Governor Corbett Blames Union for Child’s Death
When people write Pennsyvania Governor Tom Corbett to complain about the devastating effects of his budget cuts on the children of Philadelphia, he responds by blaming the teachers’ union for not accepting even deeper cuts. A few days ago, a first-grader died; there was no school nurse on duty. Her position had been cut from five days a week to one day a week plus another occasional day. This was
Graduation Advice from Bill Gates
Tim Farley, concerned educator and parent in upstate Néw York, found a commencement speech delivered by Bill Gates in 2007. Much to his own surprise, he was inspired by Gates’ advice and thought it was relevant to the problems of today. Tim Farley writes: ———————- Diane, I was researching some quotes to add to an upcoming Academic Awards night and stumbled upon these words of advice from Bill Gate
Peter Greene: Why “Research” Doesn’t Tell Us Whether a School is Working
Peter Greene steps into a debate about whether schools are “working.” One answer: let research tell us. Greene disagrees. Research, he says, depends on the questions you consider important. In the past, communities decided what they wanted their schools to do. He writes: “Because what works and what doesn’t work is not a matter of good research at all. Or rather, the research doesn’t matter.
Jonathan Lovell: The Magic of Learning to Listen
Jonathan Lovell has been leading writing workshops for many years. In this delightful post, he describes his struggle to finish his own dissertation, and the flights of fancy that kept blocking his path. He uses graphics creatively to reflect his state of mind. You watch his thinking evolve. Watch a writer at work and lament with him that the Obama administration eliminated the minimal funding
Has Arne Heard About NAEP?
Someone sent me this clip from Tennessee, where Arne Duncan was trying to salvage the federally-funded online Common Core test called PARCC. “DUNCAN: TENNESSEE CAN STILL SALVAGE TESTS: At Brick Church College Prep in Nashville, Tenn., Education Secretary Arne Duncan showered the state with praise for becoming the fastest improving state in the country. But it still has a long way to go, he said a
Lloyd Lofthouse on Teacher Pay
Regular reader Lloyd Lofthouse has gathered some useful information on teacher salaries. He writes: Here’s a link to a map that was published by The Washington Post that shows the average annual public school teachers pay for each state for 2013. Now, to be clear, an average means many teachers are paid less and some paid more. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/12/15/how-mu
Laurel Sturt: Who Are the Biggest Bullies in Education?
Laurel Sturt says that old-fashioned schoolyard bullying has evolved into Internet malice, protected by anonymity. She says bullying has become a national pastime for some political leaders. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has cultivated a reputation as a bully, jabbing his finger at lesser mortals. And then bullying is built into education policy–federal, state, and local. She writes: “Thou
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 5-24-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGGene Glass: This is the BASIS Sales PitchGene Glass, a distinguished researcher, wrote the following about a charter chain that is regularly lauded by U.S. News & World Report: Ever Hear a BASIS Schools Sales Pitch? The Basis charter schools – some ten schools in Arizona and a couple more in places like San Antonio an