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Saturday, June 27, 2020

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POSTS THIS WEEK 6/27/20






John Thompson: A Report from Tulsa after Trump’s Rally Fiasco | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6h
John Thompson: A Report from Tulsa after Trump’s Rally Fiasco John Thompson is a retired teacher and historian in Oklahoma. He writes: I previously posted on the Profiles in Courage of Tulsans who resisted President Donald Trump’s hideous rally that was appropriately characterized as “Come for the Racism, Stay for the Plague.” That was easy; it was primarily the medical profession that stood fir
Jeff Bryant on America’s Democrats Podcast: What it Will Take to Save Public Education from a Looming Catastrophe + DON’T OPEN A NEW CHARTER SCHOOL IN A PANDEMIC | Ed Politics
by Mike Simpson / 6h
Jeff Bryant on America’s Democrats Podcast: What it Will Take to Save Public Education from a Looming Catastrophe | Ed Politics JEFF BRYANT ON AMERICA’S DEMOCRATS PODCAST: WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO SAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM A LOOMING CATASTROPHE #485 : The post pandemic agenda. The Coronavirus pandemic is turning into a financial crisis for our nation’s schools. Jeff Bryant explains what it will take
As borrower claims languish, House fails to override Trump's student loan forgiveness veto | Salon.com
by Mike Simpson / 6h
As borrower claims languish, House fails to override Trump's student loan forgiveness veto The move comes as whistleblower allegations allege officials killed a loan forgiveness site for being too helpful The House of Representatives failed Friday to override President Donald Trump's veto of a bipartisan bill which would have restored Obama-era regulations to the student loan borrower defense pr
Gianna Was Right, Her Daddy Changed the World - Philly's 7th Ward
by Mike Simpson / 6h
GIANNA WAS RIGHT, HER DADDY CHANGED THE WORLD Four weeks ago, a Black man was lynched. In 2020. I remind myself of that fact each day so that I do not forget what we saw, what happened—that we witnessed a man take his last breath. In the days following, we watched people take to the streets, in the midst of a pandemic, willing to risk their health to fight against systemic and systematic racism.
HELP Committee chair calls for federal aid to help schools reopen safely - Education Votes
by Mike Simpson / 6h
HELP Committee chair calls for federal aid to help schools reopen safely To help schools and colleges reopen safely this fall, retiring Senate HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) is calling on the federal government to provide additional funding—though not nearly as much as educators have sought. “The surest step back to normalcy in our country is when 70-75 million college and high scho
Harley Litzelman: Cops Don’t Keep Kids Safe at School | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 8h
Harley Litzelman: Cops Don’t Keep Kids Safe at School Harvey Litzelman, a teacher in California, explains why police don’t make schools safe. When he first entered teaching, before he ever got any lessons about teaching, he was shown a video about how to handle a school shooter. The video was called “Run Hide Defend.” It made clear that the teacher was the first line of defense for students. He
NYC Educator: Another Letter from the Chancellor
by Mike Simpson / 8h
Another Letter from the Chancellor Dear Colleagues, Today is the last day of the most challenging, most intense school year we have ever experienced. You got tossed into the deep end, and I shaved my mustache. Every single one of you confronted major disruptions to your lives, which often imposed great stress on you and your families. And yet I still plan to fire thousands of you so I can hire p
CURMUDGUCATION: TN: When Charters Abandon The Community
by Mike Simpson / 8h
TN: When Charters Abandon The Community So here we go again. Another angry piece written about the abrupt closing of a charter school -- two, actually. This time it's a pair of KIPP schools in Memphis. The closings were announced in April , the reasoning a little fuzzy. KIPP Memphis Preparatory Elementary and KIPP Memphis Preparatory Middle were par of Tennessee's failed experiment, the Achievem
This Week With Newblackman (In Exile)
by Mike Simpson / 8h
NewBlackMan (in Exile) Music and Visuals: "Lockdown" -- Anderson .Paak by Mark Anthony Neal / 16h Visuals for "Lockdown" by Anderson .Paak Music and Visuals: “Freeze Tag" – Dinner Party (Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington & 9th Wonder) feat. Phoelix by Mark Anthony Neal / 17h Visuals for "Freeze Tag", the lead single from Dinner Party , the eponymous debut of the super-group Terra
THIS WEEK Education Research Report
by Mike Simpson / 8h
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report For black students, positive impact of high-dosage reading tutoring for middle school students by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 3d This study examines the impact on student achievement of high-dosage reading tutoring for middle school students in New York City public schools, using a school-level randomized field experiment. Across three years
SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS UPDATE Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 8h
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS UPDATE Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Excellent Book Review For “The Social Studies Teacher’s Toolbox” by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h PatternPictures / Pixabay This Social Studies Compendium Is a Keeper is the headline of a new
KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all
by Mike Simpson / 8h
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 Harley Litzelman: Cops Don’t Keep Kids Safe at School by dianeravitch / 4min Harvey Litzelman, a teacher in California, explains why police don’t make schools safe. When he first entered teaching, before he ever got any lessons about teaching, he
SBE Agenda for July 2020 - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 8h
SBE Agenda for July 2020 Agenda for the California State Board of Education (SBE) meeting on July 8-9, 2020. Important Notice Please note, the July 2020 State Board of Education meeting will be held as a teleconference; Room 1101 (board room) will be closed to the public. Please see SBE Meeting Logistics section below for options to view and participate in the meeting. State Board Members Linda

YESTERDAY

Jersey Jazzman: What an Actual School Reopening Plan Looks Like
by Mike Simpson / 1d
What an Actual School Reopening Plan Looks Like Several states, particularly in the Northeast, have begun releasing their plans to reopen K-12 schools. Connecticut, for example, just released a plan yesterday; New Jersey is scheduled to release one today. I'm going to hold off commenting on any individual state's plans for now. Instead, I'm going to sketch out what I think a statewide plan for r
2020 Medley #13 — Scientific Ignorance and American Anti-Intellectualism | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 1d
2020 Medley #13 — Scientific Ignorance and American Anti-Intellectualism A VACCINE FOR CONSPIRACY THEORIES Conspiracy Theories The internet has opened the door for Americans to gain wide-ranging expanded knowledge…but, as Isaac Asimov wrote , “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” With that expanded knowledge comes expanded fa
The Struggle for No Police in the Los Angeles Schools - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 1d
The Struggle for No Police in the Los Angeles Schools A great leap forward and victory is in sight O n Tuesday, June 23, in Los Angeles, the decade’s long struggle for No Police in the Schools had a major breakthrough. Los Angeles School Board member Monica Garcia introduced the most structural and hopeful motion to make “defund the police” a reality. Her motion, expressing gratitude to the nati
Memphis: Two KIPP Charters Close Suddenly, Stranding Students | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Memphis: Two KIPP Charters Close Suddenly, Stranding Students David Pettiette is a CPA who volunteered at a KIPP elementary school in Memphis. He was shocked when two KIPP schools suddenly closed their doors and left their families scrambling for a new school. He wrote: In April, it was announced that KIPP Memphis Preparatory Elementary and KIPP Memphis Preparatory Middle on Corry Road would be
Steven Singer: Standardized Testing Increase School Segregation - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Standardized Testing Increase School Segregation - LA Progressive Standardized Testing Increase School Segregation L et’s say your community has two schools. One serves mostly white students and the other serves mostly black students. How do you eliminate such open segregation? After all, in 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down school segregation in Brown vs. Board of Education as essentially
What’s The Alternative To Police In Schools? - PopularResistance.Org
by Mike Simpson / 1d
WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE TO POLICE IN SCHOOLS? Restorative Justice. Restorative justice programs have already proven effective at Chicago Public Schools, but lack the level of funding budgeted for the district’s contract with the Chicago Police Department. Thousands of Chicagoans have rallied in the past couple weeks behind the demand that Chicago Public Schools end its relationship with the polic
Pandemic Parenting Was Already Relentless. Then Came Summer. - The New York Times
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Pandemic Parenting Was Already Relentless. Then Came Summer. A survey shows that parents feel increasing pressure to make up for children’s lost educational and enrichment time. American parents spend more time and money on their children than ever — and that was before the pandemic. Now, with remote school ending for the summer and a far-from-normal fall expected, parenting is becoming only mor
Budgeting for the Public Good | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Budgeting for the Public Good Public schools—publicly funded, universally available, and accountable to the public, while imperfect, are essential for ensuring that all children are served. Public schools are the optimal way to balance the needs of each particular child and family with the need to create a system that secures the rights and addresses the needs of all children. Our society has im
Audio: Education Dept. Rule Limits How Schools Can Spend Vital Aid Money | 89.3 KPCC
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Education Dept. Rule Limits How Schools Can Spend Vital Aid Money In a new rule announced Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos signaled she is standing firm on her intention to reroute millions of dollars in coronavirus aid money to K-12 private school students. The CARES Act rescue package included more than $13 billion to help public schools cover pandemic-related costs. The move
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the 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 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... Video: Stephen Colbert’s Show Last Night – “Dr. Ibram X. Kendi: Creating A More Equitable Society Is In White Americans’ Self Interest” by Larry Ferlazzo / 5h I’m adding this new video from last night’s Stephen Colbert’s show to New & Revised: Res
SSPI to Explore Data on School Police - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 1d
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Outlines Efforts to Explore Data on School Police, Expand Understanding of Ethnic Studies SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on Wednesday outlined two upcoming efforts the California Department of Education (CDE) will lead in the coming weeks as schools tackle questions surrounding educational equity and racial justice. The firs
“Parents Need to Go to Work” Does Not Stop COVID at the School Door. | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 1d
“Parents Need to Go to Work” Does Not Stop COVID at the School Door . When I hear discussions about schools reopening in the fall, I already know what two chief reasons will be offered. One is that students need to be educated. Of course they do, and as a career teacher, I desire to educate. I have dedicated my professional life to educating generations of children, and I miss being at school, i

JUN 25

Schools Need $245 Billion From Federal Government to Reopen Safely | Education News | US News
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Schools Need $245 Billion to Reopen Safely, State Education Chiefs Estimate The cost estimate is the biggest yet from a national education organization. SCHOOLS WILL NEED AS much as $245 billion in additional federal support to safely reopen in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, a new estimate from the Council of Chief State School Officers shows. The cost estimate – the biggest yet from a n
Grassroots Partners are Making #PoliceFreeSchools a Reality. | Schott Foundation for Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Grassroots Partners are Making #PoliceFreeSchools a Reality . Demonstrations across the U.S. over the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many others who have died at the hands of police brutality have further exposed our deeply racist and oppressive police system. The weight of this moment, created by a tidal wave of organizing and mobilization, has forced public school
Monuments of Honor, Monuments of Shame – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Monuments of Honor, Monuments of Shame Gun advocates often proclaim that guns don’t kill people, but that people kill people. Of course, this has a kernel of truth to it while also glossing over the inherent violent potential in those guns. That sort of truth can also be applied to any published text. The enslavement of Black people in the U.S. was supported by citing Biblical passages among, fo
What Teachers Are Worth - Teacher Habits
by Mike Simpson / 2d
What Teachers Are Worth My childhood ended on the afternoon I tried to sell a Tony Fernandez rookie card. Dad had driven me to the next town over because I was hoping to complete a set of 1985 Topps baseball cards. I was six short, and in those pre-Internet days, the only way to get your hands on missing singles was to trade for them or buy them. I was going to buy mine and Dad, to his credit, h
Oakland Schools Police Department abolished unanimously – Raw Story
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Oakland Schools Police Department abolished unanimously The George Floyd Resolution to Eliminate the Oakland Schools Police Department passes the school board unanimously in a Wednesday vote. Board president Jody London reportedly said that the district is conducting negotiations with police unions, which “will result in new roles to cultivate a positive culture and climate,” said reporter Ashle
Sacramento City Schools Consider Ending Police Contract For School Resource Officers - capradio.org
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Sacramento City Schools Consider Ending Police Contract For School Resource Officers The Sacramento City Unified School District is considering fully divesting from the Sacramento Police Department. The district currently has a contract for a little over $500,000 with the police department, set to expire on June 30. But in light of recent nationwide discussions and the killing of George Floyd by
Why Sacramento fails California — and itself – Orange County Register
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Why Sacramento fails California — and itself There may be no better symbol of Sacramento’s failure as California’s capital than the 18-foot -tall stainless-steel sculpture outside the city’s downtown sports arena. The work, by famed contemporary artist Jeff Koons, cost the city and the arena’s tenant, the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, $8 million. Its official name is “Coloring Book #4” but it’s really
David Berliner: The Value of a College Education in the Humanities | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 2d
David Berliner: The Value of a College Education in the Humanities David Berliner is one of the nation’s most eminent researchers of education. I am delighted that he sends original posts to me. I have informed him that “mi casa es su casa,” and he is always welcome here. Why Universities Need Support, Need to Stay Open, and Need to Have Their Students on Campus David C. Berliner Regents Profess
Will Schools Reopen in the Fall? - The Atlantic
by Mike Simpson / 2d
The School Reopeners Think America Is Forgetting About Kids Jennifer Nuzzo hopes to send her kids to camp this summer, but like many parents, she’s a little worried about it. The camp she selected for her son requires kids to wear masks, and she thinks he might get overheated. Other than that, though, she sees little problem with kids attending an outdoor camp this summer. And the same goes for
CURMUDGUCATION: CA: Charter Decides To Grab A Small Business Loan
by Mike Simpson / 2d
CA: Charter Decides To Grab A Small Business Loan Palisades Charter High School has a lot of history . When launched in 1961, it was the most expensive high school in the LA City School system. The state grabbed the farm property through eminent domain; previous residents included the daughter if Francis X. Bushman , and Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. Members of the Class of '65 were the basi
CURMUDGUCATION: CA: San Diego Charter Versus The Evil Union
by Mike Simpson / 2d
CA: San Diego Charter Versus The Evil Union This week you may have run across a piece entitled " How the Union Stopped Innovation at My School. " The piece, which has turned up in numerous California outlets, was written by Jessica Chapman, a teacher at Gompers Preparatory Academy . Chapman's story has been steadily promoted by For Kids and Country , the organization run by Rebecca Friedrichs ,
The Reality Check: "LET'S HAVE OUR VOICES COUNT!"
by Mike Simpson / 2d
"LET'S HAVE OUR VOICES COUNT!" Black education unionists call for an avalanche of protests for racial justice Calling for justice in a huge demonstration in the Port of Oakland For weeks, hundreds of thousands of people have filled the streets of 160 cities across the country, even during the coronavirus pandemic, expressing their outrage and grief at the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. T
Budget cuts at NYC Department of Education may threaten student privacy | Parent Coalition for Student Privacy
by Mike Simpson / 2d
BUDGET CUTS AT NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MAY THREATEN STUDENT PRIVACY The following was written by a concerned stakeholder who prefers to stay anonymous. One wonders if the budget savings involved in DOE’s decision to cut the only part-time staff assistant vetting research proposals is worth risking student privacy. NYC public school students are diverse demographically, culturally, linguistic
Landmark Ruling Protects LGBTQ Workers, But the Work is Far From Over
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Landmark Ruling Protects LGBTQ Workers, But the Work is Far From Over Until recently, it was legal in more than half of the states to fire workers for being gay, bisexual, or transgender. A Florida educator, for example, married her wife on Saturday and was fired on Monday. In another case, an Oregon educator was named teacher of the year—in part because of his LGBTQ advocacy—and attended a Whit
Mayor threatens even more budget cuts; send your letters today! | Class Size Matters
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Mayor threatens even more budget cuts; send your letters today! | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes Mayor threatens even more budget cuts; send your letters today! Friends– Update: The NYC budget is due June 30, a week from today. This morning, Mayor de Blasio announced that he is considering another $1 billion in cuts, which would necessitate
Unchartered Territory: County Charter Schools Take $15.8M in Federal Small Biz Loans – NBC 7 San Diego
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Unchartered Territory: County Charter Schools Take $15.8M in Federal Small Biz Loans Publicly funded charter schools in San Diego County have received more than $15.8 million through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP,) a federal government fund aimed at helping small businesses from shutting down during the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the recipients include large charter school companies wi

JUN 24

In California budget deal, no cuts for K-12 but billions in late payments to schools | EdSource
69by Mike Simpson / 3d
In California budget deal, no cuts for K-12 but billions in late payments to schools Layoff protections for teachers and some but not all school employees Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders announced Monday that they have reached an agreement on the 2020-21 budget that will preserve spending for K-12 schools and community colleges at current levels but potentially could result in funding
Michigan Republicans Attempt to Get Out Ahead in Back-to-School Policy | Teacher in a strange land
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Michigan Republicans Attempt to Get Out Ahead in Back-to-School Policy The first thing I did when I retired from teaching was embark on a PhD program in education policy. When I enrolled, my advisor wondered immediately why a newly retired teacher would want to study education policy. She thought I should be in the teacher education program—or maybe the ed leadership division, with all the wanna
NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY
by Mike Simpson / 3d
NewBlackMan (in Exile) Jennifer L. Eberhardt: How Racial Bias Works—and How to Disrupt It by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h 'Our brains create categories to make sense of the world, recognize patterns and make quick decisions. But this ability to categorize also exacts a heavy toll in the form of unconscious bias. In this powerful talk, psychologist Jennifer L. Eberhardt explores how our biases unfairl
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Every Teacher Who Has Ever Felt Pressured To Present “Both Sides” Of An Event Or Belief Should Read This Article by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h Some believe that it’s important for teachers to provide complete “objectivity” in the classroom, and treat both sides of events and beliefs equally. I believe that i
White People, We Need to be Responsible for Our Own Racism | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
White People, We Need to be Responsible for Our Own Racism Hey, White people. We need to talk. You may be watching all these protests and demonstrations lately and be wondering what they have to do with you. After all, you didn’t kill George Floyd . You didn’t put up a Confederate statue . You didn’t call the police on a Black person just because he was being Black . At least, I hope you didn’t.
Teacher Tom: A New Better Normal
by Mike Simpson / 3d
A New Better Normal Whenever I hear someone talk about the "new normal," I find myself listening with a sense of foreboding, as if it's a phrase from Orwell's Newspeak lexicon. It's as if people are trying to put a positive spin on a world without live theater or lively bars; where human contact is largely limited to waves and winks; where everyone is working from basement offices with screens a
The Standardized Testing Horror Show is Not Over!
by Mike Simpson / 3d
The Standardized Testing Horror Show is Not Over! Several well-received reports and blog posts provide hope that high-stakes standardized testing is reaching the end of its days. Good riddance! But before parents, educators, and students relax, it’s important to realize this horror show is not over. Think of the movie Carrie. The audience shivers through the scary scenes. It wraps up. Then, Step
No Matter What Trump Says, School Choice Is Not the Civil Rights Issue of our Times | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 3d
No Matter What Trump Says, School Choice Is Not the Civil Rights Issue of our Times Twice in the past couple of weeks, President Donald Trump has been out promoting school choice as the civil rights issue of our times. Trump went to Dallas,Texas, supposedly to discuss the recent tragic police killings of unarmed African Americans. The Washington Post ‘s Valerie Strauss describes what happened: “
Whatever Happened to the Platoon School? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Whatever Happened to the Platoon School? Huh? The Platoon School? My hunch is that very few readers have ever heard of this widespread Progressive reform that began in Gary (IN) in 1907. Praised by John Dewey and Evelyn Dewey in 1915 , the innovative way of schooling native, migrant, and immigrant children (and their parents) established by Superintendent William Wirt (who served as superintende
NEA President: Educators Are Finding Unique Ways to Reach, Teach and Inspire
by Mike Simpson / 3d
NEA President: Educators Are Finding Unique Ways to Reach, Teach and Inspire When the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools, the work of public school educators didn’t stop. It went into overdrive as they figured out ways to feed students who rely on school meals, provide creative ways to keep instruction going (online and offline, when necessary) and make regular check-ins with students and families
My Personal COVID-Protection Plan | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 3d
My Personal COVID-Protection Plan I teach high school. In my professional world, universal social distancing and mask-wearing on campus are aspirational, not practical. So, I have been working on a plan to distance myself from contracting COVID to the best of my ability, if/when I am teaching on campus in 2020-21. Here are my plans and the thinking that led up to them: I can contract COVID via m
White Teachers, White Activists: Anti-racist Work (#1) | Educate All Students, Support Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 3d
White Teachers, White Activists: Anti-racist Work (#1) I plan to post a number of articles and commentary on the role of white teachers and white activists in this transformative time. “If you are not prepared to change your thinking, you are not prepared to make real change.” “The teachers of Black youth must believe in them. They must have faith in them and their community. They must trust the
Success Academy Spokesperson Resigns to Protest “Racist and Abusive” Practices | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Success Academy Spokesperson Resigns to Protest “Racist and Abusive” Practices Alex Zimmerman of Chalkbeat wrote today that a spokesperson for Success Academy , New Tork City’s largest charter chain, resigned to protest “abusive” practices at the schools. A spokesperson for New York City’s largest charter network resigned in protest, stating she can no longer defend Success Academy’s “racist and
CURMUDGUCATION: Trump Back DeVos On Soaking Scammed Students
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Trump Back DeVos On Soaking Scammed Students Trump has mostly ignored DeVos and the education department (insert joke about Trump and education here), but he's now decided to jump in, with both feet, right onto the backs of people scammed by for-profit colleges. This story has been dragging on for-freakin-ever. In 2017, 18 states and DC sued DeVos over her stated intention of ignoring/rewriting
REOPENING SCHOOLS | The Merrow Report
by Mike Simpson / 3d
REOPENING SCHOOLS Here’s a letter I just received from an experienced K-4 school principal. Dear John, You asked how I would go about reopening schools this fall. My answer focuses on the schools I know best, K-grade 4, but I believe these ideas are applicable at all levels of public education. Others proposals, including those from teacher unions , Education Week , and think tanks, concentrate

JUN 23

Stronger Together Guidebook Video Overview - Health Services & School Nursing (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Stronger Together Guidebook Video Overview Dr. Stephanie Gregson, Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction for the California Department of Education, provides an overview of the CDE guidance, "Stronger Together: A Guidebook for the Safe Reopening of California's Public Schools". This video is 5 minutes and 44 seconds in length. Additional Information Stronger Together Guidebook Stronge
NYC Educator: More Questions on Hybrid Learning
by Mike Simpson / 4d
More Questions on Hybrid Learning Here's another photo of the hybrid Rav4 I bought from Toyota. It's supposed to run over 500 miles on a tank of gas, but the gas tank will not fill. Toyota says they're working on a fix, but they've been telling me that since September. I'm rapidly losing faith in hybrids, and I'm not well-disposed toward trying a new one at this juncture. I just had a column in
Defunding the police in Detroit schools: A youth perspective | Eclectablog
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Defunding the police in Detroit schools: A youth perspective The following essay was written by students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. At a time when the Overton Window view about the role of policing in our society is shifting ever more to the left, their voice is important and deserves to be heard. Organized by the group 482Forward which is working for a quality education f
Audio: Why There's A Push To Get Police Out Of Schools | 89.3 KPCC
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Why There's A Push To Get Police Out Of Schools At least two-thirds of American high school students attend a school with a police officer, according to the Urban Institute , and that proportion is higher for students of color. Now, the national uprising for racial justice has led to a push to remove police officers from security positions inside schools. School systems in Minneapolis , Milwauke
For Police-Free Schools: The Loving Communities Response Fund for Racial Justice | Schott Foundation for Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 4d
For Police-Free Schools: The Loving Communities Response Fund for Racial Justice You’ve seen the videos of the devastating impact of police violence against people of color in the streets. As you express outrage — and take action, we urge you to look deeper. Look within our schools. Watch the video of a police officer slamming a high school girl to the ground and dragging her from her classroom
Update on Efforts to Expand Internet Access - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 4d
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Digital Divide Task Force Receive Update on Multiple Efforts to Expand Internet Access for All State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and leaders serving on the Closing the Digital Divide Task Force received a progress report Friday on multiple ongoing efforts and commitments made to date to expand services for the state’s most vulnerable students and families
Jesse Hagopian: Why Seattle Educators Demand Cut to Police Budget | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Jesse Hagopian: Why Seattle Educators Demand Cut to Police Budget Jesse Hagopian is a high school teacher and social justice activist in Seattle. He has been a leading force on behalf of Black Lives Matter Movement. He wrote this opinion article for the Seattle Times to explain why Seattle educators want money redirected from policing to social services. He writes: Seattle’s Education Associatio
Imagine if coronavirus school closures were permanent
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Now imagine if your school closed for good Coronavirus school closures give us a glimpse into the experience of tens of thousands of families in urban neighborhoods where schools shuttered permanently Adapted and reprinted from Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities by Andre Perry, with permission from Brookings Institution Press, © 2020 by Brookings Institut
Valerie Strauss: Is the Obsession with Standardized Testing Ending? | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Valerie Strauss: Is the Obsession with Standardized Testing Ending? Standardized testing has been used in American schools for a century, though never on the scale of the past twenty years. It first was introduced into some schools as IQ tests, which were used (wrongly) to judge students’ innate ability and to assign them to different tracks, which then determined their life outcomes. I wrote ab
SSO COVID-19 Protective Mask Supply Survey - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 4d
SSO COVID-19 Protective Mask Supply Survey Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page This is the second survey being sent to our Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors in order to assist our sponsoring agencies who are serving their community during the 2020 summer season. The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division is assessing the protective mask needs for SSO program op
NYC Educator: The Future's Uncertain and the End Is Always Near
by Mike Simpson / 4d
NYC Educator: UFT Executive Board June 22, 2020 --The Future's Uncertain and the End Is Always Near UFT Executive Board June 22, 2020 --The Future's Uncertain and the End Is Always Near 5:50 Roll Call— 6:00 UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr —Thanks us for calling in. Minutes have passed via email. Reminds us to get out and vote tomorrow, that it’s important to have our voices heard. UFT President Michael

JUN 22

Union to California’s teachers: Brace for cuts steeper than the Great Recession
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Union to California’s teachers: Brace for cuts steeper than the Great Recession CTA President Toby Boyd said forthcoming cuts will be “like nothing we’ve ever seen,” projecting loss of up to 50,000 teachers In a signal that California public education leaders are bracing for the possibility of drastic funding cuts, the state’s teachers association is counseling local unions how to forestall the
Hundreds of parents, teachers, and educators rallied in front of the U.S. Dept. of Education to demand change for Black students.| wusa9.com
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Black Students Matter rally calls for equity in education | wusa9.com ‘Please don't call me your average Black boy’ | Black Students Matter rally highlights disparities in education Hundreds of parents, teachers, and educators rallied in front of the U.S. Dept. of Education to demand change for Black students . WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Hundreds of families, educators, and students kicked off Junetee
More Cartoons on Covid-19 Pandemic | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 5d
More Cartoons on Covid-19 Pandemic I have selected cartoons I have not used before. Enjoy1 More Cartoons on Covid-19 Pandemic: More Cartoons on Covid-19 Pandemic | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
The often ugly reality black students face in our schools - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 5d
The often ugly reality black students face in our schools While protesters are taking to the streets of America to protest police brutality and racial injustice, black and other students and alumni of color are using social media to tell personal stories of racism that they encountered in school — public and private, K-12 and college. The posts are mostly anonymous, often on pages that are speci
Betsy DeVos is an abysmal failure and our nation’s schoolchildren are paying the price - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Betsy DeVos is an abysmal failure and our nation’s schoolchildren are paying the price Months after schools across the country closed to stop the spread of the coronavirus , it’s still not clear how, or even if, children can safely return to classrooms in the coming weeks and months. Despite the best efforts of teachers suddenly plunged into teaching remotely, the loss of learning has been stagg
A Conversation in 2020 with James Baldwin’s “Letter from a Region in My Mind” – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 5d
A Conversation in 2020 with James Baldwin’s “Letter from a Region in My Mind” One of the worst forms of propaganda about text and reading in formal schooling is that any text has a fixed meaning, independent of the reader, the reader’s history, or the writer and the writer’s history. Traditionally, K-12 schooling, often in English courses, has implemented a very reduced version of New Criticism
OPINION: ‘For our many Black and Brown children, the threats to their physical safety now and into the future are eating away at their insides’
by Mike Simpson / 5d
OPINION: Trauma hurts our kids. Here's how educators can help address it Ways that teachers and schools can intervene to help students through traumatic events Our students are traumatized. They are living with fear and confusion. They are experiencing or witnessing police violence, rioting and looting. And schools, a place where children typically process events and emotions, are shuttered. Wha
Virtual Charter Industry Expecting Big Growth and Profits Due to Pandemic | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Virtual Charter Industry Expecting Big Growth and Profits Due to Pandemic The virtual charter industry is anticipating growth in enrollments and profits, thanks to the pandemic. The largest of the virtual charters is the K12 Inc. virtual charter chain, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, whose revenues exceeded $1 billion this year. Executives haul in big salaries (one of K12’s founders, Ron
A VERY BUSY DAY: Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... Video: “Who Is Responsible For Climate Change? – Who Needs To Fix It?” by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h geralt / Pixabay I’m adding this new video to The Best Sites To Learn About Climate Change . You can see all the data appearing in the video here . Video
If High Stakes Standardized Testing Fades, Lots of Awful Punishments for Students, Teachers, and Schools Would Disappear | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 5d
If High Stakes Standardized Testing Fades, Lots of Awful Punishments for Students, Teachers, and Schools Would Disappear In yesterday’s Washington Pos t, Valerie Strauss published a very hopeful column: It Looks Like the Beginning of the End of America’s Obsession with Student Standardized Tests . I hope she is right. Her column covers current efforts to stop the requirement for college entrance
There is no easy calculation for September | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 5d
There is no easy calculation for September At Wednesday’s United Federation of Teachers Delegate Assembly and again at Thursday’s UFT Town Hall, President Michael Mulgrew made the point clearly: “Socially Distanced Capacity” divided by “# of Teachers” ≠ “Number of ‘cohorts'” If you listened in, you heard him explain. Say you have a fourth grade with 200 kids. 8 teachers. Given your capacity, you
CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: Fathers Day Edition (6/21
by Mike Simpson / 5d
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Fathers Day Edition (6/21 Fathers Day Edition I've had my hands full elsewhere, and have been spending refreshingly little time on line, but I still have a few goodies to pass along. Remember, sharing is caring, What Teachers Want American Education Research Journal has some research about what it takes to attract and retain teachers. A fun conversation starter. Looking for
Reopening Schools and Debunking Demagoguery | tultican
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Reopening Schools and Debunking Demagoguery By Thomas Ultican 6/21/2020 Education professionals throughout America are feverishly engaged in preparing for the first school year in the unprecedented Sars-Cov-2 era. Simultaneously, demagogues are pushing an often uninformed agenda. For example, congressmen Jim Banks of Indiana and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin have introduced legislation to force all s

JUN 21

Happy Father's Day 2020: Date, Wishes, Quotes, Images, History, Importance and why we celebrate Father's day
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Father’s Day 2020: Date, History, and significance of the day Happy Father's Day 2020 Date: While the dates vary from country to country, the day is largely celebrated on the third Sunday in June. As such, this year, it will be celebrated on June 21. Happy Father’s Day 2020: As the name suggests, Father’s Day is a special occasion that commemorates fathers and father figures around the world, an
EdAction in Congress June 21, 2020 - Education Votes
by Mike Simpson / 6d
EdAction in Congress June 21, 2020 Pringle tells lawmakers 1 in 5 educators face layoffs due to COVID-19 In testimony before the House Education and Labor Committee on June 15, NEA Vice President Becky Pringle stressed the urgent need for immediate action on the next coronavirus package. In just three months, nearly half a million public education jobs have been lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Indiana: Can the State Afford Vouchers? | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Indiana: Can the State Afford Vouchers? Karen Francisco, editor of the editorial page of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, is grateful that Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will not cut the budget of the state’s schools, but wonders whether the state can afford to maintain more than one system of publicly-funded schools. She might well have also asked whether the state can afford a third system of pr
Paul Horton: Violence Against Blacks During Reconstruction | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Paul Horton: Violence Against Blacks During Reconstruction In response to the murder of George Floyd, as well as the murders of other African Americans in recent months, the media, historians, teachers, and others are reviewing the long history of vicious racism in this country and calling for structural changes. The challenge of our time is to look deeply into our institutions and not let this
NYC Educator: I Read the Post Today, Oh Boy
by Mike Simpson / 6d
I Read the Post Today, Oh Boy Yesterday Sue Edelman wrote about how three 200K administrators were jumping ship amidst a pandemic. The article characterized them as leaving the Titanic, but I see it very differently. We're hearing all sorts of things about cuts to actual instruction in the fall, dire cries of budget woes and the need to balance a budget. If the three of these desk jockeys make 6
Victor Ray and Alan Aja: Education Won’t Save Us from Racism | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Victor Ray and Alan Aja: Education Won’t Save Us from Racism Victor Ray and Alan Aja argue in this article that appeared in the Washington Post that racism can’t be “fixed” by more education. Plenty of highly educated people are racist. The root of racism, they argue, is systematic inequality of resources and access to power. Prescribing education as the cure for racism often confuses individual
Mike Klonsky's Blog: Dad was a 'premature anti-fascist'
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Dad was a 'premature anti-fascist' Photograph by Peter Stackpole for Life Magazine (1937). Our dad was one of the original real antifas back in '37. This, a far cry from today's Antifa, a mythical group that exists mainly in MAGA nightmares, the media, and on Donald Trump's proposed list of domestic "terrorist" organizations. Just in his teens, he hopped a freighter, crossed the Pyrenees, and fo
Ask Dads How to Reimagine Public Schools!
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Ask Dads How to Reimagine Public Schools! I would like much better feedback to parents of what their kids need to work on. ~Stuart Jenner, Parent Advocate Dads can be powerful workers at saving public education. Many dads are teachers and parents and they go to bat for their children more than on the baseball field. They recognize that education is important for all children, not just their own
North Carolina: Join Jen Mangrum on June 25 to Learn About Her Campaign to Become State Chief | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
North Carolina: Join Jen Mangrum on June 25 to Learn About Her Campaign to Become State Chief Please join Jen Mangrum in her important campaign for state superintendent of education in North Carolina, a post that has been held by an ineffectual Republican supporter of charters, vouchers, and other Tea Party policies for the past four years. Jen is an experienced educator and a woman with guts. S
The beginning of the end of our obsession with standardized tests - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 6d
It looks like the beginning of the end of America’s obsession with student standardized tests America has been obsessed with student standardized tests for nearly 20 years. Now it looks like the country is at the beginning of the end of our high-stakes testing mania — both for K-12 “accountability” purposes and in college admissions. When President George W. Bush signed the K-12 No Child Left Be
Strummin’ on the Old Banjo | Teacher in a strange land
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Strummin’ on the Old Banjo About twenty years ago, I served on the team of teachers who crafted the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification assessment for music teachers. The 16-member team was carefully drawn from an array of music education specialists, with an eye toward balance. Balance between K-12 and higher ed, vocal and instrumental music, male and female, geogra
A VERY BUSY DAY: Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL by Larry Ferlazzo / 4min BiljaST / Pixabay Six years ago I began this regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general that have caught my attent
NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY
by Mike Simpson / 6d
NewBlackMan (in Exile) History of Black Cowboys by Mark Anthony Neal / 9h 'Author Walter Thompson-Hernández joins All Of It to discuss his book The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America's Urban Heartland and the history of black cowboys in America.' Revisiting 'Paris is Burning' by Mark Anthony Neal / 10h 'Director Jennie Livingston joins All Of It to discuss the legacy of th

JUN 20

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 6/20/20 #REDFORED #tbats #ICantBreathe #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #justiceforfloyd #BlackLivesMatter
by Mike Simpson / 7d
Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 6/20/20 ‘Slaying Goliath’: Diane Ravitch argues in new book that public education advocates have beat back efforts to privatize schools - The Washington Post The real story of New 


Big Education Ape
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