We know that David Sirota was fired. Why? Was it because Pando is funded by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs? Or someone close to Chris Christie? The owners deny it. When a news website fires its star reporter, it raises questions.
The Last Word: Peter Greene on What Arne Should Have Said
Comments have been intense about Arne Duncan’s plan to hold states accountable for higher test scores for students with disabilities. Peter Greene said his proposal was really bad. Really bad. That set off a vigorous debate. Here is the last word, from Peter Greene, on what Arne should have said (but didn’t).
Pando Fires Top Investigative Reporter: Beware of Offending Powerful
David Sirota has written a series of blockbuster stories for the website Pando. He went after the big fish: John Arnold, Bill Gates, Chris Christie. He was fired. JUNE 25, 2014 Friends: Just a quick note to let you know that as of this week, I’m no longer working for PandoDaily, so if you need to reach me, please contact me at my personal email address david@davidsirota.com. This news was unexpec
Protest to be Held Tomorrow at Gates Foundation in Seattle
PROTEST The Gates Foundation When: June 26th 5PM Where: Rally at Westlake Park (401 Pine St, Seattle) March to Gates Foundation (440 5th Ave N, Seattle) Our schools are under attack from the mega rich who seek to reduce education to standardized test scores while busting unions & denying at-risk youth a rich and holistic school experiences. To broaden and deepen public awareness about this, th
Jersey Jazzman Joins the Honor Roll as a Hero of American Education
Social media are the tools of grassroots democracy. It is through blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and other modes of communication that citizens have the ability to make their voices heard in an age when the mainstream media are owned by large corporate interests. Few bloggers have been as effective as Jersey Jazzman in writing about the travails and triumphs of education today. Earlier this year, Jers
Adam Bessie: How the Vergara Advocates Framed The Narrative
Adam Bessie, who teaches in California, writes here about the neat rhetorical trick of the people and groups behind the Vergara case. Although they were spending millions of dollars to attack the rights of teachers and workers, they cleverly positioned themselves as part of a campaign for civil rights. Even the decision was written in that frame. Bessie says that teachers must reframe the debate–o
Pelto: Why Governor Dannell Malloy Supports Charter Schools
Blogger Jon Pelto, who is running as a third party candidate for governor of Connecticut, reports here that Governor Malloy has received large contributions from Jonathan Sackler and the Sackler family. Jonathan Sackler is a leader of the charter school movement in Connecticut and elsewhere. Pelto writes: Jonathan Sackler helped Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, crea
Peter Greene: Is This the “Stupidest Thing Ever to Come Out of the U.S. DOE?”
Peter Greene writes that Arne Duncan has figured out why children with disabilities get lower test scores: Low expectations. Greene writes: “In announcing a new emphasis and “major shift,” the US Department of Education will now demand that states show educational progress for students with disabilities. “Arne Duncan announced that, shockingly, students with disabilities do poorly in school. The
Arne Duncan Proposes New Accountability for Special Education
Arne Duncan proposed new accountability standards for students with disabilities. Claudio Sancez of NPR wrote: “The Obama administration said Tuesday that the vast majority of the 6.5 million students with disabilities in U.S. schools today are not receiving a quality education, and that it will hold states accountable for demonstrating that those students are making progress. “Education Secreta
Steve Nelson: Education “Reform” is a Mighty Hoax
This is a terrific article by Steve Nelson. I wish I could republish it in full but that is not allowed. He actually says that what is called reform is “a national delusion.” He writes: “As I watch the education “debate” in America I wonder if we have simply lost our minds. In the cacophony of reform chatter — online programs, charter schools, vouchers, testing, more testing, accountability, Co
Reading Professor Responds to NCTQ Blast at Her Post
Katherine Crawford-Garrett, a literacy professor at the University of New Mexico,wrote on this blog about how the rating system used by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) affected her own ability to assign readings; her dean warned her that her syllabus might offend them. After her post appeared, it was criticized by Arthur McKee, who directed the NCTQ review of teacher preparation ins
Detroit Free Press: Astonishing Story of Charter Founders and Their Lavish Contracts
This is the third in a series by the Detroit Free Press about the remarkable conflicts of interest, nepotism, and self-dealing in Michigan charter schools, which collect $1 billion a year in public funds. Read it and be amazed that legislators and law enforcement officials permit this blatant misuse of public funds. The story begins: “Alison Cancilliari was a Grosse Ile teacher making $64,000 w
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-24-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Former Obama Spokesmen Join Attack on Teacher Tenure and SeniorityStephanie Simon reports at politico.com that former high-level Obama advisors will help the fight against teacher unions and due process rights. Campbell Brown, a former CNN anchor who is highly antagonistic to teachers’ unions, is creating an organization to pursue