Claudio Sanchez: The Crisis in Philadelphia Public Schools
Claudio Sanchez of NPR did an excellent analysis of the tragedy unfolding in the Philadelphia public schools. The schools have been under state control for a dozen years. When Paul Vallas was in charge, he implemented a bold privatization experiment, which failed. Now the schools are vastly underfunded by the state of Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Corbett can find any amount of money to give corporat
What I Told Educators on Long Island About Common Core
On Monday, my first outing since I was hospitalized, I went to a meeting of superintendents and school board members on Long Island to discuss the Common Core. I explained why I was uneasy about the hasty implementation of the Common Core in New York, especially the inappropriate rush to test the Common Core standards before teachers had a chance to learn about them, before resources were availab
This Blog: Over 8 Million Page Views in 18 Months!
Thanks to all those who read the blog on a daily basis! The number of page views on the blog passed 8 million just a few hours ago. The blog started in late April 2012, so this is an amazing response, which demonstrates that there was a need for the discussion that happens here. My goal for the blog was that it would provide the information that supporters of public education need so they see that
Brilliant Analysis of US DOE Silly Plans to Re-Engineer Higher Education
Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University, has written an outstanding analysis of the Obama administration’s shockingly uninformed plans to redesign higher education. McGuire notes that Arne Duncan has an annoying habit of trying to marginalize critics by calling them “silly.” If there is anything silly, it is his ill-conceived program to make college more affordable by gatheri
Leonie Haimson Catalogues Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio’s Campaign Promises on Education
Leonie Haimson created a list of the promises that Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio made about education while campaigning. She draws upon various public statements, including his answers to a survey sent to all candidates. Here is another source. This was the forum held by Parent Voices NY at PS 29 in Brooklyn. Mr. De Blasio pledged to eliminate the A-F grading system borrowed fro Jeb Bush. The subject
Anthony Cody: Is Common Core a Fiasco?
Another insightful essay about Common Core by Anthony Cody. His earlier essay–10 Reasons to Oppose Common Core–was widely reposted and tweeted. This is how a fiasco begins, he writes: “The fiasco begins with a grand idea, planned with a bold vision. People set their sights on a goal beyond any they have ever achieved before. They look at failed efforts of the past, attempted by lesser beings, and
What Is It About Billionaires and Privatization?
This is a long article but well worth your time. It seems that EBay billionaire Pierrer Omidyar is underwriting a major new media venture. While he is widely hailed as a “civic-minded billionaire,” authors Mark Ames and Yasha Levine see him as a standard-bearer for what is called neoliberalism, in which free markets rule our lives. Since this will shortly go behind a paywall, read it now. Here’s
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-20-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: As Students Are Buried in Debt, US DOE Pulls in $42.5 Billion in ProfitsThis is an astonishing article. The US Department of Education is making profits from student loans while the kids go deeper into debt. This is 21st century entrepreneuralism at its worst. Shahien Nasiripour of the Huffington Post writes: The U.S. Department of