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Saturday, January 5, 2019

Federal judge rejects L.A. school district’s bid to stop teachers from striking #REDFORED #UTLAStrong #StrikeReady #March4Ed #WeAreLA - The Washington Post

Federal judge rejects L.A. school district’s bid to stop teachers from striking - The Washington Post

Federal judge rejects L.A. school district’s bid to stop teachers from striking


With the clock ticking on a strike by teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District, a federal judge rejected a bid by Superintendent Austin Beutner’s administration to limit or stop the labor action from happening as scheduled this Thursday.
Attorneys for the nation’s second largest school district went to court on Thursday, telling U.S. District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew that students with special needs would be denied education services that are guaranteed to them under U.S. law.
Lew swiftly rejected the argument, saying Friday that the district was attempting to bring an unrelated issue into the contract dispute and that it had failed to show how the union, United Teachers of Los Angeles, would be liable if special education laws were not followed.
[Parent to L.A. school board as teachers threaten to strike: Why ‘my family will not cross the picket line’]
More than 30,000 teachers in Los Angeles are preparing to go out on strike on Thursday after more than 1½ years of unsuccessful contract talks with the district, with strike leaders meeting Saturday to make plans.
District officials said they have taken steps to keep schools open, including hiring hundreds of nonunion substitute teachers to fill in for educators walking picket lines. And they went to court.
United Teachers Los Angeles has demanded, among other things, a 6.5 percent pay raise; more money for schools; a boost in the number of counselors, nurses, social workers and librarians; a reduction in standardized testing; and an expansion of community schools.
The union has accused the district of claiming to have fewer resources than it really has, but Beutner’s administration says the district cannot afford many of the concessions and warns that the district could be insolvent in a few years.
A fact-finding panel tasked with trying to find a resolution to the contract impasse agreed with both sides on some points, saying that teachers do deserve a raise but that the district can afford only the 6 percent being CONTINUE READING: Federal judge rejects L.A. school district’s bid to stop teachers from striking - The Washington Post

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CURMUDGUCATION: Terror, Hubris and AI (or Can Artificial Intelligence Fake Being A Self-important Pompous Tool?)

CURMUDGUCATION: Terror, Hubris and AI (or Can Artificial Intelligence Fake Being A Self-important Pompous Tool?)

Terror, Hubris and AI (or Can Artificial Intelligence Fake Being A Self-important Pompous Tool?)


 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is, if not a hot new product itself, the additive that helps sell a million other products ("New! Improved!! Now with AI!!!"). And the proponents of AI are loaded with big brass cyberballs when it comes to making claims about their product. And all the most terrible and frightening things are happening in China. Come down this terrifying baloney-stuffed rabbit hole with me.

It starts with an absolutely glorious website-- PR Newswire. Newswire is part of Cision, a company that promises to move your pr by connecting using their Influencer Graph built with their Communications Cloud. Super social media PR (pr.cision-- get it?). Anyway, PR Newswire is a website of nothing but press releases, and it's kind of awesome. This news release has been run in many outlets. I'm digressing a bit here, but we need to remember through this whole trip that this is about a company that wants to sell a product.

Tucked in amidst the press releases is some "news provided by Squirrel AI Learning" about the AI Summit held about a month ago in New York, featuring over 350 experts, professors and business executives from the AI field discussing the technology and the commercial applications thereof. Why "squirrel" (there is such a thing as anti-squirrel AI)? Because squirrel is the symbol for "agility, diligence and management." Founded in 2014, Yixue Squirrel AI is headquartered in Shanghai and claims to be "the first K12 EdTech company which specializes in intelligent adaptive education in China" and, just so you know, they're "the market leader." They have opened "over 700 schools and have 3000 teaching staff in more than 100 cities." They have $44 million of investor money, an  CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: Terror, Hubris and AI (or Can Artificial Intelligence Fake Being A Self-important Pompous Tool?)
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Top Posts This Week 1/5/19 #REDFORED #UTLAStrong #StrikeReady #March4Ed #WeAreLA


Top Posts This Week 1/5/19








Posts This Week 1/5/19



Wrench in the Gears – A Skeptical Parent's Thoughts on Digital Curriculum

by mike simpson / 40min
Wrench in the Gears – A Skeptical Parent's Thoughts on Digital Curriculum Wrench in the Gears A Skeptical Parent's Thoughts on Digital Curriculum When “Community Foundations” Go Global (Or Coastal) by wrenchinthegears / 19h Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Part Five Here for the introduction and parts one , two , three , and four . Community foundations were established a century ago to aggre
Those Wishing to Destroy Public Education Are Retooling for 2019

by mike simpson / 1h
Those Wishing to Destroy Public Education Are Retooling for 2019 Those Wishing to Destroy Public Education Are Retooling for 2019 By Thomas Ultican / Tultican The destroy public education (DPE) national coordinating organization , Education Cities, has been closed, with its assets and personnel distributed to three new organizations; The City Fund, School Board Partners and Community Engagement P
Challenging the myths about teachers – Live Long and Prosper

by mike simpson / 2h
Challenging the myths about teachers – Live Long and Prosper Challenging the myths about teachers It’s always dangerous to read comments on the internet. The anonymity afforded users makes it easy for them to rant, bitch, and promote myths and lies. The last week of 2018 was no different. The Wall Street Journal posted the following article on Dec. 28th… Teachers Quit Jobs at Highest Rate on Reco
How Many Decisions Do Teachers Make Every Day? | gadflyonthewallblog

by mike simpson / 2h
How Many Decisions Do Teachers Make Every Day? | gadflyonthewallblog How Many Decisions Do Teachers Make Every Day? Teaching is an exhausting job. If you’re a parent, you know how tiring it is with just one or two kids. Imagine having a room full of them — Twenty to thirty children, each demanding your attention, each requiring your urgent help – every minute, every day, for hours at a time. Back
Sign up for our free Jan. 20 webinar on how educators can better protect their students’ privacy — and their own | Parent Coalition for Student Privacy

by mike simpson / 3h
Sign up for our free Jan. 20 webinar on how educators can better protect their students’ privacy — and their own | Parent Coalition for Student Privacy SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE JAN. 20 WEBINAR ON HOW EDUCATORS CAN BETTER PROTECT THEIR STUDENTS’ PRIVACY — AND THEIR OWN A few weeks ago, it was reported that the personal information of 500,000 San Diego students, former students and school staff was exp

YESTERDAY

Julian Vasquez Heilig: NEPC Review: Bigger Bang, Fewer Bucks? (University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, February 2018) | National Education Policy Center

by mike simpson / 22h
NEPC Review: Bigger Bang, Fewer Bucks? (University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, February 2018) | National Education Policy Center NEPC Review: Bigger Bang, Fewer Bucks? (University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, February 2018) Reviewer: Julian Vasquez Heilig Publication Announcement Learn More: NEPC Resources on Charter Schools A report released by the University of Ar
How School Reform, Including Common Core, Has Devastated Children and Their Joy of Learning to Read

by mike simpson / 23h
How School Reform, Including Common Core, Has Devastated Children and Their Joy of Learning to Read How School Reform, Including Common Core, Has Devastated Children and Their Joy of Learning to Read School reform has taken a toll on children starting in kindergarten (even preschool). There’s little doubt that children are being forced to learn to read earlier than ever before. The reading gap li
Change is Coming in the World of Education Reform: Fordham Institute Edition | Eclectablog

by mike simpson / 1d
Change is Coming in the World of Education Reform: Fordham Institute Edition | Eclectablog Change is Coming in the World of Education Reform: Fordham Institute Edition I have to say that it’s pretty amusing to see an–allegedly–education-focused website like the Fordham Institute print this “sky is falling” forecast of new Wisconsin governor Tony Evers’ predicted influence on schooling in the stat
CURMUDGUCATION: After the Education Wars: The Best and Worst of Reform

by mike simpson / 1d
CURMUDGUCATION: After the Education Wars: The Best and Worst of Reform After the Education Wars: The Best and Worst of Reform Andrea Gabor is a business journalist by trade, and it's our great good fortune that she followed the thread of business-style reform into the world of education. Her recent book, After the Education Wars: How Smart Schools Upend the Business of Reform, is an invaluable ad
Support Season 2 of 'Radical Cram School'

by mike simpson / 1d
Support Season 2 of 'Radical Cram School' SUPPORT SEASON 2 OF 'RADICAL CRAM SCHOOL' "Sesame Street for the resistance" Our pal, performance artist and provocateur Kristina Wong, is in the throes of raising money for season two of Radical Cram School , her kid-centric, unscripted web series that empowers Asian American kids and all kids of color to embrace their identities, fight for social justic
How K–12 Schools Have Adopted Artificial Intelligence | EdTech Magazine

by mike simpson / 1d
How K–12 Schools Have Adopted Artificial Intelligence | EdTech Magazine How K–12 Schools Have Adopted Artificial Intelligence AI integration offers new potential to improve student outcomes and security. Over the past several years, artificial intelligence transitioned from the movie screen to reality, and soon it will be everywhere. The ubiquity of AI across industries leads to two key points fo
Charter Schools Haunt More Election Races | Dissident Voice

by mike simpson / 1d
Charter Schools Haunt More Election Races | Dissident Voice Charter Schools Haunt More Election Races The intensely controversial nature of nonprofit and for-profit charter schools in the U.S., due in no small part to endless news about the infinite problems plaguing them, is increasingly a major issue in local, state, and federal election campaigns. It is hard to find a political race today wher
Walmart Heirs Invest Heavily to Promote Charter Schools | janresseger

by mike simpson / 1d
Walmart Heirs Invest Heavily to Promote Charter Schools | janresseger W almart Heirs Invest Heavily to Promote Charter Schools Twas the night before Christmas, and if you were reading the newspaper, you may have noticed some coverage of school privatization. In case you missed it, please read Sally Ho’s article for the Associated Press on the Walton family’s financial investment in promoting char
Yes, there are online preschools. And early childhood experts say they stink. - The Washington Post

by mike simpson / 1d
Yes, there are online preschools. And early childhood experts say they stink. - The Washington Post Yes, there are online preschools. And early childhood experts say they stink. In February 2015 I wrote a post with this headline : “And now, online preschools. Really.” Given that medical experts warn against too much screen time for young children, and given that early childhood experts say the be

JAN 03

How Restorative Practices Can Improve School Climate - The Atlantic

by mike simpson / 1d
How Restorative Practices Can Improve School Climate - The Atlantic How to Turn Schools Into Happier Places A strong student-teacher relationship can help put a dent in school suspensions, according to a new study. When the Trump administration’s released its school-safety report last month, it landed with a thud—and only partly because it’s a clunky 180 pages . Many of the recommendations in the
NOLA IS THE NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL CHURN LEADER: Algiers Charter school employees must reapply for their jobs next year | The Lens

by mike simpson / 1d
Algiers Charter school employees must reapply for their jobs next year | The Lens Algiers Charter school employees must reapply for their jobs next year Employees at two West Bank charter schools must reapply for their jobs at the end of the school year. The new policy at Algiers Charter comes as the charter-school network is preparing to shrink — from four schools under its control to two by the
CURMUDGUCATION: Not Quite Seven Reasons To Ditch Teachers Unions

by mike simpson / 2d
CURMUDGUCATION: Not Quite Seven Reasons To Ditch Teachers Unions Not Quite Seven Reasons To Ditch Teachers Unions The Foundation for Economic Education may be the oldest libertarian thinky tank in the US, and they are a missionary group , set "to make the ideas of liberty familiar, credible, and compelling to the rising generation." So it comes as no surprise to find them running an article entit
DeVos Department of Ed Cancels Obama-Era Guidance Aimed at Reducing Racial Disparities in School Discipline | janresseger

by mike simpson / 2d
DeVos Department of Ed Cancels Obama-Era Guidance Aimed at Reducing Racial Disparities in School Discipline | janresseger DeVos Department of Ed Cancels Obama-Era Guidance Aimed at Reducing Racial Disparities in School Discipline Here is some news you may have missed. On Friday, December 21, as everybody took off for the holidays, the Education and Justice Departments rescinded Obama-era school d
Badass Teachers Association: An Open Letter about the Federal School Safety Commission Report

by mike simpson / 2d
Badass Teachers Association: An Open Letter about the Federal School Safety Commission Report An Open Letter about the Federal School Safety Commission Report We, the undersigned individuals, share many concerns about the recommendations put forth in the Final Report of the Federal Commission of School Safety. We urge you to take a deeper look into these issues and create recommendations that wil
Donors Reform Schooling: Evaluating Teachers (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by mike simpson / 2d
Donors Reform Schooling: Evaluating Teachers (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Donors Reform Schooling: Evaluating Teachers (Part 1) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Intensive Partnerships for Effective Teaching aimed at identifying effective teachers whose practices raised students’ test scores, giving minority and poor students access to such teachers, and cr
If You’re Wondering About Haas Hall Academy (Arkansas), Read This Post. | deutsch29

by mike simpson / 2d
If You’re Wondering About Haas Hall Academy (Arkansas), Read This Post. | deutsch29 If You’re Wondering About Haas Hall Academy (Arkansas), Read This Post. The following post is written by Elizabeth Lyon-Ballay, who identifies herself as a “former professional violinist and public charter school teacher” and “current stay-at-home mom and agitator for change.” Elizabeth Lyon-Ballay Lyon-Ballay has
“Choice” Has Become An Excuse For Charter And Voucher Schools To Discriminate

by mike simpson / 2d
“Choice” Has Become An Excuse For Charter And Voucher Schools To Discriminate “Choice” Has Become An Excuse For Charter And Voucher Schools To Discriminate When prominent advocates for “school choice,” such as U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, talk about how a market-based approach for education works, the very stories they might cite as successes actually reveal serious shortcomings of ch
Join the Teachers of the Year in Speaking Out Against the Detention of Children - Network For Public Education : Network For Public Education

by mike simpson / 2d
Join the Teachers of the Year in Speaking Out Against the Detention of Children - Network For Public Education : Network For Public Education Join the Teachers of the Year in Speaking Out Against the Detention of Children Last year, the administration began enforcing a “zero tolerance” immigration policy. This policy resulted in about 3,000 children being separated from their parents or guardians

JAN 02

Please Note that NYC Department of Education Is Infested with Broadies, Not Bugs | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 2d
Please Note that NYC Department of Education Is Infested with Broadies, Not Bugs | Diane Ravitch's blog Please Note that NYC Department of Education Is Infested with Broadies, Not Bugs I received a complaint about the wording of the title accompanying the post by Leonie Haimson. Leonie’s post was titled: “Leonie Haimson: Warning! The New York City Department of Education Is Infested with Broadies
Common Schools and the Nationalistic Aims of Public Education in the U.S. | Dissident Voice

by mike simpson / 3d
Common Schools and the Nationalistic Aims of Public Education in the U.S. | Dissident Voice Common Schools and the Nationalistic Aims of Public Education in the U.S. This article is part of a project that critically analyzes the historical and present day purposes of U.S. public education. Related articles focus on the history of Secondary Education , the undemocratic nature of Local Control and
Education Research Report

by mike simpson / 3d
Education Research Report Education Research Report Math Pathways: Expanding Options for Success in College Math by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 2h Download This report, released in collaboration with the Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness, explains a new model of college math education that has come to be called math pathways. Three prominent examples of math pathways – with research ev
The Greedy, Selfish Billionaires Who Rig Taxes in Washington State | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 3d
The Greedy, Selfish Billionaires Who Rig Taxes in Washington State | Diane Ravitch's blog The Greedy, Selfish Billionaires Who Rig Taxes in Washington State Hanna Brooks Olsen writes here about the billionaires of Washington State and their clever strategies to stay very rich whileappearing to be philanthropists. They give to the poor. They give toworking people. They give to the homeless. But th
CURMUDGUCATION: How Much Money In That Edusector?!!

by mike simpson / 3d
CURMUDGUCATION: How Much Money In That Edusector?!! How Much Money In That Edusector?!! When you're starting to wonder why so many people are interested in education, even though they have no training, experience, or apparent deep interest in education, it's helpful to see some numbers. Like 2,600,000,000. Reportsnreports is an international outfit that provides "market research reports to indust
Charter School Sector Cannot Be Reformed or Effectively Regulated | janresseger

by mike simpson / 3d
Charter School Sector Cannot Be Reformed or Effectively Regulated | janresseger Charter School Sector Cannot Be Reformed or Effectively Regulated As we begin a new year, consider that charter schools were first authorized thirty years ago. As this sector of publicly funded but privately operated schools has matured, it has become clearer that a serious set of problems are part of charter schools’
Lowering Class Size: If Not Now, When?

by mike simpson / 3d
Lowering Class Size: If Not Now, When? Lowering Class Size: If Not Now, When? Whereas, The District is committed to creating the most enriching academic environment for all students, which includes a reduction in class-size; “ – LAUSD School Board On June 18, 2013 , the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) School Board voted for a resolution that directed their “ Superintendent to examin
Jersey Jazzman: NJ Court Strikes Down Graduation Test; An Opportunity to Re-Think Testing?

by mike simpson / 3d
Jersey Jazzman: NJ Court Strikes Down Graduation Test; An Opportunity to Re-Think Testing? NJ Court Strikes Down Graduation Test; An Opportunity to Re-Think Testing? Miss me? Yesterday, a New Jersey appellate court struck down regulations that required students to pass two PARCC tests -- the statewide tests implemented a few years ago under the Christie administration -- as a requirement to gradu

JAN 01

How to help public school teachers love their profession again | TheHill

by mike simpson / 3d
How to help public school teachers love their profession again | TheHill How to help public school teachers love their profession again The 2018 election was marked in many corners as the “Year of the Teacher.” Record numbers of educators ran for—and some were elected to—local, state and national office. Teachers also stormed statehouses from Arizona to West Virginia to demand better pay in what
How Sputnik Launched Ed-Tech: The National Defense Education Act of 1958

by mike simpson / 3d
How Sputnik Launched Ed-Tech: The National Defense Education Act of 1958 How Sputnik Launched Ed-Tech: The National Defense Education Act of 1958 On October 4, 1957 news broke that the Soviet Union had successfully launched the first man-made satellite into space. Sputnik prompted a national panic, not simply over a looming Cold War – the possibility of Soviet spying or bombing, for example – but
HAPPY NEW YEAR MAY IT BE A VERY RED YEAR SOLIDARITY FOREVER #REDFORED #UTLAStrong #StrikeReady #March4Ed #WeAreLA

by mike simpson / 4d
HAPPY NEW YEAR MAY IT BE A VERY RED YEAR SOLIDARITY FOREVER
Michelle Malkin: Schools should beware of technology companies bearing gifts | Commentary | Dallas News

by mike simpson / 4d
Schools should beware of technology companies bearing gifts | Commentary | Dallas News Schools should beware of technology companies bearing gifts When it comes to Silicon Valley Santas bearing gifts for our children, I am a big Scrooge. Every responsible parent should be, too. In 2016, Apple CEO Tim Cook showered a rural Idaho school district with 500 iPads and Apple TVs for every classroom, alo

DEC 31 2018

L.A. school district hires hundreds of substitutes(scabs) to prepare for major teachers strike - The Washington Post

by mike simpson / 4d
L.A. school district hires hundreds of substitutes to prepare for major teachers strike - The Washington Post L.A. school district hires hundreds of substitutes to prepare for major teachers strike With teachers vowing to strike on Jan. 10 if a new contract is not reached with the Los Angeles Unified School District, officials are taking steps to keep schools open, including hiring hundreds of no
Is Sarah Huckabee Sanders Looking for Her Own “Rebrand” (aka WH Exit)? | deutsch29

by mike simpson / 4d
Is Sarah Huckabee Sanders Looking for Her Own “Rebrand” (aka WH Exit)? | deutsch29 Is Sarah Huckabee Sanders Looking for Her Own “Rebrand” (aka WH Exit)? Heads up: It’s political! _______________________________________________________________ It’s New Years Eve, and here I am, thinking about Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Sanders is the daughter of former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, who in 2014 c
California Attorney General Calls for More Charter School Transparency | KQED News

by mike simpson / 4d
California Attorney General Calls for More Charter School Transparency | KQED News California Attorney General Calls for More Charter School Transparency A legal opinion from the office of the California Attorney General saying the state’s charter schools should be subject to the same transparency laws as regular public schools is getting a mixed response. Attorney General Xavier Becerra's non-bi
NYC Public School Parents: How corporate reformers have become embedded in the Office of District Planning

by mike simpson / 5d
NYC Public School Parents: How corporate reformers have become embedded in the Office of District Planning How corporate reformers have become embedded in the Office of District Planning Recently Stacie Johnson, a sharp-eyed NYC parent, pointed out to me in an email how the DOE Office of District Planning (originally the Office of Portfolio Planning) is populated by many administrators who were f
Nineteen For 2019: Choose This, NOT That, to Save Public Education in the New Year!

by mike simpson / 5d
Nineteen For 2019: Choose This, NOT That, to Save Public Education in the New Year! Nineteen For 2019: Choose This, NOT That, to Save Public Education in the New Year! 1. Kindergarten NOT The New First Grade Kindergartners should be treated like the four and five-year-old students that they are and not pushed to be first graders. The activities and instruction for this age group are well establis
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Arbitrary Marker Of Time's Inexorable Passage Edition (12/30)

by mike simpson / 5d
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Arbitrary Marker Of Time's Inexorable Passage Edition (12/30) ICYMI: Arbitrary Marker Of Time's Inexorable Passage Edition (12/30) Yeah, I'm not big on the whole New Year celebratory thing. I will occasionally give in to the urge to do an end-of-year/beginning-of-year style post, but sometimes I think it's just as well to keep on keeping on. So here's this week's batch of w

DEC 30 2018

Arne Duncan Keeps Trying To Explain Education

by mike simpson / 6d
Arne Duncan Keeps Trying To Explain Education Arne Duncan Keeps Trying To Explain Education Arne Duncan's signature achievement as secretary of education was getting a divided Congress to come together in order to finally pass a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Previously known as No Child Left Behind, the new version of the act (Every Student Succeeds Act) was notab
If LA Teachers Strike Don't Expect It To Stay In LA | PopularResistance.Org

by mike simpson / 6d
If LA Teachers Strike Don't Expect It To Stay In LA | PopularResistance.Org IF LA TEACHERS STRIKE DON’T EXPECT IT TO STAY IN LA Teachers and students from Oakland High School protest an impasse in contract negotiations on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. By Aric Crabbfor Bay Area News Group. The nation’s second largest school district is about to ring in 2019 with a teacher strike that is already reverbera
SPOTLIGHT BLOG OF THE WEEK: deutsch29 Mercedes Schneider's Blog (deutsch29.wordpress.com)

by mike simpson / 6d
SPOTLIGHT BLOG OF THE WEEK: deutsch29 Mercedes Schneider's Blog (deutsch29.wordpress.com) To My Beloved Teacher 29 11h When I visited you two years ago After an absence of at least fifteen years I noticed the slip You forgot what you did only moments before More than once And you were not aware that you forgot. It was a mild shock for me. You remember the far away events Better than the recent. I

DEC 29 2018

US Corporations Are Micromanaging Curricula to Miseducate Students

by mike simpson / 6d
US Corporations Are Micromanaging Curricula to Miseducate Students US Corporations Are Micromanaging Curricula to Miseducate Students Over the past year, the Trump administration’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational program garnered $300 million in pledges from big tech companies. Implicit in this push is the commonly accepted though questionable notion that millions of

Top Posts This Week 12/29/18 #REDFORED #UTLAStrong #StrikeReady #March4Ed #WeAreLA

by mike simpson / 6d
Top Posts This Week 12/29/18 SPOTLIGHT BLOG OF THE WEEK: JAN RESSEGER BLOG (janresseger.wordpress.com) Are We Addicted to ‘School Reform’? | The Merrow Report A Favorite Subject Returns to Schools: Recess - 



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