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Saturday, August 29, 2020

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/29/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #BidenHarris2020 #SAFETYFIRST

 Big Education Ape



TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/29/20



TOP POSTS THIS MONTH 8/29/20



POSTS THIS WEEK 8/29/20



TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/29/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #BidenHarris2020 #SAFETYFIRST
by Mike Simpson / 16min
Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/29/20 ‘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 Orleans and its charter schools - The Washington Post TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/22/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #BidenHarris2020 #SAFETYFIRST As Schools Reopen, A
Mitchell Robinson: A Teacher's Summer (Off) Story… | Eclectablog
by Mike Simpson / 16min
A Teacher's Summer (Off) Story… | Eclectablog A Teacher’s Summer (Off) Story… I got an email from our school’s business manager on Friday at 5:11pm with an “emergency request” to complete a new required training module. The deadline for completing this module? The following Monday morning. As usual, the “system” didn’t allow me to even start the training module–some sort of IT glitch I assume–so
Shawgi Tell: Cyber Charter School Disasters About to Worsen | Dissident Voice
by Mike Simpson / 16min
Cyber Charter School Disasters About to Worsen | Dissident Voice Cyber Charter School Disasters About to Worsen Recent news reports suggest that more parents and students are flocking to privately-owned-operated online charter schools, presumably due to concerns about the “COVID Pandemic.” 1 Parents, students, teachers, and the public at large should be aware that: The overall “academic performan
Carol Burris: New York City Public Schools Should Re-Open | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 16min
Carol Burris: New York City Public Schools Should Re-Open Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education and a retired high school principal and a grandmother, argues in this article that public schools in New York City should reopen. She speaks for herself, not for the Network for Public Education. NPE issued a statement calling for additional federal funds to enable the s
When can schools reopen under California coronavirus rules? - Los Angeles Times
by Mike Simpson / 16min
When can schools reopen under new state rules? It’s all about color-coded tiers and waivers As coronavirus caseloads drop, the prospect of reopening schools improves, although new state guidelines will not lead to a quicker return to campus. In most counties, including Los Angeles, the new rules have no immediate effect on schools because disease rates remain too high . The new rules do not affe
Why Black teachers matter to Black and White kids -- book excerpt - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 1h
Why Black teachers matter to Black and White kids Fifteen years ago, Hurricane Katrina swept into Louisiana from the Gulf of Mexico and decimated parts of New Orleans, including its long-troubled school system. What rose in its place was a collection of charter schools that operated very differently from the district that preceded it. School reformers who supported charter schools — which are pu
Biden, Trump offer two distinct paths; for public education, there’s one clear choice - Education Votes
by Mike Simpson / 1h
Biden, Trump offer two distinct paths; for public education, there’s one clear choice From the first day of the Republican National Convention, there were stark differences from the previous week’s speeches and messages directed at educators, parents, and students at the Democratic National Convention. Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris have focused on listening to educators and
Education Matters: In Florida, Choice is great unless it is the choice to stay safe and healthy or not
by Mike Simpson / 1h
In Florida, Choice is great unless it is the choice to stay safe and healthy or not You know DCPS is saying the state has told them they can't release information about COVID cases in schools, which is reprehensible and I guess just dumb luck that weeks ago the district announced that was their policy too. Earlier this summer the district said unless schools close they weren't going to announce
First Group of HS Principals Ask to Go Remote | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 1h
First Group of HS Principals Ask to Go Remote Brooklyn was first. 216 High School Principals and APs August 27, 2020 TO: Mayor Bill De Blasio; Chancellor Richard Carranza, As our colleagues in other Districts have expressed in letters sent to you, and in solidarity with our union (CSA), the Principals and Assistant Principals of Brooklyn High Schools are deeply concerned. We are concerned by the
TODAY'S STATEMENT FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT VETERANS -AUGUST 28, 2020 - DSA NORTH STAR
by Mike Simpson / 1h
Building a global progressive network to combat fascism - DSA NORTH STAR TODAY'S STATEMENT FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT VETERANS -AUGUST 28, 2020 August 28, 2020 Washington Post Fulfilling our Obligations, and Passing the Torch "When I was the rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the Hitler regime, I learned many things. The most important thing that I learned under those tragic circum
NYC Educator: Magical Blended Teachers
by Mike Simpson / 1h
Magical Blended Teachers It's taken me days to understand what the last DOE memo meant. I've discussed it with several people, I've been to a meeting, and now I finally get it. You have four kinds of teachers--you have the remote teacher, who teaches five full classes on line. You have the live teacher, who teaches five partial classes in person. Then you have the Blended Learning Remote teacher
“This is Not the End of Cities,” Cities are the Engines of Democracy, Innovation, and Growth and Schools Play a Major Role. | Ed In The Apple
by Mike Simpson / 1h
“This is Not the End of Cities,” Cities are the Engines of Democracy, Innovation, and Growth and Schools Play a Major Role. | Ed In The Apple “This is Not the End of Cities,” Cities are the Engines of Democracy, Innovation, and Growth and Schools Play a Major Role. Former NYC mayor Giuliani at the Republican National Convention (RNC) railed against democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and
Meal Reimbursement Rates 2020–21 - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 3h
Meal Reimbursement Rates 2020–21 On July 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the new reimbursement rates for the School Nutrition Programs (SNP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Food Distribution Program (FDP). For detailed information on reimbursement rates, please see the California Department of Education (CDE) Child Nutrition Program (CNP) Meal Reimbu
IT GOING TO BE A LONG HARD JOURNEY – Dad Gone Wild
by Mike Simpson / 3h
IT GOING TO BE A LONG HARD JOURNEY “Innumerable confusions and a profound feeling of despair invariably emerge in periods of great technological and cultural transitions. Our “Age of Anxiety” is, in great part, the result of trying to do today’s job with yesterday’s tools—with yesterday’s concepts.” ― Marshall McLuhan, The Medium is the Massage “There comes a time when time itself is ready for a
SSPI THURMOND STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
by Mike Simpson / 3h
California Department of Education Meal Reimbursement Rates 2020–21 13h Federal and State Meal Reimbursement Rates for School Nutrition Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Food Distribution Program for School Year 2020–21. COVID-19: USDA Q&A for CNPs SY 2020-21, 5 14h On August 21, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released Policy Memorandum SP 24–2020, CACFP 13–2020,
A MAN WITH A PLAN Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters
by Mike Simpson / 3h
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters A MAN WITH A PLAN Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters AUG 26 DCPS hates politics except when they don't. 31 by Unknown / 2d I am completely in favor of the special referendum for our schools that voters will vote on this fall. I hope you are too, it is long overdue, however, I also hope you know that one of the reason
THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE)
by Mike Simpson / 3h
NewBlackMan (in Exile) Progressive Prosecutor Satana Deberry Made History. Now the Real Fight Begins. by Mark Anthony Neal / 2d 'When Satana Deberry took the oath of office as district attorney of Durham County, North Carolina, in January 2019, it was a momentous occasion—for the city of Durham, and for her, as a Black woman elected to an office historically held by white men, whose “tough on cr
THIS WEEK Education Research Report
by Mike Simpson / 3h
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Study: Student debt may hurt chances at full-time employment by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 2d UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON A recently published study led by The University of Texas at Arlington says that student debt may hurt students' chances of securing full-time employment due to added pressure in their job search. Ariane Froidevaux,
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION 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 IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Just Sent-Out Free Monthly Email Newsletter by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h geralt / Pixabay I’ve just mailed out the September issue of my very simple free monthly email newsletter . It has over
KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all
by Mike Simpson / 3h
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 Carol Burris: New York City Public Schools Should Re-Open by dianeravitch / 40min Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education and a retired high school principal and a grandmother, argues in this article that public schoo

YESTERDAY

The Post Office, the Election and Social Media—Four Lessons | Teacher in a strange land
by Mike Simpson / 22h
The Post Office, the Election and Social Media—Four Lessons This isn’t a blog about Our Beloved Post Office, or DeJoy the Impaler or even How to Vote. At its core, my ultimate point here is that Americans are terrible—godawful—media critics. And, consequently, our students–whom we frequently, jokingly label our on-site tech support–are floating in a sea of toxic TikTok spin and political sludge
Leadership committed to excellence and social justice | Cloaking Inequity
by Mike Simpson / 22h
LEADERSHIP COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE The semester has started! In the midst of twin pandemics of racism and Covid-19, we must lead and be committed to excellence and social justice. We must demand that is of our educational leaders and our policymakers! I recently gave an opening address to the faculty and staff at the UK College of Education. Here are the thoughts I shared: I h
CURMUDGUCATION: Information Sources: Don't Quit Your Day Job
by Mike Simpson / 22h
Information Sources: Don't Quit Your Day Job The New York Times just announced another "project" t o be embedded within the paper and funded by philanthropic types. It's not a new model; the Gates Foundation has been funding journalism "projects" for a while. This piece by Tim Schwab at the Columbia Journalism Review lays out in depressing detail just how large the Bill Gates Underwritten Journa
DeVos out of sight even as her signature school issue gets top billing at RNC - POLITICO
by Mike Simpson / 22h
DeVos out of sight even as her signature school issue gets top billing at RNC The Education secretary didn’t even get a role in a convention video montage about the role of female leaders in the Trump administration. School choice is finally getting prime-time attention as President Donald Trump makes the issue a focal point of his reelection bid, appealing to parents clamoring for an alternativ
The Politics of Teaching: #BlackLivesMatter Edition – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 1d
The Politics of Teaching: #BlackLivesMatter Edition On a social media group for educators, a teacher asked for clarification about the legal grounds for an administrator requesting that the teacher remove #BlackLivesMatter and LGBTQ+ support posters from their room. The responses were illuminating since they tended to drift toward larger and different concerns about ideology and of course the st
As Schools Reopen, A New Tool Tracks Coronavirus Cases As They Emerge : Shots - Health News : NPR
by Mike Simpson / 1d
How Many Coronavirus Cases Are Happening In Schools? This Tracker Keeps Count Teacher Alisha Morris created an interactive tracker of coronavirus in schools, current through Aug. 23, including this map, created by another volunteer. The National Education Association will now take on updates to the database. US schools tracker/Screenshot by NPR Looking for a snapshot of coronavirus outbreaks in
Teacher Tom: "Just In Time" Education
by Mike Simpson / 1d
" Just In Time" Education Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes made of ticky tacky Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes all the same There's a pink one and a green one And a blue one and a yellow one And they're all made out of ticky tacky And they all look just the same ~Malvina Reynolds One of the theories underpinning "normal" education is that children need a "foundation" upon whic
CURMUDGUCATION: The Zero Sum Game
by Mike Simpson / 1d
The Zero Sum Game I'm feeling a little dumb at the moment, because a light bulb just went on that should have gone on a while ago. I was having the same conversation I've had many times. "Charters and vouchers and public schools could absolutely coexist. There's no reason it has to be a zero sum game," said someone. And I agree, sort of. There are some things that can't help being zero sum, like
Current news from the California Department of Education (CDE)
by Mike Simpson / 1d
California Department of Education Current news from the California Department of Education (CDE) School Year 2020–21 Annual Update—Fourth Notice 19h The California Department of Education (CDE) has opened the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) Annual Update in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) for School Year (SY) 2020–21 (July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021). CDE CACFP Web
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 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_22.html “Strategies for Embracing Anti-Racist Work in Our Classrooms” by Larry Fe
DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? A site to discuss better education for all
by Mike Simpson / 1d
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 Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs_22.html Today is the Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washin
Second Judge Blocks Flow of CARES Act Dollars to Private Schools. Will Public Schools Ever See the Money Congress Intended for Them? | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Second Judge Blocks Flow of CARES Act Dollars to Private Schools. Will Public Schools Ever See the Money Congress Intended for Them? While the Republican Party announced the themes of the Republican Convention—“Monday is ‘Land of Promise,’ Tuesday is ‘Land of Opportunity,’ Wednesday is ‘Land of Heroes’ and Thursday is ‘Land of Greatness.'”—the Convention instead dramatized a very old theme: the
NYC Educator: Mayor de Blasio Uses 1.1 Million Children as Guinea Pigs
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Mayor de Blasio Uses 1.1 Million Children as Guinea Pigs Sometimes you see something so unbelievable that you have to check it twice to make sure you saw it right. When I saw a headline declaring indoor dining would depend on how school reopening goes , I had to look twice. This is remarkable from a mayor whose watchwords have been "equity and excellence." But in Bill de Blasio's New York, some
Confessions of a School Reformer (Part 6) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Confessions of a School Reformer (Part 6) This is the last post of a series drawn from “Confessions of a School Reformer,” a book I am now writing. Parts 1 , 2 , 3, 4 , and 5 describe my entry into classroom teaching beginning in 1955 and ending in 1972. In August 1968, no longer teaching at Roosevelt High School, I resigned from the full-time job I had at federal Commission on Civil Rights (CCR
Open Letter: Prioritize Instruction AND Safety | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Open Letter: Prioritize Instruction AND Safety This petition gets it right. Read it here (or read it below, but the numbering is a little weird.) And then sign here . August 25, 2020 TO: Mayor Bill De Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza, We are two weeks away from the beginning of the school year and the DOE has yet to provide clear actionable support for instructional planning and programmin
Betsy DeVos & the Death of the GOP | The Merrow Report
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Betsy DeVos & the Death of the GOP If you weren’t already convinced that the Republican Party was Donald Trump’s personal property, the 2020 Republican National Convention demonstrated that–lock, stock & barrel–the party of Dwight Eisenhower, John McCain, the two Bush presidents, Ronald Reagan, and Abraham Lincoln no longer exists. How did this happen? Will historians be able to point to a momen
EDUCATION MALPRACTICE? – Dad Gone Wild
by Mike Simpson / 1d
EDUCATION MALPRACTICE? 50, there is a new warmth and mellowing. Friends become more important than ever, but so does privacy. Since it is so often proclaimed by people past midlife, the motto of this stage might be “No more bullshit. Gail Sheehy, Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life “Status seekers, I never cared Once I found out they never dared To seize the world and shake it upside down

AUG 27

The Lesson Kids Are Learning from Reckless School Reopenings: YOU DON’T MATTER | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
The Lesson Kids Are Learning from Reckless School Reopenings: YOU DON’T MATTER Let’s say you’re an American school child. It’s the first day of school. Your parents dress you in your best new outfit – maybe a nice pink jumper with a unicorn on it. They help you tie your new sneakers – that’s right, two loops and a knot. Then they put a surgical mask snugly over your mouth and nose, adhere a clea
US schools revamp curricula in response to Black Lives Matter | Daily Mail Online
by Mike Simpson / 1d
US schools are changing their curriculum in response to Black Lives Matter as survey finds 81% of teachers support the movement BLM AT SCHOOL https://www.blacklivesmatteratschool.com/ US schools are altering their curricula to include more focus on black history and experiences It comes as a direct response to the Black Lives Matter protests this summer There were increased demands for teaching
‘Broken Windows’ Approach To Teaching Is Breaking Our Schools - PopularResistance.Org
by Mike Simpson / 1d
‘BROKEN WINDOWS’ APPROACH TO TEACHING IS BREAKING OUR SCHOOLS Students Of Color Are Harmed The Most . Students of color received instrumental interactions geared at conditioning them to become obedient at all times, to navigate white supremacy without challenging it. In the fight for racial justice, teachers have a heavy job, for schools are both microcosms of, and preparation for, society. Beca
John Thompson: Oklahoma Politicians Mumbling about the Coronavirus | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
John Thompson: Oklahoma Politicians Mumbling about the Coronavirus John Thompson is a historian and retired teacher in Oklahoma. He writes: The McAlester Public Schools are in the Oklahoma county where COVID is now #1 in the state in per capita COVID infections. A week before the scheduled opening, McAlester reports five positives linked to football. But its schools will still provide in-person
NYC Educator: Profiles in Stupid--Remote Teachers Without Accommodation to Work from Buildings
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Profiles in Stupid--Remote Teachers Without Accommodation to Work from Buildings No, there's no school calendar. The Tweedies are occupied with Very Important Stuff and can't be bothered with frivlities like telling us when we have to work. This week, Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza, with two weeks to go before schools are supposed to open, have finally decided to check the ventilation i
Current news from the California Department of Education (CDE)
by Mike Simpson / 1d
California Department of Education Current news from the California Department of Education (CDE) Support for Schools Amid Wildfires and Emergencies 14h Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding support for schools impacted by wildfires and emergencies. SBE August 2020 Information Memoranda 14h Background information and updates on issues of interes
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 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_22.html New “Immersive Mixed Reality Video” From The Weather Channel: “Hurricane
Teacher Tom: Man, I Was Not Ready for This Pandemic
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Man, I Was Not Ready for This Pandemic Man, I was not ready for this pandemic. Not at all. Up until March, my life revolved around being in the physical presence of other people, usually packed together in classrooms, airports and airplanes, hotels, conference rooms, restaurants, concerts, and dance floors. Indeed, I could not have been less well prepared for staying home, isolating, and distanc
Center for Reinventing Public Education the Billionaires’ Advocate | tultican
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Center for Reinventing Public Education the Billionaires’ Advocate By Thomas Ultican 8/26/2020 In 1993, Political Science Professor Paul T. Hill established the Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs on the University of Washington campus. The research group Hill founded is steeped in public school failure ideology. On their web site Hill l
Education Matters: DCPS hates politics except when they don't.
by Mike Simpson / 2d
DCPS hates politics except when they don't I am completely in favor of the special referendum for our schools that voters will vote on this fall. I hope you are too, it is long overdue, however, I also hope you know that one of the reasons the district has chosen to risk lives is because of the referendum. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that Greene was scared it might not pass if we didn't ope
CURMUDGUCATION: Education Law Center: States Are Using Fed Grants To Cut Education Spending
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Education Law Center: States Are Using Fed Grants To Cut Education Spending According to the folks at the Education Law Center , states are repeating the sins of a decade ago. Let me explain. Pity Tom Corbett. He became one of the few Pennsylvania one term governors, and he lost in no small part because he was accused of cutting education spending by a billion dollars . And he sort of did, but h
How should we talk to people who are afraid? | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 2d
How should we talk to people who are afraid? UFT members have begun to talk about job actions, especially after Michael Mulgrew mentioned them on tv. There are people who are excited – I don’t get that. Job actions are last resorts. They mean that all other means have broken down, and that something is very wrong. And yes, today something is very wrong. There are people who are expressing reluct
Anti-masking: The Subtext of White Privilege and Addictive Thinking – educationalchemy
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Anti-masking: The Subtext of White Privilege and Addictive Thinking Whiteness and Anti-masking It’s not surprising that the population who refuse to accept the full scope of Covid19, the anti-masker group, intersect with the same population who own and deny their White Privilege. It’s not emanating from communities of color. It’s not emanating from non-Western countries. It’s as white [1] and “A

AUG 26

Why are Republicans suddenly so obsessed with school choice?
by Mike Simpson / 2d
School Choice Was the Main Policy Mentioned at Monday’s RNC. Why? Almost every speaker mentioned school choice by name. The first night of the Republican National Convention was extremely light on policy talk. The party put together no platform this year, opting instead to draft a simple resolution declaring its intent to support whatever Donald Trump decides he wants to do. So, instead of mount
Without Physical Connection to School - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Without Physical Connection to School How Do Large School Districts Check On Kids During Virtual Learning? A cross the country , the school year is fast approaching or has already arrived. Some students will set foot in a classroom for the first time since mid-March, but for far more of America’s youth, the fall term will begin on a computer screen in their bedroom. Virtual learning has academic
The Webinar You’ve Been Waiting For: Alison McDowell, Joseph Gonzalez, and Incite Seminars Present “Level-Up” – Wrench in the Gears
by Mike Simpson / 2d
The Webinar You’ve Been Waiting For: Alison McDowell, Joseph Gonzalez, and Incite Seminars Present “Level-Up” This past Saturday Joseph and I facilitated a 3.5 hour seminar about a possible future where the masses are forced to navigate a gamified militaristic panopticon as human capital impact commodities. This shift is being triggered by the mass immiseration resulting from the global response
NYC is not ready to open schools – It’s not just about testing | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 2d
NYC is not ready to open schools – It’s not just about testing Mayor de Blasio insists schools will open for students September 10. The UFT says not so fast. The CSA (principals union) has called for a remote opening. The UFT wants to open, but only if a safety checklist gets met. Mulgrew: We have a responsibility to try to reopen school buildings because the infection rate in New York City is s
Teachers Organize As States And Counties Conceal COVID-19 Outbreaks At Schools - PopularResistance.Org
by Mike Simpson / 3d
TEACHERS ORGANIZE AS STATES AND COUNTIES CONCEAL COVID-19 OUTBREAKS AT SCHOOLS Using the fraudulent pretext of “protecting medical privacy,” a growing number of states and school districts across the United States are deliberately concealing information from the public on COVID-19 outbreaks in schools that have reopened. These include the states of Maine, Virginia and Oklahoma, as well as Camden
Bill Phillis: Vouchers Fail in Ohio | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Bill Phillis: Vouchers Fail in Ohio Bill Phillis, founder of the Ohio Coalition for Adequacy and Equity and a vocal supporter of public schools, writes here about an investigation of vouchers by the Cincinnati Enquirer. The report echoed the findings of academic research: students in public schools get higher test scores than those in voucher schools. Vouchers don’t “save” children. They don’t “
Teacher Tom: Why I Worry About "Loose Parts"
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Why I Worry About "Loose Parts" I suppose I'm happy that the concept of "loose parts" play has taken the early childhood world by storm these past few years. It seems like not a day goes by that I don't discover a website dedicated to loose parts play, or a loose parts workshop for teachers, or a new book that will help us better understand it. Of course, it's an idea that's been around since th
Republican Plutocrats Hold a Convention that Fans Fear, Racism and Rage | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Republican Plutocrats Hold a Convention that Fans Fear, Racism and Rage Despite its sensational title, Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson’s new book, Let Them Eat Tweets , is a basic and thorough examination of what we are watching in this week’s Republican Convention. Hacker is a respected professor of political science at Yale and Pierson at the University of California at Berkeley. Their new book,
Confessions of a Reformer (Part 5) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Confessions of a Reformer (Part 5) This series of posts is called “Confessions of a School Reformer,” a book I am now writing. Parts 1 , 2 , 3, and 4 describe my entry into classroom teaching beginning in 1955 and ending in 1972. So this post continues Part 4. The King assassination On April 4 th , the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis (TN) where he was supporting sanitation workers’
The devaluation of assets in black neighborhoods
by Mike Simpson / 3d
The devaluation of assets in black neighborhoods The case of residential property Homeownership lies at the heart of the American Dream, representing success, opportunity, and wealth. However, for many of its citizens, America deferred that dream. For much of the 20th century, the devaluing of black lives led to segregation and racist federal housing policy through redlining that shut out chance
PDK Poll: Majority of Public Wants Greater Federal Support for Education
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Poll: Majority of Public Wants Greater Federal Support for Education The U.S. general public is sharply divided over most public policy issues, including education. Still, according to the just-released 2020 PDK International Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools , a strong majority say they want the federal government to take on more active role in helping school districts hi

AUG 25

NYC Public School Parents: The continuing influence of the Gates Foundation on mainstream media reporting and the NY Times in particular
by Mike Simpson / 3d
The continuing influence of the Gates Foundation on mainstream media reporting and the NY Times in particular Reporter Tim Schwab just had a must-read piece in the Columbia Journalism Review about how the Gates Foundation provides grants to news outlets such as NPR, BBC, NBC, Al Jazeera, ProPublica , National Journal , The Guardian , Univision, Medium , the Financial Times , The Atlantic , the T
Russ on Reading: The First Day of School in a Pandemic
by Mike Simpson / 3d
The First Day of School in a Pandemic In my lifetime, I have experienced 67 first days of school. For me this has always been a joyous time. When I was a student, it was a chance to renew old acquaintances, meet new people, and start new adventures. As a teacher, I always looked forward to meeting and getting to know new students and learning their names and what made them tick and seeing if the
Fear and Loathing in Remote Learning - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Fear and Loathing in Remote Learning I understand. I have four kids of my own. 12, 9, 5, and 4. Three of my littles are in remote learning. One is a middle schooler. So, yes, I understand what you’re going through completely. Remote learning has started, it isn’t working, it won’t work, and it’s awful. But it’s not going anywhere. So, let’s find some silver linings, and quickly, because the whin
Disastrous US School Openings Lead To 2,500 Infections Across 44 States - PopularResistance.Org
by Mike Simpson / 3d
DISASTROUS US SCHOOL OPENINGS LEAD TO 2,500 INFECTIONS ACROSS 44 STATES Within weeks, the reopening of schools across the United States has already become a complete catastrophe. Outside of the mobilization of educators, parents and the broader working class to halt this homicidal policy, there will be rapid acceleration of the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease throughout every region of the
An Open Letter to Biden and Harris from Washington State’s Superintendent of Public Instruction | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
An Open Letter to Biden and Harris from Washington State’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, state superintendent of public instruction in Washington State, published this excellent letter to the Democratic candidates. It overflows with wisdom and common sense. An Open Letter to the Biden-Harris Ticket: Mr. Vice President and Senator Harris, there is so much at stake with this
A lesson on QAnon for teachers to use in class - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 4d
A lesson on QAnon for teachers to use in class During the school year, I publish lessons from the nonprofit News Literacy Project , which aims to teach students how to distinguish fact from fiction in the age of digital communication and a president who routinely denounces real news as “fake.” The lessons come from the project’s newsletter , the Sift, which takes the most recent viral rumors, co
Pandemic Pedagogy: The New Normal? – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Pandemic Pedagogy: The New Normal? The evening before the first day of school for students, a high school teacher opened their district email to discover that the schedule for International Baccalaureate (IB) students had changed. Again. That new schedule is also layered onto the tentative district-wide pandemic schedule that has four color-coded waves of students, divided by last names, who att
Teacher Tom: A Lifetime of Learning in Every Moment
by Mike Simpson / 4d
A Lifetime of Learning in Every Moment A couple days ago, while walking our dog in South Lake Union Park, my wife and I had to dodge a champagne cork. Drinking alcohol in the park is expressly forbidden during normal times, but, of course, these are anything but normal times. As the cork bounced harmlessly past us, several people from the large family group that had gathered to celebrate a loved
2020 Medley #18 – Non-pandemic issue | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 4d
2020 Medley #18 – Non-pandemic issue I only have four articles to share today. I had dozens, but most dealt with the ongoing problem of teaching during a pandemic. I also found that I had a lot to say about each of the four articles I chose, so fewer seemed better. GUILT AND LOSS IN RETIREMENT To Teachers Contemplating Retirement I read once that the most common cause of death for men in America
Doug Harris’ Book, Charter School City ((Shaking My Head)) | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Doug Harris’ Book, Charter School City ((Shaking My Head)) Education Research Alliance of New Orleans (ERA) founder Doug Harris has published a book about the primarily-post-Katrina charterization of New Orleans public schools, Charter School City (University of Chicago Press, July 2020). Harris’ book is endorsed by Former US ed sec Arne Duncan : “The schools in New Orleans have gotten better fa
Does the Hybrid School Re-Opening Need a “Pre-Season”? | Ed In The Apple
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Does the Hybrid School Re-Opening Need a “Pre-Season”? Mayor League baseball players gather a month before the first game for spring training, the NFL players have been practicing for a few weeks before the early September first game. In spite of mounting pressure from the unions representing teachers, principals and other school workers the mayor and the school chancellor refuse to move to a ph
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 The Most Moving Speech at the Democratic National Convention by dianeravitch / 8min Almost every reviewer of the Democratic National Convention agreed that this was the most moving speech of all. Thirteen-year-old Brayden Harrington met Joe Biden at a town hall in New Hampshire. When Biden learned that the boy stutters, he asked t
Critical Literacy, Not Nonsense Literacy – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Critical Literacy, Not Nonsense Literacy At 59 with almost 40 years experience as an educator (focusing on literacy) and writer, I remain someone who struggles with spelling. And when I come across an unfamiliar word, I ask around until I find someone who can pronounce it aloud for me; I have never really tried to “sound it out”—even though I have intuited a huge amount of letter/sound patterns
CURMUDGUCATION: How Bad Is This Gates-Funded Essay Cyber-Scorer? This Bad.
by Mike Simpson / 4d
How Bad Is This Gates-Funded Essay Cyber-Scorer? This Bad. Software that can grade an essay is the great white whale of automating education. If software could actually score an essay effectively, data-mining personalized [sic] algorithm-delivered edu-product could work with more than just multiple choice and true or false questions. I've written a plenty about why this great white whale is not
HOW MANY ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE – Dad Gone Wild
by Mike Simpson / 4d
HOW MANY ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE Your eyes seek conclusion in all this confusion of mine Though you and I both know it’s only the warm glow of wine That’s got you to feeling this way But I don’t care, I want you to stay And hold me and tell me you’ll be here to love me today – Townes Van Zandt, Be Here To Love Me “Out of anger comes controversy, out of controversy comes conversation, out of
Application Information - Commissions & Committees (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Application Information Application forms and information for appointment to commissions, councils, or committees. Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) Invitation for Applications to the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools ( Posted 24-Aug-2020) Application Form for Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (PDF; Posted 24-Aug-2020) About the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools Adviso
Education Matters: Why today's court decision means little for Duval County
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Why today's court decision means little for Duval County Finally, some sanity and good news today as the Tallahassee circuit court said the state exceeded it's authority when it threatened to take away district's funding unless it bowed to their will and opened schools and risked lives. Sadly this momentous decision will have little impact on Duval. First about the decision, from the Tampa Times

AUG 24

Virtual suspensions. Mask rules. More trauma. Why some worry a student discipline crisis is on the horizon - Chalkbeat
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Virtual suspensions. Mask rules. More trauma. Why some worry a student discipline crisis is on the horizon As America’s students head back into their virtual or real-life classrooms, new rules await. In Jacksonville, Florida, students who don’t wear a mask repeatedly could be removed from school and made to learn online. In some Texas districts, intentionally coughing on someone can be classifie
New Tool to Strengthen Distance Learning + August 11, 2020 Tuesday at 2 Webinar - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 4d
August 11, 2020 Tuesday at 2 Webinar - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) August 11, 2020 Tuesday at 2 Webinar Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the seventh Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar on August 11, 2020 for school food service operators, chief business officials, and community partners to li
Joe Biden’s 3 big ideas to close the digital divide - Education Votes
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Joe Biden’s 3 big ideas to close the digital divide COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on a specific aspect of the digital divide known as the homework gap—the inability to do schoolwork at home due to lack of high-speed internet access. Nationwide, 15-16 million students are affected—roughly 1 in 3. A disproportionate share of those students are African-American or Hispanic, come from low-income ho
CURMUDGUCATION: Trump's Education Agenda
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Trump's Education Agenda Trump has released his agenda for his second term , and it's special. Cut taxes. Add jobs. Eradicate Covid-19. End reliance on China. Cover pre-existing conditions. Congressional term limits. Bring violent extremist groups like ANTIFA to justice. Dismantle human trafficking. Build the world's greatest infrastructure system (so, more infrastructure week!) Stop endless war
Sorting Out the School Reopening Worries and the Political Issues Swirling Around Public Schools This Week | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Sorting Out the School Reopening Worries and the Political Issues Swirling Around Public Schools This Week This morning we are poised between the Democratic and Republican conventions. Public education policy has become highly politicized in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic that has upended the autumn opening of what we all expected would be the 2020-2021 school year. While public education w
In This 2020-21 Pedagogical Twilight Zone, Value Relationship. | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 5d
In This 2020-21 Pedagogical Twilight Zone, Value Relationship. Thursday, August 20, 2020, was my first day of school for this COVID-19, 2020-21 school year. No students yet– the current plan is for students to return after Labor Day. 2020-21 promises to be a pedagogical Twilight Zone. For teachers and administrators across the nation, the difficulty rests in trying to string days together to for
“Instructional Lunch” Should be a Deal-Breaker | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 5d
“Instructional Lunch” Should be a Deal-Breaker “Instructional Lunch” is a rally bad idea. It is a huge flaw in the NYC Department of Education’s blended learning plans for September. Students in most schools will not go to a cafeteria (where the whole school would mix, theoretically letting a spread event involved the entire student body). Instead, students will eat lunch in their classrooms whi
CURMUDGUCATION: More Pandemic Privatization
by Mike Simpson / 5d
More Pandemic Privatization " This New Nonprofit Is Training Better Online Teachers This Fall " gushes the EdSurge article that is barely disguised PR for yet another reformy initiative. This summer a group of education leaders, many from the world of charter schools and education reform, sought to change that by launching the nonprofit National Summer School Initiative, or NSSI for short. Its s
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 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_22.html A Look Back: “Idolizing Just One Person Undermines The Struggle” by Larry

AUG 23

CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: My Wife's Summer Vacation Ends Edition (8/23)
by Mike Simpson / 5d
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: My Wife's Summer Vacation Ends Edition (8/23) My Wife's Summer Vacation Ends Edition Teachers get back to it this week, with students returning in a week. We're holding our breaths here-- my county has a 2020 total of 69 cases and 1 death (yes, that's for the whole year so far), so local folks have not been feeling the whole pandemic as much as they've been feeling the vari
NYC Educator: Strike or Die- It’s Our Choice
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Strike or Die- It’s Our Choice By special guest Mike Schirtzer The United Federation of Teachers is preparing to call a strike--not because we want to, but because we have to. Too many lives are at stake. The Mayor of the City of New York has put together plans that lack clarity and fail to contain any input from the most important stakeholders; our members, school administrators, custodians, ca
NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY
by Mike Simpson / 5d
NewBlackMan (in Exile) Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile_22.html 'The story of the economy is also a story of place. Marsha Music is the author of The Detroitist: An Anthology About De... by Mark Anthony Neal / 2h 'The story of the economy is also a story of place. Marsha Music is the author
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 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_22.html Three Accessible Ways To Search For & Find My “Best” Lists by Larry Ferla
DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? A site to discuss better education for all
by Mike Simpson / 5d
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 Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs_22.html Politico: The Trump National Convention by dianeravi
GUEST POST: We Must Maintain a Suitable System of Free Public Schools, Chris Goering – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 6d
GUEST POST: We Must Maintain a Suitable System of Free Public Schools, Chris Goering NOTE: This open letter confronts the opening of public schools in Arkansas, but this message can and should resonate throughout the U.S. All public schools in Arkansas are being forced to open physically on August 24 th by the governor, despite some of the worst infection rates in the country thus far. — PLT We
“Confessions of a School Reformer” (Part 4) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 6d
“Confessions of a School Reformer” (Part 4) This series of posts is called “Confessions of a School Reformer,” a book I am now writing. Parts 1 , 2 , and 3 describe my entry into classroom teaching beginning in 1955. The Cardozo Project in Urban Teaching (1963-1967) The pilot project, initially funded for one year, was a teacher-driven, school-based, neighborhood-oriented solution to the problem
CURMUDGUCATION: Grammar Police, Go Home
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Grammar Police, Go Home Grammar and usage are two different things, and understanding the difference can be a huge help in untying some linguistic knots and navigating some linguistic swamps of the English kind. Because the "grammar police" are almost never policing grammar; they're enforcing something else entirely. And yes-- if you stick around for this, you'll get some of the same stuff my st
School Officials Should Pass Safer Reopening Plans, Not Beg For Protection From Liability | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
School Officials Should Pass Safer Reopening Plans, Not Beg For Protection From Liability Don’t tell me what to do. But don’t hold me accountable for what I do, either. That seems to be the position of school officials on reopening classes during the Coronavirus pandemic. On the one hand, school boards don’t want a state or federal mandate about how to reopen schools in the fall. On the other ha
The “Great” Reopening Or Setting America’s Schools Up to Fail | Countercurrents
by Mike Simpson / 6d
The “Great” Reopening Or Setting America’s Schools Up to Fail | Countercurrents The “Great” Reopening Or Setting America’s Schools Up to Fail Seventeen years ago, against the advice of my parents, I decided to become a public school teacher. Once I did, both my mother and father, educators themselves, warned me that choosing to teach was to invite attacks from those who viewed the profession with
Mike Klonsky's Blog: Education on the brink, but missing from Biden/Harris speeches
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Education on the brink, but missing from Biden/Harris speeches The topic of education was, unfortunately, MIA from the main convention speeches. It barely came up in either the Kamala Harris or Joe Biden speech. This at a time when public ed has been pushed to the brink, not only by the pandemic but by the current administration's response to it and should be a central issue in the campaign. I'm
Ugh!! It’s All [expletive deleted] Politics!! Why Does Politics Have Such a Negative Reputation? | Ed In The Apple
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Ugh!! It’s All [expletive deleted] Politics!! Why Does Politics Have Such a Negative Reputation? | Ed In The Apple Ugh!! It’s All [expletive deleted] Politics!! Why Does Politics Have Such a Negative Reputation? We live in an era in which news, pseudo-news, fake news, opinion are intertwined; Facebook, Twitter, podcasts and websites: who can we believe? The news cycle never ends, and, we’re never

AUG 22

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/22/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #BidenHarris2020 #SAFETYFIRST
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/22/20 ‘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 

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