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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Morning Wink 4-19-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




NYC Educator: Media Mendacity--NY Post Covers the MTA Contract
NYC Educator: Media Mendacity--NY Post Covers the MTA Contract: Media Mendacity--NY Post Covers the MTA ContractI'm always amazed at the audacity with which the truth is twisted in our media. The MTA came to an agreement with Governor Andrew Cuomo over a five year contract, and the Post is upset because they view it as costly. Evidently paying people to work is an inconvenience that ought to be av
4-19-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All WeekCharter Schools: The New Battle of TrentonSo you guys have all seen this:On Christmas Day, 1775, George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River, starting at what is known now as Upper Makefield, PA. The general led his forces south along the banks of the river, eventually sneaking up on the Hessians, the German mercenary troops of the Brit
4-19-13 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION:School Accountability Has Changed ForeverRegardless of how the battle for the soul of public education shakes out in the end (or at least in the future-- I don't know that we'll ever see an end), there are things that we have already lost for at least a generation, collateral damage, the china in a shop over-run by a herd of clashing cattle.Perhaps the biggest casualty is the trust
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 4-19-14
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog:Russia is Still Having Fun with the UkraineSo there are now up to 40,000 Russian troops equipped with all their fighting machines on the border of the Ukraine. Russia has annexed Crimea and clearly shows intent of not stopping there. Ethnically Russian cities inside of the Ukrainian border have exploded in revolt and violence has torn the streets. There are cities in the
4-19-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement":Kellogg Foundation Announces Nearly $4 Million In Grants For Parent Involvement ProgramsI’ve previously posted about the Kellogg Foundation’s initiative to fund parent involvement/engagement programs targeting families with children age eight and below. They just announced a new set of grants and I thought it would be useful
4-19-14 NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education
NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:NPE News Briefsfrom The Network for Public EducationL.A. Times: Cheating Rampant on High-Stakes Exams in India | Diane Ravitch’s blogThe Los Angeles Times tells us what we should already know: The higher the stakes on exams, the more bad consequences will follow. In India, there are crucial exams, and cheating is a persistent problem. Ingenio
4-19-14 THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education:THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog Engaging Curriculum: A Foundation for Positive School CulturePost written by David Hunter As a curriculum designer who advocates for project-based learning, I strongly believe that curriculum plays a major role in the school culture but can often go unconsidered when developing a vision around that culture. At first
4-19-14 This Week in LA - School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):Tutoring center busted for scamming millions in fed dollarsA tutoring company billing itself as “The trusted name for specialized tutoring” may not be so trustworthy after all. Unless, that specialty is in defrauding the federal government. The Academic Advantage, whose website is endorsed by The Governato
Stephen Krashen Blog 4-19-14
SKrashen:A weapon of mass distractionSent to the New York Times, April 11, 2014Yes, there's a big problem with the tests ("We need to talk about the tests," April 10). but there's a bigger problem: The whole idea of the common core. Accurately described by Susan Ohanian as  “a radical untried curriculum overhaul and ... nonstop national testing," the common core is an outrageous sch
4-19-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week
With A Brooklyn Accent:With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All WeekAnother Reason Why Public School Teachers are Silenced: They Might Expose the Wounds of PovertyA disinterested observer, coming from another place or time, would find it odd that the voices of American public school teachers are systematically excluded by those making education policy. No better example of this is the "Education Re
4-19-14 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions Education This Week - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress
Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:Bill Introduced: S. 2210: School Food Modernization ActA bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to make loan guarantees and grants to finance certain improvements to school lunch facilities, to train school food service personnel, and for other purposes.7h YESTERDAYBill Introduced: H.R. 4391: P
4-19-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:Scathing Purple Musings  Color me purple in Florida ALL WeekMeet the New FCAT, Same as the Old FCATSunshine State News reporter Allison Nielson writes of FCATs last year with a paradox: “Parting is such sweet sorrow — sort of.” And also this: After a dramatic drop in FCAT
All Week @ The Answer Sheet 4-19-14
The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetArne Duncan dismisses critics: ‘Lots of drama, lots of noise’There he goes again. Education Secretary Arne Duncan went to New York recently and introduced state Education Commissioner John King at a function at New York University, calling him “a remarkable leader” and “as smart and as thoughtful as anyone working in this space.” As for the growing numbe
4-19-14 Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society All Week
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog:Schooling in the Ownership SocietyMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership SocietySun-Times editors know exactly what's wrong with 'turnaround' strategyThe Sun-Times editorial board has things all figured out. They know exactly why Byrd-Bennett's "radical" plan to turn more schools over to the private turnaround operators at AUSL will be a disaste
4-19-14 Wait What? All Week
Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekMalloy political operation sidesteps Connecticut law limiting contributions from lobbyists.Limiting the financial influence of lobbyists was one of the most important elements of Connecticut’s post-Rowland campaign finance reforms. In its final form, Connecticut law states that, “…lobbyists and their immediate families may make qualifying contributions of up to $100
4-19-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumFriday Open ThreadPrinceton University has come to the conclusion that we don't really live in a democracy but that we are basically an oligarchy.  No real surprise there - the rich are getting richer, the poor getting poorer and the people in-between worry about that their children won't even live at the same standard as they do.  Jus
4-19-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineSay Wha?Rhee Hubby Kevin Johnson Leads NBA Union Searchhttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/sports/basketball/nba-players-reset-union-search-with-kevin-johnson-as-point-man.html?hpw&rref=sports&_r=0N.B.A. Players Reset Union Search With Kevin Johnson as Point ManHis tenure has not been free of controversy; in 2012, he was fined $37,000 by the Fair Political Pra
4-19-14 Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherKeeping retirement weird. Stopping the Tom Foolery.Joe from New Jersey commented on my blog about Governor Christies diversion of public employee pensions, “ummm, NJ is a blue state you nincompoop. Christie has done more for the p
4-19-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekCuomo To Be Honored In Washington D.C. As "Champion Of Charters"May's going to be a banner month for Andrew Cuomo and the charter entrepreneurs.First he's hosting a ritzy education reform vacation getaway/conference in Lake Placid for charter entrepreneurs and other reformy types and now we learn that he's to be honored by the National All
4-19-14 the becoming radical EMPATHYEDUCATES! | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
THE BECOMING RADICALRadical ScholarshipEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by Should Schools Introduce Dress Codes for Parents?Mama Sass, a Miami mother of two, blogs at MomsMiami.com. Introductory Essay By Betsy L. Angert | Originally Published at EmpathyEducates. April 15, 2014 Go to the grocery school. Dine out for dinner. Even at a cocktail party, conversat
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-19-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT  Field Poll: 3 out of 5 OF CALIFORNIA VOTERS SUPPORT UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL FOR 4-YEAR-OLDSNews stories/Follow the links: Majority of California voters support universal preschool for 4-year-olds -- Most California voters think the state should increase the availability of preschool for the state’s 4-year-olds, ac
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 4-19-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY“The Best Commentaries On The ‘Broken Compass’ Parent Involvement Book”You might, or might not, be aware of the recent controversy around a new book titled The Broken Compass:Parental Involvement With Children’s Education. Its authors recently had an op-ed in The NY Times reviewing their co
This Week's Education Research Report 4-19-14 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTLatest trends show decrease in school-aged bullying and fightingNew research from the American Journal of Public Health finds a decrease in bullying and physical fighting among middle and high school students. However, the prevalence of carrying weapons increased among white students.Using survey data from the Health Behavior in School-
4-19-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter:  Schools Matter All WeekCitizen Jack's analysis of Michelle Rhee's recent mendaciousness"In an even more disturbing revelation heard on the tape Rhee laughs about when the tape was removed hurting the children and some even started to bleed." — John Kugler "Jack," a frequent commenter on Professor Ravitch's site, sent me the following analysis in which he compar
All Week 4-19-14 @ THE CHALK FACE
@ THE CHALK FACE : All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Let It Go for the test refusersOriginally posted on An Antique Teacher:I was making my way around the internet and found this, which was billed as a “parody”. I guess in the simplest terms, it is a parody, but sadly as I watched it, I realized that it was a video encouraging students to do their very best on the…by antiqueteacher60 / 1min Two Americas:
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 4-19-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGDid Brandeis Abandon its Commitment to Debate and Reason?Jon Zimmerman is a colleague of mine at New York University and a fellow historian of education. He uses his deep knowledge of history to write on many topics. He is amazingly prolific. Zimmerman writes: NEWSDAY April 16, 2014 Brandeis Betrays its Educational Missio

YESTERDAY

David Brooks, Common Core Circus Performer | deutsch29
David Brooks, Common Core Circus Performer | deutsch29: David Brooks, Common Core Circus PerformerApril 18, 2014Why newspapers hire individuals to regularly offer the public unsubstantiated opinions baffles me. I am a researcher. Unless my posts are grounded in my personal experience, I offer my readers links to document my position on matters about which I write.David Brooks is an opinion writer.
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: "From Nothing to Something":Thank a Teacher!
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: "From Nothing to Something":Thank a Teacher!: "From Nothing to Something":Thank a Teacher!The words in the title are not my words.As I was making my way home from a loooong day that was a combination of my 5th grade babies and my hour stint as a Read Aloud volunteer, I was listening to the radio station, winding down  from a day of all childre
Perpetual Beta | BCS in Context
Perpetual Beta | BCS in Context: Perpetual Beta I caught up with a friend recently over a beer, we spent a good amount of time discussing a topic we share an interest in: California Charter Law. (I know… *YAWN*)Here in California, we’ve been experimenting on public school students for more than 20 years using Charter Law, so maybe it’s time to take stock of where things stand.Maybe it’s time to re
Spotlight on Humphrey Honoree: Randi Weingarten
Spotlight on Humphrey Honoree: Randi Weingarten: Spotlight on Humphrey Honoree: Randi WeingartenApril 18, 2014 - Posted by Patrick McNeil  On May 15, the civil and human rights community will honor American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten with its highest honor, the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award, for her lifelong commitment to improving America’s education
Nite Cap 4-18-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #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 CAPVerdict Is In: The Final Draft of Indiana Proposed Standards Stink | Truth in American EducationVerdict Is In: The Final Draft of Indiana Proposed Standards Stink | Truth in American Education: Verdict Is In: The Final Draft of Indiana Proposed S
Verdict Is In: The Final Draft of Indiana Proposed Standards Stink | Truth in American Education
Verdict Is In: The Final Draft of Indiana Proposed Standards Stink | Truth in American Education: Verdict Is In: The Final Draft of Indiana Proposed Standards StinkFiled in Common Core State Standards, Education at State Level by Shane Vander Hart on April 18, 2014 • 0 CommentsOk some folks are now weighing in on the final draft of Indiana’s proposed academic standardsthat was released earlier thi
4-18-14 The Whole Child Blog — Engaging Curriculum: A Foundation for Positive School Culture — Whole Child Education
Engaging Curriculum: A Foundation for Positive School Culture — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGEngaging Curriculum: A Foundation for Positive School CultureApril 18, 2014 by ASCD Whole Child BloggersPost written by David HunterAs a curriculum designer who advocates for project-based learning, I strongly believe that curriculum plays a major role in the school culture but can often go u
The Dishonorable Andrew Cuomo Meets the Hedge Fund / Charter School Zombies * | Alan Singer
The Dishonorable Andrew Cuomo Meets the Hedge Fund / Charter School Zombies * | Alan Singer: The Dishonorable Andrew Cuomo Meets the Hedge Fund / Charter School Zombies *From May 4 to May 6, 2014 the Honorable Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York State, is scheduled to be the Honorary Chairman at a three-day charter school/hedge fund extravaganza that is anything but honorable. Other celebrity "
Common Core Enthusiast Didn’t Get The Memo(s) | Missouri Education Watchdog
Common Core Enthusiast Didn’t Get The Memo(s) | Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Enthusiast Didn’t Get The Memo(s)Angie Hanlin needs to get her name on some distribution lists. There are a few important memos she seems not to have gotten.Ms. Hanlin was quoted in a Standard Democrat article this week supporting the Common Core Standards.  I believe she truly enjoys the work she is doing to
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-18-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Same Fight, Another ArenaBy smf for 4LAKidsNews April 18, 2014 :: Apparently the way to fund a school bond campaign to relieve overcrowded conditions and fix aging facilities is to pack too-many like-minded potential donors into a too-small room, give them wine and cheese and canapĂ©s (and diet Coke) – tell stories about the glory days of yesteryear and
HOW SCHOLASTIC MAGAZINE CHANNELS BILL GATES | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing
HOW SCHOLASTIC MAGAZINE CHANNELS BILL GATES | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing: HOW SCHOLASTIC MAGAZINE CHANNELS BILL GATES Reading between Scholastic’s lines is easy. All you have to do is a “close read”. So lets do that together, shall we? You can find the article by clicking the link. Of course, following CC procedure, we will take excerpts and close read them to get to the hidden agendas. My
4-18-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: Malloy administration recruits “Dream Team” to sell Common Core to Connecticut teachersThe Malloy administration is implementing a new Common Core PR extravaganza. Initially Malloy and his team wanted to run a $1 million Connecticut taxpayer funded pro-Common Core advertising campaign. But when a political firestorm forced them to back down, the Malloy team came up with a different pub
Ed Tech Blueprint - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
Ed Tech Blueprint - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Releases Education Technology BlueprintMILPITAS—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson's Education Technology Task Force released a new report today that outlines steps California should take to ensure education technology can be an effective, safe, and productive tool for learning over the ne
4-18-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning Read: Insurance costs boosted superintendent payInsurance premium subsidy boosted superintendent’s pay to $772,457 An embattled South Bay school district leader, under investigation for his high compensation, now has a new issue to deal with: insurance premiums that should have been counted as tax
4-18-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Paternalism, Old or New, Blinds22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the
New Network for Social Justice Unionism Seeks to Change the Labor Movement | PopularResistance.Org
New Network for Social Justice Unionism Seeks to Change the Labor Movement | PopularResistance.Org: New Network for Social Justice Unionism Seeks to Change the Labor MovementORGANIZE! WORKER RIGHTS AND JOBS, YOUTH By Roshan Bliss, www.PopularResistance.orgApril 18th, 2014  Powered by TranslateInterview with Michelle Gunderson co-founder of the Network for Social Justice UnionismEarlier this month
4-18-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: April’s Best Tweets — Part ThreeEvery month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to tho
4-18-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadPrinceton University has come to the conclusion that we don't really live in a democracy but that we are basically an oligarchy.  No real surprise there - the rich are getting richer, the poor getting poorer and the people in-between worry about that their children won't even live at the same standard as they do.  Just to be clear:An oligarchy is
4-18-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Opt Out Wave GrowingThe articles below are captured in one day of Google Alert for "opt out."  The movement to end a century of miseducative, classist, and racist tests will not be denied. Town HallNY Schools Struggle Where to Put Students Who Opt Out of Standardized TestsTown HallA battle between parents and educators has erupted over standardized testing in the state of
teaching a class at Harvard
teaching a class at Harvard: teaching a class at HarvardbyteacherkenFollow    Email  2 Comments / 2 NewWell, to be more accurate, this is about my experience of being a guest speaker for about half of a 3 hour class at the Harvard Graduate School of Education on April 16.  As a side note, Wendy Kopp, who founded Teach for America, was the speaker in another class the previous day.The class is run
Against Standardization: Moving Beyond Taylor | educarenow
Against Standardization: Moving Beyond Taylor | educarenow: Against Standardization: Moving Beyond TaylorPosted on April 18, 2014 | Leave a commentI have a deep, viscerally negative response to standardization. It’s hard for me to articulate.  It’s sometimes hard to understand.  And honestly, I wish this wasn’t the case.  It certainly would make things easier.A couple of weeks ago I stumbled into
Who is Benjamin Olagadeyo? | Bob Braun's Ledger
Who is Benjamin Olagadeyo? | Bob Braun's Ledger: Who is Benjamin Olagadeyo?From Linked-In a self-posted picture by Benjamin OlagayedoWho is Benjamin Olagadeyo? Or, for that matter, Samuel Taye Olagadeyo? Or Mary Olagadeyo? Or Bematolas Envinronmental Consulting, LLC? Bematolas appears to be an artificial name created out of the personal names–BEnjamin, MAry , Taye, andOLAgadeyo. Don’t you love a m
Russ on Reading: Attention, Not Retention
Russ on Reading: Attention, Not Retention: Attention, Not RetentionIf the CCSS test-based accountability leads to more student retention, we all will be the losers.So what happens if students don’t score in the proficient or better range in the upcoming tests aligned with the Common Core? In many states, either by law or by policy, students will be retained in their current grade. Retention in thi
The Endogeneity of the Equitable Distribution of Teachers: Or, why do the girls get all the good teachers? | School Finance 101
The Endogeneity of the Equitable Distribution of Teachers: Or, why do the girls get all the good teachers? | School Finance 101: The Endogeneity of the Equitable Distribution of Teachers: Or, why do the girls get all the good teachers?Posted on April 18, 20140      Rate ThisRecently, the Center for American Progress (disclosure: I have a report coming out through them soon) released a report in wh
Backseat Driving in the Clown Car | Academe Blog
Backseat Driving in the Clown Car | Academe Blog: BACKSEAT DRIVING IN THE CLOWN CAR Backseat driving in the clown car: that’s what pundits are about, today.In The New York Times, David Brooks tries to turn that around, making out that is those who disagree with him who have the red noses and squeeze horns. He mounts a defense of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) based on the idea that those he sh
History Repeats: Standards-based education reform of public schools has been tried before.
History Repeats | The Crucial Voice of the People: History RepeatsMany crossed this bridge before.Standards-based education reform of public schools has been tried before.Around 1913, the industrial “efficiency movement” focused public attention on outcomes but when educators attempted to “routinize teaching,” or standardize it, it didn’t work according to Robert J. Marzano and Jon S. Kendall in “
Privatizing struggling Milwaukee schools doesn’t pay off, report to be released April 24 says | Institute for Wisconsin's Future
Privatizing struggling Milwaukee schools doesn’t pay off, report to be released April 24 says | Institute for Wisconsin's Future: Privatizing struggling Milwaukee schools doesn’t pay off, report to be released April 24 saysPosted on April 16, 2014 by Tom Beebe in Education in the News  |  Comments are closedA new report reveals that legislative moves to convert struggling public schools in Milwauk
Morning Wink 4-18-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-18-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Mercedes Schneider Explains Common Core to Sol Stern, AgainSol Stern of the rightwing Manhattan Institute is a fierce advocate for the Common Core Standards. He is a journalist of great rhetoric