Latest News and Comment from Education

Monday, September 23, 2013

9-23-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:




NY Times Hit Piece On Bill De Blasio
Read Alex Pareene's take on the NY Times hit piece on de Blasio as a closet Sandanista.Here's a bit:The New York Times dropped a bombshell last night: As a young man, Democratic nominee for mayor of New York Bill de Blasio was… pretty left-wing. And he supported the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. And he once was in favor of democratic socialism. The Times presents this information as something they unc

Lhota Criticizes De Blasio As A Socialist
Well, if you can't run on issues, you can always red bait:Bill de Blasio’s not ready to overthrow capitalism just yet. Asked to respond to Republican mayoral rival Joe Lhota’s “Democratic socialist” hit, Mr. de Blasio wasted no time firing back, accusing Mr. Lhota of running a typical right-wing smear campaign. “I am not surprised that my opponents will throw labels and call names. That’s a Repub

Bloomberg So Sad He Has To Go
"Bloomberg prepares to depart with all the reluctance of a 6-year-old leaving Great Adventure" http://t.co/rbGXAigLoo cc: @jenchung— Azi Paybarah (@Azi) September 23, 2013

How About NYSED Commissioner John King PROVES He Consults With Parents Over His Education Reform Agenda?
From the Buffalo News:The state Education Department wants Buffalo School District leaders to prove that they offered meaningful opportunities for parents to weigh in on the district’s comprehensive improvement plan and the consolidated application that enables the district to qualify for more than $20 million in federal grant funding.Samuel L. Radford III, president of the District Parent Coordin


Daily Data Tracking
Teach for America corps member Mary Mac Thielman enters her students' daily exit ticket percentages onto the data tracking wall at O.M. McNair Upper Elementary School in Belzoni, Miss.The above photo and text appeared with a NY Post editorial touting the wonders of Teach For America teachers over traditional public school teachers.I want you to take a very close look at the photo.The bulletin boar

Bloomberg Plans Final Destruction Of Zoned High Schools Before He Goes
From the Daily News: In a push that is alarming parents, the Bloomberg administration plans to stop guaranteeing eighth-graders a spot in the city’s remaining neighborhood high schools. “It’s ridiculous to think that children are not able to go to their zoned school automatically,” said Kim Alvarez, who wants the option of sending her daughter Amber, 11, to the local school, Long Island City High
Cuomo's Commission On Government Transparency And Ethics Hides Its Own Expenditures
This is called transparency and ethics, Cuomo-style: New York's latest anti-corruption commission created by Gov. Andrew Cuomo two months ago to root out wrongdoing and promote transparency has no public budget and none of its spending is subject to taxpayer review. But state records and interviews by The Associated Press show taxpayer costs associated with the Commission to Investigate Public C
9-22-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Stephanie Simon Takes On Some Education Reform MythologyThe Stephanie Simon article at Politico on why public schools may not be failing is up now and it is a good one.She busts some cherished education reformer myths in it - including how the Chinese are kicking are asses in tests:A new video about the failures of public schools making the rounds on social media starts by i