Friday, April 10, 2020

A Dozen Good Things that Could (Just Maybe) Happen as a Result of this Pandemic | Teacher in a strange land

A Dozen Good Things that Could (Just Maybe) Happen as a Result of this Pandemic | Teacher in a strange land

A Dozen Good Things that Could (Just Maybe) Happen as a Result of this Pandemic
It may not feel like it now, but out of this crisis there’s a chance to build a better America: the America we need.
I look forward to reading every single one of the articles—yesterday’s were about our broken health care system and why the rich fear pandemics—but the introductory piece, which is rich in historical examples of sweeping change, made me ask: What good things might come out of this pandemic?
Certainly not the trust in our government that the German people have, the confidence that made them follow the rules, flatten their curve and listen to Mrs. Merkel.
You can already see the folks in power itching to return to the way things were six weeks ago. They’re restless, fretting about an economy that’s rewarded them and left the rest of the country one paycheck and one dangerous job away from disaster.
They are not going for a new normal, one that’s more equitable, with safety and reward spread across the population. They’re trying to figure out how to benefit from the crisis, play the angles.  From the POTUS, yesterday: Once we OPEN UP OUR GREAT COUNTRY, and it will be sooner rather than later, the horror of the Invisible Enemy, except for those that sadly lost a family member or friend, must be quickly forgotten.
Well. I want to open up our great country, too, once it’s safe—but I want this horror to CONTINUE READING: A Dozen Good Things that Could (Just Maybe) Happen as a Result of this Pandemic | Teacher in a strange land

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Homeschooling—the new normal – Sac City Express

Homeschooling—the new normal – Sac City Express

Homeschooling—the new normal
On the afternoon of March 13, City College students and faculty got the news that Los Rios Community College District was suspending face-to-face classes and would go fully online due to the COVID-19 quarantine. 
I’m a sophomore, and spring 2020 is my last semester at City College. This news was disheartening for me. As the returning photo editor of the Express news site, I was looking forward to spending my last semester with the friends I have made on the Express and with the faculty I look up to.
My daughter, Joaquina, is in first grade and loves to go to school. Joaquina received the news that her district, San Juan Unified, would close March 16. Joaquina is a kid who gets sad on holiday breaks because she misses her friends. How do you explain to a 6-year-old that her mother doesn’t know when either of them will be able to go back to school?
There was not a lot of information that first week. Joaquina is in a dual immersion school, all in Spanish with only 30 minutes of English a day. I am not a Spanish speaker, so how am I supposed to keep my daughter up to speed to be at grade level next year?
Paul Estabrook, City College department chair for photography, and his wife had a smoother transition CONTINUE READING: Homeschooling—the new normal – Sac City Express
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Standardized tests are canceled and many kids aren’t be graded. So what’s worth learning right now? - The Washington Post

Standardized tests are canceled and many kids aren’t be graded. So what’s worth learning right now? - The Washington Post

Standardized tests are canceled and many kids won’t be graded. So what’s worth learning right now?




For more than a decade, veteran educator Marion Brady has been writing for the Answer Sheet about fundamental problems with what and how schools in the United States teach children to become productive and active adults. His critique has not changed now that American schoolchildren are at home doing distance learning because their school buildings have closed during the coronavirus pandemic.


Brady is a retired Florida educator who has for years focused on what he says is the fundamentally flawed curriculum used in schools in the United States and the outdated way students are taught, and today’s circumstances are a perfect time to take a new look at that subject. He has written history and world culture textbooks (Prentice-Hall), professional books, numerous nationally distributed columns and courses of study.
To Brady, boundaries around academic subjects are artificial and are part of stilted education programs that do not provide students with opportunities to think beyond their textbooks and experiment.
His 2011 book, “What’s Worth Learning,” asks and answers this question: What knowledge is absolutely essential for every learner? His course of study for secondary-level students, called “Connections: Investigating Reality,” is free for downloading here. Brady’s website is www.marionbrady.com.
In the post below post, Brady notes that the crisis has the potential for freeing teachers and kids — at least for now — from weeks of test prep for near-useless machine-scored tests. Some of his previous pieces on this blog include:
By Marion Brady
An old English proverb says, “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.”
The novel coronavirus, or covid-19, certainly qualifies as a very ill wind, and it’s thrown schooling into mass confusion. However, it has the potential for freeing teachers and kids — at least for now — from CONTINUE READING: Standardized tests are canceled and many kids aren’t be graded. So what’s worth learning right now? - The Washington Post

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Chaos Learning: Classroom vs Online? | My Island View

Chaos Learning: Classroom vs Online? | My Island View

Chaos Learning: Classroom vs Online?


It is very difficult to give weight to anything these days except for the conditions that we are now living and dying under, especially as a New Yorker. Time does not stand still however, so we need to assess where we are in order to adjust and move forward. If this pandemic has taught me anything, this would be my lesson learned.
Online learningWhen it comes to the American education system, I have experienced it in many ways and on many levels. I have been a student, a teacher, professor, a supporter, a critic, a follower and a leader. Now I deal with education as a speaker, writer, blogger, and podcaster. My focus in life has always been in education. As a critic I often engaged in theoretical discussions of how we could improve the system if we blew it all up and started anew. These were obviously theoretical discussions since a national education system cannot be physically blown up.
March of 2020 changed all that. March 2020 is when the American education system was blown up. There is no mistake about that. Schools were shut down. Testing was cancelled. Teachers were told not to concern themselves with grades, and even sports were stopped. All school related events were halted. The system, as we have come to know it after 200+ years, was shut down. It was blown up by the Covid-19 virus pandemic.
There was only one possibility available to educators. They immediately ran to the alternative that was discussed for the last decade. We have the technology! Why not transition the entire system to remote learning? Let’s mandate remote learning. Administrators will lead remotely, teachers will teach remotely, students will learn remotely. We have talked about it for years, so why not? That seemed like a sound fix for the problem, especially if it was to be a short-term need.
Well, the fix was not so simple. Although we have talked a great deal about remote learning over the last decade, we haven’t really taught teachers to do it. Since the actual practice of remote learning has been limited, few students are CONTINUE READING: Chaos Learning: Classroom vs Online? | My Island View
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World Bank Changes Policy on For-Profit Privatized Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog

World Bank Changes Policy on For-Profit Privatized Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog

World Bank Changes Policy on For-Profit Privatized Schools


Until recently, the World Bank has been a vocal supporter of for-profit privatized education such as that offered by Bridge International, which had been expanding rapidly in Africa.
Thanks in large part to the work of Education International, a world confederation of teachers’ unions, the World Bank has changed its policy.
In a sudden and far-reaching policy shift, World Bank President David Malpass has agreed to major reforms that include officially freezing any direct or indirect investments in private for-profit pre-primary, primary and secondary schools. This has been a critical issue for Education International for many years and has been the key focus of our interactions with the Bank.
It has also been a major thrust of our Global Response campaign, where member organisations, regions and the EI secretariat have worked together to research and expose the activities of private, for-profit firms. Examples of that work include Uganda and Kenya, where illegal CONTINUE READING: World Bank Changes Policy on For-Profit Privatized Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog
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How the coronavirus shutdown will affect school district revenues

How the coronavirus shutdown will affect school district revenues

How the coronavirus shutdown will affect school district revenues


Facing a pandemic-triggered economic slowdown, U.S. school districts now need to consider doing something they haven’t had to do in recent budget boom years: Draft a budget that assumes they’re headed for a financial fall.
Why? More than ever, school districts rely on state money. In many states, much of the state revenue comes from income and sales taxes­—both of which abruptly collapsed when states shut down most business activity. While most districts will see little impact on their 2019-20 budget, it’s next year (2020-21) when leaders should expect state revenue shortfalls to hit district budgets.
Already, states are draining their rainy-day funds to address critical pandemic needs. Looking to next year, K-12 education will be competing for fewer state dollars against priorities like emergency public health, Medicaid, and higher education (which tends to see enrollment rise as the economy falls). At about $270 per K-12 pupil, the recently passed federal stimulus package will likely fall far short of filling the inevitable fiscal gaps.
It wasn’t always the case that school district funding was so tied to the economy. Local schools used to be fairly insulated from economic downturns because they relied largely on local property taxes, a highly stable revenue source. Of course, funding schools on property wealth makes for huge gaps between wealthy and poor communities. So, in the name of greater funding equity, most states now play a much bigger role in funding schools. The graph below demonstrates that in all but seven states, the share of K-12 revenue coming from state sources has grown during the most recent decade for which we have data. (Mobile users: Click here to open this figure in a new tab.) CONTINUE READING: How the coronavirus shutdown will affect school district revenues

Increased reliance on state funds makes K-12 more vulnerable in an economic downturn


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CURMUDGUCATION: Trees, Philosophy, and What Comes Next

CURMUDGUCATION: Trees, Philosophy, and What Comes Next

Trees, Philosophy, and What Comes Next


My wife teaches first grade; she is working via online tools with her team to create materials. Meanwhile, we are potty training the twins, even though a bit of necessary-but-minor surgery has left me a little less mobile than usual.

That's our story right now. Through social media, phone calls, e-mails, etc, we all know, at this point, hundreds more. The guy who lives in a trailer with no internet at all. The teacher who has three kids, one computer, and a spouse who also works from home. The guy who has hired a nanny to watch his own children so he can get work done. The people who are struggling with zero income, waiting to see if they'll be evicted. The mother who wrote her teachers a "Love you, thanks for trying, but school will now stop for my child so that I can keep him mentally healthy." The people with lousy internet. The people whose family has been splintered by their quarantine location choices.

What I'm struck by, now a few weeks into this, is just how individual everyone's experience is-- teachers, parents, students. Everyone is in a different situation, facing their own set of obstacles. The end result is a nation of people facing very specific issues, pushing aside the big philosophical questions we usually like to chew on. Not "what is the best instructional model for my child," but "how do I get lunch made and the babies down for a nap on schedule while still being on time for my own zoom meeting?" Not "what's the best pedagogical method for this instruction," but "how do I get this document in a digital form that will load successfully on my school's learning management platform?"

Much of US education has been pushed from "What should we do" to "What are we actually able to CONTINUE READING:  CURMUDGUCATION: Trees, Philosophy, and What Comes Next


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For next COVID bill, NEA urges Congress to think big - Education Votes

For next COVID bill, NEA urges Congress to think big - Education Votes

For next COVID bill, NEA urges Congress to think big


As a fourth coronavirus legislative package begins to take shape, NEA is urging Congress to address immediate needs like funding as well as long-festering problems ranging from the homework gap to student loan debt. On April 9, NEA sent every member of Congress a detailed list of top priorities for students and educators accompanied by a letter urging lawmakers to see the current crisis for what it is: a wake-up call, not a passing storm. Like 9/11 and the Great Depression, the coronavirus crisis is destined to have a lasting impact on our way of life. Now is time to renew America’s promise of equal opportunity and justice for all.
Email your members of Congress and tell them to do more to address the coronavirus crisis. For next COVID bill, NEA urges Congress to think big - Education Votes
Big Education Ape: Republicans seeking broad authority to cut aid to schools and state programs as part of coronavirus response | Educate All Students, Support Public Education - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/04/republicans-seeking-broad-authority-to.html


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What Home Schooling Could Teach Parents - LA Progressive

What Home Schooling Could Teach Parents - LA Progressive

What Home Schooling Could Teach Parents


A lot of people, both left and right, like to condemn our educational system.  Teachers don’t do a good job.  Teachers don’t have sufficient resources.  Class sizes are too large.  School buildings are too old and unmaintained.  They’re not teaching what students need to learn.  They don’t teach about anything but what white corporation owners want their drones to learn.
Now, with schools closed, a lot of parents are learning more about what teachers actually do.  And they are getting the opportunity to put into effect all those backyard barbecue and Christmas break party pontifications about, “What I would do, if I were teaching those kids.”
Sitting in my own quarantine enclave, with no children around making noise, interrupting at-home work schedules, and no pets needing to be walked, I can’t really imagine how much satisfaction there must be in these recent weeks of putting into practice all that decisive wisdom which seemed so obvious when spoken over a cold Corona or a hot eggnog toddy.

There may be parents who, now having a duty to try to contribute to their children’s schooling, beyond merely helping crib their math worksheets, might be interested in considering the educational possibilities of relating today’s Covid-19 pandemic with history

I can imagine, however that there may be parents who, now having a duty to try to contribute to their children’s schooling, beyond merely helping crib their math worksheets, might be interested in considering the educational possibilities of relating today’s Covid-19 pandemic with history, the development of science, and how different cultures handle similar issues.
Schools, with their standardized testing, formal curriculae, and tight scheduling may not be able to integrate cross-subject topics.  And may not have time to allow individual students to develop their own thinking about issues.  But parents with children at home have the flexibility to allow, and guide their students.  And the opportunity to make learning less of rote memorization and more of an adventure.
As an initial, easy step in this process, I suggest two books which parents might find useful in home teaching efforts.  One is a young adult novel, and one a history book.  The young adult novel is one which can be read to younger children, or by middle school children.  The history book can give parents insights with which to teach their children. Both books deal with CONTINUE READING: What Home Schooling Could Teach Parents - LA Progressive

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The Census is an Education Justice Issue | Schott Foundation for Public Education

The Census is an Education Justice Issue | Schott Foundation for Public Education

The Census is an Education Justice Issue

The 2020 Census is underway, with the first wave of forms being mailed across the country on April 1, and data collection continuing through the Fall. The COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted all of our lives could make the Census more difficult—so it’s critical that communities mobilize to make sure all their neighbors are counted.

The Impact of the Census is Bigger than You Think

How the United States’ population is counted affects far more than legislative district boundaries: the present crisis is providing stark examples of the critical, life-and-death importance of an accurate Census. At a time when the shuttering of public schools reminds us of the vital roles they play in educating, feeding, and supporting children and their families, we should also remember the Census determines where and how $14 billion in Federal public education funds will be allocated. Through programs like Title I, the National School Lunch Program, Head Start, and special education grants, these are dollars that will decide whether a school stays open or closed, or if a district can hire school nurses and support staff.
More than 130 public programs allocate over $675 billion to serve primarily low-income people. Because the most disadvantaged are also the most likely to be underreported — including Black, Latinx, and other racialized groups, LGBTQ and gender non-conforming persons, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness — getting the 2020 Census right is more important than ever.

What You Can Do CONTINUE READING: The Census is an Education Justice Issue | Schott Foundation for Public Education


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CATCH UP WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE)

NewBlackMan (in Exile)


CATCH UP WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE)




Prisoners Reveal Inhumane Conditions Inside Mississippi Prisons

by Mark Anthony Neal / 15h
' Inmates inside Parchman State Penitentiary, Mississippi’s most infamous prison, describe the inhumane conditions that have them fearing for their lives. They’ve shared videos from inside the prison, exposing the hellish surroundings. Overflowing sewage, rats, mold, and threats of violence are all part of their day-to-day reality. It’s a situation that’s been years in the making. Now, it’s reach
Black Thought Of The Roots: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

by Mark Anthony Neal / 15h
'While our culture adjusts to the New Normal, artists are revealing the threads of our common humanity as they find new ways to bring their work to virtual communities. In this installment of Tiny Desk (home) concerts, hip-hop wordsmith Tariq Trotter , aka Black Thought of The Roots crew, took the occasion to premiere three new songs.'


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Joking from a Distance: Ziwe Fumudoh on Processing Trauma Through Comedy

by Mark Anthony Neal / 15h
' The last time Ziwe Fumudoh , a comedian and writer for Showtime's Desus & Mero , was on The Takeaway , she discussed the relationship between empathy and comedy. For the next installment in our series "Joking from a Distance," The Takeaway checked back in with her to see whether comedy can still be used to build empathy during the coronavirus pandemic.'
People’s Party: Talib Kweli & Chuck D Talk Public Enemy, Flavor Flav, Tupac and Trump

by Mark Anthony Neal / 16h
' In this episode of People’s Party , Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, author, producer, and one of the most influential and respected figures around the world in all of culture. The leader of the iconic group Public Enemy -- "Mista" Chuck D .' -- UPROXX Video
Just Blaze Unpacks His Samples for Beyoncé And Jay-Z

by Mark Anthony Neal / 16h
'In the first installment of NPR Music's video series The Formula , producer Just Blaze unpacks the drum-centric samples he created for Jay-Z and Beyoncé . Whether he's tapping out sampled drums or incorporating live drummers in the studio, his ability to harness energy is what makes his sound so dynamic.'
Why Racial Data on Coronavirus Testing and Deaths is Needed

100+by Mark Anthony Neal / 16h
'In some communities, the coronavirus pandemic appears to be disproportionately affecting people of color. African Americans have higher rates of the underlying health issues that can lead to death by the virus. Jericka Duncan speaks with health experts, Dr. Uché Blackstock including about the need to collect data on the race of those who have tested positive or died from coronavirus.' -- CBS Thi
9th Wonder Breaks Down His Beats For Kendrick Lamar's 'Duckworth.'

by Mark Anthony Neal / 16h
'Three samples. Three genres. Three generations. Watch 9th Wonder take NPR Music on a sonic journey while breaking down the trio of beats he produced for one Kendrick Lamar classic: "Duckworth".'


TWO DOLLARS AND A DREAM: The True Story of Madam C.J. Walker (dir. Stanley Nelson, 1987)

by Mark Anthony Neal / 17h
'TWO DOLLARS AND A DREAM is the biography of Madame C.J. Walker , America's first self-made millionairess. Mrs. Walker's fortune was built on skin and hair care products, parlaying a homemade beauty formula into a 
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