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Friday, July 25, 2014

Nite Cap 7-25-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT



James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."


A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP




“I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the Profession
“I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the Profession: “I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the ProfessionJULY 25, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY LEAVE A COMMENTWhy do teachers stay teaching? What makes them leave?The Alliance for Excellent Education and the New Teacher Center, hea
Mother Crusader: Guest Post: NJ's Interdistrict Choice Program: Overpraised and Underexamined
Mother Crusader: Guest Post: NJ's Interdistrict Choice Program: Overpraised and Underexamined: Guest Post: NJ's Interdistrict Choice Program: Overpraised and UnderexaminedBy Jeffrey BennettThere is no program on the New Jersey education landscape as overpraised and underexamined as Interdistrict Choice. In contrast to the intense debate over other topics in education like charter schools, student
Lesson 4: Teachers Can’t Be Effective Without Professional Working Conditions | Gatsby In L.A.
Lesson 4: Teachers Can’t Be Effective Without Professional Working Conditions | Gatsby In L.A.: Lesson 4: Teachers Can’t Be Effective Without Professional Working Conditions I recently interviewed for a teaching position at a really good charter school in a low-income community. The principal was smart, idealistic and dedicated; so were the other teachers I met. They spoke fondly of the students,
An Educator’s Conference Perspective | My Island View
An Educator’s Conference Perspective | My Island View: An Educator’s Conference PerspectiveJuly 25, 2014 by Tom Whitby @tomwhitbyIf there is one thing that could be said of what I do professionally it might be that I do get around to many education conferences. This past month I attended two International conferences ISTE14, BLC14 and one Indiana regional conference, the Greater Clark County Schoo
Peg with Pen: The Loss of Libraries and Librarians
Peg with Pen: The Loss of Libraries and Librarians: The Loss of Libraries and LibrariansThe subject of libraries is near and dear to my heart. In a second life I may come back as a librarian – if there are any libraries left.  My elementary school had a tiny little library; it was lovely.  I looked forward to checking out books every week – sometimes I checked out books that were big and fat - boo
Federal government required states to adopt Common Core school standards, congressional hopeful says | PolitiFact Wisconsin
Federal government required states to adopt Common Core school standards, congressional hopeful says | PolitiFact Wisconsin: Federal government required states to adopt Common Core school standards, congressional hopeful saysShare this story:The Common Core school standards were adopted by 45 states, three of which later dropped them. (AP photo)Gov. Scott Walker joined other potential Republican c
Let’s Celebrate!!! Tuesday July 29 at Abel’s on the Lake in Austin | Cloaking Inequity
Let’s Celebrate!!! Tuesday July 29 at Abel’s on the Lake in Austin | Cloaking Inequity: Let’s Celebrate!!! Tuesday July 29 at Abel’s on the Lake in AustinIt’s official. I signed the paperwork yesterday here in Sacramento. See also A Move to SacTown in Song, This time it’s for REAL: A Playlist My resignation from UT-Austin will be effective on August 31, 2014.But there will be a party!!!!!!!!!!Let’
Race to the Top: A Five-Year Marathon Slog With No End in Sight - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
Race to the Top: A Five-Year Marathon Slog With No End in Sight - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Race to the Top: A Five-Year Marathon Slog With No End in SightBy Nancy Flanagan on July 25, 2014 12:28 PMLet me start by revealing my bias about the name itself. I don't think any aspect of genuinely improving public education in America is enhanced by state-vs.-state competition.
7-25-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadWhat does Rand Paul, a possible candidate for the Republican nomination for President, think should happen in education?“If you have one person in the country who is, like, the best at explaining calculus, that person maybe should teach every calculus class in the country,” the senator said. “You’d still have local teachers to reinforce and try to
7-25-14 Jersey Jazzman
Jersey Jazzman: @GovChristie: Education Politics, Not Education PolicyRemember Chris Christie's big idea from this past winter? He was going to lengthen the school day and the school year. It was urgent that we do this immediately: "This is a key step to improve student outcomes and boost our competitiveness. We should do it now."So, how's that going, Governor?It was one of the centerpie
An Attack On Teachers
An Attack On Teachers: An Attack On TeachersI recently read an article Shortchanging Teachers in the blog eduwonk, which was a synopsis of Shortchanged, a report from TNTP (formerly known as The New Teacher Project), which criticized the current practice of teacher salary schedules and their reliance on years taught and degrees earned. Of course the recommended solution is a change to a system whi
Corporate Education Reform Snakes?
Education ‘Reform’ Loses The Netroots: Education ‘Reform’ Loses The NetrootsThe “snake line,” Barber explained, marked a line in mountainous territory above which dangerous reptiles cannot live and where the “cold-blooded” can’t survive.Indeed, America’s cold-blooded education policies can no longer survive above the bright line of progressive values. Netroots Nation showed we’re taking education
Fun with Payroll files of LDOE (and related entities) | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
Fun with Payroll files of LDOE (and related entities) | Crazy Crawfish's Blog:Crazy Crawfish's BlogZesty Louisiana Education PoliticsFun with Payroll files of LDOE (and related entities)Posted on July 25, 20140I was asked to research into why a number of people at LDOE are suddenly getting promotions. Apparently over the last few months a dozen or so jobs have popped up on the Civil Service job po
7-25-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning Read: English learner lawsuit gains support from FedsMorning Read: English learner lawsuit gains support from Feds Feds back English learner lawsuit against state The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has found an ally in the U.S. Department of Justice for its lawsuit charging
New tool for navigating federal privacy laws :: SI&A Cabinet Report
New tool for navigating federal privacy laws :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: JULY 25, 2014New tool for navigating federal privacy lawsby Carrie Marovich(District of Columbia) A recent cyberattack that sent one school district’s field test of a new online state assessment into a tailspin earlier this year was enough to strike panic into the
7-25-14 the becoming radical | Kristof, How Much Inequity Is the Right Balance?
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Kristof, How Much Inequity Is the Right Balance?I started simply to ignore Nicholas Kristof’s An Idiot’s Guide to Inequality, but I was pulled back into it by Russ Walsh’s Hope, Poverty, and Grit. First, the rush to celebrate Kristof’s acknowledgement of Thomas Picketty,
Are charter schools really cheaper to run? « School Board News
Are charter schools really cheaper to run? « School Board News: Are charter schools really cheaper to run?This is republished from NSBA’s Center for Public Education’s The EDifier blog by Jim Hull, Senior Policy Analyst.A new study from the School Choice Demonstration Project at the University of Arkansas claims that charter schools are 40 percent more productive than traditional public schools. T
Morning Wink 7-25-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-25-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Another Super-Hot Los Angeles School Board RaceIn District 1 in Los Angeles, a well-funded, politically-connected candidate–Alex Johnson– squares off against an underfunded, highly qualified educator–George McKen
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-25-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Another Super-Hot Los Angeles School Board RaceIn District 1 in Los Angeles, a well-funded, politically-connected candidate–Alex Johnson– squares off against an underfunded, highly qualified educator–George McKenna. McKenna won 44% of the vote in the primary to Johnson’s 26%. The run-off is August 12. But Johnson has raised almost
7-25-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: We’ve been following events in Hinsdale. Here is the latest from the teachers.Photo: @studentsforD86 Hinsdale High School 86 is in Chicago’s western suburbs. This summer I have been following the bargaining between the teachers union, HHSTA, and the Hinsdale board. The Hinsdale board, headed by Dr. Sk
7-25-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What? What is this race for Governor all about – take a look at the new article from In These TimesI recently conducted an interview with Cole Stangler, a reporter for “In These Times.” Although not everyone reads “In These Times,” they should. Kurt Vonnegut once said, “If it weren’t for In These Times, I’d be a man without a country.” In These Times was created by author and hist
7-25-14 Answer Sheet
Answer Sheet: Five U.S. innovations that helped Finland’s schools improve but that American reformers now ignoreFinnish educator and scholar Pasi Sahlberg is one of the world’s leading experts on school reform and educational practices. The author of the best-selling “Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn About Educational Change in Finland?”and a former director general of Finland’s Center fo
7-25-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Behning's Corporate School Money Still Flowingby Doug Martin (See the important note at the end of this article. Patrick Lockhart is running against Behning, and needs your support.  Here is his facebook page.  Spread it wide.  It is time to take this to a truly grassroots level.  Pass this article on to your neighbors, your community members and leaders and to the people in Lockha
7-25-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Videos: “Forward Thinking Transfer Of Learning” With James Bond© 2011 Johan Oomen, Flickr | CC-BY-SA | via Wylio I promise – this will be my last Transfer of Learning post for the day! Two kinds of transfers of learning are called “backward-reaching” and “forward-thinking.” In “backward-reaching,” you’re applying what you h
7-25-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd
7-22-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: BATS- Finding a Teacher Voice
With A Brooklyn Accent: BATS- Finding a Teacher VoiceIf there is a single contribution that BATS has made in the one year of its existence, it is to show the powers that be that public school teachers- in all their diversity and variety-- are not a silent, compliant group who can be demonized, standardized, scripted, deprived of due process, and forced to commit professional malpractice at the exp
7-25-14 The Whole Child Blog — What Happens When You Believe
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: What Happens When You BelieveI was recently asked if I remember teachers or educators that made a difference in my life and learning and how they inspired me. Yes, for a while I was that "middle" kid. I was your student who came diligently every day to class, completes their work, and if given the choice, would have been perfectly happy blend
7-25-14 Curmudgucation
CURMUDGUCATION: How Much Money Is Tenure Worth?Economist Allison Schrager is quoted over at Yahoo putting forth the idea that tenure is worth cold hard cash.Certainly this is not the first time the idea has been introduced. She Who Will Not Be Named tried in DC to introduce a plan to have a non-tenure big-buck track. This failed to get traction, perhaps because it's hard not to see trading tenure
7-25-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: Governor Cuomo Remains In Hiding For A Third Straight DayState of Politics:Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in New York City, with nothing public planned.When will the governor face the public and explain himself on the Moreland/NY Times story?He kept out of sight yesterday too, instead issuing press release after press release about everything in the world except Moreland. Is he going
Teacher quality and test scores: Recent studies raise questions | Education Lab Blog | Seattle Times
Teacher quality and test scores: Recent studies raise questions | Education Lab Blog | Seattle Times: Teacher quality and test scores: Recent studies raise questionsPosted by Linda ShawAs we reported earlier this week, the standoff continues between our state and the feds over the use of student test scores in teacher evaluations.The U.S. Department of Education continues to insist that test score
Russ on Reading: Hope, Poverty, and Grit
Russ on Reading: Hope, Poverty, and Grit: Hope, Poverty, and GritCalling on our political leaders and plutocrats to show some grit.When I was a kid “grit” was the stuff that was left in the bottom of the bath tub after I showered following a full day spent on a dusty baseball field. “Grit” was also the stuff in the Lava soap my auto mechanic father used to get the grease off his hands at the end o
7/24/2014 – Education ‘Reform’ Loses The Netroots
7/24/2014 – Education ‘Reform’ Loses The Netroots: 7/24/2014 – Education ‘Reform’ Loses The NetrootsJuly 24, 2014 SubscribeTHIS WEEK: Voters Overwhelmingly Want Pre-K Expansion … Teacher Dropout Crisis … Segregation Feeds Tea Party … Jeb Bush Policies Hit Obstacles … Choice Is About SortingTOP STORYEducation ‘Reform’ Loses The NetrootsBy Jeff Bryant“At this year’s Netroots Nation conference … thos
Jeff Bryant Thinks Campbell Brown Is Replacing Michelle Rhee as Face of Attacks on Teachers | janresseger
Jeff Bryant Thinks Campbell Brown Is Replacing Michelle Rhee as Face of Attacks on Teachers | janresseger: Jeff Bryant Thinks Campbell Brown Is Replacing Michelle Rhee as Face of Attacks on TeachersPosted on July 25, 2014 by janressegerIn a blockbuster story at Salon.com, Jeff Bryant threads together the two key school “deformer” stories of the past week.  Michelle Rhee’s star seems to be fading e
empathyeducates - On the Journey For Justice Newark Parents Cheer Federal Investigation Into Controversial School Plan
empathyeducates: On the Journey For Justice Newark Parents Cheer Federal Investigation Into Controversial School PlanParents and advocates gather at Newark City Hall after U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into the city’s school reorganization plan. By Peggy McGlone | Originally Published at New Jersey Dot Com. – The Star-Ledger. July 24, 2014 at 6:00 AM, updated Jul
The D-List Reformer Does Disruption | EduShyster
The D-List Reformer Does Disruption | EduShyster: The D-List Reformer Does Disruption *Disruption*: everything that’s wrong with the education reform movement in a single conceptBy *The 49er*Today’s installment of Confessions of a D-List Reformer is brought to you by the letter *D,* as in *disruption.* Attend any kind of education reform event these days and you will hear this word constantly. In
NYC Educator: If NYSED Were a Teacher...
NYC Educator: If NYSED Were a Teacher...: If NYSED Were a Teacher...Here is the rub:  If the New York State Education Department were a teacher, parents would be on the phone and NYSED would soon be called down to the principal's office.  In the hands of an apt administrator, NYSED would be sternly advised to change or denied tenure.  As it works out though, parents protest in great numbers (i.e.,
Gates Funded, Moi? Thanks For Your Support. We'll Take It From Here : NPR Ed : NPR
Thanks For Your Support. We'll Take It From Here : NPR Ed : NPR: Thanks For Your Support. We'll Take It From HereOne of the questions we're most frequently asked on the NPR Ed team is, essentially, "Don't you guys get a lot of money from the Gates Foundation?"The answer is, of course, yes.What that question is often implying is: "Aren't you guys just a mouthpiece for the Gates Found
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: On Patti Vasquez Show last night
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: On Patti Vasquez Show last night: On Patti Vasquez Show last nightPatti Vasquez and Pete Lee on WGN last nightSpecial thanks to WGN'sPatti Vasquez for having me on her show last night. ComedianPete Lee was Patti's co-host and we had a friendly and far-ranging discussion on ed issues. Patti and Pete are both very funny, but serious when it comes to schooling and other
AFT, NEA Agendas Converge Amid External, Internal Pressure - Education Week
AFT, NEA Agendas Converge Amid External, Internal Pressure - Education Week: AFT, NEA Agendas Converge Amid External, Internal PressureBy Stephen Sawchuk and Liana HeitinWhat may end up being a new era for the teachers’ unions began, fittingly, with a marriage.American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten was a guest of honor at incoming National Education Association President Lily E

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Feds back English learner lawsuit against state | EdSource
Feds back English learner lawsuit against state | EdSource: Feds back English learner lawsuit against stateCREDIT: ACLU OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAMark Rosenbaum, chief counsel of the ACLU of Southern California, speaks at a press conference in Los Angeles regarding a lawsuit filed in 2010, Reed v. California, challenging teacher layoffs in Los Angeles Unified. The current case involves the unmet needs
Sam Pirozzolo Cries Tears of a Clown southbronxschool
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Sam Pirozzolo Cries Tears of a ClownEveryone loves a clown, right?Sam Pirozzolo is giving clowns a bad name.But we here at SBSB appreciate Sam and the material he gives us. It's just too easy, like fishing for a whale in a barrel.Sam must have been bursting with pride this morning when his handler, Mona Davids, posted this tweet with a link to a Facebook conversati
State Schools Chief Announces 2014 Finalists for Prestigious National Teaching Award | Crown City News
State Schools Chief Announces 2014 Finalists for Prestigious National Teaching Award | Crown City News: State Schools Chief Announces 2014 Finalists for Prestigious National Teaching Award0 Comments July 23, 2014 • 5:39 pm Written by eburgos Tags: education, finalists, subjects, teachers, teaching awardState Schools Chief Announces 2014 Finalists for Prestigious National Teaching AwardState Superi
BESE President Roemer Might Have to Sue for the Right to Sue Jindal | deutsch29
BESE President Roemer Might Have to Sue for the Right to Sue Jindal | deutsch29: BESE President Roemer Might Have to Sue for the Right to Sue JindalJuly 24, 2014So, I thought that there might be more lawsuits to add to the two that were filed on July 21 and 22, one against the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) by 17 lawmakers regarding the slighting of proper proce
Kimble's Corner: On the Border with Rick and Louie
Kimble's Corner: On the Border with Rick and Louie:On the Border with Rick and LouieWhen something important like the border crisis comes along, I don't believe in patience.  I certainly didn't believe in waiting until Congress has the month of August off to do something about the problem.   Yesterday, I joined fellow Congressman Louie Gohmert and Texas Governor Rick Perry for a morning patrol of
PISA Envy | WagTheDog
PISA Envy | WagTheDog:PISA Envy Tests confirm…ed reformers are suffering from impaired judgement and diminished critical thinking skills due to an acute case of PISA envy.Ed reformers should reconsider their admiration for education systems that prepare young people to live and work in closed societies that don’t value creativity, freedom of expression, and independent thinking.In a free and open
If You Thought I Was Perfect, You Weren’t Paying Attention | Connected Principals
If You Thought I Was Perfect, You Weren’t Paying Attention | Connected Principals: If You Thought I Was Perfect, You Weren’t Paying Attentionby sblankenship • July 25, 2014 • 0 CommentsDid you know that great teachers feel slightly disappointed and somewhat unappreciated with a perfect evaluation? Take a look at the following quotes.“I want to be better. Telling me how great the lesson was does no
New database details pay of California public school employees - LA Times
New database details pay of California public school employees - LA Times: New database details pay of California public school employeesLast year, James Hammond, the superintendent of the Montclair-Ontario Unified School District in the Inland Empire, was paid $492,077. Jonathan Eagan, the principal of a junior high school in the Bay Area city of Martinez made $279,669.And 31 custodians at Califo
Nite Cap 7-24-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Budget vote: Another reason to get rid of mayoral control of the schoolsMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Budget vote: Another reason to get rid of mayoral control of the schools: Budget vote: Another reason to get rid