All Week @ THE CHALK FACE
Education policy “wonks” + pop culture = train wreck
Michael Petrilli, the executive vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute in Washington, D.C., and, according to his profile, “one of the nation’s most trusted education analysts,” apparently has a lot of time on his hands. I’m not against having fun at work, and I even applaud these policy “wonks” attempt at creating a […]
Is California “Common Core Unrest State # 23″?
In response to my post, UPDATE: Common Core Unrest in 22 States, I received the following comment: You should include California. It is the sleeping giant that no one is paying attention to and here is why: First, this past summer, California Republican Party overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Common Core. Based on your above analysis, this […]
The Adventures of Edysseus
Edysseus lived on the island of Paideia with his wife, Sophia, and son, Foiti̱tí̱s. Far away, on the island of Columbia, the “war of the pedagogues” threatened to spread to the peaceful island of Paideia. Although Edysseus tried to avoid entering the war, it was no use, as he had sworn to the gods of […]
Supporting Common Core Is Supporting Entire Reform Machine
Supporting Common Core Is Supporting Entire Reform Machine. via Supporting Common Core Is Supporting Entire Reform Machine.
YESTERDAY
UPDATE: Common Core Unrest in 22 States
On November 23, 2013, I wrote a post briefly detailing the 17 states in which officials (legislators, governors, state superintendents) have formally registered some anti-Common Core (CCSS) intention (e.g., legislation, resolution). Today I will repost the original 17 states and add another 5, to yield now 22 states in which CCSS questioning might well lead […]
Worst Education Op-Ed of 2013?
I know the competition is tense, but just under the wire, I am ready to suggest this is the worst education Op-Ed of 2013: Friedberg: Can American students get smart? I really don’t know what to say except that every point raised and every claim made by Friedberg are so incredibly wrong, I haven’t a […]
DEC 19
Our Dystopia Is Now: The Circle
Our Dystopia Is Now: The Circle (Eggers) and Feed (Anderson). via Our Dystopia Is Now: The Circle (Eggers) and Feed (Anderson).
Center for Union Facts… Yeah, Right.
On December 10, 2013, the deceptively-named Center for Union Facts (CUF) bought a full-page ad in the New York Times in order to tell the public that some of the 2012 US PISA scores are the “fault” of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten. Right there, we begin with stupid. The CUF attacks […]
DEC 18
Today’s Tests vs. “Better” Tests
I sent this letter to the editor (below) in response to Alan J. Borsuk’s article in the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinal. In the article Professor Borsuk laments low standardized test scores and over testing and then simply (with the help of Marc Tucker, CEO and president of the National Center on Education and the Economy) offers […]
Parents Opting Out of Tests: What is Your Goal?
After doing a segment on the local Albuquerque news channel about refusing the state tests, I received a few responses. Most were questions or suggestions for the website, which were all very good. Then, I received a letter that was full of stuff I’ve heard over and over again, and to which I’ve responded too […]
Two-Headed Dragon of Education Policy
Two-Headed Dragon of Education Policy. via Two-Headed Dragon of Education Policy.
2014 Educators’ Agenda
Begin a movement to create and fund Deliver for America, temporary driver pool to replace full-time drivers at FedEx. (See FedEx Celebrating Holidays with TFA Donations.) Call for a nation-wide evaluation of political leaders based on value added methods measuring their positive impact on the people they represent; standardized tests administered for every elected official should include […]
DEC 17
A tenured sociologist gets a bit of the #teacherprep treatment, more like #teacherperp @scottjaschik
In a nutshell, a tenured professor at UC-Boulder is leaving the university because the administration is no longer allowing her to implement a lecture on prostitution that includes a role-play, whereby teaching assistants for the course play dress up as various kinds of “whores” and get interviewed by the class. You know, you’re just going […]
A Teacher’s 12 Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas my students gave to me: A Well Deserved Day Alone On the second day of Christmas my students gave to me: Two Misplaced Gloves and a Well Deserved Day Alone On the third day of Christmas my students gave to me: Three Broken Pens Two Misplaced Gloves and a […]
My December 2013 Michigan Board of Education Testimony
In November 2013, I was asked if I would testify at the December 17, 2013, Michigan State Board of Education meeting. Michigan is considering emulating the New Orleans so-called model Recovery School District (RSD) (including the supposed “parental choice” afforded by open enrollment) as well as using letter grades for schools. Since I could not be in […]
VAMboozled by Empty-Suit Leadership in SC
VAMboozled by Empty-Suit Leadership in SC. via VAMboozled by Empty-Suit Leadership in SC.
DEC 16
The 2013 Legislative Audit of Louisiana Voucher Schools
On December 11, 2013, Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) Daryl Purpera released the 2013 Performance Audit of Louisiana’s voucher program. The purpose of this audit is to inform legislators of the state of the Louisiana voucher program as the legislators consider the actions they might take regarding the voucher program in the upcoming legislative session. I sure […]
To mention or not to mention Christmas. NOT.
I’ve minimized the presence of Christmas in my Kindergarten classroom. And by minimize, I mean no presence. The school is all about it, likely because it’s important to the local community. Probably no one Jewish within miles, but I do wonder if there’re any Muslims in our school. Huh. In any event, no Christmas parties, […]
DEC 15
About Pearson, the Golden Goose State Standards, And Then Some
On December 13, 2013, Pearson, Inc., agreed to pay a $7.7 million settlement for allegedly using its nonprofit, Pearson Charitable Foundation (PCF), to assist its profit-making parent corporation in developing educational materials– including software. In this post, I would like to offer additional discussion of Pearson the For-Profit, Pearson the Nonprofit, and some friends both […]
Hypocrisy, thy name is King
As NYSED Commissioner King’s traveling Common Core forum circus makes its way around the Empire State we are seeing more and more hypocrisy from New York’s educational leader. Example #1: “Special Interests” I have watched several of the forums, read about others, and attended one. At the first forum in Poughkeepsie King called parents and […]
A warning to teachers unions from collaborators in their demise, @teachplus
Teach Plus is a leadership development program (of sorts) for teachers in urban schools. Now, good leadership to me sounds like someone who distrusts party lines and examines issues from all angles. Our faculty was visited by Teach Plus one morning for a brief presentation, a lot of which focusing, oddly enough, on Common Core. […]
Anecdotes on teacher evaluation, horror-show edition @NCTQ
The DCPS IMPACT is considered by many to be a model for the nation, or it was in its heyday just a few years ago. It is now derided, disliked, and distrusted by nearly every DCPS educator with whom I encounter. If not for the impact of IMPACT, namely performance bonuses and the keeping of […]
Do you think charter schools “know how to do middle school really well?”
According to DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson, charter schools “know how to do middle school really well.” When it comes to defining the phrase “really well,” are education reformers basing their narrative on quantity over quality, i.e. proficiency rates versus growth? What do you – @thechalkfacers – think? In this piece, you can compare the data […]
DEC 14
Guess Who Really Wants Common Core Now? Principals!
On December 13, 2013, I received an email informing me that the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has conducted two surveys and has found that “principals overwhelmingly support the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) initiative.” My first thought: “Here we go again.” Another survey (this time two surveys) in which stakeholders forced to implement […]
Faith-Based Education Reform: Common Core as Standards-and-Testing Redux
Faith-Based Education Reform: Common Core as Standards-and-Testing Redux. via Faith-Based Education Reform: Common Core as Standards-and-Testing Redux.
Dear Education Reformers: A Thank You Letter From Any CEO in the Future
Dear Education Reformers, I wish to sincerely thank you for your determination and resolve in implementing rigorous standards in computation and comprehension. Undoubtedly, my current staff is the smartest workforce I’ve ever employed. Each employee has remarkable mathematical computational skills. I’m simply amazed at the their ability to analyze complex manuals and technical reports. Although […
NCTQ’s Free Pass in an Era of Press-Release Journalism
A controversial shock-jock-type right-wing pundit spoke as a guest of a conservative student group at my university a few years ago (she has since returned with less fanfare). When I made a passing comment about her lack of credibility, a student in one of my introduction education courses noted that this pundit had footnotes in […]
DEC 13
Absurdity of reform: Should I laugh or cry?
Not feelin’ too good myself….(Joe Cocker) Seems I got to have a change of scene Cause every night I have the strangest dreams Imprisoned by the way it used to be Left here on my own or so it seems I got to leave before I start to scream But someone’s locked the door and […]
#optout recruiting Hall of Fame: And the winner is?
2013 is coming to an end and we (@the chalkface) would like to pay special tribute to the one individual most responsible for swelling the ranks of the various opt out groups. For example, when we (6 real radicals) formed United Opt Out National over 3 years ago we managed to dig up around 2000 […]
In Memory: Sandy Hook Elementary, One Year After
In Memory: Sandy Hook Elementary, One Year After. via In Memory: Sandy Hook Elementary, One Year After.
AJC Guest Column: Children who are poor need slack, not grit
AJC Guest Column: Children who are poor need slack, not grit (December 2, 2013). via AJC Guest Column: Children who are poor need slack, not grit (December 2, 2013).
GUEST POST: Continu—what? Sara Newell
GUEST POST: Continu—what? Sara Newell. via GUEST POST: Continu—what? Sara Newell.
REVIEW: De-Testing and De-Grading Schools, Bower and Thomas
REVIEW: De-Testing and De-Grading Schools, Bower and Thomas. via REVIEW: De-Testing and De-Grading Schools, Bower and Thomas.
Introducing D.C. Mayoral Candidate Andy Shallal
61 minute interview via the http://rocknewmanshow.net/ Tagged: DC Mayoral Race