House of Cards: The Michelle Rhee Story
The Badass Teachers Association has produced a series of videos to explain the intricacies and deceptions of corporate reform. The first laid out the corporate reform strategy. The second examined the Broad superintendents. The third looks closely at the legacy of Michelle Rhee. The thesis that ties them together is that “reform” is a house of cards built on lies that will inevitably fall down, as
George Schmidt: How to Become an Excellent Teacher
George Schmidt taught for many years in Chicago until he was fired by Paul Vallas, then the CEO, for revealing test questions (to show how idiotic they were). He now offers advice on how to succeed as a teacher: Thanks for making me laugh this otherwise unfunny Chicago morning. Around here, the best way to become one of the “best” teachers is to get as far as possible away from the hard core seg
Greg Michie: What Is Really Happening in Chicago
Greg Michie is a teacher in Chicago and a published author. Michie is fed up with the hypocritical incantations of “students first,” when the reality is that the “reformers” put students last. In this post, he explains what is really happening. “I see our school’s only computer lab — which should be a student resource — closed for weeks at a time (a total of nine this past year) so it can be used
Link Added to EduShyster Post This Morning
Sorry, readers, I did it again! I forgot the link to the EduShyster article about TFA’s insidious mission. I added it to the original post. Here it is: http://wp.me/p2odLa-5o0
Bruce Baker: Three Smokescreens to Avoid Talking about Resources
In another great post, Bruce Baker explains the smokescreens that reformers use to divert attention from resource inequality. One smokescreen is choice. The idea is that liberty should replace equality. But says Baker, hoice is highly inequitable. “But these arguments are merely a diversion, sidestepping whether, when applied in practice, adequate alternatives are equitably distributed. “One pro
Public Education in New York City: The Bloomberg Legacy
Marc Epstein has been teaching in the public schools for almost two decades.His articles on school violence, curriculum, and testing have appeared in most of the New York papers, the Washington Post, Education Next, and City Journal. He is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post. Public Education And The Next Mayor —Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclina
A BAT Writes a Letter to Bill Gates
Here is good advice for the Gates Foundation: Mr. Gates, I have been working on this letter for days now. I just can’t seem to get my thoughts down before my anger gets the best of me. Then it turns into a letter of rant which helps no one, least of all my students. I am a 10 year veteran teacher. I have earned my BA and my MAT. I also have received National Board Certification. I am sick over th
Nancy Flanagan Dissects the Latest Harebrained Reform Idea
Nancy Flanagan taught music in Michigan for many years. She now blogs at Edweek. In this post, she dissects a new reformy idea called “the opportunity culture.” The bottom line is that if you are in the top 25% of teachers, determined by test scores, then you should teach larger classes and get paid more. This is Bill Gates’ and Michael Bloomberg’s dream. Nancy is at her best in this column. You
EduShyster: The Insidious Mission of TFA
In an unusual turn, EduShyster writes a serious article about the increasingly insidious role played by Teach for America today. The organization began with the laudable goal of supplying teachers to schools where there were chronic shortages. However, it has become a mainstay of the privatization movement, staffing charters that open as public schools close. She warns: “By fueling charter expa
Diane in the Evening 7-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Breaking News: AP Says Tony Bennett Rigged Indiana Grades to Favor a Charter SchoolAccording to the latest reports from Indiana, the Associated Press obtained emails showing that State Superintendent Tony Bennett (then of Indiana, now Florida) changed the grading system to make sure a particular charter school got an A. The school