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New Cartoon:Found in a Standards-Struck Classroomhttp://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=854This one received so much comment, I'll mention it again.Teacher Contemplating Common Corehttp://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=851You won't want to miss Duncan's recent remarks:http://susanohanian.org/show_duncan.php?id=1889http://susanohanian.org/show_duncan.php?id=1888http://susanohanian.org/show_duncan.php?id=1887I'm clearing my head tonight with a performance by classical guitarist, Xuefei Yang. I don't know how she did on PISA.Susan\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Drinking the Technology-
How Krugman continues to refuse to address the gap between Obama rhetoric and action, especially when it comes to ed policy, is beyond me. Obama/Duncan and the rest of the pack of ed deformers have spent 5 years pushing the idea that getting higher quality teachers and removing so-called weaker teachers is the answer to the poverty/inequality question. And because the president was willing to assign much of the blame for rising inequality to bad policy.... Whose bad policy? Do you think Race To The Top came from Republicans? Billions of dollars down the tubes to the testing/merit pay/bullcrap
Party MORE. No meeting, just eating - and drinking. O'Reilly's Bar + Kitchen21 West 35th St. (between 5th – 6th Aves.) View this email in your browser Weekly Update #78 December 3, 2013 MORE Holiday Party Check out the awesome video here We have a lot to celebrate! All year we’ve been fighting for better teaching and learning conditions and a more democratic union. Join us for festivities, fun, food, and drinks Friday, Dec. 6, 5-9pm O'Reilly's Bar + Kitchen 21 West 35th St. (between 5th – 6th Aves.) NYC View Map · Get Directions · RSVP on Facebook MORE Hol
DEC 05
Coming to NYC Next Week: Fear and Loathing
NYSED officials continue to add insult to injury giving NYC parents so little warning and holding both forums the same night. What are they afraid of? ... Leonie Haimson I'm surprised they aren't holding these events on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.More from Leonie:Just learned that the first NYC NYSED/Regents forums on Common Core, testing and privacy – of which 16 others have already been scheduled and mo
DEC 04
Principal Uphappy at Cashin Support for Despised Networks as Backlash Against De Blasio Ed Moves Begins
...let's hope this is not another case of come meet the new boss, same as the old boss... NYC Principal Photo from Gotham SchoolsA very concerned principal expresses concern that networks may be staying around given Cashin's statement (State policymaker with a city stake wants to keep networks):Kathy Cashin is a very bright lady. She is also very astute politically. If she is talking about keeping
Teachers Talk Testing Forum at PS 321 a Rousing Success
...and very moving as teachers from the school were joined by MOREistas Sam Coleman and Julie Cavanagh on the panel. Principal Liz Phillips was also on the panel as was well-known college education prof Celia Oyler.Professional film makers filmed the event so I could just sit back and enjoy.Many Change the Stakes people were there too -- the synergy between MORE and CTS, the two branches of what u
DEC 03
Principal Responds to Recruiting Request from College
Subject: RE: Your Assistance is Needed: Identifying Future School LeadersI will suggest folks apply for waivers like the last few Chancellors (and the former State Ed Commissioner, Steiner) who have been invited to address folks at your school Klein Levy, Black and Walcott...Why waste their time actually studying to become a leader when you can do it via nepotism and waivers as NYC has done for
Metro North Wreck: What Would it have cost to put up a "slow speed" warning sign?
Ms. Anders said on Monday that the tracks north of the station did not include any kind of marker telling engineers when to slow down. “Engineers are required to know maximum authorized speeds and speed restrictions as part of their territory qualification,” she said.... NY TimesYes, the engineer should have known. But a simple flashing light would prevent the possibility of distraction. Thus the
Common Core for Infant Future Opt-Outers: Read Ravitch
Mommy engages Max in close reading. No context please.Who is that Ravitch lady who is scaring the beejeezus out of ed deformers?
DEC 02
Ed Notes Learns Identity of next chancellor and police commissioner
And the winner is: Jeff Kaufman, who as a former cop, lawyer and current teacher has the qualifications and the skills to do both jobs - at the same time. Congrats Jeff.
Another No-Nothing NY Times Ed Editorial
Do they read their own paper?... Loretta Prisco on NYT editorial board.@nytopinion calls NYC teachers who work as substitutes "inactive".....Lisa Fleisher, WSJ, tweetGreat catch by Lisa. I tweeted back:@lisafleisher .@nytopinion Good pt- ATRe work full day- some as subs, others replacing teachers who are on leave, etc. NYT ed bd ignorant Loretta Prisco's full comment:There is so much mis
WSJ Reports on Citizens of the World Charter Underenrollment
The school's experience demonstrates that charter schools, which often say parents need more choices, can be stung when parents' decisions don't fall their way. It also bolsters opponents who say that, despite claims of long wait lists and tales of parents craving alternatives, there isn't as much demand for charter schools as supporters say... Lisa Fleisher, WSJ.Lisa Fleisher often writes pieces
My Wife Joins the Fray on Obamacare
My cousin, now living in Israel where I believe there is a national health care system, is a conservative, anti-Obama, and especially opposed to Obamacare. Which I can understand if he was, like my wife and me, in favor of a single payer system -- Medicare for all. I mean, we are pissed too at Obama for allowing the insurance companies to run health care and take their pound of flesh. But he's a c
Teachers Talk Testing @PS 321K, Tues. Dec. 3 - With MOREistas Cavanagh, Coleman and More
Dear Friends and Colleagues,We'll be holding a Teachers Talk Testing Forum at PS 321 this Tuesday, 12/3 at 6:30pm. I'll be speaking - among other great guests - and I urge you to attend if you are able to make it. We'll be looking at the impact the high stakes tests are having on teachers professionally... as well as on our classrooms and students. We'll also look at ways we can help lower the sta
Report from the Banana Republic: Where Does Blame for Derailment Lie?
MTA Board should resign Immediately. But they will just blame the train operator.Well, is it time to officially declare us a 3rd World Country with today's Metro North Derailment? Exactly how do the people in charge of running things get chosen? Political hacksville:MTA Leadership The MTA is governed by a 17-member Board. Members are nominated by the Governor, with four recommended by New York Cit
A Bittersweet Weekend
How to even begin to describe the levels of inspiration that Gene and Loretta provided? Committed educators, representative of the best of NYC and it's radical traditions, wonderful friends offering help and comfort to those around them, people full of humor and the life force... Farewell, brother: you lit the path before us and made it a little easier to go forward... Michael Fiorillo Over 40 yea
NOV 30
Updated: Ruling on Portelos Right to Attend SLT Meetings as Chapter Leader
Jeff Kaufman reports another nail in the rights of the union at EdLawFaqs blog. This ruling impacts on the rights of the teachers to have an effective chapter leader. The fact that Portelos has to hold meetings through Skype and by standing in front of the school should be challenged by the UFT. I think that may be a separate issue.This ruling says: [T]he law is well settled that the courts may no
The Obligatory Thanksgiving Extended Family Photo
This just appeared on Facebook so I might as well publish it here -- and of course it will then reappear on FB and Twitter since I somehow have automated Ed Notes posts to end up on both places. One cousin said yesterday she gets so much FB crap from me she had to block me -- she did not seem to believe me when I said I almost never go on FB -- though I did tonight and friended a former student fr