Latest News and Comment from Education

Show All

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Nite Cap 12-4-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."


A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP


 mark as read

Broken communities -> disconnected students = skyrocketing truancy rates Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Broken communities -> disconnected students = skyrocketing truancy rates: Broken communities -> disconnected students = skyrocketing truancy ratesFrom 2013 “Halve the Gap” report on disconnected youthAccording to a new study to be unveiled Thursday, Chicago and Illinois school dropout rates appear to be declining, but truancy and chronic truancy are dramatically escalating.The study, by Dr. Andrew Sum of Boston’s Northeastern University, will be presented at a forum which will also feature panelists from CPS, the state legislature, and
3min 
John Kuhn: Our Kids -- Coddled or Confident? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
John Kuhn: Our Kids -- Coddled or Confident? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Kuhn: Our Kids -- Coddled or Confident?By Anthony Cody on December 4, 2013 5:19 PMGuest post by John Kuhn. Frank Bruni recently wrote an article for the New York Times in which he argued that American children are coddled. In related news, Frank Bruni apparently doesn't know any poor children.I'm not as upset about the Bruni column as many of my friends because he's right about a subset of American kids. We do have coddled children. But we also have hungry children. Bruni comes off as strangely unc
26min 
Petrilli’s Hammer & the poverty has nothing to do with PISA argument | School Finance 101
Petrilli’s Hammer & the poverty has nothing to do with PISA argument | School Finance 101: Petrilli’s Hammer & the poverty has nothing to do with PISA argumentPosted on December 4, 20130       Rate ThisMike Petrilli over at TB Fordham has made his case for why differences in national economic context do little to substantively explain variations in PISA scores.He frames his argument in terms of Occam’s Razor, as if to sound well informed, deeply intellectual and setting the stage to share profound logical argument, summarized as follows:“among competing hypotheses, the hypothesis with
28min 

TODAY

The Education You Deserve | EduShyster
The Education You Deserve | EduShyster: The Education You Deserve An open letter to my students at a “no excuses” charter school in Boston…By Barrett SmithLast month I resigned from my position as a tutor and teaching assistant at a “No-Excuses” Charter School in Boston. What follows is an open letter to my students.First, I need to get something off my chest. I came to your middle school for some
by mike simpson / 2h 
The Digitally Literate Teacher
The Digitally Literate Teacher: The Digitally Literate TeacherDigital LiteracyI was reading my Twitter list of “Key Educators” and came across a question, “what does it take for a teacher to be digitally literate?” I thought about this for a bit and came up with a list of competencies which would make a teacher digitally literate in my opinion. This list is not intended to be complete, merely a st
by mike simpson / 2h 
Tribune cartoon castrates public employees | Reclaim Reform
Tribune cartoon castrates public employees | Reclaim Reform: Tribune cartoon castrates public employeesPosted on December 4, 2013by Ken PrevitiBe offended by the word castration. The Tribune editorial cartoon demonstrates that the entire so-called pension crisis is/was never about pensions. The editorial cartoon was meant to offend and humiliate you.Yesterday the Democratic controlled super-majori
by mike simpson / 3h 
Mother Crusader: SSSHHHHH! Statewide Charter Applies For Expansion, Doesn't Tell 20 Districts It Serves...
Mother Crusader: SSSHHHHH! Statewide Charter Applies For Expansion, Doesn't Tell 20 Districts It Serves...: SSSHHHHH! Statewide Charter Applies For Expansion, Doesn't Tell 20 Districts It Serves...On October 5th, 2013 the Hatikvah International Academy Charter School submitted an expansion request to the New Jersey Department of Education. You can read or download the application here.The expansio
by mike simpson / 3h 
12-4-13 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: What Does the PISA Report Tell Us About U.S. Education?When the OECD releases the PISA report every three years, many people use the ranking to claim public education in the U.S. is failing and push their corporate education reform agenda. But looking at the data, lessons that can be learned from the highest performing countries point in a completely different direction. For more i
by mike simpson / 3h 
12-4-13 Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: Google Glass IncidentA few months ago, Cecilia Abadie, a computer technician , got a citation for allegedly "using" a google glass while driving. She claimed that the google glass only turned on when she looked up at the officer.  At first the officer was suspicious of Abadie driving 80 mph on a 65 mph freeway. But the officer then saw she was wearing a google
by mike simpson / 4h 
Common Core Webinar Series - Advocacy - National PTA
Common Core Webinar Series - Advocacy - National PTA: Common Core Webinar SeriesThis four-part webinar series is designed to educate parents on the Common Core State Standards and empower them to support the transition at school and at home. The webinars highlight three key principals:We need clear, consistent and rigorous standards across the country to ensure all students—regardless of their zip
by mike simpson / 4h 
Glenda Ritz says movement afoot to oust her as ed board chairwoman
Glenda Ritz says movement afoot to oust her as ed board chairwoman: Glenda Ritz says movement afoot to oust her as ed board chairwomanState Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz speaks during the Indiana State Board of Education meeting at the Indiana Government Center South, Wednesday, November 13, 2013. The State Board of Education voted Wednesday to shift Indiana's A-F grading system
by mike simpson / 5h 
12/4/2013 – Ensuring Quality Teachers
12/4/2013 – Ensuring Quality Teachers: Time To Change The Way We Ensure Quality TeachersBy Jeff Bryant“The agenda [Arne] Duncan ‘began to advance in 2009 has now hit serious roadblocks’ … Particularly anger-inducing has been the way the Duncan/reform agenda has faltered on the need to expand access that poor and language-minority kids have to the best teachers … The idea of getting more successful
by mike simpson / 5h 
Young Men of Color Leading in the Classroom | ED.gov Blog
Young Men of Color Leading in the Classroom | ED.gov Blog: Young Men of Color Leading in the ClassroomPosted on December 2, 2013 by Alejandra CejaThe Life and Times of Jose VilsonGrowing up in San Luis, Ariz., a town located near the Mexican border, Jorge Ontiveros never imagined he’d want to become a middle school teacher. His goal was to “follow the money” and become a lawyer or businessman, jus
by mike simpson / 5h 
President Barack Obama Speech 12/4/2013 on economy and where we are...
by mike simpson / 5h 
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: No Tolerance for Zero Tolerance
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: No Tolerance for Zero Tolerance: No Tolerance for Zero ToleranceFinally, it appears that school districts are rethinking their Zero Tolerance policies. Many of us have been arguing for years that ZT does little to reduce school violence and does great harm to the culture and content of schools. Now, according to the New York Times, cities and school districts around
by mike simpson / 6h 
12-4-13 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): More on Failing Writing, and StudentsThroughout the 1980s and 1990s, I taught English in the rural South Carolina high school I attended as a student. Many of those years, I taught Advanced Placement courses as part of my load (I taught all levels of English and usually
by mike simpson / 6h 
CA School Sells Data for Money to Cover Arne Duncan Visit | Truth in American Education
CA School Sells Data for Money to Cover Arne Duncan Visit | Truth in American Education: CA School Sells Data for Money to Cover Arne Duncan VisitFiled in Privacy/SLDS by Shane Vander Hart on December 4, 2013 • 0 Comments654Arne Duncan at Castle Park Middle SchoolThe San Diego Reader reports that Castle Park Middle School in Chula Vista, CA (part ofSweetwater Union High School District) spent well
by mike simpson / 6h 
Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, December 4, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: U.S. educators hope to learn from world test resultsEducation HeadlinesWednesday, December 4, 2013FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.School merger petition onVolunteers throughout the Tuolumne County are gat
by mike simpson / 6h 
Federal Register Notice Spells Out Arne Duncan’s Priorities | janresseger
Federal Register Notice Spells Out Arne Duncan’s Priorities | janresseger: Federal Register Notice Spells Out Arne Duncan’s PrioritiesPosted on December 4, 2013 by janressegerHave you, by chance, found yourself wondering if it can really be true that the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama is actively supporting school privatization through the expansion of charter schools?  Maybe
by mike simpson / 6h 
Sneak Preview: How Citizens Can Hold Teach For America Accountable | Cloaking Inequity
Sneak Preview: How Citizens Can Hold Teach For America Accountable | Cloaking Inequity: Sneak Preview: How Citizens Can Hold Teach For America AccountableFollowing the comprehensive 2010 National Education Policy Center (NEPC) TFA brief (See Teach For America: A review of the evidence (The research that TFA loves to hate…), we received many requests for input from parents and educators across the
by mike simpson / 6h 
▶ "All In" with Chris Hayes PISA Segment - Derrell Bradford (B4K), AFT Pres Randi Weingarten, and Sabrina Joy Stevens
▶ "All In" with Chris Hayes PISA Segment - YouTube:  Derrell Bradford of Better Education for Kids (B4K), AFT President Randi Weingarten, and Sabrina Joy Stevens discuss the release of the the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's PISA results. 12/2/13
by mike simpson / 7h 
12-4-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: We Have a New Seattle School BoardI attended the Oath of Office ceremony this afternoon for our two new and one returning Board members.  It had all the usual trappings; family, supporters and a fair number of staff.  There were speeches (mercifully brief) but, from talking to others, there is one person who stood out to many of us.I think I'll write this thread as
by mike simpson / 7h 
New Financial Aid Toolkit Part of Department’s Efforts to Improve College Access and Affordability | U.S. Department of Education
New Financial Aid Toolkit Part of Department’s Efforts to Improve College Access and Affordability | U.S. Department of Education: New Financial Aid Toolkit Part of Department’s Efforts to Improve College Access and AffordabilityDECEMBER 4, 2013Contact:   Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov The U.S. Department of Education announced today the launch of an online "one-stop shop" ai
by mike simpson / 7h 
Detroit Bankruptcy Ruling Could Set Pension Precedent - Teacher Beat - Education Week
Detroit Bankruptcy Ruling Could Set Pension Precedent - Teacher Beat - Education Week: Detroit Bankruptcy Ruling Could Set Pension PrecedentBy Stephen Sawchuk on December 4, 2013 10:28 AMBy guest blogger Katie AshThis post originally appeared on the District Dossier blog.Detroit has become the largest municipality in the United States to enter bankruptcy, being declared 'insolvent' by U.S. Bankrup
by mike simpson / 7h 
Cashing in on Kids: 139 ALEC Bills in 2013 Promote a Private, For-Profit Education Model | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!
Cashing in on Kids: 139 ALEC Bills in 2013 Promote a Private, For-Profit Education Model | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Cashing in on Kids: 139 ALEC Bills in 2013 Promote a Private, For-Profit Education ModelFiled under: ALEC,Vouchers — millerlf @ 10:08 am by Brendan Fischer [1] — July 16, 2013 – 7:55amDespite widespread public opposition to the education privatization agenda, at le
by mike simpson / 7h 
Time Once Again for the Annual Misinformation Campaign About American Education!
Time Once Again for the Annual Misinformation Campaign About American Education!: Time Once Again for the Annual Misinformation Campaign About American Education!Today has been designated as "PISA Day" by the U.S. Department of Education and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)—the day that results of the 2012 math, reading and science tests are released by th
by mike simpson / 7h 
Morning Wink 12-4-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS mark as readLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-4-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Parent to Commissioner Nicastro: Please Do Not Privatize Kansas City Public SchoolsThe following comment was posted on the blog:   As a parent in the Kansas City Public Schools who
by mike simpson / 8h 
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-4-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Parent to Commissioner Nicastro: Please Do Not Privatize Kansas City Public SchoolsThe following comment was posted on the blog:   As a parent in the Kansas City Public Schools who has been fighting from the trenches the last 3 years, I’m thrilled to see Missouri on your blog. Dr Nicastro’s true stripes are starting to show. Below
by mike simpson / 8h 
12-4-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Video: “The World Outside My Window – Time Lapse of Earth from the ISS”I’m adding this video to The Best Images Taken In Space:by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h The Best Places To Find The Most PopularI periodically post “most popular” lists of websites (and books) that I think educators might find useful. Of course, there are a numbe
by mike simpson / 8h 
12-4-13 Fred Klonsky | Running for our pensions. | VOTE 4 Fred Klonsky
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: It’s the Democrats, stupid. And the Republicans, if they mattered.  Democrat Kelly Cassidy was for it before she was against it before she was for it. Democrat Toni Berrios was for it before she got primaried and voted against it.   Will Guzzardi’s primary challenge is the reason Berrios flipped. Ther
by mike simpson / 8h 
12-4-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: 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
by mike simpson / 8h 
12-4-13 Wait What?
Wait What?: Did you see the “For Sale” sign that they Malloy Administration put up?The evidence continues to surface… Since Governor Malloy and the Connecticut General Assembly changed the law to allow individuals to donate larger amounts of money to the respective State political parties, the funds have been flowing in to the Democratic State Central Committee courtesy of those who do business wi
by mike simpson / 8h 
12-4-13 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: New SAT delayed to 2016The new version of the SAT college admissions exam that was due to be unveiled in 2015 is now being delayed until spring 2016. David Coleman, the president of the College Board, the nonprofit organization that owns the SAT, sent the following e-mail to College Board members about the delay: Dear Members, I want to provide […]    by Valerie Strauss / 4h hide
by mike simpson / 8h 
The Third-Grade Crackdown Club - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
The Third-Grade Crackdown Club - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: The Third-Grade Crackdown ClubBy Nancy Flanagan on December 4, 2013 9:14 AMThey're at it again in my home state, Michigan--trying to pass, this afternoon, a bill mandating retention for third graders who aren't reading up to snuff. I'm dusting off and updating a piece from February, 2012--with some new links and r
by mike simpson / 8h 
12-4-13 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: A Common MisCOREception?I’m having a difficult time understanding the argument against the actual CCSS. I’m not referring to HOW they were developed, or ARE financed, but the case against using the anchor standards as a guide for lesson planning. Basically, there are four anchor standards, each provided in length below. As a social studies teacher, I cannot […]by Angel Cintron Jr
by mike simpson / 8h 
12-4-13 With A Brooklyn Accent - My Personal Stake in Defending Teachers
With A Brooklyn Accent: My Personal Stake in Defending TeachersMy parents, children of immigrants who became public school teachers, were harder working and more capable than any wealthy and prominent people I met in my journey from Brooklyn streets and schoolyards to an Ivy League college and a Professorship at Fordham. And so is my wife Liz, a public school principal. Attacking the dignity and i
by mike simpson / 8h 
12-4-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Did De Blasio Interview Kaya Henderson To Be The Next NYCDOE Chancellor?On the heels of Bill de Blasio's flip flop over wanting an open process for the picking of the chancellor comes this doozy from the NY Times:In recent weeks, Mr. de Blasio and his team have reached out to Dr. Starr, the superintendent of the Montgomery County school district, and Kaya Henderson, chancell
by mike simpson / 8h 
Teachers Unions Say 'Don’t Blame Us' [Video] - NASDAQ.com
Teachers Unions Say 'Don’t Blame Us' [Video] - NASDAQ.com: Teachers Unions Say 'Don’t Blame Us' - Presented by: The Aol. On NetworkAmerican Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on why the teachers aren’t the reason student test scores are lagging. Photos: Associated PressRead more: http://www.nasdaq.com/video/teachers-unions-say-don-t-blame-us-518035480#ixzz2mW9rJBDw
by mike simpson / 8h 
Is a Teachers’ Spring Coming? | Dissident Voice
Is a Teachers’ Spring Coming? | Dissident Voice: Is a Teachers’ Spring Coming?by Myles Hoenig / December 3rd, 2013The PISA scores are out and American students are ranking pretty low.  All who follow the corporate line are up in arms and blaming our educational system. For once they are right. Although American students have never scored high in these international tests, it only goes to show that
by mike simpson / 9h 
Teacher-Led Initiative Helps California School Double Its Graduation Rate | NEA Today
Teacher-Led Initiative Helps California School Double Its Graduation Rate | NEA Today: Teacher-Led Initiative Helps California School Double Its Graduation RateDecember 4, 2013 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, NEA Priority Schools Campaign, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Cindy LongFor anyone who still needs proof that giving teachers a voice raises student achievement, March Mountain Continuat
by mike simpson / 9h 
Student Conduct Regulations, 1859 and Now |
Student Conduct Regulations, 1859 and Now |: Student Conduct Regulations, 1859 and NowDecember 4, 2013 in StudentsBoth the City University of New York and Cooper Union are currently considering sweeping changes to their codes of student conduct, changes which — if recently circulated drafts are implemented — would dramatically curtail students’ expressive rights at those institutions.Actually, tha
by mike simpson / 9h 
A Few Additional Points About The IMPACT Study
Shanker Blog » A Few Additional Points About The IMPACT Study: A Few Additional Points About The IMPACT StudyPosted by Matthew Di Carlo on December 4, 2013The recently released study of IMPACT, the teacher evaluation system in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), has garnered a great deal of attention over the past couple of months (see our post here).Much of the commentary from the sys
by mike simpson / 9h 
NYC Educator: You Teachers Cannot Be Trusted. Or Compensated.
NYC Educator: You Teachers Cannot Be Trusted. Or Compensated.: You Teachers Cannot Be Trusted. Or Compensated.That's why Reformy John King decreed that you need to be observed 4-6 times per year. After all, who knows what the hell it is you do in that classroom if you aren't under constant surveillance? Bill Gates liked to say that administrators could only visit classrooms once per year. That is,
by mike simpson / 9h 

YESTERDAY

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 12-3-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
Nite Cap UPDATEUPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATECORPORATE ED REFORMThe common core is NOT the answer to low PISA scores.Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle, Dec 3, 2013The media has learned nothing from the extensive research done on international test scores in the last decade ("U.S. Students Get Stuck in Middle of the Pack on OECD Test," December 3). Study after study shows that the stronges
by mike simpson / 20h 
Delegates to the 2014 U.S. Senate Youth Program - Year 2013
Delegates to the 2014 U.S. Senate Youth Program - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces CaliforniaDelegates to the 2014 U.S. Senate Youth ProgramSenator Sabrina Mia Van Zuiden sounds good!SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that two academically accomplished and civically active high school students will repres
by mike simpson / 23h 
Common Core education supporters want Obama administration to shut up - Washington Times
Common Core education supporters want Obama administration to shut up - Washington Times: Common Core education supporters want Obama administration to shut upCOMMENTS (16)SIZE: + / -PRINT| REPRINTSShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on google_plusone_shareShare on redditShare on linkedinShare on stumbleuponShare on emailMore Sharing ServicesBy Ben Wolfgang-The Washington TimesMonday, December
by mike simpson / 23h 
Nite Cap 12-3-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP mark as readCarerruption | EduShysterCarerruption | EduShyster: Carerruption How can something so wrong feel so righteous?For far too long, three little words have been holding back the adult interests that long to put students first. What are t
by mike simpson / 23h 


Posted by at