New U.S. Senate Education Committee Members | Truth in American Education : New U.S. Senate Education Committee Members Just an FYI, there have been some changes on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee due to the election. These committee members will hold their hearing for Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos on January 11th . I’d encourage you to contact
Betsy Devos’s presumed agenda: Dismantle public education | Politics | Chicago Reader : Betsy Devos’s presumed agenda: Dismantle public education Local experts warn that Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education will wage war on “government schools.” Betsy DeVos, president-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of the Department of Education, might not be the worst of the megabucks donors and r
Embedded Assessments: An End Around Parental Opt-Outs | Truth in American Education : Embedded Assessments: An End Around Parental Opt-Outs Over the last several years, a major point of contention between parents and the education establishment (both federal and state) has been the issue of testing. Especially as states have responded to federal mandates by administering unvalidated assessments a
Public Education and the Spectre of Fascism | BustED Pencils : The Spectre of Fascism “Fascism is capitalism in decay”, said Lenin. We’ve seen this before. When the traditional capitalist system is failing, there are cracks within the ruling class, and its accompanying political structures are in turmoil, a section of that class backs a strongman for its own protection. These strongmen have a pop
The Rocks On Which We Can Build Better Schools (and a Better Democracy) | The Huffington Post - Linkis.com : The Rocks On Which We Can Build Better Schools (and a Better Democracy) During my first semester teaching in the inner city , Davina (as I will call her) did not ask permission to interrupt when I was in the middle of a sentence; she just got up and walked across the room. I wondered what
Republican legislator introduces bill to repeal Connecticut’s STUDENT DATA PRIVACY ACT. - Wait What? : Republican legislator introduces bill to repeal Connecticut’s STUDENT DATA PRIVACY ACT. When it comes the Connecticut General Assembly and education policy, one of the most important developments was the passage, last year, of a new Connecticut Student Data Privacy Act that requires school distr
Facebook Hires Campbell Brown to Help Smooth Relations with Mainstream Media | Diane Ravitch's blog : Facebook Hires Campbell Brown to Help Smooth Relations with Mainstream Media This is a stunner. Facebook has hired Campbell Brown to smooth over bad feelings with the mainstream media. To friends of public education, Brown is known as a propagandist for privatization. Will she give up her billion
CURMUDGUCATION: PA: The Property Tax Problem : PA: The Property Tax Problem AP's Marc Levy reports this week that Pennsylvania's legislature ( one of the largest and most expensive ones in the country ) is expected this year to once again tackle one of the great third rails of Pennsylvania politics-- property taxes. This system is part of the mechanism that gives Pennsylvania one of the country's
Third Wave Of Washington Charter Schools Eyed - Lens : Third Wave Of Washington Charter Schools Eyed Opening and running a charter school isn’t for the faint of heart , but in Washington their ranks will grow this year with three more starting up in the fall. Eight are already running – six under state supervision in King and Pierce counties, and two under the Spokane School District’s purview .
Coleman: Trump’s schools pick is scary : Coleman: Trump’s schools pick is scary Few of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks frighten me more than Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Sure, his foreign policy team is suspect and potentially dangerous. His nominee for attorney general, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, is a throwback to pre-Civil Rights era Jim Crow days. But DeVos, a former Michigan
Trump’s education nominee and her family members are major donors to the senators who will vote on her confirmation - The Washington Post : Trump’s education nominee and her family members are major donors to the senators who will vote on her confirmation Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary, is not just a prospective Cabinet member seeking confirmation from th
Schools Matter: Ed Deform 2.0 in Less than Five Minutes : Ed Deform 2.0 in Less than Five Minutes Published on Jan 5, 2017. This is a summary for the one-hour talk "Ed Reform 2.0-Personalized Learning in Orwellian Times" available for viewing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0quQS .... For additional information visit Wrench in the Gears at https://wordpress.com/stats/day/wrenc... . Schools
How testing practices have to change in U.S. public schools - The Washington Post : How testing practices have to change in U.S. public schools Florida teachers protest in Tallahassee against state’s education policies. (Photo by Mike Archer, Used with permission) There has been some testing reform progress made in the last year or so as state and federal officials finally began to acknowledge a
Ed Notes Online: Aim Of School Choice Is To Limit Choice - Norm in The WAVE : Aim Of School Choice Is To Limit Choice - Norm in The WAVE http://www.rockawave.com/news/2017-01-06/School_News/Aim_Of_School_Choice_Is_To_Limit_Choice.html AIM OF SCHOOL CHOICE IS TO LIMIT CHOICE School Scope By Norm Scott I’m continuing my series of columns on the voucher/school choice issue which will come to the for
DeVos would set precedent as secretary of education without strong commitment to public schools | EdSource : DeVos would set precedent as secretary of education without strong commitment to public schools Betsy DeVos may well be the first U.S. secretary of education to come to office without expressing a strong belief in the importance of traditional public schools as a core democratic institutio
Stabenow Opposes Betsy DeVos For Education Department Secretary | News/Talk 94.9 WSJM : Stabenow Opposes Betsy DeVos For Education Department Secretary Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D), Mich. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow says she will vote against Betsy DeVos as the next head of the U.S. Education Department. The Michigan Democrat says she talked to DeVos. Stabenow says DeVos’ support for charter schools
AFT President Weingarten to Give Major Education Speech : AFT President Weingarten to Give Major Education Speech WASHINGTON , Jan. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the nomination of Betsy DeVos as secretary of education, President-elect Donald Trump has signaled that the one bipartisan consensus on public education—the Every Student Succeeds Act—should be ignored, choosing instead the mos
How 2012 Chicago Teachers Strike Changed Fight Over Public Education | Chicago Tonight | WTTW : How 2012 Chicago Teachers Strike Changed Fight Over Public Education The Chicago teachers strike of 2012 made international headlines and marked a major shift in the fight over public education reform. After seven days on the picket lines, 26,000 teachers went back to the classroom with a new contract,
The American Teacher vs. Betsy DeVos : The American Teacher vs. Betsy DeVos They are asking me the question, ‘Is the American Dream dead?’ And the American Dream is in trouble. But we’re going to get it back and do some real jobs. –Donald Trump, Rochester, NH Town Hall, September 17, 2015 The appointment of Betsy DeVos as education secretary will offend every teacher in this country who has studi
Connecticut Congressional Delegation has raised more than $100 million - Wait What? : Connecticut Congressional Delegation has raised more than $100 million “Money is the mother’s milk of politics .” – Jesse Unruh, California Politician As California politician, Jesse Unruh, famously observed, money is the primary nourishment for American politicians. Big donors and lobbyists curry favor and buy
New research shows broad academic benefits for students taking ethnic studies classes | 89.3 KPCC : New research shows broad academic benefits for students taking ethnic studies classes Public school districts in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach and about a dozen others have started ethnic studies classes in recent years. But they’ve done so without a key ingredient: academic res
Democrats Who Oppose Betsy DeVos Have Nothing To Lose : Democrats Who Oppose Betsy DeVos Have Nothing To Lose In “an unprecedented break” from tradition, Democrats in the US Senate are expected to challenge as many as eight of Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, including Betsy DeVos for US Secretary of Education, according to a report by the Washington Post . The opposition to DeVos, Politico repor
Education Law Prof Blog : Addressing the Recent Increase in Bullying: A Webinar for Parents On Wednesday, January 11, 2017, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program (PREP) in partnership with the Center for Safe Schools and the Center for Education Equity will host a free webinar for parents and advocates on school bullying in response to a su
Small Local Group Uncovers Widespread Opposition to Confirmation of DeVos as U.S. Education Secretary | janresseger : Small Local Group Uncovers Widespread Opposition to Confirmation of DeVos as U.S. Education Secretary On Tuesday, January 3, as everybody crawled out from under holiday cooking, gifting and celebrating, leaders of our local Heights Coalition for Public Education met to consider mo
Badass Teachers Association: Trenton Deserves Board Members Capable of Selecting a Qualified Superintendent (NJ) : Trenton Deserves Board Members Capable of Selecting a Qualified Superintendent (NJ) The state capital of New Jersey has been under attack from education reformers for years. Following reformer playbook moves time and time again that seek to minimize the voice of the community and tak
Bill Ayers: Demand the Impossible! | Literati Bookstore : BILL AYERS: DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE! Literati welcomes Bill Ayers to Ann Arbor as part of a national tour to celebrate the release of his latest book, Demand the Impossible!: A Radical Manifesto . Demand the Impossible! is a manifesto for movement-makers. In an era defined by mass incarceration, endless war, economic crisis, catastrophic env
“Say it Ain’t So” NEA and AFT | tultican : “Say it Ain’t So” NEA and AFT In 1919, the biggest baseball star in Chicago and possibly all of America was “Shoeless Joe” Jackson. After “Shoeless Joe” and seven other members of the Chicago White Sox were convicted of fixing the 1919 World Series, the Chicago Daily News headline – “Say it ain’t so, Joe” – was the anguished plea from fans and especially
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/5/17 Featured Post The Rotten State of Charter Schools in Michigan: A For-Profit Bonanza, Sponsored by the DeVos Family | Diane Ravitch's blog Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: U.S. schools
MORE Misjudges It's Priorities Yet Again
-
It's June 20. The school year is about over. What's happening in the world
of the NYCDOE?
We got family leave. I will write more about this tomorrow. ATRs ...
National Education News
-
From Education Week:
*The Trump administration, which is in the midst of a top-to-bottom review
of the federal bureaucracy, is turning its eye on the U.S. ...
On State Takeovers of School Districts
-
A state takeover of a local school district takes away the voice of the
taxpayers and parents and it's questionable (at best) they even work.
The post On...
I Voted for Jill Stein. Was I Wrong?
-
I voted for Jill Stein. There’s nothing I can do about that now. But if I
could go back in time and change it, I'm not sure I would.
A Time to Act. Now.
-
The stories and images of children separated from their families at the
border are shocking. If you are not upset by what our government is doing,
you have...
Really Rethinking Standardized Test Scores
-
Corey DeAngelis, fellow at Cato, turned up at Centre for Education
Economics Ltd (CfEE) with an article (since reprinted at Cato's own site)
that gets on t...
Because We Stand Together
-
For the past two days, I've written about the tragedy taking place along
our southern border, where children, infants even, are being torn crying
from...
A Moment of Deep Shame
-
We are now being known around the world as a nation that sanctions cruelty
to the most vulnerable of children.
Perhaps the words on the Statue of Liberty s...
Common Core
-
I have been away from school for quite a while and not at all familiar with
the common core regents so when I was asked to help a friend’s son prepare
I...
LAUSD SAYS "MORE GRADUATING"... BUT SHOULD THEY?
-
What is most disconcerting about the systematic and purposeful dismantling
of public education in this country by LAUSD- and other entrenched mega
school d...
WAKE UP! Now is not the time to yawn!
-
The opposite of moral is not immoral, but indifferent. To open your eyes,
to pay attention, to be astonished and then to act is to affirm your own
humanity...
Children Say NO! to Family Separations by ICE
-
Every child understands the pain losing one’s loved ones – even for a
moment – can cause. So children have plenty to say about the U.S.
government’s separa...
Michelle Rhee’s DC Legacy: “A Monster.”
-
When the survival of a school system hinges upon test scores, that system
will be driven toward corruption. Case in point: DC public schools,
beginning wit...
Charles M. Blow: Trump and the Baby Snatchers
-
The title alone grabs your attention. But the op-ed itself is even more
pointed.
Consider: after providing some introductory material, Blow goes into t...
Sessions and Trump must be stopped!
-
ProPublica has obtained audio from inside a U.S. Customs and Border
Protection facility, in which children can be heard wailing as an agent
jokes, “We have...
IT’S A MATTER OF CULTURE
-
“Books are fun, Nicholas, he says, they’re like amusement parks for
readers. Yeah, well, maybe they would be fun if I got to pick the rides
sometimes, you ...
Only Losers Wrap Themselves in Losers
-
How connected are you to the Confederacy? I ask this, particularly, of you
who wave the battle flag and adore statues and images of Robert E. Lee,
Jefferso...
For Dads Who Care and Protect Children
-
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which
it treats its children. ~Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa
Fathe...
Fostering a Love for Reading in Children
-
A recent article in *Education Week Teacher* caught my attention. The
article *"Four Steps to Building a Magnificent Classroom Library"*, by
primary grade...
Do Core Democratic Values Belong in Schools?
-
It is a point of pride, really, having these core democratic values as an
anchor in the Mitten State Social Studies standards. Here's a list of those
ident...
WHAT MUST HAPPEN
-
Sessions must be removed as Attorney General of the United States. He
openly lied to Congress many times at his confirmation hearing. These lies
were tele...
This Week in Education Organizing - June 15, 2018
-
*Everybody’s Got a Right to Live: Education, Income and Housing*
A number of AROS and Journey for Justice-affiliated local groups
participated in this we...
DCision18 Candidates Talk Education
-
Ed Lazere and Anita Bonds, candidates for city council chair and an at
large seat, respectively, talked about their views of public education in
DC, includ...
Honoring Melody Herzfeld And Others
-
Melody Herzfeld won a Tony Award that honors educators. Melody Herzfeld is
a drama teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School. Melody Herzfeld’s
stud...
Mission Accomplished:77+ miles=$85,000+
-
A picture is worth 1,000 words: So, Mission accomplished. But, wait,
here’s one more photo I want you to see: I biked an extra six miles because
I got car...
The Case of the Missing Scholar
-
Success Academy began 11 years ago with a group of 83 kindergarteners and
73 first graders. This past December, Success Academy published a blog post
about...
Social Impact Bonds readings
-
Wherever I go, I discover how few people have heard the term “social impact
bonds” and for those who have, they usually have received little more than
the ...
A New Teacher Preparation “Entity” in Wisconsin?
-
Just a reminder. PI 34.006 Definitions. In this subchapter: “Institution”
means one or more accredited colleges or universities offering an educator
prep...
BINGO Math:”Education + Fun” Time for Everyone!
-
My sorors and I celebrated Founder’s Day and when a bunch of educators get
together, there are always games! My soror created a BINGO game based on
the his...
A Memorial Day Homage
-
Today and always, I honor all members of all the arms of the military who
gave their lives defending the rights, privileges and liberties we enjoy
daily. I...
There is No Dignity in Teaching
-
I rarely reblog others, but this is a story that must be retold over and
over again. Administrators have forgotten that teachers (and the kids they
work wi...
Puerto Rico Solidarity Work
-
In recent months Puerto Rico’s U.S. appointed Financial Oversight and
Management Board, and the 2016 PROMESA Law, has laid the groundwork to
close nearly...
#EducatingReformers - Pt. 1 Samuel
-
Credit: AJ Garcia - UpSplashLast week I wrote about how I was going to tell
the stories of students who, far too often, become statistics on both sides
of...
Lesson Plan: Rhyme and Rhythm in Poetry
-
I’ve started a recent unit on poetry with my class. I’m not a poet, and I’m
not a poetry fan (I don’t hate it, but I’m a prose gal), so this makes it
harde...
CEJ Victory for Culturally Responsive Education!
-
Today the Mayor announced that the City is putting $23 million into the
Executive budget for culturally responsive education and anti-bias
trainings for te...
ELA Assessment: Dear Board of Regents,
-
Dear Members of the Board of Regents,
Thank you for your service as leaders in public education in New York
State. I am writing as a parent of two public ...
Scenes for the March For Life in New York
-
And so they came and came by the thousands, flooding Central Park West with
citizens of all ages, all races, all creeds, all who have had enough of
insane ...
Florina Rodov: The Truth About Charter Schools
-
*“[W]hen teachers aren’t unionized, they’re exploited — and when teachers
suffer, so do kids.” — Florina Rodov*
This amazing piece by Florina Rodov on *S...
#NationalSchoolWalkout – Grown Ups Need to Listen
-
Student activists, responding to the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman
Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, organized a national walk out to
memoriali...
3rd Grade Reading: Who is Failing?
-
Education Trust Midwest has just released its study on third grade reading
and, predictably, the results aren’t great. This study uniquely compares
Michiga...
Opting out of the Dinosaur (end of year test)
-
Today I sent in a second letter to refuse PARCC/CMAS for my son, Luke. The
first email I sent at the beginning of the year was not sufficient as they
requi...
Resurrection
-
I realized it's Lent, but this blog, bless Jesus Christ, can't wait.
Ok, so with that said, I plan to discuss Class Action suits in existence,
as well as w...
Are Our Educators Prepared For Their Students?
-
If there is one thing that I am sure of as an educator it is that rapid
change greatly affects both what and how we learn. If there is a second
thing that ...
Who Is Pulling The Muppet Strings?
-
Originally posted on Wrench in the Gears:
Sesame Street is an iconic brand that embodies humor, acceptance, and
humanity. Who doesn’t love a muppet? So, on...
IDEA Is Still The Law Of The Land
-
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the US Department of
Education (USDOE) rescinded 72 Dear Colleague and other letters of
explanation to s...
Budget Cuts To Kids Are Not Necessary!
-
We’ve been hearing a lot of news from OUSD about how cuts to schools and
kids are necessary. So we’ll need to keep saying the truth… they are not
necessar...
Education Is a Civic Question
-
In their final post to end Bridging Differences' decade-long run, Deborah
Meier and Harry Boyte urge readers to put the energy, talents, wisdom, and
hard w...
Student of the Month Nightmare
-
*This is something I wrote for a monthly gathering to honor some of the
best students at our school. I figure most teachers will relate:*
I was grading pap...
99 Years of Progress Erased – unless we fight back
-
Public healthcare for all? Public education for all? What is being done to
our monetized children regarding their potential healthcare and their
existing e...
You Can Be an Astronaut, but You Can't Be Black
-
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question I always
imagined every kindergarten student hearing.
“I want to be a doctor!” declares Sally.
...
Site News: New Home for Education News & Commentary
-
Quick! Get over there! The daily education news roundup and education
commentaries that you're probably looking for are now being published over
at The Gra...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
-
An Open Letter to NC State Lawmakers and NC State Superintendent Mark
Johnson: I am a NC native, voter, and public school teacher. I am
addressing you all ...
Don't Like Chris Christie? Blame the Democrats.
-
Yesterday Diane Ravitch published a piece in The New Republic, titled Don't
Like Betsy DeVos? Blame the Democrats.
If you care about public education at al...
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My Next Bestseller)
-
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My next bestseller) Prologue I just finished
watching a fascinating documentary on Netflix entitled, “The Secret”. The
film p...
Farewell, Sleep
-
Today is the official last day of my spring break. I've done a scientific
survey: My natural bedtime is 2 AM, and my natural wake up time is 9:41
AM. Tom...
New Local Businesses in Sacramento
-
Starting a new local business in Sacramento is a monumental task, but can
be accomplished with footwork, perseverance and knowledge. One must learn
the loc...
Education Bloggers Daily Highlights 3/2/2017
-
Education Bloggers Daily Highlights 3/1/2017 Education Bloggers Daily
Highlights Courtesy of Big Education Ape A special thank you to education
blogger Mik...
Capturing the Spark
-
It’s been a long time since InterACT was an active education blog, though I
remain quite proud of what we did here. Those of us who wrote blog posts
here h...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
-
I’ve been gone a while from the blogging scene. Some of my more regular
readers no doubt noticed but did not hassle me about it. Thank you for
that. Sinc...
WTU Peterson Slate: Not a 1 Woman Dictatorship
-
Candi Peterson & GeLynn Thompson
Candidates for WTU Prez & GVP 2016By Candi Peterson, WTU Gen. Vice President
*Statements or expressions of opinions herein...
MY NEW BLOG
-
My new blog will consist of fictitious headlines, meant to be a blend of
humor and satire. I apologize ahead of time if any other satirical site has
simila...
Thank you
-
Dear Readers,
Thank you for visiting *The Perimeter Primate*. This blog is being retired
for the time being. Although I no longer post here, I do still s...
I am Retiring
-
I have some news: I am retiring from the PBS NewsHour and Learning Matters.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other
conte...
All Aboard the Opt Out Bus
-
The #OptOutBus is currently traveling the country giving away free books to
children! Follow their progress at their Facebook page and donate to their
FR...
Flaws at the Heart of Current Education Reforms
-
Originally posted on Creative by Nature:
“Teaching is an art form rooted in the wise and careful use of educational
research and assessment tools. When gove...
