Can Teachers Reclaim the Democratic Party?
By John Thompson. Valerie Strauss’s “’Education Reform’ Now a Pejorative Term to Many Progressive Democrats” and Jeff Bryant’s “Education ‘Reform’ Loses the Netroots” are just two of the recent celebrations of the way that Democrats and progressives are rejecting corporate school reform. Bryant began his hopeful post, “Every year Netroots Nation is arguably the most important annual event in the
The iPad Fiasco: “What do the Terms of Service Say About My Rights?”
A high school teacher asks us to consider the techrights and human rights of the underage human subjects of business-imposed edtech experiments and “innovations”, and to reflect on Audrey Watters’ column, Ed-Tech and the Templated Self: Thoughts from the “Reclaim Your Domain” Hackathon. by Mary Porter. Teachers must protect student agency and identity from the “templated self” demanded by edtech
From the AFT Convention, Looking Forward
Notes on building our movement and the AFT following the Los Angeles convention By Kipp Dawson (rank-and-file delegate to the AFT convention from Pittsburgh) This is a life-or-death time for the American Federation of Teachers. The July 12-14, 2014, convention reflected both positive movement, and continuing obstacles, for our union. As we take on the challenges we all face with the opening of sch
AUG 04
Chicago Teachers’ New Political Awakening
By Michelle Gunderson. What would our city look like if it were run by Chicago teachers alongside other labor and community groups? This was the thought that kept running through my head as we gathered to support the launch of the new United Working Families political organization in Chicago. I have strong hope that Chicago would look much different than it does now. It has to. Mayor Emanuel state
School Librarians – Leading Out Loud
By Susan Polos As miners are alerted to dangers from noxious gases when a canary dies in the mine, community members should immediately wake up and take notice when budgets propose cutting school librarians. This is an early sign that the school culture is endangered, that access to information is at risk, and that student-centered learning may well be compromised. School librarians are getting qu
AUG 03
Civil Rights or Civil Wrongs: A Closer Look at the Common Core
Civil Rights or Civil Wrongs: A Closer Look at the Common Core By Anthony Cody and Alan Aja. From the very beginnings of No Child Left Behind, the strongest argument for attaching stakes to tests has been Civil Rights. This phrase is shorthand for equity in education, an end to the systemic neglect of children of color. And proponents of corporate reform have become adept at wrapping themselves in
School Librarians — Leading Out Loud
By Susan Polos As miners are alerted to dangers from noxious gases when a canary dies in the mine, community members should immediately wake up and take notice when budgets propose cutting school librarians. This is an early sign that the school culture is endangered, that access to information is at risk, and that student-centered learning may well be compromised. School librarians are getting qu
Chicago Teachers’ New Political Awakening
By Michelle Gunderson. What would our city look like if it were run by Chicago teachers alongside other labor and community groups? This was the thought that kept running through my head as we gathered to support the launch of the new United Working Families political organization in Chicago. I have strong hope that Chicago would look much different than it does now. It has to. Mayor Emanuel state