NYC: On Thursday, Join a Demonstration for Education!
This just in:
Hope you can join us and spread the word!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 6th, 2013
NYC public school children will sign John Hancocks to their own “Declaration of Education” on Chancellor’s Day
City Hall Park gathering injects a positive message into the standardized testing debate, favors giving administrators room to create learning communities and giving teachers time to do what they do best: teach!
MANHATTAN—Parents, New York City public schoolchildren and community members will gather in City Hall
Hope you can join us and spread the word!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 6th, 2013
NYC public school children will sign John Hancocks to their own “Declaration of Education” on Chancellor’s Day
City Hall Park gathering injects a positive message into the standardized testing debate, favors giving administrators room to create learning communities and giving teachers time to do what they do best: teach!
MANHATTAN—Parents, New York City public schoolchildren and community members will gather in City Hall
John Merrow: His Concerns about the Common Core
John Merrow does not ally himself with most critics of the Common Core.
But he is concerned. He is concerned about whether a school with its own innovative curriculum and methodology will survive. His film crew visited the eighth grade at King Middle School and were impressed by what they found. How will this program fare?
But he is concerned. He is concerned about whether a school with its own innovative curriculum and methodology will survive. His film crew visited the eighth grade at King Middle School and were impressed by what they found. How will this program fare?
What Is Going On in Cheatham County, Tennessee?
A teacher in Cheatham County, Tennessee, sent me this article about the unusual exodus of teachers from the county’s schools. Twenty-five percent of the staff have resigned in the past year, including the football coach and the basketball coach (whose teams had good seasons).
There is a local school board meeting tonight to hear all sides. Parents and citizens should show up and get involved. Learn what is happening in your local schools.
There is a local school board meeting tonight to hear all sides. Parents and citizens should show up and get involved. Learn what is happening in your local schools.
Is School Reform Really About Economic Development?
Leslie T. Fenwick, dean of education at Howard University, argues that what is called school “reform” is really about urban land development, not about improving the lives of disadvantaged minority children. She says, follow the money to understand the “reforms.”
Dean Fenwick doesn’t mince words. She writes:
“The truth can be used to tell a lie. The truth is that black parents’ frustration with the quality of public schools is at an all time righteous high. Though black and white parents’ commitment to their child’s schooling is comparable, more black parents report dissatisfaction with the school their child attends. Approximately 90 percent of black and white parents report attending parent teacher association meetings and nearly 80 percent of black and white parents report attending teacher conferences. Despite these similarities, fewer black parents (47
Dean Fenwick doesn’t mince words. She writes:
“The truth can be used to tell a lie. The truth is that black parents’ frustration with the quality of public schools is at an all time righteous high. Though black and white parents’ commitment to their child’s schooling is comparable, more black parents report dissatisfaction with the school their child attends. Approximately 90 percent of black and white parents report attending parent teacher association meetings and nearly 80 percent of black and white parents report attending teacher conferences. Despite these similarities, fewer black parents (47
The Patron Saints of Standardized Testing
Two political leaders—Arne Duncan and Dannell Malloy, governor of Connecticut–recently held a press conference where they both pretended to disdain high-stakes testing. Duncan went so far as to claim that he had decreased standardized testing when he led the Chicago public schools.
If only it were true! Jonathan Pelto and Sarah Darer Littman did some fact-checking, and the only question is why these guys don’t own up to their public record. They are both champions of standardized testing. Their
If only it were true! Jonathan Pelto and Sarah Darer Littman did some fact-checking, and the only question is why these guys don’t own up to their public record. They are both champions of standardized testing. Their
Good News: Illinois Enacts Moratorium on Virtual Charters
Thank you, Governor Pat Quinn!
And congratulations to the 18 suburban districts that protected their students.
Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation that enacts a one-year moratorium on virtual charters, allowing time to study their performance. Any impartial study will reveal that online charters get poor results. They have high student dropouts every year, students get low grades and have a poor graduation rate. The beneficiaries of online charters are the corporations that own them. They make huge profits.
Eighteen suburban districts had previously banned the virtual schools, which allegedly wanted to target at-risk students. Online charters have no record of success serving at-risk students. These are the students most in need of human contact with caring teachers.
And congratulations to the 18 suburban districts that protected their students.
Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation that enacts a one-year moratorium on virtual charters, allowing time to study their performance. Any impartial study will reveal that online charters get poor results. They have high student dropouts every year, students get low grades and have a poor graduation rate. The beneficiaries of online charters are the corporations that own them. They make huge profits.
Eighteen suburban districts had previously banned the virtual schools, which allegedly wanted to target at-risk students. Online charters have no record of success serving at-risk students. These are the students most in need of human contact with caring teachers.
Gary Rubinstein: The Illegal Trojan Horse in King’s Evaluation Plan
Gary Rubinstein, who teaches mathematics, analyzed Commissioner John King’s plan to evaluate NYC teachers, which he imposed in the absence of an agreement between New York City and the United Federation of Teachers. Gary went a step further and read the law that King based his plan on. Gary concludes that Kingmisread the law and that his plan is fundamentally flawed.
Step back a minute and ask yourself how many other professions are evaluated based on legislative mandates.
Step back a minute and ask yourself how many other professions are evaluated based on legislative mandates.
A Brilliant Post By Anthony Cody: How to Win
Anthony Cody gets stronger and sharper with every column he writes.
In this post, he explains how the best defense is a good offense.
He shows how critics of NCLB were tricked in 2008, then tricked again by Race to the Top.
It’s time to stop collaborating with those who want to destroy public education, he says.
It’s time to recognize, he writes, that Common Core is old wine in new bottles. Instead of getting rid of the
In this post, he explains how the best defense is a good offense.
He shows how critics of NCLB were tricked in 2008, then tricked again by Race to the Top.
It’s time to stop collaborating with those who want to destroy public education, he says.
It’s time to recognize, he writes, that Common Core is old wine in new bottles. Instead of getting rid of the
EdTrust: Failing Charters in Michigan Are Expanding
The theory behind charters was that they would produce better results or lose their charter.
Education Trust Midwest reports that this is not happening.
Low-performing charters are not closed. Instead, they are expanding.
Charter operators have learned how to work the political system to their benefit. Not so much for the kids.
Education Trust Midwest reports that this is not happening.
Low-performing charters are not closed. Instead, they are expanding.
Charter operators have learned how to work the political system to their benefit. Not so much for the kids.
Camins: What Would Real Reform Look Like?
Arthur Camins is director of the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.
In this excellent article, he notes that the advocates of the status quo are those who are in power and who impose high-stakes testing and privatization on districts and states. Oddly enough, the leaders of the status quo dismiss critics by calling them “defenders of the status quo.”
Camins suggests that real reform would be very different from the current evidence-free status quo.
He argues that: “the pillars of current education reform are more likely to preserve rather than change the status
In this excellent article, he notes that the advocates of the status quo are those who are in power and who impose high-stakes testing and privatization on districts and states. Oddly enough, the leaders of the status quo dismiss critics by calling them “defenders of the status quo.”
Camins suggests that real reform would be very different from the current evidence-free status quo.
He argues that: “the pillars of current education reform are more likely to preserve rather than change the status
Diane in the Evening 6-3-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Rally in L.A. For Reduced Class Size! by dianerav A reader in Los Angeles welcomes all who care about improving public education: Parents from all across Los Angeles are Mobilizing!!!! Please gather tomorrow, Tuesday June 4 at 8:30 am out front of LAUSD central offices on Beaudry street downtown. Lend your voice to a collective choir that demands to be heard. We are Students, Parents and Angelenos for Real Classroom Support: SPARCS. We must ignite the SPARCS of this truth in front of our elected school board: KID... more »