My High School Added to the National Register of Historic Buildings
I don’t know if anyone in the world cares about this except me and a few gray heads in and around Houston.
Our high school was just named to the National Register of Historic Buildings.
I graduated in 1956. San Jacinto at that time was a racially segregated school, as were all the public schools of Houston. In 1954, after the Brown decision, I asked to meet with the principal, Mr. Brandenburger. I asked him why we didn’t desegregate. After all, the Supreme Court said we should. He told me, in his most professorial manner, that desegregation would hurt the black schools. Their principals and teachers would lose their jobs.
Our high school was just named to the National Register of Historic Buildings.
I graduated in 1956. San Jacinto at that time was a racially segregated school, as were all the public schools of Houston. In 1954, after the Brown decision, I asked to meet with the principal, Mr. Brandenburger. I asked him why we didn’t desegregate. After all, the Supreme Court said we should. He told me, in his most professorial manner, that desegregation would hurt the black schools. Their principals and teachers would lose their jobs.
A Gift for You This Sunday
Robert D. Shepherd shared this poem by Billy Collins, who was the nation’s poet laureate from 2001-03. I think what Shepherd had in mind when he shared this was the tendency of certain thinkers and standards writers to over-intellectualize the experience of literature.
Introduction to Poetry
By Billy Collins
I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a poem
Introduction to Poetry
By Billy Collins
I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a poem
Texas Parents Rage Against Perry Veto
https://www.facebook.com/TexasKidsCantWait
Texas parents created a Facebook page to vent their anger at Governor Perry for vetoing SB 5836, which would have reduced the heavy burden of testing in the elementary and middle school grades. Presently, as much as one month–sometimes more–of the school year is devoted to testin and testing preparation.
SB 5836 passed both houses of the Legislature unanimously.
But don’t forget, Pearson has a contract for $500 million for five years of testing. It would be rather unpleasant, wouldn’t it, if the state didn’t want so much testing. After all, the state already reduced the number of graduation tests from 15 to 5. Pearson can retreat just so much and no more. Fortunately, Pearson has its top lobbyist,
Texas parents created a Facebook page to vent their anger at Governor Perry for vetoing SB 5836, which would have reduced the heavy burden of testing in the elementary and middle school grades. Presently, as much as one month–sometimes more–of the school year is devoted to testin and testing preparation.
SB 5836 passed both houses of the Legislature unanimously.
But don’t forget, Pearson has a contract for $500 million for five years of testing. It would be rather unpleasant, wouldn’t it, if the state didn’t want so much testing. After all, the state already reduced the number of graduation tests from 15 to 5. Pearson can retreat just so much and no more. Fortunately, Pearson has its top lobbyist,
Who Distorted Charlotte Danielson’s Message?
A reader comments:
“I was present when Dr. Danielson spoke in depth during the formulation of the current Maryland evaluation system and at a Maryland State Education Association Convention. She stated that there was no research to measure teachers using student test scores. In fact, she stated that if a teacher was fired due to students test
“I was present when Dr. Danielson spoke in depth during the formulation of the current Maryland evaluation system and at a Maryland State Education Association Convention. She stated that there was no research to measure teachers using student test scores. In fact, she stated that if a teacher was fired due to students test
Edgar Guest: in Praise of Father
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;
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
There are far better ways to celebrate Father’s Day, but here is one to make you smile.
FATHER WILLIAM
by: Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
“OU are old, Father William,” the young man said,
“And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head–
Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
“In my youth,” Father William replied to his son,
FATHER WILLIAM
by: Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
“OU are old, Father William,” the young man said,
“And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head–
Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
“In my youth,” Father William replied to his son,
Community Residents Stop Giveaway by Bloomberg’s DOE to Developers
Mayor Bloomberg’s third term really is coming to an end. In an unprecedented move, the Mayor’s Department of Education (which does nothing substantive without his approval) abandoned pans to tear down two schools so that developers could build luxury projects on their land. This retreat was the result of strong community opposition from parents and community members on the Upper West Side. This is a victory for democracy.
The students would have been displaced while developers put up high-rise apartment buildings.
“One of the schools saved, P.S. 199 on West 70th Street, was designed by the modernist architect Edward
The students would have been displaced while developers put up high-rise apartment buildings.
“One of the schools saved, P.S. 199 on West 70th Street, was designed by the modernist architect Edward
The End Result of the Parent Trigger Is….?
An anonymous comment from an educator poses an important question:
Parent Revolution must be trying to figure out what to do with themselves. Publicly, they can try to positively frame the debate using language such as “parent empowerment” and “parent choice” and “we can’t wait” and “won’t back down” and “kids can’t wait” and “this is a failing school”…but in the end, it’s just a bad idea and a bad policy. Get 50% + 1 of parents to sign a petition, cause disruption, cause parents to protest against each other, cause staff members to feel terrible about their jobs so that they update their resumes and look elsewhere, and let the kids watch as they ask their moms and dads and teachers what the hell is going
Parent Revolution must be trying to figure out what to do with themselves. Publicly, they can try to positively frame the debate using language such as “parent empowerment” and “parent choice” and “we can’t wait” and “won’t back down” and “kids can’t wait” and “this is a failing school”…but in the end, it’s just a bad idea and a bad policy. Get 50% + 1 of parents to sign a petition, cause disruption, cause parents to protest against each other, cause staff members to feel terrible about their jobs so that they update their resumes and look elsewhere, and let the kids watch as they ask their moms and dads and teachers what the hell is going
Sarah Darer Littman: How to Create a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Sarah Darer Littman watches in wonder as the Gates Foundation uses its billions to reorganize public education in Connecticut.
Their goal: more Achievement First charters, regardless of their high suspension rates for children in kindergarten and their poor record relating to students with disabilities.
Gates wants close collaboration with AF and other “high performing” charters. It wants hem to be treated equitably, as if Avignon the generous support of Connecticut’s equity investors was not enough of a cushion.
What do they want? A dual school system of regulated public schools and unregulated charters, fre
Their goal: more Achievement First charters, regardless of their high suspension rates for children in kindergarten and their poor record relating to students with disabilities.
Gates wants close collaboration with AF and other “high performing” charters. It wants hem to be treated equitably, as if Avignon the generous support of Connecticut’s equity investors was not enough of a cushion.
What do they want? A dual school system of regulated public schools and unregulated charters, fre
Corbett’s Budget Cuts in Pa. Target Poor, Minorities
The Public Interest Center of Philadelphia analyzed Governor Corbett’s budget cuts. It should be no surprise to learn that the cuts fall most heavily on the neediest children, the children who are low-income and children of color. Their communities are not Governor Corbett’s political base. Even so, most public schools across the state have suffered because of the cuts.
The report found:
“In 2011 Governor Tom Corbett cut $1 billion in public school funding. As a result of these cuts 70 percent of
The report found:
“In 2011 Governor Tom Corbett cut $1 billion in public school funding. As a result of these cuts 70 percent of
Governor Rick Perry’s Worst Veto
Governor Perry of Texas vetoed HB 2836. This was a bill that would have reduced the pressure to test and test and test, then test some more, in the early grades.
He earlier approved a bill to reduce the amount of testing for high school students but the anti-testing moms
He earlier approved a bill to reduce the amount of testing for high school students but the anti-testing moms
Pennsylvania Can’t Afford Good Schools But Corporate Tax Breaks Are OK
Pennsylvania blogger Yinzercation reviews the state budget and notes that the legislators are fine with cutting the arts, kindergarten, libraries, books, supplies, and teachers, but they won’t touch the numerous tax breaks available to corporate interests.
This is a good post because it not only bemoans the loss of essential services in schools but lays out specific
This is a good post because it not only bemoans the loss of essential services in schools but lays out specific
Memories: My Mother’s Piano
Gayle Greene, a professor of English at Scripps College in California, wrote this beautiful tribute to the meaning of the arts in her life. She reflects on her mother’s piano, the beautiful music that somehow inspired her own love of words and literature.
When you read about her mother’s piano, you will for a brief time be carried back to an era when education had
When you read about her mother’s piano, you will for a brief time be carried back to an era when education had
Diane in the Evening 6-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Alan Singer: Who Is Charlotte Danielson? by dianerav Charlotte Danielson is the leading guru of teacher evaluation. Alan Singer asks who she is, what is her background, and why will so many teachers be evaluated by her rubric. *LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all* mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Newark: The End of ... more »