New BTA Takes Off, 10,000 Strong
The new, utterly distinguished Badass Teachers Association is roaring to life.
It has a website, a Twitter account, a blog site, and 10,000 members.
These are teachers who say a loud No to corporate reform that seeks to turn us all into data points, aggregate us, disaggregate us, buy and sell our schools, and put us into a portfolio.
It has a website, a Twitter account, a blog site, and 10,000 members.
These are teachers who say a loud No to corporate reform that seeks to turn us all into data points, aggregate us, disaggregate us, buy and sell our schools, and put us into a portfolio.
Ed Berger: A Test for the Reformers
We know that reformers love tests,
The love it when kids take tests, the more the better.
They love it when teachers get bonuses or get fired because of test scores.
So Ed Berger, a retired teacher in
The love it when kids take tests, the more the better.
They love it when teachers get bonuses or get fired because of test scores.
So Ed Berger, a retired teacher in
How Bloomberg Used His Fortune to Win Silence and Support
This is an extraordinary article, not only because of what it reveals, but because it appears in Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post, which has been a reliable cheerleader for our billionaire mayor.
Investigative reporter Tom Robbins details how Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his billions to silence critics and to win the support of or intimidate almost every civic and cultural group.
In other times and places, people worry that big money will buy the mayor’s support. In New York City for the past dozen years, the mayor has bought the support of almost everyone who might have been a critic or might have an independent voice. One of his favorite gambits was to cut the budget of a group that is heavily dependent on city funding, then make an allegedly anonymous contribution to the same group. The media often printed long
Investigative reporter Tom Robbins details how Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his billions to silence critics and to win the support of or intimidate almost every civic and cultural group.
In other times and places, people worry that big money will buy the mayor’s support. In New York City for the past dozen years, the mayor has bought the support of almost everyone who might have been a critic or might have an independent voice. One of his favorite gambits was to cut the budget of a group that is heavily dependent on city funding, then make an allegedly anonymous contribution to the same group. The media often printed long
Is the Tide Turning Against Corporate Reform in Los Angeles?
Something unusual happened at the most recent Los Angeles school board meeting. Even before newly elected Monica Ratliff was sworn in, the pro-privatization majority was in retreat.
Here is a fascinating account of the background and context:
So glad you are reporting this. I only wish that Zimmer had gone ever further on the class size issue and had reminded everyone that LAUSD has the largest numbers of charter schools. Every time a start up charter or
Here is a fascinating account of the background and context:
So glad you are reporting this. I only wish that Zimmer had gone ever further on the class size issue and had reminded everyone that LAUSD has the largest numbers of charter schools. Every time a start up charter or
How Fare the Pritzkers? Very Well Indeed.
I recently attended the commencement ceremonies at Queens College in New York City, one of the nation’s finest public institutions.
At the ceremony specifically for graduates of the education program, the dean opened his remarks by citing an African proverb, “How fare the children?”
The answer should be “The children are well.”
In a good and decent society, we take care of the children, because in doing so, we not only express our
At the ceremony specifically for graduates of the education program, the dean opened his remarks by citing an African proverb, “How fare the children?”
The answer should be “The children are well.”
In a good and decent society, we take care of the children, because in doing so, we not only express our
Babysitting with a Newborn
A few days ago, I was baby sitting with my youngest grandson. He is not yet a month old. As I held him in my arms, I watched his sleeping face intently. It is, of course, beautiful. He was swaddled, as is the fashion nowadays (not in my day). As he slept, I saw his expressions change, from a frown to a knitted brow to a tiny smile, and then utterly placid, and repeat, in random order. I took his little hand out of the swaddling blanket, held it in my large hand, and marveled at his long, perfect fingers.
And I thought of these lines, “Not in entire forgetfulness,/and not in utter nakedness,/But trailing clouds of glory do we come/From God, who is our home.”
That is a tiny excerpt from a lovely poem by William Wordsworth called “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from
And I thought of these lines, “Not in entire forgetfulness,/and not in utter nakedness,/But trailing clouds of glory do we come/From God, who is our home.”
That is a tiny excerpt from a lovely poem by William Wordsworth called “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from
Diane in the Evening 6-22-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Will Kevin Huffman Cut His Own Pay? by dianerav When Kevin Huffman was sworn in as state commissioner in Tennessee, he was offered a salary of $200,000 a year, 11% more than his predecessor. Granted that he believes experience and degrees are worthless, wouldn’t an else yak sense of fairness compel him to cut his salary, having cut salaries of teachers across the state? After all, a teacher with a masters and a doctorate and 20 years experience will make less than $60,000. Who provides greater value? *LISTEN T... more »