Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 2-5-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2





Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE




Standard & Poor's -- No standards but a lot of folks made poor

Forget for a brief moment that the current Illinois teacher-pension crisis is a manufactured one, caused primarily by the state's inability or unwillingness to raise enough revenue to make it's necessary contribution to the pension fund. Forget also for a brief moment, that the state legislature grabbed millions from that fund, into which retirees had been paying out of their take-home pay for decades and used that money to pay off other debts.

Let's look for a moment instead at how the threat by Gov. Quinn, and other Dems,of a reduced state credit rating by Standard & Poor's, was used to try and steamroll the legislature into passing SB1. That bill 

Week 19 2013: Public Speaking

19signs
For reasons I’m not going to go into, many of my plans for the classroom did not come to fruition. The one lesson I did manage to teach my students though, was just FABULOUS!
First, I must thank Andrew Dlugan at the Six Minutes site. This site is a great resource on public speaking and presentations for adults, but much of the material is accessible enough to use with older children (10+ years) with some modification. I wanted to prepare students to create and deliver persuasive speeches. To do this, I looked for resources on the three elements of persuasion; ethos, pathos, and logos. The article at Six Minutesseemed the best for my purposes. I asked some questions , and Mr. Dlugan contacted me via email when he heard about what I was planning to do. I found him to be quite helpful, and generous in his materials. I did end up re-writing a bit to make the language more accessible to my students, and to give them time for a response so I 










Video: “The Chinese New Year: From Fear to Festivity”

The Chinese New Year: From Fear to Festivity is the title of this video from English Central that I’m adding to The Best Resources For Chinese New Year.
More importantly, though, it’s the first English Central video that I’m embedding in my blog. It’s easy to do, and I just learned it was possible through David Deubelbeiss’ blog — check out his post with screenshots.




Heart Matters When You Speak


Excerpt from my latest at The Future of Teaching:
Instead, what the audience got that night was me speaking from the heart. Sure, I prepared, but I hoped to convey the passion and love I have for teaching as I do in conversations with you, or in my own writing. Sometimes, while striving for perfection, we forget the delicate balance between divinity and humanity. What makes any “talk” we give isn’t knocking out the “umms” and “errs” from our speech, standing up straight, or speaking in a slow ans steady tone. It’s the connection we make with people who listen to us. We have an opportunity every day to speak to people and make an impact one way or the other about them. These young people will have an idea they’d like heard, and you might be their first audience member.
To read more, click here. Read. Share. Comment. Thanks!
Jose, who wants you to listen more than speak this week, please …


Profiles in Courageousness The PDF

I have been pushing the Amazon.com Kindle version of Profiles in Courageousness for awhile now and I think some people may have mistakenly believed they needed a Kindle to revel in my inspirational story.  I noticed this because when I compared my sales to J.K. Rowling, I am definitely trailing the Harry Potter books.  If you go tohttps://www.ebookit.com/books/0000002060/Profiles-In-Courageousness.html you can download the book in PDF format.

I'm starting to get a bit arrogant about the quality of this book because two great authors have recently read my eBook and gave it rave reviews.


@SrWHOfficial called the book "Profiles is pretty damn funny."   You can find out about his great book here



District to Hear Update on Possible School Closures Thursday
Patch.com
The Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education on Thursday will hear an update on the district's plans to close 11 under-enrolled elementary schools. James W. Marshall is one of the schools on that list, and a meeting was set to be held ...

Parents File Lawsuit Against Gov. Cuomo For Ed Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 5, 2013 Contact: Mona Davids, NYC Parents Union, (646) 481-5760 Sam Pirozzolo, Community Education Council 31, (917) 533-3437 New York City Public School Parents File Lawsuit Against Governor Cuomo and Education Commissioner King For Punishing Public School Students  Today, New York City parents, represented by attorney Michael Rebell, filed a lawsuit against Governor [...]



WASHINGTON — In what was described as a major impetus to redesign higher education, a new Gallup poll released Tuesday found that most Americans — 71 percent — view higher education as important to a person’s financial security in the future, but that 74 percent also thought higher education was unaffordable for everyone


“Boston Leader Connects Parents to Learning”

Boston Leader Connects Parents to Learning is a pretty interesting article about the person in charge of the Boston school district’s parent involvement program.
Here’s an excerpt:
This laser focus on broader districtwide goals means Boston has avoided the pitfalls of similar family-related offices in many other districts, where schools become caught up in what experts call “random acts of family engagement,” says Karen L. Mapp, a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the director of its education policy and management program. “In Boston public schools, we really see that family engagement is a strategy 

S.128: Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

S.128: Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:


Student Bill of Rights



Bill Introduced: S.128 Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve education and prevention related to campus sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Bill Introduced: H.R.379 Fiscal Fairness Act

To amend section 1120A(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to assure comparability of opportunity for educationally disadvantaged students.

Bill Introduced: H.R.378 Student Bill of Rights

To provide for adequate and equitable educational opportunities for students in State public school systems, and for other purposes.


Yesterdays New Bills

S.88: 21st Century Charter School Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
S.88: 21st Century Charter School Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: *TONITE'S NEW LAWS ARE ENTHUSIASTICALLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY * Bill Introduced: S.88 21st Century Charter School Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 6 minutes ago A bill to amend the public charter school provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. Bill Introduced: H.R.359 Center to Advance, Monitor, and Preserve University Security Safety Act of 2013 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 6 minutes ago To ... more »



Michigan Tea Partier: Charter Schools Are for Kids From "Ethnically Challenged Families" | Mother Jones

Michigan Tea Partier: Charter Schools Are for Kids From "Ethnically Challenged Families" | Mother Jones:


Michigan Tea Partier: Charter Schools Are for Kids From "Ethnically Challenged Families"

| Mon Feb. 4, 2013 9:03 AM PST


Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991


A few weeks ago, the Michigan chapter of Americans for Prosperity, the Koch-backed conservative advocacy group, held a "citizen watchdog training" in a suburb of Detroit. The training was billed as a workshop for regular folks to learn "the best tools and techniques in investigative journalism, social media, and opposition research." Featured speakers—including local activists, conservative state legislators, and Scott Hagerstrom, AFP-Michigan's director—would also speak about efforts to "reform" Michigan's schools.
Among the AFP set, reforming public schools usually means converting them into non-union, privately-run charter schools. Nationally, AFP is a vocal proponent of charters and "school choice." And at the Michigan citizens training, one of the featured speakers, Norm Hughes, a member of the North Oakland Tea Party Patriots, offered this take on charters:
Kids aren't going to charter schools if they're "A" students. They go to charter schools because they're failing students and, by and large, the charter schools have a higher percentage of poor families, ethnically challenged families…
Ethnically challenged? Hughes did



Parents Across America statement in support of Portland student test boycott | Parents Across America

Parents Across America statement in support of Portland student test boycott | Parents Across America:


Parents Across America statement in support of Portland student test boycott

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 2-5-13 #SOSCHAT #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




Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 2-5-13 #soschat #edreform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 41 minutes ago
*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* PSAT for 2-5-13: Fight the tests – and school closings by admin The enemy has us fighting on at least two fronts: school closings and testing. [image: psat_logo]Most of the time, the two things are completely connected. Low test scores – which are most closely related to economic status - provide corporate reformers with the excuse to close schools. This year CPS has changed it up a bit by crying poor and “underutilized” using a bunch of data (100,000 “lost” city children, 50% empty schools) that is just as fishy as the test scores. Th... more »

Pending Amendment to Indiana SB 193 Requires Public Input on Common Core | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Pending Amendment to Indiana SB 193 Requires Public Input on Common Core | Truth in American Education: Pending Amendment to Indiana SB 193 Requires Public Input on Common Core by Shane Vander Hart Joy Pullman writing for the Heartland Institute’s *School Reform News* reported that Senate Bill 193 in Indiana has “morphed” into a bipartisan bid to have Indiana reconsider the Common Core allowing more public input. When 46 states signed the initiative in 2010, few held public hearings. Kentucky even agreed to adopt the requirements for what K-12 kids should know in English and math... more »

A graduated income tax: Giving with one hand. Taking away with the other. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
A graduated income tax: Giving with one hand. Taking away with the other. « Fred Klonsky: A graduated income tax: Giving with one hand. Taking away with the other. by Fred Klonsky [image: g2e22e20000000000008fe0a4d2d3a16b1c041ec1617b42f799a8ac3e92] *Senate President John Cullerton. “More sacrifice from the pensioners.”* I admit that I am a suspicious guy. Especially of politicians. So I was curious about how quickly Senator Dan Biss responded to my question last night: Why aren’t you a co-sponsor of Representatives Linda Chapa-LaVia and Naomi Jacobsen bill to change the state constitu... more »

Mother Crusader: Reformy Cage Match; CER Takes Down CREDO, NACSA, NJDOE And Cerf!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Mother Crusader: Reformy Cage Match; CER Takes Down CREDO, NACSA, NJDOE And Cerf!: Reformy Cage Match; CER Takes Down CREDO, NACSA, NJDOE And Cerf! by darciecima Oh dear! In a press release titled "National Charter Research Misfires On Charter Schools", Jeannie Allen of the Center for Education Reform (CER) puts the smack-down on Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). A national research study across 23 states and DC assessing charter school performance over time makes erroneous conclusions about the impact of charter schools on students, while *ignoring critical dis... more »

NYC Educator: Another Day

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
NYC Educator: Another Day: Another Day by NYC Educator A language teacher and I have a very special relationship. Basically, every time she sees me, she screams at me. I'm no slouch, so I scream back. In fact, we've altogether stopped listening to one another, and when we see each other, we just begin. Frankly, I have no idea what she's screaming about, and since she's not listening to me either, I'm fairly certain she doesn't know what I'm saying either. We make a colorful pair, walking around yelling at one another. Sometimes people think we're married. Why else would we be so a... more »

Petition | PPS and Portland Student Unions: We support your Opt-Out Campaign, keep up the good work! | Change.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Petition | PPS and Portland Student Unions: We support your Opt-Out Campaign, keep up the good work! | Change.org: [image: PPS and Portland Student Unions: We support your Opt-Out Campaign, keep up the good work!] Petitioning PPS and Portland Student Unions PPS and Portland Student Unions: We support your Opt-Out Campaign, keep up the good work! Petition | PPS and Portland Student Unions: We support your Opt-Out Campaign, keep up the good work! | Change.org: 1. 1. 2. Petition by PPS and Portland Student Unions 2. This is important to the futu... more »

Diane in the Evening 2-5-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Who Abandoned Detroit? by dianerav Marcie Lippsett writes about the bipartisan failure to save Detroit. The public schools of Detroit, like those of Muskegon Heights and Highland Park, have been put under the unilateral rule of an Emergency Manager appointed by the governor. In the latter two districts, the public schools were abolished, and the children were given to a for-profit charter chain. In Detroit, public education is being privatized and snuffed out with all deliberate speed. All of these districts are majority black, which perhaps made it easi... more »

Daily Kos: Warnings From The Trenches

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Daily Kos: Warnings From The Trenches: Warnings From The Trenches by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) *A high school teacher tells college educators what they can expect in the wake of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top.* *Reprinted with permission from the January-February issue of Academe, the magazine of the American Association of University Professors* where you can read it online here You are a college professor. I have just retired as a high school teacher. I have some bad news for you. In case you do not already see what is happening, I want to warn you of what to expect... more »

Right-Wing Kicks-off Wisconsin Voucher Campaign Following School Choice Week « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Right-Wing Kicks-off Wisconsin Voucher Campaign Following School Choice Week « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Right-Wing Kicks-off Wisconsin Voucher Campaign Following School Choice Week by millerlf *Following is a news release from the Koch brothers funded organization, Americans for Prosperity.**Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin: AFP Foundation launches School Choice Academy Series, website* 2/4/2013*Juan Williams to headline Green Bay event* MADISON – Today, Americans for Prosperity Foundation – Wisconsin announced the start of their educational series on School Ch... more »

School Tech Connect: Congratulations Are In Order

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
School Tech Connect: Congratulations Are In Order: Congratulations Are In Order by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I'd like to take this moment to congratulate all teachers who have made it into their fourth year of teaching. Already you have spent more time practicing the profession than Michelle Rhee did. I have admitted before on this blog that I myself was just as misinformed and arrogant as Ms. Rhee is after my third year of teaching. I'd like also to congratulate all teachers who have made it to their seventh year.Your experience is longer than Michelle Rhee's teaching e... more »

Does the Battle in Seattle Foreshadow Trouble for the Common Core? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Does the Battle in Seattle Foreshadow Trouble for the Common Core? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Does the Battle in Seattle Foreshadow Trouble for the Common Core? by Anthony Cody Tomorrow is National Solidarity day with the teachers at Garfield High and elsewhere in Seattle, who have stood together in refusing to administer the district-mandated MAP tests. This is hugely important, not only because of the courageous stand of these teachers, but for what it tells us about the highly touted "next generation" of assessments that will accompany the Common Core. *Her... more »

A Digital worksheet is still a worksheet. « My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
A Digital worksheet is still a worksheet. « My Island View: A Digital worksheet is still a worksheet. by tomwhitby I have read what seems like several, but in reality is probably a few blog posts recently that have claimed to have examined technology in schools and found that it has made little difference in learning. Of course many of these speak in generalities lacking specifics other than there is technology and there is a classroom and they observed stuff. When it comes to technology too many believe that by dropping it into a classroom magic happens. Even the most ardent sup... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Banda Speaks Out on MAP

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Banda Speaks Out on MAP: Banda Speaks Out on MAP by Melissa Westbrook The Superintendent issued this statement which has a few puzzlers in it. My comments in red. *Dear Garfield staff and families:* * * *I want to thank you for sharing your concerns about MAP assessments. After careful consideration of what is in the best interest of all of our students across the district, I have asked schools to proceed with administering the MAP assessment as scheduled. *(I don't know if this means the administrators will give the test or if they are ordering... more »

Seattle Teachers Maintain MAP Boycott: District forced to back down: Suspension Threat Verbally Rescinded « Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Seattle Teachers Maintain MAP Boycott: District forced to back down: Suspension Threat Verbally Rescinded « Seattle Education: Seattle Teachers Maintain MAP Boycott: District forced to back down: Suspension Threat Verbally Rescinded by seattleducation2011 This just in:* * [image: opt out] *Seattle School District forced to evade Garfield teachers in their attempt to implement MAP test.* *Quality Assessment Remains out of Reach* *Teachers Maintain Boycott* *District forced to back down: Suspension Threat Verbally Rescinded* Because of Garfield High School teachers’ boycott of the M... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: PTA Implores Love for the Common Core. Why?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: PTA Implores Love for the Common Core. Why?: PTA Implores Love for the Common Core. Why? by stlgretchen Eric Hargis, Executive Director of the National PTA writes in* Don't Politicize the Common Core *in edweek.org: * * Unfortunately, like so many other issues, the Common Core State Standards are surrounded by myths and are being misrepresented for supposed political gain; the incredible value that the Standards provide to parents wanting to be fully engaged in their children's education makes this all the more dangerous and could represent a huge los... more »

Shanker Blog » A Few Quick Fixes For School Accountability Systems

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Shanker Blog » A Few Quick Fixes For School Accountability Systems: A Few Quick Fixes For School Accountability Systems by Morgan Polikoff *Our guest authors today are Morgan Polikoff and Andrew McEachin. Morgan is Assistant Professor in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. Andrew is an Institute of Education Science postdoctoral fellow at the University of Virginia.* In a previous post, we described some of the problems with the Senate’s Harkin-Enzi plan for reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act, based on our own analyses, which yielded t... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Superintendent Banda ordered the administration at Garfield to give the MAP today + Malala Yousafzai - Unstoppable

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Malala Yousafzai - Unstoppable: Malala Yousafzai - Unstoppable by Melissa Westbrook Education matters and there are some in the world willing to fight for it (or die trying). One of those is 14-year old *Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan* who was shot, point-blank in head, by Taliban supporters last year because of outspoken support of education for girls. Her injuries were severe and she could have died. She was left deaf in one ear and has sight problems. But she didn't. And not only is she alive, she's walking and talking. She said yesterday: ... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Education Headlines Tuesday, February 5, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Report questions how California schools managed lands* Education Headlines *Tuesday, February 5, 2013* Kern High School District ready to consider AEDs on its campusesThree months after a 15-year-old Centennial High School sophomore collapsed at school and later died, the Kern High School District has signaled it plans to move forward with placing automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, on every campus. Lodi Unified headed for trialThe Lodi Unified School District has opted to go to trial and declined to pay $4.2 million to t... more »

A Brief Overview of Teacher Evaluation Controversies | PBS NewsHour

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
A Brief Overview of Teacher Evaluation Controversies | PBS NewsHour: A Brief Overview of Teacher Evaluation Controversies BY: SIMONE PATHE AND JAYWON CHOE *While teacher evaluations remain a controversial topic in education reform, the Achievement First charter school in Bridgeport, Conn. uses a model of consistent evaluation, feedback and other incentives to help improve teacher performance.* *Photo by Mike Fritz / PBS NewsHour.* Why is it so hard to determine what makes a good teacher? The answer is both complicated and polarizing. In recent education reform history, judging teach... more »

Interrogating the pension bombers. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Interrogating the pension bombers. « Fred Klonsky: Interrogating the pension bombers. by Fred Klonsky [image: IMG_0036 2] *Interrogating Senator Biss and Representative Gabel on pensions.* The room at the Wilmette Community Center had 200 chairs. Not enough. They had to open up another room and split up the presenters. There were 250 copies of their handouts. They ran out soon enough. The grass roots movement of active and retired public employees, mainly teachers, in defense of their pensions

Charter Schools: A Primer | the becoming radical

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Charter Schools: A Primer | the becoming radical: Charter Schools: A Primer Posted on February 5, 2013 by plthomasedd [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Stakeholders in education include virtually everyone in a democracy—students, parents, teachers, politicians, business leaders, the media, and more. Historically, public education in the U.S. has experienced two continual popular narratives: (1) public schools are failing, and (2) [insert reform here] is needed to overhaul schools for (a) international competitiveness and (b) a stronger workforce. Recently, c... more »

Expanding STEM Education With Teacher Training | NEA Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Expanding STEM Education With Teacher Training | NEA Today: Expanding STEM Education With Teacher Training by twalker *By Cindy Long* Students in Pat Yongpradit’s computer science class at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, work with robots and create mobile games and apps for real-world social causes – like *How to Get A Date With an Environmentalist*, or *Just In Time*, a game about maternal health. “I spend my day inspiring students to dream and create technology to improve our world,” he says. At the same time, he’s broadening participation in computer science t... more »

Ed Notes Online: Parents, Advocates to Protest Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee ’s Right-Wing Agenda At Book Signing Event TONIGHT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Parents, Advocates to Protest Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee ’s Right-Wing Agenda At Book Signing Event TONIGHT: Parents, Advocates to Protest Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee ’s Right-Wing Agenda At Book Signing Event TONIGHT by ed notes online Did you see the disappointing Jon Steward interview with Rhee last night where he had the chance to make her sweat? Here is some retribution. Actually, would have been fun to picket at the Stewart show -- might have spurred him on a bit. *Media Contacts:* Julian Vinocur. 203-313-2479. julianvinocur@gmail.com Dan Morr... more »

Former DeKalb board member on school chief search: Hidden political agendas and dubious choices | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Former DeKalb board member on school chief search: Hidden political agendas and dubious choices | Get Schooled: Former DeKalb board member on school chief search: Hidden political agendas and dubious choices by Maureen Downey Former DeKalb school board member Don McChesney has a new essay on his blog criticizing what he deems the flawed and politically driven process that led to the 2011 hiring of Cheryl Atkinson to lead DeKalb schools. McChesney raises his concerns now because he presumes that the DeKalb board will be embarking on yet another search because Atkinson appears read... more »

Modern School: Fun Story Time’s Over Kindergartners—Time To Write Expository Essays!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Modern School: Fun Story Time’s Over Kindergartners—Time To Write Expository Essays!: Fun Story Time’s Over Kindergartners—Time To Write Expository Essays! by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons The testing mania that has dominated education reform for the past decade has only indirectly affected kindergartners (the federal and state tests do not start until second grade). However, because the stakes for schools are so high (low test scores can mean reconstitution, mass firings of teachers, forced take over by a charter school), curriculum development and implementation at ... more »

The Difficult Role of Grades & Honors in School Life - Bridging Differences - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
The Difficult Role of Grades & Honors in School Life - Bridging Differences - Education Week: The Difficult Role of Grades & Honors in School Life by Deborah Meier Dear Alfie, I follow your argument, nodding my head as I go and then I realize it hasn't "solved" my problem. It's an important way of thinking, but stops short of being a good answer in the daily life of schools. Am I asking for too much? After all, if it's as sensible as you and I think, how come the world is still plagued by its obsession with punishment? "In the long run ..." my mother used to say, "he'll pay for it.... more »

UPDATE: Joy Resmovits: Michelle Rhee Meets Jon Stewart;'You Can't Have No Accountability'; Texas School Funding Unconstitutional: Ed Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Joy Resmovits: Michelle Rhee Meets Jon Stewart; Texas School Funding Unconstitutional: Ed Today: Michelle Rhee On The Daily Show: 'You Can't Have No Accountability' by Joy Resmovits Last night, former Washington, D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee stopped by The Daily Show to promote her memoir, "Radical." *The Daily Show with Jon Stewart* Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook "Radical" traces Rhee's development from her childhood in Toledo, Ohio to the creation of StudentsFirst, the national lobbying group she created in ... more »

Action Alert! Seattle Supe forcing teachers to give MAP test today: Please sign the petition to cancel the MAP test in Seattle « Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Action Alert! Seattle Supe forcing teachers to give MAP test today: Please sign the petition to cancel the MAP test in Seattle « Seattle Education: Action Alert! Seattle Supe forcing teachers to give MAP test today: Please sign the petition to cancel the MAP test in Seattle by seattleducation2011 [image: action alert] This just in: According to sources at Garfield High School, the teachers will NOT administer the test today and many students will not take the MAP test in support of the teachers and with the support of the Garfield High School PTSA. THE BOYCOTT STILL STANDS! *From ... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: My Break With the Democrats - The Daily Beast

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: My Break With the Democrats - The Daily Beast: *Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: My Break With the Democrats*Feb 4, 2013 8:45 PM EST As a lifelong Democrat, controversial education reformer Michelle Rhee never thought she’d support school vouchers. Until she did. In *Radical*, she details her transformation. * The Ann Coulter of Right Wing Ed Reform* - 84** - - - - inShare - - 38 - When I began my stint with the D.C. public schools, I had strong ideas about what education reform should look ...more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-5-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] How to Fix Oklahoma’s Report Cards by dianerav A group of scholars in Oklahoma have reviewed the state’s simplistic A-F report cards for schools and proposed a better way to look at school effectiveness. The Tulsa World provided a link so perhaps many people in the state will see it. Jeb Bush pioneered this grading system on Florida. It puts far too much emphasis on test scores. Three worthy parts of the review: 1. The fact that these scholars did this report matters 2. Good bibliography 3. Conclusion: “T... more »

Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee Update! – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee Update! – @ the chalk face: [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee Update! by Timothy D. Slekar Sorry Jon. I thought maybe you might redeem yourself. I thought maybe you heard me scream FREEDOM! Popout I thought wrong. Just on one single distortion blurted out by the “radical” and you could have ended her miserable career. And I know you know this! The “radical” claimed: “Teachers are biggest IN SCHOOL predictor of student success.” And guess what Jon? In school factors account for maybe 20% of the total p... more »

UPDATE: Why growing concentrated poverty dooms school reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Why growing concentrated poverty dooms school reform: Why growing concentrated poverty dooms school reform Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 5, 2013 at 4:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Until very recently, policymakers ignored the effect that concentrated poverty has on student achievement. Here’s a look at why more attention must be paid to the problem, written by Greg Kaufmann, who reports on poverty for the Nation, and Elaine Weiss, the national coordinator for the Broader Bold... more »

One Teacher's Perspective: Along with Learning, Let's Measure Love!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
One Teacher's Perspective: Along with Learning, Let's Measure Love!: Along with Learning, Let's Measure Love! by Imagine Wisconsin *I hail from Mark Twain country. Thus, a little satire for this week's posting.* * **With Valentine’s Day nearing, my family just took its annual love survey. Using a privately-run, publicly-funded love rating system--my family members and I rate our love for one another using a scale of 1 to 5. While the surveys are done individually and anonymously, the answers are compiled collectively and the results are shared publicly. In a spirit of transpare... more »

UPDATE: Governor Malloy’s attraction to the concept of “MAJOR” initiatives + Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers! - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers! - Wait, What?: Governor Malloy’s attraction to the concept of “MAJOR” initiatives by jonpelto Faced with a projected $1.2 billion budget deficit for next year and $63 billion in overall state debt and unfunded liabilities – giving Connecticut the largest debt burden per capita in the nation – Governor Malloy recently proposed a $1.5 billion initiative for UConn, a program to augment the existing $2.3 billion 1995-2017 UConn 2000/21st Century UConn program that was designed to rebuild, renew and expand the state’s public research ... more »

What If You’re A White Teacher Teaching Black History? [Some Examples] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
What If You’re A White Teacher Teaching Black History? [Some Examples] | The Jose Vilson: What If You’re A White Teacher Teaching Black History? [Some Examples] by Jose Vilson In my last post, I put down some thoughts on Black History Month, something I’ve written about at least once for the last four years. Every so often, I get a question that I ought to put in an FAQ section. For instance: “What if you’re a white teacher teaching about Black history?” I often reply, “Go right ahead, as long as you do it right.” Of course, you want to know what I mean by “right.” Besides the afo... more »

Teachbad Watches Rhee Frontline Documentary | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Teachbad Watches Rhee Frontline Documentary | Mr. Teachbad: Teachbad Watches Rhee Frontline Documentary by teachbad Which sounds better? 1) I’m going to dig up your grand­fa­ther and rape him; or 2) I’m going to dig up your grand­fa­ther and rape him *for the kids*. While they both give me pause, I think #2 sounds *way* bet­ter. Let’s see if we can fig­ure out why. What the two propo­si­tions have in com­mon is the stated intent to per­form a con­tro­ver­sial act of necrophilia. (“Con­tro­ver­sial” is per­haps redun­dant here.) The key dif­fer­ence between them is the addi­tio... more »

Figures…Top Bush Policy Wonk Writes ALEC Education Report and Declares Florida Rocks | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Figures…Top Bush Policy Wonk Writes ALEC Education Report and Declares Florida Rocks | Scathing Purple Musings: Figures…Top Bush Policy Wonk Writes ALEC Education Report and Declares Florida Rocks by Bob Sikes Reports Gina Jordan in *StateImpact*: Florida is the teacher’s pet in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) latest Report Card on American Education. The report ranks state K-12 performance, progress, and reform. Florida comes in 12th in the most recent rankings, but it’s one of the leaders in making progress. Florida is also tied for first overall in policy –... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Panel to Revisit Controversial Tutoring Contract

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Panel to Revisit Controversial Tutoring Contract: Panel to Revisit Controversial Tutoring Contract by Patrick J. Sullivan *The resolution below will be considered at the February 6th Panel for Educational Policy meeting on Staten Island. It is my attempt to put an end to the controversy over the controversial contract for Champion Learning approved at the November 2012 meeting. For background on the contract, see the Daily News coverage by Juan Gonzalez here.* *Resolution Regarding the Rescission of Approval for Champion Learning Center Contract Appro... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Last week's Journey for Justice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Last week's Journey for Justice: Last week's Journey for Justice by Mike Klonsky Popout When some 400 parents and students from 18 cities around the country descended upon the DOE last week, it got pretty good media coverage. Their message to *Arne Duncan* -- school closings, mandated under his Race To The Top program, are disrupting lives and destabilizing neighborhoods and are in violation of Civil Rights law. This piece, by *James Cersonsky*, "Pushing Arne Duncan to Fast-Forward," was posted in The American Prospect. *Tuesday’s hearing elevated ... more »

February 6th: National Day of Action to support the MAP Boycott « Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
February 6th: National Day of Action to support the MAP Boycott « Seattle Education: February 6th: National Day of Action to support the MAP Boycott by seattleducation2011 [image: teacher] On January 10th, 2013 the entire teaching faculty at Garfield High School (with only three abstentions) voted to support a boycott against administering the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). The staff cited the following reasons for doing so: - MAP does not test students on curriculum taught in classroom. - Teacher evaluations will be partly based on MAP outcomes. - Many students, kno... more »

UPDATE: A Whiteous Cause +Let Them Eat Cake | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Let Them Eat Cake | EduShyster: A Whiteous Cause by edushyster2012 *Introducing a new concept: “whiteousness,” the unshakable belief that one knows what’s best for others**, especially those of other races or lower income brackets.* Achievement-gap-measures that are all the rage in education reform circles are often fueled by a sense of “whiteousness.” Today I invite you to ponder one of the great questions of our age: How can I pull down some serious cheddar in the name of the achievement gap? How has the civil rights issue of our time turned out to be the source of so many civil... more »

100 years since the birth of Rosa Parks : blue cheddar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
100 years since the birth of Rosa Parks : blue cheddar: 100 years since the birth of Rosa Parks by bluecheddar “…The driver said that if I refused to leave the seat, he would have to call the police. And I told him, “Just call the police.” He then called the officers of the law. They came and placed me under arrest, violation of the segregation law of the city and state of Alabama in transportation. I didn’t think I was violating any. I felt that I was not being treated right, and that I had a right to retain the seat that I had taken as a passenger on the bus. The time had just... more »

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL #PTchat

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: LOOK FOR MY UPCOMING BOOK IN MARCH, 2013 [image: Ferlazzo200(1)] "Self-Driven Learning: Teaching Strategies for Student Motivation" will be a sequel to"Helping Students Motivate Themselves" Alfie Kohn On Parent Involvement by Larry Ferlazzo Education research/writer Alfie Kohn has just published a two-part series on parent involvement. I admire a lot of his work and he does raise a good point: *What kids need, therefore, are parents willing to question the conventional wisdom and to organize others to challeng... more »

S.88: 21st Century Charter School Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
S.88: 21st Century Charter School Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: *TONITE'S NEW LAWS ARE ENTHUSIASTICALLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY * Bill Introduced: S.88 21st Century Charter School Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 6 minutes ago A bill to amend the public charter school provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. Bill Introduced: H.R.359 Center to Advance, Monitor, and Preserve University Security Safety Act of 2013 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 6 minutes ago To ... more »

SPECIAL SCRAP THE MAP EDITION!!!! Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers! « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers! « Diane Ravitch's blog: Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers! by jonpelto [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Wednesday, Feb. 6th, 2013 is the National Day of Action to support Garfield High School and the other MAP test boycotters who are facing possible 10 Day Suspensions without pay for refusing to force students to take an unfair, counterproductive and bad standardized test. Information about the Day of Action can be found here: http://scrapthemap.wordpress. com/2013/02/02/national-day- of-actio... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Support the MAP Boycott on Wednesday

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Support the MAP Boycott on Wednesday: Support the MAP Boycott on Wednesday by Melissa Westbrook *Wear Red to Support Ed this Wednesday, Feb. 6th.* * * * * * * Scrap the Map! list of actions that day. In Seattle actions will take place at participating schools, including Garfield, Orca, Chief Sealth, and Center School. Scrap the Map Facebookpage. https://www.facebook.com/events/366568146775772/ How to opt your child out (from our friends at the Seattle Education blog). Flyer on other actions. *Some of the prominent organizations and individuals ... more »

solidaridad: Precinct Walking February 9

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
solidaridad: Precinct Walking February 9: Precinct Walking February 9 by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene [image: Robert D. Skeels, a Social Justice Schoolboard Candidate] Remember Robert D. Skeels had Garfield High School's back five years ago when the incumbent and her then VP were trying furiously to give the school away to the privately managed Green Dot Corporation. SeeGarfield HS Parents, Students, and Community Confront LAUSD VP Flores-Aguilar for details. East Los/GHS Area Precinct Walking-Robert D. Skeels for LAUSD School Board by Robert D. Skeels

Study: Does It Really Get Better For Gay Teens? | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Study: Does It Really Get Better For Gay Teens? | toteachornototeach: Study: Does It Really Get Better For Gay Teens? by aristotlethewise *Gay Teen Bullying Study In England Finds It Does Get Better* By LINDSEY TANNER CHICAGO — It really does get better for gay and bisexual teens when it comes to being bullied, although young gay men have it worse than their lesbian peers, according to the first long-term scientific evidence on how the problem changes over time. The seven-year study involved more than 4,000 teens in England who were questioned yearly through 2010, until they were 1... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s memoir: What you can learn from reading it

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhees memoir: What you can learn from reading it: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s memoir: What you can learn from reading it Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 4, 2013 at 5:42 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - - - - Michelle Rhee’s memoir, “Radical,” is coming out Tuesday and you may be wondering what, if anything, you could learn from reading the book. Plenty of things — like, for example, how the first time she fired someone was as a college sophomore while she managed a... more »

Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee – @ the chalk face: Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee by Timothy D. Slekar [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] *Tonight: Jon welcomes author Michelle Rhee. Her new book on education reform is called “Radical.” 11/10c.* I know. I know. Someone has to say it! WTF Jon? Really? You spoke at the SOS rally two years ago in favor of public school teachers. Your mom was a teacher. You have been the lone “media” voice pointing out the ridiculous claims made by the idiots (education reformers) that disparage teachers. And now your going to allow “... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ingraham PTSA Speaks on MAP

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ingraham PTSA Speaks on MAP: Ingraham PTSA Speaks on MAP by Michael Rice January 29, 2013 Dear Superintendent Banda, The board of the Ingraham High School PTSA respectfully requests that the district suspend all MAP testing at the high school level, effective immediately. Our PTSA represents the diverse community of parents, teachers, and students at Ingraham. We want our teachers to have the support they need to teach our students and effective tools to measure academic progress. An overwhelming majority of the teachers at our school have expr... more »

Questions and issues for discussion at the school closure meetings: | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Questions and issues for discussion at the school closure meetings: | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education: Questions and issues for discussion at the school closure meetings: by Kate_Lenox *Why is the district closing schools in the light of the passage of prop 30 and the Governor's new policy initiative to change the way schools are funded? *Sac City is 73% free and reduced lunch students. It could receive an infusion of funds. The district has sighted the Sacramento County Office of Education's requirement that that district have a balanced budget 3 years out or ... more »

Superintendent Apologizes for 'Several Factual Errors' in CFO Interview - Voice of San Diego: Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Superintendent Apologizes for 'Several Factual Errors' in CFO Interview - Voice of San Diego: Education: Superintendent Apologizes for 'Several Factual Errors' in CFO Interview - Story - Comments (11) - Image *(1)* ShareShare PrintCreate a hardcopy of this pageFont Size:Default font sizeLarger font size - Photo by Sam Hodgson Bill Kowba RELATED DOCUMENTS *Kowba Statement re: Stan Dobbs Interview* Posted: Monday, February 4, 2013 12:36 pm | *Updated: 12:39 pm, Mon Feb 4, 2013.* - By *WILL CARLESS* San Diego Unified School District Superintendent B... more »

Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 2-4-13 #soschat #edreform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* The cradle-to-prison pipeline by Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist *Stand for Children-Dallas is part of the Stand for Children-Texas network. The goal of the organizations is to increase access to quality public schools for Texas children living in poverty.* Stand for Children-Dallas recently looked at zip codes with a high number of residents in Texas prisons. It turned out that 10 Dallas zip codes had the largest number within our city. Then the organization looked at data for the high schools in those zip codes. It wanted to see h... more »

It Takes a Whole School: School Librarians' Roles in The Whole Child — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
It Takes a Whole School: School Librarians' Roles in The Whole Child — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]It Takes a Whole School: School Librarians’ Roles in The Whole Child February 4, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers *Post submitted on behalf of whole child partner American Association of School Librarians by Marcia A. Mardis, assistant professor with the School of Library and Information Science and associate director of thePartnerships Advancing Library Media (PALM) Center iSchool at Florida State University* "It takes a whole village... more »

Mother Crusader: An Unbelievable Teacher/Student Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mother Crusader: An Unbelievable Teacher/Student Story: An Unbelievable Teacher/Student Story by darciecima I "like" Humans of New York on Facebook. It is the photography of a guy named Brandon who walks around the streets of the city taking portraits of interesting characters he meets along the way. This morning, the photo and the story behind it took my breath away. photo credit Humans of New York Here's the story. Grab a Kleenex. "I never had any family growing up. But I still went to school everyday. One day, when I was in eleventh grade, my English teacher came up to me an... more »

School Tech Connect: Labor Beat Coverage at Truman

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
School Tech Connect: Labor Beat Coverage at Truman: Labor Beat Coverage at Truman by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Many familiar faces in this Labor Beat coverage of the recent school-closing "hearing" at Truman College. Popout I don't have a good feel for how the subsequent "hearings" are going. I've seen some Twitter comments, but haven't had time to get to another one or read the coverage. My sense is that CPS changed the format to give

Grading Jerry Brown’s Education Agenda

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Grading Jerry Brown’s Education Agenda: Grading Jerry Brown’s Education Agenda by JIM MILLER on FEBRUARY 4, 2013 · 0 COMMENTS in CALIFORNIA, ECONOMY, EDUCATION, UNDER THE PERFECT SUN [image: jerry_brown1f]It’s the beginning of the new semester at San Diego City College where I work, so I thought this would be a good time to evaluate some of Jerry Brown’s bold moves on the educational front. In terms of funding, the passage of Proposition 30 has stopped much of the bleeding in schools and colleges across the state, but it still does not do enough to restore all that has been cut in r... more »

ACTE :: Career and Technical Education Month

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
ACTE :: Career and Technical Education Month: Career and Technical Education Month - Home - About ACTE - Membership - CTE Information - Policy & Advocacy - Events - CareerTech VISION 2012 - Career and Technical Education Month - ACTE National Policy Seminar - 2012 National Leadership Forum - ACTE Events Calendar - ACTE Future Meetings - Publications & E-Media - Vendor Resource Center - Educator Resource Center - Press Center - Awards Program - Webinars - Shop ACTE - Job Bank - [image: Click here to view o... more »

Tension on School Closings - Education Experts

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
- Education Experts: Tension on School Closings By *Fawn Johnson* February 4, 2013 | 8:30 a.m. Give credit to Education Secretary Arne Duncan for showing up at a hearing last week where hundreds of irate students and parents complained that the department's position on closing schools has resulted in harm for low-income students of color. Allegations of civil rights violations and the legal-speak "disparate impact" are too tame to reflect the raucous, angry tone of the meeting. "I came here to demand. I ain't asking for, not a damn thing. I am telling you that I am demanding an e... more »







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