Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

MULGREW DROPS THE ATR BALL AGAIN!! VOTE NO ON THE CONTRACT!! southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:



MULGREW DROPS THE ATR BALL AGAIN!! VOTE NO ON THE CONTRACT!!

I did what I was supposed to do yesterday. I got home about 4:30 ignored my wife and son and went into the office to watch UFT & Friends on the computer.

I made sure that all three modes, Twitter, email, and the phone, were working so that I might share what was on my mind.

Yes, I truly thought of making some far out political statement, like "Give us a good contract or give us death," or something like that, but I thought the better. The ATR's needed what support and I anyone else can give and this was the time to ask hard questions.

Seriously though, I did think that for a moment my phone call and question will be piped in live like"Donahue" and I would be able to question President Mike directly. It was not to be.

I called in at 5:01 and asked a simple question (Though for some reason I had to give my school, district, and license area);
"If an ATR goes on an interview and is not offered the position will that count as a strike against them towards them leading to an expedited 3020-a?"
The person on the other end told me no it wasn't but we both agreed that there are many out there wondering and that it would be good to get the word out there (Though we here at SBSB seemed tohttp://www.southbronxschool.com:

Nite Cap 5-20-14 #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




5-20-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: De Blasio Looks To Create Job Training Programs That WorkDe Blasio says many of the jobs programs from the past (i.e., Bloomberg's) didn't work:The city is spending half a billion a year to place out-of-work New Yorkers in low-wage jobs - and it's time to stop, Mayor de Blasio said on Tuesday. De Blasio, speaking at a thriving manufacturing hub in Brooklyn, announced plans t
Smarter Balanced Contractor Suffers Data Breach | Truth in American Education
Smarter Balanced Contractor Suffers Data Breach | Truth in American Education: Smarter Balanced Contractor Suffers Data BreachFiled in Privacy/SLDS by Shane Vander Hart on May 20, 2014 • 0 Comments2861Education Week reports that the American Institute for Research suffered a data breach earlier this month:After one of the organization’s servers was hacked, the sensitive personal information of as
Recap of the #Brownat60 National Week of Action | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity
Recap of the #Brownat60 National Week of Action | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity: Recap of the #Brownat60 National Week of ActionPosted on: Tuesday May 20th, 2014Now THAT is what you call a National Week of Action!Recap, pictures and video from #Brownat60 nationwide eventsand how you can stay involved!This past Saturday was the 60th anniversary
New CTU report analyzes massive public school closings on one-year anniversary
Chicago Teachers Union | Press Releases: New CTU report analyzes massive public school closings on one-year anniversary“Twelve Months Later: The Impact of School Closings in Chicago” examines myriad of CPS’s Broken PromisesCHICAGO—The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) released today a report on the state of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) one year after the Board of Education (BOE) voted to close 49 eleme
empathyeducates – High School Dropout Rate Depends on Mentorship, Study Finds
empathyeducates – High School Dropout Rate Depends on Mentorship, Study Finds: High School Dropout Rate Depends on Mentorship, Study FindsPhotograph; Luis Mateo and Kasandra Vega, who both left high school without a degree, are involved in the culinary program of the United Teen Equality Center, in Lowell, Mass. | Evan Richman / For NBC NEWSFrom the moment Luis E. Mateo started high school in Lowe
Re-segregation & the 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Ed. (Part 1) | Parents Across America
Re-segregation & the 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Ed. (Part 1) | Parents Across America: Re-segregation & the 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Ed. (Part 1)Politicians are ignoring research, allowing re-segregation, and supporting charter schools over public. As I posted here, economist, Milton Friedman developed the concept of school choice in 1955, a year after desegregation
10 Ways to Gather Letters for Congressional #TESTHearingsNow The Network For Public Education
The Network For Public Education | 10 Ways to Gather Letters for Congressional #TESTHearingsNow: 10 Ways to Gather Letters for Congressional #TESTHearingsNowMay 20, 2014 Testing / Opting Out, UncategorizedAs the school year starts to wind down, instead of talking about all the great things they’ve learned most students are still in the middle of testing, testing, and more testing.  So what can you
Paris ISD superintendent explains his startling STAAR letter | Dallas Morning News
Paris ISD superintendent explains his startling STAAR letter | Dallas Morning News: Paris ISD superintendent explains his startling STAAR letterBy Jeffrey WeissJWeiss@dallasnews.com1:31 pm on May 20, 2014 | Permalink240A couple of days ago, I posted about Paul Jones, the superintendent of Paris ISD and the remarkably blunt letter he sent to parents about the upcoming release of STAAR data. It’s fa
Pearson Allows Me to Quote 400 Board-meeting Words | deutsch29
Pearson Allows Me to Quote 400 Board-meeting Words | deutsch29: Pearson Allows Me to Quote 400 Board-meeting WordsMay 20, 2014At the American Enterprise Institute in March 2014, billionaire Bill Gates explained why the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are necessary above and beyond individual state standards that might be better:You get more free market competition. Scale is good for free market
Schooling in the Ownership Society: A handful of Common Core text/testing publishers buying up everything in sight
Schooling in the Ownership Society: A handful of Common Core text/testing publishers buying up everything in sight: A handful of Common Core text/testing publishers buying up everything in sightCaptive audience marketing to kids on Channel 1 Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt just acquired Channel One and Curiosityville. HMH is one of the biggest text/testing publishers cashing in on the boomi
Russ on Reading: Creative Stability: A Better Plan for Public Schools
Russ on Reading: Creative Stability: A Better Plan for Public Schools: Creative Stability: A Better Plan for Public SchoolsEducation reformers love the concept of "creative disruption." Applying a business model to public education, they argue that the way to improve schools is through disrupting the system by closing under-performing schools, firing under-performing teachers and introdu
NYC Public School Parents: Our letter to the Chancellor about class size, and what she said in response last night
NYC Public School Parents: Our letter to the Chancellor about class size, and what she said in response last night: Our letter to the Chancellor about class size, and what she said in response last nightLast night, at the District 2 Town Hall meeting with Chancellor Farina, I read aloud excerpts from a letter co-signed by 15 Community Education and Citywide Council presidents, including several me
5-20-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Spectrum is DeadA reader sent in this letter - from View Ridge's principal, Terri Skjei - and frankly, it's all I need to believe that Spectrum is dead. But the letter also makes me wonder about this slow death. What is the point? A few thoughts on the contents:1) quite calm and thoughtful, almost the epitome of "we want your input" except that there real
La. Superintendent John White Requires Districts to Embargo LEAP Summary Public Reports | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
La. Superintendent John White Requires Districts to Embargo LEAP Summary Public Reports | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: La. Superintendent John White Requires Districts to Embargo LEAP Summary Public Reportscrazycrawfish:There is more to these stories than I first suspected. I have confirmed some information through my sources and have a few new interesting tidbits to reveal. Originally posted on deutsch
5-20-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Commentary: It’s not the outsiders to blame, it’s the systemThis commentary is written in response to Ellie Herman’s commentary last week, asking why policy makers don’t listen more to teachers. By Larry Sand Why aren’t we listening? Well, in fact we are. There are organizations whose members include curr
Blacks and whites still largely attend separate schools in Sacramento - Data Center - The Sacramento Bee
Blacks and whites still largely attend separate schools in Sacramento - Data Center - The Sacramento Bee: Blacks and whites still largely attend separate schools in SacramentoBy Phillip Reesepreese@sacbee.comPublished: Monday, May. 19, 2014 - 2:28 pmLast Modified: Tuesday, May. 20, 2014 - 7:59 amThis past weekend marked the 60th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision by the U.S.
Why Hedge Funds Love Charter Schools | Alan Singer
Why Hedge Funds Love Charter Schools | Alan Singer: Why Hedge Funds Love Charter SchoolsIn April I posted, The Dishonorable Andrew Cuomo Meets the Hedge Fund / Charter School Zombies. In an online comment, Huffington Super User William Occam challenged me to provide "evidence that any of the individuals you have publicly shamed in this essay stand to financially gain from their support."
5-20-14 The Whole Child Blog — ED Pulse Poll Results: What's the Best Part About Being a Teacher?
ED Pulse Poll Results: What's the Best Part About Being a Teacher? — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGED Pulse Poll Results: What’s the Best Part About Being a Teacher?May 20, 2014 by Kit Harris, ASCD ResearchIn honor of Teacher Appreciation Week earlier this month and ASCD's ongoing efforts to celebrate, support, and recognize teachers, a recent ASCD SmartBrief ED Pulse poll asked educa
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 5-20-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Opinion: CA SHOULD DELAY COMMON CORE TESTS FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARSBy Doug McRae / commentary in EdSource | http://bit.ly/1mSyNed May 19th, 2014 | ::  Since June 2011 when California joined the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, the target date for implementation of computer-adaptive Common Core tests has been spring 2015. With that date now fast appro
Finally, The Corporate Press Is Exposing Duncan and Gates
Finally, The Corporate Press Is Exposing Duncan and Gates: Finally, The Corporate Press Is Exposing Duncan and Gatesby EDWARDBERGER on MAY 20, 2014A cultural lag. For many years education leaders have been pointing out the flaws in this top-down, mean-spirited, child and teacher damaging, ideological, and harmful nonsense laid on our schools. The USDOE has given access to the top levels of our edu
Connecticut Teachers Push Back on Common Core, Endorse Call for Congressional Hearings - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Connecticut Teachers Push Back on Common Core, Endorse Call for Congressional Hearings - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Connecticut Teachers Push Back on Common Core, Endorse Call for Congressional HearingsBy Anthony Cody on May 19, 2014 7:10 AMTen days ago, Michelle Gunderson offered us an explanation of the process by which members of the Chicago Teachers Union approved a resolutio
Thoughts From a Sit-In - Bridging Differences - Education Week
Thoughts From a Sit-In - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Thoughts From a Sit-InBy Guest Blogger on May 20, 2014 10:29 AMAuthor and advocate Mike Klonsky again writes to Deborah Meier today. The two are currently co-blogging on Bridging Differences."Sixty years later, 'separate and unequal' is still alive ... privatizing our school systems results in increased segregation, not improved
Inside a Florida School District's Same-Sex Classes: Perfume for Girls, Electronics for Boys | Mother Jones
Inside a Florida School District's Same-Sex Classes: Perfume for Girls, Electronics for Boys | Mother Jones: Inside a Florida School District's Same-Sex Classes: Perfume for Girls, Electronics for BoysThanks to a new state law, the ACLU is worried that other schools will emulate the program in Hillsborough County.—By Dana Liebelson| Tue May 20, 2014 6:00 AM EDT20William Vanderson/WikimediaA few ge
Morning Wink 5-20-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-20-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: North Carolina Teacher Takes Senator Curtis to TaskThis letter came from Stuart Egan, one of North Carolina’s National Board Certified Teachers. The state has more NBCTs than any other, and almo
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-20-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: North Carolina Teacher Takes Senator Curtis to TaskThis letter came from Stuart Egan, one of North Carolina’s National Board Certified Teachers. The state has more NBCTs than any other, and almost the lowest salaries of any state. Egan responded to Senator David Curtis’s letter brushing off science tea her Sarah Wiles. Stuart Egan
5-20-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: Wait What? Next up:  WNPR’s Where We Live – 9am todayJonathan Pelto Looks to Shake Up the Race For Governor Former state legislator Jonathan Pelto has been a vocal critic of Governor Dannel Malloy since day one. His frustration with the current administration may push him to run for governor as a liberal third-party candidate. Pelto joins us in-studio to talk about why he’s considering
5-20-14 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: Florida legislator: Common Core advocates are trying to make ‘your children’ gayWhether you support the Common Core State Standards or don’t,  it’s important to recognize when critics are going off the rails in their dissent. Here’s a newly publicized example: A Republican Florida state legislator, Charles Van Zant, told an audience at a conference in Orlando that the organizatio
5-20-14 Fred 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.: Ten minute drawing. Four things that will make you gay.Think Progress: Common Core may not be a well-intentioned set of improved educational standards, as supporters would have you believe, but instead a trojan horse designed to turn every schoolchild in Florida, if not America, gay. This ominous warn
5-20-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Video: I Tape Carmen Farina at CEC 2 Town HallI was asked to tape this event at the brand new building housing PS 59 and HS of Music and Art - by CEC 2 head, the always amazing Shino Tawikawa - see the wonderful well-deserved tribute to Shino at the end. [Something went wrong with my camera and I didn't get Carmen's opening speech - but the entire 45 minute Q&A is here.]It was
5-20-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Post-apocalyptic Mindset in a Civilized WorldPost-apocalyptic Mindset in a Civilized World. via Post-apocalyptic Mindset in a Civilized World.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical1 by plthomasedd / 1h hide  //  save“A Sustained Critique of the Entire System”“A Sustained Critique of the Entire System”. via “A Sustained Critique of the Entire System”.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS:
5-20-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs
With A Brooklyn Accent: The Passing of Dr Vincent Harding- Minister, Scholar, Activist- Proud Product of the BronxToday, I just learned of the passing of Dr Vincent Harding, a minister, civil rights leader, and pioneering scholar in the emerging field of Black Studies. Dr Harding's odyssey led him from a childhood in the Bronx, where he graduated as valedictorian of Morris High School, to work wit
5-20-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Post-apocalyptic Mindset in a Civilized WorldThe mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. Henry David Thoreau, Walden Since October 1999, when I experienced several weeks of unrelenting panic attacks, I have been negotiating my lifelong struggle with anxiety—many of
5-20-14 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: Further Proof Researchers Don't Understand HumansMost of us suffer from employment bias, the belief that we are doing work that is self-evidently important. On that list of Things They Don't Teach You In Teacher School is the realization that while we can see how obviously important our work is, not everyone shares that belief.Our employment bias simply sets us up for discouragemen
Pearson’s Behavioral Assessments for Students. Welcome to School Hell. | Missouri Education Watchdog
Pearson’s Behavioral Assessments for Students. Welcome to School Hell. | Missouri Education Watchdog: Pearson’s Behavioral Assessments for Students. Welcome to School Hell.inShareThe role of public schools today. Behavioral observation and tracking.Anne previously wrote about permission requested from parents for their children to be subjects of a Pearson Research Project for Behavior Assessments.
U.S. Department of Education Takes First Step toward Regulating Charters | janresseger
U.S. Department of Education Takes First Step toward Regulating Charters | janresseger: U.S. Department of Education Takes First Step toward Regulating ChartersPosted on May 20, 2014 by janressegerLast week something important happened, “finally,” as Valerie Strauss emphasized in herWashington Post report.  The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil rights issued new guidance confirming th
Here’s The Painful Truth About What It Means To Be ‘Working Poor’ In America | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!
Here’s The Painful Truth About What It Means To Be ‘Working Poor’ In America | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Here’s The Painful Truth About What It Means To Be ‘Working Poor’ In AmericaFiled under: Poverty — millerlf @ 7:42 am Posted: 05/19/2014 Huffington PostIn a nation that has long operated on the principle that an “American Dream” is available to anyone willing to try hard enoug
La. Superintendent John White Requires Districts to Embargo LEAP Summary Public Reports | deutsch29
La. Superintendent John White Requires Districts to Embargo LEAP Summary Public Reports | deutsch29: La. Superintendent John White Requires Districts to Embargo LEAP Summary Public ReportsMay 20, 2014When it comes to the 2014 Louisiana Education Assessment Program (LEAP) scores he was supposed to release on Friday, May 16, 2014, Louisiana State Superintendent John White has apparently found himsel
Test consortium offers work readiness tool :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Test consortium offers work readiness tool :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: MAY 20, 2014Test consortium offers work readiness toolby Kimberly Beltran(Olympia, Wash.) School districts struggling to adequately prepare students who want to enter the workforce after graduation now have a new tool to guide them in that endeavor.Developed over the
Shanker Blog » Expectations For Student Performance Under NCLB Waivers
Shanker Blog » Expectations For Student Performance Under NCLB Waivers: Expectations For Student Performance Under NCLB WaiversPosted by Matthew Di Carlo on May 20, 2014A recent story in the Chicago Tribune notes that Illinois’ NCLB waiver plan sets lower targets for certain student subgroups, including minority and low-income students. This, according to the article, means that “Illinois students
NYC Educator: ATR--A SImple Twist of Fate
NYC Educator: ATR--A SImple Twist of Fate: ATR--A SImple Twist of FateNote-This story originally appeared in Gotham Schoools, now Chalkbeat NY.  One of the most disturbing features of this contract is the two-tier due process we've established for ATR teachers. I don't see how we, as union, can justify a different and lower standard for their due process. I could've easily been an ATR for being at
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Randi tours Chicago with Karen Lewis. Leaves blasting the mayor.
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Randi tours Chicago with Karen Lewis. Leaves blasting the mayor.: Randi tours Chicago with Karen Lewis. Leaves blasting the mayor."It feels that the Chicago mayor wants to kick the public [school] system in the teeth at every opportunity."AFT's Randi Weingarten and NEA's Dennis Van Roekel have been trying to ride two horses at the same time, courting approv

YESTERDAY

empathyeducates – How Charter Schools and Testing Regimes Have Helped Re-Segregate Our Schools
empathyeducates – How Charter Schools and Testing Regimes Have Helped Re-Segregate Our Schools: How Charter Schools and Testing Regimes Have Helped Re-Segregate Our SchoolsPhotographic Credit; Chris Hondros/GettyBy Sally Kohn | Originally Published at The Daily Beast. May 16, 2014Sure, it’s mostly the courts, but as we approach the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, charter schools a
Choice–or child abuse? | Bob Braun's Ledger
Choice–or child abuse? | Bob Braun's Ledger: Choice–or child abuse?The appeal form–read it carefullyTo the stupidity, unworkability, and sheer arrogance of Cami Anderson’s “One Newark”  school enrollment plan, add yet another trait—cruelty.  Cruelty to children and their parents.  And nothing  is crueler than the plan’s alleged “appeal” process for those parents unhappy with the choices made for t
Geaux Teacher!: Louisiana Senator Conrad Appel Rightfully Called Out
Geaux Teacher!: Louisiana Senator Conrad Appel Rightfully Called Out: Louisiana Senator Conrad Appel Rightfully Called OutI felt like giving voice to one of our very active parents against the  Common Core Initiative.  This letter from Sara Wood of St. Tammany Parish was written in response to a Facebook Post by one of our Louisiana senators.  Sara is a conservative Republican who has engaged with
National teachers union leader criticizes Emanuel | Early & Often
National teachers union leader criticizes Emanuel | Early & Often: Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation Teachers, speaking at a rally in Topeka, Kansas on Saturday. On Monday, she was in Nashville, Tenn., addressing a conference of education writers, where she blasted Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. | Associated PressNational teachers union leader criticizes EmanuelMON, 05/19/201
5-19-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": Boy, These “Academic Parent-Teacher Teams” Sound Worse Every Time I Read About ThemI’ve previously posted about something called Academic Parent-Teacher Teams, and I just read an article about their implementation in Georgia. Here’s what I wrote about them last year: I’ve previously posted about a program called Academic Pa
Campaign 2014 - June 3 Primary Election is Fast Approaching
CTA Campaign 2014 - California Teachers Association: The LatestMay 19, 2014Sacramento Bee - Capitol NewsBig money pours into California schools chief race as challenger gains steamRead more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/05/19/6414171/big-money-pours-into-california.html#storylink=cpyAmong California’s eight statewide constitutional offices, the superintendent of public instruction is a peculiar
Free and easy ways to connect with your staff & parents! | Connected Principals
Free and easy ways to connect with your staff & parents! | Connected Principals: Free and easy ways to connect with your staff & parents!by Amber Teamann • May 19, 2014 • 0 CommentsThere are a variety of ways that teachers and administrators can communicate with their class, staff, and parents. Effective communication is vital to a schools success. Not just the typical teacher to parents w
Nite Cap 5-19-14 #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 CAPCalifornia should delay Common Core tests for at least 2 years | EdSource TodayCalifornia should delay Common Core tests for at least 2 years | EdSource Today: California should delay Common Core tests for at least 2 yearsMay 19th, 2014 | Add a C