-
In late February, I wrote about the risks to democracy when a president
comes after judges. The context then was federal judges. Calls were coming
fro...
God Loves A Sucker
-
Lifewise is in a state of alarm over candy.
We need to have a long talk about Lifewise some time, a company that is
making hay out of an Ohio law that says...
Cartoons on AI
-
Hard to believe but ChatGPT, an early incarnation of AI, appeared less than
three years ago. It was quickly adopted by hundreds of millions of global
users...
School Lunch Hero Day 2025
-
The School Food Hero Day is May 2, 2025. This month is the perfect time to
celebrate and recognize the role that food service professionals play in
support...
A Week’s Worth of Rumination
-
“I pity people who can’t find laughter or at least some bit of amusement in
the little doings of the day. I believe I could find something ridiculous
even ...
What are Your Goals for Your Child?
-
I've asked thousands of parents the question, "What are your goals for your
child?" It's something a lot of us ask at the beginning of a school year or
...
The Knicks, Cuomo and Mamdani.
-
It was a crazy finish to last night’s third game in the playoff series
between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons.
Christina Showdown: Manley V. Baqir
-
In the never-ending battle that is called the Christina School District,
board member Doug Manley has filed a complaint against Dr. Naveed Baqir and
the Ch...
April’s Parent Engagement Resources
-
Check out this featured resource! ⭐ This template contains activities to
start conversations with children about their family, what they like to
play, how ...
The Lines Furman Must Not Cross
-
[Header Photo by Chloë Forbes-Kindlen on Unsplash] April 23, 2025 We, the
faculty of Furman University, in our role as stewards of this institution,
reaffi...
The Lines Furman Must Not Cross
-
[Header Photo by Chloë Forbes-Kindlen on Unsplash] April 23, 2025 We, the
faculty of Furman University, in our role as stewards of this institution,
reaffi...
RIP, Libraries and Museums
-
On our way home from the Network for Public Education conference, earlier
this month, we jogged to the right and spent a night in Cleveland, so we
could vi...
Il Papa è Morto
-
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...
Spring
-
Did Spring come early this year? Or late? For me, I don’t know. My mom got
sick, diagnosed in January, and that’s been hard. I’ve been up a few times.
We’v...
Student Outcome Focused Governance is Impuissant
-
By Thomas Ultican 4/21/2025 The night NPE2025 in Columbus ended; I ate
dinner with two ladies from Pittsburgh. They informed me about Student
Outcome Focus...
What Is Happening is Not Normal.
-
*What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not
Normal.*
*David Brooks. Conservative columnist. NYT. *
https://www.nyti...
“IF YOU’VE EVER WONDERED…….
-
“If you’ve wondered what you would have done if you’d lived in Nazi Germany
during Hitler’s rise to power, it’s what you are doing right now.” That’s
not t...
Rubby Peréz and The Ties That Bind Us All
-
Let me take it back to 1994. I was in the seventh grade and, at the time,
my mom took our family to her first ...
Read More
The post Rubby Peréz and The...
A Story of Three Graduations
-
I am finishing my eighth year teaching high school seniors. My
then-principal (now retired) approached me nine years ago about switching
from sophomore Eng...
Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL
-
Eight years ago I began this regular feature where I share a few posts and
resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general
that ...
Trump plays Putin’s Playbook
-
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...
Risks of using AI in the classroom
-
April 8, 2025 The annual conference of Network for Public Education, on
whose board I sit, was held last weekend in Columbus, Ohio. It was
terrific as usu...
¿Qué hace falta para que gane la resistencia?
-
Una ola de resistencia se levanta. ¿Qué hará falta para que ganemos?
Dondequiera que miremos, una ola de resistencia se levanta. Mi corazón se
llena de ale...
Mike Shulman the ARISE UFT Judenrat
-
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...
Trump actually already can serve a third term
-
and even a fourth and a fifth ….
so could Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama.
There are no limits on how many terms a President can serve
Here are the relevan...
How Do We Fight Trump?
-
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...
Are we all on the same team?
-
Copied from Quora; I didn’t write any of this… As an American I ask my
fellow Americans, why can’t you realize at the end of the day we are all on
the same...
Who is the new CEO of Teach For America?
-
From 1990 until 2013, the CEO of TFA was the founder, Wendy Kopp. Under her
leadership the program grew from a small organization that struggled to
make pa...
Site Index - Updated December 31, 2024
-
When I was teaching,
I got tired of hearing how bad American educators were.
*My Promise *
WHEN I STARTED BLOGGING IN 2011, I said I planned to speak ...
Defining Productivity, Cost, and Efficiency
-
Recycled material here… The central problem with US public schools is often
characterized as an efficiency problem. We spend a lot and don’t get much
for i...
Number 18 — A barely-hanging-on Blogoversary
-
Blogoversary #18 SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 I started this blog while I was still
teaching, in 2006. I had just begun my 31st year as an educator. Just like
in pre...
Student "Growth" Measures Are STILL Biased
-
This caught my attention:
New Jersey school districts may soon be evaluated differently, *with a
greater emphasis on student growth* as compared to stud...
AIN’T IT AWFUL
-
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:
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
[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
-
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
-
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!
-
The nation stands at a crossroads, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen García
in her final keynote address to the 2020 NEA Representative Assembly and
it’s up...
The Passing Of Chaz 1951-2020 Age 69
-
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
-
*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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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?
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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?
-
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
-
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)
-
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...
REPORT: States With the Best and Worst Schools
-
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
-
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. . . .
-
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?
-
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
-
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...
New Beginnings: Kickstarter and EdWeek Teacher
-
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
-
*“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...
Breaking - Malloy proposes half-baked scheme to reform education funding - Wait What? : Breaking – Malloy proposes half-baked scheme to reform education funding Rather than address the fact that the State of Connecticut underfunds it public schools by almost $2 billion a year and the state should dramatically increase its level of support for public schools in the state, Governor Dannel Malloy we
Revealing wording in a pro-Betsy DeVos television ad - The Washington Post : Revealing wording in a pro-Betsy DeVos television ad Two ads have been running on television for days now in support of Betsy DeVos, the Michigan billionaire tapped by President Trump to be education secretary. The ads began amid an unprecedented battle over her confirmation, with the Senate expected to vote Tuesday. The
Deflecting Trump In LAUSD4 – redqueeninla : Deflecting Trump In LAUSD4 On March 7, 2017, Los Angeles will play a duplicate round of last November’s presidential election, and we’ll have the opportunity to trump last year’s presidential fiasco. Since January 20, the billionaires have displayed a dummy hand of hubris, lies and slander . That is, the same hand playing out right now in DC, is being p
WATCH LIVE: Senate Democrats conduct 24-hour speech marathon to oppose Betsy DeVos : WATCH LIVE: Senate Democrats conduct 24-hour speech marathon to oppose Betsy DeVos Senate Democrats are holding a “24-hour marathon of speeches” to protest Betsy DeVos’s nomination for Education secretary, Politico reports . “Democrats will hold the floor for the next 24 hours, until the final vote, to do everyth
‘Oakland School Finder’ Platform Stirs Public District vs. Charter Debates | EdSurge News : ‘Oakland School Finder’ Platform Stirs Public District vs. Charter Debates School officials and education activists in Oakland, California have teamed up in a notable collaboration to simplify public school enrollment. As a step towards universal enrollment—in which families can fill out one application fo
How I Finally Faced Up To The Hate Unleashed By Trump And Betsy DeVos | The Huffington Post : How I Finally Faced Up To The Hate Unleashed By Trump And Betsy DeVos It’s been hard for me to face the whole story explaining why my fellow Oklahomans have embraced Trumpism in general and, too often, his Secretary of Education appointee Betsy DeVos in particular. Even though my conservative state has a
Democrats plan all-night protest ahead of DeVos vote | TheHill : Democrats plan all-night protest ahead of DeVos vote Senate Democrats are planning a rare all-night talkathon to protest Betsy DeVos's nomination for Education secretary ahead of an expected vote on Tuesday. "Democrats will hold the floor for the next 24 hours, until the final vote, to do everything we can to persuade just one more
DeVos buys influence, Rubio drinks at the trough & it’s not just a FL problem | The Edvocate Blog : DeVos buys influence, Rubio drinks at the trough & it’s not just a FL problem Betsy DeVos, with an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion , has invested at least $200 million buying influence from mostly Republicans and some Democrats. In Florida, Marco Rubio received $98,000 from DeVos and that’s not
Black History Month: We can overcome and we must resist! - Lily's Blackboard : Black History Month: We can overcome and we must resist! “Dr. King, President Lincoln, and other shapers of our American story proudly watch over our National Mall. … They spoke and marched and toiled and bled shoulder-to-shoulder with ordinary people who burned with the same hope for a brighter day. That legacy is sha
U.S. Senate must reject DeVos appointment : U.S. Senate must reject DeVos appointment Make no mistake: A vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education is a vote to end public education in this country as we know it. This isn't conspiracy theory, or ideologically driven slander. Look at DeVos' own words and actions, over her long career advocating against traditional public schools; h
Schools Matter: Betsy DeVos, Serial Plagiarizer : Betsy DeVos, Serial Plagiarizer In one instance she lifted from ALEC, which is entirely fitting, since ALEC will now be writing Rules and Regs at ED. Below is a clip from Dr. Roxani Marachi's blog : . . . .Senator Murray asks, “If you claim to support accountability and transparency, why do the model voucher policies from the American Federation f
Failed common core SBAC/SAT tests punish students by Wendy Lecker - Wait What? : Failed common core SBAC/SAT tests punish students by Wendy Lecker In a weekend commentary piece in the Stamford Advocate entitled, Failed common core tests punish students , education advocate Wendy Lecker writes, Across the country, states are re-examining their embrace of the hastily implemented common core tests.
Foundations aren’t helping anyone if they’re not serious about social justice - The Hechinger Report : Foundations aren’t helping anyone if they’re not serious about social justice Philanthropy needs to become more diverse and fund fight for political change The National Interest: Once a month, this column is tackling broader questions about what the country should do about gaps in achievement an
School board member or ... killer? Hard to tell - LA Times : School board member or ... killer? Hard to tell Are you a Westsider who has recently had the strange and discomfiting feeling that your local school board representative, Steve Zimmer, just might be a cold-blooded killer? Did you start to get the feeling one day recently, soon after you reached into your mailbox? A campaign mailer targe
Pence plans to use tie-breaking vote to confirm Betsy DeVos for education post | US news | The Guardian : Pence plans to use tie-breaking vote to confirm Betsy DeVos for education post The vice-president blamed the first-ever tie for a cabinet nominee on ‘obstruction by Democrats’ despite two Republican defections causing the situation Vice-president Mike Pence said on Sunday he expects that the
Deep Concern Intensifies Over DeVos Nomination As Senate Vote Nears | janresseger : Deep Concern Intensifies Over DeVos Nomination As Senate Vote Nears The Senate’s vote on the confirmation of Betsy DeVos for U.S. Secretary of Education will be tomorrow, February 7. Two Republicans, Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have declared they will join all the Democrats to vot
How Possible Democratic Presidential Contenders Have Handled Betsy DeVos - Politics K-12 - Education Week : How Possible Democratic Presidential Contenders Have Handled Betsy DeVos If Betsy DeVos ever had any hopes of getting Democratic senators to confirm her as education secretary, they probably evaporated right after her January confirmation hearing ended. But some of the Democrats most eager
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES : WEEKEND QUOTABLES Kellyanne Conway "I misspoke one word." -- Chicago Tribune Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly Respectfully but firmly, the retired general told Bannon that despite his high position in the White House and close relationship with President Trump, the former Breitbart chief was not in Kelly’s chain of command. -- Washington
With An Upright Zeal (On Teaching With This Fire) | The Jose Vilson : With An Upright Zeal (On Teaching With This Fire) Last week, I took a five-day social media break for the express purpose of re-centering myself, my family, and my work in ways that the Internet does not allow. That’s the public answer. The more private answer is complicated, but unsurprising to anyone who’s tried to fill multi
Tributes to the Fallen Heroes of the Bowling Green Massacre | Diane Ravitch's blog : Tributes to the Fallen Heroes of the Bowling Green Massacre A few days ago, Kellyanne Conway noted that the media had failed to report the Bowling Green Massacre. Almost immediately, sharp observers pointed out that there was no Bowling Green Massacre. Conway said she made a mistake. Too late. Creative people are
An ‘alternative facts’ South Dakota bill sparks fears for science education in the Trump era - The Washington Post : An ‘alternative facts’ South Dakota bill sparks fears for science education in the Trump era This is the text of S.B. 55 that just passed in the South Dakota Senate, which purports “to protect the teaching of certain scientific information.” BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/5/17 Featured Post How much does it cost to sell your vote and soul to DeVos? | Reclaim Reform Irrational Fears vs Rational Compassion | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing by mike simpson
