The Beautiful Teacher Struggle | The Jose Vilson

The Beautiful Teacher Struggle | The Jose Vilson:

The Beautiful Teacher Struggle

My feet on the ground actions are simple-not-easy. For the last three weeks sans EduCon weekend, I spent every “free” period plus lunch, after-school, and my birthday weekend grading papers. It’s the type of paper streak that makes non-teachers go from “Your job is so easy, plus you have summers and religious holidays off” to “You’re a saint, I don’t know how you deal with it.” It made writing for blogs and leisure seem like a thing I used to do in my fledgling past. It made hanging out with me perhaps intolerable because of my intolerance towards schooling and the disconnect between my own ideology and things I’ve asked to compromise on so I can stay in the classroom.

It’s like, stop it already.

Some people still think the only valid activism is the one on the streets when there’s clearly a battle The Beautiful Teacher Struggle | The Jose Vilson:

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/4/16

CORPORATE ED REFORM

CURMUDGUCATION: Breaking Down the Walls for CBE

CURMUDGUCATION: Breaking Down the Walls for CBE:Breaking Down the Walls for CBEIn the discussions of Competency Based Learning (or Outcomes Based Education or Performance Based Stuff), a support that emerges from time to time is that CBE will "break down the walls between curriculum and assessment."On the one hand, I see the appeal. In a perfect world, education shouldn't really have to

by mike simpson / 1min 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Legislative Updates from Senator Jamie Pederson

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Legislative Updates from Senator Jamie Pederson: Legislative Updates from Senator Jamie PedersonSenator Pederson is from my district, the Fightin' 43rd.From his latest newsletter (partial:)Today is our first big cutoff, when bills that have not passed out of committee will die for this year.Please attend our 43rd District Town Hall on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 1 p.m.

by mike simpson / 16min 

Oregon's dramatic switch: 99.7 percent of kindergartners in full-day classes | OregonLive.com

Oregon's dramatic switch: 99.7 percent of kindergartners in full-day classes | OregonLive.com: Oregon's dramatic switch: 99.7 percent of kindergartners in full-day classesOregon's conversion from half-day to full-day kindergarten was startlingly fast and complete, with 99.7 percent of the state's 5- and 6-year-olds currently enrolled in full-day classes, the state reported Thursday.That's a huge c

by mike simpson / 20min 

The Disregard of K-12 Education in Presidential Debates

The Disregard of K-12 Education in Presidential Debates: The Disregard of K-12 Education in Presidential DebatesIf you are a parent or an educator and expect to hear something about K-12 education out of any of the Presidential candidates in their debates or fireside chats you will be sorely disappointed.How we school our children is one of the most important issues of our day, and yet when do we

by mike simpson / 2h 

Marzano Says Detroit Contract Untrue. Reporter Proves It is. – Save Maine Schools

Marzano Says Detroit Contract Untrue. Reporter Proves It is. – Save Maine Schools: Marzano Says Detroit Contract Untrue. Reporter Proves It is.A few months ago, I discovered an IP address in the list of referrers to my blog that linked to a private legal investigative firm in Ohio.It struck me as odd, but I told myself that I was being paranoid and soon forgot about it.This Sunday, the IP address

by mike simpson / 2h 

Random thoughts. Union leadership conspiracy theories. | Fred Klonsky

Random thoughts. Union leadership conspiracy theories. | Fred Klonsky: Random thoughts. Union leadership conspiracy theories. Don’t go to a state or national union convention thinking there will be real debate or democracy. As a delegate to a state convention one year I needed a bright orange sweater and my whole region waving their arms around behind me for the state president to recognize me at

by mike simpson / 3h 

With A Brooklyn Accent: Why "Competency Based Education' May Be a Greater Danger Than Common Core

With A Brooklyn Accent: Why "Competency Based Education' May Be a Greater Danger Than Common Core: Why "Competency Based Education' May Be a Greater Danger Than Common CoreThere are many things frightening about the latest Big Thing the Feds are pushing - "Competency Based Education" which will have school children as young as kindergarten sitting in front of computers most of

by mike simpson / 5h 

Goldman Sachs Wing of @TeachForAmerica #TFA25 – Cloaking Inequity

Goldman Sachs Wing of @TeachForAmerica #TFA25 – Cloaking Inequity: Goldman Sachs Wing of @TeachForAmerica #TFA25 Lot’s of controversy today about @HillaryClinton & @GoldmanSachs. @TeachForAmerica loves them. Always have. Teach For America (TFA) and Goldman Sachs have had a longstanding and very fruitful relationship. Who is Goldman Sachs? From Wikipedia:The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an Amer

by mike simpson / 5h 

Common Core testing frenzy leads to taxpayer funded SBAC Test Prep - Wait What?

Common Core testing frenzy leads to taxpayer funded SBAC Test Prep - Wait What?: Common Core testing frenzy leads to taxpayer funded SBAC Test Prep In many places across the country, the effort to undermine public education is going alive and well.In Connecticut, thanks to Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy and his administration, the corporate education reform industry is successfully turning publ

by mike simpson / 7h 

An Emerging New Narrative For Education

2/4/2016 – An Emerging New Narrative For Education: An Emerging New Narrative For Education February 4, 2016, 2016 SubscribeTHIS WEEK: How Bernie Would Improve Schools … Poverty Sprawl … Black Students Get Harsher Discipline … Test Rebellion Gets Bigger … Which Students Get Newer TeachersTOP STORYAn Emerging New Narrative For EducationBy Jeff Bryant“The simple story about education no longer works

by mike simpson / 7h 

The Theft of a Great American School: José Meléndez Ayala Elementary | gadflyonthewallblog

The Theft of a Great American School: José Meléndez Ayala Elementary | gadflyonthewallblog: The Theft of a Great American School: José Meléndez Ayala ElementaryThey came in the early morning like thieves in the night.The predawn chill was still in the air.But employees of Puerto Rico’s Department of Education (DOE) were already at work closing a beloved public school.They sneaked into José Melénde

by mike simpson / 7h 

New York Teacher Sheri Lederman’s Lawsuit Update | VAMboozled!

New York Teacher Sheri Lederman’s Lawsuit Update | VAMboozled!: New York Teacher Sheri Lederman’s Lawsuit UpdateRecall the New York lawsuit pertaining to Long Island teacher Sheri Lederman? The teacher who by all accounts other than her recent (2013-2014) 1 out of 20 growth score is a terrific 4th grade, 18 year veteran teacher. She, along with her attorney and husband Bruce Lederman, are suing th

by mike simpson / 8h 

Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever? - The Atlantic

Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever? - The Atlantic: Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever?Even if white people no longer openly promote having neighborhoods and schools to themselves, many of them continue to help make that happen.Progress has undoubtedly been made since the days of explicit segregation, and most white people no longer openly advocate f

by mike simpson / 8h 

The High Cost of Low Quality Teachers – Missouri Education Watchdog

The High Cost of Low Quality Teachers – Missouri Education Watchdog:The High Cost of Low Quality TeachersMissouri, like many states, is facing a teacher shortage. Before you run out to get a degree because you love teaching those little kiddies, know that we have a glut of K-6 teachers. What this means is that most people are only comfortable teaching what they learned before the age of 13. Where

by mike simpson / 9h 

Washington Post Report Highlights Problems with State Takeovers of Schools | janresseger

Washington Post Report Highlights Problems with State Takeovers of Schools | janresseger: Washington Post Report Highlights Problems with State Takeovers of SchoolsEarlier this week the Washington Post‘s Lyndsey Layton reported on the wave of attempts by Republican governors to seize local schools and school districts and turn them over to new state-run governance structures dubbed “recovery” or “

by mike simpson / 9h 

New Orleans Charter Carver High broke special-education law by suspending student for nearly 5 weeks | The Lens

Carver High broke special-education law by suspending student for nearly 5 weeks | The Lens: Carver High broke special-education law by suspending student for nearly 5 weeksGeorge Washington Carver Collegiate Academy charter high school got in serious trouble earlier this year for suspending a student with disabilities for nearly five weeks, more than double the time allowed by law.The Louisiana D

by mike simpson / 9h 

How Much Federal Money Does Your State Receive? | Truth in American Education

How Much Federal Money Does Your State Receive? | Truth in American Education: How Much Federal Money Does Your State Receive?How much education money does the Feds actually provide?Photo credit: FEMA/Bill Koplitz (Public Domain)The following document below is from FY 2013 provided by the Bluegrass Institute, but it will give you a pretty good picture that the Feds provide very little money to sta

by mike simpson / 9h 

State sends mixed messages on Smarter Balanced test participation | EdSource

State sends mixed messages on Smarter Balanced test participation | EdSource:State sends mixed messages on Smarter Balanced test participationAs California schools prepare to administer Smarter Balanced tests aligned to the Common Core State Standardsthis spring, they face a quandary when notifying parents about the assessments.State law requires schools to inform parents they have the right to op

by mike simpson / 9h 

Rally for Chicago teachers, kids and schools. | Fred Klonsky

Rally for Chicago teachers, kids and schools. | Fred Klonsky: Rally for Chicago teachers, kids and schools. Rally for Chicago teachers, kids and schools. | Fred Klonsky:

by mike simpson / 9h 

Teaching Democratic Politics and Other Habits - Bridging Differences - Education Week

Teaching Democratic Politics and Other Habits - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Teaching Democratic Politics and Other HabitsDeborah Meier continues her conversation with Harry Boyte. To read their full exchange, please visit here.Dear Harry and friends,Interesting, interesting. Which means your comments lead to so many disparate thoughts.Safe space. Having never been able to stop myself fr

by mike simpson / 9h 

Charter School Network With Most Kindergarten Suspensions Says It Will Stop Them

School Network With Most Kindergarten Suspensions Says It Will Stop Them:School Network With Most Kindergarten Suspensions Says It Will Stop ThemBOSTON — Kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students were suspended 78 times at schools operated by a single nonprofit school management company in the 2014-15 school year, according to state data.Now, the Boston-based UP Education Network says it will ban

by mike simpson / 9h 

Latest Trib poll: Chicago is a union town. We stand with our teachers. | Fred Klonsky

Latest Trib poll: Chicago is a union town. We stand with our teachers. | Fred Klonsky: Latest Trib poll: Chicago is a union town. We stand with our teachers.If the pundits, the Sun-Times and Trib editorial boards and the Mayor were hoping the parents and voters of Chicago had deserted their teachers, this mornings Chicago Trib poll should put that bogus hope to rest.We citizens of Chicago side wit

by mike simpson / 10h 

School hits: Our ALEC-driven Legislature won’t relent on K-12 schools | Opinion | gctelegram.com

School hits: Our ALEC-driven Legislature won’t relent on K-12 schools | Opinion | gctelegram.com: School hits: Our ALEC-driven Legislature won’t relent on K-12 schools Anti-public school forces in Kansas won’t give up.Last year, ultraconservative state lawmakers led by Gov. Sam Brownback rammed through a two-year, fixed block-grant funding system for K-12 school districts that didn’t account for p

by mike simpson / 10h 

Teachers union has triple the public support of Emanuel - Chicago Tribune

Teachers union has triple the public support of Emanuel - Chicago Tribune: Teachers union has triple the public support of EmanuelChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. (Terrence Antonio James and Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune) ree times as many Chicagoans side with the teachers union as with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on how to improve public schools at a time wh

by mike simpson / 10h 

Pearson Rips Off Students with Tests Designed for Failure

Pearson Rips Off Students with Tests Designed for Failure: Pearson Rips Off Students with Tests Designed for FailureNew York State, in partnership with Pearson Education, is making it increasingly harder and more expensive to become a teacher without evidence that their demands and tests will improve education in the state. Last April Governor Cuomosmuggled a requirement into the state budget with

by mike simpson / 10h 

Louisiana Voucher Program Leaves Students Behind, One Study Shows - US News

Louisiana Voucher Program Leaves Students Behind, One Study Shows - US News: Louisiana Voucher Program Leaves Students Behind, One Study ShowsParticipation in Louisiana's voucher program increased the likelihood of a failing score by 24 to 50 percent, study shows.McDonogh #35 Senior High School graduates stand at their commencement at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on May 14, 2015 in New O

by mike simpson / 10h 

Here’s a New Way to Judge Your State’s Schools | Mother Jones

Here’s a New Way to Judge Your State’s Schools | Mother Jones: Here’s a New Way to Judge Your State’s Schools"The best schools in the world don't operate on vouchers and charters." Last time I called Diane Ravitch, our country's leading education historian and one of the most vocal voices in education reform, she was on another call with the producers of The Daily Show. It was 2011, and 

by mike simpson / 11h 

YESTERDAY

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/3/16

CORPORATE ED REFORMDPS Bans Health InspectorsDetroit Federation of Teachers | Stateweb: DPS Bans AFT Health Inspectors DPS refused to allow nationally recognized industrial hygienists from entering schools today to conduct health inspections based on reports from teachers and parents that conditions are dangerous.The DFT plans to file an emergency motion with the Third District Court of Michigan t

4 by mike simpson / 22h