A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP
All Education Matters: Interview with Jerry Ashton: Interview with Jerry Ashton by Cryn Johannsen I now consider Jerry a long-time friend. He's interviewed me on several occasions, and I had the pleasure of meeting him when I went to Occupy in NYC last year. In fact, Jerry took me on a tour of the camp, just a week before it was demolished. I am grateful to know Jerry and appreciate his support of my work. Here's my latest interview with him - http://wgrnradio.com/blog/2013/02/15/from-graduating-class-to-indentured-class-will-america-continue-to-eat-its-young/ Check it out. It's... more »
Why Educators’ Wages Must Be Revamped Now | toteachornototeach: Why Educators’ Wages Must Be Revamped Now by aristotlethewise Why Educators’ Wages Must Be Revamped Now By Eric A. Hanushek It is no secret that some school districts spend their money better than others. One can easily find groups of districts with the same student demographics and with the same expenditure levels producing very different levels of student achievement. Put another way, some (many?) districts are spending more than they need to spend, based on what other districts show is possible. Economists would su... more »
Decadent fBillionaires: They walk amongst us: Decadent billionaire Zombies: They walk amongst us By Danny Weil on February 16, 2013 8:19 pm / no comments [image: Mayor Bloomberg Your Money Sucks! (Learn More click picture)] How much more pain will the working class allow the decadent billionaire zombies to inflict on the working class in America? The answer is ssimple: as much as an unorganized working class will allow them. These disaster capitalist zombies are in the captain’s seat, that is for sure. What this spells for Amerrica is a crisis of proportions not even imagin... more »
Is "Scalable" a Code Word for Top-Down Reform? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Is "Scalable" a Code Word for Top-Down Reform? by Anthony Cody About a week ago, John Thompson posted a note in which he conceded that "Educators who oppose the testing mania must admit that our preferred strategies would require high-quality implementation, and neither do we know how to scale them up." *I want to explore this idea of "scalability," because I think we may have a problem here*. As I wrote in a comment to his post, we have been told that the only way schools can improve is... more »
The Weekly Update Part 1: More school closings, the Common Core blasted by one who would know, hedge fund Whiteousness and much, much more « Seattle Education: The Weekly Update Part 1: More school closings, the Common Core blasted by one who would know, hedge fund Whiteousness and much, much more by seattleducation2011 The Weekly Update Part 1: More school closings, the Common Core blasted by one who would know, hedge fund Whiteousness and much, much more *The Weekly Update for all the news and views you might have missed.* There is so much going on in the world of education that t...more »
Even #progressive media can’t report #education in helpful ways, @maddow – @ the chalk face: Even #progressive media can’t report #education in helpful ways, @maddow by Chalk Face, PhD [image: Corporate Media = Corporate Lies] I listened to this segment on satellite radio the other night. Rachel Maddow was talking the President’s pre-K plan. Here’s more about it from the Maddow Blog. At this point, I can’t even discern who the guest was on the show, some dude. He was clearly an economist. He did some study on the benefits of Pre-K as a worthwhile “investment.” I don’t necessarily ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Can't Deny the Truth About Segregating Charters Anymore: Can't Deny the Truth About Segregating Charters Anymore The charter cheerleaders have been telling us, over and over again, that charters are "public schools" that "must take everyone." Too bad for them that the truth keeps getting in the way: Students may be asked to submit a 15-page typed research paper, an original short story, or a handwritten essay on the historical figure they would most like to meet. There are interviews. Exams. And pages of questions for parents to answer, including: How do you inten... more »
From Portfolios to Parasites: The Unfortunate Path of U.S. Charter School Policy « School Finance 101: From Portfolios to Parasites: The Unfortunate Path of U.S. Charter School Policy by schoolfinance101 [image: Slide1] I recall several years ago attending an initial organizing meeting for a special interest group on Charter Schools at the American Educational Research Association. Note to outsiders – AERA has several special interest groups, some research oriented, some advocacy oriented… many somewhere in between. These are member organized groups and many are very small. If I ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Rainier Beach High School Flyer: Rainier Beach High School Flyer by Charlie Mas I got a promotional flyer from Rainier Beach High School. It came on an email from the Rainier Beach family support worker/marketing coordinator Virginia Owens. Here is the flyer: While I support the efforts of Rainier Beach High School to notify families about their programs and to promote them. I support the assignment of "marketing coordinator" duties to someone at Rainier Beach (though I think Director DeBell would be uncomfortable with it). That said, I'm not cra... more »
Diane Ravitch's blog: Mother Crusader Finds Another Smelly Charter Deal in New Jersey by dianerav Mother Crusader has done another smashing job of research, showing how one smart person can accomplish the job of an investigative reporter. Charter advocates like to say they are responding to popular demand for choice, but in Paterson, New Jersey, ther was no popular demand. A charter with no roots in the community and no input community was Ed down by Chris Cerf. A pattern, she says, is emerging. Governor Christie drops in charters where he gets no votes but leaves his solid Rep... more »
Corporations Advise School Closings, While Private Charters Suck Public Schools Away | Alternet: Corporations Advise School Closings, While Private Charters Suck Public Schools Away As charter proponents aim to cash in on major investment returns, Philly braces for a massive schools shakeup. Photo Credit: Flickr.com *February 15, 2013* | *This article has been updated.* On Dec. 13, 2012, Philadelphia became the latest major American city to recommend sweeping school closures for the next academic year. Under this new proposal, a total of 37, or about 16 percent, of the distric... more »
Jersey Jazzman: As Catholic Schools Fall, Charters Rise: As Catholic Schools Fall, Charters Rise by Duke Across the country, *Catholic schools are dying*. And I'm not talking about the elite, country club-ish schools to which people like Chris Christie send their kids; no, I'm talking about inner-city and small suburban parish Catholic schools. As is the case in many businesses on their last legs, the purveyors of Catholic schools are attempting to convince themselves that their biggest problem is marketing. Here in Jersey, the Newark Diocese just hired a layperson to rebrand... more »
Mother Crusader: Paterson Collegiate Charter School Approved. What Now?: Paterson Collegiate Charter School Approved. What Now? by darciecima Yesterday Education Commissioner Cerf approved two new charters for New Jersey. Both will be located in Paterson, where as Jersey Jazzman has reported, some serious reformyness seems to be underway. One of the applications approved, Paterson Collegiate Charter School, is founded by Boston native Steven Wilson who is also the president and founder of a Charter Management Organization (CMO) called Ascend, based in Brooklyn. Ascend licenses...more »
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Allies With Corporate Pals To March On LA Schools | Crooks and Liars: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Allies With Corporate Pals To March On LA Schools 13 comments By karoli ENLARGE [image: Screen Shot 2013-02-15 at 5.02.52 PM.png] As you read this, Michelle Rhee is marshaling the troops to march on for Los Angeles Unified School District students. Because we all know Rhee puts "Students First," right? Here are her public reasons for the march: - To drive voter registration and turnout for school board and mayoral elections - To ... more »
The Weekly Cheddar : blue cheddar: The Weekly Cheddar by bluecheddar Here is another installment of “The Weekly Cheddar” which is my round-up of the major political news of the state. If I’ve left out something, never fear. You can leave a comment at this post about it or tweet something to me at @bluecheddar1. A lot of this Wisco news this week ain’t just bad, it is nasty bad. That’s why I’ll let you know right now that we managed to score some good news too. Look for it at the end of the post. *Scott Walker is playing a shell game with Wisconsin’s healthcare money* The question... more »
Parents Say Possible School Closure About More than Under Enrollment | KTXL FOX40: Parents Say Possible School Closure About More than Under Enrollment - [image: See bio, contact info, and more articles from Luana Munoz] 2 days ago by Luana Munoz Reporter - *Sacramento Unified Considers Closing 11 Elementary Schools* Comments - - Share This Update - ** ** ** SACRAMENTO- Maple Elementary, a school where Latino children are the majority is one of the 11 schools slated to close. During a meeting with the Sacramento City Unified School District, p... more »
Schools Matter: How To Know When Your Charter School Sucks: How To Know When Your Charter School Sucks by Jim Horn Wisdom by Mark Naison: 1. It's leader calls himself/herself a CEO. 2. The CEO's salary is more than three times the salary of the highest paid teacher in the school. 3. The board of the school is full of hedge fund executives [or corporate directors]. 4. Teachers in the school are terrorized and students treated as though they were in prison or on the verge of being sent to prison. 5. The construction company who built the school is owned by a ... more »
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] This Columbia Student Will Not Join TFA by dianerav This is an interesting article by a Columbia student, explaining why he will not join TFA. It is especially interesting because he is a former president of his campus Students for Educational Reform, the nicely-funded baby brother (or sister) of the Wall Street guys’ DFER. Whenever he gets a letter pleading with him to apply for a “transformational” experience, he sends it to his spam folder.* Why, because he went to a public school in Texas and he can stil... more »
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: *"Ethnic" Studies Battles Continue in Arizona: * *Small Victory for Latinos: The Return of Chicano/Latino Studies to Tuscon Schools* Watch 2/15/2013: Banned in Arizona on PBS. See more from Need To Know. Need To KnowEpisode: 2/15/2013: Banned in Arizona“Need to Know’ travels to Tucson, Arizona, where a years-long dispute over a Mexican-American studies program has tensions high; supporters say it has helped re-engage at risk students and improved their test scores. Opponents contend it encourages subversive th... more »
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: roti picture]*The late First Ward Alderman Fred “Peanuts” Roti.* I came to Chicago in 1973. In those days you could go anywhere in the world and if you said you were from Chicago people would open their eyes wide, form their hand into a pretend pistol and say, *“Bang, bang! Al Capone!”* Richard Daley, the elder, had been *Da Mayor* for two decades. The city’s reputation for Mob violence and corruption were even then still well-earned. When I arrived in the city the First Ward alderman was a guy named Fred Rot... more »
‘Whether Or Not You Want To Be In A Gang, You’re In One’ | toteachornototeach: ‘Whether Or Not You Want To Be In A Gang, You’re In One’ by aristotlethewise *‘This American Life’ Harper High School Feature: * *‘Whether Or Not You Want To Be In A Gang, You’re In One’* by Lisa Belkin [image: derrion81]If it had been any other high school, you would know this story by now. Had some other “kind of school” logged a year that saw 29 current and recent students shot, eight fatally, “we would all know the name of that school,” says radio show host Ira Glass in a new episode of “This American... more »
How charter schools choose desirable students: How charter schools choose desirable students Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 16, 2013 at 6:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: (By Matt McClain / For The Washington Post)] (By Matt McClain — For The Washington Post) The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools says this about charter schools on its Web site: *Charter schools are always public schools. They never charge tuition, and they accept any student who wants to attend. Ch... more »
Ed Notes Online: Brooke Parker on Public Schools: What’s Mayoral Control Got to Do with It?: Brooke Parker on Public Schools: What’s Mayoral Control Got to Do with It? by ed notes online Great piece by parent activist Brooke Parker with historical perspective on my old District 14 scandals. One of the funny things I found was how when the attacks on the districts came from the proponents of mayoral control they landed on the black and Latino run districts while white -- very much Hasidic run District 14 which had as big a scandal as one could imagine (and the district UFT people we... more »
OUSD Says No to Renewing EOLA’s Charter, Concerns on Police Chief’s Report - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: An Oakland Unified parent’s wish list for 2013 Friday, February 15th, 2013 at 1:54 pm in No Comments *Stacey Smith is an Oakland school district parent and volunteer who has served on the District GATE Advisory Committee, the school board’s Special Committee on School Based Management, and the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education. What she writes about does not reflect the view of any group.* I know it’s late, but I was just at the ...more »
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Dennis Walcott Proves He Is A Puppet by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Amazing that I and The Crack Team are still able to get these super duper secret emails that Sock Puppet Chancellor Walcott send out to his centurions, er, I meant principals. The emails are now harder to get, yet through quite nefarious mean, still quite obtainable. Attached to the email is a letter to hand to parents for them to prepare for low scores as well. So to summarize, Dennis' email he appears to be greasing the skids for the abject total complete shitty scores the... more »
solidaridad: Community Candidate speaks out against out-of-state billionaires buying elections: Community Candidate speaks out against out-of-state billionaires buying elections by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene Popout Friday, February 15, 2013 Montecito Heights Precinct Walking — Robert D. Skeels for School Board Montecito Heights Precinct Walking by Robert D. Skeels [image: Robert D. Skeels, a Social Justice Schoolboard Candidate]
Schools Matter: Media's Misguided "Miracle" Meme: Media's Misguided "Miracle" Meme by P. L. Thomas Paul Tough has built a career on "no excuses" approaches to teaching "other people's children" in the charter school racket, most recently touting the importance of "grit" (see "Paul Tough Is Way Off-Base. And Stop Saying 'Grit'" by Katie Osgood to understand why Tough is misguided). More recently, David Kirp has offered a call to re-invest in public education, not charter schools, by triggering the same "no excuses" argument embedded in a favorite meme among journalists, the "mirac... more »
Portland public schools teacher's ouster sparks uproar over state tests | OregonLive.com: Portland public schools teacher's ouster sparks uproar over state tests by Special to The Oregonian The recent midyear dismissal of a much-loved Japanese language immersion teacher atRichmond Elementary School in Southeast Portland is fueling a long-simmering debate about teacher licensing tests. Upset parents say the third-grade teacher was one of the school's best but was tripped up by a standardized teacher-certification test given statewide that they suspect has cultural and linguistic bia... more »
The Diversity Crisis in Taxpayer-Funded Education « Cooperative Catalyst: The Diversity Crisis in Taxpayer-Funded Education by Jabreel Chisley With the happenings of “white flight,” unconstitutional school funding systems, the School-to-Prison Pipeline, the consequences of No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and anti-grassroots corporatized School Choice…the education community in the nation has arrived at a point of hostility toward diversity. Constantly, diversity within the school has become something that governmental and societal action actively discourages from happening... more »
Pass / Fail : LAUSD issues guidelines on teacher evaluations, sparking new controversy | 89.3 KPCC: LAUSD issues guidelines on teacher evaluations, sparking new controversy by Vanessa Romo [image: School Shooting]*(AP Photo/Nick Ut) Credit: Nick Ut/AP* L.A. Unified on Friday unveiled its plan for how principals will incorporate the results of student testing in teacher evaluations--and union officials said they were stunned by the details. Superintendent John Deasy said 30 percent of a teacher’s evaluation will be based on a mix of individual and school-wide testing data starting nex... more »
ConnCAN signs $200,000 contract with major Connecticut lobby firm - Wait, What?: ConnCAN signs $200,000 contract with major Connecticut lobby firm by jonpelto The Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now, Inc. (ConnCAN), the charter school advocacy group that was created by the founders of Achievement First, the state’s largest charter school management company, has signed a two-year, $200,000 lobbying contract with Connecticut government relations firm, Gaffney, Bennett and Associates. In addition, ConnCAN staff will continue to lobby on behalf of Governor Malloy’s education ref... more »
Jersey Jazzman: As Falls Paterson...: As Falls Paterson... by Duke *Paterson: Home of Lou Costello and reformyness!* The NJDOE declares that Paterson is the new home of reformyness: The state education department announced on Friday that it has approved two new charter schools in Paterson. The new schools will be Paterson Arts and Sciences, a kindergarten through grade 8 school with an approved enrollment of 540, and Paterson Collegiate Charter School, a kindergarten through grade 5 school with approved enrollment of 548, according to a press release issued Friday evening. The A... more »
Daily Kos: A teacher affects eternity . . .: A teacher affects eternity . . . by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) On this anniversary of his birth in 1838, it seems an appropriate time for me to reflect upon his famous statement, *A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.* I am again, for now, out of the classroom. Perhaps this time it will be for good, perhaps I will come fall again step into a classroom. I simply do not know. I can look back on 17 or so years in classrooms with some satisfaction, but also with some trepidation, because of the second... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: PTA Receives More Money to Push Common Core Standards: PTA Receives More Money to Push Common Core Standards by stlgretchen From Marketwatch.com and *GE Foundation Grant Helps National PTA Expand Common Core Work:* *ALEXANDRIA, VA, Feb 15, 2013 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- National PTA announced today that it received a one-year $240,000 grant from the GE Foundation to further its efforts on the Common Core State Standards. * ** *National PTA will expand its Common Core work by creating state-specific assessment guides for every state that has adopted ...more »
The "Achievement Gap"- A Seductive but Dangerous Euphemism for Poverty and Inequality: The “Achievement Gap”- A Seductive but Dangerous Euphemism for Poverty and Inequality by Server The “Achievement Gap”- A Seductive but Dangerous Euphemism for Poverty and Inequality.*Originally Posted by Mark Naison on “With A Brooklyn Accent.” February 8, 2013* Any time I see an advertisement or a fundraising appeal for an organization whose goal is to shrink the “achievement gap,’ I immediately put that organization on my personal “enemies list.” *******No phrase is more symbolic of our socie... more »
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: 1[image: Building Your School Culture...1 Relationship at a Time]Building Your School Culture...1 Relationship at a Time Added by Bill Burkhead on February 11, 2013 2[image: RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us]RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us Added by Thomas Whitby on October 30, 2012 3[image: Are you that teacher? Teach through learnership]Are you that teacher? Teach through learnership Added by Scott Kinkoph on February 8, 2013 4[image: 15 Education Technologies To Check Out ... more »
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * Can High Schools Reduce College Enrollment Gaps With a New Counseling Model? Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 hours ago Despite planning college, disadvantaged students are less likely to enroll in college, particularly 4-year colleges. Beyond cost and academic achievement, previous research finds that a lack of college-related social resources poses barriers. However, little research investigates whether schools can help. This study examines whether, how, and for whom a new counseling model a...more »
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL *LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY* *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" The Best Resources For Learning About The Next Papal Election Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 8 hours ago The upcoming Papal election looks likes it may coincide with my IB Theory of Knowledge class covering “Religion,” though I’m not sure yet if or how I might ta... more »
*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* *Shifting attitudes about schools* SHARE: - facebook - twitter Posted by admin | February 15, 2013 | Category: #LoveSchools, teacher activism| Write Comment New York City teacher, poet and activist José Luis Vilson loves schools, but hates the loveless, joyless system in which they currently exist. He, like thousands of teachers, parents and students united by their love of public schools, is committed to changing that. “I love public school because every time we as educators go into the classroom, we have a chance to creat... more »
Rise Above the Mark: Documentary on public education debate finds voice 1. [image: Thumbnail]4:31[image: Watch Later] *Rise Above the Mark* - Trailer 1 by riseabovethemark•6 months ago•3,328 views The next great ambition in public education. *Rise Above the Mark* aims to make the United States a world leader once again *...* - HD 2. [image: Thumbnail]6videos[image: Thumbnail][image: Thumbnail][image: Thumbnail] Change by Carl Hooker - •*Rise Above the Mark* - Trailer (4:31) - •AT&T Archives: Seeing *the* Digital Future (1961) (15:4... more »
*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* In Which I Try To Gather The Shards... by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) ...of Joe Moore's Charter School Logic. These are rough quotes, not exact. Joe has a lot of reasons why he's doing very very little for neighborhood schools and serving as a Welcome Wagon for the charters. *"I want parents to have the same options that I had."* Moore graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1976. The options he had included a high quality public school, parish schools, or private schools. Charter schools were not in the picture; if they h... more »
Deasy orders test scores to count for 30% of teachers' evaluations - latimes.com: Deasy orders test scores to count for 30% of teachers' evaluations [image: Photo: Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent John Deasy makes at his Beaudry headquarters office in March 2012. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times] L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy announced Friday that 30% of a teacher’s evaluation will be based on student standardized test scores, setting off another round of contention in the nation’s second-largest school system just weeks before a critical school board el... more »
Learn about attack on public schools : Ct: Learn about attack on public schools Print Email 7 hours ago • Cap Times editorial (6) Comments Ethan Hemer, a defensive lineman for the Badgers and an education major, works with 2nd grade student Sebastian Carpenter, 7, on a reading and writing assignment at Schenk Elementary Dec. 5, 2012. (Photo � Andy Manis) Enlarge Photo As Madison voters prepare to cast ballots Tuesday in important primary elections for the state Supreme Court and the Madison School Board, it is vital to recognize that the most critical challenge facing school dis... more »
Torlakson Announces 2013 Green Ribbon Schools - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Nominates Four Schools, One School District as 2013 U.S. Green Ribbon Schools LONG BEACH—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today nominated Charles Evans Hughes Middle School of Long Beach, Journey School of Aliso Viejo, Redding School of the Arts, Prospect Sierra School of El Cerrito, and Ventura County's Oak Park Unified School District to compete in the second year of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School Awards. "These outst... more »
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: LA Times: “We'll be upfront about this: We consider Garcia a poor choice for the school board…” but we’re endorsing her anyway!: LA Times: “We'll be upfront about this: We consider Garcia a poor choice for the school board…” but we’re endorsing her anyway! by smf THE TIMES' L.A. SCHOOL BOARD ENDORSEMENTS - LATIMES.COM HTTP://LAT.MS/VW4DPR - Garcia’s a poor choice *…but she likes Deasy.* - Kate’s a politician who’s been ineffectual at changing policy she won’t be able to control on the board *...but she likes Deasy.* - ... more »
Yes, the rate for U.S. students graduating high school reached 78 percent in 2010, the highest since 1970. And furthermore, dropout rates has fallen to three percent, its lowest since that year. Have you heard any bells chiming the good news? Any upbeat news flashes interrupting CNN anchors? Where are the bloggers posts of U.S. schools finally turning around and on the upswing refuting those school reform Cassandras’ constant talk of failing U.S. schools? I have not heard any bells chiming, seen any news flashes, or read such posts. Isn’t this good news? Sure, it is but bad news accompanies it as well.
