reform: The American School for Indentured Servants by kenpreviti [image: indenture]Corporate pillage and plunder of school children is not limited to testing, charters, etc. in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Remember indentured servants? College age students are being legally indentured. Here are start-up companies that specialize in this. HERE. For those of you Vulture Capitalists and Sadists who enjoy inflicting pain while making an obscene profit, you may invest in Upstart, Pave, CareerConcept or a bunch of other creative e... more »

Opinion poll: teacher leader certification | InterACT

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Opinion poll: teacher leader certification | InterACT: Opinion poll: teacher leader certification by David B. Cohen [image: IMG_1343]In my last blog post, I wrote about the Teacher Leader Certification Academy in Riverside County, California. Their approach to teacher leadership has much in common with the 2012 ACTreport on teacher compensation and career pathways. Our report suggested a statewide approach to teacher leader development and certification, similar to the one currently used in New Mexico. Here’s your chance to register an opinion on this topic. (Prior reading about or ... more »

Video: History of the Common Core | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Video: History of the Common Core | Truth in American Education: Video: History of the Common Core by Shane Vander Hart Here is a great short video on the origins of the Common Core released by FreedomWorks. Popout The post Video: History of the Common Core appeared first on Truth in American Education.

850 Laid Off from Chicago School System, 3,783 in Philly: But $500 Million for Prisons | Politic365

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
850 Laid Off from Chicago School System, 3,783 in Philly: But $500 Million for Prisons | Politic365: *850 Laid Off from Chicago School System, 3,783 in Philly: But $500 Million for Prisons | Politic365* [image: school6] digg *Build a Prison Close a School:* 54 schools closed in Chicago (88% black), 23 closed in Philadelphia (81% black), 26 in New York (60% black). What’s the difference between the Democrats and Republicans again I forgot? Hundreds of teachers and school staff are being laid off in two of the largest cities in the country — both run by Democrats. In Chicago and... more »

Evaluation or agenda? - Emporia Gazette: Opinion

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Evaluation or agenda? - Emporia Gazette: Opinion: Evaluation or agenda? Ken Weaver, Dean of the Teachers College, Emporia State University | 0 comments A current trend in American education is private organizations grading the quality of states’ public education using criteria based on their school-reform agendas. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) publishes its annual “Report Card on American Education.” Similarly, studentsfirst produces its annual “State Policy Report Card.” The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) publishes its annual “State Teacher Policy Yea... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-19-13 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: G.F. Brandenburg Transcribes Gary’s Wit by dianerav I am still waiting for Gary Rubinstein to post his brilliant and funny speech last night at the Skinny awards in Néw York City. These awards are conferred by Class Size Matters, the city’s leading voice for public education. Fortunately, that great blogger G. F. Brandenburg transcribed Gary’s remarks here. It is, as you will see, a hilarious riff on corporate reform rhetoric. The audience loved it. He hit the target. Blogger Alexander Russo interpreted Gary’s remar... more »

NYC Educator: King Reformy John Makes Yet Another Brilliant Discovery

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
NYC Educator: King Reformy John Makes Yet Another Brilliant Discovery: King Reformy John Makes Yet Another Brilliant Discovery I've got a little better handle on why King Reformy John decreed that city teachers need to hit 15 of 20 to be effective, while the state says it's only 9. A more informed UFT source tells me it has to do with conversion charts. While this sounds kind of nuts, it has to do with hitting a target. For example, if you hit your target, 60%, in King's Park or Gainesville NY, you get 3 points. However, if you hit your target, again 60%, in NYC, you get 13 points.... more »

REVIEW: Teach For America and the Struggle for Urban School Reform, Crawford-Garrett | the becoming radical

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
REVIEW: Teach For America and the Struggle for Urban School Reform, Crawford-Garrett | the becoming radical: REVIEW: Teach For America and the Struggle for Urban School Reform, Crawford-Garrett Posted on June 19, 2013 by plthomasedd In her Chapter 3 for *Becoming and Being a Teacher*, Katherine Crawford-Garrett (University of New Mexico) “trace[d] the experiences of one cohort of first-year TFA corps members teaching in Philadelphia during the 2010-2011 school year at a time when the School District faced intense pressure to reform” (p. 27). This chapter is a examination of several... more »

Republicans' No Child Left Behind Bill Passes House Committee, Moving Away From Bush's Vision

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Republicans' No Child Left Behind Bill Passes House Committee, Moving Away From Bush's Vision: Republicans' No Child Left Behind Bill Passes House Committee, Moving Away From Bush's Vision by Joy Resmovits The House Education and the Workforce Committee on Wednesday passed the Student Success Act, chairman Rep. John Kline's (R-Minn.) rewrite of the No Child Left Behind Act with a 23-16 vote along party lines. "Our students deserve more than a short-term fix," Kline said. "They deserve a better law." Kline's bill goes further than any No Child Left Behind reauthorization... more »

Mother Crusader: Education Bloggers; Filling The Education Journalism Void

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mother Crusader: Education Bloggers; Filling The Education Journalism Void: Education Bloggers; Filling The Education Journalism Void by darciecima I was fortunate to spend last night in the company of some amazing people, including the incomparable NYC teacher bloggers Gary Rubinstein and Arthur Goldstein, at the Class Size Matters 5th Annual Skinny Awards. If you have not checked out their work, please do. They are both tireless public education advocates, using their blogs to bring attention to issues ignored by the ever dwindling corps of mainstream education reporters. Gary wr... more »




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