Sunday, July 28, 2013

Seattle Schools Community Forum: What is the Mission of Public Education? (And where does it stop?)

Seattle Schools Community Forum: What is the Mission of Public Education? (And where does it stop?):

What is the Mission of Public Education? (And where does it stop?)



Reader Syd said this in a comment to Charlie's thread on Equitable School Funding:

Poverty is a real societal problem, and realistically the best place you can serve impoverished children is in a place they are mandated by law to attend. We should feed them, clothe them, doctor them, nurse them (it is different), and mentor them using schools as the center. That's not the schools mission you say? Change the mission.

I'm going to express some thoughts on this issue but please understand that they are a jumping off place for a conversation and not necessarily my opinion/belief.

1) Sentence one - that makes sense to me.  If students are not being adequately supported at home and given they are mandated to be in schools, should 
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Indiana’s Anti-Howard Zinn Witch-hunt | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Indiana’s Anti-Howard Zinn Witch-hunt | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

Indiana’s Anti-Howard Zinn Witch-hunt

Filed under: Rethinking Schools,Right Wing Agenda — millerlf @ 8:08 pm 
Published on Friday, July 19, 2013 by Zinn Education Project
by Bill Bigelow



Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States, one of the country’s most widely read history books, died on January 27, 2010. Shortly after, then-Governor of Indiana Mitch Daniels got on his computer and fired off an email to the state’s top education officials: “This terrible anti-American academic has finally passed away.”
But Gov. Daniels, now president of Purdue University, was not content merely to celebrate Howard Zinn’s passing. He demanded that Zinn’s work be hunted down in Indiana schools and suppressed: “The obits and commentaries mentioned his book ‘A People’s History of the United States’ is the ‘textbook of choice in high schools and colleges around the country.’ It is a truly execrable, anti-factual piece of disinformation that misstates American history on every page. Can someone assure me that is not in use anywhere in Indiana? If it is, how do we get rid of it before more young people are force-fed a totally false version of our history?”
We know about Gov. Daniels’ email tantrum thanks to the Associated Press, which obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Scott Jenkins, Daniels’ education advisor, wrote back quickly to tell the governor that A People’s History of the United States was used in a class for prospective teachers on social movements at Indiana University.
Daniels fired back: “This crap should not be accepted for any credit by the state. No student will be better taught because someone sat through this session
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The Washington Teacher: WTU Listening Post To Be Held July 30

The Washington Teacher: WTU Listening Post To Be Held July 30:

WTU Listening Post To Be Held July 30

Davis (left), Peterson (middle) & Education Advocates @ first WTU Listening Post
Elizabeth A. Davis and Candi Peterson, the newly elected President and General Vice President of the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) invite you to attend the second in a 4-part series of "Listening Posts."

Our next event on Tuesday, July 30 will take place 'East of the River' in Ward 8 at Union Temple Baptist Church located at 1225 W Street SE, Washington, DC 20020 from 6-8 p.m.. These events have been developed to hear from supporters and education advocates across the District to prioritize, confirm and clarify the top issues of concern to teachers, parents and educational stakeholders.

Participants will be able to review and re-prioritize the top DAVIS-PETERSON platform issues that we successfully ran on, and provide feedback on issues of concern.  They will also be asked to participate as volunteers on ISSUES FORUMS where comments can be uploaded to the DAVIS
PETERSON TRANSFORMATION website, or deliver content directly via public comments.

Please REGISTER NOW by clicking the Register Now link in red. You can also contact me @ candi@davispetersontransformation.org to get on our mailing list.

Hope to see you there!
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Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Facts: Listen to Sandra Stotsky, Joy Pullman, Jamie Gass on Recorded Webinar Call

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Facts: Listen to Sandra Stotsky, Joy Pullman, Jamie Gass on Recorded Webinar Call:

Common Core Facts: Listen to Sandra Stotsky, Joy Pullman, Jamie Gass on Recorded Webinar Call



Sandra Stotsky, Joy Pullman and Jamie Gass were on a webinar call sponsored by Stop Common Core in NY State this past week.

You can listen to it here.

Thanks to Stop Common Core in NY State for providing this to other activists so they can fight common core in their states.


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Nite Cap 7-28-13 #BATsACT #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



TODAY

Choosing Democracy: Closing Schools, Faulting Teachers in Sacramento
Choosing Democracy: Closing Schools, Faulting Teachers in Sacramento: Closing Schools, Faulting Teachers in SacramentoJuly 25, 2013By Seth Sandronskyand Duane CampbellSeth Sandronsky's ZSpace PageOfficially, a budget shortfall for the Sacramento City Unified School District caused closure of seven elementary schools. Marcos Bretón, a columnist for The Sacramento Bee, weighed in with this: “I hones
by mike simpson / 2h 
Conservative Christian group blames falling SAT scores on lack of school prayer | The Raw Story
Conservative Christian group blames falling SAT scores on lack of school prayer | The Raw Story: Conservative Christian group blames falling SAT scores on lack of school prayerThe American Family Association of Kentucky believes school prayer has something to do with SAT scores and the AIDS epidemic.Right Wing Watch reported that the conservative Christian group recently launched apetition calling
by mike simpson / 2h 
Diane in the Evening 7-28-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Connecticut Policy Institute Responds to Critical CommentIn one of the comments on the blog, a reader posted critical comments about the Connecticut Policy Institute. The executive director of the institute, Ben Zimmer, asked me for the opportunity to respond. I agreed. I checked the webpage of the CPI, and note that it is in favor
by mike simpson / 2h 
Journalists and their funders: Whose job is it to measure impact, and how should it be done? » Nieman Journalism Lab
Journalists and their funders: Whose job is it to measure impact, and how should it be done? » Nieman Journalism Lab: Journalists and their funders: Whose job is it to measure impact, and how should it be done?Nonprofit journalism legend Chuck Lewis on setting benchmarks for the impact of nonprofit news: “The idea of fixing a single standard that everyone’s going to adhere to — talk about herding
by mike simpson / 2h 
The Apollo Group and its for-profit University of Phoenix is bilking teacher pension funds, taxpayers and students for hundreds of millions of dollars | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News
The Apollo Group and its for-profit University of Phoenix is bilking teacher pension funds, taxpayers and students for hundreds of millions of dollars | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: The Apollo Group and its for-profit University of Phoenix is bilking teacher pension funds, taxpayers and students for hundreds of millions of dollarsBy Danny Weil on Ju
by mike simpson / 2h 
Seattle Schools Community Forum: From the Washington State PTA
Seattle Schools Community Forum: From the Washington State PTA: From the Washington State PTAWAPTA will no longer have a lobbyist at the Legislature.   Expect to be asked to send someone from your school/region to the Legislature to testify; it will become more important than ever.Dear WSPTA Members: As you may have heard, WSPTA took action this week to align our staffing and expenditures with our
by mike simpson / 3h 
Missouri Education Watchdog: Alabama Home Schooled and Private Schooled Students Don't Want to Live in This Village of Government Regulations
Missouri Education Watchdog: Alabama Home Schooled and Private Schooled Students Don't Want to Live in This Village of Government Regulations: Alabama Home Schooled and Private Schooled Students Don't Want to Live in This Village of Government RegulationsEmail ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookThe State Board tried to seal the fate of home and private school students to be under public
by mike simpson / 4h 
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » NCLB Twitter Chat
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » NCLB Twitter Chat: TweetsTwitter18mSusan DuFresne1 @GetUpStandUp2@skrashen @TCBGP @symphily @plthomasEdD Please join me & @NiaWaPo tonight 8 pm EST #NCLB #ESEA LIVE Chat, use #postback hashtag.Retweeted by Gail RichmondExpand8mSusan DuFresne1 @GetUpStandUp2@KarenLewisCTU @CTULocal1 @fklonsky @mikeklonsky Please join me & @NiaWaPo tonight 8 pm EST #N
by mike simpson / 4h 
Outing Bloggers and Correcting Misconceptions | PWC Education Reform Blog
Outing Bloggers and Correcting Misconceptions | PWC Education Reform Blog: Outing Bloggers and Correcting MisconceptionsJuly 28, 2013 — pwceducationreform In recent months / years Prince William County has seen a number of local citizen activists create blogs to inform or inflame the public on issues affecting our county government.  Folks like The Sheriff and The Derecho have joinedVirginia Virt
by mike simpson / 4h 
The Intricate Plot That Is Common Core | deutsch29
The Intricate Plot That Is Common Core | deutsch29: The Intricate Plot That Is Common CoreJuly 28, 2013If anyone tells you that Common Core (CCSS) is a “state-led” effort, “developed by teachers,” that person is either misinformed or attempting to deceive you.Mona McDermott of United Opt Out has mapped the organizations behind CCSS. She presents discussion of their interwoven involvements in this
by mike simpson / 4h 
Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education | Randi Weingarten
Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education | Randi Weingarten: Reclaiming the Promise of Public EducationPosted: 07/28/2013 11:40 am The idea that teachers have the summer off is something of a myth. I recently spent a few days with several thousand teachers -- not at the beach, but at TEACH, the AFT's largest gathering of educators focused on their professional practice and growth. Teachers spent
by mike simpson / 5h 
Jersey Jazzman: More "Teachers Get Summers Off" Nonsense
Jersey Jazzman: More "Teachers Get Summers Off" Nonsense: More "Teachers Get Summers Off" NonsenseIt's one of my favorite reformy memes: "Teachers get summers off!" Today's version comes to us via Matt Yglesias:There are few more cherished nostrums in American life than the importance of equal opportunities. Unfortunately, one of them is the importance of summer vacation. It's a cheap way of doing
by mike simpson / 5h 
7-28-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:Road Trip Week 2Joravsky on Rahm and pensions.Ben Joravsky in the Reader: Now that the cuts are official, Emanuel is blaming them on the teachers—or at least the $400 million contribution he has to make to
by mike simpson / 5h 
SUMMER 2013, part one | Bill Ayers
SUMMER 2013, part one | Bill Ayers: SUMMER 2013, part oneUntil the killing of Black men, Black mothers’ sons, is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers’ sons, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.** Ella Baker 1). Summer, 2013I felt the double blow to my gut before my head could reasonably catch up: the 1965 Voting Rights Act—a crowning achievement of the classica
by mike simpson / 5h 
Short Notes: Intersectionality of Race and Gender via Questlove - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson
Short Notes: Intersectionality of Race and Gender via Questlove - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Short Notes: Intersectionality of Race and Gender via Questloveby JOSE VILSON on JULY 28, 2013Questlove, of the RootsA few notes:This graphic is what I try to tell people about teachers. We work all summer, just not necessarily with kids. [Upworthy]I didn’t have the heart to read this before, but Q
by mike simpson / 6h 
TEACHER ENSLAVEMENT BEGINS, AND N. CAROLINA LEADS THE WAY | Teachers Fight Back
TEACHER ENSLAVEMENT BEGINS, AND N. CAROLINA LEADS THE WAY | Teachers Fight Back: TEACHER ENSLAVEMENT BEGINS, AND N. CAROLINA LEADS THE WAYleave a comment »Corporate Ed Reform Success? Let the enslavement of teachers begin, and where better to start then in N. Carolina ?  North Carolina governor Pat McCrory, a Republican, signed a budget bill Friday that eliminated teacher tenure, did away with aut
by mike simpson / 6h 
Seabring News Sun: “Somewhere along the way, standardized testing became downright irrational” | Scathing Purple Musings
Seabring News Sun: “Somewhere along the way, standardized testing became downright irrational” | Scathing Purple Musings: Seabring News Sun: “Somewhere along the way, standardized testing became downright irrational”Posted on July 28, 2013by Bob Sikes      Rate ThisThe editors of the News Sun blame Tallahassee:After improvement in 2012, this year’s school grades are a major disappointment. The ent
by mike simpson / 7h 
The secretive corporate outfit behind ‘Stand Your Ground’ | The Great Debate
The secretive corporate outfit behind ‘Stand Your Ground’ | The Great Debate: The secretive corporate outfit behind ‘Stand Your Ground’By Joanne Doroshow APRIL 13, 2012 Email PrintinShareALEC | LOBBYING | TRAYVON MARTINFor many years, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has been a particularly influential organization that has promoted the agenda of corporate America and the political
by mike simpson / 7h 
Why the racist history of the charter school movement is never discussed
Why the racist history of the charter school movement is never discussed: Why the racist history of the charter school movement is never discussedBy Christopher Bonastia, AlterNetAs a parent I find it easy to understand the appeal of charter schools, especially for parents and students who feel that traditional public schools have failed them. As a historical sociologist who studies race and polit
by mike simpson / 7h 
Morning Wink 7-28-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #edreform #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAYPerdido Street School: State, City Data Prove Charter Schools Serve Fewer High Needs StudentsPerdido Street School: State, City Data Prove Charter Schools Serve Fewer High Needs Students: State, City Data Prove Charter Schools Serve Fewer High Needs StudentsBen Chapman in the NY Daily News:Charter schools score higher than city-operated schools by man
by mike simpson / 7h 
Perdido Street School: State, City Data Prove Charter Schools Serve Fewer High Needs Students
Perdido Street School: State, City Data Prove Charter Schools Serve Fewer High Needs Students: State, City Data Prove Charter Schools Serve Fewer High Needs StudentsBen Chapman in the NY Daily News:Charter schools score higher than city-operated schools by many measures — but they serve a less challenging population, with fewer needy students, the latest state numbers show.Publicly funded, private
by mike simpson / 8h 
The Rise and Fall of Kevin Johnson
The Rise and Fall of Kevin Johnson: The Rise And Fall Of Kevin Johnson By George E. CurryNNPA Editor-in-ChiefNEWS ANALYSISWASHINGTON (NNPA) – Kevin Johnson, the former All-Star point guard for the Phoenix Suns, was in a zone. A year ago, the California native was re-elected to a second term as mayor of Sacramento, his hometown. In 2014, he is scheduled to assume the presidency of the U.S. Confere
by mike simpson / 8h 
School reform begs for economic diversity - City & Region - The Buffalo News
School reform begs for economic diversity - City & Region - The Buffalo News: School reform begs for economic diversityBy Donn Esmonde | News Senior Metro Columnist | Google+on July 27, 2013 - 4:59 PMinShareI wish John King and his cohorts would just come clean.State Education officials are smart people. They know that, no matter what programs they force-feed to Buffalo schools stuffed with po
by mike simpson / 8h 
Opinion: N.J. education chief 'is driving a stake through the heart of public education by his maniacal insistence on perpetual testing' | NJ.com
Opinion: N.J. education chief 'is driving a stake through the heart of public education by his maniacal insistence on perpetual testing' | NJ.com: http://unitedoptout.com/Opinion: N.J. education chief 'is driving a stake through the heart of public education by his maniacal insistence on perpetual testing'By Frank BreslinWelcome to New Jersey, Land of Standardized Testing and Education’s Brave New
by mike simpson / 8h 
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-28-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Children or Lab Mice?A teacher in Broward County writes: “I am tired of hearing about data. We teach CHILDREN, every time I hear about the data, I feel like they think we are training lab mice,”by dianerav / 19minHow “Reformers” Are Lowering Standards for EducatorsA reader sent the following commentary on reformers’ efforts to lowe
by mike simpson / 9h 
Wait, What? - Working to educate, persuade and mobilize through "perceptive and acerbic" observations about Connecticut Government and Politics
Wait, What? - Working to educate, persuade and mobilize through "perceptive and acerbic" observations about Connecticut Government and Politics: The Power of Truth: A CT Post Editorial observes …“Board ignoring responsibilities”OUTLAW?Bridgeport’s faux superintendent of schools, Paul Vallas, and Board of Education Chairman Kenneth Moales Jr. are two of the leading characters in the charade that ha
by mike simpson / 9h 
Early high school graduation programs gain traction | toteachornototeach
Early high school graduation programs gain traction | toteachornototeach: Early high school graduation programs gain tractionby Kimberly RaileyEarly graduation as an optionAlmost half of the states allow students to complete high school in fewer than four years. States without policies may allow local school districts to graduate students early.Lindsay Kast had a different experience in high schoo
by mike simpson / 9h 
Critics question billion-dollar tutoring program - Education - The Sacramento Bee
Critics question billion-dollar tutoring program - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Critics question billion-dollar tutoring programBy Melody Gutierrezmgutierrez@sacbee.comPublished: Sunday, Jul. 28, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 1ACommunity college student Ernesto Fajardo was looking for a seasonal job two years ago when a friend told him about an opening at a federally subsidized tutoring company.After
by mike simpson / 9h 
Debate looms over how to spend money for high-needs students - LA Daily News
Debate looms over how to spend money for high-needs students - LA Daily News: Debate looms over how to spend money for high-needs studentsBy Barbara Jonesbarbara.jones@dailynews.com@LADNschools on TwitterPosted:   07/27/2013 11:33:35 PM PDTUpdated:   07/27/2013 11:43:43 PM PDT CALIFORNIA EDUCATION SPENDING: 49th in the nation: Main story | Los Angeles | Long Beach | South BayAs school districts st
by mike simpson / 9h 

YESTERDAY

Education programs funding - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress
Education programs funding - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:  Bill Introduced: H.R.2706 Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation ActTo establish a comprehensive literacy program, and for other purposes.17min Bill Introduced: S.1306 No Child Left Inside Act of 2013A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in order to improve environmental literacy to better prepare
by mike simpson / 21h 
California national rank on per-pupil spending abysmal, but tide is poised to change - LA Daily News
California national rank on per-pupil spending abysmal, but tide is poised to change - LA Daily News: California national rank on per-pupil spending abysmal, but tide is poised to changeBy Rob Kuznia, Staff Writerrob.kuznia@dailybreeze.com l @robkuznia on TwitterPosted:   07/27/2013 10:59:52 AM PDTUpdated:   07/27/2013 03:48:13 PM PDT Teacher Mark Duvall's Torrance High classrom is packed with 43
by mike simpson / 22h 
Perdido Street School: Why Gates, Buffett and So Many Other "Philanthropic Givers" Are Part Of The Problem
Perdido Street School: Why Gates, Buffett and So Many Other "Philanthropic Givers" Are Part Of The Problem: Why Gates, Buffett and So Many Other "Philanthropic Givers" Are Part Of The ProblemFrom Peter Buffett, son of Warren Buffett:The Charitable-Industrial ComplexBy PETER BUFFETTI HAD spent much of my life writing music for commercials, film and television and knew little about the world of phil
by mike simpson / 23h mark as read  //  save
Nite Cap 7-27-13 #BATsACT #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 CAPTODAYDiane in the Evening 7-27-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Are Teachers to Blame for Achievement Gap Between Black and White Students?Joy Resmovits,
by mike simpson / 23h




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