New Group Called “Democrats for Public Education” Will Fight Privatization
Leading Democrats have announced the creation of a new organization called Democrats for Public Education. It will be led by Ted Strickland, former governor of Ohio, and Donna Brazile, political consultant. Its name is a swipe at Democrats for Education Reform, which is dominated by hedge fund managers, and which funds candidates who support charter schools, Teach for America, and any other grou
Connecticut: Charter Lobby Gives New Meaning to the Word Chutzpah
Journalist Sarah Darer Littman is still aghast from the weeks of scandal that have rocked Connecticut and its charter sector. “Dr.” Michael Sharpe stepped down as CEO of Connecticut’s Jumoke Charter Schools and its parent organization FUSE. Sharpe had a criminal record long ago, and his doctorate was a phony. Littman remembers how she was fingerprinted every time she took a new job. She writes:
Littman: Students Need School Libraries and Librarians
Sarah Darer Littman bemoans the fact that our policy makers are willing to spend more on testing while many schools have no libraries or librarians. When she said this to an elected official, he responded: “Where’s the evidence for the benefit of libraries?” In this post, she supplies the evidence. She cited the studies showing that schools and students tend to have higher literacy if they have li
Teacher: How We Lost Our Profession
A teacher from North Carolina wrote the comments below. I don’t agree with his conclusion that unions are responsible for teachers’ loss of control over their work. What he describes can be found in states that never had unions, that were always “right to work.” Who is the villain of the piece? Testing companies? NCLB? I would put the blame on the accountability movement, which now belongs to Cong
Peter Greene: How to Get Great Teachers
There is no secret to getting great teachers, writes Peter Greene. Everything the reformsters do is guaranteed to drive away great teachers. Here is the secret: “If you really want to put a great teacher in front of every child, then you need to preserve and enhance a vision of teaching that gives teachers control over their fate, their teaching environment, and the education they provide their
The Connection Between Jeb Bush, ALEC, K12, and Maine
This prize-winning story by investigative reporter Colin Woodard follows the money trail in Maine, as Governor Paul LePage seeks to make a name for himself in the world of digital learning. It was originally published two years ago, but remains relevant. Woodard dug through more than 1,000 documents that he obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, and his story won the George Polk award.
WATCH THIS! Reverend Dr. William Barber Tells AFT the Secrets of Victory
In this spell-binding video, borrowed from Fred Klonsky’s blog, the Reverend Dr. William Barber speaks at the AFT convention and describes the powerful Moral Mondays movement in North Carolina. This movement has a broad social and economic agenda, and it may well bring down the hard-hearted, mean-spirited governor and legislature of that state. Do yourself a favor. Watch it. Take hope. What Dr. B
Reform, Chicago Style
Smart politicians understand that the appearance of reform is even better than real reform. Chicago Democrats have learned that lesson and turned it into an art form. Here is an article from the Chicago Tribune that makes the point–not about schools but about crime and police. In education,”reform” means closing schools, shutting down libraries, and replacing experienced teachers with newcomers.
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 7-12-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGTeacher: No Time For Teaching, Only TestingThis teacher laments the explosion of testing in school, which has reduced or eliminated time for play, recess, and activities. This is the brave new world of Common Core and PARCC: H/she writes: “The Common Core and PARCC will ruin education as we know it..And, of course, it is