Ohio: Rally on Thursday to Demand Charter Investigation!
Progress Ohio invites YOU to join the rally at the Statehouse in Ohio this Thursday. Join us this Thursday at the Statehouse to demand a comprehensive investigation into poor performing charter schools Recently: FBI raided 19 Gulen-affiliated schools in Ohio and two other states. Former teachers asked the state school board determine why apparent test tampering and other irregularities at the Gul
Rubinstein: Chetty and Kane Should be Witnesses for Defense in NYC Trial
When Campbell Brown’s Vergara-style trial moves to New York City, its star witnesses should testify for the defense, not the plaintiffs, argues Gary Rubinstein of New a york City. Tom Kane of Harvard testified in Los Angeles that teachers in New York City were not maldistributed, as they were in Los Angeles. Another star witness for the Los Angeles was Raj Chetty. Rubinstein reviewed their testim
Pennsylvania: Civil Rights Attorney Explains Why School Financing is a Mess
In an interview with “The Notebook,” civil rights attorney Michael Churchill of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia explains why previous litigation failed and what should happen now to assure that all children get a “thorough and efficient system of public education,” as the law requires. Here is a small part of a very informative exchange: Q.: What other legislative or policy fixes
Peter Greene: Pick Your Fights Carefully
Peter Greene regretfully, apologetically disagrees with Susan Ohanian, who recently expressed disappointment that the two national unions did not call on teachers to boycott testing. He says it would do no good because they would be fired and replaced by teachers happy to give tests and have a job. He says, pick your fights with care. I am not sure I agree with Peter on this one. I agree that if
Watch the Films that Debunk Corporate Education Reform
Those who follow the twists and turns of the “reform ” movement are aware of a growing number of books that exposé the false narrative of reform. The reform narrative is funded by billionaires and philanthropists who believe in the free market and scorn government regulation. It fastens on genuine problems–like the low performance of children who live in poverty–and blames their teachers rather th
Why I Don’t Care About the “Reading Wars” Anymore
Many years ago, in the 1990s and the early years of this century, I was a vigorous participant in what was known as “the reading wars.” I supported phonics and opposed whole language. I was influenced by the work of Jeanne Chall at Harvard, who described the ebb and flow of reading philosophies. I wrote many articles explaining why phonics was crucial and why whole language was deficient. In my bo
Paul Horton: A Letter to the Albuquerque Journal
While visiting his sister in Albuquerque, Paul Horton encountered the same corporate reform claptrap that he read regularly in the Chicago Tribune and sent the following letter to the editor: “Dear Editor, I read your banner article, “SBA scores in NM lower now than five years ago” with great interest. As a teacher with thirty-two years experience, I am very concerned with the obsessive focus on
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-4-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Mercedes Schneider Transcribes Stephen Colbert’s Interview of Campbell BrownMercedes Schneider decided to do something unusual for her birthday. This is what a workaholic does. She transcribed Stephen Colbert’s interview of Campbell Brown, the former CNN anchor who is leading the battle to take the right to due process (aka a fair
