Camika Royal Tells the Truth to TFA Recruits
In this remarkable speech to a large gathering of Teach for America recruits, Dr. Camika Royal laid out the details of the disaster in Philadelphia and laid the blame on the state, where it belongs. She told the recruits that Philadelphia is a microcosm for urban districts across the nation, where public schools are under attack and are folding. She questioned why young people lie those in her aud
Georgia Teachers Salute BAT
A reader comments from Georgia: “Mr. Norreese Haynes and I of the Metro Association of Classroom Educators (MACE) here in Georgia are putting together a book that we have written, decrying the fact that the Socialistic Left and the Capitalistic Right have joined together to take the teaching profession hostage. Classroom Educators are used as Levitical scapegoats for all of the ills in public educ
Anthony Cody: The Nine Most Terrifying Words in the English Language
Anthony Cody explains that the nine most terrifying words in the English language to an educator are, “I’m from Big Business, and I’m here to help.” Business ideas about competition and incentives, he says, don’t work in schools. Profit-driven reforms don’t work either. Businesses and schools have different bottom lines. As he concludes: “The market system demands winners and losers, and the big
Is Eli Broad Abandoning TFA?
In an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad heaps praise on the much-maligned report of the National Council on Teacher Quality. For a foundation that claims to care most of all about performance, not inputs, Broad is surprisingly willing to endorse a report based solely on a review of course readings and catalogues, not results. That is probably because his foundati
The Origins of BAT: When Reason Doesn’t Work
Mark Naison, one of the founders and leaders of the Badass Association of Teachers, explains why BAT became necessary, and why its numbers have grown so dramatically: When Reason Doesn’t Work: Another Explanation for “The Rise of the BATs” Many people have criticized the “Badass Teachers Association” for its unprofessional sounding name and in your face image, but the meteoric rise of this group
In Search of a Metaphor for “Reform”
Over recent years, I have heard many metaphors used to explain what is happening–what is being done to–the nation’s public schools. In New York City, parents often use the phrase “the emperor has no clothes.” Others may have different metaphors to suggest. In this post, reader Joanna Best thinks that the story of Hansel and Gretel best explains what is happening across the nation: So, as I have
Voice, Not Choice, Improves Public Schools
Steve Hinnefeld writes a terrific blog in Indiana. In this one, he explains that public schools get better when parents become active and use their voice. They do not become better when parents vote with their feet and exit the door to a charter school, a private school, or something else. I am going to be watching this blogger. He understands how our public schools are being wrecked by misguided
They Closed My School, But It Will Always Be in My Heart
Teacher Hector Solon is heart-broken. He was proud to work at Albion High School. He loved the kids. The kids were the best. So was the staff. But they closed the school. It hurts him to think about it, to talk about it, to write it. “I may be gone from AHS, but a piece of my heart will always be there, hidden away in room 121, where magic happened, students learned and grew, and lives were chan
How The Privatization Movement Is Destroying Public Education
In this post, Richard Eskow describes the manipulation of public opinion by people who call themselves reformers. The attack on public duration, he writes, is an attack on children and our nation’s future. The playbook has been carefully planned and orchestrated. And the media fell for it, with few exceptions. Instead of calling them “reformers,” he says, they should be known as “demolishes.” H
Katie Osgood to New TFA Recruits: Quit
In this post, Katie Osgood writes an open letter to the young people who are entering Teach for America as new recruits. She knows they are idealistic and believe they are serving a noble cause. They think they are working to reduce inequality. They think they are activists in a progressive organization. Nothing could be farther from the truth, she writes. They will enter the classrooms of poor
Diane in the Evening 7-2-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | #neara13 #RYH4Ed #BATsACT
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: YO @alexanderrussoThis is Diane speaking to her ResearchersJoel Klein Intervenes in NYC Mayor Race to Defend RecordJoel Klein lambasted the Democratic candidates in the race to succeed Mayor Bloomberg for their criticism of his policies. Klein defended the policy of giving free public space to charters, even though many of the char