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
Ed Roundup for 4-25-14 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
Ed Roundup for 4-25-14 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): Education Roundup for Week Ending April 25, 2014SACRAMENTO—The California Department of Education (CDE) today issued this week's Education Roundup of education-related announcements of public interest.CDE to Convene 3,000 Attendees at STEM SymposiumThe Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, in partnership with the CDE and the Cali
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: More two-tier schooling in Rahm's Chicago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: More two-tier schooling in Rahm's Chicago: More two-tier schooling in Rahm's ChicagoA couple of items before I shut down SmallTalk for the weekend and get busy on Bridging Differences with Deb Meier.First is Rahm's decision to use $60 million from his TIF slush fund towards another selective-enrollment high school, this one named Obama College Prep, in the upscale Li
#ThankATeacher | Lily's Blackboard
#ThankATeacher | Lily's Blackboard: #ThankATeacherApr 25th, 2014 by Lily.Thank you, Mr. Olsen. Thank you Ms. Lee. Thank you Sister Claire. Thank you Mrs. Hildebrand.My list is a long one. There are so many teachers who brought me to where I am in my life, and except for one or two, I have no idea where they are today. I went to Catholic school in Georgia until I was ten and then I mostly went to D
4-25-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: United States Videos For Geography ClassHere are quite a few videos I’m adding to The Best Geography Sites For Learning About The United States & Canada:by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 4-24-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLarry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL,
The Network For Public Education | NPE Tool Kit: A teacher writes a letter to her Congressman
The Network For Public Education | NPE Tool Kit: A teacher writes a letter to her Congressman: NPE Tool Kit: A teacher writes a letter to her CongressmanApril 23, 2014 NPE Call for Hearings, NPE Tool Kit, Testing / Opting OutOur friend Alice Mercer, a dedicated and seasoned teacher who lives near Sacramento, CA took up NPE’s call for Congressional Hearings. Alice wrote a letter to her Congressman
SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 4-25-13 #soschat #edreform
Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana BreakThoughts on preparing for the testing legislative hearing What’s behind the epidemic of inappropriate testing? I once shared a very interesting bus ride to the airport with the president of Riverside Publishing, who write the Iowa Tests, back when Paul Vallas was using the test as a grade promotion barrier. Shortly after our visit, Riverside decided to stop
A Tale of Two NGA Press Releases, and Then Some | deutsch29
A Tale of Two NGA Press Releases, and Then Some | deutsch29: A Tale of Two NGA Press Releases, and Then SomeApril 25, 2014The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are at the stormy center of unprecedented controversy regarding a supposed set of K-12 “standards.”The closest “standards storm” that I can think of as being somewhat similar to the current CCSS uproar occurred in 1994, twenty years ago, a
4-25-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: A Tale of Two NGA Press Releases, and Then SomeThe Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are at the stormy center of unprecedented controversy regarding a supposed set of K-12 “standards.” The closest “standards storm” that I can think of as being somewhat similar to the current CCSS uproar occurred in 1994, twenty years ago, and concerned the national history standards. Let us paus
Victoria Young: To Privatize or Not to Privatize?
Victoria Young: To Privatize or Not to Privatize?: Victoria Young: To Privatize or Not to Privatize?by Victoria YoungLet’s put these questions on the table: What attracts so many Americans to the idea that private companies can better run the public education system? How do they see this current trend as being best for the country?Since public education is an institution that has served us well ov
4-25-14 The Whole Child Blog — Growing Our Middle Grades Educational "Gardens" — Whole Child Education
Growing Our Middle Grades Educational "Gardens" — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGGrowing Our Middle Grades Educational “Gardens”April 25, 2014 by Dru TomlinAfter a long winter season with continual blankets of snow and ice sleeping on the ground, the warmth of spring is finally waking up the soil. Seas of grass are rising in front yards and eager blooms are curling upward tow
Are charter schools monopolizing public resources?
Are charter schools monopolizing public resources?: Are charter schools monopolizing public resources?April 24, 2014 at 6:24 PM EDTCharter school enrollment has soared from about 300,000 a little more than a decade ago to nearly 2 million students nationwide. But the expansion of charter schools, whose public funding is supplemented with private donations, has created serious competition for limit
AFT - A Union of Professionals - AFT News
AFT - A Union of Professionals - AFT News: AFT’s Weingarten to Pearson: Lift Gag Order on Testing, Meet with StakeholdersWASHINGTON— In conjunction with the annual Pearson shareholder meeting in London, AFT President Randi Weingarten today released a letter sent to Pearson executives, board members and shareholders calling on the corporation to remove “gag orders” preventing educators from express
Privatization of Public Services
Privatization of Public Services: Slowing the Mad Dash to PrivatizationBy Vivian RothsteinShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on pinterest_shareMore Sharing Services0What if we had no government services and everything we used to get from government was run by private corporations? McDonald’s could be running the welfare system, Target the public schools and Walmart our mass tran
Arne-Ology & the Bad Incentives of Evaluating Teacher Prep with Student Outcome Data | School Finance 101
Arne-Ology & the Bad Incentives of Evaluating Teacher Prep with Student Outcome Data | School Finance 101: School Finance 101Data and thoughts on public and private school funding in the U.S.Arne-Ology & the Bad Incentives of Evaluating Teacher Prep with Student Outcome DataPosted on April 25, 20140 Rate ThisAs I understand it, USDOE is going to go ahead with the push to have teacher
4-25-14 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: LAUSD receives $7 million federal tech grantNew federal grant will prepare graduates for high-demand careers The Los Angeles Unified School District received $7 million Youth CareerConnect grant to expand career pathways in health care, biotechnology and other tech-related opportunities at t
4-25-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Special Education Speaker Monday, April 28thSeattle SpEd PTSA April Meeting7 pm Monday, 4/28/2014Rm 2700, JSCEE 2445 3rd AveSeattle's SODO neighborhoodDr. Nicole Swedberg will present practical tips and information on:How to help your child If your child is dyslexic?How to best support your dyslexic child at home?What skills should your child be learning? How can
Why Classroom Experience Matters » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
Why Classroom Experience Matters » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names: Teacher SeniorityWhy Classroom Experience Mattersby SETH SANDRONSKYMarcos Breton, a veteran columnist for The Sacramento Bee, one of 30 newspapers The McClatchy Co. publishes, did it. In “Sacramento’s teachers have won this battle,” April 13, 2014, he bashes these union members, and inverts logic:According to him, k
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Bundy's Racist Moocher Army Headed for Motown?
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Bundy's Racist Moocher Army Headed for Motown?: Bundy's Racist Moocher Army Headed for Motown?Cliven Bundy's moocher Army.BREAKING... Justice Scalia announces he is deputizing Cliven Bundy and his Nevada moocher army to ride herd on Schuette decision. Moochers were last seen headed for Michigan to put down any protests and to graze their cattle for free on the overg
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, April 25, 2014
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: L.A. Unified can keep teacher ratings anonymous, judges sayFCMAT’s new website is coming soon! We will have a new look and better compatibility with mobile devices, making it easier to access information and resources. Look for our new site starting April 25.Education HeadlinesFriday, April 25, 2014FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news
Morning Wink 4-25-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS4-25-14 Ed Notes OnlineEd Notes Online: Rosie Rocks: Explaining Teacher Opposition to High Stakes TestingI'm so glad I leaned in and taped this fantastic interview MORE/NYCORE member Rosie Frascella did with a PIX reporter -- you won't see this on the air. As Rosie spoke I kept saying (to myself) - "wow, wow, wow" as she heated up and her passion
4-25-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Rosie Rocks: Explaining Teacher Opposition to High Stakes TestingI'm so glad I leaned in and taped this fantastic interview MORE/NYCORE member Rosie Frascella did with a PIX reporter -- you won't see this on the air. As Rosie spoke I kept saying (to myself) - "wow, wow, wow" as she heated up and her passion about teaching came through so clear. Rosie's interview is the b
4-25-14 LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Gary Rubinstein: Did Arne Duncan Find a Miracle School in Denver?Gary Rubinstein is quite the sleuth when anyone makes a claim about educational results that seem too good to be true. A few years ago, he helped me pin down some whoppers when Secretary Arne Duncan, President Obama, and then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg claimed they dis
4-25-14 Fred 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.: Ten minute drawing. The Bundy Decision.by Fred Klonsky / 22min hide // saveBarack Obama High School and Chicago’s tale of two cities.On Wednesday, Rahm Emanuel’s hand-picked school board voted to fire every administrator, teacher, paraprofessional and lunch lady from three neighborhood schools and h
College Perp | EduShyster
College Perp | EduShyster: College Perp Is harsh discipline really the best way to prepare low-income minority students for college?Quick reader: what is the best way to prepare low-income minority students for college and 21st-century success? If you answered *an obsessive focus on the students’ smallest behaviors (particularly infractions of the uniform variety) paired with plenty of harsh disci
Cutting Through the Hype: Principals as Instructional Leaders | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Cutting Through the Hype: Principals as Instructional Leaders | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Cutting Through the Hype: Principals as Instructional LeadersJane David and I wrote a book called Cutting through the Hype: (Harvard Education Press, 2010). This is one chapter on principals. I have updated some references and language.Effective manager? Savvy politician? Heroic lea
4-25-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: Greenwich superintendent joins Commissioner Pryor in misleading parentsHere we go again! Instead of fulfilling their legal, moral and ethical duty as a superintendent of a public school system in Connecticut, yet another public school superintendent has decided to join the Malloy’s administration’s ongoing efforts to mislead Connecticut parents into thinking that they do not have a rig
4-25-14 The Answer Sheet What teachers really want
The Answer Sheet: AFT asks Pearson to stop ‘gag order’ barring educators from talking about testsAmerican Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten is sending a letter (see below) to the executives of Pearson, the world’s largest education company, asking them to stop a ”gag order” that is part of their $32 million contract with New York state to design new standardized tests aligned to t
4-25-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Children With Terminal Diseases Have to Take the Test, But Voucher Kids Don’tFrom St. Augustine Record reporter Marcia Lane: A Senate subcommittee approved an amendment on Tuesday expanding the voucher program, known as the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, adding
Christians have grabbed ‘theocratic control over public schools’ in Louisiana, critic says
Christians have grabbed ‘theocratic control over public schools’ in Louisiana, critic says: Christians have grabbed ‘theocratic control over public schools’ in Louisiana, critic saysBy Scott Kaufman Yesterday, the Louisiana Senate Education Committee upheld a controversial law that allows science teachers to bring “supplemental science education materials” into the classroom.The Committee voted 3-
Protecting Classrooms From Corporate Takeover | PopularResistance.Org
Protecting Classrooms From Corporate Takeover | PopularResistance.Org: Protecting Classrooms From Corporate TakeoverORGANIZE! EDUCATION, TEACHERS, UNIONS By Amy B. Dean, www.truth-out.orgApril 25th, 2014 Powered by TranslateTeachers are fighting the privatization wave by connecting with families right where they live.Teachers have always held a cherished role in our society – recognized as profes
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-25-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: WHAT THE L.A. UNIFIED iPAD INVESTIGATION COULDN’T FINDThe Inspector General couldn’t find the scoring sheets …but had no problem locating the bungling bureaucracy. By Karin Klein, L.A. Times Editorialist, http://lat.ms/1mLvB5M April 24, 2014, 3:57 p.m. :: The most troubling aspect of an internal Los Angeles Unified School District report on its purcha
4-25-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): What do College Professors Want from Incoming High School Graduates?The focus of this post was prompted by a thread on the NCTE Connected Community: What do College Comp instructors want from incoming High School Graduates? But the essence of this question has been at th
Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurface :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurface :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: APRIL 25, 2014Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurfaceby Tom Chorneau(Calif.) A much-anticipated bill aimed at repealing the state’s controversial ban on most bilingual education in K-12 schools faces its first legislative test next week, as supporters seek
Russ on Reading: Chris Christie's Curious Commencement Speech
Russ on Reading: Chris Christie's Curious Commencement Speech: Chris Christie's Curious Commencement SpeechRowan University, in Glassboro, NJ, will present Governor Chris Christie with an honorary degree and Christie will present the commencement address to this year’s graduating class. The invitation has stirred controversy among supporters of public education and Rowan grads, including a Change.
Nonprofit Charters Turn Taxes into Profits for Board Members | janresseger
Nonprofit Charters Turn Taxes into Profits for Board Members | janresseger: Nonprofit Charters Turn Taxes into Profits for Board MembersPosted on April 25, 2014 by janressegerYesterday the Economic Policy Institute published a stunning new report that examines Rocketship Charter Schools and the financial backers tied to the success of the Rocketship chain of schools. The report’s author is politi
The lawsuit's called Vergara, but the name you should know is Welch | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC
The lawsuit's called Vergara, but the name you should know is Welch | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: The lawsuit's called Vergara, but the name you should know is WelchAdolfo Guzman-Lopez | April 25th, 2014, 5:00amAdolfo Guzman-Lopez/KPCCDavid Welch is the main funder of the Vergara vs. California lawsuit. He founded the Silicon Valley tech company Infinera.Silicon Valley entrepreneur David Welch made h
4-25-13 Curmudgucation
CURMUDGUCATION: Cami, Surgery & Big Stupid DemocracyLike a cat struggling with a fascinatingly ugly hairball, the internet yesterday coughed up an extraordinary video of Cami Anderson. I do not know where she is or why (the wall behind her says "Arizona State University/GSV"), and I do not usually cover New Jersey education because so many capable, local hands already have that cover
A-F Accountability Letter Grades: Reform or Different Name, More of the Same? | Cloaking Inequity
A-F Accountability Letter Grades: Reform or Different Name, More of the Same? | Cloaking Inequity: A-F Accountability Letter Grades: Reform or Different Name, More of the Same?Education “reformers” are still pushing A-F accountability letter grades. In this approach, districts and schools are given letter grades like a student might receive. Are A-F letter grades a “reform”? I was inspired to writ
4-25-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Obama Doubles Down On Test Scores, VAMSome people like to blame Arne Duncan for all the fetishization of test scores and value-added measurements that have come from the Obama administration over the past six years, but as this Stephanie Simon article from Politico makes clear, the impetus comes from Obama:The formulas for measuring how much “value” a teacher adds to a stude
NYC Educator: For Sale--One New York Governor
NYC Educator: For Sale--One New York Governor: For Sale--One New York GovernorNY Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken at least 800K from BFFs of Eva Moskowitz, and at least 65K from the so-called Democrats for Education Reform. And thus, he's bought and paid for. Cuomo had no reservations about pushing a budget that essentially precluded the campaign promises that gained Bill de Blasio a landslide vict
YESTERDAY
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-7-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
Nite Cap UPDATEUPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATECORPORATE ED REFORML.A. teacher wins job back after removal for science projectsA Los Angeles high school science teacher is returning to the classroom two months after being suspended over concerns that two students had assembled "dangerous" science projects under his supervision.1 by By Howard Blume / 58min hide // saveL.A. Unified can keep t
Where is Education Secretary Duncan’s Head?
Where is Education Secretary Duncan’s Head? Found it!Today Secretary Duncan canceled Washington State’s No Child Left Behind Waiver. Why? Because Washington State’s ELECTED officials were not able to conform to Duncan demands to DO IT HIS WAY (you know, the corporate way to privatizing Public Education). I can’t decide if he is just Arne the Corporate Autocrat or he doesn’t care. Either way there
Nite Cap 4-24-14 #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 CAPMarie Corfield: Tom Moran crosses the line in latest editorialMarie Corfield: Tom Moran crosses the line in latest editorial: Tom Moran crosses the line in latest editorial(Note: as I was drafting this post this week, Bob Braun wrote several exce
