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Saturday, July 13, 2019

Top Posts This Week 7/13/19 #REDFORED #TEACH19 #AFTNewTeachers @AFTunion @ShareMyLesson #DEMOCRACY

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Top Posts This Week 7/13/19






Top Posts This Month 7/13/19






Posts This Week 7/13/19


CURMUDGUCATION: The New Koch Ed Reform Rebranding Astroturducken
by Mike Simpson / 5min
CURMUDGUCATION: The New Koch Ed Reform Rebranding Astroturducken The New Koch Ed Reform Rebranding Astroturducken The billionaire Charles Koch has launched another adventure in astroturf, this time aimed at rebranding ed reform while still pushing reformy ideas, playing the reform greatest hits and-- well, it's a little unclear what else is going on. But every layer is more special than the last.
Answers hiding in plain sight | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 14min
Answers hiding in plain sight | Live Long and Prosper Answers hiding in plain sight Today’s editorial on the News Sentinel page of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette about Governor Holcomb’s Teacher Pay commission is generally favorable for an increase in salary for the state’s teachers. They argue that Indiana’s teacher salaries are generally lower than neighboring states and that there is a big var
Weingarten: Educators must save democracy | American Federation of Teachers
by Mike Simpson / 1h
Weingarten: Educators must save democracy | American Federation of Teachers Weingarten: Educators must save democracy “Teachers have always had power,” AFT President Randi Weingarten told the crowd at the TEACH opening plenary Thursday afternoon. “We need to own our power. And we need to build our power so we can move our agenda—for our students and our families; for safe, welcoming and well-fund
DIANE BOGO: Conservatives Thrilled by NEA Decision to Ignore Candidates’ Views on Charter Industry | Indiana: State Tries to Recover $40 Million from Virtual Charter Frauds
by Mike Simpson / 3h
Conservatives Thrilled by NEA Decision to Ignore Candidates’ Views on Charter Industry | Diane Ravitch's blog Conservatives Thrilled by NEA Decision to Ignore Candidates’ Views on Charter Industry The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) expressed its delight over a decision at the recent NEA meeting in Houston not to take into account a presidential candidate’s views on privatized charter schools
AP: Public unions see only modest decline after court ruling | Politics | pilotonline.com
by Mike Simpson / 3h
AP: Public unions see only modest decline after court ruling | Politics | pilotonline.com AP: Public unions see only modest decline after court ruling JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Anticipating that the U.S. Supreme Court might end mandatory union fees for public employees, some labor-friendly states enacted laws last year to protect membership rolls while unions redoubled their recruitment efforts.
Newsom administration seeks CHARTER SCHOOL MONEY in push to reform charter law | EdSource
by Mike Simpson / 3h
Newsom administration seeks compromise in push to reform charter law | EdSource Newsom administration seeks compromise in push to reform charter law A highly contested bill that would sharply limit the growth of charter schools in California got a rewrite this week, when Gov. Gavin Newsom’s advisers submitted amendments after some shuttle diplomacy and meetings with the bill’s author, Assemblyman
The “Ultimate Civics” lesson: Teaching students to advocate for their futures - Education Votes
by Mike Simpson / 3h
The “Ultimate Civics” lesson: Teaching students to advocate for their futures - Education Votes The “Ultimate Civics” lesson: Teaching students to advocate for their futures By Amanda Menas Oregon middle school social studies teacher Chris Riser says a new civics course has his young students enthusiastically engaged in figuring out how their government works. And he has learned while implementin
LAUSD isn't properly keeping track of $1 billion for high-needs students, complaint alleges - Los Angeles Times
by Mike Simpson / 3h
LAUSD isn't properly keeping track of $1 billion for high-needs students, complaint alleges - Los Angeles Times LAUSD isn't properly keeping track of $1 billion for high-needs students, complaint alleges The Los Angeles Unified School District is not giving the public enough information about how schools use more than $1 billion a year in state funding meant for high-needs students, according to
Cartoons about Grades and Report Cards | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 3h
Cartoons about Grades and Report Cards | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Cartoons about Grades and Report Cards For this month’s cartoons, I have selected a bunch of cartoons that tickle me about the onerous tasks of judging student performance and behavior on a daily basis and deciding what mark to put down in report cards. Anyone who has taught in K-12 or higher education kn
I Created A New Facebook Page – Feel Free To “Like” It If You Want To Be Notified Of New Blog Posts! | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...
by Mike Simpson / 4h
I Created A New Facebook Page – Feel Free To “Like” It If You Want To Be Notified Of New Blog Posts! | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... I was nearing the “friends” limit on my Facebook Profile, so I created a new “Larry Ferlazzo – Educator” Page . I’ll be sharing links to new posts there, and will also continue to do the same at my Profile Page . I’ll also share occasional personal updates
enrique baloyra: Lights for Liberty vigil outside Homestead internment camp - YouTube
by Mike Simpson / 4h
Lights for Liberty vigil outside Homestead internment camp - YouTube Lights for Liberty vigil outside Homestead internment camp Lights for Liberty vigil outside Homestead internment camp - YouTube
Hitting Left with the Klonsky Brothers with Chicago Council member Sadlowski Garza and Erika Wozniak. – Fred Klonsky
by Mike Simpson / 5h
Hitting Left with the Klonsky Brothers with Chicago Council member Sadlowski Garza and Erika Wozniak. – Fred Klonsky HITTING LEFT WITH THE KLONSKY BROTHERS WITH CHICAGO COUNCIL MEMBER SADLOWSKI GARZA AND ERIKA WOZNIAK. After a one week hiatus, Hitting Left was back live on Friday. Erika Wozniak came by. She is a CPS teacher and Chicago Teacher Union activist. Erika ran for alderman against the co
NYC Educator: AFT Teach in Washington DC
by Mike Simpson / 5h
NYC Educator: AFT Teach in Washington DC AFT Teach in Washington DC Friday was a pretty full day at AFT Teach. I thought we were going to go to workshops but there was just a little more. That's the AFT crowd in the afternoon at US Customs and Border protection. New AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn de Jesus mostly ran the rally, as President Randi Weingarten was injured. Evelyn had a prepared
Choosing Democracy: ABC 7: LAUSD not properly accounting for $2 billion in funding
by Mike Simpson / 5h
Choosing Democracy: ABC 7: LAUSD not properly accounting for $2 billion in funding ABC 7: LAUSD not properly accounting for $2 billion in funding The same applies to Sacramento Unified. LULAC has been working on this for 4 years. Choosing Democracy: ABC 7: LAUSD not properly accounting for $2 billion in funding
THIS WEEK Education Research Report
by Mike Simpson / 5h
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report School suspensions related to increases in subsequent offending by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 18h About 3.5 million students are suspended each year, and school punishment has been tied to a variety of negative outcomes. A new study took a longitudinal look at how school suspensions are related to offending behaviors that include assault, s
This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 5h
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Another Study Finds That Student Mentors Giving Advice Helps THEM Do Better by Larry Ferlazzo / 53min A fair amount of research has found that helping others can benefit the “helper” and not jus
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
by Mike Simpson / 5h
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all Big Education Ape: My New Book Was Just Announced! | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2019/05/my-new-book-was-just-announced-diane.html Diane in Europe Gary Rubinstein: TFA Is Shocked, Shocked to Hear That It Is Tied to

YESTERDAY

Summer Reading/Bike Donations | The Merrow Report
by Mike Simpson / 23h
Summer Reading/Bike Donations | The Merrow Report Summer Reading/Bike Donations First, let’s follow the money! Apparently quite a few of you contributed to a favorite causes, including Planned Parenthood, Chess in the Schools, and the Network for Public Education. From what was reported to me, the total seems to be just north of $8,000. Thank you, because having that public challenge provided a m
CURMUDGUCATION: Are These Lessons To Learn From Cyberschools?
by Mike Simpson / 1d
CURMUDGUCATION: Are These Lessons To Learn From Cyberschools? Are These Lessons To Learn From Cyberschools? At this stage of the game, there's no reason to keep imagining that cyberschools are a viable option for education on any sort of scale. There's a small group of students with specialized needs that they can serve well, but mostly they've failed big time. But they are also excellent money-m
Will This Be On The Test? | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Will This Be On The Test? | gadflyonthewallblog Will This Be On The Test? As a public school teacher, I’m confronted with an awful lot of urgent questions. Sometimes all at once and in rapid fire succession. But perhaps the most frequent one I get is this: “Mr. Singer, will this be on the test?” Seriously? Will this be on the test? In 8th grade Language Arts , we’re discussing the relative merits
The Campaign Finance Problem is About to Get Worse
by Mike Simpson / 1d
The Campaign Finance Problem is About to Get Worse The Campaign Finance Problem is About to Get Worse Follow the instructions on the BMD (Ballot Marking Device) and begin making your selections OR scan your Poll Pass at the BMD to expedite your voting experience. ” – Los Angeles County The new Ballot Marking Device Up through the August 13, 2019, special election , the 5,346,339 registered voters
Vox Interviews Edgar Villanueva on the Racial Philanthropy Gap | Schott Foundation for Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Vox Interviews Edgar Villanueva on the Racial Philanthropy Gap | Schott Foundation for Public Education Vox Interviews Edgar Villanueva on the Racial Philanthropy Gap In a recent interview by Dylan Matthews at Vox, Schott Vice President of Programs and Advocacy Edgar Villanueva described how the racial wealth gap has translated to a similar gap in philanthropic giving: a bias in how that wealth i
AFT’s Weingarten: We survived our battle with ‘billionaires and ideologues’
by Mike Simpson / 1d
AFT’s Weingarten: We survived our battle with ‘billionaires and ideologues’ AFT’s Weingarten: We survived our battle with ‘billionaires and ideologues’ American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten took what amounted to a victory lap on Thursday, telling union members they had survived a decade-long battle with “billionaires and ideologues.” “To our enemies’ vexation, we are thriving
Powerful Koch network taking on school choice with new group - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Powerful Koch network taking on school choice with new group - The Washington Post Powerful Koch network taking on school choice with new group SEATTLE — Billionaire industrialist Charles Koch’s powerful network that’s known for influencing state policy is now targeting education issues like school choice as the movement battles a new wave of hostility from Democrats who oppose charter schools an
What the SAT really measures - Vox
by Mike Simpson / 1d
What the SAT really measures - Vox What the SAT really measures Predicting what we might do can’t be untangled from where we’ve been. A few months ago, an FBI investigation found that rich parents — including celebrities like Felicity Huffman — were cheating to get their kids into elite colleges. It involved an elaborate scam to get higher SAT scores for their children. This isn’t the first time
Bob Shepherd: Assessing E.D. Hirsch Jr. and Cultural Literacy | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Bob Shepherd: Assessing E.D. Hirsch Jr. and Cultural Literacy | Diane Ravitch's blog Bob Shepherd: Assessing E.D. Hirsch Jr. and Cultural Literacy Bob Shepherd writes here about E.D. Hirsch Jr.’s work, and how it was wrongly appropriated by conservatives in their fight for the canon of “great white men.” I first met Don Hirsch in 1983 at a conference where we both spoke. We became good friends. W
Despite Cruel Conditions at the Border and Threatened ICE Raids, Educators Across U.S. Strive to Serve Immigrant Children | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Despite Cruel Conditions at the Border and Threatened ICE Raids, Educators Across U.S. Strive to Serve Immigrant Children | janresseger Despite Cruel Conditions at the Border and Threatened ICE Raids, Educators Across U.S. Strive to Serve Immigrant Children There is a disconnect between the education policy debates and what is really happening in public schools. In Wednesday’s NY Times , Miriam J
Leaders of teachers unions: America’s democracy is at risk - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Leaders of teachers unions: America’s democracy is at risk - The Washington Post Leaders of teachers unions: America’s democracy is at risk The presidents of the nation’s two major teachers union — together, they count close to 5 million members — told delegates at their annual conventions that America’s democracy is at risk and placed the blame squarely on President Trump. Lily Eskelsen García,
Jonetta Rose Barras and Thomas Byrd: on 7/11/19 Education Town Hall – Education Town Hall Forum
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Jonetta Rose Barras and Thomas Byrd: on 7/11/19 Education Town Hall – Education Town Hall Forum JONETTA ROSE BARRAS AND THOMAS BYRD: ON 7/11/19 EDUCATION TOWN HALL On the July 11, 2019 show of Education Town Hall, host Thomas Byrd explored a variety of topics about DC’s schools with DC investigative reporter and political commentator Jonetta Rose Barras. They began their wide-ranging conversation
Charter Schools: Your Time Is Up | Real Learning CT
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Charter Schools: Your Time Is Up | Real Learning CT Charter Schools: Your Time Is Up In 1954 in Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. In 1996 in Sheff vs. O’Neill, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that the state had an affirmative obligation to provide Connecticut’s sch
Is *Progressive Charter School* an Oxymoron? – Have You Heard
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Is *Progressive Charter School* an Oxymoron? – Have You Heard Is *Progressive Charter School* an Oxymoron? Remember back in the early days of the charter school movement when charter proponents used to talk about 1,000 flowers blooming? Well, a funny thing happened to all of those flowers when they encountered an education marketplace where test scores and competition reign supreme. In this episo

JUL 11

Cary Booker Surprised to be Legally Held to His Charter School’s Application | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Cary Booker Surprised to be Legally Held to His Charter School’s Application | deutsch29 Cary Booker Surprised to be Legally Held to His Charter School’s Application On July 11, 2019, NJ.com published a story about Cary Booker, Democratic presidential hopeful Cory Booker’s brother: “Cory Booker’s Brother Opened a School So Bad It Got Shut Down. N.J. Just Gave Him a $150K Education Job.” Cary Book
Reforming Student Report Cards | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Reforming Student Report Cards | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Reforming Student Report Cards If there is one truth that good-hearted reformers forget time and again it is a political one. If you want to make a significant change in school organization, curriculum, instruction, and any school procedure that affect students–make sure you have teachers and parents on board. Ca
EVELYN DEJESUS BECOMES FIRST LATINA ELECTED TO UPPER LEADERSHIP OF UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS | Black Star News
by Mike Simpson / 2d
EVELYN DEJESUS BECOMES FIRST LATINA ELECTED TO UPPER LEADERSHIP OF UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS | Black Star News EVELYN DEJESUS BECOMES FIRST LATINA ELECTED TO UPPER LEADERSHIP OF UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS Evelyn DeJesus: “I am honored to represent the members of this union—their hopes, their aspirations and the incredible work they do every day to make people’s lives better in their commun
CURMUDGUCATION: Eight Weeks of Summer: Big Hairy Say What Now?
by Mike Simpson / 2d
CURMUDGUCATION: Eight Weeks of Summer: Big Hairy Say What Now? Eight Weeks of Summer: Big Hairy Say What Now? This post is week 5 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators . I've been doing the Hot Lunch Tray eight week challenge. Unlike other challenges, it does not require me to eat responsibly or beat myself up with ice water or plastic gerbils. I'm answering the questions as
Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Trying to Break Teachers Contract
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Trying to Break Teachers Contract SCUSD Trying to Break Teachers Contract The Sacramento School District is trying to set a dangerous precedent of breaking contracts By Katie Ferrari Sacramento teachers have been fighting their district to get their contract implemented for nearly two years. Their struggle puts them on the frontlines of contract enforcement. If the distr
Mike Klonsky's Blog: Lots of candidates but no real debate on school deseg
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Mike Klonsky's Blog: Lots of candidates but no real debate on school deseg Lots of candidates but no real debate on school deseg Even though I have a lot is issues with K amala Harris , I thought she was bold in confronting frontrunner Joe Biden and calling him out during the televised debate, for his opposition to "forced" school integration back in the '70s. Actually, as he pointed out, his pos

JUL 10

NANCY BAILEY: Human Interaction & Picture Books vs. Waterford Upstart’s Preschool Phonics Online Video
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Human Interaction & Picture Books vs. Waterford Upstart’s Preschool Phonics Online Video Human Interaction & Picture Books vs. Waterford Upstart’s Preschool Phonics Online Video Last Sunday, The New York Times described Waterford’s Upstart online program for preschoolers, describing it as better than nothing, or, as “closing a gap.” They described communities that could not (or would not) raise m
CURMUDGUCATION: Whom Do We Trust
by Mike Simpson / 3d
CURMUDGUCATION: Whom Do We Trust Whom Do We Trust One of the unending underlying challenges in education is that parents and taxpayers have to trust somebody. Back In The Day, the default was to trust teachers and administrators. That would be back when the default was to trust authority figures as a whole-- but that pendulum has swung far in the other direction (on behalf of all the Boomers, let
Governor’s team jumps into fray over contested charter school bill | EdSource
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Governor’s team jumps into fray over contested charter school bill | EdSource Governor's team jumps into fray over contested charter school bill Amendments to AB 1505 moderate restrictions on charter school growth After weeks of negotiation, Gov. Gavin Newsom has stepped in to scale back proposed legislation that charter school advocates feared would radically slow charter growth. Newsom’s office
Where the 2020 Democrats Stand on Busing - The Atlantic
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and the Debate Over Busing - The Atlantic Where the 2020 Democrats Stand on Busing Many of the presidential hopefuls agree that school segregation is a significant problem, but not all of them want the federal government to step in. In the two weeks since Senator Kamala Harris of California delivered a pointed attack on former Vice President Joe Biden over his past criti
The Legacy Of Busing And School Desegregation - 1A
by Mike Simpson / 3d
The Legacy Of Busing And School Desegregation - 1A The Legacy Of Busing And School Desegregation Sen. Kamala Harris told the nation a story two weeks ago. Here is what she said. And I will say also that — that, in this campaign, we have also heard — and I’m going to now direct this at Vice President Biden, I do not believe you are a racist, and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the imp
Why America lost so many of its black teachers - Civil rights and wrongs
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Why America lost so many of its black teachers - Civil rights and wrongs Why America lost so many of its black teachers Before 1964 nearly half of college-educated African-Americans in the South were teachers JULY MARKS the 55th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. It also enforced desegregation of the
Elementary-School Curriculum Is All Wrong - The Atlantic
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Elementary-School Curriculum Is All Wrong - The Atlantic Elementary Education Has Gone Terribly Wrong In the early grades, U.S. schools value reading-comprehension skills over knowledge. The results are devastating, especially for poor kids. t first glance, the classroom I was visiting at a high-poverty school in Washington, D.C., seemed like a model of industriousness. The teacher sat at a desk
Bernie Should Oppose Nonprofit Charter Schools, Too
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Bernie Should Oppose Nonprofit Charter Schools, Too Bernie Should Oppose Nonprofit Charter Schools, Too MATHILDE LIND GUSTAVUSSEN By calling for a ban on for-profit charter schools, Bernie Sanders has gone further than any other candidate to confront the privatization of our schools. But we can’t fully defend public schools if we let nonprofit charters off the hook. As the Democratic Party gears
Education Sec. Betsy DeVos hindering Obama-era law meant to help disabled minority students - theGrio
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Education Sec. Betsy DeVos hindering Obama-era law meant to help disabled minority students - theGrio Education Sec. Betsy DeVos hindering Obama-era law meant to help disabled minority students The Trump cabinet member wants to stall laws passed years ago to benefit nonwhite special education students, a group which Blacks have a 40 percent higher chance of being a part of U.S. Education Secretar
Parent Teacher Associations: how they can harm democracy - Vox
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Parent Teacher Associations: how they can harm democracy - Vox How can it be wrong to give to your kid’s school? A school district tried to share rich parents’ donations with poor schools. You will believe what happened next. The word “philanthropy” conjures up images of big-time donors like Bill Gates or George Soros, hanging out at Davos and announcing sweeping plans to cure disease or save dem
Federal Authorities Arrest Former Secretary of Education and Former Director of Health Insurance Administration | Politics | theweeklyjournal.com
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Federal Authorities Arrest Former Secretary of Education and Former Director of Health Insurance Administration | Politics | theweeklyjournal.com Federal Authorities Arrest Former Secretary of Education and Former Director of Health Insurance Administration Former executive director of the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration (ASES, by its Spanish acronym), Angela Ávila Marrero, has been a
Louisiana Educator: Part II: Lessons from Primitive Childhood Education
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Louisiana Educator: Part II: Lessons from Primitive Childhood Education Part II: Lessons from Primitive Childhood Education Anthropologists and geneticists have discovered that all children are born with a powerful love of learning and genetic instincts that prod them to learn how to live successfully in their environment. But we modern humans with our latest education reforms seem to be determin
With Tony Evers’ New Budget, Wisconsin Begins Long Journey to Shed Scott Walker’s Legacy | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 3d
With Tony Evers’ New Budget, Wisconsin Begins Long Journey to Shed Scott Walker’s Legacy | janresseger With Tony Evers’ New Budget, Wisconsin Begins Long Journey to Shed Scott Walker’s Legacy In Gordon Lafer’s 2017 book, The One Percent Solution, in the first chapter entitled “Wisconsin and Beyond: Dismantling the Government,” Lafer makes Wisconsin the emblem of what happened in the 2010 election
LAUSD Presents A “School Performance Framework” To Parents, While Failing To Notify Any About It – redqueeninla
by Mike Simpson / 3d
LAUSD Presents A “School Performance Framework” To Parents, While Failing To Notify Any About It – redqueeninla LAUSD Presents A “School Performance Framework” To Parents, While Failing To Notify Any About It Two Aprils ago the District resolved to “Establish A Framework For Continuous Improvement” of its diverse complex of approximately one thousand schools , including traditional, charter, spec
Can Education and Social Policy Lift de Blasio to the White House? | Ed In The Apple
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Can Education and Social Policy Lift de Blasio to the White House? | Ed In The Apple Can Education and Social Policy Lift de Blasio to the White House? When Mayor de Blasio announced his candidacy for the presidency it was greeted with derision and laughter. How could a mayor who was no longer popular in his own city even think of a run for the highest office in the land? Michelle Goldberg, in th

JUL 09

TFA Is Shocked, Shocked To Find That It Is An ‘Arm’ Of The Charter School Movement | Gary Rubinstein's Blog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
TFA Is Shocked, Shocked To Find That It Is An ‘Arm’ Of The Charter School Movement | Gary Rubinstein's Blog TFA Is Shocked, Shocked To Find That It Is An ‘Arm’ Of The Charter School Movement A few weeks ago an article appeared in ProPublica called ‘How Teach for America became an arm of the charter school movement’ . I found this be a very well researched article which shed light on something tha
Shawgi Tell: Don’t Be Charter-Fooled | Dissident Voice
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Don’t Be Charter-Fooled | Dissident Voice Don’t Be Charter-Fooled Major problems in the charter school sector have been detailed by many researchers and writers over the years. In the last year or two, however, persistent charter school problems have been exposed with much greater depth, breadth, and regularity by more individuals and organizations. It has become abundantly clear to more people t
Teacher credentials come in for tough grading as California rethinks charter school rules | CALmatters
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Teacher credentials come in for tough grading as California rethinks charter school rules | CALmatters Teacher credentials come in for tough grading as CA rethinks charter school rules Heather Williams knew as a kid that she wanted to be a piano teacher. She earned her music degree with a piano emphasis from Brigham Young University and spent decades honing her craft. Today she not only runs her
Should Non-Citizen Parents Be Allowed To Vote In LAUSD School Board Elections?: LAist
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Should Non-Citizen Pa rents Be Allowed To Vote In LAUSD School Board Elections?: LAist Should Non-Citizen Parents Be Allowed To Vote In LAUSD School Board Elections? Los Angeles Unified School Board members each represent thousands of constituents who have a direct stake in the success of the district's schools but who cannot currently vote: parents who are not American citizens. In a few weeks,
Why many school districts are being set up for fiscal failure | Salon.com
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Why many school districts are being set up for fiscal failure | Salon.com Why many school districts are being set up for fiscal failure One urban district faces an especially steep climb out of the abyss of oppressive rule Former vice president and current presidential hopeful Joe Biden recently caught a lot of flak for saying if President Trump were to be booted out of office, politics would go
Consent, Policing, and School Safety | radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Consent, Policing, and School Safety | radical eyes for equity Consent, Policing, and School Safety A recent controversy at an Arizona Starbucks spurred anger across social media: Starbucks on Sunday apologized after an employee at one of its stores in Tempe, Arizona , asked six police officers to leave or move out of a customer’s line of sight, triggering social media backlash. The officers had
Did Jeb Bush Choose Your District’s Superintendent? | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Did Jeb Bush Choose Your District’s Superintendent? | Diane Ravitch's blog Did Jeb Bush Choose Your District’s Superintendent? Jeb Bush created an organization called Chiefs for Change, whose original membership consisted of state superintendents who shared Jeb’s ideas: high-stakes testing, evaluating teachers by the test scores of their students, school grades of A-F, and school choice (charters

JUL 08

Jersey Jazzman: Who Put the "Stakes" In "High-Stakes Testing"?
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Jersey Jazzman: Who Put the "Stakes" In "High-Stakes Testing"? Who Put the "Stakes" In "High-Stakes Testing"? Peter Green has a smart piece (as usual) about Elizabeth Warren's position on accountability testing. Nancy Flanagan had some smart things to say about it (as usual) on Twitter. Peter's piece and the back-and-forth on social media have got me thinking about testing again -- and when that
LAUSD School Performance Framework: Parents Focus Groups | Wejoinin
by Mike Simpson / 4d
LAUSD School Performance Framework: Parents Focus Groups | Wejoinin LAUSD School Performance Framework : Parents Focus Groups Wejoinin - https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/makgd We are inviting you to join us in a focus group to provide input on LAUSD’s draft School Performance Framework—a tool intended to inform educators and families on how schools are performing. It is our goal that this new tool
Peter Greene: Should A Teacher Be The Secretary Of Education?
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Should A Teacher Be The Secretary Of Education? Should A Teacher Be The Secretary Of Education? This is part of the value of having a clown car full of candidates for a Presidential primary: the contest becomes a primary of ideas, and certain notions gain traction by spreading across the field of candidates. Not that gaining traction means those ideas will ultimately prevail (a widespread notion
Hewlett Packard And The Pitfalls Of “Deeper Learning” In An Internet Of Things World – Wrench in the Gears
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Hewlett Packard And The Pitfalls Of “Deeper Learning” In An Internet Of Things World – Wrench in the Gears Hewlett Packard And The Pitfalls Of “Deeper Learning” In An Internet Of Things World It was time to say good-bye to the chinstrap penguin. The paper mache model had kept watch over a corner of my sewing room for years, but with our child moving on to college and evidence of flour-beetles imp
Christine Langhoff Describes the Charter-Friendly Power Elite in Massachusetts | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Christine Langhoff Describes the Charter-Friendly Power Elite in Massachusetts | Diane Ravitch's blog Christine Langhoff Describes the Charter-Friendly Power Elite in Massachusetts Christine Langhoff, retired teacher and education activist in Massachusetts, describes the power elite in the Bay State. After losing the charter referendum in 2016 by 68-32%, they keep pursuing ways to bypass the vote
Opposing Charter Schools Without Really Opposing Them (Part 3) | Dissident Voice
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Opposing Charter Schools Without Really Opposing Them (Part 3) | Dissident Voice Opposing Charter Schools Without Really Opposing Them (Part 3) Irrationalism and disinformation manifest themselves in endless ways. While both have intensified greatly in the neoliberal period which began in the late 1970s, the public should brace for even more of both. The obsolete forces who have long benefitted f
Ed Notes Online: The 2019 Socialism Conference, sponsored by American leftist juggernauts the DSA, Jacobin magazine, and ISO’s Haymarket Books
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Ed Notes Online: The 2019 Socialism Conference, sponsored by American leftist juggernauts the DSA, Jacobin magazine, and ISO’s Haymarket Books, features regime-change activists from multiple US government-funded NGOs - The Grayzone The 2019 Socialism Conference, sponsored by American leftist juggernauts the DSA, Jacobin magazine, and ISO’s Haymarket Books features regime-change activists from mul
Effective but never popular, court-ordered busing is a relic few would revive - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Effective but never popular, court-ordered busing is a relic few would revive - The Washington Post Effective but never popular, court-ordered busing is a relic few would revive Sixteen years after the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed racial segregation in public schools, an attorney representing black families in Charlotte stood before the court. The landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling, he ar
Busing and School Segregation Used for Politics not Policy | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Busing and School Segregation Used for Politics not Policy | gadflyonthewallblog Busing and School Segregation Used for Politics not Policy If children of all races went to the same schools with each other, it would be harder to treat them unequally . Moreover, it would be harder for them to grow up prejudiced because they would have learned what it’s like to have classmates who are different fro
NYC Educator: Bill de Blasio Offers Valuable Lip Support Against Privatization
by Mike Simpson / 5d
NYC Educator: Bill de Blasio Offers Valuable Lip Support Against Privatization Bill de Blasio Offers Valuable Lip Support Against Privatization I got to see a little of the NEA forum with Democratic presidential candidates, ably covered here by Chalkbeat. Bernie Sanders really shone here, in contrast to his indifferent showing in the debate. He seems to have gotten a better focus on the education
Michigan State Policy—Not School Governance—Dooms State’s Poor, Segregated School Districts | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Michigan State Policy—Not School Governance—Dooms State’s Poor, Segregated School Districts | janresseger Michigan State Policy—Not School Governance—Dooms State’s Poor, Segregated School Districts Through the month of June, Michigan’s new governor, Gretchen Whitmer threatened to close Benton Harbor’s high school due to falling enrollment, low test scores and the school district’s indebtedness. B
Goodbye AltSchool, Hello Altitude Learning | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Goodbye AltSchool, Hello Altitude Learning | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Goodbye AltSchool, Hello Altitude Learning Begun by wealthy high-tech entrepreneur (and ex-Google executive) Max Ventilla in 2013, AltSchool made a splash with its string of private “micro-schools” in New York City and the San Francisco Bay area (tuition was $26,000)–see here , here , and here . Venti
Dem Candidates: Charter-School-Enabled *Profiteering* Is the Problem. What’s Your Plan? | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Dem Candidates: Charter-School-Enabled *Profiteering* Is the Problem. What’s Your Plan? | deutsch29 Dem Candidates: Charter-School-Enabled *Profiteering* Is the Problem. What’s Your Plan? Some Democratic hopefuls for the 2020 presidency have taken to saying that they do not support “for-profit charter schools.” (See here and here and here .) On July 07, 2019, Network for Public Education (NPE) ex
At NEA Representative Assembly, Educators Prepare to Make an Impact in 2020
by Mike Simpson / 5d
At NEA Representative Assembly, Educators Prepare to Make an Impact in 2020 At NEA Representative Assembly, Educators Prepare to Make an Impact in 2020 Galvanized by the historic mobilization of public school educators that caught the attention of the entire nation, educators converged on the George E. Brown convention center in Houston, Texas on July 4 for the 157th National Education Associatio

JUL 07

2019 Medley #11 – Vouchers and the Wall Between Church and State | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 6d
2019 Medley #11 – Vouchers and the Wall Between Church and State | Live Long and Prosper 2019 Medley #11 – Vouchers and the Wall Between Church and State There’s a reason that I’ve been quiet on this blog for the last month…posting only a Father’s Day remake of an annual call to fathers to read to their children, and a quick Medley in the middle of June . Since mid-May, I have been somewhat self-
Social-Emotional Learning’s Transformation of Schools is Worrisome
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Social-Emotional Learning’s Transformation of Schools is Worrisome Social-Emotional Learning’s Transformation of Schools is Worrisome Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is being pushed into public schools. It could mean many things, restorative justice, meditation, anti-bullying programs, and much more. But SEL is not just an add-on program. It’s whole-school systematic change from teaching academic
CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Really Really Summer Now Edition (7/6)
by Mike Simpson / 6d
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Really Really Summer Now Edition (7/6) ICYMI: Really Really Summer Now Edition (7/6) Hot and steamy here, which still makes us better off than some corners of the world. Here's some reading for the day. Remember-- share the stuff that really speaks to you. The Teaching Machine Imaginary I do miss Audrey Watters, but here's a new Hack Education post that, in typical Watters
NEA Representative Assembly Honors 2019 ESP of the Year
by Mike Simpson / 6d
NEA Representative Assembly Honors 2019 ESP of the Year NEA Representative Assembly Honors 2019 ESP of the Year Matthew Powell, the 2019 Education Support Professional of the Year, took the stage at the NEA Representative Assembly on Saturday. Introducing him to the almost 7,000 delegates gathered in the George E. Brown Convention Center in Houston, NEA President Lily Eskelsen García commended Po
Media response to NEA forum reflects prominence of education in Election 2020 - Education Votes
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Media response to NEA forum reflects prominence of education in Election 2020 - Education Votes Media response to NEA forum reflects prominence of education in Election 2020 By Danielle Sklarew On Friday, 10 candidates seeking the 2020 Democratic nomination for the presidency participated in NEA’s Strong Public Schools Presidential Forum in Houston to define their visions for public education bef
It's Time to Kill High-Stakes Testing - Teacher Habits
by Mike Simpson / 6d
It's Time to Kill High-Stakes Testing - Teacher Habits It’s Time to Kill High-Stakes Testing Elizabeth Warren made some news in education circles this past week when she sat for an interview with NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia. Garcia read a question from a retired teacher who wanted to know what Warren would do to end high-stakes testing. Warren said, in part: “This notion that it’s all abou
Carol Burris: Don’t Let Democratic Candidates Get Away With: “I’m Against For-Profit Charters” | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Carol Burris: Don’t Let Democratic Candidates Get Away With: “I’m Against For-Profit Charters” | Diane Ravitch's blog Carol Burris: Don’t Let Democratic Candidates Get Away With: “I’m Against For-Profit Charters” Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education, writes here about the efforts by most Democratic candidates to avoid confronting the dangers of privatization: When
Charter Scandal a Product of Shabby Law and Ignored Oversight | tultican
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Charter Scandal a Product of Shabby Law and Ignored Oversight | tultican Charter Scandal a Product of Shabby Law and Ignored Oversight By T. Ultican 7/7/2019 Notoriously clever operators of an online charter empire were indicted for allegedly stealing $50 million dollars. The Grand Jury of San Diego County heard the testimony of 72 witnesses and voted out a 67-count indictment against Sean McManu
2019 Teacher of the Year: 'Everyone Benefits From Diversity'
by Mike Simpson / 6d
2019 Teacher of the Year: 'Everyone Benefits From Diversity' 2019 Teacher of the Year: ‘Everyone Benefits From Diversity’ Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year , brought the 7,000 NEA Representative Assembly delegates to their feet on Saturday with an impassioned plea for diversity, increased opportunity for our most vulnerable students, and a day of reckoning for politicians who
NEA RA. Community allies and the strike fund. – Fred Klonsky
by Mike Simpson / 6d
NEA RA. Community allies and the strike fund. – Fred Klonsky NEA RA. COMMUNITY ALLIES AND THE STRIKE FUND. For the past four years the NEA top brass has tried to change the rules to allow those who don’t work directly in education be allowed to join the NEA in a new community ally category. Each time this has come up for a vote it has failed. I’m not the first person to suggest that a form of org

JUL 06

Top Posts This Week 7/6/19 #REDFORED #CTA #StrongPublicSchools #ra2019 #nea #neara #neara2019 #houston
by Mike Simpson / 7d
Big Education Ape Top Posts This Week 7/6/19 The real story of New Orleans and its charter schools - The Washington Post Bill Gates spent hundreds of millions of dollars to improve teaching. New report says it was a bust. - The 


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