Sunday, June 16, 2013

Ashley Muck

My former editorial board colleague Joe Geshwiler is retired but writes for the paper at times, including some wonderful obituaries. This obituary by Joe appeared Sunday in the AJC. I wanted to share it because Ashley Muck sounds like an extraordinary woman and teacher. And people ought to know about her. Ms. Muck lived a far too short life, but one full of meaning, commitment and accomplishment.

So, if you missed it in the Sunday AJC:

Ashley Muck taught calculus and trigonometry at Dacula High School the past seven years. Despite the difficulty of these subjects, she was very popular --- so much so that this year's senior class voted her the teacher "most likely to brighten your day."
She was well-liked and admired not because she made her classwork easy, but because, in her own exuberant way, she made higher math comprehensible. "If we could fill theschools with teachers like Ashley, we could throw away all the failure and graduation-rate records, " said a former Dacula High principal, Donnie Nutt of Dacula. "She loved her students and would do whatever necessary to ensure

Comparing Wait, What? to CTEducation180…Now that is just going too far… - Wait, What?

Comparing Wait, What? to CTEducation180…Now that is just going too far… - Wait, What?:

Comparing Wait, What? to CTEducation180…Now that is just going too far…

by jonpelto

Call it a Father’s Day perogative, but I’m going to take a moment away from my on-going effort to educate, persuade and mobilize through “perceptive and acerbic” observations about Connecticut Government and Politics.

Normally I don’t respond to personal attacks or ill-informed commentaries that are leveled against my own commentaries.

Truth be told, I’ve always believed in Voltaire’s famous quote which goes, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” In fact, I even believe in the more direct version of his statement which can be found in a letter he wrote on February 6, 1770, and reads, “Monsieur l’abbé, I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.”

That said, I do feel moved to respond to the observations contained in an Op. Ed. written

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Is Third Grade Retention a Help or Hindrance?

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Is Third Grade Retention a Help or Hindrance?:

Guest Post: Is Third Grade Retention a Help or Hindrance?

by Emily Richmond

We asked some of the journalists attending EWA's 66th National Seminar, held at Stanford University in May, to contribute posts from the sessions. You can find additional content, including video, at EdMedia Commons. Dave Murray of the Grand Rapids Press is today's guest blogger.

Educators are pretty clear that children need to read at grade level by third grade so they can use that skill to learn other subjects.

But what if they don’t?

More states are embracing the idea of holding back those students to repeat the third grade. Researchers Martin West (Harvard University) and Shane Jimerson (UC-Santa Barbara) squared off in a passionate – and

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Board Retreat and Strategic Planning

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Board Retreat and Strategic Planning:

Board Retreat and Strategic Planning

by Melissa Westbrook

Following up on Charlie's thread to the new (waiting for Board approval) five-year Strategic Plan, here's what I heard from the Board retreat where the Board and senior staff discussed it. For some reason, only the goals are at the communications page on this issue but there are links to the vision/mission/core beliefs from the Intro item on the Board agenda page.

To note: that Saturday, June 1st, saw a packed room of staff (most of whom stayed from 10 am to 2 p.m. - a big commitment of time) and Board members. Everyone came prepared to work and was in good spirits. There was a feeling of a shared unity to this work.

Once again the Alliance person sat at the table with Board and staff. One funny aside is that I downloaded the agenda from the district's website. It had only the district logo but when you got to the meeting, the agenda had

Seattle Schools This Week

by Melissa Westbrook

Tuesday, June 18th
Audit and Finance Ctm meeting (quarterly audit mtg) from 4-6 p.m.  Agenda.
Includes:
- exit conference from State Auditor on accountability
- internal audits include Kimball Elementary, custodial services/grounds, and Denny
- risk management
- ethics update

Wednesday, June 19th
School Board meeting starting at 4:15 pm.  Agenda.

Includes:
- academic calendar for 2013-2014.  There appear to be two Options, A and B (the difference being PD waiver days in A and not in B.) They want the Board to approve both as the BOE doesn't meet to discuss the district's request for PD waiver days until July 12th. The other difference is 2 days of TRI but different dates for A and B. There appear to be two snow days at the end of the year in June and one they could use for the Day between Semesters. And yes, there continues to be a full-week of mid-winter break. It's unclear to me if this is a final from SEA.
- the NWEA contract (MAP) for about $470k
- intro of an extension of Superintendent Banda's contract until 2016. This is a one-year added extension to his contract which was to expire in June 2015. To note:

This action does not change the Superintendent’s compensation. Discussions on compensation are being deferred until after the state budget is adopted

by the legislature and after the current contract negotiations with the

Seattle Education Association, Principals’Association of Seattle Schools and Local 609

International Union of Operating Engineers.

- approval of the Seattle Teacher Residency Students "contingent certificated contracts". I note the MOU is missed two pages (4 and 5) . It appears that the Alliance will be the employer for the Program director and staff.

- increasing the 2012-2013 budgeted transfers from Capital Projects Funds to the General Fund by $3.3M. This is for "certain technology related expenditures and certain maintenance/repairs." On the one hand, the "technology-related expenditures" is for "salary costs" but the maintenance money is for up to $800k of expenditures for summer 2013. I like the latter.

Thursday, June 20th
Operations Ctm meeting from 4-5:30 pm. Agenda not yet available.

Charter School Commission Meeting from 10 am to 5 pm. Agenda not yet available
Seattle University, Loyola 203

This is the last Commission meeting in the Seattle area until October. The Commission has had several Executive meetings in June to interview Ex. Director candidates.

Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia Schools - NYTimes.com

Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia Schools - NYTimes.com:

Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia Schools

Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times

Marielle Casanova, counselor at Andrew Jackson School in Philadelphia, is being laid off along with all the other counselors in the district. More Photos »

By TRIP GABRIEL

Published: June 16, 2013

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PHILADELPHIA — When a second grader came to the Andrew Jackson School too agitated to eat breakfast on Friday, an aide alerted the school counselor, who engaged him in an art project in her office. When he was still overwrought at 11, a secretary called the boy’s family, and soon a monitor at the front door buzzed in an older brother to take him home.

Multimedia

Slide Show

A School District Braces for a Painful September

Under a draconian budget passed by the Philadelphia School District last month, none of these supporting players — aide, counselor, secretary, security monitor — will remain at the school by September, nor will there be money for books, paper, a nurse or the school’s locally celebrated rock band.

“I am worried sick,” said Lisa Ciaranca Kaplan, the principal, whose homey school in South Philadelphia serves 410 students, speaking 14 languages, all of whom qualify for free meals. “How do I relieve teachers for lunch if I have no one in the lunchroom? I’ll be the only person in this building who’s not in a class.”

Pink slips were recently sent to 19 percent of the school-based work force, including all 127 assistant principals, 646 teachers and more than 1,200 aides. Principals are contemplating

Last Stand for Children First: It's Time to Reform Father's Day

Last Stand for Children First: It's Time to Reform Father's Day:

It's Time to Reform Father's Day

by Last Stand for Children

This afternoon, I was shopping at one of those shopping malls, when I noticed an overabundance of "World's Best Dad" t-shirts, mugs, barbecue supplies, and a plethora of other flimflam. Sure, it's easy to say to dad, "You're the best!" but what does that even mean? Without metrics or any kind of objective evaluation, it's merely a platitude.

The children of our nation face an uncertain future. Parents have let them fall further and further behind the Chinese children with their superior tiger parents. Yet, as I looked in this Hallmark Store, I found not a single "Pretty Good Dad", "Adequate Dad", or "Needing Improvement Dad". I would estimate that about half the dads in this country are adequate and maybe 1/3 of them could be called good. At best 5% of the dad's could be called very good, but great? I would expect less than 1% of dads could truly be called great. The odds that 30

TP for CPS

As an organization, Last Stand for Children First, is thrilled to stand behind the TP for CPS campaign. If you have extra toilet paper sitting around the house, won't you please don't to our children's future?

Wisdom from a 2012 CM “it doesn’t matter what their scores are” | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

Wisdom from a 2012 CM “it doesn’t matter what their scores are” | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Wisdom from a 2012 CM “it doesn’t matter what their scores are”

by Gary Rubinstein

Throughout my teaching career, one thing has remained constant: what I’m trying to accomplish. Back in the early 1990s there was no focus on test scores, thankfully. My goal back then, as it is now, was for my students to like math more when they complete my class than they did when they began the class. This is something that is tough to quantify, and it is something that, if I accomplish it, will often, but not always, result in improved test scores since when students like math they will more likely want to spend time studying it outside of class.
In 2008, TFA celebrity and StudentsFirst founder Michelle Rhee had this to say in an influential TIME magazine feature:

“The thing that kills me about education is that it’s so touchy-feely,” she tells me one afternoon in her office. Then she raises her chin and does what I come to recognize as her standard imitation of people she doesn’t respect…. “People say, ‘Well, you know, test scores don’t take into account creativity and the love of learning,’” she says with a drippy, grating voice, lowering her eyelids

Diane in the Evening 6-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Monica Ratliff Responds to Critics

by dianerav

Since she upset the heavily-funded favorite in the recent Los Angeles school board runoff, many eyes are on Monica Ratliff.
Some of her supporters were concerned when she appeared at an event where the Gates-funded Educators forExcellence presented a report on teacher evaluation. The event was attended by Superintendent John Deasy and

NYC Teacher Ratings Will Flunk More Teachers

by dianerav

The politicians won’t rest until they can fire more teachers. John King is their man. He has the system that mo one undestands but that is guaranteed to find some teachers to fire.
The politicians know that if they fire a bunch of teachers, it will surely lead to higher achievement and will close the achievement gap. The fact that it has never happened anywhere doesn’t faze them. What has evidence got to

Michael Weston on Common Core

by dianerav

Michael Weston has an annoying habit of thinking for himself. That’s why he got fired. He just doesn’t get it. He is supposed to teach students to think for themselves but he is not supposed to do it himself.

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson 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] My High School Added to the National Register of Historic Buildings by dianerav I don’t know if anyone in the world cares about this except me and a few gray heads in and around Houston. Our high school was just named to the National Register of Historic Buildings. I graduated in 1956. San Jacinto at that time was a racially segregated school, as were all the public schools of Houston. In 1954, after the Brown decision, I asked to meet with the principal, Mr. Bran... more »

State Superintendent Launches Common Core Summer Program | KHTS Radio

State Superintendent Launches Common Core Summer Program | KHTS Radio:

State Superintendent Launches Common Core Summer Program

Sat, 06/15/2013 - 11:30am | Gabrielle Moreira

(news release - California Dept. of Education) State Superintendent Tom Torlakson will hold a press conference Monday in Sacramento to discuss California’s Common Core summer program, which will train teachers on new state-wide standards for math.

Don't miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

The conference starts at 9:30 a.m. and will include Superintendent Jonathan Raymond of the Sacramento City Unified School District and other educators who will present techniques for teaching the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The event is hosted by the California Department of Education.

The event underscores the kind of training teachers from across the state will receive throughout the summer and beyond as schools make the transition to the new standards, which were designed as a practical way to help students no matter where they go to school.

The event will be held at the California Department of Health Care Services building, 1500 Capitol Ave., Meeting Room A in Sacramento. There will be a live demonstration of how CCSS is implemented in the classroom, a tour of the CCSS Math Showcase and access to online courses the department has developed to help teachers during the transition process.

For Spanish-speaking media, California Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Lupita Cortez Alcalá will be present at the news conference.

The state’s legislature set aside $1.25 billion for California’s public schools to implement the new standards.

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: The Rewards of Teaching!:It's Not About the Money, Honey!

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: The Rewards of Teaching!:It's Not About the Money, Honey!:

The Rewards of Teaching!:It's Not About the Money, Honey!

by Lisa M

Don't get me wrong. I like getting paid to teach. Now if someone offered to cover the mortgage ...

On the last day of school, I walked this group of students out to the buses for the last time. I gave each of them a hug and my words of advice/ mini-motivational speech. The teachers stood and waved goodbye as the buses pulled off. Michael, one of my students, opened his window, and screamed, "Bye Mrs. M!" I laughed because Michael was never that boisterous.

As I returned, teary-eyed, to my classroom, the writing on the board caught my eye. "See you later! You are the best teacher ever!" Man, oh, man they can get you,can't they? I didn't erase it. Even when I rolled the last box out of my room, (I have to change classrooms), I refused to erase it.

Then I got home, and read the cards the Art teacher always has the kids write at

Short Notes: What Fathers Watch - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

Short Notes: What Fathers Watch - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson:

Short Notes: What Fathers Watch

by Jose Vilson

A few notes:

Chris Lehmann wants people to get the difference between authoritative and authoritarian. Here’s a primer.[Practical Theory]
John Spencer has five things he never wants to say. Maybe you’ll rethink about the things you say, too. [Education Rethink]
Jeb Bush thinks immigration is a good idea … because immigrants are “more fertile.” Ay dios mio. [FOX Latino]
Is the fastest-growing job market in empathy? George Anders seems to think so. Teachers could be in this for a while after all. [LinkedIn]
Workers simply don’t need tips if they get paid well enough. A sushi restaurant attempts to do just that. [ThinkProgress]

Quotables:

@TheJLV If I have musically gifted kids I'm putting them in a rocketship and letting them zoom

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-16-13 #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

Fathers’ Day 2013: Calling dads to be heroes, not minions for a 1% evil | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Fathers’ Day 2013: Calling dads to be heroes, not minions for a 1% evil | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: Fathers’ Day 2013: Calling dads to be heroes, not minions for a 1% evil By Carl_Herman on June 16, 2013 6:11 pm / no comments [image: slave] Severes Snape – Hero The choice between un-American dicts or American unalienable rights under our Constitution can be made so much easier if the men, whether fathers or not, channeled our love of competition into national and global victory of justice and virtue over “emperor has no clothes” ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Board's Role

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Board's Role: The Board's Role by Charlie Mas I went to Director Martin-Morris's community meeting on Saturday morning and the conversation was really good. It was good, in large part, because we stayed focused on things that Director Martin-Morris could do - we kept the conversation within the boundaries of the Board's role. We didn't ask him and his Board colleagues to make decisions that have been delegated to the superintendent or direct the superintendent in what decisions to make or to overrule decisions that the superintendent had made. ... more »

What do education advocates do on their day off? | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

What do education advocates do on their day off? | Reclaim Reform: What do education advocates do on their day off? by kenpreviti What do education advocates do on their day off? [image: Sisyphus]The task given Sisyphus by the ancient Greek gods of eternally pushing a massive rock up a hill to have it roll down again and again is precisely what we do. It is what we are supposed to do as true education reformers. It is a pure and good task and is not what it appears to be to most outsiders. (Please note that we are not talking about corporate education reformers who, in spite of what... more »

NYC Educator: Reformy John Doesn't Need Any Stinking Laws

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

NYC Educator: Reformy John Doesn't Need Any Stinking Laws: Reformy John Doesn't Need Any Stinking Laws by NYC Educator One of the great selling points of the education law that mandated junk science, for the UFT, was that we would get to negotiate precisely how the junk science would be used to fire us. So they wouldn't just be firing us, we'd be firing *ourselves*. This is what comes of having that much-coveted "seat at the table." Unfortunately, Mayor Mike was not happy with what his Tweedies negotiated, and therefore it was left to Reformy John King to decree what city teachers ... more »

Perdido Street School: Nearly Half Of G&T Eligible Students Not Offered Program Slots

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Perdido Street School: Nearly Half Of G&T Eligible Students Not Offered Program Slots: Nearly Half Of G&T Eligible Students Not Offered Program Slots by reality-based educator From NY1: Only 54 percent of city students who qualified for spots in gifted and talented programs received offers for this fall, compared to 73 percent who were offered placement last year. The Department Of Education partly attributes the decline to a rise in applications. DOE officials also did not guarantee a seat for every student in his or her own district, saying many families decided against accept... more »

School ignores advice from learning disability experts - Class Struggle - The Washington Post

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

School ignores advice from learning disability experts - Class Struggle - The Washington Post: School ignores advice from learning disability experts By Jay Mathews E-mail the writers Stacie Brockman is the Prince George’s County mother of lively twin 9-year-old boys. Her sons were born two months premature. She has done everything possible to deal with the disabilities that often impede the progress of such children. She took them to the developmental pediatricians at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, one of the top U.S. providers of care for children with learning disa... more »

New Florida law: Teachers can’t be evaluated on students they don’t have

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

New Florida law: Teachers can’t be evaluated on students they don’t have: New Florida law: Teachers can’t be evaluated on students they don’t have By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 16, 2013 at 12:47 pmE-mail the writer 0 Comments More [image: florida]In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff category: Florida just passed a law making it illegal to evaluate teachers on standardized test scores of students they never taught. If you are wondering why such a law would be necessary, here’s why: For two years, many teachers* were* actually being evaluated by the test scores of students they had... more »

A must-watch video

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

A must-watch video: A must-watch video By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 16, 2013 at 11:13 amE-mail the writer 0 Comments More Watch this video and think about the nightmare it is for many kids with disabilities to take standardized tests.

Ed Notes Online: Acievement First Concentration Camp Policies Supported by Gates Foundation

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Acievement First Concentration Camp Policies Supported by Gates Foundation: Acievement First Concentration Camp Policies Supported by Gates Foundation by ed notes online Actually, I would describe Achievement First more as a southern plantation circa 1850. But no one should be surprised that the Gates Foundation is based on a southern plantation mentality. I love it that they are so willing to connect themselves to Achievement First which exposes what Gates is all about. Really think about the AF name. "Achievement" before even the welfare of the child. But "achieve... more »

GOP slams Dems' education proposal as federal power grab - CBS News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

GOP slams Dems' education proposal as federal power grab - CBS News: *GOP slams Dems' education proposal as federal power grab* Republicans and the White House have "major" disagreements on education policy, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said Saturday in the weekly Republican address, including a fresh dispute over the scope of federal involvement in education. But on student loans, he argued, the White House and the GOP actually have a lot in common. The interest rate on federal student loans is set to double on July 1, from 3.4 to 6.8 percent, unless Congress acts to preve... more »

Perdido Street School: NY Post: NYC Prinicpals Rarely Held Accountable

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Perdido Street School: NY Post: NYC Prinicpals Rarely Held Accountable: NY Post: NYC Prinicpals Rarely Held Accountable by reality-based educator Not a surprise to those of us in the system: They dole out discipline to teachers and students, but city school principals rarely get a taste of their own medicine. In the past three years, just two of 14 principals formally accused of misconduct have been fired — and not a single boss in the city’s 1,600 schools was charged with incompetence, officials told The Post. The disciplinary deficiency raises questions when 217 elementary and m... more »

6-16-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] We’re #10, We’re #10 ! by Chris Cerrone Ah yes, the public likes lists. We like to quantify even the unmeasurable and know where we stand. Hence the annual ranking of school districts by a publication in the Buffalo area that no one ever reads, except when it publishes a list of “top school districts”. What a great marketing ploy. And it works. […] *All Week 6-15-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER* [image: gears] *6-15-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER* mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours a... more »

Happy Fathers Day. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Happy Fathers Day. | Fred Klonsky: Happy Fathers Day. by Fred Klonsky [image: Fathers Day]

Can School Reform Hurt Communities? - NYTimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Can School Reform Hurt Communities? - NYTimes.com: Can School Reform Hurt Communities? William Widmer for The New York Times Jeri Hilt taught students about copyright law at ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy, a charter school in New Orleans, last week. By SARAH CARRPublished: June 15, 2013 NEW ORLEANS — BEFORE Hurricane Katrina, about 74 percent of this city’s schools were considered “failing,” based mainly on their standardized test scores. By 2012, that figure had dropped to 42 percent, even as the bar for passing was raised. Average ACT scores for the city’s public school students have ... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Anti-teacher groups get failing grade from teacher of the year | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Anti-teacher groups get failing grade from teacher of the year | toteachornototeach: Anti-teacher groups get failing grade from teacher of the year by aristotlethewise *Anti-teacher groups get failing grade from teacher of the year* by Laura Clawson Michigan’s teacher of the year has been taken up by StudentsFirst and the Mackinac Center as part of their campaign against teachers unions. But he’s not on board with their corporate education policy agenda, Eclectablog reports. The Koch brothers-funded, ALEC-affiliated Mackinac Center and Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst have been blastin... more »

Daily Kos: Merrow Is a Jolly Fellow (Not)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Daily Kos: Merrow Is a Jolly Fellow (Not): Merrow Is a Jolly Fellow (Not) by rss@dailykos.com (plthomasEdD) I hate even to acknowledge John Merrow's most recent venture into not having a clue, but his attempt at humor is yet more evidence that the evidence doesn't matter: The Common Core and the End of the World In Merrow's evidence-free world, all who question the Mighty Common Core are nothing more than end-of-the-world loonies. To investigative journalist Merrow, Rand Paul, Anthony Cody, and Diane Ravitch are of equal credibility (that is, not credible). That's pure and utter lu... more »

The Washington Teacher: Why are DCPS & WTU President Saunders Downplaying the Excessing of 500-600 Teachers?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

The Washington Teacher: Why are DCPS & WTU President Saunders Downplaying the Excessing of 500-600 Teachers?: Why are DCPS & WTU President Saunders Downplaying the Excessing of 500-600 Teachers? by noreply@blogger.com (Candi Peterson) DCPS Excess Teachers & Staff Graveyard *By Candi Peterson* Vote Davis Slate for WTU Liz Davis /Candi Peterson *WTU Can Be Better!* In the years under the *Michelle Rhee and* *Kaya Henderson regime*, we have seen hundreds of teachers regularly excessed at the end of each school year. With the advent of 23 school closings in 2008 and now 15 school closi... more »

Last Day Of School Is Permanent At 7 Sacramento Campuses | KTXL FOX40

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Last Day Of School Is Permanent At 7 Sacramento Campuses | KTXL FOX40: Last Day Of School Is Permanent At 7 Sacramento Campuses - [image: See bio, contact info, and more articles from Lonnie Wong] SACRAMENTO- The last day of the school year at the Sacramento City Unified School District had extra meaning at seven elementary schools. They are being closed for good after the district made a move to move 2,300 students from under-enrolled elementary school campuses. The schools that are closing include Clayton B. Wire, Collis P. Huntington, Fruit Ridge, Jo... more »

Think the Job Performance of the NYC DOE Chief Officer Dennis Walcott Stinks? - ParentAdvocates.org

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Parent Advocates - ParentAdvocates.org: Think the Job Performance of the NYC DOE Chief Officer Dennis Walcott Stinks? * * * *Too bad. No one who works at Tweed (or City Hall, we hear) has a contract and no one is evaluated. That's how Bloomberg works, and how public money is spent. From the desk of Betsy Combier, Editor. Mike Bloomberg *Think the Job Performance of the NYC DOE Chief Officer Dennis Walcott Stinks?* Too bad. No one who works at Tweed (or City Hall, we hear) has a contract and no one is evaluated. That's how Bloomberg works, and how public money is s... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: From the Wall Street Journal: 'The marriage between companies and the state'

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: From the Wall Street Journal: 'The marriage between companies and the state': From the Wall Street Journal: 'The marriage between companies and the state' by Mike Klonsky The June 10th WSJ calls the Snowden affair, "a wake-up call for Booz Allen and us." I'm not sure who the us is here, but they do make some great points. *In the increasingly intimate marriage between companies and the state, Mr. Snowden is emblematic of many things: For business, he signifies the liabilities that companies doing intelligence work for the government have inheri... more »

STANDARDIZED Official Trailer

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

The official trailer for STANDARDIZED, an exposé of the standardized testing industry and how it has undermined public education. *United Opt Out * WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO OPT OUT? *What does it mean to “opt out”?* Opt out means a refusal to “buy into” something-in this case the stranglehold that high stakes testing has on public education. We believe that the quickest, swiftest, and most effective way to end the destruction of HST is for parents, students and teachers to refuse to participate in these mandated high stakes tests. However, we also recognize that this measure is easier s... more »

Happy Father's Day from the Big Education Ape

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

*Happy Father's Day from the Big Education Ape* * * * *

Two commentary pieces – one profound message - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Two commentary pieces – one profound message - Wait, What?: Two commentary pieces – one profound message by jonpelto Here are two commentary pieces that the education-industrial complex is afraid you will read…because they speak the truth. So needless to say, I urge you to read them and pass them on. The first is written by *Wendy Lecker* and appears in the Stamford Advocate and Hearst Media outlets and can be found here: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/default/article/Wendy-Lecker-Courts-repeatedly-uphold-the-right-4601396.php *Courts repeatedly uphold the right to a quality educat... more »

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education »

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: S.1117 Reengaging Americans in Serious Education by Uniting Programs Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 11 minutes ago A bill to prepare disconnected youth for a competitive future. Bill Introduced: H.R.2234 Diploma and Accreditation Integrity Protection Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 11 minutes ago To reduce and prevent the sale and use of fraudulent degrees in order to protect the integrity of valid higher education degrees that are used for Federal employment purposes. Bill Introduc... more »

California public records law 'eviscerated' in budget bill, critics charge - ContraCostaTimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

California public records law 'eviscerated' in budget bill, critics charge - ContraCostaTimes.com: California public records law 'eviscerated' in budget bill, critics charge By Thomas Peele and Josh Richman Staff writers Posted: 06/15/2013 11:08:50 AM PDT Updated: 06/15/2013 11:08:54 AM PDT Legislation tucked into the state budget bill would "eviscerate" the public's ability to track tax dollars and hold local officials accountable, open government advocates charged Friday. "This is the worst assault on the public's right to know I have seen in my 18 years of doing this," said ... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Problem with Teacher Evaluation by dianerav Michael Weston of Hillsborough County, Florida, explains what is wrong with teacher evaluation: “Of course we use the Danielson rubric in Hillsborough County Fl, where it forms one of the three pillars of the Gates funded “Empowering Effective Teachers”. The second pillar is value-added, the third is duplicity / deception. Quite frankly, whether Charlotte is spelled Charlatan, whether her rubric is valuable or trash, whether her resume is padded…..none of this matte... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Is College Becoming Out-of-Reach?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Is College Becoming Out-of-Reach?: Is College Becoming Out-of-Reach? by Melissa Westbrook An article in the Huffington Post about college costs caught my eye. [image: college costs] Over the past three decades, the inflation-adjusted income of the median American family has basically remained stagnant. The same can’t be said of college costs, which have simultaneously surged to almost unrecognizable heights, according to a new report by the left-leaning Center for American Progress. Costs at private nonprofit four-year colleges have

A New framework for Working and Learning | Lefty Parent

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

A New framework for Working and Learning | Lefty Parent: A New framework for Working and Learning by Cooper Zale [image: Circle of Hands]For many of us the rules of engagement at work are changing, from the traditional approach of being told what to do by “bosses”, to a new more egalitarian approach where a team of colleagues and peers collectively decide what to do. Those traditional “bosses” are being replaced by “managers” who are more facilitative than directive, conveying to us the basic business strategy from the company’s leadership team, making sure we have the time and reso... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Last night's parent-led Mayoral forum: how did they do on the hot-button issues?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

NYC Public School Parents: Last night's parent-led Mayoral forum: how did they do on the hot-button issues?: Last night's parent-led Mayoral forum: how did they do on the hot-button issues? by Leonie Haimson The parent-led mayoral forum last night at Murry Bergtraum High School was terrific, with parents asking incisive yes/no questions, investigative reporter Juan Gonzalez doing inspired follow-up as only he knows how, and all the candidates giving thoughtful responses. Below is the livestream video; we will have sharper video uploaded next week, but the audio is quite clear. Th... more »

DIFFICULT TO FIRE A TEACHER ? A RIDICULOUS MYTH | Teachers Fight Back

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

DIFFICULT TO FIRE A TEACHER ? A RIDICULOUS MYTH | Teachers Fight Back: DIFFICULT TO FIRE A TEACHER ? A RIDICULOUS MYTH by alkleen The Chicago Public School Administrators are about to fire 420 teachers. More than a third of the teachers have tenure, but they were rated either unsatisfactory or satisfactory. The teachers union contract protects only those teachers with excellent or superior ratings. Tenured teachers being fired ? Yes, folks, it’s not all that uncommon. The Chicago Teachers Union is one of the most powerful teachers union in the nation, and even their tenured teac... more »

UPDATE: Martire for governor. Why not? So far the joke has been on us. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Martire for governor. Why not? So far the joke has been on us. | Fred Klonsky: Chicago Bull/Bull Connor. by Fred Klonsky [image: Chicago Bull-Bull Connor] Martire for governor. Why not? So far the joke has been on us. by Fred Klonsky [image: Ralph Martire] When I posted the idea of drafting the Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability to run for governor the other day the response was swift and positive. The question that I raise to the leaders of the state’s public employee unions. *Why not?* The list of announced and un-announced candidates is pretty dep... more »

Is the worm turning?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Is the worm turning?: Is the worm turning? By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 15, 2013 at 10:30 amE-mail the writer 0 Comments More [image: indiana]Indiana has been one of the most school reform-loving states in recent years — at least, that is, until now. Here is a look at what is happening there, by Karen Francisco, editorial page editor of The Journal Gazette, where this appeared. She has worked there since 2000 and for Indiana newspapers since 1982. She can be reached at 260-461-8206 or by email,kfrancisco@jg.net. By Karen Francisco How much does Indiana love school reform? So m... more »

solidaridad: Save LAUSD's SRLDP Preschools for English Language Learners

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

solidaridad: Save LAUSD's SRLDP Preschools for English Language Learners: Save LAUSD's SRLDP Preschools for English Language Learners by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene *Because we know that language learning doesn't occur in one year or even in a few months, it's over time.—Becky Palacios, Ph.D.* [image: Save LAUSD's SRLDP Preschools for English Language Learners]The School Readiness Language Development Program (SRLDP) is an amazingly effective Pre-K program for English Language Leaners. This isn't the first time that Broad and Gates' Superintendent John Deasy has tried to kill the pro... more »

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: photo] *Celebrating Freedom Day, Juneteenth in New Orlean’s Treme. 2011 Photo: Fred Klonsky.* This morning we provide a history lesson while you’re drinking your coffee. If you are in New Orleans it is possible that your coffee has chicory root in it. Although coffee with chicory root in it has a long tradition, most historians agree that it’s use in New Orleans coffee became more common as a result of the blockade of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Coffee beans became scarce. In other parts of the South ... more »

Great EXpectations | EduShyster

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Great EXpectations | EduShyster: Great EXpectations by edushyster2012 *Will the heaviest hitter of all lend His support to the civil rights i$$ue of our time?* Reader: there are already plenty of marquee names involved in the crusade to *crush* the achievement gap. But thus far the biggest name of all has yet to weigh in upon the civil rights i$$ue of our time. I am talking, of course, about the Big Guy, the Man Upstairs, Sky Daddy, Him… Thankfully, thanks to the efforts of a former Teacher for America, that may be about to change. Let’s learn more, shall we? Meet the Expectations P... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] What Ralph Waldo Emerson Might Say About School Reform Today by dianerav This arrived in my email. It came from a retired school teacher in Nebraska. He said the retired teachers will not sit by and watch the capture of our public schools by corporations. The retires helped to defeat a charter bill in Nebraska. He wrote: Hi Diane Just received the following letter from Ralph Waldo Emerson with a request that I send it to the good people in Newark: The End of Neig... more »

Peg with Pen: Do Not Shake Hands with #commoncore

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Peg with Pen: Do Not Shake Hands with #commoncore: Do Not Shake Hands with #commoncore by Peggy Some days it is terribly overwhelming to read the comments of despair and desperation from parents who are trying to figure out how to help their children who are suffering from severe anxiety after being told they will be retained due to failing the state test. Many of these children must take the test multiple times and must attend summer school - even when they have passing grades on their report cards. It is because of this that I have no tolerance for any sort of compromise to the ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Zombies in Central Park Plus Some Carpentry

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Ed Notes Online: Zombies in Central Park Plus Some Carpentry: Zombies in Central Park Plus Some Carpentry by ed notes online The Zombies, our favorite group -- we went to London twice to see them, plus numerous viewings here in NYC -- are doing a 6PM free -- yes free -- concert in Central Park today and we are heading in for a (not-free) 4PM session with lead singer Collin Blunstone (who looks at us as stalkers) and Ron Argent. A fact you need to know from Wikki: Their 1968 album, Odessey and Oracle, comprising twelve songs by the group's principal songwriters, Argent and Chris Wh... more »

Fighting for Our Classrooms, and for the Human Beings Inside Them | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Fighting for Our Classrooms, and for the Human Beings Inside Them | toteachornototeach: Fighting for Our Classrooms, and for the Human Beings Inside Them by aristotlethewise [image: gty_kotter_watn_3_mr_120815_ssh]*Fighting for Our Classrooms, and for the Human Beings Inside Them* by Richard (RJ) Eskow It seems as if same battle is being fought in every aspect of American society. On one side are the forces of egalitarianism, economic opportunity, and self-determination. On the other is a well-funded and entrenched elite bent on hijacking our media, our political process, and our in... more »