Florida Voucher Bill Advances, $1 Billion Boondoggle
Florida Republicans are rushing through a voucher bill with no accountability for state tests. Even with state tests, it would be a terrible bill as its purpose is to destroy public education. One leading voucher advocate bluntly told an audience in California that the game plan was to sell the bill as being a benefit to poor minority kids. Of course, that’s a scam. The main goal is to break publ
Chicago Teachers Union Fights “Deformers” and “Pension Thieves” in Elections
The Chicago Teachers Union is getting politically active on behalf of public education and teachers. It supported candidates who oppose school closings and privatization via charters. Note the lessons: The last one is: “This ain’t Wisconsin.” NEWS RELEASE IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin March 19, 2014
Jersey Jazzman Dissents from Cami Anderson’s Paean to Herself
In a post called “This Is You Brain on TFA,” Jersey Jazzman scrutinizes an article written by Cami Anderson about her moral courage. He writes: “I often get the sense that something happens to the brains of people who do their two years or less at Teach For America and then, rather than continue to teach, go on to “stay in education” as “leaders.” Maybe their self-granted halos are a little too
The Mess That Race to the Top Inflicted on Connecticut’s Schools
What a mess in Connecticut! Robert A. Frahm writes in the Connecticut Mirror about how teachers and principals are struggling with the state’s test-based evaluation system. Teachers waste time setting paperwork goals that are low enough to make statistical “gains.” If they don’t, they may be rated ineffective. Every principal spends hours observing teachers—one hour each time—taking copious note
Randi Warns State Chiefs Common Core Is in Deep Trouble; They Don’t Listen
A fascinating article in Education Week describes a verbal tiff between the Council of Chief State School Officers and the leaders of the two major teachers’ unions. The Chiefs, as they are known, are the state superintendents. CCSSO received at least $32 million from the Gates Foundation to “write” and advocate for the Common Core, and no matter how much parents and teachers complain and demand
Robert Shepherd: Economists at Brookings Institution Call for Common Core Censorship Office
Robert Shepherd, a frequent commenter on this blog, has spent his lifetime as a designer and author of textbooks and curriculum. He has frequently criticized the Common Core standards on grounds that they promote an unhealthy uniformity. Here he expresses his concern that the organizations that wrote and copyrighted the Common Core might actually enforce that copyright to stifle competition of ide
Michigan Students Make a Video about Governor Snyder’s War on Public Schools
High school students in Ann Arbor, Michigan, made this video to express their views of Governor Rick Snyder’s assault on their public schools. It is only 3 minutes. Please watch and tweet.
KrazyTA Explains What Bill Gates Wants for His Own Children
The most famous line ever written by John Dewey was this: “What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all its children. Any other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our democracy.” Our frequent commenter KrazyTA has been exploring what our leading reformers–who see themselves as our best and wisest educational visio
Jeff Bryant: Why Democrats Erred by Embracing the GOP Agenda
Jeff Bryant of the Education Opportunity Network writes in Salon that voters are increasingly disenchanted with the bipartisan Bush-Obama education policies of high-stakes testing, Common Core, and privatization. He points out that the attacks on public education are not playing well at all in the political arena. The overwhelming majority of parents are very happy with their local public schools
An Opt Out Letter for Parents in New York
A reader submits a model opt out letter for parents in New York: “If anyone is interested in refusing the state assessments or know someone who is: REFUSAL LETTER: Dear Board of Education, Superintendent, Principals, and Teachers of ________________ school district, We are writing today to formally inform the __________ school district of our decision to refuse to allow our child _____________ to
Jessie Ramey: 13 Ways Standardized Testing Hurts Kids, Ruins Education
Jessie Ramey, who writes the terrific blog Yinzercation, writes a cogent list of the 13 ways that high-stakes, standardized testing hurts children and ruins their education. Here are six of the 13. Open the link to see the other seven: So what are the “high-stakes” for students in high-stakes testing? Examples we’ve been hearing from parents and educators across Pennsylvania include: Lost learnin
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-18-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: A Very Different Cuomo, Once Upon a TimeThirty years ago, the governor of New York addressed the Democratic National Convention, held in New York City. His name was Mario Cuomo. His theme was “A Tale of Two Cities,” ironically, the same campaign theme as Bill de Blasio in 2013. He denounced tax breaks for the rich. He spoke of cari