Sunday, March 10, 2013

by Jose Vilson

A few short notes:

Dart Adams is easily one of my favorite non-education bloggers out there, and his latest entry about the Notorious B.I.G.’s legacy gives plenty of reasons why. [Bastard Swordsman]
Tara Conley writes an open letter to popular feminist Amanda Marcotte, wondering aloud about the exclusion of womynists and feminists of color in the online feminism movement. You can pretty much re-read this and replace any sector of life in the US and their exclusion of peoples of color, but I digress. Good read. [Feminist Wire]
DJ Diva tells a few stories about her strange relationship with the use of the n-word. [DJ Diva]
I swear Chris Lehmann is looking to piss me off with his musings about math, but it’s more a provocation than anything. What do you mean we

Jersey Jazzman: Michelle Rhee Book Failure Watch

Jersey Jazzman: Michelle Rhee Book Failure Watch:

Michelle Rhee Book Failure Watch

by Duke

So, how's America's Favorite Reformer™ doing in the book sales department this week?

Wow - even after her dream book tour Michelle Rhee still can't crack the top 1,000 in book sales on Amazon. And she never cracked the NY Times bestseller list - it looks like she never will.

And yet the press will still credulously report that Rhee's group, StudentsFirst, has two million members. Does it ever occur to reporters like Motoko Rich that maybe they ought to confirm SF's membership numbers before publishing them as fact? That maybe it's incongruous that Rhee has so many "members," yet her book is headed straight for the $0.99 bin?

Just a thought...

But I'm #4 under "Educators"! Behind a book that's been out for over a decade! Awesome, huh?

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Classroom Discipline: Who Decides (and how)?

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Classroom Discipline: Who Decides (and how)?:

Classroom Discipline: Who Decides (and how)?

by Melissa Westbrook

On the heels of the issue of disproportionality of discipline in SPS, comes this op-ed from SPS teacher, Dan Magill.

Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5244, approved by the Senate last week, would reduce the number of days students can be excluded from school due to discipline.

Do those in favor of the bill understand how damaging just one incorrigible student can be to a classroom? I’m not arguing against this bill necessarily, only providing an informed perspective lawmakers would be wise not to ignore.

We must be careful about overemphasizing the needs of the few students who have already demonstrated their antipathy toward their own education. The other students have needs, too.
No one wants students to be suspended or expelled. No one wants people to go to jail, either. Sometimes, that’s

Last Stand for Children First: School Closings Offer Opportunities for Students to Learn a Trade

Last Stand for Children First: School Closings Offer Opportunities for Students to Learn a Trade:

School Closings Offer Opportunities for Students to Learn a Trade

by Last Stand for Children

Commentary by Representative Jack Kimble (R-CA, 54)

Unfortunately, it's very easy for parents to get angry over school closings. After all, neighborhood schools can be sanctuaries in a neighborhood of boarded up and abandoned buildings and the school community can be a family for children whose own parents are unable to provide them with the stability every child deserves. This is a nationwide problem, but because Last Stand for Children First is so active in Chicago, I probably understand that situation a little better.

The problem in Chicago is that 30,000 students have left the system so it is necessary to close over 100 schools in African-American neighborhoods. I guess, an "oops" is warranted on the part of the city, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing as you will see.

In Chicago, parents, teachers, and community members have been lucky enough to have forums provided by the Walton Foundation to allow them to vent to facilitators and plead that their school be kept open without having

Missouri Education Watchdog: Shocker! Gates Funded PTA Supports Common Core.

Missouri Education Watchdog: Shocker! Gates Funded PTA Supports Common Core.:

Shocker! Gates Funded PTA Supports Common Core.

by stlgretchen

The following snippet is from the Missouri PTA on Senate Bill 210 and House Bill 616. It is included in a list of bills to watch regarding Missouri education. The PTA is in opposition to these bills. What isn't stated in this statement is that the National PTA has received over $1 Million from the G ates Foundation to push Common Core to parents.

From mopta.org:

SB 210 sponsored by Senator John Lamping, District 24, and HB 616 sponsored by Rep. Kurt Bahr, District 102, are mirror bills that prohibit the State Board of Education from adopting the Common Core State Standards Initiative. PTA has been a strong supporter of Common Core State Standards Initiativesince its inception. The Common Core State Standards Initiative was created by teachers, parents, education experts and others from across the country in an attempt to provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning in each grade in order to be prepared for college and career. Ensuring high academic expectation for all students, regardless of their zip code, is aligned with

JAYWALK for EDUCATION JUSTICE | Reclaim Reform

JAYWALK for EDUCATION JUSTICE | Reclaim Reform:

JAYWALK for EDUCATION JUSTICE

by kenpreviti

The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Randi Weingarten, was arrested for physically blocking the entrance to a Philadelphia School Reform Committee hearing. Civil Disobedience.

A CHALLENGE: Well, if she can go that far, we must demand that our state and local leaders Jaywalk for Education Justice.

All of us must also do the same. Jaywalk.
The president and board members of the National Education Association (NEA). Jaywalk.
The presidents and board members if the state IEA and NEA. Jaywalk.
Members of state and local teacher unions and associations have complained for years about the too-little-too-late behavior of their leadership, so they must form smaller, local groups to Jaywalk. Jaywalk Groups.
Jaywalk: Teachers. Parents. Official and unofficial, active and retired, scheduled and spontaneous groups all

Seating by Gender at UK University Debate on Islam Stirs Protest |

Seating by Gender at UK University Debate on Islam Stirs Protest |:

Seating by Gender at UK University Debate on Islam Stirs Protest

by Angus Johnston

Seating arrangements for a debate at University College London Saturday has led prominent atheist Richard Dawkins to accuse the event’s Muslim organizers of “sexual apartheid,”but the group is challenging his version of events.
The debate, “Islam or Atheism: Which Makes More Sense?,” pitted physicist Lawrence Krauss against Islamic lecturer Hamza Andreas Tzor. Seating was in three sections — one reserved for men, one reserved for women, and one that was mixed. (More on that “mixed” section in a moment.)
Krauss, who had heard rumors about the seating arrangements before the event, apparently asked the organizers for permission to announce that anyone could sit where they liked, and was granted it. But according

Daily Kos: Something we need to realize about health insurance

Daily Kos: Something we need to realize about health insurance:

Something we need to realize about health insurance

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)

has become very apparent to me as the statements and bills from the illness and treatment of my wife have begun to arrive at our house.
I could show this clearly from many of them, but since it was 6 weeks ago this evening, just about this time, that we got the new she would not be leaving the hospital after an MRI we thought had been merely preparatory for referral to a pain management specialist, let me focus on the hospital bill.
Let me note that as a federal employee Leaves on the Current has a superb insurance plance through Blue Cross / Blue Shield, which because it has arranged with Virginia Hospital Center to be a preferred provider the hospital agrees to be bound by what the insurance provider agrees should be paid, plus an additional copay by the insured, in this case of $250.00
The insurer pai 12, 651,32. That means the total paid was 12901.32. Even that sum would hit most families very hard.
But what if the rest of the bill fell to the patient and family?
The total bill was 33, 556.30. This is more than the median annual salary/wages fo

New Orleans’ Recovery School District: The Lie Unveiled | deutsch29

New Orleans’ Recovery School District: The Lie Unveiled | deutsch29:

New Orleans’ Recovery School District: The Lie Unveiled

March 5, 2013

Yesterday, I was watching a video clip of the 2011 Aspen Institute debate between Wendy Kopp and Diane Ravitch. In a final effort to defend corporate reform, Kopp tells the audience, “I encourage everyone to see for yourself, study for yourself… New Orleans….”

I intend to take Kopp up on her offer in this post.

I have written this piece with a particular audience in mind: Those in other states who are considering following what they think is “model reform” in New Orleans. They have heard the hype and are seriously considering investing in a lie. In this post, I will show the reality that is the so-called “New Orleans Miracle.” It is no miracle at all. It is only a “sleight of media.” An illusion. A farce.

The New Orleans Miracle is sand in the mouths of those who would drink from its mirage. Never forget it.

Nevertheless, it has become extremely popular reformerspeak to talk about the “success” of New Orleans education. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is using supposed New Orleans Recovery School District (RSD-NO) success as a platform for his obvious 2016 bid for president. While in Virginia this month, however, Jindal was confronted with the truth. Yet in true reformer fashion, Jindal brushes the truth to the side:

Jindal said 77 percent of students in New Orleans were attending failing schools

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 3-10-13 #SOSCHAT #NPE #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

David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas on charter schools and accountability | Education Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 minutes ago

David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas on charter schools and accountability | Education Blog: David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas on charter schools and accountability By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist wmckenzie@dallasnews.com 6:08 pm on March 10, 2013 | Permalink 0 1 0 *Dr. David Anthony is CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas, a statewide organization that bills itself as a non-profit education advocacy group. You can read more about the organization at this website. Anthony also once served as superintendent of the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District.* ** *He and I exc... more »

After 63 years, Palisades High English teacher closes the book | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 minutes ago

After 63 years, Palisades High English teacher closes the book | toteachornototeach: After 63 years, Palisades High English teacher closes the book by aristotlethewise *After 63 years, Palisades High English teacher closes the book* *Rose Gilbert, who retired three weeks ago at 94, achieved celebrity status for being the oldest full-time teacher in the L.A. Unified School District. A drama classroom has been named in her honor.* By Louis Sahagun The boisterous applause of hundreds of admirers echoed through Palisades Charter High School’s newly refurbished drama classroom on Saturda... more »

The Weekly Cheddar : blue cheddar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 50 minutes ago

The Weekly Cheddar : blue cheddar: The Weekly Cheddar March 10, 2013 By bluecheddar March 3 - 9, 2013 Here’s another edition of my round-up of Wisconsin political news. If I missed something major, please leave a comment about it. *Public Education for K-12 is–* – on the chopping block. More on that here: Walker’s budget is a school killer; legislative Republicans propose a severe beating instead And here: ‘This is an all-out attack on public education’: ”SIREN—Those were the sentiments of Scott Johnson, district administrator for the Siren Schools to his school board Monday night.... more »

Melissa Harris-Perry: Why people are saying Detroit is where democracy goes to die

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 54 minutes ago

Melissa Harris-Perry: Why people are saying Detroit is where democracy goes to die: *Melissa Harris-Perry video: Why people are saying Detroit is where democracy goes to die* - Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Lost Apple Core, Part I: Nagging Doubt |

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Lost Apple Core, Part I: Nagging Doubt |: Lost Apple Core, Part I: Nagging Doubt [image: "The Dame School", 1887. Frederic George Cotman (1850-1920), British landscape, portrait, genre and history painter. Oil on canvas.] “The Dame School”, 1887. Frederic George Cotman (1850-1920), British landscape, portrait, genre and history painter. Oil on canvas. Recently I was sitting down with a fellow educator discussing the Common Core State Standards and what affect we thought they might have on public schools. I have been on the fence regarding The Core for a while now, not wanting to pas... more »

Bruce Rauner. Rahm’s BFF. Stuart Levine’s pal. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Bruce Rauner. Rahm’s BFF. Stuart Levine’s pal. | Fred Klonsky: Bruce Rauner. Rahm’s BFF. Stuart Levine’s pal. by Fred Klonsky [image: rauner] The list of money man Bruce Rauner’s gubernatorial exploratory committee is filled with the rich and influential. Even so, Rauner is being modest. Rahm’s not on it even though he is a Rauner BFF. Neither is Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine. Remember Rezko and Levine? They were tied to the deals that sent Blago to jail. And they were connected to shady deals involving the

The Oxygen of Homeschooling. – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

The Oxygen of Homeschooling. – @ the chalk face: The Oxygen of Homeschooling. by Activism in paradise - Voices from down under [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] *From http://treehornexpress.wordpress.com* Australian Ken Woolford is a strong advocate for learning at home and the importance of the family in developing effective, enthusiastic, long-life learning skills. Ken was a Principal who sent back the boxes of testing material when it arrived at his school and who, with wife Suesi, tried to open their own school in Toowoomba but were *‘outrageously stomped on’*. Then, back in th... more »

Mr. White,– @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

– @ the chalk face: [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] by Kuhio Kane Mr. White, During my last two years as a teacher, I had a similar experience. It wasn’t bullying or an anonymous call, but it was heavy handedness by the divisional head of our ten campus system of schools that gave orders to my site’s principal to make things bad for me, enough so that I would resign. I, too, had been a strong voice against the destructive forces being brought to bear upon our public schools. For me, it was bereft policy of NCLB and the additional indignation of high stakes testing, the CAHSEE... more »

Arguing about school reforms that go nowhere - Class Struggle - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Arguing about school reforms that go nowhere - Class Struggle - The Washington Post: Arguing about school reforms that go nowhere By Jay Mathews In the 1990s, Las Montanas High School (a fictional name for a real place) throbbed with excitement over technological advances in California’s Silicon Valley where it was located. Forty-four percent of the students were low-income but the school’s administrators and teachers vowed to override that handicap by turning it into a high tech magnet with a strong interdisciplinary focus. They envisioned students learning by doing projects, an... more »

NCTQ Letter Grades and the Reformer Agenda–Part VIII | deutsch29

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

NCTQ Letter Grades and the Reformer Agenda–Part VIII | deutsch29: NCTQ Letter Grades and the Reformer Agenda–Part VIII February 2, 2013 One of my favorite pasttimes involves reading true crime. I enjoy everything about forensics, from interpreting the crime scene, to determining motives and personality quirks of the perpetrators, to learning of the seemingly insignificant bit of information that finally broke the case. And as I consider what I know about NCTQ advisory board member Michelle Rhee, I realize that I will likely be unshelving some book about her from the true crime sec... more »

Where are the voices of teachers in DeKalb mess? Here is one and he’s not holding back. | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Where are the voices of teachers in DeKalb mess? Here is one and he’s not holding back. | Get Schooled: Where are the voices of teachers in DeKalb mess? Here is one and he’s not holding back. by Maureen Downey A DeKalb teacher sent me this piece, noting that none of the blog commentaries on the crisis in DeKalb have come from teachers. I suspect teachers all over the country will agree with his comments about the lack of respect for the profession. (At his request, I am not using his name because of his concerns for his job.) [image: downeyart0726 (Medium)]This teacher is responding... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends: Odds and Ends by Melissa Westbrook Is this homework a kindergartener should be able to do? I heard that at one Seattle elementary (it slips my mind which one but I think it is Roxhill) that they have ended homework and require only reading every night. Should kindergartners have homework? An upcoming event that may be of interest to you and your student - the unveiling of Mirror, a permanent art installation at SAM. From their website: *MIRROR is an urban earthwork that changes in real time in response to the movements and li... more »

How Truthful are the Bush Foundation’s Assertions About Their Sponsors? | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

How Truthful are the Bush Foundation’s Assertions About Their Sponsors? | Scathing Purple Musings: How Truthful are the Bush Foundation’s Assertions About Their Sponsors? by Bob Sikes As part of a response to a Mississippi public school advocate in January, Foundation for Excellence in Education CEO Patricia Levesque wrote the following: (Nancy) Loome notes that we take funding from for-profit providers. In fact, more than 90 percent of the Foundation’s budget comes from family foundations or philanthropic organizations dedicated to improving students’ educational success. We ... more »

Text complexity in the early grades: Shooting ourselves in the foot? | Dangerously Irrelevant

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Text complexity in the early grades: Shooting ourselves in the foot? | Dangerously Irrelevant: Text complexity in the early grades: Shooting ourselves in the foot? by dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod) [image: Cozy reading spot] Here are some quotes from the most recent issue of *Educational Researcher*regarding text complexity in the early grades, one of the hallmark pushes of the Common Core State Standards: the CCSS text complexity standards for Grade 3 appear to be aspirational, much like the No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress targets (Shepard, 2008). The small... more »

School abuse reporting: Training murky despite horrifying cases, survey finds - Inside Bay Area

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

School abuse reporting: Training murky despite horrifying cases, survey finds - Inside Bay Area: School abuse reporting: Training murky despite horrifying cases, survey finds By Matthias Gafni and Theresa Harrington Contra Costa Times Posted: 03/10/2013 12:01:00 AM PST Click photo to enlarge Caneel Carlin, left, currently of Concord, is photographed outside the office of co-lead... - - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - » Related - Mar 10: - School abuse reporting: At Moraga district, lessons learned - School abuse reporting: At Brentwood district, policy didn't ... more »

Michael Bloomberg, the education ex-mayor—Editorial - NYPOST.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Michael Bloomberg, the education ex-mayor—Editorial - NYPOST.com: The education ex-mayor - Last Updated: 12:30 AM, March 10, 2013 - Posted: March 10, 2013 *Seems Mike Bloomberg wants to hold on to mayoral control of the schools even after he gives up his mayoralty.* As The Post’s Yoav Gonen reported last week, Bloomberg is developing four charter schools that would open in high-poverty neighborhoods in the city in the fall of 2014, when the next mayor is in office. The schools are covered in Mike’s prints: Their funding comes from Bloomberg’s Young Men’s Initiative and the... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Data Mining and FERPA: Sheila Kaplan Written Testimony in Support of Missouri SB 210 & HB 616

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Data Mining and FERPA: Sheila Kaplan Written Testimony in Support of Missouri SB 210 & HB 616: Common Core Data Mining and FERPA: Sheila Kaplan Written Testimony in Support of Missouri SB 210 & HB 616 by stlgretchen Below is written testimony from Sheila Kaplan entered in support of Missouri SB 210 and HB 616. These bills would* prohibit the State Board of Education from adopting and implementing the standards for public schools developed by the Common Core Standards Initiative.* ************************************************** Legisla... more »

Following Criticism, Jeb Bush’s Lobbyist Withdraws State Registration | Florida Center for Investigative Reporting

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Following Criticism, Jeb Bush’s Lobbyist Withdraws State Registration | Florida Center for Investigative Reporting: Following Criticism, Jeb Bush’s Lobbyist Withdraws State Registration Published on March 6, 2013. Tags: Deirdre Finn, Foundation for Excellence in Education, Foundation for Florida's Future, Jeb Bush, Lobbyists, Meridian Strategies, Patricia Levesque, Steve Miller, Tampa Tribune [image: Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush discussed immigration policy, education, the economy, and why he chose not to run for president in 2012 during a speech at the John Cranford Adams Playh... more »

Trance Encounters - Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee is Wrong

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Trance Encounters - Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee is Wrong: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee is Wrong *A Response to Michelle Rhee’s Op-ed, entitled, “MAP boycott is about keeping test scores out of teacher evaluations.”* Michelle Rhee is wrong. In a special op-ed to the Seattle Times on March 6th, she argues against the Seattle teacher boycott of the MAP test. Rather than summarize her arguments, I will present them below and address each sequentially. In this way, I will identify each of her arguments’ flaws and demonstrate that she has failed to establish a foundation fo... more »

The Weekly Update: Eli Broad’s how-to guide on closing schools and disaster capitalism up close and personal | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

The Weekly Update: Eli Broad’s how-to guide on closing schools and disaster capitalism up close and personal | Seattle Education: The Weekly Update: Eli Broad’s how-to guide on closing schools and disaster capitalism up close and personal by seattleducation2011 [image: stopschoolclosings] This has been a ghastly and heart wrenching week in education around the country but particularly in Philadelphia and Chicago where hundreds of schools are slated for closing. The dream of a charter school in every pot, or rather every community, is coming to past for Eli Broad and his ilk. Just ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: NJ Teacher Evaluation: There's No Escaping The Problems With VAMs

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: NJ Teacher Evaluation: There's No Escaping The Problems With VAMs: NJ Teacher Evaluation: There's No Escaping The Problems With VAMs by Duke Let's face it: *it's been a rough couple of years for the supporters of test-based teacher evaluations*. Back in 2010, the *Los Angeles Times* published the "ratings" of the city's teachers based on test-scores, using a method called Value-Added Modeling (VAM). Researchers at the National Education Policy Center took at look at the *LA Times's* ratings and found them to be highly unreliable: when NEPC used a different (and a... more »

Teachbad on Paul Tough and How Children Succeed | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Teachbad on Paul Tough and How Children Succeed | Mr. Teachbad: Teachbad on Paul Tough and How Children Succeed by teachbad A review by Mr. Teachbad I remember one time at a faculty meeting. It was early in my teaching career, in my first year as a high school teacher. I don’t remember what the meeting was about…kids or learning or something. But I do remember the stares and uncomfortable silence in the cafeteria after I made this comment in reference to my students: *I just…I just wish they would do something. All I want is for them to try. Give me something. Gi... more »

Microsoft Puts Google in Sights with Student Privacy Law | Education News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Microsoft Puts Google in Sights with Student Privacy Law | Education News: Microsoft Puts Google in Sights with Student Privacy Law Microsoft has thrown its might behind a new privacy bill that would limit what companies can do with student data stored in the cloud, thus taking a direct short at Google’s education cloud services. In a statement of support for the measure, Mike Houlihan, spokesman for the company, said that the government needs to step [...] Microsoft has thrown its might behind a new privacy bill that would limit what companiescan do with student data stored i... more »

Sunday reads. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Sunday reads. | Fred Klonsky: Sunday reads. by Fred Klonsky [image: 857580_10151527250468454_1041135185_o-1] *Photo credit: Sarah Jane Rhee/loveandstrugglephotos.com.* *Two years ago my fellow blogger Glen Brown began writing **teacher/poet/musician glen brown.* 730 days and 230,000 page visits later Glen shares a poem he wrote in celebration. *Ken Davis’ Chicago Newsroom.* Ken is joined by Angela Caputo, Chicago Reporter and Salim Muwakkil, WVON Radio to talk about school closings. *Is the idea of the American gun culture* a myth? *Does the Mayor’s call for neighborhood investment m... more »

‘I have had enough’ – veteran teacher tells school board

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

‘I have had enough’ – veteran teacher tells school board: ‘I have had enough’ – veteran teacher tells school board Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 10, 2013 at 12:05 pm 0 Comments More [image: enough]Here is a powerful letter that a veteran teacher wrote and read to the Lafayette Parish School Board, explaining why she is sadly leaving the profession. It sums up many of the complaints teachers have with a school reform agenda that they believe is unfairly targeting them and hurting students too. This was written and tearfully read to the school board by Abby Breaux, who has taugh... more »

10 Signs You Might Be a Transphormer | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

10 Signs You Might Be a Transphormer | EduShyster: 10 Signs You Might Be a Transphormer by edushyster2012 Today’s $700 billion question: is there anyone left who isn’t an education reformer? Let’s face it, when your movement runs the gamut from Arnold to Zuckerberg, not to mention being, ahem, somewhat overrepresented on Forbes new list of billionaires, I think it’s pretty safe to say that you’re done, played out, over. That’s why the hardcore reformers aren’t wasting their time tinkering around the edges anymore, baby. The new reformer is a transphormer and knows that the only way... more »

Bush Foundation Continues to Spin and Evade Questions on Impropriety | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Bush Foundation Continues to Spin and Evade Questions on Impropriety | Scathing Purple Musings: Bush Foundation Continues to Spin and Evade Questions on Impropriety by Bob Sikes Foundation for Excellence in Education CEO Patricia Levesque has been busy writing letters to the editor as a method of responding to *In the Public Interest’s* report which focused on her foundation’s emails with state officials. Just two days after a shrill response to a college professor’s letter, Levesque was back at it, calling last Sunday’s *Tampa Bay Tribune *report from William March “innuendo i... more »

In preparation for this evening, check out Brian White’s testimony – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

In preparation for this evening, check out Brian White’s testimony – @ the chalk face: In preparation for this evening, check out Brian White’s testimony by Chalk Face, PhD [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] AT 6PM EST this evening, we’re going to be talking to Brian White, a parent and teacher from CO who gave the following testimony at a board meeting: Good evening. My name is Brian White. I’m a parent of two young children currently enrolled in Douglas County schools, a taxpayer, involved community member, and a teacher. So, using Douglas County School Board vernacular, I guess ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Join MORE Monday to Protest School Closings at the PEP

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Join MORE Monday to Protest School Closings at the PEP: Join MORE Monday to Protest School Closings at the PEP by ed notes online James Eterno is reporting on the ICE blog that the UFT does not seem to be organizing around the closing school PEP meeting, holding its regular Executive Board meeting instead. (MORE WILL PROTEST & ATTEND MONDAY' S SCHOOL CLOSING PEP; UFT EXECUTIVE BOARD APPARENTLY HAS MORE IMPORTANT BUSINESS!) James knows from closing schools. Maybe the entire UFT board -- including the 8 New Action members, will grab their dinner and head on over t... more »

FlexiGate: The Two Versions of The School Accountability Act

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

FlexiGate: The Two Versions of The School Accountability Act: FlexiGate: The Two Versions of The School Accountability Act *By Bill Britt* Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Two versions of the School Accountability Act have surfaced over the last week. One was passed out of Conference Committee, and out of the Legislature, the other is now listed on the State Legislative website as a different version. On Thursday, February 28, the Joint Conference Committee met to work out the details of a compromise between the House and Senate on HB84. However, when Republican Legislators... more »

Teen Pregnancy Campaign Ripped By Melissa Harris-Perry (VIDEO)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Teen Pregnancy Campaign Ripped By Melissa Harris-Perry (VIDEO): Teen Pregnancy Campaign Ripped By Melissa Harris-Perry (VIDEO) *The Huffington Post* | By Melissa Jeltsen Posted: 03/09/2013 4:21 pm EST | Updated: 03/09/2013 4:26 pm EST [image: Share on Google+] Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy 327 74 25 1325 *GET NEW YORK ALERTS:* SIGN UP FOLLOW: Michael Bloomberg, Video, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Melissa Harris-Perry, Melissa Harris-Perry Teen Pregnancy, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Pregnancy New York City, New York News Melissa Harris-Perry had h... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-10-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] What a Professional Teacher Preparation Program Looks Like by dianerav One of the worst sins of Teach for America is that it has convinced politicians and corporate leaders that teachers need little or no professional preparation. Unlike doctors, lawyers, social workers, architects, engineers, or any other profession, teachers are allegedly well prepared to teach simply by holding a college degree and getting five weeks of training. In any other profession, this... more »

Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: John Stossel hated school. Investigates unschooling.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: John Stossel hated school. Investigates unschooling.: John Stossel hated school. Investigates unschooling. by noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen) *In case you missed it, last week, John Stossel did a segment on unschooling as part of his “Education Blob” special. In the segment he pointed out that the number of homeschoolers is on the rise nationally, a whopping 75% since 1999. This puts the number of homeschoolers in the nation about equal to those attending charter schools. He shares that the number of families that homeschool today for reli... more »

Louisiana Educator: NOLA.com, Blackboard Wars Reveal Charter Shortcomings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: NOLA.com, Blackboard Wars Reveal Charter Shortcomings: NOLA.com, Blackboard Wars Reveal Charter Shortcomings by Michael Deshotels [image: Blackboard Wars Title Card.jpeg] Recent reports in NOLA.com have described California charter school developer Steve Barr's problems with expanding his charter concept to New Orleans. Bar has a contract with Oprah's OWN network to produce a documentary series on his efforts to turnaround John McDonogh high school in New Orleans Bar's comments in the NOLA story contradict each other. In one instance he talks about how "beauti... more »

Corporate Money Rolls Into School Board Elections Nationwide | Classroom Struggle

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Corporate Money Rolls Into School Board Elections Nationwide | Classroom Struggle: Corporate Money Rolls Into School Board Elections Nationwide by ClassroomStruggle The hijacking of local school board elections by corporate funders pushing their education “reform” policies continues unabated across the country. This pattern has already been seen in our elections in Oakland last November which we analyzed here. November was when the PAC for GO Public Schools collected $185,000 to be donated to their three candidates Jumoke Hodge, James Harris, and Rosie Torres. This doesn’t me... more »

Are the common core math standards developmentally appropriate for 1st graders? | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Are the common core math standards developmentally appropriate for 1st graders? | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Are the common core math standards developmentally appropriate for 1st graders? by Gary Rubinstein My sister’s friend is a first grade teacher in a ‘challenging’ school in New York. People who know about education know that poor students often enter kindergarten, already a few years behind their more affluent peers. Good teachers, when given the freedom to teach their students at an appropriate level for their incoming skills, are able to help students progress. But when t... more »

Response: We Need "Fewer John Waynes & More John Deweys" - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Response: We Need "Fewer John Waynes & More John Deweys" - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo - Education Week Teacher: Response: We Need "Fewer John Waynes & More John Deweys" By Larry Ferlazzo on March 10, 2013 9:54 PM (This is Part One of a two-part series.) Last week's question was: *How can teachers best relate to Superintendents -- and vice versa?* This is a question that I regularly wrestle with in our school district, and I assume many others around the country do as well. Today's guest responses will be coming from the perpective of teachers -- shared by Randi Weingarten, Pr... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Remember when Crown and Edelman told us how they did it?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Remember when Crown and Edelman told us how they did it?: Remember when Crown and Edelman told us how they did it? by Mike Klonsky Popout It was back in 2011 when Jonah Edelman and Stand For Children, backed by billionaires like Crown, Pritzker, Griffin, and Rauner, took IL politicians and union leaders for a ride.

Blackboard Wars Episode 4 | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Blackboard Wars Episode 4 | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Blackboard Wars Episode 4 by Gary Rubinstein With two more episodes in this first season of Oprah’s Blackboard wars, they do not have a lot of time left to complete a successful ‘turnaround.’ I can’t say how good this school was before the charter takeover, as I wasn’t there. I also can’t say how good the school system was in New Orleans before the TFA led chartering of most of the schools in the city. My sense is that the schools were pretty bad before, and now they’re also bad, but in a more corrupt way with ‘reformers’ get... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 3-9-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

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Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core. A Rigorous or a Worksheet Education?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core. A Rigorous or a Worksheet Education?: Common Core. A Rigorous or a Worksheet Education? by stlgretchen In the legislative hearings for MO SB 210 and HB 616, Common Core proponents insisted the new standards and assessments were rigorous. Over the next several days, we will be providing examples of Pearson designed CCSS assessments for your review and you can get a hint of what is ahead for your child in Missouri. The state of New York has implemented CCSS in many schools and you will be seeing actual examples of what we assume the Misso... more »

Introducing the Master Race of South Bronx Classical Charter School.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

http://www.southbronxschool.com: Introducing the Master Race of South Bronx Classical Charter School by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Every charter school has a board of trustees, a bunch of do gooders if you will. South Bronx Classical Charter is no different. Therefore, we here at SBSB wish to introduce the trustees of SBCC to the District 7 and PS 154 community. See if you can notice a pattern. First up is *C. Stephen Baldwin; Chairman of the SBCCS Board of Trustees.* *Steve is...currently a writer, has served as counsel with the United Nations, executive director of the Le... more »

From the NYCDOE: Talking to your child about the #commoncore and tests – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

From the NYCDOE: Talking to your child about the #commoncore and tests – @ the chalk face: From the NYCDOE: Talking to your child about the #commoncore and tests by Chalk Face, PhD [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] A conversation guide courtesy of the NYCDOE. How very helpful. Are you kidding me? Explain to your child that most of the jobs she will want when she grows up will require her to be a good reader and writer. She will need to be able to do math problems that come up in the real world and use evidence to make strong arguments that convince others. I’m sure these sentiment... more »

@ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

@ the chalk face: [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] Give me your tired test prep assignments, your poor #CCSS homework examples… BY CHRIS CERRONE 1 COMMENT [image: newsign] … your huddled students yearning to learn free from corporate education reform. Here At the Chalkface we have had several articles that have been widely read and shared recently: http://atthechalkface.com/2012/12/12/is-your-child-getting-a-worksheet-education/ http://atthechalkface.com/2013/03/05/kindergarteners-get-ready-to-confront-the-new-economy/ http://atthechalkface.com/2013/03/06/guess-the-grade-level-of-thi... more »

WHY I WILL OCCUPY THE DEPT. OF ED. IN DC United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

United Opt Out National: KRIS NIELSEN: WHY I WILL OCCUPY THE DEPT. OF ED. IN DC In the last month of 2007, I finished my first real semester of being a teacher. It was an accomplishment that I chalked up to being my most difficult and most rewarding. I couldn’t wait to start the next year, …MORE JESSIE RAMEY: WHY I AM GOING TO OCCUPY THE DEPT. OF ED. IN DC I am coming to Washington D.C. to Occupy the Department of Education this April because our public schools in Pennsylvania have lost $2 BILLION these past two years. Draconian state budget cuts of this magnitude are only possi... more »

CCSS Parent Opt Out Form | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

CCSS Parent Opt Out Form | Truth in American Education: CCSS Parent Opt Out Form Posted on March 9, 2013 by chascherrie Here is a CCSS Parent Opt Out form for those parents to use in expressing their desires to their child’s school. You can download this form to use and share.

Paul Vallas: You are no Michael Jordon, and even if you were, you aren’t above the law - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Paul Vallas: You are no Michael Jordon, and even if you were, you aren’t above the law - Wait, What?: Paul Vallas: You are no Michael Jordon, and even if you were, you aren’t above the law by jonpelto Yesterday, Hugh Bailey, the Assistant Editorial Page Editor of the CT Post, published a commentary piece that perfectly summarizes the situation surrounding the Bridgeport Board of Education’s 5 to 4 decision to grant Paul Vallas what is almost certainly an illegal, three-year illegal to serve as their Superintendent of Schools contract. Bailey’s piece is entitled – The rules apply t... more »

Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: More Reading. More Writing. More Engaged Citizens of the World.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: More Reading. More Writing. More Engaged Citizens of the World.: More Reading. More Writing. More Engaged Citizens of the World. by noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen) By Sarah Mulhern Gross. Cross posted on March 6, 2013 on The Reading Zone *Cum hoc non propter hoc.* In last week’s NY Daily News, Robert Pondiscio, a former public school teacher and now the executive director of CitizenshipFirst, lauds the "… abandoning the literacy curriculum used to teach a generation of our children to read”. In the shift to the Common Core, he says we are le... more »

Schools Matter: Support Colorado Student Walkout March 14

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Schools Matter: Support Colorado Student Walkout March 14: Support Colorado Student Walkout March 14 by Jim Horn Support Colorado students standing up for their education: Popout KIPP, Inc. (Texas) Downgraded by Fitch: Will Test Score Derivatives Be Next? by Jim Horn Now KIPP CEOs aka "school leaders" aka "principals" have more to pore over on Monday mornings than reports of children talking at school or going to the bathroom illegally, or even reports that test scores were flat last week. Now they must worry about being too highly leveraged, narrow balance sheets, and escalating ... more »

New Mexico Senate Scraps Jeb Bush’s School Grade Formula | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

New Mexico Senate Scraps Jeb Bush’s School Grade Formula | Scathing Purple Musings: New Mexico Senate Scraps Jeb Bush’s School Grade Formula by Bob Sikes Jeb Bush’s Chiefs for Change continue to run into trouble with their implementation of his policies around the country. In New Mexico, embattled education boss Hanna Skandera is facing rejection. Meanwhile, the New Mexico senate voted to do away with the Bush school grade formula she implemented. From reporter Milan Simonich in the *Carlsbad Current-Argus*: SANTA FE – State Sen. Howie Morales says New Mexico’s system of grading ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race and Class, Our District and...Fundraising?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race and Class, Our District and...Fundraising?: Race and Class, Our District and...Fundraising? by Melissa Westbrook When the issue about the race/social justics class at Center School came up, there was little notice about who attends the school. Yet both the teacher, Jon Greenberg, and some Center students I talked with expressed frustration with the lack of diversity at the school AND that for some minority students who do enroll, they leave fairly quickly. What the students told me is that the minority students don't feel they fit in but m... more »

Promises are Meant to be Broken | PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Promises are Meant to be Broken | PWC Education Reform Blog: Promises are Meant to be Broken by pwceducationreform There’s one things politicians like to do. They like to make promises they can’t keep. Politicians are also really bad at telling people the whole truth. Below are a few of the whoppers I’ve heard from about the pool from people who are far too smart to be saying such stupid things. *The pool won’t cost anything because it is a one time expense* You only build a school one time, just like you only build a house one time. But, just like building a house isn’t free, b... more »

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