CTU Protests Law to Cut Chicago Pensions
A statement from the Chicago Teachers Union: STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin June 9, 2014 312/329-6250 CTU on SB1922 signing: “Emanuel’s Law is another slap in the face to the citizens who put the governor and mayor in office.” CHICAGO—The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is greatly disappointed at the signing today by Gov. Pat Quinn of Senate Bill 1922, a proposal by the m
Cuomo Asserts Right to Shut Down Corruption Investigation
Andrew Cuomo told an editorial board meeting that he had the right to shut down a commission investigating corruption because he created it. “Gov. Cuomo denies interfering with his anti-corruption commission — but says even if he did, he’s allowed to. Appearing Wednesday before the Crain’s New York Business editorial board, Cuomo said the commission he formed was his to do with what he wanted. Ma
Meet Zephyr Teachout: Running Against Cuomo?
The Working Families Party briefly flirted with the possibility of running an independent slate. Its candidate for governor was going to be Zephyr Teachout, a Fordham Law professor who specializes in investigating public corruption. However, at the party’s annual convention, WFP endorsed Cuomo after he promised to govern like a Democrat instead of a conservative Republican. Teachout has not give
Paul Thomas: Why States’ Decision to Drop Common Core Is No Cause for Celebration
Paul Thomas explains here why the growing movement to drop the Common Core is strangely disappointing. Oklahoma has dropped Common Core for sure, and other states are making tentative moves in that direction. Whether they will drop CCSS or rebrand it is not clear. As Paul explains, the dissident states are not dropping CCSS and replacing it with a fresh strategy to address the needs of children.
Jeff Bryant: The Unwinding of “School Reform”
Jeff Bryant demonstrates that “school reform” (aka privatization) has hit a rough patch. Despite the giant publicity machine of the well-funded “reformers,” their claims are falling apart. Louisiana’s all-charter Recovery School District is in fact one of the lowest performing districts in the state. It is not a model for any other district. Bryant writes: “There’s no evidence anywhere that the
Pasi Sahlberg Speaks in Massachusetts on “Finnish Lessons”
Pasi Sahlberg, a visiting professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, spoke recently to Citizens for Public Schools in Massachusetts. His topic: what can Massachusetts learn from “Finnish Lessons”? It is worth watching. Pasi is always a wonderful speaker, and he is a leader in the international fight to resist test-mania and privatization and to protect education and children.
Time for Congress to Investigate Bill Gates’ Coup
The story about Bill Gates’ swift and silent takeover of American education is startling. His role and the role of the U.S. Department of Education in drafting and imposing the Common Core standards on almost every state should be investigated by Congress. The idea that the richest man in America can purchase and–working closely with the U.S. Department of Education–impose new and untested academ
New Jersey Closes Small Charters to Make Way for Corporate Chains
We have all noticed what’s happening in the retail business: the big-box chains like Walmart drive the mom-and-pop stores out of business by cutting prices. At a certain point, you notice that all the little local shops are gone, vacant. The shops in the malls are doing well, but they are not locally owned. They are chain stores. This approach is now invading the world of charter schools. Textboo
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-8-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Peter Greene: Why Conservatives Should Oppose School ChoicePeter Greene says that there are at least four good reasons why conservatives hold oppose school choice. Before I tell you what his four reasons are, I will tell you that there are even more reasons for conservatives to support public schools. Conservatives generally are no