All Week @ THE CHALK FACE
Notes on a co-location. It’s the little differences. #charterschools @revolutionfoods
We are often told that, in some areas, charter schools are STILL public schools, as if this is meant to placate any of our concerns. This comment proves that we should have something to worry about. I can think of innumerable ways charter schools are both exactly like public schools and not in the least […]
Transcript of Gates’ March 2014 Washington Post Interview
On June 7, 2014, Washington Post reporter Lyndsey Layton published a blockbuster article largely based on a 28-minute interview she had with Gates following his keynote speech at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ (NBPTS) Teaching and Learning Conference in Washington, DC, on March 14, 2014. I am writing my second book, this one on the origins of the Common […]
“Both Sides Of The Gun”
“Both Sides Of The Gun”.Filed under: SHAUN JOHNSON, PHD: Musings from the Chalk Face
JUN 19
John White’s PARCC Contract Problems
In January 2005, I bought a house in Muncie, Indiana, to remodel. It was quite the adventure for a number of reasons, one of which was the creative ways that the previous owner managed to dodge making structurally-sound renovations. For example, the electrical system was in chaos. When the electrician opened up the breaker box, […]
U.S. and Education Reform Need a Critical Free Press
U.S. and Education Reform Need a Critical Free Press. via U.S. and Education Reform Need a Critical Free Press.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
JUN 18
Details on La. Gov. Jindal’s Common Core and PARCC Exit
In a press release on June 18, 2014, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal made a number of statements regarding Louisiana’s participation in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the associated Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)– one of two assessment consortia (groups of states) connected to the CCSS. Some have questioned whether […]
What do you want to be when you grow up? Our kindergartners at Malcolm X.
How will the PARCC prepare these kids to be a superhero or an “ice princess.” Huh.Filed under: SHAUN JOHNSON, PHD: Musings from the Chalk Face Tagged: elementary, end of the year, graduation, job, kindergarten
Why Parents Should Not Fear Teacher Tenure
WHY PARENTS SHOULD NOT FEAR TEACHER TENURE. Now co-authored with NYS paren’t leader, Glen Dalgleish.Filed under: SHAUN JOHNSON, PHD: Musings from the Chalk Face
Why Parents Should Not Fear Teacher Tenure
Now co-authored with NYS parent leader, Glen Dalgleish. WHY PARENTS SHOULD NOT FEAR TEACHER TENURE.Filed under: SHAUN JOHNSON, PHD: Musings from the Chalk Face
BREAKING NEWS: Louisiana Governor Jindal Drops PARCC and Common Core
Jindal just finished a press conference. His words, summarized: PARCC selection did not comply with La state law requiring a bidding process– this voids PARCC agreement. Jindal has asked for a financial audit of PARCC spending and an open, competitive bidding process for assessment. He said that suspending PARCC is what he was able to do immediately via executive order. […]
From A Horse’S Mouth:
FROM A HORSE’S MOUTH:.Filed under: SHAUN JOHNSON, PHD: Musings from the Chalk Face
JUN 17
Is Weingarten Really Against VAM? Or Was Her Conversion “A Sham”?
In January 2014, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten finally stated that she is completely opposed to using value added modeling (VAM) as a component on teacher evaluations. As Audrey Amrein-Beardsley notes on her blog, Vamboozled: …Randi Weingarten, the current president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has (finally) expressed her full opposition against
AFT’s Weingarten Supports Malloy, and Likely, Cuomo
On June 16, 2014, I wrote a post in which I wondered what American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten would say on June 17 at the official AFL-CIO endorsement of the re-election of blatantly-anti-teacher, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy. Here is what the Connecticut Mirror had to offer by way of Weingarten’s participation in endorsing an undeniably […]
Peter Smagorinsky: Response to the new NCTQ Teacher Prep Review
Peter Smagorinsky: Response to the new NCTQ Teacher Prep Review. via Peter Smagorinsky: Response to the new NCTQ Teacher Prep Review.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
PREVIEW: New Film Opening June 17, 2014 – “NCTQ Hill”
PREVIEW: New Film Opening June 17, 2014 – “NCTQ Hill”. via PREVIEW: New Film Opening June 17, 2014 – “NCTQ Hill”.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
NCTQ: “their remedies are part of the disease”
NCTQ: “their remedies are part of the disease”. via NCTQ: “their remedies are part of the disease”.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
JUN 16
Those Nonsense Annual NCTQ Ratings Are Coming on June 17
On June 17, 2014, the so-called National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) will unleash upon the world its ratings of teacher training programs. Here is part of an announcement sent on June 9, 2014, to members of the press: Washington, DC – On Tuesday, June 17, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) will release the […]
What Will Weingarten Say in Connecticut on June 17?
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy is no friend to public education. As education historian Diane Ravitch notes in December 2013: Malloy has abandoned his commitment to equality of education opportunity and now relies on high-stakes testing, evaluation of teachers by test scores, and ample funding to charter schools as the reforms that can take the place of […]
The Very Disappointing Teacher Impact Numbers from Chetty
The Very Disappointing Teacher Impact Numbers from Chetty. via The Very Disappointing Teacher Impact Numbers from Chetty.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
Oklahoma City Families and Teachers Find Their VOICE
Until recently, I thought of VOICE as a handful of liberal Christians, spitting into the hot Oklahoma City wind. Similarly, I never expected a grassroots coalition of parents from across the state to stand up to the bubble-in testing mania. I realized last Sunday that VOICE has also become a force to be reckoned with. […]
George Saunders’s Allegory of Scarcity and Slack
George Saunders’s Allegory of Scarcity and Slack. via George Saunders’s Allegory of Scarcity and Slack.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
“Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins
“Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins. via “Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
JUN 15
To those focusing on tenure, you’re doing it wrong
If my social media accounts are any indication, I’m probably one of the last 1% of teachers with a week’s worth of school days remaining. It will take me a little more time, once graduations and all of these other special events are over this week, to fully digest and comment on the CA tenure […]
JUN 14
Why Parents Should Not Fear Teacher Tenure
WHY PARENTS SHOULD NOT FEAR TEACHER TENURE.Filed under: SHAUN JOHNSON, PHD: Musings from the Chalk Face