Big Education Ape: Aug 30, 2014

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

Declaration of Independence from Testing - Badass Teachers Association

Badass Teachers Association: Declaration of Independence from TestingBy: Dr. Mark Naison Little by little, the American Public is waking up to the realization that the vast majority of people who call themselves "School Reformers" are dishonest as well as incompetent.They have no idea how to evaluate teachers.They have no idea how to inspire students.They have no respect for parents or

by mike simpson / 1h

Anti-tenure advocates’ law firm withdraws from case | New York Post

Anti-tenure advocates’ law firm withdraws from case | New York Post: Anti-tenure advocates’ law firm withdraws from caseBy Aaron ShortAugust 30, 2014 | 12:59amModal TriggerMona Davids, founder and President of New York City Parents' Union, watches her son Eric, 6, and daughter Mymoena, 16, do their homework on their computers.Photo: Robert KalfusThe powerhouse law firm that was supposed to represe

by mike simpson / 2h

8-30-14 Saturday Matinée Special "Wig Out - The "BAD" Astro Turf Seed Story" News Breakout

Saturday Matinée Special News Breakout Wig Out - The "BAD" Astro Turf Seed StoryStarring Queen Gloria Romero AstroTurf Queen Gloria Romero, Who pays for all those AstroTurf Seeds?AstroTurf Queen Gloria Romero, Who pays for all those AstroTurf Seeds?We Know Where YOU Get the Fertilizer Beware of AstroTurf Ed Reformers Just Like Michelle Rhee's Students first only BETTERAstroturf lobbyin

by mike simpson / 3h

Breaking News: A Vergara Appeal |

Breaking News: A Vergara Appeal |: Breaking News: A Vergara Appeal As you all likely recall, the Vergara case involved nine public school students (backed by some serious corporate reformer funds) to challenge five California state statutes that supported the state’s “ironclad [teacher] tenure system.” The prosecution successfully advanced its argument in June, when the judge ruled that students’

by mike simpson / 4h

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 8-30-14

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: Ferguson Readings Photo: Scott Olson, GettyHere is a very incomplete list of thought-provoking articles on the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, the protests as a result and the militarization of local policy forces.Mariame Kaba with a commentary in the Washington Post: For Blacks, America is Dangerous by Default Kar

by mike simpson / 4h

Professor Salaita and the Cost of Speech | Bill Ayers

Professor Salaita and the Cost of Speech | Bill Ayers:Professor Salaita and the Cost of SpeechTo see the mind of a billionaire pondering free speech as a problem to monetize, the last sentence of this article is priceless!!!‘Civility’ a divisive issue in U. of I. faculty decisionsBy Jodi S. Cohen, ChicagoTribune reporterAUGUST 29, 2014, 7:52 PMIn defending its decision to rescind a job offer to St

by mike simpson / 4h

2nd Banana 8-30-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POSTPARCC CEO ADMITS GOAL OF TEST TO CONTROL CURRICULUM - Governor Bobby Jindal | State of LouisianaPARCC CEO ADMITS GOAL OF TEST TO CONTROL CURRICULUM - Governor Bobby Jindal | State of Louisiana: PARCC CEO ADMITS GOAL OF TEST TO CONTROL CURRICULUMBATON ROUGE - On Friday, the federally funded Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College

by mike simpson / 6h

Peg with Pen: Do NO HARM. That is Reasonable.

Peg with Pen: Do NO HARM. That is Reasonable.: Do NO HARM. That is Reasonable.As this common core and high stakes testing war comes to a head I am watching lots of folks trying to mediate and ask folks to be reasonable. They want to talk about all the harm that could come to our schools should we refuse these tests or refuse test prep common core curriculum. When I hear this my hair stands on end.

by mike simpson / 6h

Pediatricians, Common Core and the Meaning of “Pushing” Early Childhood Literacy

Pediatricians, Common Core and the Meaning of “Pushing” Early Childhood Literacy: Pediatricians, Common Core and the Meaning of “Pushing” Early Childhood LiteracyAUGUST 30, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY LEAVE A COMMENTBe careful using the word “push” when it comes to reading. There is always the fear that Common Core State Standards are behind it.A recent Memphis Commercial Appeal had an Op Ed entitled “P

by mike simpson / 6h

Playing the Waiver Game! | A View From The Edge

Playing the Waiver Game! | A View From The Edge: Playing the Waiver Game! miller727@icloud.com August 28, 2014 5 CommentsShortly after the legislature’s passage of House Bill 3399 in May 2014 which repealed common core state standards in Oklahoma, I posted a blog titled: “Arne Doesn’t Have to Do This” to explain that Secretary Duncan had choices when it came to the reauthorization of our state’s E

by mike simpson / 7h

Morning Wink 8-30-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTSAnother View: Abusive lawsuits against school districts are a myth - Viewpoints - The Sacramento BeeAnother View: Abusive lawsuits against school districts are a myth - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee: Another View: Abusive lawsuits against school districts are a mythBy Larry SchapiroSpecial to The BeePublished: Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 - 12:00 amRe “The co

by mike simpson / 7h

Another View: Abusive lawsuits against school districts are a myth - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee

Another View: Abusive lawsuits against school districts are a myth - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee: Another View: Abusive lawsuits against school districts are a mythBy Larry SchapiroSpecial to The BeePublished: Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 - 12:00 amRe “The cost of abusive lawsuits is taking a big bite out of state’s classrooms” (Viewpoints, Aug. 26). Robla School Board member Craig DeLuz, without p

by mike simpson / 7h

Justice for Michael Brown – Petition - Save Our Schools March

Save Our Schools March – Justice for Michael Brown – Petition: Justice for Michael Brown – PetitionWe need to talk about Ferguson, brothers and sisters.Not about the protestors—the vast majority of whom are peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights. Not about police militarization, either, which has only escalated tension on the ground.We need to talk about justice for Michael Brown. Just

by mike simpson / 7h

NYC Educator: What Do the Reform Folk Do?

NYC Educator: What Do the Reform Folk Do?: What Do the Reform Folk Do?What Do the Reform Folk Do? By Learner and Loewe (Scorer)Based on the Tune from CamelotWhat do the reform folk doTo help them escape when they're blue?The Duncan who is ailing, the Bill Gates who is glumThe Coleman who is wailing from branding kids dumbWhen they're beset and harassedThe folk not of the common classHowever do the

by mike simpson / 7h

Louisiana Educator: Common Core: Much More of a Disaster Than We Thought!

Louisiana Educator: Common Core: Much More of a Disaster Than We Thought!: Common Core: Much More of a Disaster Than We Thought!This is a “must see” video for all Louisiana educators and for all parents wanting to know more about how Common Core is working in actual practice. I had heard the term “building the plane in flight” from great educators like Dr Lottie Beebe and Scott Richard, but I had

by mike simpson / 7h

Gov. Brown appeals ruling that struck down teacher job protections - LA Times

Gov. Brown appeals ruling that struck down teacher job protections - LA Times: Gov. Brown appeals ruling that struck down teacher job protectionsGov. Jerry Brown addresses the American Federation of Teachers convention in June in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes, AP)We do not fault doctors when the emergency room is full.- Tom Torlakson, superintendent of public instructionGov. Jerry Brown filed an

by mike simpson / 7h

Yet again a Saturday morning teaching reflection by teacherken

Yet again a Saturday morning teaching reflection: Yet again a Saturday morning teaching reflectionbyteacherkenFollow 18 Comments / 18 NewStudents began classes on Wednesday, so I am getting back into the rhythm that has been so much of a part of my life for the past two decades or so. And is my wont I take some time on a Saturday morning before returning to the tasks associated with being a hi

by mike simpson / 7h

8-30-14 Missouri Education Watchdog - State Led. Voluntary Adoption. No Federal Role. Riiiiight.

Missouri Education Watchdog | I believe in standardizing automobiles. I do not believe in standardizing human beings. Standardization is a great peril which threatens American culture. – Albert Einstein: State Led. Voluntary Adoption. No Federal Role. Riiiiight.inShareCan I take off my tinfoil hat now? One of the biggest talking points for the proponents of common core, used to smear the opponents

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement":This Is Interesting: Parents Help Decide Curriculum & Hire Teachers At Pennsylvania SchoolState College’s Delta Program middle school off to busy start is the headline of an article about a middle school in Pennsylvania begun by a local district to reduce loss of students to charters. Here’s an excerpt: Delta Director Jo

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 All NEW Living in Dialogue

Home | Living in Dialogue:Arne Duncan’s Edu-Politics 101By John Thompson. National and local reporters who cover the Education beat already know the full story behind Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s retreat from his demands that states comply fully and immediately to everything on his corporate reform wish list. Most have displayed balance and excellence in reporting on the second tier issue

by mike simpson / 8h

Stephen Krashen Blog 8-30-14

SKrashen:A more efficient, more pleasant way to teach EnglishSent to the South Chine Morning Post, August 29, 2014Philip Yeung's observations about Hong Kong English instruction ("Teach English that's actually of use to struggling students," August 28) applies to language instruction in other countries. Yeung tells us that Sir Aker-Jones' daughter, after 12 years of English, could not &

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Hemlock on the Rocks (The Big Gulp)

Hemlock on the Rocks: Song For Gloria Astro Turf Queen“Gloria” With apologies to Laura Branigan Gloria, you’re always on the run now.Running after teachers, you gotta get them somehow.I think you’ve got to get a teaching job, but you’ll probably blow it.I think you’re headed for a breakdown, so be careful not to show it You really don’t know squat, you just follow what Gates and Broad say?All the

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Wag The Dog Week

WagTheDog | Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart. ~ Rumi: Wag The Dog WeekCritical Thinking vs. Creative ThinkingThe Common Core demands students think critically while staying connected and diving into text, yet employers desire workers who can think creatively, connect with people, and dive into their work. David Coleman has ma

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Love Letters to the BATS

With A Brooklyn Accent:Defend Gus Morales!If you were going to "build a teacher" in a largely working class town where the majority of those enrolled in the public schools are students of color, one of the models you would work from would be Augustin Morales. Born in Holyoke Mass., part of that town's large Puerto Rican community, Gus spent several years in the military before returning

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Jersey Jazzman NJ Ed News Round-up Jammin' All Week

Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All WeekOnce Again: There Are No Miracle Charter SchoolsRelinquishers gotta relinquish:It’s not a stretch to say that charter schools are some of the biggest winners in this year’s high school rankings list. Even though charters educate just five percent of American students, they represent 30 percent of the top ten schools in this year’s rankings. What’s more

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Curmudgucation Week

CURMUDGUCATION:Curmudgucation WeekFirst Loser in NY Anti-Tenure LawsuitIn the end, there can be only one.Even though it's all about the kids, according to the NY Post only one group gets to stand center stage for the big New York Tenure Takedown Lawsuit. Previously the Campbell Brown nameplate case was going to have to share the big Caring for Kids spotlight with Mona Davids (of New York Parents U

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 This Week in 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):Federal free lunches a lens into proverty that’s blurringFederal free lunches a lens into proverty that’s blurring When it comes to free school meals, it’s increasingly clear that students aren’t always what they eat. The federal free- and reduced-price meals program, launched decades ago by the U.S. Depar

by mike simpson / 8h

All Week @ The Answer Sheet 8-30-14

The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetState education board slams Obama administration’s testing policiesVermont’s Board of Education recently passed a resolution on assessment and accountability in public education (see full text below) that slams some of the Obama administration’s key school reform policies. Adding its voice to the growing chorus of critics who have called on the Education

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 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 SocietyNine years since Katrina. Maybe some justice for New Orleans teachers.On Sept. 4th, the State Supreme Court will hear the case of 7,000 teachers fired after Hurricane Katrina. "Katrina accomplished in a day ... what Louisiana school reformers couldn't do after years of tr

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Supporter of Public Education and A Really Nice Guy

Wait What?: Wait What? All Week Pelto/Murphy 2014 Pelto Statement on falling short of the 7,500 signatures needed to get on the ballotLater today, the Connecticut Secretary of State’s Office is expected to officially announce that the Jonathan Pelto/Ebony Murphy ticket did not collect the 7,500 certified signatures needed to qualify for a position on the 2014 gubernatorial ballot. On behalf of th

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumFriday Open ThreadBoy do I like public disclosure laws because that story out of LA about the iPad debacle only gets better/worse. I'll have another thread on that soon.Kids and Uzis - I'm not sure there is anything that could better demonstrate a lack of common sense. Very funny story from the Scary Mommy blog about going back to s

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Ed Notes Online Week

Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineGabrielle Horowitz-Prisco - Loretta and Gene Would Be So ProudA part of the impetus for the change is due to the behind-the-scenes work of people like Gabrielle Horowitz-Prisco, a small woman with fuchsia glasses.... Epoch TimesAt last night's ICE meeting we talked over old times about Loretta and Gene, two education fighters for social justice for their entire live

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 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 teacherKeeping retirement weird. The color line.On our road trip we stopped at the boyhood home of W.E.B. du Bois. Naturally. There was no parking space in front of our house when we got home yesterday afternoon. We had to unload the car

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 Perdido Street School Week

Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekAnti-Tenure Lawsuit Groups Battle Each OtherThe NY Post reports of dysfunction among the anti-tenure groups fighting to end teacher protections in New York State:The powerhouse law firm that was supposed to represent parent advocates suing to overturn the state’s teacher tenure laws has withdrawn from the case, The Post has learned. One of the paren

by mike simpson / 8h

8-30-14 the becoming radical EMPATHYEDUCATES! | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

THE BECOMING RADICALEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by NPR Whitewashes Charter Schools and Disaster Capitalism in New OrelansIt was bad enough when NPR whitewashed the “grit” narrative, but now NPR is whitewashing charter schools and disaster capitalism in New Orleans. For context please see: Recommended: Hope Against Hope, Sarah Carr Endgame: Disaster Capi

by mike simpson / 9h

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 8-30-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT iPadGate: OFFICIALS ON BID COMMITTEE GOT FREE TABLETS, RESORT TRIPS + smf’s 2¢Annie Gilbertson | 89.3 KPCC | http://bit.ly/1qcmZpz L.A. Unified has already purchased 75,000 iPads, half with Pearson software. Here, second graders at Baldwin Hills Elementary swipe through their iPads for the first time and call

by mike simpson / 9h

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 8-30-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE WEEKGov. Jerry Brown Appeals Awful Vergara Court RulingCalifornia Governor Jerry Brown, with the encouragement of state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, has announced the State of California will appeal the awful Vergara court ruling, which blames teachers for all of education and s

by mike simpson / 9h

This Week's Education Research Report 8-30-14 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTSocial class makes a difference in how children tackle classroom problemsAn Indiana University study has found that social class can account for differences in how parents coach their children to manage classroom challenges. Such differences can affect a child's education by reproducing inequalities in the classroom."Parents have d

by mike simpson / 9h

8-30-14 Schools Matter All Week

Schools Matter: Schools Matter All WeekPBS Higher Ed Series Reeks of Gates and Luminafrom Pando DailyIt's easy to understand how PBS and NPR can remain commercial free, once you accept the fact that they are heavily sponsored by billionaires and their foundations who get their commercials worked into the news stories, themselves. Call it the latest in product placement.Over the past 8 years, NPR

by mike simpson / 9h

All Week 8-30-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE : All Week @ THE CHALK FACE About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archiv

by mike simpson / 9h

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 8-30-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGRuth Conniff: The FBI Is Investigating Charter School MalfeasanceRuth Conniff of “The Progressive” reports that the FBI is becoming more assertive in its investigation of criminal behavior by charter schools. Charter schools receive millions of dollars of public money with minimal accountability. In some states, they have

by mike simpson / 9h

YESTERDAY

empathyeducates – Here’s the New Meme for White People

empathyeducates – Here’s the New Meme for White People: Here’s the New Meme for White PeopleOne big happy family.ShutterstockBy Christian Lander | Originally Published at Quartz. August 29, 2014A few years ago, I wrote about white people and their love of “awareness” on my blog Stuff White People Like. The post talked about how white people loved awareness because it was an easy way to feel like t

by mike simpson / 17h

8-29-14 Perdido Street School: Joe Nocera Turns Against Test-Based Accountability

Perdido Street School: Joe Nocera Turns Against Test-Based Accountability: Joe Nocera Turns Against Test-Based AccountabilityHow often do you see something like this from a Times opinion page columnist?What should teacher accountability look like?We know what the current system of accountability looks like, and it’s not pretty. Ever since the passage of No Child Left Behind 12 years ago, teachers

by mike simpson / 17h

Ms. Katie's Ramblings: Parents of Chicago: Questions You Must Ask About Your Child’s School This Year

Ms. Katie's Ramblings: Parents of Chicago: Questions You Must Ask About Your Child’s School This Year: Parents of Chicago: Questions You Must Ask About Your Child’s School This Year1) How many teachers/staff left the year before and why?Schools all over Chicago are in chaos. Intentional chaos. The year after the largest number of school closings in the history of the United States left a wake o

by mike simpson / 21h

8-29-14 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.: New London school board takes back its offer to “Dr.” Terrence Carter.Attorney Anthony Shannon, center, and Attorney Christopher Engler, right, of Shipman and Goodwin in Hartford carry boxes with copies of the report on the investigation of Terrence Carter as they and New London Board of Education mem

by mike simpson / 21h

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 8-29-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: MiSiS: 45,000 STUDENTS MISSING FROM LOS ANGELES UNIFIED’S NEW TRACKING SYSTEMThomas Himes | Contra Costa Times (LAUSD might as well amuse Northern California too!) | http://bit.ly/1qOB7Fy Posted: 08/29/2014 02:06:56 PM PDT :: In the third week of school, an estimated 45,000 students were missing from the Los Angeles Unified School District’s new com

by mike simpson / 22h

For Labor Day Weekend: Pie and/or Labor and/or #CharterPolitics | Cloaking Inequity

For Labor Day Weekend: Pie and/or Labor and/or #CharterPolitics | Cloaking Inequity: For Labor Day Weekend: Pie and/or Labor and/or #CharterPoliticsI love apple pie. I would be hard pressed to choose another pie that I like more than my grandma’s fresh baked apple pie. I mean, there are some contenders… there is also grandma’s sweet potato and pumpkin pie. It’s easy (and painful) to imagine the sm

by mike simpson / 22h

Nite Cap 8-29-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT

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 CAPSSPI Statement on Vergara Lawsuit - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)SSPI Statement on Vergara Lawsuit - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Releases Statement on Vergara LawsuitSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Pu

by mike simpson / 23h