Seattle School Board Meeting, October 8, 2025
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Here's the agenda for the meeting which starts at 4:30 pm at the JSCEE.
There are 22 people on the Speakers List. Most of the speakers will be
talking a...
Liberal Redneck - School Voucher Scams
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This is from a year ago, but comedian Trae Crowder captures the reality of
taxpayer-funded vouchers. Some salty language, but it's always nice when
someone...
Public Education Shaped by 19th Century Dispute
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By Thomas Ultican 10/8/2025 Horace Mann, frequently referred to as the
“father of public education”, declared that public education should be
nonsectarian....
The Real Power of Nonviolent Resistance
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Felon is trying to create chaos in blue cities to rationalize use of the
Insurrection Act. No federal court will ever agree if cities remain
peaceful ...
Don’t Follow Advice from Billionaires
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This is by Julian Vasquez Lustig. —————- When billionaires step onto a
stage, release a book, or tweet some glossy piece of wisdom, the world pays
attentio...
Free Speech, As Long As You Don’t Offend The King
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Free speech is technically allowed, but the right is trying to turn public
backlash and political leverage into a weaponized form of censorship —
demandi...
Growth in Student Achievement at San Diego Unified
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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond celebrates multi-year growth in student
achievement at San Diego Unified; highlights opportunities to scale success
stat...
Don’t Blame Trump. It’s on Reagan (and us)
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I will start with the fun stuff, some grist for dinner and cocktail party
conversations about the cost of going to college these days. Then I will
try to ...
Just Sent-Out Free Monthly Email Newsletter
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I’ve just mailed out the September issue of my very simple free monthly
email newsletter. It has over 3,000 subscribers, and you can subscribe
here. Of c...
September’s Parent Engagement Resources
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Today’s teens struggle with big feelings — and their parents struggle to
have hard conversations with them. A psychologist explains how to help your
kids c...
It's official. I'm taking Crazy Pills.
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Ten years after Ohio had to return $63 million of a $71 million federal
charter school grant to the first Trump Administration, Ohio gets another
$105 mill...
James Kirylo: America’s Peculiar Love Affair
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James D. Kirylo has been a friend of mine for many years and has been a
guest contributor to my blog in the past. Among other books, Kirylo is the
author ...
The Moral Famine: A Poem By Jesse Hagopian
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People are starving in Palestine. "The Moral Famine" confronts Israel’s
starvation siege on Gaza and the world’s complicity in denying it.
Why Teaching Math for Test Results Is Not Enough
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Over the last year, New York City has had a fascinating discussion about
teaching math. In particular, NYC Department of Education has started to
impleme...
Why Teaching Math for Test Results Is Not Enough
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Over the last year, New York City has had a fascinating discussion about
teaching math. In particular, NYC Department of Education has started to
impleme...
Here I go again, making an ask
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We are a majority minority school where we emphasize positive aspects, but
also recognize that we need to address the whole child. Too many of our
young ...
Aguanta, todo va a estar bien
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Los próximos meses nos pondrán a prueba como nunca antes. Como personas que
creemos en la democracia, lo que significa que creemos unos en otros, nos
verem...
Blogoversary #19 — Time to Move on
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Times have changed. I had a nice long run here, but let’s face it, it ended
a while ago. So I’ve moved. I’m not writing much any more, but when I do it
wil...
Is there really a decline in pleasure reading?
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The mainstream media has been full of the bad news: new study shows that
reading for pleasure has declined! Fewer people are reading for fun: From
2003 to ...
Last call for ARC readers: Addicted to Glove
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"Major League" meets "Ted Lasso" with a hint of "Three Men and a Baby" in
this age gap, surprise pregnancy romcom set in the Pacific Northwest.
Il Papa è Morto
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Francis brought a distinct pastoral outlook to his papacy. A simple man, he
lived in a small apartment in the guesthouse. He sought to make the church
acce...
Trump plays Putin’s Playbook
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Recently Aleksander Dugin was interviewed on CNN, last week, and he stated
that he believes Trump is closer ideologically to President Putin than to
Washin...
Mike Shulman the ARISE UFT Judenrat
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I was surprised to learn that Mike Shulman has aligned himself with ARISE.
I previously supported him, advocating that the Castle Doctrine could have
bee...
How Do We Fight Trump?
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Dear Friends, I don’t know when and why it hit me. But I suddenly realized
how serious Trump is about changing the country into something that
horrifies. I...
Site Index - Updated December 31, 2024
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BLOGGER’S NOTE: If you are new to this blog, and interested in the topic of
immigration, I recommend you go right to the massive new post: “How
Immigrat...
AIN’T IT AWFUL
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As the terrible feelings of dread and angst spread across the world the
great majority of the American people feel powerless before the onslaught
of those ...
Vote NO on the UFT Contract. Here is Why:
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The best reason to vote no on this contract is this: UFT Unity* lied* to us
in 2018. They misrepresented that contract. It was predicated on deals we
wer...
Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force
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I prepared testimony for one of two public hearings held by the Chicago
Public Schools Truancy Task Force, a body mandated by state legislation.
The meetin...
There Is A Teacher Shortage.Not.
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THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. And just to be sure you understand, it’s not
that teachers don’t want to teach. It’s not that there aren’t enough
teachers cer...
Book Banning Turns to Dick and Jane
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Breaking News: Dateline February 4, 2022 - Parents in Dimwitty, Alabama
have asked the Dimwitty Board of Education to ban the children's primer *Fun
with...
Have You Heard Has a New Website
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TweetHave You Heard has a new website. Visit us at
www.haveyouheardpodcast.com to find our latest episodes and our entire
archive. And be sure to check out...
Follow me at Substack
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I've moved. Follow me at Substack
I'm now posting regularly at Substack. You can subscribe for free to my new
Edu/Pol blog at michaelklonsky.substack.com
...
Aspiring Teachers Get New Help Paying For College
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[image: colorful classroom pattern]
*; Credit: shuoshu/Getty Images*
Cory Turner | NPR
New rules kick in today that will help aspiring teachers pay for c...
Tips Akses Situs Judi Qq Tanpa Perlu Takut Nawala
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Kegiatan berjudi slot melalui situs judi qq online, sekarang sudah
dilakukan oleh banyak penjudi Indonesia. Tentu, Kamu yang sedang membaca
artikel ini a...
The Threat of Integration
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I have lived in the same house in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles
for over 30 years, where up until now I have had little or no interaction
with th...
We fight for a democracy worthy of us all!
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The nation stands at a crossroads, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcÃa
in her final keynote address to the 2020 NEA Representative Assembly and
it’s up...
The Passing Of Chaz 1951-2020 Age 69
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I am the son of Chaz and like to inform you that he passed away this
afternoon from the COVID virus. My father passed in peace beside his loved
ones. We ar...
The Fight For Our Children
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*The number of suicides among people ages 10 to 24 nationally increased by
56 percent between 2007 and 2017, according to a new federal report showing
the ...
Read to Self: Just a Kid and a Book.
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Date: Monday, January 5, 2020 Place: My classroom Student: Mrs.Mims, could
we start doing Read to Self again because I got this great book for
Christmas an...
Reminiscences
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I just finished dumping the rest of my lesson plans. I guess I held on to
the calculus ones for so long because I spent so much time working on them
an...
Just Asking for some Teachers I know.
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Recently Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated, We must … recognize that
part of supporting our kids in the classroom means supporting the educators
who t...
Cara Menang Bermain Judi Bola Online
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Bermain judi bola online tentu saja memiliki kesenangannya tersendiri baik
itu mendapatkan keuntungan maupun ketika menantikan hasil skor pada sebuah
perta...
A Critique of Standards-Based Grading
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It first happened to me about ten years ago. I was beginning my third year
of teaching in a new school in Washington, DC. Social studies teachers were
si...
My First and Last Visit to Hudson Yards
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Figuring I did not need to invite any more darkness and vulgarity into my
head than that provided on a daily basis from Trump’s White House, and
after read...
Reduced time for testing? Not so fast.
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NYSED and Commish Elia continue to say that the NYS Assessments are of
reasonable length, I completely disagree.
Here is what NYSED states are average expe...
The World According to Michelle Rhee
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The men behind the curtain fashioning the brave new world of corporate run
education in America! Michelle Rhee is the founder of StudentsFirst, The
New T...
Whose Opinions Matter in Education World?
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It's hard to identify education heroes and sheroes. And perhaps even harder
to pinpoint just whose work is slanted, paid-for and dishonest.
Blockchain: Life on the Ledger
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Originally posted on Wrench in the Gears:
I created this video as a follow up to the one I prepared last year on
Social Impact Bonds. It is time to examine...
New Local Businesses in Sacramento
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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...
Lesson Plan: Rhyme and Rhythm in Poetry
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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...
The Apotheosis of Betsy DeVos
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Betsy Devos has drawn few headlines in recent months, and that is a good
thing for the Secretary of Education. Her tenure began with Vice President
Mike P...
Education Is a Civic Question
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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...
Site News: New Home for Education News & Commentary
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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...
Should We Be Grateful?
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In an odd turn of events, and with little explanation, Michigan Governor
Rick Snyder has decided to return the state’s School Reform Office back to
the Dep...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
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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 ...
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My Next Bestseller)
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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
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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...
REPORT: States With the Best and Worst Schools
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States With the Best (and Worst)Schools
By *Evan Comen, Michael B. Sauter, Samuel Stebbins and Thomas C. Frohlich*
January 20, 2017- http://247wallst.com
...
Test Refusal = People Power
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In recent months, social media has been ablaze with talk of regular folk
taking action to resist the Trump agenda. Protests are a daily occurrence,
and ev...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
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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...
AB 934: A LEGISLATIVE FIX FOR VERGARA?
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By Michael Stratford | in the Politco Morning Education Report | via email
05/24/2016 10:00 AM EDT :: Two national education groups are backing a
Califor...
MY NEW BLOG
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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
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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
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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...
New Beginnings: Kickstarter and EdWeek Teacher
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Greetings to InterACT readers one and all! If you’ve been following posts
here recently you might recall that I’m moving my blogging activity to
other loca...
Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School
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*“With Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School closing, Newark families must
move on.”* The Star-Ledger (NJ), 6/25/2013
NEWARK — Bobby and Troy Shanks saw the...
School Privatization Turns Business Into Predator and Students Into Prey | gadflyonthewallblog : School Privatization Turns Business Into Predator and Students Into Prey The mother sea turtle struggles to shore to lay her eggs. A typical clutch includes anywhere from 50–350 eggs, which the mother hides under the sand. Her sole contribution to their future complete, she swims away. They incubate u
A disturbing look at how charter schools are hurting a traditional school district - The Washington Post : A disturbing look at how charter schools are hurting a traditional school district Bethlehem Steel is reflected in the Lehigh River in Bethlehem, Pa., on Nov. 8, 1995. Bethlehem Steel Corp. extinguished its last blast furnace at its flagship plant that year, sending home 1,800 workers and en
CA Finalist for National Teacher of the Year - Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education) : San Diego Teacher Finalist for National Teacher of the Year SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that Megan Gross, a 2017 California Teacher of the Year from San Diego County, was selected as one of four finalists nationwide for the 2017 National Teacher of the Year awa
Weingarten speaks on the future of public education | American Federation of Teachers : Weingarten speaks on the future of public education Watch full speech here: AFT President Randi Weingarten Delivers Remarks | Video | C-SPAN.org - https://www.c-span.org/video/?421372-1/aft-president-randi-weingarten-delivers-remarks-education-policy In a Jan. 9 speech at the National Press Club in Washington,
CURMUDGUCATION: Warren Spanks DeVos : Warren Spanks DeVos Elizabeth Warren has noticed that there will be only one, brief opportunity to grill Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos, and so today she has sent DeVos a letter outlining what sorts of answers she's looking for. The whole thing is sixteen pages long, and while Warren has not always been on the right side of education debates (in p
CHALLENGING A FAILED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM PART I of III blogs | Dr. Edward F. Berger : CHALLENGING A FAILED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM America is now led by people who have power because they do not follow the ethical and moral concepts that I once thought inviolate. We are experiencing the exact opposite of what I was taught, what I taught students, and what I believe. I am being for
What the Media Missed About Facebook’s Big New Hire | Vanity Fair : What the Media Missed About Facebook’s Big New Hire The New York Times reported, “Facebook is turning to a former television news journalist to help smooth over its strained ties to the news media, which views it as both a vital partner and a potentially devastating opponent.” It mentioned, almost in passing, “In recent years, [C
Central Michigan Life - COLUMN: DeVos education policies a national failure 23 years in the making : DeVos education policies a national failure 23 years in the making On Jan. 11, the U.S. Senate plans to hold a confirmation hearing for Betsy DeVos, who was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to head the Department of Education. If she is confirmed, one of Michigan’s most prominent champions f
Ending the No Child Left Behind Catch-22 on English learner progress | EdSource : Ending the No Child Left Behind Catch-22 on English learner progress CREDIT: LPI Linda Darling-Hammond California’s State Board of Education has an opportunity at its meeting this week in Sacramento to leave behind one of the most unfair and problematic features of No Child Left Behind (NCLB): the way it calculates
Urban-Education Programs Prepare Teachers to Confront Racism - The Atlantic : How Teachers Learn to Discuss Racism Urban-education programs prepare them for imperative contemporary conversations with students. After a rash of police killings last summer, H. Richard Milner, a professor of urban education at the University of Pittsburgh, set out to answer a question that had been gnawing at him for
DeVos Hearing 1/11: UPDATED Senate HELP Committee Members. Call today. - Network For Public Education : DeVos Hearing 1/11: UPDATED Senate HELP Committee Members. Call today On January 11 at 10:00 am the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will begin a hearing on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as Secretary of Education. Below are committee members, along with their
Here’s what Elizabeth Warren wants to know from Trump’s education pick - The Washington Post : Here’s what Elizabeth Warren wants to know from Trump’s education pick Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts. (Pete Marovich/Bloomberg) In advance of this week’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday sent Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for educa
Illinois public employee union strategy to fight for pensions: Members should “do nothing” and let Madigan be our goalie. | Fred Klonsky : Illinois public employee union strategy to fight for pensions: Members should “do nothing” and let Madigan be our goalie. On Saturday I wrote about the discussions among Democrats and Rauner’s legislative leaders for a grand bargain to resolve the state budget
Draining dollars from our students by Wendy Lecker - Wait What? : Draining dollars from our students by Wendy Lecker Columnist and education advocate Wendy Lecker writes about Governor Dannel Malloy’s attack on Connecticut’s public schools and his ongoing effort to privatize public education in Connecticut. In Draining dollars from our students , Wendy Lecker writes; Though the CCJEF v. Rell tria
Education Lessons From A Sparkly District: Follow Up To Who Is Voting On New Jersey's New Charter Regulations? : Follow Up To Who Is Voting On New Jersey's New Charter Regulations? Last Sunday, I published a blog post about NJ State Board of Education (NJBOE) member, Peter Simon, and his family's philanthropic foundation, the William E. Simon Foundation. If it had not been for the New York Times
Education Law Prof Blog : Are Pence and DeVos a One-Two Knock Out for Education Policy? Recent Reports Out of Indiana Suggest Yes My recent posts have focused on DeVos and the problems she presents for public education, although I emphasize that without new legislation she does not have power to do too much. Some new information out of Indiana regarding the education system Governor Pence has ove
Jersey Jazzman: Teaching In the Age of Trump : Teaching In the Age of Trump Last week, Mrs. Jazzman and I decided to indulge one last time before we start our new years diets, and found ourselves in line for the best hot dogs north of the Bronx County line. As I waited for my turn at the condiments station (get the red relish), I overheard a conversation between a nice young woman working the cou
Please Take a Minute Today to Call Both of Your Senators to Oppose Confirmation of Betsy DeVos | janresseger : Please Take a Minute Today to Call Both of Your Senators to Oppose Confirmation of Betsy DeVos The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP ) Committee’s confirmation hearing on Betsy Devos, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, is scheduled f
LAUSD Schools Face Bankruptcy While Charters Cheat on Admissions : LAUSD Schools Face Bankruptcy While Charters Cheat on Admissions Through admissions policies that exclude vulnerable students by erecting various barriers to entry, charter schools have the potential to create a two-tiered system of public education. ” – ACLU and Public Advocates The LAUSD Charter School Division (CSD) says that “
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES : WEEKEND QUOTABLES Former Peltier prosecutor calls for his release. Author Yaa Gyasi ("Homegoing") The history of America has involved figuring out new ways to subjugate black people since the beginning. In this post-election in-between space, as Donald Trump takes over, we are wondering what fresh hell may be about to be devised. -- Guardian Jame
The Fizzle of Common Core Face, Student Achievement Partners | deutsch29 : The Fizzle of Common Core Face, Student Achievement Partners The chief purpose of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative was to develop a “common core” of ELA and math standards that states (ideally all) would adopt so that state education might be standardized and therefore comparable using similar assessments.
NAT HENTOFF: I’ve lost a hero. So has anyone who dares to write. | : NAT HENTOFF: I’ve lost a hero. So has anyone who dares to write. In 1972, when I was 25 years old, I wrote a book published by Simon and Schuster entitled “Teachers and Power: The Story of the American Federation of Teachers.” It was critical of the AFT, primarily because of the union’s efforts to destroy community control of pu
Meryl Streep gives shout-out to public schools during her Golden Globes anti-Trump speech - The Washington Post : Meryl Streep gives shout-out to public schools during her Golden Globes anti-Trump speech Meryl Streep holds the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Jan. 8, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni When actress Meryl Streep gave her speech
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/8/17 Featured Post Mother Crusader: Demand that Senators Who Have Received DeVos Money Recuse Themselves The Ugly Facts About Ed-Reform, Partisan Bickering and the