Return To School Or Retire? Pick Your Poison by Dr. Michael Flanagan — Badass Teachers

Return To School Or Retire? Pick Your Poison by Dr. Michael Flanagan — Badass Teachers

Return To School Or Retire? Pick Your Poison by Dr. Michael Flanagan

Let me begin this piece by thanking our retiring educators for their years of service in America’s public schools. 

Teachers are there for our students on good days and bad days. Through their successes and failures, their high points and low points. The day-to-day interactions and emotional connections we make with our students is what fills our souls.

It is a “big reveal” for someone who has put twenty or thirty years into a profession to announce they are retiring. For educators especially, it can be very emotional. Not only are we leaving our careers and beginning the next phase of our lives, we are saying goodbye to our students. 

Retirement is usually accompanied by celebration and an acknowledgement of a productive career. But since the coronavirus has abruptly ended the Spring 2020 semester, this year’s retirees will miss that acknowledgement and closure.

Contemplating retirement is difficult under the best of circumstances, but now that decision has become immensely more complicated. Covid-19 and the economic collapse have created a life and CONTINUE READING: Return To School Or Retire? Pick Your Poison by Dr. Michael Flanagan — Badass Teachers

DeVos Funnels Coronavirus Relief Funds to Favored Private and Religious Schools - The New York Times

DeVos Funnels Coronavirus Relief Funds to Favored Private and Religious Schools - The New York Times

DeVos Funnels Coronavirus Relief Funds to Favored Private and Religious Schools
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, using discretion written into the coronavirus stabilization law, is using millions of dollars to pursue long-sought policy goals that Congress has blocked.

WASHINGTON — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is using the $2 trillion coronavirus stabilization law to throw a lifeline to education sectors she has long championed, directing millions of federal dollars intended primarily for public schools and colleges to private and religious schools.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, signed in late March, included $30 billion for education institutions turned upside down by the pandemic shutdowns, about $14 billion for higher education, $13.5 billion to elementary and secondary schools, and the rest for state governments.

Ms. DeVos has used $180 million of those dollars to encourage states to create “microgrants” that parents of elementary and secondary school students can use to pay for educational services, including private school tuition. She has directed school districts to share millions of dollars designated for low-income students with wealthy private schools.

And she has nearly depleted the 2.5 percent of higher education funding, about $350 million, set aside for struggling colleges to bolster small colleges — many of them private, religious or on the margins of higher education — regardless of need. The Wright Graduate University for the Realization of Human Potential, a private college in Wisconsin that has a website debunking claims that it is a cult, received about $495,000.

Bergin University of Canine Studies in California said its $472,850 allocation was a “godsend.”

“I think we are one of the most important educational institutions out there right now,” said its founder, Bonnie Bergin, who is credited with inventing the service dog.

On the Senate floor this week, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, accused Ms. DeVos of “exploiting congressional relief efforts.” He said she had been “using a portion of that funding not to help states or localities cope with the crisis, but to augment her push for voucherlike programs, CONTINUE READING: DeVos Funnels Coronavirus Relief Funds to Favored Private and Religious Schools - The New York Times

Opinion | The Economy Can’t Fully Reopen Until Schools Do - The New York Times

Opinion | The Economy Can’t Fully Reopen Until Schools Do - The New York Times

When Can Kids Go Back to Class?
The economy can’t fully reopen until schools do.

This article is part of the Debatable newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If you’re a parent stuck at home with young children — or, hypothetically speaking, if you’re a childless millennial stuck in a dictionary-size Brooklyn apartment below another dictionary-size Brooklyn apartment in which said parent is having trouble keeping said young children quiet — you are probably wondering when they can go back to school.

As my colleague Katrin Bennhold reports, restarting classes is essential not only to parents’ mental health and children’s development, but also to reviving the economy, which is why several countries have already done so. When will the United States?

Since the severity of the outbreak varies so widely across the country, there isn’t likely to be one answer, said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, in testimony before Congress on Tuesday. But here are some of the core questions that could affect the timeline no matter where you live.

How do you make schools pandemic-proof?

Absent a vaccine, experts say mass testing is the only surefire way to keep the reopening of schools from becoming a disaster, according to Ms. Bennhold. But mass testing remains the exception. Instead, some countries, such as Japan and Australia, are opening in phases by staggering classes on different days. In China, students' temperatures are checked before they can enter schools, and cafeteria tables are outfitted with plastic dividers. In Germany, class sizes have been halved, hallways have one-way traffic and teachers wear masks (in Taiwan, so do students).

[Related: 9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (and if) They Reopen]

But whether these measures will be enough to prevent cases from surging remains to be seen. Even if they are, applying them in the United States is “going to be a scheduling nightmare, a logistical nightmare,” Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, told NPR. After all, how do you socially CONTINUE READING: Opinion | The Economy Can’t Fully Reopen Until Schools Do - The New York Times

Teachers Union Counters Trump Lies With Coronavirus Road Map | The Union Journal

Teachers Union Counters Trump Lies With Coronavirus Road Map | The Union Journal

Teachers Union Counters Trump Lies With Coronavirus Road Map

The president of the American Federation of Teachers on Wednesday referred to as out the Trump White House’s chaotic response to the coronavirus pandemic ― and its complicated messaging ― because the union laid out its personal highway map for safely reopening the nation’s colleges.

“Our blueprint serves as a stark contrast to the conflicting guidance, bluster and lies of the Trump administration,” Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.7 million-member AFT, mentioned of its five-stage plan in an announcement.

The 22-page proposal — titled the “Plan To Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities” — is “based on the science as well as educator and health care expertise ― not on politics or wishful thinking,” the union mentioned.

It is a “living document” that shall be guided and up to date “by constantly evolving expert advice,” it added.

The plan requires social distancing measures to be maintained “until the number of new cases declines for at least 14 consecutive days”; the suitable infrastructure “to test, trace and isolate new cases”; the deployment of public well being instruments to stop the additional unfold of the contagion; the involvement “of workers, unions, parents and communities in all planning”; and the funding in public well being and schooling as “a priority” within the CONTINUE READING: Teachers Union Counters Trump Lies With Coronavirus Road Map | The Union Journal

Online learning: A special ed teacher explains why it’s so hard on her students - Vox

Online learning: A special ed teacher explains why it’s so hard on her students - Vox

A special education teacher explains why virtual learning is so hard on her students
Six million American children need special education. Are they falling through the cracks during the pandemic?

It isn’t easy setting up a virtual classroom on the fly. As the coronavirus pandemic grinds the nation’s education system to a halt, teachers have navigated computer shortages, spotty internet access, and chaotic Zoom calls in order to offer their students a valuable lesson plan in a time when nobody can leave their homes. But for special education teachers, there are many other variables to consider — and teacher Taylor Elise, 24, says many aren’t getting the guidance they need.

There are more than 6 million children in the United States receiving special education services. Elise, who lives in North Carolina, teaches 11 of them. She says that since the state closed schools in mid-March, county overseers have focused almost exclusively on students in general education. The resources she’s received are often tuned to scholastic plans outside of special ed and are of little use to her. Instead, Elise finds herself diverging from the county’s advice to generate her own curriculum, and her own virtual lessons, in the absence of any reliable leadership.

This has proved exceedingly difficult. As is the case in so many special education classrooms, Elise’s students have a wide variety of unique needs and abilities. Some of her students, she says, are nonverbal and rely on physical interaction. How do you translate that care virtually? What of the students who live in Spanish-speaking households, or those who don’t have a spare laptop? These are the questions Elise is forced to answer, often all by herself. What follows is a transcript of our conversation, lightly edited for clarity and length.

When did the pandemic start affecting your job?

So on March 11 or 12, Durham County schools announced they were closing. That was the first inkling things were going to happen in North Carolina. I’m in Wake County [bordering Durham County], we were waiting, and by the end of the day on Friday we thought we were going to school on Monday. But on Sunday, they made the announcement they were closing schools because an elementary school teacher had tested positive. I told my kids, “Bye, see you Monday!” And that turned into, “We won’t be in schools indefinitely.”

What do you remember from the immediate aftermath of that?

After that happened, we sent out information to parents to get info about what they needed food-wise and resource-wise. The next week I was dropping off food for two of my families. We have a Backpack Buddies program, which got CONTINUE READING: Online learning: A special ed teacher explains why it’s so hard on her students - Vox

NEA Hosts Tele-Town Hall to Mobilize Support for Coronavirus Relief Bill

NEA Hosts Tele-Town Hall to Mobilize Support for Coronavirus Relief Bill

NEA Hosts Tele-Town Hall to Mobilize Support for Coronavirus Relief Bill

The message of NEA’s “We Rise Together” campaign, a national call to demand Congress pass the HEROES Act to help stabilize education funding, couldn’t be any clearer:

“If we don’t do something, it’s going to get worse,” cautioned NEA President Lily Eskelsen García, during a national tele-town hall with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), and award-winning actor Bradley Whitford, as well as thousands of education activists. The group underscored throughout the hour-long call that the “something” is to take collective action to urge Congress to pass a new coronavirus relief bill.

“Schools depend on tax revenues: income tax, sales tax, property tax,” said Eskelsen García. “With so many people out of work, not going shopping, businesses closed, tax revenue is falling off a cliff—and that means school funding won’t be there when [school districts] need it in the fall.”

She added, “There is something we can do about it, if we rise together and act to get schools what they need—and we can do it right now.”

On the Table

Helping to keep local and state budgets afloat, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass the HEROES Act, legislation that provides money directly to school districts, colleges, and universities, as well as state and local governments that are struggling to fill budget gaps from the fallout of the coronavirus. The bill includes $100 billion specifically for K-12 and higher education; plus, $915 billion in state and local aid that could be used to help public schools and college campuses as tax revenues fall.

History shows that recessions bring to the education community massive layoffs, class size hikes, reductions in state education spending, and more. The Great Recession of 2008 proved this, and it took years for states to recover. In some places, they never recuperated.

But you don’t have to look too far into the past to predict the future. Right now, Hawaii is suffering a devastating blow to its economy. With tourism down, the state has the highest unemployment rate in the country and the ripple effect is felt in schools across the state.

Schools receive no money from the counties and no property taxes, explained Corey Rosenlee, a high school teacher and now president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. “Whenever there’s an economic downturn, the first place the state goes to cut is our schools.”

When the coronavirus hit, state officials looked to cut school funding to make up for budget shortfalls, including a 20 percent cut to the salaries of teachers and government workers. The Hawaii affiliate mobilized its members and flooded its board of education with testimony on how these cuts would worsen student learning. This, in part, compelled the Gov. David Ige to announce that there is no “immediate need” to consider pay cuts or furloughs,” shared Rosenlee.

The key word is “immediate,” and it is why collective action is needed to pass the HEROES Act.

Support from All Walks of Life CONTINUE READING: NEA Hosts Tele-Town Hall to Mobilize Support for Coronavirus Relief Bill

John Thompson on Oklahoma’s Response to the Pandemic | Diane Ravitch's blog

John Thompson on Oklahoma’s Response to the Pandemic | Diane Ravitch's blog

John Thompson on Oklahoma’s Response to the Pandemic

John Thompson, historian and retired teacher, has posted here many times about education and politics in his home state of Oklahoma.

He writes today about the politics of the pandemic:

When David Holt was elected mayor of Oklahoma City, I shared some of the concerns of fellow educators. I worried that the former Republican state senator would push for more charters, perhaps even the so-called “portfolio model.” But, what I’ve seen has been a civil rights advocate who actually listened to all sides. I repeatedly hear from friends that Holt has probably spent more time in African-American churches than all of our city’s previous mayors combined, and I suspect that is a big reason why he hasn’t bought the simplistic spin which many other Oklahoma leaders have.

I’ve attributed Mayor Holt’s open-mindedness, in large part, to the conversations that went with his celebration of the 60th anniversary of the nation’s largest Sit-In movement, which was led by Oklahoma City teachers and students. He listens. He’s not afraid to face hard facts of life.

In his 2020 State of the City address, Mayor Holt proposed a “big picture, everything-is-on-the-table, visionary conversation” about making schooling a team effort. Holt said it would “truly” be a collaboration between the OKCPS, the City of Oklahoma City, and community partners. Our schools and city need a “unified vision,” he explained. We especially need educators who “feel free to talk about the things nobody could achieve on their own.”

https://oklahoman.com/article/5656021/holt-focuses-2020-state-of-the-city-speech-on-idea-of-collaborative-conversation-to-improve-public-schools

Mayor Holt is now facing a challenge he cannot CONTINUE READING: John Thompson on Oklahoma’s Response to the Pandemic | Diane Ravitch's blog

SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS UPDATE Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

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

New MSNBC Video: “Why It’s So Difficult To Safely Reopen Schools In The Era Of COVID-19”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h

PIRO4D / Pixabay I’m adding this new video to THE BEST POSTS PREDICTING WHAT SCHOOLS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL :

New National Geographic Video: “Lockdown Around the World”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h

priyampatel4 / Pixabay Here’s how National Geographic describes this new video: In March 2020, many cities and countries around the world went into lockdown, restricting movement and encouraging social distancing in an attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Five filmmakers, Nick Moir, Veda Shastri, Alexia Webster, Felix Gaedtke, and Guglielmo Mattioli documented their cities under lockdown in 3

May 21st Is The “World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development” – Here Are Teaching & Learning Resources

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h

kreatikar / Pixabay The United Nations has designated May 21st at the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development . You might be interested in a massive “Best” list: The Best Sites For Learning About The World’s Different Cultures .

“Social Studies Instruction in the Age of the Coronavirus”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h

Social Studies Instruction in the Age of the Coronavirus is the headline of my latest Education Week Teacher column. Five social studies teachers discuss their online instructional strategies, including emphasizing relevancy and maintaining high standards. Here are some excerpts:

YESTERDAY

New Resources On Race & Racism

by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h

I’m adding these new resources to various “Best” lists. You can find links to all of those many lists that relate to race and racism at “Best” Lists Of The Week: Resources For Teaching & Learning About Race & Racism: Asian Americans is the PBS site for the series of the same name. I’m adding it to The Best Sites For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month . Improving Teacher Workforce Diversity is

CDC Releases Guidelines For Reopening Schools – I Don’t Think Our Districts Are Going To Find Them Much Help

by Larry Ferlazzo / 14h

The Centers For Disease Control released guides for reopening different sectors of society called Communities, Schools, Workplaces, and Events: Guidance for Where You Live, Work, Learn, Pray, and Play. One part of it was Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs . I might be missing something, but I’m not sure most districts are going to find it very helpful.

New NBC News Video: “The History (And Uncertain Future) Of The Handshake”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 15h

geralt / Pixabay I’m adding this new video to A BEGINNING LIST OF THE BEST RESOURCES FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS .

New TED-Ed Video & Lesson Is On “What is a coronavirus?”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 23h

TheDigitalArtist / Pixabay The latest TED-Ed lesson and video is on “What is a coronavirus?” I’m adding it to A BEGINNING LIST OF THE BEST RESOURCES FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS .

Ed Tech Digest

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d

Eight years ago, in another somewhat futile attempt to reduce the backlog of resources I want to share, I began this occasional “” post where I share three or four links I think are particularly useful and related to…ed tech, including some Web 2.0 apps. You might also be interested in THE BEST ED TECH RESOURCES OF 2019 – PART TWO , as well as checking out all my edtech resources . Here are this

Schools Are Going To Have A BIG Problem Getting Substitute Teachers Next Year

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d

qimono / Pixabay Schools are obviously going to have lots of challenges during the next school year (see A teacher predicts what his classroom (and others) will look like in the fall) . An additional issue is going to be getting 

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007