What Happened at Vallas’ Trial
When the trial was conducted of whether Paul Vallas had the necessary credentials to serve as superintendent of schools in Bridgeport, the attorney for the plaintiffs said he was a “drive-by superintendent.” The state commissioner of education Stefan Pryor, who picked Vallas, said he was impressed by his work in New Orleans, where he oversaw the near total privatization of the public schools.
The linked article describes testimony taken during the trial, which culminated in the judge’s decision that Vallas did not have the legally required credentials and should be removed.
The linked article describes testimony taken during the trial, which culminated in the judge’s decision that Vallas did not have the legally required credentials and should be removed.
A Slick Campaign for Privatization
The forces advocating privatization of public schools are well-funded and relentless. They cloak their goals in high-flown rhetoric about “saving kids from failing schools.” Or they cynically claim the mantle of the civil rights movement as they seek to disrupt communities and replace public control with private ownership. As the public gets wise, resistance grows.
This comment came from a reader:
I have been researching this whole privitatization of public services since Parent Revolution has targeted my school. Ben and his like are interested in taking publuc services like schools and even libraries to privateers.
This comment came from a reader:
I have been researching this whole privitatization of public services since Parent Revolution has targeted my school. Ben and his like are interested in taking publuc services like schools and even libraries to privateers.
Teaching Is Not What I Expected
A teacher responds to the rankings by the NCTQ:
Ok. I have a degree in accounting. I was an accountant for 15 years. I switched to teaching in 2008 and was thoroughly shocked that teaching was so different than I imagined and also that it was so difficult. When I was an accountant, I remembered thinking that getting off at 4pm sounded like a dream since I worked until 6pm as a general rule. However, on the first day of being an instructional assistant I looked up at the clock at 3pm and wondered how it could only be 3pm. I was exhausted. Teachers have no down time. I was lucky to get to use the
Ok. I have a degree in accounting. I was an accountant for 15 years. I switched to teaching in 2008 and was thoroughly shocked that teaching was so different than I imagined and also that it was so difficult. When I was an accountant, I remembered thinking that getting off at 4pm sounded like a dream since I worked until 6pm as a general rule. However, on the first day of being an instructional assistant I looked up at the clock at 3pm and wondered how it could only be 3pm. I was exhausted. Teachers have no down time. I was lucky to get to use the
Gary Rubinstein: Another Miracle School Bites the Dust
The New York Daily News found another of those “miracle” schools that, on examination, isn’t.
Gary Rubinstein is a master debunker of miracle schools, and his antennae went up when he read about a charter school in the South Bronx where almost every student graduates. The Daily News wrote: “Of the 66 12th graders at Hyde Leadership Charter School, 62 graduated — a 95% rate that crushes the citywide average of 64.7%.”
Time for mathematics. Gary knew that the citywide rate was the “cohort rate,” the percentage who made it
Gary Rubinstein is a master debunker of miracle schools, and his antennae went up when he read about a charter school in the South Bronx where almost every student graduates. The Daily News wrote: “Of the 66 12th graders at Hyde Leadership Charter School, 62 graduated — a 95% rate that crushes the citywide average of 64.7%.”
Time for mathematics. Gary knew that the citywide rate was the “cohort rate,” the percentage who made it
Oklahoma Educators: Throw Out the 2013 Tests
Oklahoma education leaders proposed that the state should invalidate the state tests because of computer breakdowns.
“The Oklahoma Education Association stated in a release on their website that CTB/McGraw-Hill was “grossly deficient in its ability to meet the needs of Oklahoma schools and students.” This was after schools reported numerous issues with standardized tests this past spring.”
Will State Superintendent Janet Barresi have the courage to do what Indiana’s Glenda Ritz did? Ritz is suing
“The Oklahoma Education Association stated in a release on their website that CTB/McGraw-Hill was “grossly deficient in its ability to meet the needs of Oklahoma schools and students.” This was after schools reported numerous issues with standardized tests this past spring.”
Will State Superintendent Janet Barresi have the courage to do what Indiana’s Glenda Ritz did? Ritz is suing
Jon Pelto: A Historic Victory Over the Education-Industrial Reformers
In this post, Jonathan Pelto assembles a timeline of the stunning court decision to remove Paul Vallas as superintendent of schools of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He includes Vallas’ tenure as superintendent of schools in Chicago, where he was hailed for “saving” the schools and in Philadelphia, where he installed the nation’s most
The Academic Credentials Problem: Vallas and Deasy
A reader from Los Angeles raises questions about Dr. Deasy’s credentials and his backers. I cannot verify all his claims but could verify this and thisand this:
The reader writes:
“In Los Angeles, “Dr.” (a term L.A. teachers sneer at) John Deasy got his PhD from the University of Louisville after six months attendance and nine units of coursework from a “Professor” (another loose term) Felner whom Deasy had previously awarded $375,000 in consulting contracts while Superintendent of Santa Monica. Felner later received a vote of no confidence first from the University and then the U.S. Justice Department which
The reader writes:
“In Los Angeles, “Dr.” (a term L.A. teachers sneer at) John Deasy got his PhD from the University of Louisville after six months attendance and nine units of coursework from a “Professor” (another loose term) Felner whom Deasy had previously awarded $375,000 in consulting contracts while Superintendent of Santa Monica. Felner later received a vote of no confidence first from the University and then the U.S. Justice Department which
The Academic Credentials Problem: Vallas and Deasy
Diana Senechal Has Fun with the Danielson Rubric
Satire alert!
Diana Senechal tries her hand at satirizing the Danielson rubric, which seems to have taken the nation’s schools by storm.
Join her as she ventures into the Low Inference Room
Diana Senechal tries her hand at satirizing the Danielson rubric, which seems to have taken the nation’s schools by storm.
Join her as she ventures into the Low Inference Room
Diane in the Evening 6-28-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Latest on Vallas’ Ouster by dianerav From Linda Hall, Connecticut resident: The latest from the CT Mirror: In April, the state board approved an independent study created for Vallas by the University of Connecticut as a valid program. But the judge said Friday that the short, independent study he completed in May at UConn was Jon Pelto on the Arrogance of Power by dianerav More than anyone else other than the plaintiffs, Jonathan Pelto has been a persistent critic of Paul Vallas, Stefan Pryor, and their indiffere... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 6-29-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGDiana Senechal Has Fun with the Danielson Rubricdianerav at Diane Ravitch's blog - 14 minutes agoSatire alert! Diana Senechal tries her hand at satirizing the Danielson rubric, which seems to have taken the nation’s schools by storm. Join her as she ventures into the Low Inference Room.The Academic Credentials Problem: V