Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, October 18, 2013

10-18-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:






Video: The Dan Biss exchange. Skokie Organization of Retired Educators. IEA Retired.
Video courtesy of the inestimable Tim Furman. .
Skokie Retired and Senator Biss on pensions.
Over thirty retired and active teachers from the north suburbs descended on Democratic State Senator Dan Biss’ district office Friday afternoon. The issues were pensions. And fairness. And health care. And the Constitution and contractual obligations. “You all claim we are putting the entire cost of pension reform on the workers,” Biss explained. “But that’s just not true. We are taking a balanced
The in box. Statement of Progressive Reform Caucus on City Employee Pensions.
CHICAGO (October 18, 2013)–The Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus released the following statement on Friday. Progressive Caucus members include: Ald. Bob Fioretti (2), Ald. Leslie Hairston (5), Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6), Ald. Toni Foulkes (15), Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22), Ald. Scott Waguespack (32), Ald. Nick Sposato (36) and Ald. John Arena (45).  Chicago’s thousands of employees keep th

It’s becoming more obvious.

“That’s where the money is.”
  Bank robber Willie “the actor” Sutton. Willie ‘the actor” Sutton was one of America’s most notorious bank robbers. Sutton is famously — but apocryphally — supposed to have answered reporter Mitch Ohnstad, who asked why he robbed banks, by saying, “because that’s where the money is.”   The quote formed the basis of Sutton’s law, often taught to medical students. Sutton’s law states that when dia

The in box. Bev Johns: A Congressional gift for Teach for America.
Did you know that Teach for America (TFA) teachers are highly qualified, at least until 2016? In addition to avoiding financial default and re-opening the Federal government, the bill just passed by Congress and signed by the President, contained a special provision just for TFA, SECTION 145. According to POLITICO, “The provision is seen as crucial for TFA to continue placing its teachers in low-i
10-17-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Dan Biss has been quiet lately. We won’t be.  State Senator Dan Biss from Skokie, Illinois. A couple of dozen IEA retirees and active teachers will be in front of State Senator Dan Biss’s Skokie district office tomorrow evening around 4:30. It’s at 3706 Dempster. Why Biss’ office. Biss is a member of