Guest Post Series. Part One: How Interning for TFA Convinced me of its Injustice | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

Guest Post Series. Part One: How Interning for TFA Convinced me of its Injustice | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Guest Post Series. Part One: How Interning for TFA Convinced me of its Injustice

by Gary Rubinstein

Recently, several people have contacted me with interesting stories they wanted to share with the people who read this blog.  In the coming weeks there will be more guest posts like this one from Bryn Mawr College senior Emma Gulley.

How Interning for Teach For America Convinced me of its Injustice

Over the past several months I’ve seen more and more articles critiquing Teach for America. Former corps members brought light to the injustice of their experiences. Professors explained why TFA was problematic for students. Policy experts outlined its detriment to school districts. Links to their articles popped up again and again on my Facebook newsfeed, on my Twitter timeline, and on email listservs I was a part of.

There was a kind of underground excitement I felt that I was witnessing when I saw these articles gain popularity–at last, I felt, the problems, heartache, frustration, and anxiety I had felt with TFA were coming into the light. It is now that I want to add my voice to the arena, and to be one more person standing up against Teach for America, as I try to explain how my direct involvement with Teach for America as an intern exposed to all of the dirty, secret recruiting practices and agendas of the Philadelphia offices, that convinced me of its injustice.

I sat in on my first Teach for America information session as a wide-eyed 17-year-old college freshman. It was a hot summer day in New York City and the professional shoes I had talked 

On the Serving Platter: The NEA-Teach Plus “Partnership” | deutsch29

On the Serving Platter: The NEA-Teach Plus “Partnership” | deutsch29:

On the Serving Platter: The NEA-Teach Plus “Partnership”

February 22, 2014

I think both national teachers unions have some skewed arrangement to “seek solidarity” by fastening themselves to privatizing groups. Perhaps such is an adult display of grasping to belong to the “cool kids” clique.

The “cool kids” are the ones exploding with reform philanthropy money to invest in ways to drain money from the teaching profession.

Never mind the destruction– even the looming destruction of the unions themselves.

A national teachers union’s alignment with organizations clearly opposed to traditional teaching (and non-standardized-measured “success”) must be in vogue.

A way to be “at the table”– a real “mover and shaker.”

Never mind that your “featured seat” is in the center of the table on a serving platter.

The NEA Decision to Align With Yet More Privatization

On February 20, 2014, the National Education Association (NEA) decided to seat itself on that serving platter by joining forces with the education privatization nest that is Teach Plus.

Here is the opener NEA uses to announce its decision:

For several years, the National Education Association has pressed for a shift in 

Nite Cap 2-22-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

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

Indiana Choice Parent Questions Vouchers for Church Steeples - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Indiana Choice Parent Questions Vouchers for Church Steeples - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Indiana Choice Parent Questions Vouchers for Church SteeplesBy Anthony Cody on February 22, 2014 3:57 PMGuest post by Kate Shively.The recent post regarding St. Jude's Catholic School/Church's reconfiguration of tuition has brought attention to how the Catholic Schools might restructure thei

by mike simpson / 1h 

Corporations Want Our Public Schools

Corporations Want Our Public Schools

by mike simpson / 2h 

2-22-14 Saturday Matinée Special Corporate Reform School Girls News Breakout

Saturday Matinée Special Corporate Reform School Girls News BreakoutDoes a Learner-Directed Education Support a Democratic Society? | Lefty ParentDoes a Learner-Directed Education Support a Democratic Society? | Lefty Parent: Does a Learner-Directed Education Support a Democratic Society?February 22nd, 2014 at 11:11A lot of progressive people still struggle with concept of young people directing t

by mike simpson / 2h 

Does a Learner-Directed Education Support a Democratic Society? | Lefty Parent

Does a Learner-Directed Education Support a Democratic Society? | Lefty Parent: Does a Learner-Directed Education Support a Democratic Society?February 22nd, 2014 at 11:11A lot of progressive people still struggle with concept of young people directing their own learning, whether in one of those rare democratic-free schools like Sudbury Valley or by a flavor of homeschooling that is known as “unsc

by mike simpson / 3h 

Quixote Village - a self-governing tent camp of homeless adults in Olympia, Washington | Supported by Panza

Quixote Village | Supported by Panza:  Welcome Quixote Village grew from the vision of a self-governing tent camp of homeless adults in Olympia, Washington.  The Village consists of 30 tiny cottages, a large vegetable garden and a community building that contains showers, laundry facilities, a communal kitchen and living and dining space.  Village residents moved from Camp Quixote to the Village o

2 by mike simpson / 5h 

NJ’s Schoolgate deserves investigation, too: Guest blog | Bob Braun's Ledger

NJ’s Schoolgate deserves investigation, too: Guest blog | Bob Braun's Ledger: NJ’s Schoolgate deserves investigation, too: Guest blogBy Jm O’NeillWest Orange interim superintendent Jim ‘NeillThe Bridgegate investigation led from Fort Lee to Hoboken, the Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office, Sandy ads, Sandy funds and the ARC tunnel.  After four years of being intimidated by the crass talking intimida

by mike simpson / 5h 

2nd Banana 2-22-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #RealEdTalk #p2 #1u

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POSTCharter School “Midyear Dump” Tactics | Teacher RealityCharter School “Midyear Dump” Tactics | Teacher Reality: Charter School “Midyear Dump” TacticsFebruary 15, 2014 by TeacherRealityThis is an interesting must-read comment by one of Diane Ravitch’s readers. He talks about the “midyear dump” that often occurs in some charter schools as a m

by mike simpson / 6h 

Morning Wink 2-22-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSEducation in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Déjà vu: Too Late to Learn from ChinaEducation in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Déjà vu: Too Late to Learn from China: Déjà vu: Too Late to Learn from China22 FEBRUARY 2014 87 NO COMMENTIn researching for my book Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China Has the World’s Best and Worst E

by mike simpson / 6h 

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Déjà vu: Too Late to Learn from China

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Déjà vu: Too Late to Learn from China: Déjà vu: Too Late to Learn from China22 FEBRUARY 2014 87 NO COMMENTIn researching for my book Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China Has the World’s Best and Worst Education, I realized that PISA should have been invented about 300 years ago. Its advice and influence would have been perfect 300 yea

by mike simpson / 7h 

Stating the Obvious | Connected Principals

Stating the Obvious | Connected Principals: Stating the Obviousby George Couros • February 22, 2014 • 1 CommentSpending a lot of time at conferences, I have heard the question, “What do we do with kids that are so distracted by their devices in the classroom?”  My initial thoughts is that in a world where there are so many amazing things and easy ways to connect, kids are not always simply distrac

by mike simpson / 7h 

Atlanta Public Schools cheating case: 21 take pleas; 13 headed... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

Atlanta Public Schools cheating case: 21 take pleas; 13 headed... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Atlanta Public Schools cheating case: 21 take pleas; 13 headed for trial, Beverly Hall among them. COMMENT(8) 0 6 2 13View Larger KENT D. JOHNSON / AJCFormer APS educator Christopher Waller greets a well wisher after his hearing Monday. Judge Jerry Baxter presides over the first of several days of motio

by mike simpson / 7h 

Teachers' Letters to Bill Gates | Educators from the US and beyond: please share your teaching stories with Mr. Bill Gates. How have the policies of the Gates Foundation influenced your classroom, your students, your teaching, your schools, and your communities?

Teachers' Letters to Bill Gates | Educators from the US and beyond: please share your teaching stories with Mr. Bill Gates. How have the policies of the Gates Foundation influenced your classroom, your students, your teaching, your schools, and your communities?: Ask us how you can help. Don’t tell us what you’d like to change.Posted on February 22, 2014by Teachers'LettersToBillGatesDear Bill and

by mike simpson / 7h 

Charter Operator Fined $195,000 after Stealing $1.2 Million from Ohio; Judge Blames State | janresseger

Charter Operator Fined $195,000 after Stealing $1.2 Million from Ohio; Judge Blames State | janresseger: Charter Operator Fined $195,000 after Stealing $1.2 Million from Ohio; Judge Blames StatePosted on February 22, 2014 by janressegerThe Cleveland Plain Dealer reports this morning that Romey Coles Jr.—superintendent and board member of the Lion of Judah Academy charter school—who had plead guilt

by mike simpson / 7h 

NYC Educator: The Elastic and Amazing Andrew Cuomo

NYC Educator: The Elastic and Amazing Andrew Cuomo: The Elastic and Amazing Andrew CuomoA few years back, things in New York were not nearly reformy enough. Kids were going to school, teachers were going to school, and there was not nearly enough high blood pressure. For example, supervisors would observe teachers, determine whether or not they were doing a good job, and advise them. This was awfu

by mike simpson / 7h 

Union Election in Los Angeles: Candidate Mottus - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Union Election in Los Angeles: Candidate Mottus - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Union Election in Los Angeles: Candidate MottusBy Anthony Cody on February 22, 2014 9:46 AMColeen Bondy, Los Angeles teacher, has prepared special coverage of the upcoming teacher's union election in her city. Here is her report:United Teachers Los Angeles, the teachers' union for Los Angeles Unified Sch

by mike simpson / 7h 

2-22-14 V.A.M.: Value Added Measure

V.A.M.: Value Added Measure:Selling the Common Core with More Caramel Coating?It seems that the supporters of Common Core are beginning to understand that the standards have left a sour taste in many people's mouths.  It seems, using all the business acumen they have, they'll try to find a new way to sell it to the people, adding yet another layer of caramel coating to somehow win popular support.

by mike simpson / 7h 

2-22-14 This Week in LA - School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):UTLA candidates hit YouTube with stump speechesWith ballots going in the mail next week, Los Angeles area teachers will start a long, internal election process that could have a big impact on the future of the teachers union (UTLA), one of the most powerful in the country. The competition for the top job o

by mike simpson / 7h 

2-22-14 empathyeducates All Week

empathyeducates:The 4 Most Profound Ways Privatization Perverts EducationBy Paul Buchheit | Originally Published at AlterNet. February 16, 2014 Profit-seeking in the banking and health care industries has victimized Americans. Now it’s beginning to happen in education, with our children as the products.
There are good reasons – powerful reasons – to stop the privatization […]20 by empathy / 1d Tea

by mike simpson / 7h 

2-22-14 Engaging Parents In School All Week… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement":California “PTA program creates parent advocates”PTA program creates parent advocates is an article published in Ed Source describing a parent training program developing by the California PTA. It’s called School Smarts. The article provides a lot of information, including links, about the program.2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 23h F

by mike simpson / 7h 

Stephen Krashen Blog 2-22-14

SKrashen:Our focus should be on protecting children from the impact of povertyPublished in the Wall Street Journal, February 21.Response to: "A progressive education" (Editorial, Feb. 14)Your editorial sends the message that our public schools are failing. They aren't. When researchers control for the effects of poverty, American schools rank near the top of the world. Our overall scores

by mike simpson / 7h 

2-22-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week

With A Brooklyn Accent:With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All WeekWhen I Talk About Prison and Prison Education: It's PersonalSome of you may be wondering why I am defending a Prison Education initiative offered by a Governor whose other Education policies I despise. I can give you a detailed political explanation for my position, and ask you to read Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow" b

by mike simpson / 7h 

2-15-14 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions Education This Week - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:Bill Introduced: H.R. 4009: Protect Academic Freedom ActTo amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions or scholars from being eligible for certain funds under that Act.5h Bill Introduced: H.R. 4008: Educational Freedom Act of 2014To amend the Elementary and Secondary Educa

by mike simpson / 7h 

2-22-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:Scathing Purple Musings  Color me purple in Florida ALL WeekWhy the Florida Senate Remains the Nation’s Key Battleground on Education PolicyWrites Matt Dixon in the Florida Times-Union: The Republicans hold a 26-14 lead in the Florida Senate, which simple math will tell y

by mike simpson / 7h 

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 2-22-14

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog:North Korea: New Evidence of Human Rights AbusesIt's long been known that North Korea isn't exactly a land of freedom and prosperity. However a report from U.N. investigators shows that North Korea has prison camps whose conditions rival those of Nazi concentration camps and Stalin's Gulags. These prisoners are guilty of crimes ranging from watching american soap operas

by mike simpson / 7h 

teacherken at Daily Kos This Week 2-22-14

teacherken at Daily Kos:teacherken at Daily Kos This WeekMilbank gets it right on Cruz and companyin a column titled High cost of an ego trip, written after watching what Cruz put Republican senators through on raising the debt ceiling. A couple of relevant snips: Cruz’s ego trip had come at a high cost. He had forced McConnell, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and other Republicans to cast votes that co

by mike simpson / 7h 

All Week @ The Answer Sheet 2-22-14

The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetJon Stewart rips bill allowing teachers, parents to hit kids hard enough to bruisePut this in the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff category: A legislator in Kansas was pushing legislation to allow teachers and parents to whack kids hard enough to bruise. Why? Out of the mistaken belief that beating up children is an effective disciplinary method. The good ne

by mike simpson / 7h 

2-22-14 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 SocietyCalif. pension battle brewing. Sounds eerily familiar.UC service workers, members of AFSCME Local 3299,  picket at UC Irvine Medical Center. The union has scheduled a five-day walkout starting March 3. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times). IN L.A. THIS WEEK… The weather's differ

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

2-22-14 Wait What? All Week

Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekCorporate Education Reform Industry targets kindergartenersOf all the negative and bad public policies being pushed by Governor Malloy, Malloy’s Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor and their corporate education reform allies, none are more offensive, inappropriate and disgusting than their on-going effort to force their “education reforms” on Connecticut’s younge

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

2-22-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumData Walls in Classrooms (Coming to a School Near You?)Read this article by Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post.  It should cause you to consider what is coming.   Following on the heels of that article is her next one where one privacy expert says this could violate FERPA.Really, the photo, from Caledwell County Schools in North Ca

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

2-22-14 Ed Notes Online Week

Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineNewark Teacher Reports on Raz Baraka Blogger MeetingThank you Ras Baraka and "May The Lord protect and defend you."... A Newark Teacher It speaks volumes about Ras Baraka's true commitment to Newark's children that he has cast these educational tourists aside in favor of those who have made it their life's work to either teach children or understand the dy

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

2-22-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week

Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All WeekThe Jazzman Speaks! This Saturday, 2/22, Rutgers-NewarkHey, check out this guy:Saturday, 2/22/14, 10 AM, on the beautiful Rutgers-Newark campus. Free admission, real talk, good times. Sleeping in is overrated anyway...Thanks to Kaleena for making this happen, and to Junius Williams for the invitation. Hope you can make it.38 by Duke / 1d Shocking: Bara

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

2-22-14 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 teacherJay Rehak. Fixing our fund begins with a guaranteed source of revenue.— Jay C. Rehak, president, Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund Board of Trustees, English teacher, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, wrote this to the Chicago Tri

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

2-22-14 Perdido Street School Week

Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekHere's What Common Core And Education Reform Will Not FixWe keep hearing that Common Core is going to make kids the nation over "college and career ready," but that platitude assumes that there are actually "careers" available for kids to do (and get paid for) when they grow up.These days, that's a dicey proposition - as Robert R

2 by mike simpson / 8h 

2-22-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

THE BECOMING RADICALRadical ScholarshipEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by Nina Simone on the Role of the ArtistOriginally posted on Beyond Capitalism Now: Nina Simone on the Role of the Artist Interviewer: You want your art to live on long after you View original1 by plthomasedd / 1d James Baldwin in the Spring of 1963Originally posted on Beyond Capitalism

2 by mike simpson / 8h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 2-22-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT  Ripped from the pages of the supermarket tabloids: MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN’S DEATH INSPIRED REALITY STAR OMAROSA TO RUN FOR LOS ANGELES SCHOOL BOARDUS Weekly Celebrity News  by OMG! Staff | http://usm.ag/1jdrZoM Omarosa says Michael Clarke Duncan's death inspired her to run for the Los Angeles Unified School Dis

2 by mike simpson / 8h 

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 2-22-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYGreat Video For Language Development (& For Ethics Discussion): “Would you give your jacket to Johannes?”Here’s a great video created by an organization in Norway to raise awareness of the plight of Syrian refugee children. English Language Learners can describe what they see happening

2 by mike simpson / 8h 

This Week's Education Research Report 2-22-14 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTIntervention Improves First-Generation Students’ Academic PerformanceCollege students who do not have parents with 4-year degrees (first-generation students) earn lower grades and encounter more obstacles to success than do students who have at least one parent with a 4-year degree (continuing-generation students). This study tested a n

2 by mike simpson / 8h 

2-22-14 Schools Matter All Week

Schools Matter:  Schools Matter All WeekColonial Philadelphia, or Colonized?from Ken Derstine:Is the School District of Philadelphia a colony of the state of Pennsylvania?by Ken DerstineFebruary 20, 2014Parents of Philadelphia students and prospective students should know their right to choose a school for their children is under attack. Several weeks ago the SRC held round table discussions about

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

All Week 2-22-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Why Teach For America Cannot ChangeThis past Monday, the group Students United for Public Education (aka SUPE)–led by two amazing college students, Stephanie Rivera and Hannah Nguyen–organized a highly successful twitter storm using the hashtag #ResistTFA.  For a few hours, #ResistTFA became one of the top trending hashtags in the na

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 2-22-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGSchool Choice: Not for Students with DisabilitiesCharter schools and voucher schools –unless they are one of the few created specifically for students with disabilities–are noted for excluding them. A Gulen charter in Minneapolis took over a public school and immediately kicked out 40 autistic students. In this article, t

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

YESTERDAY

Do Bill and Melinda Gates have the right to affect our childrens’ lives for an eternity? | Teachers' Letters to Bill Gates

Do Bill and Melinda Gates have the right to affect our childrens’ lives for an eternity? | Teachers' Letters to Bill Gates: Do Bill and Melinda Gates have the right to affect our childrens’ lives for an eternity?Posted on February 22, 2014by Teachers'LettersToBillGatesDear Bill and Melinda,You and Melinda went to school.  You have kids in school. You, Bill — are anexpert at developing a software c

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

The Spring of Resistance: More learning, less testing | Seattle Education

The Spring of Resistance: More learning, less testing | Seattle Education: The Spring of Resistance: More learning, less testingI and others around the country came together last summer to discuss the over testing of our students. We knew that there are parents, students and teachers coming together around the country in large cities and small townships, resisting the high stakes testing, demandin

1 by mike simpson / 23h 

Nite Cap 2-21-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

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 CAPAre You a Bad Teacher? | Gatsby In L.A.Are You a Bad Teacher? | Gatsby In L.A.: Are You a Bad Teacher? I once had a student who was on crack.  It was a nightmare.  Before he’d spun out into addiction, Jorge had been one of the most talented stude

2 by mike simpson / 1d 

2nd Banana 2-22-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 2-15-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

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

2nd Banana 2-1-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 1-25-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 1-18-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

Nite Cap 2-21-14

Nite Cap 2-20-14

Nite Cap 2-19-14 

Nite Cap 2-18-14

Nite Cap 2-17-14

Nite Cap 2-16-14

Nite Cap 2-15-14

Nite Cap 2-14-14

Nite Cap 2-13-14