NC: Schools Lose, Corporation$ Win
A reader explains the logic behind North Carolina’s budget cuts and other school “reforms”: “They cut millions in education in NC to give corporations $365 Million in tax cuts. “So with Citizens United, they have financed their own re-election campaigns for next year by giving the corporations the money to donate. See how Teabagastan Politics work?”
End of Jeb Bush Miracle? Florida Grades Collapse
Jeb Bush has toured the country boasting of the Florida miracle. Central to the miracle is the letter grades for schools. But the state just reported that the proportion of A-rated schools fell from 48% to 29%. Is the Jeb miracle over? The schools didn’t suddenly get worse. The grading system is arbitrary, capricious, and meaningless. As Fairtest points out, the state has changed the formula at
Anthony Weiner and the Politics of Shamelessness
The most amazing thing about Anthony Weiner is that he is still running for mayor of New York City despite the revelations about his tawdry behavior. Maybe he will drop out because his poll numbers have plummeted in the last few days. Maybe he already has, and I haven’t heard the news. It is upsetting to hear the “man on the street” say that he doesn’t care about Weiner’s behavior because it is pe
Mark Naison: How TFA Is Destructive
Mark Naison sent the following thoughts about Teach for America: Why Teach for America is Seductive to Mayors and Legislators and Destructive to Everyone Else Teach for America offers states and municipalities the opportunity to subcontract their teaching to non-union workers, saving large expenses in pensions and health care. Such a policy saves money, as subcontracting usually does; but it destr
Teacher: Ripping Off Taxpayers Is Easy in Arizona
A teacher in Arizona sent this comment: “I live in Arizona, am a certified teacher who came from a civilized state, and have taught in four different charter schools here. These are public schools often being run like private schools. There is an infamous one here that gets away with having an entrance exam in order to weed out all but the best of the best. Consequently, this school is consistentl
TFA: We Won’t Be Scabs in Chicago
The TFA director in Chicago said that corps members would not take the jobs of teachers who were laid off. He said the positions were being eliminated and would not be offered to TFA. TFA members were Los affected by the layoffs, he said. However, in late June, “Chicago Public Schools agreed to support up to 325 new teachers and 245 second-year teachers for a cost of nearly $1.6 million — more tha
Is Corporate Reform a “House of Cards”?
This is a clever, sharp video about corporate reform. It comes with the endorsement of the notorious BAT teachers. It is the first of a series explaining the nefarious role of the privatization movement and its pretense to be “for the kids” as it destroys their community public schools. If this is a sample of the BAT work, we can expect that the house of cards will be toppling soon. The reformers
Diane in the Evening 7-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Crazy Crawfish Investigates the Recovery School District in St. Helena’s ParishAre you in the mood for a demonstration of investigative scholarship written in journalistic style? If so, curl up in a comfy chair and read this saga, wherein the LouisianaRecovery School District makes claims that cannot be substantiated. If this is tr