Reader: GERM in Spain
A reader describes the impact of GERM in Spain, where she teaches. The Finnish educator Pasi Sahlberg coined the term GERM in his book “Finnish Lessons.” It refers to the Global Education Reform Movement. GERM refers to interlocking strategies of testing, choice, competition. PISA spreads GERM. GERM turns education into a competition for test scores, instead of a process of human development. “Th
Ohio Parent on State’s Dual System of Publicly Funded Schools
Susie Kaeser lives in Cleveland Heights and is former director of Reaching Heights. She serves on the national board of Parents for Public Schools. She writes: I prefer to ignore charter schools. I know good people who work in them and use them. Charters don’t appear to have much to do with my school district. How much good can they do? How much harm? Reports of fraud, profiteering and failure pu
Gulen Charter Schools Embroiled in International Disputes
Sharon Higgins has followed the expansion of the Gulen charter chain for years. The Gulen schools are now the largest charter chain in the nation. They were founded by allies of a reclusive Turkish cleric, Fetullah Gulen, who lives in the Poconos. She writes: A political crisis has overtaken the Republic of Turkey. Most Americans don’t know that it has a direct relationship to charter school expa
Why Does Chicago’s Michael Madigan Love Gulen Charters?
What a fabulous story! Chicago Public Schools, known for their love of charters, turned down a proposal to open two new Concept charters. The one existing Concept charter school in Chicago had unimpressive test scores. So Concept went to the Illinois State Charter School Commission and won their charters! What a coup! How did it happen? Well, it seems that Concept charters are affiliated with th
Bruce Baker: The Ignorati Honor Roll of 2013: Pundit Edition
Bruce Baker of Rutgers is a one-man truth squad, policing the excessive claims of the “reform” movement. In this post, he begins by defining “Ignorati,” then identifies the pundits who reached the top of his charts. Here is his definition of “Ignorati”: “Elites who, despite their power, wealth, or influence, are prone to making serious errors when discussing science and other technical matters.
Jason Stanford: Time to Investigate Pearson in Texas
Jason Stanford, an independent political journalist in Texas, calls for an investigation of Pearson in Texas. Stanford noticed that New York’s State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman extracted a settlement of $7.7 million from Pearson because of the co-mingled activities of its charitable foundation and its for-profit activities. He believes that is similar problems would be found in Texas. Pea
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-26-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Teacher: Child Abuse in My ClassroomMark Naison, co-founder of the BATs, sent me this story by a teacher: The Child Abuse Imposed by Testing: By Bronx Teacher Chris Whitney I had a student leave my classroom in an ambulance last year during the middle of a practice test. He was having an asthma attack brought on by panic. He kept s