What’s Worse than Common Core? Legislators Writing State Standards
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of advising several states as they were revising their academic standards. The process was always carried out by the state commissioner, who selected teachers and scholars from across the state and sometimes from out of state. My own most exhilarating experience was in California, where I helped a committee of educators write the history-social science stand
K12 Hopes to Open Virtual School in North Carolina, Despite Record of Failure Elswhere
Lindsay Wagner of NC Policy Watch reports that the virtual charter corporation K12 is hoping to open an online school in North Carolina. K12 was founded by Michael and Lloyd Milken and has turned out to be a highly profitable corporation that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It academic results are unimpressive, to say the least. Its students have a high dropout rate, low graduation
How to Bludgeon Higher Education to Accept Common Core
“Wag the Dog” notes that advocates for Common Core are growing desperate. With more and more states dropping out, the CCSS pressure is now turned to higher education to demand that incoming students show their worth by Common Core standards. He writes: “As data-driven and evidence-based challenges to the efficacy of the untested Common Core State Standards grow stronger and louder, it appears CC
Why Campbell Brown Is Hiding the Names of Her Donors
When Stephen Colbert interviewed Campbell Brown, he asked her who was funding her activities against unions and teacher tenure. She said she couldn’t reveal their names because she had to protect them, presumably against the few dozen moms protesting outside Colbert’s studio with hand-lettered signs. Mother Crusader found through her diligent research skills that Campbell Brown is aligned with so
Network for PublicEducation Endorses Sherry Dagnogo in Michigan
The Network for Public Education endorses Sherry Gay-Dagnogo The Network for Public Education is proud to endorse Sherry Gay-Dagnogo for Michigan State Representative in House Distrtct 8. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo was a middle school science teacher for 7 years. She has worked in city government and as a community organizer. Here’s what Gay-Dagnogo has to say on testing: “Our children are over tested i
Peter Greene on Pundits Who Know Everything About Education
Peter Greene read a column by Joe Klein of TIME magazine about what’s wrong with education, and Greene had a hard time controlling his indignation. Klein did not like the contract that Mayor de Blasio negotiated with the teachers’ union. What really bothers Klein, he says, is that teachers have something to say about their working conditions. His bottom-line beef, says Greene, is unions. Greene
EduShyster Interviews Stephanie Rivera
This is a great—actually an inspiring—interview with Stephanie Rivera, who is probably the most prominent student leader on behalf of properly prepare teachers and supporting public education. Stephanie started a student movement while studying to be a teacher at Rutgers University. She has also been a critic of Teach for America because she intends to make a career of teaching, not a two-year exp
Why We Should Not Copy Education in South Korea
Secretary Arne Duncan has frequently pointed to the high test scores of students in South Korea as a model for American students to copy. We have heard again and again that we are losing “the global competition” to nations like South Korea where students and parents take tests very seriously. Our students, the Secretary never tires of telling us, are slackers. Their parents want them to be well-ro
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 8-2-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGJersey Jazzman, Stephen Colbert, and Campbell BrownJersey jazzman has another great piece about tenure. He writes: “I can only hope that Campbell Brown’s appearance last night on The Colbert Report is typical of what she is going to bring to the debate over school workplace protections. Because if this is the best the ant