Business Leaders Push More Privatization in Milwaukee
Some critics of my book “Reign of Error” say that “reformers” are not privatizers. Who, me, they say, in all innocence? I invite them to read this post by veteran reporter Bobby Tanzilo in Milwaukee. Here is a city with a thriving voucher program, a thriving charter sector, and a shrinking public school system (that contains disproportionate numbers of students with disabilities and English learne
Chile: The World’s Most Free-Market School System: The Results
Professor Mario Waissbluth of Chile wrote three blog posts previously about Chile’s choice-based free-market schools (see here and here and here). Here he adds a fourth, summarizing the results of recent studies: Previously, I wrote in this blog a 3-part sequence describing the Chilean educational system, its consequences, proposing some ways to run away from this malignant design. Recently, Unive
Parents in San Jose Ask for Your Help in Stopping Rocketship Charter Chain
The Rocketship charter chain is known for replacing teachers with computers, relying on Teach for America to cut costs, and eliminating the arts to have more time for test prep. The chain is backed by the rich and powerful California corporate charter industry, and it is opening more test prep charters across the country. But it is heavily colonizing San Jose, California. The rich entrepreneurs of
Texas Tribune: Consultants Ripping Off Taxpayers $$$
The Texas Tribune is beginning a series of reports about how consultants and tutoring companies are ripping off millions of dollars in Texas, thanks to NCLB. Race to the Top will empower many more scams and legitimate frauds, as companies proliferate that claim to know how to “turnaround” schools, how to train teachers, how to train leaders, how to do everything that schools should know how to do
Parent Groups: Moskowitz March Proves That Charters Are Not Public Schools
Today, Eva Moskowitz closed her Sucess Academy charter schools for the morning to lead a march across the Brooklyn Bridge to protest Democratic candidate Bill de Blasio’s intention to declare a moratorium on charter co-location and to charge charters rent for the use of public space, as the law stipulates. The very fact that Moskowitz has closed her schools to take the children, staff, and parents
Joe Bower Reviews “Reign of Error” LINK ADDED
Reposting because I forgot the link. Joe Bower teaches in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. He blogs and tweets about education with a singular passion for students and learning. In this post, he makes some strong statements about “Reign of Error.” He calls it “The best book on education you can read today.” He writes: “This book was written to challenge those who believe in the corporate reform movemen
Joe Bower Reviews “Reign of Error”
Joe Bower teaches in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. He blogs and tweets about education with a singular passion for students and learning. In this post, he makes some strong statements about “Reign of Error.” He calls it “The best book on education you can read today.” He writes: “This book was written to challenge those who believe in the corporate reform movement. This book was written for those who
Idaho Virtual Charter Outsourced Essay Scoring to India
The Idaho Virtual Charter Academy outsourced the scoring of student essays to India, according to local reports. The company involved, K12, has been criticized for its business practices and its poor academic results; its bottom line is cost-cutting, not academic quality. Its virtual schools typically have high student turnover, low test scores, and low graduation rates, yet the corporation is pro
Geaux Teacher Reviews “Reign of Error”
Lee Barrios in a national board certified teacher in Louisiana who blogs as Geaux Teacher. She writes an open letter to the state legislators, recommending the book as the necessary antidote to the fluff they are certain to hear from Bobby Jindal. She begins; “Dear Louisiana Senators/Representatives: “I just finished reading Reign of Error:The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to
What One Texan Says to Another Texan About the SchoolsToday
I was interviewed by Jake Silverstein of the Texas Monthly and we talked about testing, accountability, poverty, and what’s happening today. It is a very good interview, I think. He asked interesting questions. Funny side note: my birth name was Silverstein but my parents changed it to Silvers by the time I was in kindergarten. I don’t think Jake and I are related because Silverstein was not my re
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Common Core Tests in NY Spur Opt Out MovementThe most amazing thing is happening. The Common Core tests were made so “rigorous” that most students were expected to fail, and they did. Less than a third across the state “passed” the tests because the passing mark was set very high and the content of the test was so challenging that