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Saturday, January 25, 2020

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Avigilon’s appearance search tool isn’t facial recognition, but it still has privacy risks. - Vox

by Mike Simpson / 33min
New surveillance AI can tell schools where students are and where they’ve been Not all AI being used by schools is facial recognition. That doesn’t mean the tech doesn’t come with privacy risks. As mass shootings at US schools increase in frequency while our country’s gun control laws remain weaker than those in any other developed nation , more school administrators across the US are turning to
Join the Jan. 28th National #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool Live Chat: National Education Association hosts leading voices for racial justice education – Black Lives Matter At School

by Mike Simpson / 1h
Join the Jan. 28th National #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool Live Chat: National Education Association hosts leading voices for racial justice education Don’t miss this important opportunity to hear from a leaders in the Black Lives Matter at School movement! When we fight for education justice, all students win. Join National Education Association Vice President ⁦‪@BeckyPringle‬⁩ and ⁦‪@DignityinSchoo


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If you aren't using this tool when you shop online, you're probably wasting money.
DeVos allies urge Supreme Court to green-light voucher schemes - Education Votes

by Mike Simpson / 1h
DeVos allies urge Supreme Court to green-light voucher schemes Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue , argued before the Supreme Court on Jan. 22, could open the door to voucher schemes advocated by Betsy DeVos long before she became U.S. Education Secretary. A decision that favors DeVos could strike down state constitutional barriers to school vouchers. Thus far, lack of support in Congress
LAUSD Candidate Profile: Scott Schmerelson

by Mike Simpson / 1h
LAUSD Candidate Profile: Scott Schmerelson It is called an Individualized Education Program because it should be tailored to the individual student. That is why I have fought so hard to make sure that Special Education Centers remain open and available to serve our students who need those wonderful centers of learning.” – Scott Schmerelson In the time between Steve Zimmer’s loss to Nick Melvoin
Great news!: UK Makes “Best Employers for Diversity” Top 100 national list | Cloaking Inequity

by Mike Simpson / 2h
GREAT NEWS!: UK MAKES “BEST EMPLOYERS FOR DIVERSITY” TOP 100 NATIONAL LIST Just read this news! Wonderful recognition— but we have much more work to do! Here’s the official announcement , LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 24, 2020) — The University of Kentucky was recently recognized for diversity and inclusion on the Forbes list of “Best Employers for Diversity” in 2020. The annual ranking recognizes compan
John Thompson: How Robert Pondiscio’s Book About the Success Academy Charter Chain Reflects Our Edu-Political Culture | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 2h
John Thompson: How Robert Pondiscio’s Book About the Success Academy Charter Chain Reflects Our Edu-Political Culture John Thompson used to be a friend of Robert Pondiscio, who is now a vice-president at the rightwing Thomas B. Fordham Institute. A decade ago, Robert was a good friend of mine; he was one of the early readers of Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and
CURMUDGUCATION: Ed Tech Reporters Should Make These Eight Resolutions For 2020

by Mike Simpson / 2h
Ed Tech Reporters Should Make These Eight Resolutions For 2020 This ran three weeks ago over at Forbes . Three weeks into 2020 it still applies. Audrey Watters bills herself as “an education writer, an independent scholar, a serial dropout, a rabble-rouser, and ed-tech's Cassandra.” Her Hack Education blog is required reading for anyone who cares about technology in education. Since founding the
New Orleans High School Records Are Finally Audited. There Are Holes. | deutsch29

by Mike Simpson / 2h
New Orleans High School Records Are Finally Audited. There Are Holes. Almost-all-charter New Orleans has had a free pass for years from any audit of their record keeping. That’s part of the cutting-edge nature of a portfolio district: Make each charter school its own island in a sea of choice; neglect to build into this non-system any mechanism for assuring that the school can verify that its st
Upcoming Symposium Examines Toll of Mass Incarceration | Cloaking Inequity

by Mike Simpson / 3h
UPCOMING SYMPOSIUM EXAMINES TOLL OF MASS INCARCERATION A two-day symposium at the University of Kentucky will connect academic and community voices on issues surrounding mass incarceration. Organized by the UK College of Education, Punishing Trauma will examine the impact and consequences of punishment and surveillance on children, families, and communities. “ Punishing Trauma looks at the syste
Who Will Protect My Right NOT to Pay for Your Child’s Religious Education? | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 3h
Who Will Protect My Right NOT to Pay for Your Child’s Religious Education? When I was a kid back in middle school, I had a crush on this girl, let’s call her Patty. She wasn’t the most popular or beautiful girl in class, but I kinda’ liked her. Of course, she had no idea I was alive. Or so I thought, until one day she walked straight up to my desk and started rubbing my hair. I was shocked at fi
Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Update - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 3h
Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Update The Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) was charged with developing an Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum that shall be a guide to allow school districts to adapt their courses to better reflect the pupil demographics in their communities. Last week at the IQC meeting, California Department of Education (CDE) staff presented a brief update on the status of
Catch Up With Newblackman (In Exile)

by Mike Simpson / 3h
NewBlackMan (in Exile) JAN 21 The Lost Black Neighborhood Under New York's Central Park by Mark Anthony Neal / 3d 'If you’ve been to New York, you’ve probably visited Central Park. But there’s a part of its story you won't see. It’s a story that goes back to the 1820s, when that part of New York was largely open countryside. Soon it became home to about 1,600 people. Among them was a predominant
THIS WEEK Education Research Report

by Mike Simpson / 3h
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Mixed Messages on How to Teach Reading by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 1d Complete report Everyone agrees that the early years of reading instruction are critical. But there are still vigorous debates among practitioners about how exactly to teach children to read—and new data confirm that preservice teachers are often told competing informat
This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 3h
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 Ed Tech Digest by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h Eight years ago, in another somewhat futile attempt to reduce the backlog of resources I want to share, I began this occasional “” post where I share three
KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all

by Mike Simpson / 4h
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 Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America's Public Schools CLICK HERE TO Order NOW John Thompson: How Robert Pondiscio’s Book About the Success Academy Charter Chain Reflects Our Edu-Political Cultu

YESTERDAY

CURMUDGUCATION: Impersonating A Teacher

by Mike Simpson / 23h
Impersonating A Teacher n a John White valedictory piece , he's called "a former English teacher in New Jersey." I have twice this week come across a reformster who says he "started out as a teacher." Regular students of ed reform have seen similar pattern over and over-- the reformy whiz who has been busy at the ed reform or ed leadership or ed consulting or even ed leadership biz for a while,
If Teacher Education Is Failing Reading, Where Is the Blame? – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 23h
If Teacher Education Is Failing Reading, Where Is the Blame? The current “science of reading” climate surrounding public education in the U.S. has its roots, ironically, in misreading (or at least reading uncritically) A Nation at Risk , a report during the Ronald Reagan administration that was widely reported by mainstream media. The politically driven and deeply flawed report also prompted the
Facial recognition in schools: Even supporters say it won't stop shootings - CNET

by Mike Simpson / 23h
Facial recognition in schools: Even supporters say it won't stop shootings The facial recognition industry is starting to see that its promises offer a false sense of security. After a school shooting in Parkland, Florida left 17 people dead, RealNetworks decided to make its facial recognition technology available for free to schools across the US and Canada. If school officials could detect str
Announcing the 2020 Black Lives Matter at School Creative Challenge Prompt: Submit your artwork to build the movement! – Black Lives Matter At School

by Mike Simpson / 23h
Announcing the 2020 Black Lives Matter at School Creative Challenge Prompt: Submit your artwork to build the movement! During the 2019 Black Lives Matter At School Week of Action, we held the 2nd national student challenge with the prompt, “Schools show that Black Lives Matter When They…” and students were asked to use their creativity to answer. This year, our prompt has changed: What do the “m
Ayanna Pressley skewers Betsy DeVos for comparing abortion rights to slavery: “Say this to my face" | Salon.com

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Ayanna Pressley skewers Betsy DeVos for comparing abortion rights to slavery: “Say this to my face" The congresswoman tells Trump's secretary of education that she "would welcome the opportunity to educate you" Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos came under heavy criticism after comparing the abortion rights debate to the battle to end slavery during a speech to Christian students Wednesday in Wa
Ethical Schools Podcast: Jesse Hagopian on bringing Black Lives Matter into schools – I AM AN EDUCATOR

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Ethical Schools Podcast: Jesse Hagopian on bringing Black Lives Matter into schools Ethical Schools speaks with Jesse Hagopian , an editor for Rethinking Schools and a long-time teacher in the Seattle Public Schools. He is a co-editor of the book Teaching for Black Lives. Jesse discusses the groundbreaking annual National Week of Action in February that makes four demands of schools: replace zer
Wendy Lecker on Eli Broad: The Wannabee Koch Brother | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Wendy Lecker on Eli Broad: The Wannabee Koch Brother Wendy Lecker is a civil rights lawyer who writes frequently for the Stamford (Connecticut) Advocate and is a regular contributor to the Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Recently she wrote about Yale’s agreement to adopt Eli Broad’s school-wrecking “Broad Institute” in return for a donation of $100 million. The Broad Institute is a vanity projec
Betsy DeVos Compares Ending Abortion With Ending Slavery | HuffPost

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Betsy DeVos Compares Ending Abortion With Ending Slavery The education secretary told conservatives their fight to restrict abortion access was like President Abraham Lincoln’s quest to abolish “a vast moral evil.” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told an audience of conservative Christians that their fight to restrict abortion was like President Abraham Lincoln’s quest to abolish slavery, and co
Diane Ravitch Declares the Education Reform Movement Dead - The New York Times

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Diane Ravitch Declares the Education Reform Movement Dead SLAYING GOLIATH The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America’s Schools By Diane Ravitch She came. She saw. She conquered. Such is the triumphant theme of “Slaying Goliath,” the latest work by the education historian turned education activist Diane Ravitch. The book exults in the failures of a reform movement th
It's Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... A VERY BUSY DAY | The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Classroom Instruction Resources Of The Week by Larry Ferlazzo / 12h Each week, I publish a post or two containing three or four particularly useful resources on classroom instruction, and you can see them all here. You might also be interested in THE BEST RESOURCES ON CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION IN 2019 – P
Vicki Cobb Reviews SLAYING GOLIATH | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Vicki Cobb Reviews SLAYING GOLIATH Vicki Cobb is an award-winning author of more than 90 children’s books, mostly about science. In this post, she reviews SLAYING GOLIATH. The review begins like this: For the past 25 years there has been a national war between so-called education reformers and public schools. Education historian and indefatigable blogger on the topic, Diane Ravitch, has been chr
NANCY BAILEY: Problems Surrounding Amplify’s Core Knowledge Language Arts to Teach Reading

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Problems Surrounding Amplify’s Core Knowledge Language Arts to Teach Reading Problems Surrounding Amplify’s Core Knowledge Language Arts to Teach Reading Many teachers and parents raise concerns that instruction is age-inappropriate. Many school districts have signed on to Amplify to teach subjects including language arts and reading. Teachers must teach virtual, scripted, commercial programs. Ev
America’s Social Policies and School Funding Levels Fail Our Poorest Children | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 1d
America’s Social Policies and School Funding Levels Fail Our Poorest Children President Donald Trump has been at Davos this week exalting the United States’ soaring economy. While Trump brags about more people working, however, he neglects to mention the ongoing collapse of manufacturing and its replacement—gig and temporary employment—along with the paltry wages of many workers. Last week Paul
With A Brooklyn Accent: Woodie Guthrie and Billie Holiday- Revolutionizing Music and Society in the Great Depression

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Woodie Guthrie and Billie Holiday- Revolutionizing Music and Society in the Great Depression The Great Depression was a moment in US history when two features of American life in the 1920's were decisively challenged- the unchecked leadership of the nation by its business elite, and the rigid segregation of Blacks in all areas of social and economic life As the nation's economy collapsed, and a
Cartoons on Technologies Today | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Cartoons on Technologies Today OK, I confess: I cannot resist cartoons that poke at Americans’ love of technologies. Sure, affection for new machines and devices is age-old. From colonial times to yesterday, Americans–not all, of course–have invested their dreams of convenience, entertainment, and effortless labor into new technologies. Here are some cartoons that get at that unstoppable, irresi

JAN 23

School Choice Fails Students and Parents – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 2d
School Choice Fails Students and Parents Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash It has been a decade since I raised this question, Parental Choice? , after spending about a year examining all the research available as well as the public and political debate about school choice. Now, Education Week seems to have finally recognized some of the conclusions I presented in that book: Why Don’t Parents Always
White Folks Must Stop Appropriating and Start Appreciating Dr. King - Philly's 7th Ward

by Mike Simpson / 2d
WHITE FOLKS MUST STOP APPROPRIATING AND START APPRECIATING DR. KING On Monday, white America celebrated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 91st birthday, even though he was born on Jan. 15 in 1929. And just like white America got the date wrong, it also got MLK himself wrong. Or, better stated, it continues to treat him wrong by appropriating instead of appreciating this revolutionary. Yes, I
Wanted: Chapters About No Excuses Charters | Cloaking Inequity

by Mike Simpson / 2d
WANTED: CHAPTERS ABOUT NO EXCUSES CHARTERS Much has been written about “No Excuses” charter schools and their deleterious impacts on student of color (See for example Colonizing the Black Natives ) . Amber Kim is leading a groundbreaking new book project entitled, Inexcusable: Contemporary Counter-Narratives that Expose the “New Face” of No Excuses Schools. You may remember Dr. Kim from the Dian
History Wars: How Politics Shape Textbooks – Have You Heard

by Mike Simpson / 2d
History Wars: How Politics Shape Textbooks What are students learning about American history in these hyper-polarized times? That’s what New York Times reporter Dana Goldstein wanted to know. And so she set off on an epic reading adventure: 43 middle and high school American history textbooks, 4,800 in all. Have You Heard talks to Dana about how our divided nation shows up on the pages of these
Gene Glass and David Berliner Publish a Joint Essay-Review of SLAYING GOLIATH | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 2d
Gene Glass and David Berliner Publish a Joint Essay-Review of SLAYING GOLIATH The two most distinguished education researchers in the nation are Gene V. Glass and David C. Berliner, both of whom have held the highest positions in their profession and are universally admired for their careful research and long history of defending the highest standards in the research community. Together they wro
NYC Educator: Fairness in Dress Codes

by Mike Simpson / 2d
Fairness in Dress Codes It appears that dress codes must be uniform , and you can't simply ban halter tops with cutoffs split up to the belt loops. For me, at least, that's a relief. I never, ever say a thing to young women wearing revealing clothes. For one thing, I honestly don't much care what they wear. For another, if I were otherwise inclined, I'd be really preoccupied with crossing some l
How Diverse Is Your Syllabus? – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 2d
How Diverse Is Your Syllabus? During an impromptu pre-department meeting chat with literacy colleagues, we began to think about examining our syllabi for diversity of required and recommended texts. We noted that often people examine reading lists for K-12 students in terms of diversity, such as children’s literature, adolescent literature, and the secondary canon. Below are the texts listed on
Mothers, Make A Phone Call Today | Real Learning CT

by Mike Simpson / 2d
Mothers, Make A Phone Call Today Today, let’s each of us call the office of one Republican senator and ask the question: “Why would an innocent man and you as a jurist interested in the truth not want all the evidence out and all the witnesses to testify? Wouldn’t you if you were innocent?” Tom Friedman explains why that simple question is what we must ask now. For millions of mothers to ask tha
Louisiana Educator: Louisiana's K-12 curriculum is not preparing students for college or for life!

by Mike Simpson / 2d
Louisiana's K-12 curriculum is not preparing students for college or for life! Part I of a two part examination of our failing graduation standards The Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education announced recently that only 18% of our students are succeeding in college. At the joint meeting of BESE and the Board of Regents in December 2019, the Commissioner of Higher Education, Kim Hunter Reed,
Chaz's School Daze: Governor Cuomo's Steath Charter Cap Expansion

by Mike Simpson / 2d
Governor Cuomo's Steath Charter Cap Expansion Governor Andrew Cuomo has buried in his proposed budget an expansion of the charter cap in New York City. This shows that the Governor is still beholden to the Chharter industry and their education reform supporters despite his claims that he supports public education in the State.. Buried in budget documents released late Tuesday was a proposal to m
CURMUDGUCATION: PA: Another Bill To Take Down, Sort Of, Cyber Charters

by Mike Simpson / 2d
PA: Another Bill To Take Down, Sort Of, Cyber Charters Rep. Curt Sonney is a GOP top dog in the Pennsylvania Education Committee, and he's never been known as a close friend of public schools. But he represents Erie, a district that has been absolutely gutted by school choice , so maybe that's why he has spent the last couple of years nipping at the heels of Pennsylvania's thriving cyber charter

JAN 22

Trump Administration’s “Junk Food Loophole” is Symptomatic of School Privatization | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 2d
Trump Admini stration’s “Junk Food Loophole” is Symptomatic of School Privatization | gadflyonthewallblog Trump Administration’s “Junk Food Loophole” is Symptomatic of School Privatization Who wants children to eat more junk food? Apparently the Trump administration does. This seemed to be the Department of Agriculture’s concern when it announced plans last week to further reduce regulations for
What Is the National Parents Union? Well… It’s Sure Not a Union.| Fatherly

by Mike Simpson / 2d
What Is the National Parents Union? Looks Like a School Choice Group. | Fatherly What Is the National Parents Union? Well… It’s Sure Not a Union. Don't get too excited. On January 16, 2020, veteran union organizers Keri Rodrigues and Alma Marquez hosted the inaugural summit of the National Parents Union . Their new organization’s aim? Advocating on behalf of working-class and poor parents who fee
Teachers Union To Sue Betsy DeVos Over Student Borrower Protections : NPR

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Teachers Union Lawsuit Claims DeVos 'Capriciously' Repealed Borrower Protections One of the nation's largest teachers unions is expected to sue U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday. The complaint: She repealed a rule meant to protect student loan borrowers from for-profit and career-focused schools that graduate them with too much debt and limited job prospects. Randi Weingarten, pr
Steven Singer: The Disrupters Are Failing, The People Are Fighting Back! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Steven Singer: The Disrupters Are Failing, The People Are Fighting Back! Steven Singer reviews SLAYING GOLIATH in the pages of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He writes: The whole text is about the community of teachers, parents, students and concerned citizens who’ve been fighting against the corporate interests trying to destroy public education. And let me tell you, it’s like nothing I’ve ever r
Shawgi Tell: Seventeen Charter Schools Siphon $155 Million from Buffalo Public School System | Dissident Voice

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Seventeen Charter Schools Siphon $155 Million from Buffalo Public School System | Dissident Voice Seventeen Charter Schools Siphon $155 Million from Buffalo Public School System To the shock of many, the Buffalo News, Buffalo’s main newspaper, recently published an article exposing serious problems with charter schools. Like Rochester’s Democrat and Chronicle , the Buffalo News usually goes out o
Public School Funding: In Too Many States, It’s All about Subtracting and More Subtracting | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Public School Funding: In Too Many States, It’s All about Subtracting and More Subtracting Let’s review the importance of school finance. It you think this topic is too arcane to think about, consider who has been teaching us about the importance of school funding for two years now, and you’ll realize it’s not abstract or complicated at all. Really it is just an elementary school story problem:
Education Deans for Justice and Equity? | Cloaking Inequity

by Mike Simpson / 3d
EDUCATION DEANS FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY? I truly believe that our deans and other academic leaders can translate their community-engaged, community-relevant work that they have undertaken as researchers and teachers into higher education leadership roles. I am seeking to do that on a daily basis in my role as dean at the University of Kentucky College of Education. Margaret Mohr-Schroeder @STEMed
2020 Medley #2 | Live Long and Prosper

by Mike Simpson / 3d
2020 Medley #2 SHOULD YOUR TAX MONEY BE USED TO EXPEL KIDS WHO LIKE RAINBOWS? Louisville Christian school expelled student over a rainbow cake, family says Kentucky has no plan providing vouchers for students to attend religious schools. Why is that good? As of now, private schools in Kentucky that expel (or force out) a child because they like rainbows, like the one in this article, cannot rece
CURMUDGUCATION: A Teacher's Role In The Post-Truth Era

by Mike Simpson / 3d
A Teacher's Role In The Post-Truth Era This piece from Sean Illing at Vox-- “Flood the zone with shit”: How misinformation overwhelmed our democracy -- captures the issue as well as anything I've seen in the past few years. Here are a couple of key bits: We live in a media ecosystem that overwhelms people with information. Some of that information is accurate, some of it is bogus, and much of it
Schools Matter: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue “In the long run, charter schools are being strategically used to pave the way for vouchers. The voucher advocates, who are very powerful and funded by right-wing foundations and families, recognize that the word voucher has been successfully discredited by enlightened Americans who believe in the public sector. So they’ve resorted to two strategies. Fir
EDUCATION’S LEECHES | The Merrow Report

by Mike Simpson / 3d
EDUCATION’S LEECHES George Washington woke up on December 14, 1799, with a very sore throat. When it worsened, the doctors were summoned. Naturally, Washington, who had left office just two years earlier, received the very best care from the most knowledgeable and competent doctors, those at the top of the medical profession.** Their expert diagnosis: Washington’s four ‘humors’ or bodily fluids,
Supreme Court Case May Open Door to Vouchers Nationwide

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Supreme Court Case May Open Door to Vouchers Nationwide Betsy DeVos’ unwavering support of private school vouchers long precedes her tenure as U.S. Education Secretary. Despite being supported by the resources and influence of the federal government, however, DeVos’ efforts to expand vouchers legislatively have been stymied by lack of support in Congress (even when the GOP held majorities in bot

JAN 21

#HowWeHeal National Day of Racial Healing 2020 | Schott Foundation for Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 4d
National Day of Racial Healing 2020 | Schott Foundation for Public Education National Day of Racial Healing 2020 January 21, 2020 is the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's fourth annual National Day of Racial Healing – rooted in experiences for truth telling and trust building that lead to racial healing for a more just and equitable future. Conceived in 2016 through a collaborative effort of more than 55
Book excerpt: Nashville’s Amy Frogge used ‘grassroots resistance’ to counter corporate school reform - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Book excerpt: Nashville’s Amy Frogge used ‘grassroots resistance’ to counter corporate school reform From Diane Ravitch’s new boook, ‘Slaying Goliath’ Diane Ravitch’s new book, “ Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America’s Public Schools ,” introduces readers to advocates who she says have successfully fought off the people she calls “Disrupters, ”
DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? | A site to discuss better education for all

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? A site to discuss better education for all Arthur Camins’ Beautiful Review of SLAYING GOLIATH: “A Chronicle of Hope” by dianeravitch / 9min Arthur Camins wrote a beautiful review of SLAYING GOLIATH at The Daily Kos. In light of Camins’ experience as an educator and his passion for justice, I
It's Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... A VERY BUSY DAY | The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 ‘Make It Clear to Long-Term English-Learners That Their Voices Matter’ by Larry Ferlazzo / 12h is the headline of my latest Education Week Teacher column. In it, ix educators share advice on how to support Long-Term English-Language Learners, including emphasizing vocabulary development and academic l
Teachers Talk + 4 Tricks to Help Struggling Students - Teacher Habits

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Teachers Talk - Teacher Habits Teachers Talk I’ve often heard teachers remark of their principals, “It’s like they forgot what it’s like to be in the classroom.” School leaders who spent years as a teacher seem to lose their classroom perspective in short order as they adjust to their new administrative roles. Some seem to forget that teachers have no time. As in literally no extra minutes anywhe
Invest in Public Schools for ALL Children. Watch Out for Partners or Stakeholders!

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Invest in Public Schools for ALL Children. Watch Out for Partners or Stakeholders! Public schools should be for all children. The country should get behind and invest in public education and be careful about partners or those that call themselves stakeholders. These are business words that usually mean that public education must rely on outside companies to fund education. This means public scho
A Student's Guide to Voting in Michigan | Eclectablog

by Mike Simpson / 4d
A Student’s Guide to Voting in Michigan Editor’s note: Since they took control of the state government in 2010, Republicans in our state legislature and executive branch have made voting for students unnecessarily difficult and complex. That’s a feature for them, not a bug. I asked Barb to explain the process so that students living in Michigan have all of the facts on how they can vote in Michi
Announcing the Black Lives Matter at School 2020 Curriculum Resource Guide! – Black Lives Matter At School

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Announcing the Black Lives Matter at School 2020 Curriculum Resource Guide! The education committee of the National Black Lives Matter At School Week of Action is excited to announce the release of the brand new 2020 Curriculum Resource Guide –free, downloadable activities, resources, and actions to challenge racism, oppression and build justice-centered classrooms. These teaching activities and
‘Slaying Goliath’: Diane Ravitch argues in new book that public education advocates have beat back efforts to privatize schools - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Q&A: In ‘Slaying Goliath,’ Diane Ravitch argues public education advocates have beat back privatization efforts Education historian and activist Diane Ravitch is publishing a new book Tuesday, the latest in her years-long chronicling of how the modern school “reform” movement has harmed students, teachers and schools. A decade after her blockbuster book on the disastrous effects of the 2002 No C
The Future of Public Education Hinges on This Supreme Court Case | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 4d
The Future of Public Education Hinges on This Supreme Court Case Tomorrow, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a crucial case called Espinoza v. Montana. The goal of the Espinoza plaintiffs is to strike down state laws that prohibit public funding for religious schools. This is a case that could not only erase the line between church and state but could actually compel states
Diane Ravitch will be in Seattle on February 4th to discuss her latest book “Slaying Goliath” – Seattle Education

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Diane Ravitch will be in Seattle on February 4th to discuss her latest book “Slaying Goliath” Diane Ravitch Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America’s Public Schools Tuesday, February 4th 7:30 p.m. Town Hall Seattle 1119 8th Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 On February 4, 2020, Diane Ravitch will be speaking at Town Hall in Seattle about her new book Slay
NYC Educator: What If New York Had Not Been Enough for Boss Tweed?

by Mike Simpson / 4d
What If New York Had Not Been Enough for Boss Tweed? I'm watching a Mike Bloomberg commercial. Bloomberg runs them all day, on all channels, in English and Spanish. Michael Bloomberg doesn't need any stinking debates. He doesn't qualify for them because no one contributes to his campaign. He is literally out there trying to buy the presidency of the United States. Right now he doesn't seem to fi
"We Are All Reformers" (Part 5) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 4d
"We Are All Reformers" (Part 5) This five part series ends with my leaving high school and going to a commuter college in Pittsburgh. These five parts are drafts of what may become my next book, part analysis of school reform and part memoir. The working title of that book is “Confessions of a School Reformer.” In alternating chapters, the book will describe and analyze each of three reform move
Kira Orange-Jones Is Chairing La. BESE’s Superintendent Search | deutsch29

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Kira Orange-Jones Is Chairing La. BESE’s Superintendent Search On January 17, 2020, Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) president, Sandy Holloway, appointed the four BESE members who will form the work group that is supposed to offer full BESE names of candidates for Louisiana’s next state superintendent. (Click here for the press release.) This superintendent work group
Teacher Evaluation Recommendations Endorsed by the Educational Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association (APA) | VAMboozled!

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Teacher Evaluation Recommendations Endorsed by the Educational Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association (APA) Recently, the Educational Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association (APA) endorsed a set of recommendations, captured withing a research brief for policymakers, pertaining to best practices when evaluating teachers. The brief, that can be accessed

JAN 20

How fair is school funding in your state? - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Report: Wide disparities in how states/localities fund public schools. Here’s a state-by-state comparison. How much money do states and localities spend on public K-12 education nationwide? A new report reveals wide disparities in the amounts schools receive from state and local governments, which together appropriate most of the funding that K-12 districts receive. According to “Making the Grad
MLK's Advice to a Student Activist | Schott Foundation for Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 5d
MLK's Advice to a Student Activist “Often you are accomplishing much more than you can see at the moment because you are in the heart of the situation...” While the popular media narrative today — and at the time — posed the problem of segregation and racial inequality in the 1960s as a largely Southern problem, northern cities like Chicago, New York, and Boston were among the worst offenders. F
Before #BlackLivesMatter: The Roots of Black Digital Activism - Yes! Magazine

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Before #BlackLivesMatter: The Roots of Black Digital Activism n 2015, two colleagues—Deen Freelon and Meredith Clark—and I set out to better understand how Black Lives Matter emerged. Our report, Beyond the Hashtags, the Online Struggle for Offline Justice , crystalized then-NAACP president Cornell Brooks’ sentiment: “This isn’t your grandparents’ civil rights movement.” Our study showed us that
Lead poisoning hits low-income children harder than their affluent neighbors | Salon.com

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Lead poisoning hits low-income children harder than their affluent neighbors Children from low-income families may be more susceptible to toxic environmental hazards such as lead exposure I n 1904, John Lockhart Gibson , an Australian ophthalmologist, published a study blaming lead present in paint as the reason for impaired eye motion and sight in children. More than 100 years later, lead is no
‘I Am Somebody’: Landmark Documentary on 1969 Hospital Workers Strike's Enduring Lesson that Labor Rights are Civil Rights

by Mike Simpson / 5d
‘I Am Somebody’: A Landmark Documentary’s Enduring Lesson That Labor Rights Are Civil Rights In the spring of 1969, Coretta Scott King stood in front of a packed church in Charleston, S.C., to address a group of striking hospital workers. She wore a simple white dress and layered strands of necklaces, her pressed, shoulder-length hair nestled under a blue cap with 1199 written in large, white le
Dr. King Describes How to Achieve Greatness | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Dr. King Describes How to Achieve Greatness In the frontispiece to my new book SLAYING GOLIATH, I quoted four statements that represented different aspects of my book. One of them is a quotation from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that is not well-known. It comes from a speech called “The Drum Major Instinct,” which he delivered in the last spring of his life at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atla
Education Research Report TODAY

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Education Research Report TODAY Fnancial development entices low-income parents to substitute out of childrearing and into employment with adverse effects on children’s educatio by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 1h This study finds that among low-income families, regulatory reforms: increased mother’s employment hours, reduced parental supervision and parent-child discussions about school and college, an
The Dark Money Behind Union-Owned NPE: Time to Fess Up. | deutsch29

by Mike Simpson / 5d
The Dark Money Behind Union-Owned NPE: Time to Fess Up. On January 16, 2020, in an exchange with Forbes education contributor, blogger, and retired Pennsylvania English teacher Peter Greene on Twitter, Education Post CEO Chris Stewart asked about “dark money” behind groups supported by Greene: Peter Greene ✔ @palan57 · Jan 16, 2020 Replying to @NedStanley Show me. Show me where either group is l
I Can't Tell Them What They'll Do (Classrooms, Justice, and Legacies) | The Jose Vilson

by Mike Simpson / 5d
I CAN’T TELL THEM WHAT THEY’LL DO (CLASSROOMS, JUSTICE, AND LEGACIES) I arrive in my classroom every morning at around 7:20 am, 40 minutes before my students trickle in. The minute hand leans to the right while I drag my feet a few flights of stairs, coffee in hand, lesson plan in mind. A few rays of light creep into my room, usually hitting the likenesses of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
School Prayer Isn’t in Question, but Wednesday, Supreme Court Will Hear Important Church-State Separation Case | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 5d
School Prayer Isn’t in Question, but Wednesday, Supreme Court Will Hear Important Church-State Separation Case President Donald Trump made a splash last week pretending that students’ right to pray at school has been threatened. While this subject may appeal to his base, the law is settled on this matter. Education Week ‘s Evie Blad explains : “Courts have held that students may pray at school a
Call An End To Closing The Achievement Gap | Real Learning CT

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Call An End To Closing The Achievement Gap We hear so often, including from the new Connecticut Commissioner of Education, that the most important goal for K-12 education is to close the achievement gap. Well, what if it isn’t? What if that goal to have students affected by poverty and racism achieve standardized test scores as high as students of privilege is not only an impossible goal, becaus
Union democracy, PACs and dues. – Fred Klonsky

by Mike Simpson / 5d
UNION DEMOCRACY, PACS AND DUES When I was in charge of a Illinois Education Association local we were very careful about keeping dues money and political action money separated into totally different buckets. We had to be very careful, and I was warned over and over again by union leadership in Springfield – and by my IEA Uniserv Director – never to use my work computer for anything other than u
Support for best practices for digital device use in schools grows | Parents Across America

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Support for best practices for digital device use in schools grows Parents Across America-Roanoke Valley leader, Laura Bowman, shared the following email with Virginia Delegates who are considering a bill on best practices for digital device use in public schools. As the use of digital devices in schools continues to grow at unprecedented rates, it’s vitally important that the parent voice is he

JAN 19

CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: Saturday Snow Day (1/18)

by Mike Simpson / 6d
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Saturday Snow Day (1/18) Saturday Snow Day (1/18) A Saturday Snow Day is when the weather is so awful that adults are absolved of any obligation to go anywhere and get anything done. We were having one right now in NW PA, with Interstates shut down and folks huddled up home. It's not a bad thing. If you need something to read while you huddle, I've got you covered. Why Aesh
EdAction in Congress January 19, 2020 - Education Votes

by Mike Simpson / 6d
EdAction in Congress January 19, 2020 House rebukes DeVos plan to protect predatory for-profit colleges Betsy DeVos’ attempts to protect predatory for-profit colleges that have defrauded students—and to sabotage students’ ability to get debt relief from the federal government—hit a major roadblock in the U.S. House on Thursday. By a 231 to 180 vote , the House passed a resolution to block DeVos’
CURMUDGUCATION: OH: A Superintendent Who Gets The Problem of EdChoice

by Mike Simpson / 6d
OH: A Superintendent Who Gets The Problem of EdChoice Woodridge School District is located a bit north of Akron. The district is highly rated and has escaped the current Ohio school rating system with no low ratings. Which means they didn't have to speak out against the problems being created for districts across the state by the EdChoice program. But on their website, you'll find this message f
Ed Notes Online: Video of Appellate court arguments in class size lawsuit - January 13, 2020

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Video of Appellate court arguments in class size lawsuit - January 13, 2020 I reported on the Class Size Lawsuit: A Trip to Albany WIth Leonie Here is the video direct from the courtroom with Wendy Lecker's presentation and also the state and DOE response. As I pointed out - no presence from the UFT despite being asked to join the suit. Like I said, "That's like someone who is convicted of a cri
Why Aren’t More Teachers of the Year Leading Social Change? | Teacher in a strange land

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Why Aren’t More Teachers of the Year Leading Social Change? A friend just sent me a link to an article about Kelly Holstine, Minnesota Teacher of the Year, who, earlier this week, knelt, a la Colin Kaepernick, during the national anthem at an NCAA Football Championship game. Holstine said (in a tweet): Honored as State Teachers of the Year at NCAA Champ FB Game. Given platform to stand up for ma
Teacher Kneels at Football Game Attended by Trump

by Mike Simpson / 6d
We Still Kneeling in 2020: Former Teacher of the Year Takes a Knee at Game Attended by Trump I’ve always thought that if, on the fateful day when Colin Kaepernick chose to remain seated during the National Anthem in protest of police violence against black people, the media, zealous patriots and angry white people in general would’ve just ignored him and not made such a big to do about it, they
The Trump administration wants to weaken Obama’s school lunch rules. Again. - Vox

by Mike Simpson / 6d
The Trump administration wants to weaken Obama’s healthy school lunch rules. Again. On her birthday, the Department of Agriculture announced it plans to nix school lunch requirements championed by Michelle Obama. Friday marked the Trump administration’s second attempt at loosening regulations governing school meals that were implemented under former President Barack Obama. The administration’s l
NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY

by Mike Simpson / 6d
NewBlackMan (in Exile) Artist Otobong Nkanga: 'Imagining the Scars of a Landscape' | by Mark Anthony Neal / 20h ' Otobong Nkanga reflects on the politics of land and body through tapestry, drawing, photography, installation, video and performance. Her work engages with the difficult histories of land acquisition and ownership, as well as the processes and consequences of the extraction of natura
glen brown: “The solution is for students to go on strike until our institutions agree to pay adjuncts a fair wage” - Peter Jacobs

by Mike Simpson / 6d
“The solution is for students to go on strike until our institutions agree to pay adjuncts a fair wage” - Peter Jacobs “Universities, colleges and community colleges make heavy use of part-time professors and lecturers, known as ‘adjuncts.’ Chances are very good that if you’re a current college student, you’ve taken a class taught by an adjunct . “Although they make up a large chunk of college i
Ohio: How to “Fix” the State’s Disastrous Voucher Program | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Ohio: How to “Fix” the State’s Disastrous Voucher Program Piet van Lier of Policy Matters Ohio has some proposals to “fix” Ohio’s disastrous voucher program. The voucher program–called EdChoice–was recently amended to make 2/3 of the districts in the state liable to pay for vouchers for private and religious schools, many (or most) of which are not as good as the public schools. In addition, stu
2020 Medley #1: Religious Freedom Day and Vouchers | Live Long and Prosper

by Mike Simpson / 6d
2020 Medley #1: Religious Freedom Day and Vouchers RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY January 16 was Religious Freedom Day. In 1993 President George H. W. Bush declared January 16 to be Religious Freedom Day. On January 16, 1786, the Virginia House of Delegates, under the leadership of James Madison, passed Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom . In 1992, on that date, Virginia Governor L
NYC Educator: Bernie Sanders for President

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Bernie Sanders for President I'm tired of all the squabbling over electabily. Four years ago, I was lectured endlessly on it by all sorts of people. We have to get behind Hillary because she's electable. I voted for her against Donald Trump, but as far as I'm concerned, she wasn't quite electable enough. If she were, she'd be President. And I still hear from the same people that we need to selec
Reading Programs Put Reading Last – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Reading Programs Put Reading Last While rewatching Zombieland recently, I noticed that this version of the zombie genre was not only a blend of horror and comedy but also a slightly different take on the zombie mythology; a central character, Columbus (played by Jesse Eisenberg), embodies a motif focusing not on the zombies but on the survivors, and their survival techniques often grounded in an
LAUSD District 7’s Open Seat

by Mike Simpson / 6d
LAUSD District 7’s Open Seat What we really need in this country is a revolution in public education. ” – Bernie Sanders The members of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board are not known for having a long tenure. Of the seven members on the board, five were seated since 2014. Of these five, George McKenna (Board District 1) is the longest-serving, having been elected after his p

JAN 18



TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 1/18/20 #REDFORED #tbats

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 1/18/20 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 


Big Education Ape

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