Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Educators, artists, lawmakers urge more emphasis on the arts - Education - The Sacramento Bee
Educators, artists, lawmakers urge more emphasis on the arts - Education - The Sacramento Bee:
Educators, artists, lawmakers urge more emphasis on the arts
Published: Wednesday, Jun. 19, 2013 - 7:53 pm
Dennis Van Tine / Abaca Press/MCT
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns supports the humanities
WASHINGTON -- America needs to invest more in the humanities and social sciences in order to preserve its cultural identity and economic competitiveness, according to a new report on the role those subjects play in shaping the national character
The report issued Wednesday by American Academy of Social Sciences, entitled “The Heart of the Matter,” argues that the humanities and social sciences are essential, but under-funded and under-appreciated. They include subjects like literature, history, film and languages and the arts, as well
Jersey Jazzman: An Exchange With Jonah Rockoff
Jersey Jazzman: An Exchange With Jonah Rockoff:
An Exchange With Jonah Rockoff
This is a long post, but I think it's valuable. Let me set it up a bit:
Earlier this month, I was given a remarkable piece of audio: testimony by Jonah Rockoff, professor of finance and economics at Columbia University, before the New Jersey State Board of Education. Rockoff's subject was the use of test score data in teacher evaluation, which is obviously a subject near and dear to my heart. I've reposted the audio below if you care to listen.
After I posted the audio, I wrote a series of posts on Dr. Rockoff's presentation: here, here and here. Bruce Bakerat Rutgers also weighed in: I'd suggest Bruce's post stands as a comprehensive counterargument to the wholesale embrace of test-based teacher evaluation.
My posts, on the other hand, are a bit more parochial. Here in New Jersey, as in so many other states, our
Earlier this month, I was given a remarkable piece of audio: testimony by Jonah Rockoff, professor of finance and economics at Columbia University, before the New Jersey State Board of Education. Rockoff's subject was the use of test score data in teacher evaluation, which is obviously a subject near and dear to my heart. I've reposted the audio below if you care to listen.
After I posted the audio, I wrote a series of posts on Dr. Rockoff's presentation: here, here and here. Bruce Bakerat Rutgers also weighed in: I'd suggest Bruce's post stands as a comprehensive counterargument to the wholesale embrace of test-based teacher evaluation.
My posts, on the other hand, are a bit more parochial. Here in New Jersey, as in so many other states, our
"WTU Alerts Teachers About a "Fake Debate Scheduled for McKinley Tech High School." The Washington Teacher
The Washington Teacher:
"WTU Alerts Teachers About a "Fake Debate Scheduled for McKinley Tech High School."
Today right before the close of the school day, the WTU President Nathan Saunders had a major meltdown and sent out an email blast to WTU members titled "WTU Alerts Teachers About a "Fake Debate Scheduled for McKinley Tech High School." What caught my attention was that Saunders actually sent the first email from his own WTU email account. Followed by a second email blast minutes later from the WTU Communication Director. Saunders email to union members stated "This is yet another attempt by individuals to misinform and mislead our members..... The individuals who are promoting this debate have put WTU members in great jeopardy for not following WTU membership and DCPS guidelines." It was suggested by Saunders that someone used the WTU logo to mislead members into thinking that the event was union sponsored. Saunders made a not so suttle threat to his members in closing when he indicated that WTU could not represent members who trespass on DCPS property for any event unauthorized by WTU. Saunders ended with "We hope to discover who initiated this false information, so that appropriate action can be taken." You can't make this stuff up really. So I decided to contact Liz Davis, my running mate for WTU President in the upcoming WTU election. Davis stated, "No one ever represented the debate as being formerly sponsored by the WTU leadership, the election committee, or inappropriately used the WTU logo. The organizers had reached out to both candidates and thought the debate was on. It is also not true that private insurance must be posted to hold any and all meetings in school facilities. These are scare tactics are simply being used to inhibit the democratic process." I'm saddened that WTU members have to
"WTU Alerts Teachers About a "Fake Debate Scheduled for McKinley Tech High School."
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| WTU Dust-up |
Today right before the close of the school day, the WTU President Nathan Saunders had a major meltdown and sent out an email blast to WTU members titled "WTU Alerts Teachers About a "Fake Debate Scheduled for McKinley Tech High School." What caught my attention was that Saunders actually sent the first email from his own WTU email account. Followed by a second email blast minutes later from the WTU Communication Director. Saunders email to union members stated "This is yet another attempt by individuals to misinform and mislead our members..... The individuals who are promoting this debate have put WTU members in great jeopardy for not following WTU membership and DCPS guidelines." It was suggested by Saunders that someone used the WTU logo to mislead members into thinking that the event was union sponsored. Saunders made a not so suttle threat to his members in closing when he indicated that WTU could not represent members who trespass on DCPS property for any event unauthorized by WTU. Saunders ended with "We hope to discover who initiated this false information, so that appropriate action can be taken." You can't make this stuff up really. So I decided to contact Liz Davis, my running mate for WTU President in the upcoming WTU election. Davis stated, "No one ever represented the debate as being formerly sponsored by the WTU leadership, the election committee, or inappropriately used the WTU logo. The organizers had reached out to both candidates and thought the debate was on. It is also not true that private insurance must be posted to hold any and all meetings in school facilities. These are scare tactics are simply being used to inhibit the democratic process." I'm saddened that WTU members have to
An 18-Year-Old’s Partially Successful Campaign for School Board Student Voice
Student Voice:
An 18-Year-Old’s Partially Successful Campaign for School Board
In April 2013, I launched a campaign for a position on the Norwich City School District Board of Education. I just happened to be the youngest candidate for office in the history of my district, city, and county. Unfortunately I did not win; I did, however, receive over a third of the vote in a seven person race for three seats, which I believe is an achievement on its own.
Most 18-year-old candidates for school board run on a typical platform (bring a student’s perspective to education and other general reforms). My campaign, however, was different and unique—even for an 18-year-old. I discussed 3 critical issues in my campaign: long-term fiscal security, academic achievements, and technology. I ran as someone concerned for the distant future of my school district, something no other candidate wanted to talk about. I asked the troubling questions, such as: “How are we going to pay for staff pensions in 15 years?” or “What are we doing for the economically disadvantaged students in our schools?” and “Are our classrooms technologically efficient for the 21st century?” These are issues students need to be concerned about because
Most 18-year-old candidates for school board run on a typical platform (bring a student’s perspective to education and other general reforms). My campaign, however, was different and unique—even for an 18-year-old. I discussed 3 critical issues in my campaign: long-term fiscal security, academic achievements, and technology. I ran as someone concerned for the distant future of my school district, something no other candidate wanted to talk about. I asked the troubling questions, such as: “How are we going to pay for staff pensions in 15 years?” or “What are we doing for the economically disadvantaged students in our schools?” and “Are our classrooms technologically efficient for the 21st century?” These are issues students need to be concerned about because