Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 3-17-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

CORPORATE ED REFORM

“Efforts To Close The Achievement Gap In Kids Start At Home”

I’ve been a little skeptical about the effort in Providence to have children wear clothes with built-in audio recorders to county the number of words heard at home (you can see those pieces at The Best Resources For Learning About The “Word Gap”). NPR just ran a piece on it titled Efforts To Close The Achievement Gap In Kids Start At Home. I’m still skeptical, but would be happy to be proven wrong

2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h h

“Anti-Bullying from the Parent’s Perspective”

Anti-Bullying from the Parent’s Perspective is a useful post from Think Inclusive. I’m adding it to The Best Resources — Specifically For Parents — On Bullying.

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h 

Students Probably Do Less Homework Than You Think, Study Says

The portrait of the American student buried under a crippling load of homework has been way overblown in news articles, argues a new report from the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. Homework loads have actually been stable over the last 30 years, despite front-page reports of overworked kids and a century-old "war on homework," according to the report, one of three

1h 

Critic’s Notebook: Reading, Writing and Renewal (the Urban Kind)

A new public school that also includes a community center and other public amenities is part of a joint project designed to revitalize a blighted section of East Baltimore.    

7 by By MICHAEL KIMMEL... / 29min 

Portland Public Schools could add about 180 more staffing positions next year (Q&A)

Superintendent Carole Smith on Monday night offered a sneak peek at the budget for the 2014-15 school year.

3 by Nicole Dungca | n... / 57min 

The Plight of Lydia Howrilka

Chaz the Blogger had an interesting piece yesterday about how new chancellor Carmen Farina must clean house of the approximately 700 attorneys and 300 accountability "experts" that permeate and suck money out of the DOE. But Chaz stated the obvious;...presently, the DOE acts as a "bully" when it comes to the teaching staff.  Carmen Farina can't simply"rearrange the deck ch

by noreply@blogger.c... / 3h 

Put Yourself In Our Shoes: "What Would You Do?"

The Question General Motors Asks New Hires Continue Reading at The Daily Riff

by CJ Westerberg / 22min hide  //  save

Can Messy Be A Sign Of Brilliance?

Einstein's Desk In Photo: What He & Agatha Christie May Have In CommonContinue Reading at The Daily Riff

by CJ Westerberg / 22min 

You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves Youby JOSE VILSON on MARCH 17, 2014in JOSEAfter a difficult day “at the office,” I sat on my couch and did next to nothing. My e-mail count ran up. My food got cold. My son played with his cars, and, while I partook in a little chasing around the apartment, I soon fell into the couch again,

by mike simpson / 3h 

FROM THE BAT CAVE Schoolhouse Live

Schoolhouse Live:  FROM THE BAT CAVEThe BATS (Baddass Teachers) are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!  Formed last year, these feisty teachers are tired of district bureaucrats calling the shots. Mark Naison moderates.LIVE STREAM TUESDAY! 4:30 PST TEACHERS AND PARENTS WANT SAFE SCHOOLS, NOT iPADS!FOR MORE NPE PANEL DISCUSSIONS CLICKHERE!FROM OUR ARCHIVES: NOAM CHOMSKY ON THE PUBLIC GOO

by mike simpson / 4h 

Gates Dined on March 13, 2014, with 80 Senators | deutsch29

Gates Dined on March 13, 2014, with 80 Senators | deutsch29: Gates Dined on March 13, 2014, with 80 SenatorsMarch 17, 2014Bill Gates has too much power.The following announcement, dated March 13, 2014, is from Politico:DINNER WITH GATES – About 80 senators are expected to attend a dinner discussion at the Capitol tonight with Microsoft founder Bill Gates and the NYT’s David Brooks. The 6:45 p.m. d

by mike simpson / 4h 

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wants to ‘steadlily’ replace school boards with charter schools | The Raw Story

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wants to ‘steadlily’ replace school boards with charter schools | The Raw Story: Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wants to ‘steadlily’ replace school boards with charter schoolsBy Arturo GarciaMonday, March 17, 2014 21:11 EDT Video from a gathering of charter school administrators shows Netflix CEO Reed Hastings telling charter school administrators they should be working toward

by mike simpson / 4h 

Another Brick in “The Wall” | Connected Principals

Another Brick in “The Wall” | Connected Principals: Another Brick in “The Wall”by Jonathan VanderEls • March 18, 2014 • 0 CommentsThis article was co-authored by Jonathan Vander Els and his colleague Ellen Hume-Howard, the Director of Curriculum at the Sanborn Regional School District.Looking closely together at student work can unveil a treasure trove of insights to guide a school as they reflect

by mike simpson / 5h 

Vergara v. California: The most dangerous lawsuit you probably haven't heard of

Vergara v. California: The most dangerous lawsuit you probably haven't heard of: Vergara v. California: The most dangerous lawsuit you probably haven't heard ofbyDante AtkinsFollowforDaily Kos    Email  91 Comments / 91 NewEducation privatizers are using the courts to get at a larger slice of the apple.Ask yourself one question: what's the biggest challenge preventing children from economically di

by mike simpson / 6h 

Nite Cap 3-17-14 #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 CAP4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-17-144LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: L.A. Unified’S Decision To Move Students Sparks FurorOfficials didn't take into account long-standing (community+gang) rivalries when they decided to

by mike simpson / 7h 

You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson:

You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You

by JOSE VILSON on MARCH 17, 2014

in JOSE

After a difficult day “at the office,” I sat on my couch and did next to nothing. My e-mail count ran up. My food got cold. My son played with his cars, and, while I partook in a little chasing around the apartment, I soon fell into the couch again, contemplating whether any of the stuff I did outside of school was worth it. A day like this was long overdue, and sleeping it off felt like the only cure.

The morning after, I check my phone. The following came through my e-mail:

Knowing the data and related research as I do one might ask why I still believe in education. After reading This Is Not A Test, I am reminded of why I stay in the field. Through his experience as a teacher and a young man of color growing up in the segregated communities of New York City, Jose Vilson reminds us why education matters. He also shows us that teachers can have a critical voice in the national conversation about the future of public education, and that when they are not afraid, they can use that voice to challenge the reproduction process.

It was Pedro Noguera’s afterword, one he wrote in the middle of his already hectic writing

- See more at: http://thejosevilson.com/youre-nobody-til-somebody-loves/#sthash.n81olCsD.dpuf

FROM THE BAT CAVE Schoolhouse Live

Schoolhouse Live:

 FROM THE BAT CAVE

The BATS (Baddass Teachers) are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!  Formed last year, these feisty teachers are tired of district bureaucrats calling the shots. Mark Naison moderates.

LIVE STREAM TUESDAY! 4:30 PST  TEACHERS AND PARENTS WANT SAFE SCHOOLS, NOT iPADS!

FOR MORE NPE PANEL DISCUSSIONS CLICKHERE!

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: NOAM CHOMSKY ON THE PUBLIC GOOD OF SCHOOLS Last March, Schoolhouse Live braved Boston during St. Patrick's Day to talk about public education with  Dr. Noam Chomsky at MIT. Here is what we learned.

Gates Dined on March 13, 2014, with 80 Senators | deutsch29

Gates Dined on March 13, 2014, with 80 Senators | deutsch29:

Gates Dined on March 13, 2014, with 80 Senators

March 17, 2014

Bill Gates has too much power.

The following announcement, dated March 13, 2014, is from Politico:

DINNER WITH GATES – About 80 senators are expected to attend a dinner discussion at the Capitol tonight with Microsoft founder Bill Gates and the NYT’s David Brooks. The 6:45 p.m. dinner, according to an invitation obtained by Huddle, is sponsored by the No Labels Foundation, and one of that group’s honorary co-chairs, Sen. Joe Manchin, will make opening remarks. So what’s the No Labels-Microsoft connection? No Labels co-founder Nancy Jacobson is married to longtime pollster Mark Penn, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Microsoft, said a source who will be attending the event. [Emphasis added.]

I find Gates’ access to 80 senators very disturbing.

There’s more.

The No Labels Foundation has Andrew Tisch on its legal board (also listed as a co-founder). Andrew Tisch is the brother-in-law of the controversial, test-happy New York Chancellor Merryl Tisch.

No Labels bills former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as a mayor “who solves problems.” In reality, Bloomberg was nothing less than the scourge of New York City education.

Bloomberg and Tisch promote punitive education agendas that complement Gates’ “educational purge” viewpoint of the test score as the public education colon 

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wants to ‘steadlily’ replace school boards with charter schools | The Raw Story

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wants to ‘steadlily’ replace school boards with charter schools | The Raw Story:

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wants to ‘steadlily’ replace school boards with charter schools

By Arturo Garcia
Monday, March 17, 2014 21:11 EDT

 Video from a gathering of charter school administrators shows Netflix CEO Reed Hastings telling charter school administrators they should be working toward eventually replacing public school district boards.

“If we go to the general public and we say, ‘Here’s an argument why you should get rid of school boards,’ of course no one’s going to go for that,” Hastings said in his speech, captured at the annual California Charter School Association conference by the advocacy group Stop Rocketship. “So what we have to do is to work with school districts to grow steadily, and the work ahead is really hard because we’re at eight percent of students in California, whereas in New Orleans they’re at 90 percent, so we have a lot of catchup to do.”

The video also shows Hastings vastly overrating the performance of charter schools in New Orleans.

“The overall results in New Orleans, across the whole city, are amazing,” Hastings said. “They’re rapidly rising, much faster growth than anywhere in Louisiana.”

However, Newsweek reported in September 2013 that the performance of the Recovery School District, which is dominated by charter schools and took in 75 percent of the city’s schoolchildren in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, has been sub-standard at best:

Seventy-nine percent of RSD charters are still rated D or F by the Louisiana Department of Education. (To be sure, some charter operators argue that the grading system in Louisiana, which keeps moving the bar upward, doesn’t sufficiently capture the improvements schools have achieved.) Sci is one of two RSD high schools to earn a B; there are no A-rated open-admission schools. In a school system with about 42,000