Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, August 2, 2014

2nd Banana 8-2-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform



BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA

RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST








Teacher group rallies in Washington to protest Common Core, Arne Duncan | NJ.com
Teacher group rallies in Washington to protest Common Core, Arne Duncan | NJ.com: Teacher group rallies in Washington to protest Common Core, Arne DuncanLast fall, Melissa Tomlinson took on Gov. Chris Christie and his educational policies in a heated exchange that received national attention.Tomorrow, Tomlinson and other BATs – short for Badass Teachers – take their campaign to Washington, D.C. fo


Last Stand for Children First: Seven of Campbell Brown's Funders Come Clean
Last Stand for Children First: Seven of Campbell Brown's Funders Come Clean: Seven of Campbell Brown's Funders Come CleanCampbell Brown's courageous stand to take on teacher tenure protections has recently come under some fire because her Partnership for Educational Justice has refused to publicly state where its funding is coming from.  Now, Campbell Brown is no dummy, she is a graduate of the sa


Campbell Brown on Colbert Report - Mum's the Word
Campbell Brown on Colbert Report - Mum's the Word Did Campbell Brown get a visit form the Money Fairy? She ain't sayin'!But Your Mother IS:Who's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit? | Mother JonesWho's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit? | Mother Jones: Who's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit?The former CNN anchor says her nonprofit seeks



Firestorm Over Campbell Brown’s Wall-Street Backed Lawsuit Against Teachers
News - Alliance for Quality Education of New York: Firestorm Over Campbell Brown’s Wall-Street Backed Lawsuit Against TeachersParents and Teachers Slam Bogus Lawsuit as Wall St. Front Group, Dismiss Former TV-Anchor as Out-of-Touch and with No Credibility on Education Issues*Parents, teachers and experts available for comment*(New York, NY) – Today, Campbell Brown announced she will file a bogus l

BATs Descend on DOE Video from Today's Rally
savagetek-bat-stream, savagetek-bat-stream Techwarrior69 on USTREAM. Other Events: BATs Descend on DOE Video from Today's Rally Broadcast live streaming video on UstreamSee More: savagetek-bat-stream, savagetek-bat-stream Techwarrior69 on USTREAM. Other Events:

Common-sense school reform in a post-Vergara world: Guest commentary
Common-sense school reform in a post-Vergara world: Guest commentary: Common-sense school reform in a post-Vergara world: Guest commentary If you are of a certain age, as we are, you will recall the days when your buddies all wanted to put “headers” on their V-8 Chevy, Dodge, or Ford. The effect was a loud, thumping rumble that turned heads in the school parking lot or at the drive-in theater. Hea



“Stupid, absurd, non-defensible”: New NEA president Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a on the problem with Arne Duncan, standardized tests and the war on teachers - Salon.com
“Stupid, absurd, non-defensible”: New NEA president Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a on the problem with Arne Duncan, standardized tests and the war on teachers - Salon.com: “Stupid, absurd, non-defensible”: New NEA president Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a on the problem with Arne Duncan, standardized tests and the war on teachersArne Duncan has met his worst nightmare -- an NEA president armed with facts and guts. She

7-29-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Arne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS at US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Gets an Earful!
With A Brooklyn Accent: Arne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS at US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Gets an Earful!: Arne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS at US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Gets an Earful!   On July 28, 2014, following the  BAT Rally outside the US Department of Education, a delegation of BATS went up to  t


8-1-14 @ 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



7-31-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: July’s (2014) Best Tweets — Part FiveEvery month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit t


Campbell Brown Exposed by Stephen Colbert southbronxschool
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Campbell Brown Exposed by Stephen ColbertEarlier in the week when I heard thatCampbell Brown was to appear on The Colbert Report I kind of cringed.I am not a fan of Stephen Colbert's schtick on the show (Though there are some bits I have enjoyed), though I do like him, and more of a fan of The Daily Show. But two things had be concerned.One was how would Colbert's


St. Hope taps Michelle Rhee as board chair, removes superintendent - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee
St. Hope taps Michelle Rhee as board chair, removes superintendent - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee: St. Hope taps Michelle Rhee as board chair, removes superintendentBy Loretta Kalblkalb@sacbee.comPublished: Friday, Aug. 1, 2014 - 8:01 pmSt. Hope Public Schools has named Michelle Rhee, the controversial former Washington, D.C., schools chief and charter schools advocate, as its new board chairwo

Nite Cap 8-1-14 #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 CAPsolidaridad: Upcoming radio show appearancessolidaridad: Upcoming radio show appearances: Upcoming radio show appearancesMost of you know that I'm a frequent guest on KPFK's Politics or Pedagogy with John Cromshow. This month I'm happy to announc

Inside L.A.'s 'teacher jail': Educators are 'broken, depressed, suicidal' | Al Jazeera America
Inside L.A.'s 'teacher jail': Educators are 'broken, depressed, suicidal' | Al Jazeera America: Inside L.A.'s 'teacher jail': Educators are 'broken, depressed, suicidal'L.A. teachers facing misconduct investigations have long been confined to administrative offices, sometimes for yearsIris Stevenson and Greg Schiller met in purgatory. It was a room with cubicles facing blank walls, no phones or co
Last Stand for Children First: Seven of Campbell Brown's Funders Come Clean
Last Stand for Children First: Seven of Campbell Brown's Funders Come Clean: Seven of Campbell Brown's Funders Come CleanCampbell Brown's courageous stand to take on teacher tenure protections has recently come under some fire because her Partnership for Educational Justice has refused to publicly state where its funding is coming from.  Now, Campbell Brown is no dummy, she is a graduate of the sa
8-1-14 @ 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
8-1-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadWelcome to August - it's nice to still have a lovely summer.I note that SPS is still looking for an Enrollment and Planning Services director.  I was a bit startled that the salary is much lower than for an Executive Director (considering how important this job is). Very entertaining interview with Project Runway's Tim "Make it Work" Gun
Morning Wink 8-1-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-1-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Failure of Test and Test and Test Some MoreThis teacher expresses frustration with the policymakers’ obsession with testing, thinking of it as a form of instruction and a measure of instructi
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-1-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Failure of Test and Test and Test Some MoreThis teacher expresses frustration with the policymakers’ obsession with testing, thinking of it as a form of instruction and a measure of instruction, and as a measure of teacher quality and school quality. In New York, for example, State Commissiomer Zjohn King recently a bounced tha
8-1-14 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.: David Brooks argues for grit. I hate grit. Seniors are poor because they desire immediate gratification? No grit.There are few people writing in major media today that are dumber than David Brooks in the New York Times. In yesterday’s column he said we should be focused more on teaching poor folks cha
8-1-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Video: Stephen Colbert Does A GREAT Job Interviewing Campbell BrownCampbell Brown, leading the latest Son of Vergara lawsuit attacking teachers, was a guest on The Colbert Show last night. And, boy, did Colbert do a great job. Check out the video below:by Larry Ferlazzo / 28min hide  //  saveMore Resources On The Ebola Viru
Campbell Brown on Colbert Report - Mum's the Word
Campbell Brown on Colbert Report - Mum's the Word Did Campbell Brown get a visit form the Money Fairy? She ain't sayin'!But Your Mother IS:Who's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit? | Mother JonesWho's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit? | Mother Jones: Who's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit?The former CNN anchor says her nonprofit seeks

This Will Make Some Special Education Advocates Really Happy
This Will Make Some Special Education Advocates Really Happy: This Will Make Some Special Education Advocates Really HappyNew York State Education Commissioner John King Jr.'s proposal to change testing for some students with severe disabilities won't happen next school year. (AP Photo/Michael Sisak) | ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK -- New York students with disabilities will be held to the same academ

Nite Cap 7-31-14 #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 CAPCigarette tax vote canceled; schools opening in jeopardy | Philadelphia Public School NotebookCigarette tax vote canceled; schools opening in jeopardy | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Cigarette tax vote canceled; schools opening in jeopardy

Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting agenda. (CA Dept of Education)
Agenda August 13 and 14, 2014 - Administration & Support (CA Dept of Education): Agenda August 13 and 14, 2014Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting agenda.Advisory Commission on Special Education MembersGina Plate, ChairBarbara Schulman, Vice ChairFeda AlmalitiMildred BrowneMorena de Grimaldi Kristi HagansSomer HardingSara JochamBetty KarnetteMatthew NavoLester PincuNancy Por


7-31-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: "Do We Really Have a Problem Without a Solution"(I'm hoping this will be a multi-part thread about public education in this country, where we are, where we are going and what should/could change.) I come to this thread thinking of two different things that really have nothing (but really everything) to do with public education. One is a song by the late W



Badass Teachers Association Protest Rally Results In Meeting With U.S. Secretary Of Education Arne Duncan
Badass Teachers Association: BADASS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION PROTEST RALLY RESULTS IN MEETING WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN --Call for National Teachers Congress----Halt to Destructive and Discriminatory Education Policies--July 31, 2014, Washington, D.C.--U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan met with the Badass Teachers Association (BATs), a burgeoning grassroots organization, to ga
The End of Paper-and-Pencil Exams? - The Atlantic
The End of Paper-and-Pencil Exams? - The Atlantic: The End of Paper-and-Pencil Exams?In a recent pilot program, kids as young as 9 were asked to respond to online prompts and type out essays on a computer. Click Here to go to the Website- United Opt Out TeamAre fourth graders computer-savvy enough to have their writing skills measured in an online assessment? A new federal study suggests that they
7-31-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What?: Pelto/Murphy 2014Self-proclaimed as “America’s Most Trusted Educator,” Steve Perry says he is opening a charter school in NYC?According to his PR operation, “Dr. Steve Perry, and the founders of what US News & World Reports has called one of America’s top high schools, are coming to Harlem.” Despite the fact that Perry and his “team” are full-time employees of the Hartf
2012 Campaign Cash Scandal Ends With PAC’s Shutdown | KQED News Fix
2012 Campaign Cash Scandal Ends With PAC’s Shutdown | KQED News Fix: 2012 Campaign Cash Scandal Ends With PAC’s ShutdownIn a quiet ending to one of the most high-profile campaign money controversies in California history, the political action committee reprimanded for accepting $11 million from mystery donors in 2012 has closed its doors.The political arm of the Small Business Action Committee (SB
New Web Site: Student Privacy Matters - Parent Coalition for Student Privacy
Student Privacy Matters: OUR LETTER TO CONGRESSToday, our Parent Coalition for Student Privacy launched.  Our letter to Congress urging them to strengthen federal student privacy protections ishere (pdf) and below; our press release is here.July 23, 2014Dear member of Congress:We write on behalf of a broad coalition of parents across the country to urge Congressional review of emerging threats to

7-31-14 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: CA English learners trial commences todayMorning Read: CA English learners trial commences today California in lawsuit alleging neglect of English learners A lawsuit alleging that California public education officials have failed to provide language instruction to tens of thousands of Englis


7-31-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Step Up For Students’ Shameless False Narrative on SB 850 LawsuitNone of the hacks from Step Up for Students put their name on this morning’s post regarding a group of special needs children’s parents who are “taking on” the Florida Education Association for filing a law



LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-31-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Jersey Jazzman: What Does Campbell Brown Want?Jersey Jazzman writes that we know what Campbell Brown is against: bad teachers. She says teachers should have due process protections. So does Arne Duncan. Unions would agree with them that termination hearings should not be expensive and endless. So what does she want? Jersey Jazzman


7-31-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Mike Schirtzer Thanks MOREistasI just wanted to thank all the folks who helped organize and present at the today's summer series and the last one a couple of weeks back.Kit, Norm, Ellen, and James really explained well the lessons for MORE from their experiences in past opposition groups. It was such a great history lesson on why they fight so hard and how they were able to achiev

7-31-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: July’s (2014) Best Tweets — Part FiveEvery month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit t
@ 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

7-30-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: US Attorney Warns Governor Cuomo Over Witness Tampering, Obstruction Of Justice ChargesThe battle between US Attorney Preet Bharara and Governor Andrew Cuomo over the Moreland mess just got ratcheted up some more:In an escalation of the confrontation between the United States attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo over the governor’s cancellation of h



Christie, bully and punk, puts down a Newark teenager | Bob Braun's Ledger
Christie, bully and punk, puts down a Newark teenager | Bob Braun's Ledger: Christie, bully and punk, puts down a Newark teenagerThe Decider and The PunkGov. Chris Christie, arguably the most powerful man in New Jersey, yesterday ridiculed a high school senior for asking a perfectly reasonable question: Why won’t he come to Newark to hold one of his “town hall” meetings? He dismissed the question

Arne Gets An Earful! By Mark Naison
Arne Duncan Meets BATS: Arne Gets An Earful!By Mark NaisonArne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS at US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Gets an Earful!On July 28, 2014, following the BAT Rally outside the US Department of Education, a delegation of BATS went up to the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights to share some of the main issues that BATS had with
Arne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS - Badass Teachers Association
Badass Teachers Association: Arne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS at US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Gets an Earful! (w/ added reflections by Larry Proffitt and Marla Kilfoyle)By:  Dr. Mark Naison    On July 28, 2014, following the  BAT Rally outside the US Department of Education, a delegation of BATS went up to  the Education Department’s Office of Civil R
Nite Cap 7-30-14 #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 CAPTeacher In-Service: The Good, the Bad and the UglyTeacher In-Service: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Teacher In-Service: The Good, the Bad and the UglyJULY 30, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY LEAVE A COMMENTMany teachers are starting back to work already.
7-30-14 @ 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
“Stupid, absurd, non-defensible”: New NEA president Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a on the problem with Arne Duncan, standardized tests and the war on teachers - Salon.com
“Stupid, absurd, non-defensible”: New NEA president Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a on the problem with Arne Duncan, standardized tests and the war on teachers - Salon.com: “Stupid, absurd, non-defensible”: New NEA president Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a on the problem with Arne Duncan, standardized tests and the war on teachersArne Duncan has met his worst nightmare -- an NEA president armed with facts and guts. She

Who's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit? | Mother Jones
Who's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit? | Mother Jones: Who's Really Behind Campbell Brown's Sneaky Education Outfit?The former CNN anchor says her nonprofit seeks to protect kids from predators in the classroom. Its real agenda may be union-busting.Early one morning in July, former CNN anchor Campbell Brown appeared onMSNBC's Morning Joe, pen in hand, notes fanned out in fro
The New Yorker Nails the Real Lesson of the Atlanta Testing Scandal | John Thompson
The New Yorker Nails the Real Lesson of the Atlanta Testing Scandal | John Thompson: The New Yorker Nails the Real Lesson of the Atlanta Testing ScandalShare23Tweet60Email0Comment0Rachel Aviv's excellent The New Yorker article, "Wrong Answer," hits the proper balance. Aviv rightfully focuses on the conspiracies and the outright cheating in the Atlanta Public Schools. She mak
Morning Wink 7-30-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-29-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Eva Moskowitz Set to Dominate New York City Charter LandscapeEva Moskowitz has applied to the State University of New York‘s Charter School Institute for permission to open another 14 charter sc
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-29-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Eva Moskowitz Set to Dominate New York City Charter LandscapeEva Moskowitz has applied to the State University of New York‘s Charter School Institute for permission to open another 14 charter schools in New York City by 2016, a request that seems sure to be approved.   Chalkbeat reports:   “If Success’ proposal to open 14 new schoo
7-30-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: MORE Caucus Press Release: Teacher Tenure is Good for StudentsBy eliminating teacher tenure, we risk further disconnecting students and teachers, and make it harder for them to have transformational dialogue about what actually needs to be done in our classrooms to further the growth of students... Primi Akhtar (2014 graduate of Queens Metropolitan High School, valedictorian) Real

7-30-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: July’s Best Posts From This BlogI regularly highlight my picks for the most useful posts for each month — not including “The Best…” lists. I also use some of them in a more extensive monthly newsletter I send-out. You can see older Best Posts of the Month at Websites Of The Month (more recent lists can be found here). Here
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-30-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Pasadena Unified To File Lawsuit Against Acton-Agua Dulce Unified For Authorizing Charter School In PasadenaBy Hugo Guzman & Sarah Favot, The Pasadena Star-News | http://bit.ly/1lc2Av7 The Pasadena Unified School District school board voted to file a lawsuit against the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District for opening the SCALE Academy Charter S

15-7= Private Profit Taken from Public Education Taxes | Reclaim Reform
15-7= Private Profit Taken from Public Education Taxes | Reclaim Reform: 15-7= Private Profit Taken from Public Education TaxesPosted on July 29, 2014by Ken Previti15-7=8 cannot be copyrighted for profit.This example can be copyrighted for private profit from public education taxes.The content can be copyrighted, the instructional materials (text books, worksheets, computer and online programs, su
The Kvetching of Mona Davids southbronxschool
http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Kvetching of Mona DavidsOh Mona Davids is in an uproar again. Poor, poor, Mona, how her crocodile tears do flow.The Daily News reported today that parents (And rightly so) are upset that the school day has been rescheduled in 450 to accommodate the 80 minutes of PD on Mondays and the 75 minutes of parent involvement on Tuesdays. Surely, Mona is happy with the a
Badass Teachers Association
Badass Teachers Association: BATs July 28, 2014 SpeechBy:  Dr. Yohuru WilliamsMr. Duncan in May of 1894, Jacob Coxey, and his Army marched on Washington DC in the wake of a worldwide depression to petition the government for jobs for the unemployed.  Coxey opened his speech, not too far from here, invoking the promise of American democracy“We choose this place of assemblage” he told his audience,
Nite Cap 7-29-14 #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 CAP7-29-14 Schools Matter All WeekSchools Matter: Evan Bayh Loves Christel DeHaan and Hedge Funders: CORPORATE SCHOOL ALERTby Doug Martin With so many people saying Evan Bayh must come back to Indiana to "save" public education as governor
7-29-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter: Evan Bayh Loves Christel DeHaan and Hedge Funders: CORPORATE SCHOOL ALERTby Doug Martin With so many people saying Evan Bayh must come back to Indiana to "save" public education as governor, it is time to set the record straight and let Hoosiers know about the real Evan Bayh. Here is just a glimpse (after only a few hours of research) into Indiana’s hero, Fox News' on-air

7-29-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Arne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS at US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Gets an Earful!
With A Brooklyn Accent: Arne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS at US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Gets an Earful!: Arne Duncan Drops in Unexpectedly on Meeting With BATS at US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Gets an Earful!   On July 28, 2014, following the  BAT Rally outside the US Department of Education, a delegation of BATS went up to  t

The Charter School Profiteers | Jacobin
The Charter School Profiteers | Jacobin: The Charter School Profiteersby Allie GrossIn Detroit charter schools, mismanagement and opportunistic “education entrepreneurs” thrive.(Beth Fertig / SchoolBook)This is the second installment in our two-part series looking at charter schools in New Orleans and Detroit. The juxtaposition is no accident — these two cities have the highest percentage of chart
Teachers Occupy the US Department of Education in Washington, DC | M. Shannon Hernandez
Teachers Occupy the US Department of Education in Washington, DC | M. Shannon Hernandez: Teachers Occupy the US Department of Education in Washington, DCI boarded the Amtrak early Sunday morning in New York City and headed into Washington, DC. The weekend had finally arrived where teachers from across this nation were going to show our solidarity and use our voices to fight for public education. E
7-29-14 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: LAUSD, teachers at odds over contract talksMorning Read: LAUSD, teachers at odds over contract talks Teachers union, LAUSD at odds over bargaining tactics With just two weeks before school starts, union leaders representing 35,000 teachers have declined Los Angeles Unified’s offer to conduct

Common-sense school reform in a post-Vergara world: Guest commentary
Common-sense school reform in a post-Vergara world: Guest commentary: Common-sense school reform in a post-Vergara world: Guest commentary If you are of a certain age, as we are, you will recall the days when your buddies all wanted to put “headers” on their V-8 Chevy, Dodge, or Ford. The effect was a loud, thumping rumble that turned heads in the school parking lot or at the drive-in theater. Hea
7-29-14 The Whole Child Blog — ED Pulse Poll Results: Should Cellphones Be Allowed at School?
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: ED Pulse Poll Results: Should Cellphones Be Allowed at School?ASCD continually seeks to provide solutions to the challenges that face educators of all levels. A recent ASCD SmartBrief ED Pulse poll asked readers if they believe students should be allowed to bring and use their cellphones at school. While families struggle with the right age for a child

Morning Wink 7-29-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-29-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: David Berliner Responds to Economists Who Discount Role of Child PovertyErik Hanushek, Paul Peterson, and Ludger Woessmann take issue with David Berliner and Gene Glass’s view about how high lev
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-29-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: David Berliner Responds to Economists Who Discount Role of Child PovertyErik Hanushek, Paul Peterson, and Ludger Woessmann take issue with David Berliner and Gene Glass’s view about how high levels of child poverty in the U.S. affect our students’ performance on international assessments. In the following post, David Berliner respo
STEM Job Readiness A Useful Distraction | Missouri Education Watchdog
STEM Job Readiness A Useful Distraction | Missouri Education Watchdog: STEM Job Readiness A Useful DistractionIt was announced last week that Microsoft, the tech giant, plans to eliminate 18,000 jobs. That has rankled many in the anti-common core movement because Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, has been out there promoting Common Core ostensibly because we need more STEM workers for companies like

7-29-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Anti-Board Advocacy of the Seattle TimesOnce again the Seattle Times is whipping up anti-School Board animus.This is an old and discredited lie. And the "news" story is full of misrepresentations and omissions. I'll amend this post when I have time to list them all.by Charlie Mas / 2h hide  //  saveAspiring athletes, take note of changes to NCAA eligi



4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-29-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Vergara, anyone? - TEACHER TENURE LAWSUITS SPREAD FROM CAIFORNIA TO NEW YORKListen to the radio story by Beth Fertig, and Anna Kamenetz and Claudio Sanchez | National Public Radio.All Things Considered | http://n.pr/1pzs7j7 July 28, 2014 4:03 PM ET [Transcript] : CLAUDIO SANCHEZ, BYLINE: And I'm Claudio Sanchez in Washington. There's a good reason criti



Is friction driving out Seattle school superintendents? | Local News | The Seattle Times
Is friction driving out Seattle school superintendents? | Local News | The Seattle Times: Is friction driving out Seattle school superintendents?The early departure of another Seattle school superintendent has reignited debates about whether a fractious School Board is at least partially to blame for the turnover.By John HigginsSeattle Times education reporterPREV  1 of 2  NEXTJosĂ© Banda, latest t
Report says new teachers face ‘bumpy path’ | EdSource
Report says new teachers face ‘bumpy path’ | EdSource: Report says new teachers face ‘bumpy path’July 28, 2014 | By John Fensterwald | No Comments SHARE THIS ARTICLEA new report concludes that California’s mentoring program for novice teachers, once a national model, has deteriorated due to lack of funding and district commitment, and provides little help for the many new teachers who enter the p

BATs Descend on DOE Video from Today's Rally
savagetek-bat-stream, savagetek-bat-stream Techwarrior69 on USTREAM. Other Events: BATs Descend on DOE Video from Today's Rally Broadcast live streaming video on UstreamSee More: savagetek-bat-stream, savagetek-bat-stream Techwarrior69 on USTREAM. Other Events:
Nite Cap 7-28-14 #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 CAP7-28-14 @ 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

7-28-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Francesca Gomes on the New Teacher ContractWhile many teachers were able to see the contract for what it was, the only organized protest against it was mounted by the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE). Though the effort made by this group was truly commendable, it currently has too small of a base to mount an effective attack or empower the teachers in a city with such a
7-28-14 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: Lawsuit looms over California PE classesMorning Read: Lawsuit looms over California PE classes California schools face lawsuit over physical education classes Thousands of elementary school teachers have been asked this summer to hold on to their lesson plans as 37 school districts throughou

7-28-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Sign a Pelto/Murphy 2014 Petition Today:  Bushnell Park – near the food trucks 11:30 – 1pmLooking for an opportunity to ensure that our voices are heard in this year’s gubernatorial election? If you are in the area, swing by Bushnell Park from 11:30 to 1:00pm today (near the food trucks) and sign the petition that will allow us to be on this year’s ballot. Thanks so much, Jonathan Pelt
Charter school misinformation | Save Our Schools NZ
Charter school misinformation | Save Our Schools NZ: Charter school misinformation The University of Arkansas (UARK) recently produced a report that concluded US charter schools, despite being terribly underfunded, were performing favourably compared to US state schools, being only slightly behind state schools in test scores.The report has, of course, been trumpeted by our own lovely right wing b
‘Education reform’ now a pejorative term to many progressive Democrats - The Washington Post
‘Education reform’ now a pejorative term to many progressive Democrats - The Washington Post: ‘Education reform’ now a pejorative term to many progressive DemocratsEarlier this year I published a post about how the Democratic Party has been split for years over the issue of corporate school reform. President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have been Democratic leaders of the dominant ref
Morning Wink 7-28-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSBATs Descend on DOE, Demand Change of DirectionClick Here to Watch DC B.A.T. Stream7-28-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherFred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: John Dillon. A Bitter Pill: Illinois Supreme Court’s decision and Chicago corporate media.- John Dillon is
Fordham Claims ESEA Waivers Are Unconstitutional | Missouri Education Watchdog
Fordham Claims ESEA Waivers Are Unconstitutional | Missouri Education Watchdog: Fordham Claims ESEA Waivers Are UnconstitutionalinShareThe Thomas B. Fordham Insitute, which claims to be a conservative think tank, has come out withthis post that makes the case for declaring the conditional ESEA waivers granted by the U.S. Department of Education unconstitutional. They take issue with the conditions
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-28-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Microsoft Lays Off 18,000 Workers While Seeking Visas for Foreign WorksrsUnbelievable. Microsoft lays off 18,000 workers while pressing Congress to expand the number of visas for engineers, mathematicians, scientists, and other workers. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and casino operator Sheldon Adelson wrote an article calling for Con
Answer Sheet 7-28-14
Answer Sheet: ‘Education reform’ now a pejorative term to many progressive DemocratsEarlier this year I published a post about how the Democratic Party has been split for years over the issue of corporate school reform. President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have been Democratic leaders of the dominant reform movement which seeks to transform public schools through standardized-test-b
7-28-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Downtown School; Maybe Something Deeper HappeningThere is nothing on the Seattle Schools calendar for this week.  Well, there is one meeting happening and yet strangely, it does not appear on the district calendar.  It's almost as if this meeting is really for one purpose or group.  It's the meeting at the Downtown Library about SPS taking over the Federal Reserve
7-28-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “Race To The Top Has Been A ‘Fiasco’”Race To The Top Has Been A ‘Fiasco’ is Part Two in my series on the Race To The Top program, which has just had its fifth anniversary. Today, Barnett Berry, Ariel Sacks, John Thompson, Alice Mercer and David B. Cohen weigh in with their thoughts, and I include comments from readers, too.
7-28-14 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.: John Dillon. A Bitter Pill: Illinois Supreme Court’s decision and Chicago corporate media.- John Dillon is a retired teacher, pension activist and blogs at Pension Vocabulary. Bitter Pill is an idiom that arises from usage nearly a century ago or in some lexicons even earlier.  Imagine a time when med

In Support of Public Education: Examining Privatization, Common Core and High Stakes Testing - UNITED OPT OUT
In Support of Public Education: Examining Privatization, Common Core and High Stakes Testing - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform: In Support of Public Education: Examining Privatization, Common Core and High Stakes TestingBY PEGWPEN · JULY 27, 2014A special thanks to Becky Smith (Opt Out Orlando and SOS) who crafted a large portion of this document, which was shared wi
Teacher group rallies in Washington to protest Common Core, Arne Duncan | NJ.com
Teacher group rallies in Washington to protest Common Core, Arne Duncan | NJ.com: Teacher group rallies in Washington to protest Common Core, Arne DuncanLast fall, Melissa Tomlinson took on Gov. Chris Christie and his educational policies in a heated exchange that received national attention.Tomorrow, Tomlinson and other BATs – short for Badass Teachers – take their campaign to Washington, D.C. fo

Colonialism, Not Reform: New Orleans Schools Since Katrina • An Interview with Karran Harper Royal
Colonialism, Not Reform: New Orleans Schools Since Katrina • An Interview with Karran Harper Royal: Colonialism, Not ReformNew Orleans Schools Since KatrinaAn Interview with community activist Karran Harper RoyalBY STAN KARP AND JODY SOKOLOWERKarran Harper RoyalBy next fall, New Orleans will have only five public schools—those operated by the Orleans Parish School Board. Everything else will be ch
Ira Shor: Opt Out – The Real Parent Revolution - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform
Ira Shor: Opt Out – The Real Parent Revolution - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform: Ira Shor: Opt Out – The Real Parent RevolutionBY PEGWPEN · JULY 27, 2014First posted at Diane Ravitch‘s blog.Ira Shor is a professor at the City University of New York, where he teaches composition and rhetoric. Shor understands that standardized testing is the foundation on which the e
Nite Cap 7-27-14 #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 CAPStanford’s Shavelson & Boulder’s Domingue on VAMs in Higher Ed |Stanford’s Shavelson & Boulder’s Domingue on VAMs in Higher Ed |: Stanford’s Shavelson & Boulder’s Domingue on VAMs in Higher Ed A few months ago, well over 10,000 educat
Houston school district aiming to recruit North Carolina’s teachers | CharlotteObserver.com
Houston school district aiming to recruit North Carolina’s teachers | CharlotteObserver.com: Houston school district aiming to recruit North Carolina’s teachersBy Megan Cassellamcassella@charlotteobserver.comPosted: Friday, Jul. 25, 2014MORE INFORMATIONNC House OKs charter bill after debate on salary disclosure, gay studentsNorth Carolina teachers struggling with low salaries and repeated pay free
Why I will NOT attend the BAT Rally in D.C. on Monday… | Reclaim Reform
Why I will NOT attend the BAT Rally in D.C. on Monday… | Reclaim Reform: Why I will NOT attend the BAT Rally in D.C. on Monday…Posted on July 27, 2014by Ken PrevitiI want very, very much to attend the Badass Teachers Association rally in Washington D.C. on Monday. I am simply unable to attend; events in my life have gotten in the way. I truly wanted to be at all of the past week’s BAT events.As an

Would You Believe…? | WagTheDog
Would You Believe…? | WagTheDog: Would You Believe…? As data-driven and evidence-based challenges to the efficacy of the untested Common Core State Standards become stronger and louder, it appears CCSS supporters are growing desperate and resorting to Maxwell Smart’s catchphrase and tactic of backpedaling and shifting between unconvincing and unsubstantiated claims.This “Would you believe…?” strat
Firestorm Over Campbell Brown’s Wall-Street Backed Lawsuit Against Teachers
News - Alliance for Quality Education of New York: Firestorm Over Campbell Brown’s Wall-Street Backed Lawsuit Against TeachersParents and Teachers Slam Bogus Lawsuit as Wall St. Front Group, Dismiss Former TV-Anchor as Out-of-Touch and with No Credibility on Education Issues*Parents, teachers and experts available for comment*(New York, NY) – Today, Campbell Brown announced she will file a bogus l

Let education professionals handle teaching standards
Let education professionals handle teaching standards: Let education professionals handle teaching standardsWhat does it say about our society when a few powerful spokesmen are more highly regarded than professional educators and parents in regard to opinions and policies governing education? Concern is growing over a shift in educational decision-making that has left teachers and parents with lit
Morning Wink 7-27-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS7-27-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice GuyWait What?: Wait What? I didn’t leave my political party, my party left meI’m often asked why, considering I’m a life-long Democratic, I am “leaving” the Democratic Party and running as an independent for Governor.  I start by explaining that as hard as it is to run as an ind

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-27-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Why the Election in Georgia MattersBertis Downs is a native of Georgia and a member of the board of the Network for Public Education. He writes: This is the best electoral news in a long time– Georgia Democrat Valarie Wilson won the runoff for state school superintendent, and it wasn’t even close: http://bit.ly/Us7qNi I am proud to
7-27-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: The Best Resources To Help Promote A Physically Healthy Lifestyle For Our Students© 2014 Juhan Sonin, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio I’ve published a fair amount number of posts about lessons and tools I use to help promote a physically healthy lifestyle for my students, including research that shows how essential it is for lea

7-27-14 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: Pearson Set Cut Scores for NYSOver at lohud, actual journalists like Gary Stern have been working long hours trying to pry loose some facts from the state of New York, and it's worth the while of folks from all states to see what they've dug up because it's a bright red warning flag about how the CCSS-linked testing program actually works.Gannett Publishing had to pry open the stat



NYC Educator: NYSYUT President Karen Mageee Explains How Common Core Enables Life, the Universe, and Everything
NYC Educator: NYSYUT President Karen Mageee Explains How Common Core Enables Life, the Universe, and Everything: NYSYUT President Karen Mageee Explains How Common Core Enables Life, the Universe, and EverythingIn recent debate over the Common Core, NYSUT president, Karen Magee, said:"I pose the questions to you today: If not standards, then what? A free-for-all? Everyone does what they please
Louisiana Educator: White Refuses to Release Raw LEAP Cut Scores
Louisiana Educator: White Refuses to Release Raw LEAP Cut Scores: White Refuses to Release Raw LEAP Cut ScoresA press statement accompanying the release of the Spring 2014 LEAP and iLEAP testing results announced that the percentage of students receiving a rating of "mastery" on the LEAP had improved this year and the percentage of students rated "basic" remained steady this ye
Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: Are Your Fav #EdTech Resources Keeping Student Data Safe? Find Out!
Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: Are Your Fav #EdTech Resources Keeping Student Data Safe? Find Out!: Are Your Fav #EdTech Resources Keeping Student Data Safe? Find Out!Are you an innovative educator who loves using digital media, but is a little concerned about the safety of student data?Do you wonder if your classroom tech use is CIPA and FERPA compliant?  You are not alone.This is a hot m
Jennifer Rogers Goes From Queens to Georgia southbronxschool
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Jennifer Rogers Goes From Queens to GeorgiaAs readers of this blog know, we spent some time on discussing Jennifer Rogers (neĂ© Jones) former principal of PS 29 in College Park, Queens on  these pages last year. In fact this post, was so well received, there were over 200 comments including several threats to myself apparently by people close to Rogers.So what  has
Nite Cap 7-26-14 #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 CAPCan’t be in DC with PAA? Join us anyway! | Parents Across AmericaCan’t be in DC with PAA? Join us anyway! | Parents Across America: Can’t be in DC with PAA? Join us anyway!We know that most of our PAA chapter and affiliate members are not able to
7-26-14 Saturday Matinée Special "Corporate ED Reform: Pimping 4 Privatization L.A. Style" News Breakout
Saturday MatinĂ©e Special "Corporate ED Reform: Pimping 4 Privatization L.A. Style" News BreakoutNew political action committee forms in L.A. school board raceIt’s a book. Read it. | JD2718It’s a book. Read it. | JD2718: It’s a book. Read it.JULY 26, 2014 PM31 2:02 PMtags: Jose Vilson, This is Not a TestJosĂ© Vilson wrote a book. That you should read. And, maybe get others to read. He call
It’s a book. Read it. | JD2718
It’s a book. Read it. | JD2718: It’s a book. Read it.JULY 26, 2014 PM31 2:02 PMtags: Jose Vilson, This is Not a TestJosĂ© Vilson wrote a book. That you should read. And, maybe get others to read. He called it “This is Not a Test“I don’t do book reviews. But this is different. It’s JosĂ©.Vilson is a blogger, and a poet, and a teacher. The author part wouldn’t matter if he wasn’t a teacher. He wrote a
Star-Ledger: Discrimination in Newark is “bogus.” | Bob Braun's Ledger
Star-Ledger: Discrimination in Newark is “bogus.” | Bob Braun's Ledger: Star-Ledger: Discrimination in Newark is “bogus.” The Newark public schools have been stripped of their assets by the state.  The city’s children have been resegregated through a process of selection that leaves the neediest behind in the schools with the least assets while skimming the less needy students for charters. The pe
7-26-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Charter Schools USA Nets $2.9 Million Haul For Two Louisiana Schools | Scathing Purple Musings: Charter Schools USA $2.9 Haul For Two Louisiana SchoolsSmall wonder the wife of Charter Schools USA CEO Jonathan Hage was touting their test scores in an Orlando Sentinel opinion piece last month. Sherry Hage and her husband take in a lot of taxpayer money to run schools. Consider this story from Marsha
Nashville Public Radio | Kevin Huffman Was Wrong; Test Results Didn't Get People Off His Back - Nashville Public Radio
Nashville Public Radio | Kevin Huffman Was Wrong; Test Results Didn't Get People Off His Back - Nashville Public Radio: Kevin Huffman Was Wrong(Again); Test Results Didn’t Get People Off His BackEducation Commissioner Kevin Huffman says he was hired to be a “change agent.” On Thursday, he said “any reasonable observer” would say the state has made “remarkable progress” since 2010. Credit: TN Photo
2nd Banana 7-26-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #NN14
BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POSTWhy were thousands of books purged from Racine, Wisconsin school libraries? : blue cheddarWhy were thousands of books purged from Racine, Wisconsin school libraries? : blue cheddar: Why were thousands of books purged from Racine, Wisconsin school libraries?by blue cheddar • July 23, 2014Backup direct link to embedded video of speech at Raci
Morning Wink 7-26-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSStudent Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of StateStudent Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of State: Inspiring a New Generation of VotersRegister Your Schoolfor the Mock Election Here!Young people have the potential to be a powerful force in elections, but only if they get invol
Student Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of State
Student Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of State: Inspiring a New Generation of VotersRegister Your Schoolfor the Mock Election Here!Young people have the potential to be a powerful force in elections, but only if they get involved and make voting a habit.To encourage students to become active voters once they are old enough to cast a ballot, Secretary of S
Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union. - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee
Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union. - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee: Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union.By Ben BoychukSpecial to The BeePublished: Saturday, Jul. 26, 2014 - 12:00 amWhen recently has there been a more radioactive lawsuit than Vergara v. California? Think about it. Every elected fool and knave
A brief update on my wife by teacherken
A brief update on my wife: A brief update on my wifebyteacherkenFollow    5 Comments / 5 NewRecently I have received a number of direct communications inquiring about my wife Leaves on the Current and how she is doing in living with her cancer.  Several suggested I might want to let others know as well as responding to them directly.  Hence this message.Her cancer remains in remission. She remains
Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White
Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John WhiteTo be clear, if you see this reported in the media......FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Re:  John White and BESE Members Will Be Targets of New Ethics ComplaintFor more information contact:  Lee P. Barrios: Parents, educators and other public education activists find it necessary now to disclose their inten
7-26-14 WagTheDog | Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart. ~ Rumi
WagTheDog | Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart. ~ Rumi: PISA EnvyTests confirm…ed reformers are suffering from impaired judgement and diminished critical thinking skills due to acute case of PISA envy. Ed reformers should reconsider their admiration for education systems that prepare young people to live and work in closed soci
Stephen Krashen Blog 7-26-14
SKrashen:Companies do less training, but complain about schoolsWe often hear that public schools are failing because they do not prepare students for jobs.  Employers complain, we are told, that recent graduates are unprepared for the real world of work. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explains what is really going on: "Companies complain that they can't find skilled hires, but th
7-26-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Love Letters to the BATS
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 expe
7-26-14 Jersey Jazzman NJ Ed News Round-up Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week@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, Govern
7-26-14 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION:Curmudgucation WeekCollege Students vs. Faux JournalismHuffPo recently ran what could be called a graphics-rich story (basically two big graphics plus captioning) that is sure to have some folks sounding the alarm bell, and there's no question that the data are striking.The basic takeaway is this-- in no states in the US do the majority of students finish college in four years. Virg
7-26-14 NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education
NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:NPE News Briefsfrom The Network for Public EducationThe Charter Sham Formula: Billionaires + Flawed “Reports” + Press Release Media = Misled Public | the becoming radicalLate in 2013, I shared my own experience with the disaster capitalism tactics employed by the Walton-funded Department of Education Reform (University of Arkansas), asking: F
7-26-14 THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education:THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog 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,
7-26-14 This Week in 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):Breaking News: Judge allows Magnolia charters to remain openBreaking News: Judge allows Magnolia charters to remain open A California Superior Court judge today ruled that two Magnolia Public Schools (MPS) charters can remain open, blocking LA Unified’s effort to have them shut down over financial concerns
All Week @ The Answer Sheet 7-26-14
The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetChris Christie to mayor: ‘I’m the decider and you have nothing to do with it’New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is consistent — at least when it comes to espousing total  indifference to what Newark residents want for their state-operated public school system. Christie just bragged (see video below) that he told new Newark Mayor Ras Baraka that Baraka’s
7-26-14 Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society All Week
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog:Schooling in the Ownership SocietyMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership SocietyGriffin's divorce. Think of it as a stock split.The GriffinsSORRY TO HEAR THE NEWS (No really) that right-wing billionaire power couple, Ken and Ann Griffin are splitting up. Whatever happened to "'til death do us part"?The Griffins have been the money bags behind bo
7-26-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekIf you want change – now is the time to step up and make it happen!Apologies to those that have already received this call to action – but the historic effort to get on the November ballot and ensure that the people of Connecticut have a real choice in this year’s election for governor hangs in the balance… The August 6th 2014 deadline to submit 7,500 signatures to
7-26-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumThe Volume is Going up on the Garfield Rape CaseThe Stranger has a very pointed article - with questions posed just as Charlie has - on the topic of the Garfield field trip rape incident.There is also this from Monisha Harrell:I’m an Alum of Garfield High School, and until yesterday I sang “I’m So Glad I go to Garfield High” with pride
7-26-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineRockaway Theatre Company "Gypsy" HighlightsCatch some of the magic in 2 minutes. Only 7 shows left - including tonight (tickets still available), sold out tomorrow (Friday). Call 718 374 6400.by ed notes online / 1d JUL 2314 More Schools for Avaricious Eva - Coming to a School Near You - Or in Your Own School....with so many schools how can Eva assure a co
7-26-14 Fred All Week 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.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherRahm Emanuel and the fugitive in Pakistan.The line in the Sun-Times story was very carefully constructed. He is not accused of any wrongdoing involving his City Hall job. He is Amer Ahmad, the fugitive money launderer and racketee
7-26-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekCuomo Meddled With His Other Commissions And Panels TooMichael Grunwald reports in TIME Magazine that the Moreland Commission tackling public corruption is not the first time Andrew Cuomo has meddled in one of his panels:Before New York Governor Andrew Cuomo set up a supposedly independent commission to investigate political corruption in Albany—a c
7-26-14 the becoming radical EMPATHYEDUCATES! | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
THE BECOMING RADICALEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by 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, inequality, and (gasp) the impli
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-26-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT  An appeal for support from Dr. McKennasmf writes: 4LAKids is not political organization. While I plead guilty to the practice of politics, no one could ever allege organization! Even when I have been a candidate myself I have not appealed for funds on these pages.  But the political fundraising and spending be
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 7-26-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYJuly’s Best Tweets — Part FourEvery month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter
This Week's Education Research Report 7-26-14 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTLow Teacher Pay Keeps Experienced Educators Out of the Middle ClassA new report,  Mid- and Late-Career Teachers Struggle With Paltry Incomes, released  by the Center for American Progress reveals that low teacher pay is keeping experienced educators out of the middle class. The report highlights the growing problem of paltry mid- and la
7-26-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter:  Schools Matter All WeekValue-Added Modeling (VAM) is pseudoscience, but profitable pseudosciences persist"While value-added models are intended estimate teacher effects on student achievement growth, they fail to do so in any accurate or precise way. — Professor Bruce Baker" Back in early April I penned a piece for K12NN on The American Statistical Association's (ASA) pa
All Week 7-26-14 @ THE CHALK FACE
@ THE CHALK FACE : All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Drawing Upon Paul Tough to Nurture Soft Skills Not “Grit”It is always reassuring to read about pedagogies developed in the classroom being later determined to be based on scientific principles documented by academic researchers. That is one reason why I was so impressed with Paul Tough’s New York Times Magazine article, “Who Gets to Graduate?” Tough’s a
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 7-26-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGEduShyster: If You Could Ask Arne Duncan Just One Question……EduShyster’s guest blogger Patrick Hayes, a fifth-grade teacher from Charleston, South Carolina, asks a simple question: “If you could ask Arne Duncan just one question what would it be?” Try this one: “what would you get Bill gates for Boss’s Day? The man has ev