So the main desktop computer here at the institute is in a state, and we're working from the mobile office, which guarantees a 150% increase in typo frequency. But meanwhile, there are things to read.
First, a reminder that NPE's Blog of the Day now provides a daily sampling of the best public education posts on the web. Click on over and subscribe, and get a daily dose of some quality curating.
Voters actually like new taxes for schools
It's always a good day when Andrea Gabor puts out a new piece. Here she is at Bloomberg talking about how support for taxation to support schools is turning up in surprising places (like Arizona).
Democrats split over Biden plan for academic testing during pandemic
Politico has noticed that some Democrats have decided to buck the testocratic bent of party leaders.
Andy Spears has a substack. On this post, he talks about some of the ideas rising in popularity that spell bad news for the teaching profession.
Educators in office on the pandemic, teachers, and students
Mariel Padilla at the 19th talked to eight women legislators who are/were teachers and got their perspective on the current pandemess.
Standardized testing amid Covid-19 pandemic will do kids and teachers more harm than good
David DeMatthews is in USA Today adding one more well-informed voice to the chorus of people pointing out that the whole testing 2021 idea is a bad one.
America's Covid spring shouldn't include standardized tests for any students
Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Randi Weingarten team up for this NBC News piece that says what cannot be said too much. Here's hoping that the USED email servers are drowning in these links, sent over and over again.
Clearview AI uses your online photos to id you. Now there's a lawsuit.
Clearview AI has scraped over 3 billion photos to build its database so that its surveillance equipment can pick you out of a crowd. What could possibly go wrong. The LA Times has a story about the lawsuit brought by four civil liberties groups.
Stuyvesant students and mental health
For Chalkbeat, Amy Zimmer looks at what happened when Stuy students started to open up about the mental health issues of a high pressure high school.
What 'learning loss' really means
You know I'm going to love an essay that starts with "There is no such thing as learning loss." Rachael Gabriel guest posts at Valerie Strauss's Washington Post blog to offer one more explanation of what we're really talking about.
We need an FDA for educational assessments
Les Perelman, friend of the Institute and one of my personal heroes, offered up yet another look at just how bad computer assessments are at their jobs, via Diane Ravitch's blog.
Private schools have become truly obscene
Caitlin Flanagan is at the Atlantic drawing a vivd and horrifying picture of the world of the big league private schools. She gets a couple of things wrong about public schools, but this is a long, worthwhile read.
School boards push back against voucher expansions
Indiana's GOP legislators are on the voucher expansion bus, and public school boards are pushing back, God bless them. And the Associated Press has noticed (this particular link goes to the WNDU website).
Addressing learning loss in one easy lesson
At te Fordham's blog, Robert Pondiscio speaks up in favor of good old fashioned direct instruction and talks about a forty year old reading instruction book. Agree or disagree, this is something to start a discussion.
Thingmaker featuring creepy crawlers
If you are of a Certain Age, you know exactly what Teacher Tom is talking about here. (Personally, I favored the ones that let your pencil into a monster).
From girls high school basketball to the 'Eyes of Texas,' racism still permeates education systemTC Weber at Dad Gone Wild talks about learning loss and testing and who has a reason to promote these supposed crises
John White and Co: What Are They Up To Now
The indispensable Mercedes Schneider with another well-researched tale of ed reformsters who just keep failing upwards.
'Test and punish system': Parents can opt children out of statewide testing
If there was ever a time for parents to opt out of testing, this is it. The Opt Out Florida network has some information (and if you're not in Florida, this may give you some ideas of what to look at).
An Open Letter to My Son's Recorder
Julie Scagell at McSweeney's with your fun read for the week.
