Latest News and Comment from Education

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 8/9/15


SPECIAL NITE CAP 

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Back to drawing board for contract negotiations | Catalyst Chicago
Back to drawing board for contract negotiations | Catalyst Chicago: Back to drawing board for contract negotiationsCPS has pulled back from its offer of a one-year contract extension that would have retained the so-called “pension pick-up” and barred the opening of any new charter schools during that period without union approval.Instead, CPS is now seeking a multi-year deal that would phase out i
Bay Area schools in a hiring frenzy just days before students return to class - Inside Bay Area
Bay Area schools in a hiring frenzy just days before students return to class - Inside Bay Area: Bay Area schools in a hiring frenzy just days before students return to classAs students start heading back to school -- some as early as this week -- many Bay Area school districts are scrambling to make sure classrooms are complete with one essential thing: a teacher."It has definitely been a ch
CURMUDGUCATION: Another Writing Robo-teacher
CURMUDGUCATION: Another Writing Robo-teacher: Another Writing Robo-teacherThis summer the University of Delaware was happy to unveil yet more research on yet another attempt to argue that computer software has a place in writing instruction.Being up frontAs a high school English teacher, I've thought about this a great deal, and written about it on several occasions (here, here and here, for examp
Ohio’s charter chaos - Toledo Blade
Ohio’s charter chaos - Toledo Blade: Ohio’s charter chaosAs the start of the school year approaches, who is cleaning up Ohio’s wretched charter school system?Not the Republican-controlled Ohio House. Its members fled the Statehouse for summer vacation without enacting a bill approved by the GOP-majority Senate that would have strengthened the state’s notoriously lax regulation of charter schools.C
An Activist Handbook for the Education Revolution
IAP || Book || An Activist Handbook for the Education Revolution: An Activist Handbook for the Education RevolutionUnited Opt Out's Test of Courage Edited by:Morna M. McDermott, United Opt Out NationalPeggy Robertson, United Opt Out NationalRosemarie Jensen, United Opt Out NationalCeresta Smith, United Opt Out NationalPublished 2014Contributions by: Rosemarie Jensen, Shaun Johnson, Morna McDermott
"MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS AHEAD?" MORE ILLUSION OF IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION - Perdaily.com
"MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS AHEAD?" MORE ILLUSION OF IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION - Perdaily.com: "MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS AHEAD?" MORE ILLUSION OF IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATIONIn reporting the "Broad Foundation seeks an expansion of L.A. charters to boost student success..," yet again Los Angeles Times "reporter" Howard Blume uncritically swallows the Broad, Ke
For sale: Student ‘hopes and dreams’ - Stephanie Simon - POLITICO.com
For sale: Student ‘hopes and dreams’ - Stephanie Simon - POLITICO.com: For sale: Student ‘hopes and dreams’This story is part of a new POLITICO series examining the unchecked expansion of private-sector data collection and the implications for consumer privacyEach year, more than 2 million middle school and high school students fill out comprehensive surveys for the National Research Center for Co
A Firsthand Report on #BlackLivesMatter and Bernie Sanders - Living in Dialogue
A Firsthand Report on #BlackLivesMatter and Bernie Sanders - Living in Dialogue: A Firsthand Report on #BlackLivesMatter and Bernie SandersBy Susan DuFresne.I was there. I was there to hear Bernie speak at Westlake in Seattle yesterday.To get it out in the open, I am a white ally and still learning, still reflecting, still processing what happened yesterday in Seattle, when Black Lives Matter (BLM
Test scores also measure effects of the opt-out movement - City & Region - The Buffalo News
Test scores also measure effects of the opt-out movement - City & Region - The Buffalo News: Test scores also measure effects of the opt-out movementSchool districts face possible funding lossArea schools were at the epicenter of the opt-out movement for standardized tests earlier this year, and this is the week when districts will learn what effect the large number of students refusing to tak
Master teacher suing New York state over ‘ineffective’ rating is going to court - The Washington Post
Master teacher suing New York state over ‘ineffective’ rating is going to court - The Washington Post: Master teacher suing New York state over ‘ineffective’ rating is going to courtFormer New York state education commissioner John King, who is being sued by a N.Y. teacher over the state’s educator evaluation system. (Mike Groll/AP)A veteran teacher suing New York state education officials over th
Left-Right Alliance for Education: Multi-Partisan Opposition
Left-Right Alliance for Education: Multi-Partisan Opposition: Left-Right Alliance for EducationWe oppose the CCSSI because it continues the failed education reforms of the past and violates privacy rights as it builds a system for centrally managed student training for the future workforce of the “Global Economy.” This central goal will dismantle liberal arts education, which most contributes to t
Stop Privatization in California! | Diane Ravitch's blog
Stop Privatization in California! | Diane Ravitch's blog: Stop Privatization in California!It’s not too late to save public education in California! With Eli Broad and his fellow billionaires poised to privatize education in Los Angeles, it is time to say NO! Join the campaign to repeal the charter law in California.Join Voices Against Privatizing Public Education’s efforts to repeal the Californi
Hillsborough school district has been dipping into emergency funds to cover MaryEllen Elia's Hole | Tampa Bay Times
Hillsborough school district has been dipping into emergency funds to cover expenses | Tampa Bay Times: Hillsborough school district has been dipping into emergency funds to cover expensesTAMPA — In the last four years of superintendent MaryEllen Elia's administration, the Hillsborough County School District went on a spending jag, tearing through more than half of its $361 million reserve fund, o
CURMUDGUCATION: So, I Have a Book
CURMUDGUCATION: So, I Have a Book: So, I Have a BookCURMUDGUCATION: What Fresh HellAuthored by Peter Greene Peter Greene blogs about the current state of public education with plenty of sass and not much rigor. This book includes almost 100 favorites from his popular blogs Curmudgucation and View from the Cheap Seats, and makes the case that there is much to love at US public education and much no
Louisiana Educator: New RSD Propaganda Machine Whitewashes Dismal Performance
Louisiana Educator: New RSD Propaganda Machine Whitewashes Dismal Performance: New RSD Propaganda Machine Whitewashes Dismal PerformanceThe latest Recovery District propaganda machine is called theResearch Alliance for New Orleans. It was founded by Tulane University professor of economics, Douglas Harris. In this articleprinted in Education Next, Harris makes an attempt to paint the struggling Lo
Russ on Reading: The Single Most Destructive Force in Public Education
Russ on Reading: The Single Most Destructive Force in Public Education: The Single Most Destructive Force in Public EducationOn Monday, I had some fun with Chris Christie’s desire to punch the teacher’s unions in the face. Today, I think it is much more important to deal with the substance of what Christie said to reporter Jake Tapper on CNN last Sunday. Speaking of one of the two large national t
With A Brooklyn Accent: Next Step for the Opt Out Movement- Demanding Public Schools Exempt from State Tests
With A Brooklyn Accent: Next Step for the Opt Out Movement- Demanding Public Schools Exempt from State Tests: Next Step for the Opt Out Movement- Demanding Public Schools Exempt from State TestsIf you want to restore idealism to the teaching profession, win back the confidence of the nation's parents, and expand the recruitment of teachers of color, one sure fire way to do this is start opening &q
At-Risk Students, Bad Teachers, Failing Schools: Our Blinding Accusatory Finger Pointing | the becoming radical
At-Risk Students, Bad Teachers, Failing Schools: Our Blinding Accusatory Finger Pointing | the becoming radical: At-Risk Students, Bad Teachers, Failing Schools: Our Blinding Accusatory Finger PointingQuestions of science, science and progressDo not speak as loud as my heart“The Scientist,” ColdplayThe absolute greatest gift of being a teacher by profession is accumulating throughout your career t
Schools Matter: Corporate Radio Picks On AFT Indiana
Schools Matter: Corporate Radio Picks On AFT Indiana: Corporate Radio Picks On AFT IndianaGet Hoosier School Heist in PaperbackHoosier School Heist On FaceBookby Doug Martin A few days ago, WIBC 93.1’s Ray Steele and Mike Wilson, hosts of The 10 @ 10 Show, found a tweet by AFT Indiana andwent into corporate bully mode. The AFT Indiana tweet read:  “To all the heroes of the education world headed b
The consequences for kids when their parents work irregular night shifts — research - The Washington Post
The consequences for kids when their parents work irregular night shifts — research - The Washington Post: The consequences for kids when their parents work irregular night shiftsHaving a regular schedule matters — especially when it comes to young people of all ages. According to a new research brief from the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute, children of parents working non-standard and unpred
Teacher Shortages Spur a Nationwide Hiring Scramble (Credentials Optional) - The New York Times
Teacher Shortages Spur a Nationwide Hiring Scramble (Credentials Optional) - The New York Times: Teacher Shortages Spur a Nationwide Hiring Scramble (Credentials Optional)ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — In a stark about-face from just a few years ago, school districts have gone from handing out pink slips to scrambling to hire teachers.Across the country, districts are struggling with shortages of teachers
Harassment allegations, true or not, hurt us all - Marcos Breton - KJ Bromance Relationship Counselling Working ?
Marcos Breton: Harassment allegations, true or not, hurt us all | The Sacramento Bee: Marcos Breton: Harassment allegations, true or not, hurt us all Allen Warren has been a very good city councilman representing northern Sacramento neighborhoods bypassed by prosperity abundant in more fortunate sections of town. Just this weekend, and every weekend all summer long, hundreds of kids and their fami
Education reform bill shows compromise still possible in Congress - News Sentinel Story
Education reform bill shows compromise still possible in Congress - News Sentinel Story: Education reform bill shows compromise still possible in CongressWASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander had been chairman of the Senate committee over education for just a week when he began circulating the draft of a bill intended to do what other Congresses had not: Fix the Bush-era No Child Left Behind scho

YESTERDAY

Oregon Save Our Schools: Increasing Teacher Stress is a Recipe for Disaster!
Oregon Save Our Schools: Increasing Teacher Stress is a Recipe for Disaster!: Increasing Teacher Stress is a Recipe for Disaster!At a recent meeting, it came to my attention that the Oregon Teaching Standards and Practices Commissionhas been receiving an increasing number of complaints about teachers who have engaged in conduct that is extremely out of the ordinary for them as individuals, or who
The Terrible Choice and Other Peoples' Children | Peter Greene
The Terrible Choice and Other Peoples' Children | Peter Greene: The Terrible Choice and Other Peoples' ChildrenFor much of our history, Americans have operated under a simple premise -- we will educate other people's children.Educating your own offspring is an old idea; human beings have done it for most of history. This has had many implications. You can't teach your own children things you don't
Who supports public schools for all? Who opposes high stakes testing and corporate education reform? | Reclaim Reform
Who supports public schools for all? Who opposes high stakes testing and corporate education reform? | Reclaim Reform: Who supports public schools for all? Who opposes high stakes testing and corporate education reform?Which candidate and party to vote for? Who supports public schools for all? Who opposes high stakes testing and corporate education reform? Who supports raising the minimum wage? Wh
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 8/8/15
SPECIAL NITE CAP CORPORATE ED REFORMCharter school board may get rare perk – pay | The Sacramento BeeCharter school board may get rare perk – pay | The Sacramento Bee: Charter school board may get rare perk – payCharter schools, unlike big school districts, don’t usually pay their board members. But trustees of a single charter school in Del Paso Heights will start receiving $600 a month if a prop