Charter Advocate Seeks to Oust Tom Torklakson
California State Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson is one of the best education leaders. As an experienced classroom teacher, he knows what teachers and students need. As a veteran of the Merchant Marine, he has a steady hand on the tiller. As a former legislator, he knows how to work with the legislature. He had the wisdom and foresight to avoid Tace to the Top, knowing that a “win” would c
This Is a Great TV Special about Bipartisan Greed in DC
I saw Bill Moyers interview Mark Leibovich last night, and I was riveted to the screen. I began to understand that the privatization of public education is part of a much larger corruption in our politics. The power of greed is a mighty force. Once let loose on our schools, it will monetize the children. Please watch this when you have a free hour. You will be appalled and informed. And you will b
Kris Neilson on Michelle Rhee: Teachers’ Best Friend?
You will definitely want to read Kris Neilson’s description of Michelle Rhee’s upcoming tour, where she will dialogue with teachers about how to have a great teacher in every classroom. Rhee will hold “teacher town halls” in Birmingham, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. You won’t want to miss the chance to engage in candid dialogue with one of America’s most famous reformers, who will tell you how sh
Bruce Baker: Madness in Philadelphia and Tennessee
Bruce Baker brilliantly explains how absurd the reformy policies are in both Philadelphia and Tennessee. In Philadelphia, teachers are being blamed for a massive deficit that was in fact caused by historic state budget cuts. In Tennessee, the reform plan is to tie teachers’ licenses to test scores, even though only 1/3 teach tested subjects. Baker explains: “The true reformy brilliance here is tha
Charlotte Danielson Says….DON’T DO IT!
This came from a New Jersey administrator who heard Charlotte Danielson speak about how to use her rubric: “At the NJAFPA Conference on May 29, Charlotte Danielson (creator of the Danielson Frameworks for Teaching evaluation system that so many states and districts have adopted) said in her keynote: “Using standardized test scores to assess teachers is indefensible.” Very strong words, considering
Diane in the Evening 8-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Teachers Are Not Robots: Let Me Inspire AgainA teacher wrote this comment about school “reform”: One thing I loved about teaching when I first began, 24 years ago, was the degree of inspiration and creativity I could bring to my lesson plans. It made teaching and being a teacher exciting for me. My excitement was the motivation, it
