Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Daily Kos: "The rebranding of the Republican Party is to a large degree the renaming of intolerance."

Daily Kos: "The rebranding of the Republican Party is to a large degree the renaming of intolerance.":


"The rebranding of the Republican Party is to a large degree the renaming of intolerance."

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)



That is the final line of a brilliant column by Charles M. Blow that I discuss in Charles M. Blow gets it right, which because of that very unsexy title is apparently not drawing eyeballs.
This diary points at that.
That diary explores the Blow column and then points you at it.
The KEY thing is, read his column.
PEACE



Charles M. Blow gets it right

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)
in a column titled Terms of Art he starts with this biting paragraph:
Many on the political right simply can’t get this diversity thing right — and I deeply doubt that they want to. Theirs is a bone-deep contempt for otherness, a congenital belief in the superiority-inferiority binary, a circle-the-wagons, zero-sum view of progress, prosperity and power.
That one paragraph is so richbone-deep contempt for otherness by itself is worthy -  think of the hashtagging we could do with that!
the zero-sum view of progress, prosperity and power helps us understand why they react so viscerally to any kind of social program to help the less well-off: they consider it as a theft from themselves.
This column has so much more.
I will let you read what he has to say about the now infamous Mr. Richwine, whose bloviations for Heritage Foundation on immigration are the proximate occasion for this particular column.
Blow notes of one phrase that has become infamous
Skill-based. Clever. Or Machiavellian.
He places this in proper context with Romney's "47%,"  John Sununu's attempts to portray Obama as not really American, Paul Ryan blaming the vote in "urban areas" for the Republican 2012 presidential fail, and additional examples from Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, even going back to Reagan and welfare queens, and the first Bush and Atwater using Willie Horton, before writing
But I think you get the picture.The right is constantly invoking class and race as cudgels in our political discussions; they just hide the hand that swings the club.
Ouch!  In more ways than one.There is only one sentence left, and this is an absolute gem:
The rebranding of the Republican Party is to a large degree the renaming of intolerance.
Read the column.Pass it on.
And remember:  The rebranding of the Republican Party is to a large degree the renaming of intolerance.
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SI&A Cabinet Report – SBE challenges school accountability measurement, looks for options

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:


SBE challenges school accountability measurement, looks for options

By Kimberly Beltran
Thursday, May 09, 2013


California’s State Board of Education raised some major red flags Wednesday over changes being considered to the state’s K-12 school accountability system, leaving in question the next steps for updating the system.
Mike Kirst, board president, even questioned whether a revised API could continue to serve as a viable measuring tool.
“In baseball, you have a batting average, you have a runs-batted-in average, you have an on-base percentage and other measures and you don’t put them all together and say this is the performance index of the hitter – they’re separate things,” Kirst said. “I think we get in trouble when we start mixing apples and oranges and bananas, throw them into a blender and get a single number.”
Kirst’s comments came during an update from California Department of Education staff on its progress to add student growth indicators, other than test scores, to the Academic Performance Index – as required under legislation passed last year. CDE staff is guiding the work in conjunction with a panel of education experts convened to recommend to 


New student testing would use machines for most of the scoring

The Legislature remains undecided about if and when to move to a new testing system based on the common core standards but the new assessments mostly likely to be used are expected to have about 75 percent of the test items machine scored – including a fair number of reading and writing elements.


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Jersey Jazzman: What's In a Name? Only Jeb! Bush Knows.

Jersey Jazzman: What's In a Name? Only Jeb! Bush Knows.:


What's In a Name? Only Jeb! Bush Knows.

by Duke


Hanna Skandera is now the head chief of Jeb Bush!'s reformy group, Chiefs For Change. And she's decided to celeberate by snatching up a title that was not conferred on her by law:
Hanna Skandera, one of most controversial figures in state government, has given herself a new title. 
Even without the New Mexico Senate's vote of approval, Skandera is calling herself secretary of public education. 
It would seem a not-so-subtle dig at a Democrat in the Senate who waited two years to schedule Skandera's confirmation hearing, then never held a vote on it. 
Now, publicists in Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration and Skandera herself have 
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A Hockey Game Breaks Out at PS 154 in the Bronx.southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:


A Hockey Game Breaks Out at PS 154 in the Bronx

by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)
We here at SBSB are admitted Trekkies. We have also had a chill go down our collective spines when either Captain Kirk or Captain Picard always take the ultimate responsibility for the actions and decisions of not only their crews, but the second in commands as well.

And that is how it should always be. Just like the Skipper and Gilligan, Ricochet Rabbit and Droop-Along, Sheriff Taylor and Deputy Fife, Gomer and Goober, the Captain and Tennille, Steve Douglas and Uncle Charlie, Colonel Blake and Major Burns, Han Solo and Chewbacca, etc... Get the point?

So should the same theory not be in place in our schools?

Yesterday, was like any other day at PS 154. Out of control as usual. A student that has the run of the school, who we have mentioned under one pseudonym or another on these pages, but for today we will address as Yankel 
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The Campaign for College Opportunity :: Working Hard, Left Behind

The Campaign for College Opportunity :: Working Hard, Left Behind:


Working Hard, Left Behind

Education as a pathway from poverty to prosperity for working Californians

Working_Hard_Left_Behing_thumbnail.jpg
Working Hard, Left Behind: Education as a pathway from poverty to prosperity is a new report commissioned by The Campaign for College Opportunity, in partnership with the Women’s Foundation of California and Working Poor Families project.  The report details the economic state of California’s low-income adults and finds that low educational attainment is the one common characteristic of the working poor. 
The report calls this inequity both a social justice and economic imperative. Economic security should not be out of reach for people who are working hard when higher education can be a viable pathway from poverty to prosperity. But there must be a will for reform and investment in the state’s higher education system. If left unaddressed, the state’s future outlook is threatened. 

    Download any of the following documents related to the report:

    The economic state of California's low-income families:

    Working_Hard_Left_Behind_Infographic_1.png

      • 1 in 3 of the 4 million working families in California are considered low-income
      • Of the 1.87 million low-income families in the state, 73% are a part of the labor force.
      • Nearly half are without a high school diploma or GED.
      • 60% have no postsecondary education.
      • 40% of all children under the age of 18 in California, are in working low-income families.



      The pathway to prosperity:

      The report considers the following policy and programmatic areas key to a comprehensive strategy to help struggling adults achieve economic prosperity. 
      Working_Hard_Left_Behind_Infographic_2.png

      • Adult education and basic skills education
      • Community college access and completion
      • Federal funding, including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Workforce Investment Act funds, and Pell Grants
      • Financial aid for working adults or non-traditional students
      • Student supports, including guidance counseling and orientation through college
      • Child care
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      State working poor lack education opportunities, report says - latimes.com

      State working poor lack education opportunities, report says - latimes.com:


      State working poor lack education opportunities, report says

      by By Carla Rivera


      California has the highest number of working poor families in the nation, but the state does an ineffective  job of providing educational opportunities to boost them out of poverty, according to a new report released Wednesday.
      The report, Working Hard, Left Behind, found that the state has the largest number of adults without a high school diploma or equivalent and ranks last among states in the percentage of low-income working families in which neither parent has a college education.
      And although the state’s older population is among the most well-educated in the nation, younger adults are losing ground, with those ages 25 to 34 ranking 25th among their peers in other states in obtaining a bachelor’s degree or higher.
      The report was produced by the nonprofit Campaign for College Opportunity and the Women’s Foundation of California and is based on 2011 U.S. census data.
      “What’s really disturbing to see is how many working poor families there are in California and that it’s more than we have imagined,” said Michele Siqueiros, executive director of the college 
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      Everybody has dreams. I’m asking you to make a donation. | Fred Klonsky

      Everybody has dreams. I’m asking you to make a donation. | Fred Klonsky:


      Everybody has dreams. I’m asking you to make a donation.

      by Fred Klonsky


      You rarely have seen me ask for money.
       Once in a while like when a massive human disaster strikes I will do what others do and link to sites where money can be sent.
      But today I’m asking you to consider making a donation to The International Dreamers Scholarship Fund.
      Take a minute and read about it. 
      If you can see your way clear to contribute, that would be a good thing.
      Everybody has dreams.  Some people work hard and make their dreams come true.  Other people work hard and through no fault of their own their dreams are crushed.  If you could, wouldn’t you help such a dreamer? By giving to the The International Dreamers Scholarship Fund, you can.
      Many undocumented students are just such dreamers. They are young people who were brought to the United States as children without documentation. Now, after years of living here, they want to go to college.  But under federal law, undocumented youth are ineligible for state or federal financial aid.  At International High School at Prospect Heights (IHS@PH) we have seen many of our best and brightest students unable to reach their dream of a college education. Why? Without financial aid they simply can’t afford it.
      A group of teachers, staff and friends of IHS@PH are pooling their resources and reaching out to our communities to raise $40,000 by June 1 so we can guarantee a scholarship to at least one worthy student and set the stage for a long-term fund that awards scholarships that make dreams of higher education a reality for high-achieving undocumented students every year.
      Donate now to The International Dreamers Scholarship Fund, by going to the North Star Fund web-site, and designating the International Dreamers Scholarship Fund as the recipient of your gift.
      The International Dreamers Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)(3) charity administered by the North Star Fund.
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      Elizabeth Warren: Student Loans Should Have Same Rate Big Banks Get

      Elizabeth Warren: Student Loans Should Have Same Rate Big Banks Get:


      Elizabeth Warren: Student Loans Should Have Same Rate Big Banks Get



      WASHINGTON -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) unveiled her first bill Wednesday, designed to set student loan interest rates at the same level the Federal Reserve offers to big banks.
      With some student loan rates set to double on July 1 -- from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent -- Warren's bill would reduce student loan interest rates to 0.75 percent, opening the Fed's discount window to students.
      "Every single day, this country invests in big banks by lending them money at near-zero rates," Warren told The Huffington Post. "We should make the same kind of investment lending money to students, who are trying to get an education."
      The freshman senator said she plans to mobilize students -- those most affected by student loans -- to help get the bill through the Senate. "This is about their lives and if they are active in this fight, we can make this change," Warren said.
      The Fed justifies loaning money essentially for free to major banks so they can maintain liquidity during emergencies. But Warren noted that student loan debt also 
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      Jersey Jazzman: Charters = Wal-Mart

      Jersey Jazzman: Charters = Wal-Mart:


      Charters = Wal-Mart

      by Duke



      Laura Waters - a local school board president herself - does not want to give local boards veto power over charter schools expanding into their districts. To make her case, she badly mangles a metaphor:
      Education Sector notes that school boards “are often hostile to charter schools, which compete with them for students, funds, and prestige,” adding that “state charter laws that allow only local school boards to authorize charters,” with no appeals process, “can result in very few charter schools in that state.” A cynic would say that this is Assemblyman Diegnan’s intention. After all, giving school boards sole authority to grant approval for new local charters is like giving Wal-Mart sole authority to grant approval for new local merchandisers. Taking it one step further -- consigning such approval to a local referendum -- is a political calculus, not an educational one. [emphasis mine]
      Let's take a moment to appreciate how Waters has actually flipped the Wal-Mart analogy on its head. Because it's not local school boards that are most like the big box retailer; it's the charter schools.

      There's a lot of controversy about the actual effect of Wal-Mart on a local economy, but there's little debate tha





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      Buena Vista School District Closed For Third Day; Fired Teachers File For Unemployment

      Buena Vista School District Closed For Third Day; Fired Teachers File For Unemployment:


      Buena Vista School District Closed For Third Day; Fired Teachers File For Unemployment

      by Joy Resmovits
      The deathwatch over a tiny school district in Michigan continues as its schools remain closed.

      Despite teachers' offers to work for free for at least a week, schools in the Buena Vista School District will remain closed for the third consecutive day Thursday because the district has run out of money. On Monday, the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week, the district laid off everyone except for three staffers, and has stopped paying health benefit claims.

      On Wednesday, chaos continued to envelop Buena Vista, a 432-student impoverished, mostly black school district. The school board said it plans to declare a financial emergency. The state and county remained in contact, but still had no plans to help the district.

      Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Kildee, a Democratic U.S. House of Representatives member whose district includes Buena Vista, begged the state to step in.

      After a school board meeting Tuesday night left parents with more questions than answers, the district posted a series of questions and answers on its website. The district explained that it chose to lay off the teachers 
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      The school model that's good enough for President Obama and Mayor Emanuel | Ben Joravsky on Politics | Chicago Reader

      The school model that's good enough for President Obama and Mayor Emanuel | Ben Joravsky on Politics | Chicago Reader:

      The school model that's good enough for President Obama and Mayor Emanuel 

      The prestigious University of Chicago Lab Schools respect and reward teachers—so why can't the public schools?

      University of Chicago Lab Schools parent Barack Obama, graduate Arne Duncan, and parent Rahm Emanuel
      University of Chicago Lab Schools parent Barack Obama, graduate Arne Duncan, and parent Rahm Emanuel
      AP PHOTO/CHARLES DHARAPAK; AP PHOTO/JACQUELYN MARTIN; AP PHOTO/M. SPENCER GREEN
      I recently got a call from a teacher at the University of Chicago Lab Schools who wanted to let me know just how many private school teachers detest the educational policies of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
      He caught me off guard, because I'd assumed that people at the school would espouse the get-tough-on-teachers mentality of Mayor Emanuel and his predecessor, Mayor Daley, since both mayors sent their kids there. Not to mention Arne Duncan, President Obama's education secretary, who went to Lab. Or, while we're at it, President Obama, whose kids also attended the school.
      But no—it turns out that Lab has a progressive and tolerant attitude toward its teaching staff.
      Look, I don't blame any of these parents for sending their kids to Lab. It's one of the highest-achieving schools in the country, in part because it attracts and keeps a dedicated band of outstanding teachers.
      And one of the ways the school does it? "We have a pretty good contract," the Lab teacher tells me.
      As in a contract with a union—local 2063 of the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT is the same national to which the Chicago Teachers Union belongs.
      I think we should pause to appreciate the irony that Mayor Emanuel sends his children to a unionized private school while working overtime to break the public school teachers' union in 
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      Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-8-13 #thankateacher #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




      What happens after the tests are over? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
      What happens after the tests are over? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: What happens after the tests are over? by Chalk Face, PhD [image: spirit]Apparently, “Spirit Week!” Wait, isn’t learning supposed to be fun ALL YEAR ROUND? I guess not. Can we also think of new things to do in schools on these Spirit Days? I remember them as a teacher and an entire grade level wearing the same color really isn’t all that fun. Maybe I’m being too cynical. But I remember Field Days at the end of the year. Classes had to pick a country. I recall teachers practically running down to the of... more »


      Immersion or segregation? Trost Elementary becomes a language-immersion-only school | OregonLive.com

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 minutes ago
      Immersion or segregation? Trost Elementary becomes a language-immersion-only school | OregonLive.com: Immersion or segregation? Trost Elementary becomes a language-immersion-only school by Heather Steeves, The Oregonian [image: trost3.jpg]CANBY -- Trost Elementary kindergartener Brisa Vega, 6, looks on as her friend Paola Cabello, 6, paints an octopus. The girls are among hundreds of children enrolled in Trost's dual language immersion program, where students learn to speak both Spanish and English. Next year Trost will become a magnet school and will only use the language immersi... more »

      Bill Gates' TED Talk: Are Video Cameras the Missing Link? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
      Bill Gates' TED Talk: Are Video Cameras the Missing Link? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Bill Gates' TED Talk: Are Video Cameras the Missing Link? by Anthony Cody I watched Bill Gates' TED Talk last night, to hear him explain why we should spend $5 billion to put video cameras in every classroom in the nation. But before I get to what he said, I want to share some of the wisdom that preceded him. Rita Pierson starts us off with a bang, speaking of how human relationships are the prerequisite for learning. Kids don't learn from people they don't like. Apologize... ... more »

      Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » My Kid and Our Kids

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
      Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » My Kid and Our Kids: My Kid and Our Kids by alicemercer Recent news has focused on the educational choices that those on both sides of the education reform debate have made with their own kids. My first discomfort with this is the disclosure of the actual schools these children are attending. Given the high profile of both these ladies, and the animus they generate, as a teacher I worry about having information that specific (the actual schools) out there. I’m a firm believer that one should not bear the burden of ones parents, most espec... more »

      NYC Educator: Reformy John and the Magic Mirror

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago
      NYC Educator: Reformy John and the Magic Mirror: Reformy John and the Magic Mirror by NYC Educator Every day Reformy John King peered into his magic mirror and asked, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the reformiest one of all?" Inevitably the mirror would answer, "You're reformy, this I like, but reformier still is Emperor Mike." Reformy John was sad. What can I do to be as reformy as Emperor Mike, he wondered. And furthermore, does an emperor outrank a king? Despite these illuminating ruminations, every morning it was the same. "Reformy yes, this you can do, but Mike's reformie... more »

      UPDATE: We’re Going on a “DIG”! + Real News Report on Rhee and the Epidemic of Test Cheating – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
      Real News Report on Rhee and the Epidemic of Test Cheating – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: We’re Going on a “DIG”! by antiqueteacher60 It’s time to do some “digging for artifacts”! In order for my District to evaluate my performance on Domain 4 of the Danielson Rubric. I must produce 2 pieces of EVIDENCE of each of the following: 1. Reflection on Teaching 2. Maintaining Accurate Records 3. Communicating with Families 4. Participating in a Professional Community 5. Growing and Developing Real News Report on Rhee and the Epidemic of Test Cheating by Jim Horn From a coupl... more »

      Subtracting to Add | Taking Note

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
      Subtracting to Add | Taking Note: Subtracting to Add by John Merrow The first time I heard this big idea was in a conversation with Zell Miller, the gruff former Senator from Georgia, in the fall of 2002. His quote didn’t make our documentary, “The Promise of Preschool,” but he basically said that, if he had his way, he would get rid of 12th grade and spend the money on free, universal, high quality preschool. At the time, Georgia was leading the nation in providing preschool, and it’s still near the top of the list. But Georgia and every other state and territory still have 12th ... more »

      Virginia second-graders suspended for pointing pencils at each other

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
      Virginia second-graders suspended for pointing pencils at each other: Virginia second-graders suspended for pointing pencils at each other Posted by Valerie Strauss on May 8, 2013 at 3:42 pm 7 Comments More [image: pencils]Have you heard about the two 7-year-old boys who were suspended from their Suffolk County, Va. school for pointing pencils at each other while making shooting sounds? One boy was pretending to be a Marine and the other a bad guy. There is a zero tolerance policy in the school system and so, the second-graders had to stay home for two days instead of go to class at ... more »

      Day of the Teacher 2013 - California Teachers Association

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
      Day of the Teacher 2013 - California Teachers Association: *Hover mouse over poster to share.* To download a wallpaper of the California Day of the Teacher poster, select your screen resolution width:1024, 1280, 1600, 1920, 2048. California Teachers: Honoring our past. Guiding the future. TODAY we mark the 31st anniversary of California’s Day of the Teacher. To honor teachers and the150th anniversary of CTA, we have chosen “*California Teachers: Honoring our Past, Guiding the Future*” as this year’s theme. CTA has been making a positive impact on education for 150 years now. Our vic... more »

      UPDATE: Jason Richwine is even too racist for his bosses at the wing-nut Heritage Foundation. But not too racist to support Rahm’s school closings. | Fred Klonsky

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
      Jason Richwine is even too racist for his bosses at the wing-nut Heritage Foundation. But not too racist to support Rahm’s school closings. | Fred Klonsky: Jason Richwine is even too racist for his bosses at the wing-nut Heritage Foundation. But not too racist to support Rahm’s school closings. by Fred Klonsky Popout*Jason Richwine of the Heritage Foundation with Michael Klonsky and Jitu Brown last March.* Jason Richwine? *I know that name.* Oh, right. He was involved in a March televised discussion with my brother and Jitu Brown, Chicago schools and community activist. Representing... more »

      Diane in the Evening 5-8-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
      Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: 8th Grade Student: Why So Much Advertising on Pearson Tests? by dianerav A student in a gifted program wrote this piercing analysis of the state tests he and his classmates just endured. The tests he took had many brand names and registered trademarks. He realized this is product placement. He wrote: “Non-fictional passages in the test I took included an article about robots, where the brands IBM™, Lego®, FIFA® and Mindstorms™ popped up, each explained with a footnote. I cannot speak for all test takers, but I ... more »

      #Edchat: Why & How | My Island View

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
      #Edchat: Why & How | My Island View: #Edchat: Why & How by tomwhitby Each Sunday afternoon there are five Topic questions posted on a poll to determine which will be selected as that week’s #Edchat Topic. There are two #Edchat discussions each Tuesday on Twitter, so the top two topics selected by the poll become the topics of the chats. The number two choice goes at noon, Eastern Time, and the number one selection goes at 7 PM, Eastern Time. The larger audience is the 7 PM Chat. If you did not know it before, I am the person responsible for making up the #Edchat Topic questions ... more »

      Insights on the Faces of Poverty — Whole Child Education

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
      Insights on the Faces of Poverty — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Insights on the Faces of Poverty May 8, 2013 by Klea Scharberg [image: The Faces of Poverty - ASCD Educational Leadership] With so many families facing hardship now, today's "poor kids" don't fit old stereotypes. And taking such actions as they can to make learning and life better for students facing poverty is now a challenge for all teachers. The May 2013 issue of ASCD's *Educational Leadership* araises awareness of the impact of poverty on children today and what might be done to... more »

      FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, May 8, 2013

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
      FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Wednesday, May 8, 2013* School district politicking criticizedThe San Diego Unified School District is bound by law to stop using its website to promote political positions, the county grand jury said in a report on Tuesday. TEMECULA: School district proceeds with teacher layoffsThe Temecula Valley Unified School board authorized the layoff of more than 40 teachers at its meeting Tuesday, May 7. But board members and district administrators said they are hopeful many of the teachers will be brought back as p... more »

      UPDATE: Downton Billy + Is the School “Reform” Drought Breaking? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
      Is the School “Reform” Drought Breaking? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Sweet 16: What Matters v. What Should Matter in Teacher Qualities by plthomasedd My colleague and social studies educator, George Lipscomb, is offering a May Experience course addressing “What Makes a Great Teacher.” He started the course today with a Sweet 16 of teacher values so I thought this idea may be a great way to ask people to confront priorities regarding what our current high-stakes test-based accountability [...] Downton Billy by freetoteach Since Bill Gates and other billionaire boys ... more »

      Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Closing Duncan's Chicago 'Renaissance' Schools

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
      Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Closing Duncan's Chicago 'Renaissance' Schools: Closing Duncan's Chicago 'Renaissance' Schools by Mike Klonsky Obama came to Dodge school in 2009 and used the visit to announce Duncan's appointment as Sec. of EducationWhile *Arne Duncan *was whisking in the children of the rich and powerful into Chicago's elite, selective-enrollment schools, he was also pushing a system of new start-ups and charters under his Renaissance 2010 program. But, according to WBEZ's Becky Vevea, in the most recent round of proposed school closings, CPS is shutting down th... more »

      UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: To the Members of the Executive Committee

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
      Seattle Schools Community Forum: To the Members of the Executive Committee: Charter Commission - Second Meeting, Part Two by Melissa Westbrook *Charter Commission discussion * The biggest bone of contention at this point is the lottery system for approved charter school applications. Now my initial read (and others as well) was that if the Board of Education received more than 8 approved charter applications from all authorizers, then they would go into a straight lottery. The Attorney General's reading is that the seven that get to the BOE's office first will be stamped and appro... more »

      Why it is hard to monitor bullying at schools — report

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
      Why it is hard to monitor bullying at schools — report: Why it is hard to monitor bullying at schools — report Posted by Valerie Strauss on May 8, 2013 at 11:30 am [image: Prevention of Bullying Cover]A new report that reviewed years of research says that it is hard to accurately monitor levels of bullying in schools because there is still no consensus on exactly what it is and that educators and scholars “should not limit themselves to the traditional definition” as they seek ways to combat it. The report, called “Prevention of Bullying in Schools, Colleges and Universities” and ju... more »

      What teachers really want | Lily's Blackboard

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
      What teachers really want | Lily's Blackboard: What teachers REALLY want by Lily [image: Lily's Blackboard Rotating Header Image] What teachers REALLY want May 8th, 2013 by Lily. Welcome to National Teacher Appreciation Week. I looked under my pillow to see if the Tooth Fairy left me something. Nope. Checked the fireplace to see if Santa had been there? Zip. Maybe a piñata filled with sweet surprises? Nada. Ok. Maybe we didn’t ask. You don’t get what you wish for. You’ve got to let people know what you want. We did that. *We asked teachers all over the country what they wanted,* s... more »

      "Other People's Children": The Corollary of Bad Policy | California Progress Report

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
      "Other People's Children": The Corollary of Bad Policy | California Progress Report: "Other People's Children": The Corollary of Bad Policy by callen *By Mark Naison* For some time, I have argued that School Reform is the most destructive bi-partisan initiative we have suffered in the United States since the Vietnam War, a policy which has, and will continue to inspire mass movements to limit the damage it inflicts through universal testing of the nation's children, and the humiliation and micro-management of the nation's teachers. Some have argued, correctly, that people have not ... more »

      Say Thanks to a School Nurse on May 8 | NEA Today

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
      Say Thanks to a School Nurse on May 8 | NEA Today: Say Thanks to a School Nurse on May 8 by twalker *By Helen Yoshida* In honor of National School Nurse’s Day, we spoke to 2012 Missouri ESP of the Year Carmen K. Hill. Hill is a tireless and dedicated school nurse working in the St. Louis, Missouri public school system. *What’s a typical day like for you?* I get in here at 6:45am and by a quarter to 8:00 I start giving out medications to the students who need them. Then I start seeing the sick students that have come to school from the bus or that were dropped off by their parents ... more »

      Wednesday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
      Wednesday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Whole Child Virtual Conference]Wednesday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference May 7, 2013 by Whole Child Virtual Conference We invite you to participate in ASCD's third annual Whole Child Virtual Conference. Entitled "Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Culture," sessions will offer educators around the globe leadership discussions and strategies to support their work to implement and sustain a whole child approach to education. *The Finnish Experience and the Whole Chi... more »

      Modern School: Ending Bullying by Changing Its Name

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
      Modern School: Ending Bullying by Changing Its Name: Ending Bullying by Changing Its Name by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons A group of researchers commissioned by the American Education Research Association says that efforts to reduce bullying in school are hampered by the overuse and abuse of the term “bullying” and are calling for it to be replaced by the term “victimization,” according to a recent report in USA today. Yeh, right. . . When the Blackwater mercenary army was having image problems they changed their name to Xe and then again to Academi, innocent soun... more »

      The home school subculture creates soldiers for America’s culture war | The Raw Story

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
      The home school subculture creates soldiers for America’s culture war | The Raw Story: The home school subculture creates soldiers for America’s culture war By The Guardian Wednesday, May 8, 2013 9:04 EDT [image: Little girl home school (Shutterstock)] *Katherine Stewart: The Christian home school subculture isn’t a children-first movement. Some former students are bravely speaking out* Several decades ago, political activists on the religious right began to put together an “ideology machine”. Home schooling was a big part of the plan. The idea was to breed and “train up” an army ... more »

      Blog: Why Has Conservative Media Ignored Michelle Rhee's Connection to Common Core?

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Blog: Why Has Conservative Media Ignored Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Connection to Common Core?: Why Has Conservative Media Ignored Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Connection to Common Core?Ann Kane * * * * Now that citizens across the country are becoming more aware of the detrimental aspects of the already adopted Common Core State Standards, Michelle Rhee, the face of education reform, has commented "I do think that there has to be a very strong defense of the common core[.]" In a recent interview Rhee suggested to proponents of CCSS to switch up the argument "... more »

      LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-8-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Voucher Decision a Blow to Jindal 2016 Campaign by dianerav Good article in the Washington Post about the major decision by Louisiana’s top court to strike down funding of vouchers with public school dollars. More than 700,000 students in the state, only 8,000 have vouchers. Many vouchers used in schools that resolutely refuse to teach modern science, math, or history. Funny place for Jindal to stake his claim. He is determined to find the money some other way, t... more »

      Teacher Appreciation Week: It's About the Little Things - High School Notes (usnews.com)

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Teacher Appreciation Week: It's About the Little Things - High School Notes (usnews.com): Teacher Appreciation Week: It's About the Little Things By KELSEY SHEEHY May 8, 2013 RSS Feed Print [image: A high school science teacher works with students. Show teachers your appreciation throughout the year by acknowledging their hard work.] Show teachers your appreciation throughout the year by acknowledging their hard work. Teachers devote their lives to educating the nation's youth. They serve as mentors, coaches, counselors and yes, even baby sitters, often with limited resources and li... more »

      UPDATE: The attack on the IRTA + The dust hasn’t settled on the pension deal. | Fred Klonsky

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      The dust hasn’t settled on the pension deal. | Fred Klonsky: Ten minute drawing. Good cop, bad cop. by Fred Klonsky [image: good cop bad cop] Quote of the week. Elaine Nekritz. by Fred Klonsky [image: nekritz] *“For them to say that the legislature is giving people two choices, neither of which they have today, both of which are less than what they have today, I don’t know how that’s different from what we’re saying,” – Elaine Nekritz* Meanwhile at City Hall, protesters want to know why Rahm hasn’t walked the walk. by Fred Klonsky [image: BJwMImiCEAAstqi.jpg-large] The at... more »

      Ed Notes Online: Updated: Jennifer Jennings (formerly Eduwonkette) apologizes to Secretary Duncan over the booing at AERA

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Ed Notes Online: Updated: Jennifer Jennings (formerly Eduwonkette) apologizes to Secretary Duncan over the booing at AERA: Updated: Jennifer Jennings (formerly Eduwonkette) apologizes to Secretary Duncan over the booing at AERA by ed notes online I have heard this before; critiques from the people in power or their apologists saying “why can’t you be more civilized.” In my mind, it is similar to a well-equipped army that invades your country, takes over your institutions, and then argues with the natives that their resistance is not “civilized” enough. ... Leonie Haimson Jennife... more »

      Links and Lessons for K-12 Schools and Hospitals (Jeff Bowen) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Links and Lessons for K-12 Schools and Hospitals (Jeff Bowen) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Links and Lessons for K-12 Schools and Hospitals (Jeff Bowen) by larrycuban *Dr. Jeffrey Bowen has served as superintendent of the Yorkshire Pioneer Central School District in western New York, research director for the New York State School Boards Association, and supervisor of on-the-job training in an Air Force hospital. He is a founding member and vice president of the Healthy Community Alliance in Gowanda, New York. * Since 2000, hospital bills have increased... more »

      ‘Change Without Reform in American Education’ — book excerpt

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      ‘Change Without Reform in American Education’ — book excerpt: ‘Change Without Reform in American Education’ — book excerpt Posted by Valerie Strauss on May 8, 2013 at 4:00 am 0 Comments More [image: cuban]Larry Cuban is a former high school social studies teacher and a school district superintendent (in Arlington, VA) who has been teaching at Stanford University for more than 20 years and conducting research on wave after wave of school reform and their effects. In just about every case, the effects of reform effects have been less than promised. In his new book, “Inside the Black ... more »

      Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Weiner discipline

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Weiner discipline: Weiner discipline by Mike Klonsky Disgraced former congressman *Anthony Weiner* is planning to run for mayor of New York, a position that would also put him in control of the schools. Why New Yorkers would want to put this creep anywhere near school children is beyond me. But then, *Mark Sanford* was just elected in South Carolina, so what do I know? (N.Y. Post pic)Monday, protesting NYC students made it clear that they want no part of Weiner's ideas on public education. Those ideas were laid out in a policy booklet released last m... more »

      Seattle Schools Community Forum: Now I've Heard Everything

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Seattle Schools Community Forum: Now I've Heard Everything: Now I've Heard Everything by Melissa Westbrook I am working on a series on Common Core (which is coming at you like a Japanese bullet train.) But there are some pretty funny things happening so I just couldn't wait. Conservatives and Dem ed reformers and corporate ed reformers have been able to join hands and sing Kumbaya over charters, TFA, teacher evaluation, etc. But here comes Common Core and it all falls apart. The conservatives loathe Common Core and have succeeded in spreading the word. The GOP passed a reso... more »

      Missouri Education Watchdog: Post Dispatch STL Today's Disingenuous Editorial on Common Core Standards. Susan Ohanian Chimes In.

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Missouri Education Watchdog: Post Dispatch STL Today's Disingenuous Editorial on Common Core Standards. Susan Ohanian Chimes In.: Post Dispatch STL Today's Disingenuous Editorial on Common Core Standards. Susan Ohanian Chimes In. by stlgretchen The definition of disingenuous amply sums up the St. Louis Post Dispatch's editorial on Common Core standards and the recent meeting DESE held "informing" the public on the initiative. From a googlesearch of the word: dis·in·gen·u·ous /ËŒdisinˈjenyo͞oÉ™s/ Adjective Not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about s... more »

      Louisiana Believes in Completely Denying Reality | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      Louisiana Believes in Completely Denying Reality | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Louisiana Believes in Completely Denying Reality by crazycrawfish [image: Like the mysterious phoenix, I rise from the ashes of my defeat. . .so many ashes. . .] Like the mysterious phoenix, I rise from the ashes of my defeat. . .so. . . many. . . ashes. . . *STATEMENT FROM SUPERINTENDENT JOHN WHITE REGARDING LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT RULING* May 07, 2013 BATON ROUGE, La. – State Superintendent of Education John White issued a statement today concerning the Louisiana Supreme Court ruling on Act 2: “On the most ...more »

      How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
      How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison: How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison *By Amber M. Winkler, Ph.D. , Janie Scull , Dara Zeehandelaar, Ph.D. / October 29, 2012* ** *Foreword by Chester E. Finn, Jr. , Michael J. Petrilli* *Filed under: Teachers* This timely study represents the most comprehensive analysis of American teacher unions’ strength ever conducted, ranking all fifty states and the District of Columbia according to the power and influence of their state-level unions. To assess union strength, the Fordham Institute and ... more »

      The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Data Offers Education Reporters Fresh Angles on Familiar Stories

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
      The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Data Offers Education Reporters Fresh Angles on Familiar Stories: Guest Post: Data Offers Education Reporters Fresh Angles on Familiar Stories by Emily Richmond *The American Educational Research Association (AERA) held its annual meeting in San Francisco last week, and I asked The Hechinger Report's John Marcus to share a guest post.* The Common Core State Standards. Teacher quality. College access. None of these are particularly new topics on the education beat. But they can be reported in new ways using data, according to researchers who col...more »

      Daily Kos: A quiet day leads to a firm conclusion

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
      Daily Kos: A quiet day leads to a firm conclusion: A quiet day leads to a firm conclusion by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) It has been a somewhat quiet day, now slowly winding down, a cat curled up next to me, listening to Brahms on his birthday, sipping brandy, with Leaves on the Current resting under her wonderful quilt, with another cat or two nearby to cuddle her. Sometimes when we do not focus on something with which we are wrestling, the piece find a way to come together without conscious effort on our part. I have reread some things I have written in the past. I have gotten ... more »

      Students march on District headquarters, protesting doomsday budget | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
      Students march on District headquarters, protesting doomsday budget | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Students march on District headquarters, protesting doomsday budget by thenotebook *by Holly Otterbein for NewsWorks* Philadelphia School District students are furious that they may have to endure even more cuts after they've already lost several nurses, central office staff members and a beloved annual musical at the High School for Creative And Performing Arts. A group of roughly 250 students marched to the District's headquarters at 440 N. Broad St., where they held their ow... more »

      Christine Rubino Pw3ns the NYC DOE southbronxschool.com

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
      http://www.southbronxschool.com: Christine Rubino Pw3ns the NYC DOE by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) During the first inning of my son's baseball game tonight I get a tweet from embattled Brooklyn teacher Christine Rubino. Curious, I read it an notice a link. The link directs me to New York State Courts page and what is there you ask? Christine Rubino kicked the DOE's ass! The Appellate Division found that she was unjustly terminated. My favorite quote of the decision goes a little something like this; Supreme Court properly found the penalty of termination to be shocking to ... more »

      Mapping billionaires and charter schools | Muckety - See the news

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
      Mapping billionaires and charter schools | Muckety - See the news: Mapping billionaires and charter schoolsBy Laurie Bennett May 7, 2013 at 11:11am While much of the activism for charter schools occurs at the local and state levels, the money funding the movement is unquestionably national. The map below shows billionaires at the center who have funded school choice efforts. (The map is better viewed in the large version. Here’s a simplified version, that can serve as a starting point.) A typical path for donations is for a wealthy individual, through his company or foundation... more »

      Kansans Against Common Core Rally Tomorrow (Updated Info)

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
      Kansans Against Common Core Rally Tomorrow (Updated Info): [image: Kansas-State Capitol 2]We appreciate all the support and look forward to seeing you in Topeka. *KANSANS AGAINST COMMON CORE RALLY* Wednesday, May 8th at 2PM *Please arrive early and use the east entrance – Rally will begin promptly at 2pm* 2nd Floor Rotunda in the Kansas State Capitol, Topeka, KS *2pm- Welcome & Introduction* *2:05pm – Kansas Legislators* REP. JOHN BRADFORD and other Kansas Legislators *2:25pm – Guest Speaker and Common Core Expert* SHANE VANDER HART with Truth in American Education *2:40pm – Parents and C... more »

      Many charter schools to begin offering transitional kindergarten in fall 2013 | EdSource Today

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
      Many charter schools to begin offering transitional kindergarten in fall 2013 | EdSource Today: Many charter schools to begin offering transitional kindergarten in fall 2013 ** May 7th, 2013 | Add a Comment | By Lillian Mongeau Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on print More Sharing Services [image: glue-stick] A child completes an art project meant to help teach how to count to 100 in a transitional kindergarten classroom in Los Angeles earlier this year. Credit: Lillian Mongeau, EdSource Today After a year’s delay, many charter schools will begin offering transi... more »

      @michelemcneil and #edweek: #optout supression! – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
      @michelemcneil and #edweek: #optout supression! – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: @michelemcneil and #edweek: #optout supression! by Timothy D. Slekar *Defenders of the Faith?* Sometimes you just can’t beat a dead horse enough. I know Shaun already mentioned Michele McNeil and her inability to understand the depth of the Occupy the DOE event. However, Shaun was too nice. In her latest post, Ms. McNeil wastes reader’s time, complicates the issue, and intentionally down plays the power behind the revolt. What appears to be a comprehensive look at the multiple players involve... more »

      Understanding the Whole Child Approach with Tenets, Indicators, and Components — Whole Child Education

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
      Understanding the Whole Child Approach with Tenets, Indicators, and Components — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Understanding the Whole Child Approach with Tenets, Indicators, and Components May 7, 2013 by Klea Scharberg [image: Whole Child Tenets] All educators want to improve the work they do for students, their families, and the community. Whether it's instruction, school climate, leadership, family engagement, or any of the other issues schools face on a daily basis, all educators need tools to help them improve their actions and methods. A w... more »

      Our First Endorsement: Monica Ratliff, a Teacher, for Los Angeles School Board | The Network For Public Education

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
      Our First Endorsement: Monica Ratliff, a Teacher, for Los Angeles School Board | The Network For Public Education: Our First Endorsement: Monica Ratliff, a Teacher, for Los Angeles School Board by admin [image: NPEbadge2]The Board of Directors of NPE has voted to endorse Monica Ratliff in her runoff election for Los Angeles school board. The election will happen on May 21st. We asked both Ratliff and her opponent, Antonio Sanchez, to complete a detailed candidate questionnaire. Monica Ratliff’s responses revealed someone who is a working 5th grade teacher, well acquainted with the ... more »

      Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Commission - Meeting Two

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
      Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Commission - Meeting Two: Washington State Charter Commission - Meeting Two by Melissa Westbrook The second Charter Commission meeting took place on April 30th at the Bellevue Art Museum where Commission member Larry Wright is the Executive Director. (I'm going to review the meeting in two threads as it was a long meeting.) Here are the two presentations from speakers. One was Robin Lake from CRPE (I missed that) and William Haft of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (a group looking to make some m... more »

      Nutrition to Grow On - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education)

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
      Nutrition to Grow On - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education): Nutrition to Grow OnAn innovative curriculum for grades four through six that offers teachers a direct link between the garden and nutrition education. ------------------------------ Nine lessons are designed to teach children and their families about nutrition by relating each lesson to a garden activity. The curriculum uses the garden to integrate disciplines, including science, mathematics, language arts, history, environmental studies, nutrition, and health, while reinforcing some of the Ca... more »

      Teacher Appreciation Week has drastically changed within one week. | Reclaim Reform

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
      Teacher Appreciation Week has drastically changed within one week. | Reclaim Reform: Teacher Appreciation Week has drastically changed within one week. by kenpreviti I thought this was some sort of Onion spoof when I saw it: It is, unfortunately, real.[image: obama-duncan] Read the full declaration HERE. *Of course Penny Pritzker, nominated as Secretary of Commerce, is heavily invested in charter schools funded with the tax money taken from the 50+ Chicago Public Schools she approved closing. She even had one named after herself. So does Arne Duncan. Yes, non-union, non-accountable ... more »

      Diane in the Evening 5-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | #thankateacher

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
      Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: *#thankateacher* Bruce Baker Teaches Civics to Jeanne Allen by dianerav Bruce Baker of Rutgers is one of my favorite education analysts. He is adept at sorting through claims and demanding evidence. In this post, he gives Jeanne Allen a civics lesson. Jeanne Allen founded the Center for Education Reforn twenty years ago to advocate for charters and vouchers, anything but public schools. She was formerly the education personat the Heritage Foundation. The media often call her for quotes, thinking that the center i... more »

      Buena Vista Public Schools Closed Despite Teachers' Offer To Work For Free

      mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
      Buena Vista Public Schools Closed Despite Teachers' Offer To Work For Free: Buena Vista Public Schools Closed Despite Teachers' Offer To Work For Free by Joy Resmovits The teachers agreed to work for free, but apparently that wasn't enough -- so school's out. That's the latest in Buena Vista, Mich., a school district of less than 500 students that closed its schools Tuesday because it is broke. At an emergency meeting Monday evening, hours after teachers voted to work for free for at least a week since the district determined it could not pay them, the school board opted to shut ... more »













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