Wanna Bet?
-
Tune in to watch any major sporting event–football, hockey, basketball,
women’s softball, etc–and you will be buried in a deluge of invitations to
wager fr...
Golden Gone
-
Williamson County’s Director of Schools, Jason Golden, informed the school
board he’s accepted an Associate Director role at the Franklin Special
School Di...
Stop With The NCLB Nostalgia
-
Some reformsters just can’t stop longing for the days of No Child Left
Behind, particularly the test-based accountability component.
Stop With The NCLB Nostalgia
-
Some reformsters just can't stop longing for the days of No Child Left
Behind, particularly the test-based accountability component. Reformy Rahm
Emanuel t...
The Education Wars: How Did This Happen???
-
The Education Wars: How Did This Happen???
Stories about parents rebelling against big tech are everywhere right now.
They’re sick of the screens, the hoo...
Hegseth Fires Another 4-Star General
-
Since Pete Hegseth became Secretary of Defense (War), he has purged some of
the highest ranking officers in each branch of the military. This week, the
lat...
The Lively Alert Fearless Curiosity of Children
-
Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as one of the "godfathers of AI,"
famously said, "The jobs that are going to survive AI for a long time are
jobs where...
NYC Primary Odds as the polls close June 23 2026
-
As the polls close the betting markets have moved – but not decisively.
Here’s what they show. NYC has more real congressional primaries, real
ones, than I...
Lots to Do With Kids In Seattle This Summer
-
I wanted to let you know that the Seattle's Child magazine has a GREAT list
of all the things you might want to do this summer with your child.
These inclu...
When an Employer Disappears You
-
Have you ever had someone suddenly disappear from an organization? I first
saw this happen in the 1990s when I began working in the Research and
Accountabi...
Margaret Spellings Rides Again!
-
That’s right—the cowgirl is back, with a whole new look but with the same
old discredited education policy that she started hawking 30 years ago with
her...
The Reflecting Pool Fiasco
-
To begin with, some thoughts about the mess that is the Lincoln Memorial
Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, compliments of Reddit. Just some food
for thoug...
Trump / Fascists to Cancel Voting Rights
-
Panic within the Trump White House over their impending demise in the 2026
midterms has reached a fever pitch and they are now pulling out every stop
to...
The Pitch Clock
-
Fidel Castro is smoking a cigar. He is thinking about how he loves
baseball. A revolution is a curveball thrown against history. He stares
into your eyes t...
Principal Apportionment, Fiscal Year 2025–26
-
Distribution of funds for local educational agencies (LEAs) in support of
the public school system. Includes elementary school, high school and
unified sch...
Crisis for Public Education and Democracy
-
By Thomas Ultican 6/18/2026 A new report from the Network for Public
Education (NPE) documents the ongoing demolition of public schools. For
more than a ce...
The ‘Generational Collapse’ in Literacy
-
There’s been a robust edu-discourse bubbling up over an article in the
Chronicle of Higher Education titled My Students Can’t Read. The (ahem)
tl;dr: colle...
The One-Room Schoolhouse
-
“It seems a universal rule in this world that people will always look for
victims and scapegoats, does it not? Especially at times of difficulty and
tensio...
Is LA Under Assault From AirBnB?
-
The amount of money AirBnB, Inc. has been dumping into the City of LA
(CoLA) and its city attorney’s race…
The post Is LA Under Assault From AirBnB? firs...
Es nuestra hora de defender la democracia
-
Nos están arrebatando el derecho a votar. Es nuestro deber restaurar la
salud de nuestra democracia, mientras aún podemos. En una democracia sana,
tenemos ...
May’s Parent Engagement Resources
-
San Diego Unified Created a System to ‘Empower’ Parents. It Unraveled is
from The Voice of San Diego. Why Those Disengaged Parents in Your School
Deserve a...
The Math Was Within Us All Along
-
Now that I finished my second book, let me tell you a story that won’t make
it into the manuscript: A few weeks ago, I ...
Read More
The post The Math W...
The Return Of The Reformers
-
At the height of my blogging, it was hard to keep up with the steady stream
of stories about miracle schools, miracle districts, shoddy educational
researc...
Read and Learn from the Past
-
I just finished reading “The Boys in the Light” by Nina Willner. This is a
wonderful World War II story of survival, faith, and brotherhood. I highly
recom...
Reflections on America, the world, and life
-
I acknowledge that I rarely post here anymore. Folks should remember that I
am approaching my 80th birthday in less than 9 weeks, I am still teaching
ful...
Shutting Down The Site
-
Ten years ago, I ran for a seat on the LAUSD School Board of Education with
the goal to *Change the LAUSD*.
I am proud of the campaign we ran. We achieve...
The Company You Keep
-
Even though the filing period for the 2026 elections isn't until April,
let's all pay close attention. The candidates lining up to run will tell
you more a...
Blogoversary #19 — Time to Move on
-
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...
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...
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...
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
...
I’ve moved.
-
I’m on Substack now. You can continue to receive periodic posts for free.
Or you can read every post and comment for $5 a month, $60 a year.
fredklonsky.su...
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...
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.
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...
What Silicon Valley and the Department of Defense Have Planned for Public Education: A video | Seattle Education : What Silicon Valley and the Department of Defense Have Planned for Public Education: A video Alison McDowell, editor of Wrench in the Gears, gave a presentation titled Future Ready Schools: How Silicon Valley and the Defense Department Plan to Remake Public Education on Saturday, Mar
Disco music, ESSA and your public school - Lily's Blackboard : Disco music, ESSA and your public school Don’t judge me for this, but disco has a special place in my heart. Not necessarily the “ Disco Duck ” variety. (I have taste, after all.) I’m talking about the legendary songs to which we would “ Freak Out ” under a glittering disco ball. Nile Rodgers was co-creator with Bernard Edwards of the
Should More Students Be Allowed to Skip a Grade? : Should More Students Be Allowed to Skip a Grade? When Heather Rains was in elementary school, she skipped ahead two years, from kindergarten to 2nd grade. The decision placed her in the same class as her older sister, which was a little awkward, and she had a hard time making new friends. Rains still played with her same-age friends at recess but
We change the world by showing up. I went to Seattle and got a video on Ed Reform 2.0 / Learning Ecosystems to share! – Wrench in the Gears : We change the world by showing up. I went to Seattle and got a video on Ed Reform 2.0 / Learning Ecosystems to share! This weekend I relished the opportunity to meet up with some wonderful activists with whom I have been collaborating online for many months
STOP the Hostile Take-Over. Re-Elect Steve Zimmer Tues., May 16th, to LAUSD School Board | The Huffington Post : STOP the Hostile Take-Over. Re-Elect Steve Zimmer Tues., May 16th, to LAUSD School Board On Tues, May 16th, Los Angeles voters –the caffeinated ones awake enough to know there is a monumental election underway— can resist a billionaire-backed hostile charter take over of the Los Angele
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Now It Will Get Real on McCleary Funding : Now It Will Get Real on McCleary Funding The Dems will be releasing their proposal for the budget, including McCleary funding, today at noon. It will be televised on TVW. Your Kids and Their Future by Melissa Westbrook / 42min I've read a couple of good articles over the last week that I wanted to share. There is a lot of
The problem with DeVos' education agenda - Baltimore Sun : The problem with DeVos' education agenda ewly confirmed Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos , a Michigan billionaire, has used her considerable wealth to promote charter school expansion in her home state for more than two decades. According to Politico, she and her husband have made over $2 million dollars in campaign contributions to sup
School choice supporters tout questionable data on charters | NC Policy Watch : School choice supporters tout questionable data on charters Charter schools in North Carolina are becomingly increasingly white and affluent. Those are two of the overriding conclusions derived from recent analysis of the state’s charter population by a variety of stakeholders. But a new set of numbers circulating amo
Mississippi Learning: Moving Beyond Betsy DeVos’ “School Choice” Trap – Capital & Main : Mississippi Learning: Moving Beyond Betsy DeVos’ “School Choice” Trap Like many Southern cities, Clinton, Mississippi, bears the scars of American slavery. A road cutting through the city’s center marks a key route used by slave traders in the decades before the Civil War. Signs across town tell the story of
Within integrated schools, de facto segregation persists - Baltimore Sun : Within integrated schools, de facto segregation persists They were classmates and best friends, and they both wanted to get into the 11th-grade Advanced Placement English class at Columbia's Hammond High School. Since meeting in summer school just before ninth grade, Mikey Peterson and Eli Sauerwalt had been through a lot
Malloy: State's Desegregation Efforts Depriving Children Of Quality Education - Hartford Courant : Malloy: State's Desegregation Efforts Depriving Children Of Quality Education Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said he has lost faith in Connecticut's nationally touted school-desegregation efforts and argued that Hartford students would be better served if the landmark Sheff v. O'Neill case returned to court
Liberals, Conservatives Agree: Big Mistake for White House to Push Private School Choice | Education News | US News : Liberals, Conservatives Agree: Big Mistake for White House to Push Private School Choice Having just sent a memo to the Democratic caucus Wednesday morning outlining a strategy to oppose the Trump administration’s plans to push private school choice, Sen. Patty Murray headed to th
California school districts increased spending on administrator pay faster than teacher pay | The Sacramento Bee : California school districts increased spending on administrator pay faster than teacher pay Every so often, “clackers,” as teachers at Hiram Johnson High call them, will visit Mary Rodríguez’s class to watch her teach and make recommendations. These administrators, she said, wear sho
Remember 'Open Schools'? Probably Not, And Here's Why : NPR Ed : NPR : 'Open Schools' Made Noise In The '70s; Now They're Just Noisy It's a perennial debate in American education: Do kids learn best when they're sitting in rows at their desks? Or moving around, exploring on their own? Back in the 1960s and '70s, that debate led to a brand new school design: Small classrooms were out. Wide-open sp
How to Expose Racists: Simply Mention Racism | radical eyes for equity : How to Expose Racists: Simply Mention Racism I was pleasantly surprised when Education Week published Why Are We Criminalizing Black Students? by Tyrone C. Howard. Regretfully, this blog is gorged with posts about EdWeek routinely failing the education discussion, but Howard’s commentary confronts well a hard topic in educat
Paul Vallas again? Really? | Fred Klonsky : Paul Vallas again? Really? I have always believed there are two main reasons we in Illinois suffer from having Bruce Rauner as governor. Pat Quinn decided he was placed on this earth to cut public employee pensions. He picked Paul Vallas as his running mate. Quinn lost by a mere 70,000 votes statewide. I pin that tiny margin on pensions and Vallas. Vall
How the Nation’s Two Oldest School Voucher Programs Are Working: Part I—Wisconsin | janresseger : How the Nation’s Two Oldest School Voucher Programs Are Working: Part I—Wisconsin School voucher programs in Milwaukee and Cleveland are now over twenty-five years old. Now both states have expanded statewide what began as stand-alone, big-city programs, and last week, local newspapers in Milwaukee a
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES 'Move fast and break things...' : WEEKEND QUOTABLES 'Move fast and break things...' Bannon: "Move fast and break things" Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) “We have got to have the guts to take on the insurance companies and the drug companies and move forward toward a Medicare-for-all, single-payer program, And I’ll be introducing legislation shortly to do th
Technology “Disrupting” Journalism and Teaching (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice : Technology “Disrupting” Journalism and Teaching (Part 1) Recently a few friends and I saw “All The President’s Men.” The 1976 film about the Watergate burglary in 1972, the subsequent cover up by the White House and eventual resignation of President Nixon in 1974 featured Dustin Hoffma
One to One Initiative Threatens Public Education | tultican : One to One Initiative Threatens Public Education One to one classroom agendas have a dark side that includes the destruction of public schools as we know them; where teachers and students interact. It’s a dystopian ideology that posits students earning education badges while working in isolation at a digital screen. This month, the ent
Chester Finn Laments Maryland’s Corporate Reform Resistance; Fails to Connect Common Core to Falling NAEP Scores | deutsch29 : Chester Finn Laments Maryland’s Corporate Reform Resistance; Fails to Connect Common Core to Falling NAEP Scores On March 22, 2017, former Fordham Institute President and current Maryland State Board of Education Vice President Chester Finn published an opinion piece for
NYC Public School Parents: It's not too late to opt out & more reasons to do so-- including to protect your child's privacy and deny them the data! : It's not too late to opt out & more reasons to do so-- including to protect your child's privacy and deny them the data! On Tuesday begin three days of state ELA exams for grades 3-8. Last year, about 265,000 NY students in these grades opted out --
Badass Teachers Association: The Case Against Crayons by Catherine Malley : The Case Against Crayons by Catherine Malley Crayons are illegal today; Classroom contraband, reeking of play. My box of new September crayons: Flawless, sharp tipped, begging to escape their yellow and green striped Crayola box. Each color was perfectly placed in the spectrum: red, maroon, scarlet, brick red and my favor
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 3/26/17 Featured Post STANDARDIZED TESTING BILL OF RIGHTS Seattle Schools Community Forum: What's Next for Seattle Schools? by mike simpson / 15min Seattle Schools