Saturday, May 8, 2021

POSTS THIS WEEK 5/8/21

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Friday, May 7, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

by Mike Simpson / 14min

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES NEA members speak out on loan forgiveness and COVID 19’s impact on students with disabilities https://educationvotes.nea.org/?p=49249#.YJa80QG6GIQ.twitter via @EdVotes Mercedes Schneider: Whistleblower in Texas Fired for Reporting Misused SPED Funding | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-u5I via @dianeravitch Rutgers to start c

Diversity is the Most Important Reason to Save Public Schools | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 14min

Diversity is the Most Important Reason to Save Public Schools Public schools are under attack . So what else is new? It’s been so since the first moment the institution was suggested in this country by revolutionaries like Thomas Jefferson: “Education is here placed among the articles of public care… a public institution can alone supply those sciences…” And John Adams: “The whole people must ta

Shawgi Tell,: More Than 1,650 Charter Schools Closed in Seven Years | Dissident Voice

by Mike Simpson / 41min

More Than 1,650 Charter Schools Closed in Seven Years | Dissident Voice More Than 1,650 Charter Schools Closed in Seven Years According to the U.S. Department of Education , 1,654 charter schools closed between 2010-2011 and 2016-2017. That is an average of 236 charter school closures per year, which is a big bite out of the total number of charter schools in a short period of time. Today there e

Wyoming Passes Charter Law that Guts Local Control and Accountability | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 46min

Wyoming Passes Charter Law that Guts Local Control and Accountability The Wyoming Legislature passed a charter law that allows new charters to open wherever they wish, without the approval of the elected local school board. Governor Mark Gordon neither signed nor vetoed the law, expressing confidence that kinks could be fixed in the future. The legislation allows the State Loan and Investment Bo

Activists in Mississippi have been clamoring to challenge the constitutionality of the state’s anti-strike law. Greenville school bus drivers may have kicked the door wide open. – Fred Klonsky

by Mike Simpson / 59min

ACTIVISTS IN MISSISSIPPI HAVE BEEN CLAMORING TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE STATE’S ANTI-STRIKE LAW. GREENVILLE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS MAY HAVE KICKED THE DOOR WIDE OPEN Bus drivers in Greenville Public School District went on strike to protest reduced hours, low pay and ‘poor treatment’ by the district. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today Mississippi Today : A political time bomb i

Schott’s strong grassroots partnerships and philanthropic allies| Schott Foundation for Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Our Philanthropy | Schott Foundation for Public Education Schott’s strong grassroots partnerships and philanthropic allies National Urban Indian Family Coalition by psj / 20h The is a leading national advocate for American Indian families living in urban areas and the organizations that serve them. Our network includes more than 40 trusted community-based nonprofit organizations across 23 states

Education Matters: Why a 20 year teacher got a 15 year pin

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Why a 20 year teacher got a 15 year pin For teacher appreciation week and more on that later, the district handed out pins with years of service in 5-year increments on them. This is my 20th year as a teacher, and yet I received a 15 yer pin. You would think it wouldn't matter so much, but it was really a reminder of how little the district appreciates teachers, especially veteran ones. In 2010,

NYC Educator: Does It Pay to Do Nothing?

by Mike Simpson / 2h

Does It Pay to Do Nothing? I was in a meeting the other day in which we were discussing NX grades. That's what we have in lieu of failure these days. A lot of teachers are upset about this, for various reasons. I understand that it's better to err on the side of not hurting kids for things that aren't their fault, so I can't complain about it that much. I have one student, for example, who was e

THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 2h

THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY “People who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by dragons. From within.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin, The Wave in the Mind: Talks and Essays on the Writer, the Reader, and the Imagination This week, amidst great fanfare, the State General Assembly came to a close . For many, it couldn’t have come fast enough. I would argue that this year’s legislative session p

THIS WEEK FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

by Mike Simpson / 3h

ED.GOV THIS WEEK FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION A Letter to America’s Teachers 31 by Miguel Cardona / 1d I never could predict what might happen in Mr. O’Neil’s art classes; I just knew I couldn’t wait for the next assignment. Back then I didn’t realize all the ways this dynamic educator, a rare man of color leading our diverse classroom of second graders, was serving as a pioneer and role

Network for Public Education Blog Post of the Day This Week

by Mike Simpson / 3h

Blog Posts Archive - Network For Public Education Network for Public Education Blog Posts of the Day This Week Blog Post of the Day Our NPE Blogs of the Day feature what we think are interesting and important blog posts centered on issues of public education. The views expressed by the bloggers are, of course, entirely their own. To submit links and tips for inclusion, please send an email to npe

THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it

by Mike Simpson / 3h

Dad Gone Wild – Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it. THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY by TC Weber / 17h “People who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by dragons. From within.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin, The Wave in the Mind: Talks and Essays on the Writer, the Reader, and the Imagination This week, amidst great fanfare, the State General Assembly came to a close . For many, it couldn’t hav

TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION + Teacher Tom: Let's Turn The World Around: Teacher Tom's Play Summit

by Mike Simpson / 3h

Teacher Tom TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Teacher Tom: Let's Turn The World Around: Teacher Tom's Play Summit We heard it from Mandela, "Turn this world around, For the children" - turn this world around. He's done it once before, and now we hear his call For the children, turn this world around. Turn, turn, turn, Turn this world around For the children, turn this world aroun

SSPI TONY THURMOND: STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

by Mike Simpson / 3h

California Department of Education SSPI TONY THURMOND STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SSPI Announces 2021 PAEMST Finalists 2d State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces 2021 Finalists for Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. 2021 Taste of CA Challenge Grant Recipients 4d The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Divi

THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 3h

NewBlackMan (in Exile) THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) Coffee & Books with Marc Lamont Hill: Anthea Butler Discusses 'White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America' by Mark Anthony Neal / 20h 'On this episode of Coffee & Books , host Marc Lamont Hill sits down with Anthea Butler , Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania

THIS WEEK Education Research Report

by Mike Simpson / 3h

Education Research Report Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2021 by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 2d * provides vital scholarly analyses of virtual schools at a time of increased enthusiasm for moving schooling online, nationally and internationally. The report examines the characteristics and performance of full-time, publicly funded K-12 virtual schools. It also reviews the relevant available research relat

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 Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h BiljaST / Pixabay Six years ago I began this regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general that have caught my attention. You might also be interested in THE BEST RESOURCES,

KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #CANCELTHETEST

by Mike Simpson / 4h

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 Wyoming Passes Charter Law that Guts Local Control and Accountability by dianeravitch / 26min The Wyoming Legislature passed a charter law that allows new charters to open wherever they wish, without the approval of the elected local school board

YESTERDAY

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Friday, May 7, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

by Mike Simpson / 23h

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Arizona education: Bill would fine teachers for 'controversial' issues - https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2021/05/05/arizona-bill-would-fine-teachers-discussion-controversial-issues/4961516001/#new_tab via @azcentral Education & Civil Rights for the New Decade Virtual Conference Agenda by Whova - https://whov

The American Rescue Plan is a chance for a new beginning in education and teaching children, especially those with special needs | Eclectablog

by Mike Simpson / 23h

The American Rescue Plan is a chance for a new beginning in education and teaching children, especially those with special needs The following essay was written by Trina Tocco. She is a resident of Royal Oak and has two amazing children who attend Ferndale Public Schools. When the pandemic hit, I had to make a choice – either one of my children wouldn’t be able to participate in virtual school b

Nicholas Tampio: How the Feds Can Kill the Liberal Arts and Humanities | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 23h

Nicholas Tampio: How the Feds Can Kill the Liberal Arts and Humanities Nicholas Tampio is a professor of political science at Fordham University. In this post , he demonstrates how a proposed federal program could crush the liberal arts and humanities. He writes in the Boston Globe: A bipartisan group of senators, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island

A Letter to America’s Teachers - ED.gov Blog

by Mike Simpson / 23h

A Letter to America’s Teachers I never could predict what might happen in Mr. O’Neil’s art classes; I just knew I couldn’t wait for the next assignment. Back then I didn’t realize all the ways this dynamic educator, a rare man of color leading our diverse classroom of second graders, was serving as a pioneer and role model for me and my peers in John Barry Elementary School. But I’ll never forge

Teacher Tom: If Our Goal is to Help Our Fellow Humans Rather Than Merely Control Them

by Mike Simpson / 1d

If Our Goal is to Help Our Fellow Humans Rather Than Merely Control Them Yesterday, I arrived home from walking the dog, to find police cars, fire trucks, and an ambulance filling the city block just below my apartment window. Last weekend, the seven square blocks just north of the building were completely shut down for an entire morning due to a gas leak and I wondered if it had something to do

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #tBATs

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... 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 - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/05/this-week-in-education-larry-

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 1d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/05/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm.html Left of Black S11 · E26 | Davarian L. Baldwin and the Damage Universities Are Doing to American Cities by Mark Anthony Neal / 15h We perceive universities as serving the greater good of providing ed

CURMUDGUCATION: Accountability Whiplash

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Accountability Whiplash It's one of the little inconsistencies in the reformster movement. Some will point at charts showing that spending on public education has increased steadily (in constant dollars) and ask, "What have we gotten for it?" There are answers to that question, including but not limited to A) more education for special ed students previously warehoused in some back room, B) bett

Ohio Legislature Heats Up Controversy by Making New Public School Funding Plan and Method of Funding School Vouchers All Part of the Budget | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Ohio Legislature Heats Up Controversy by Making New Public School Funding Plan and Method of Funding School Vouchers All Part of the Budget This week in my school district in Cleveland Heights-University Heights, Ohio, parents and public school supporters are going through a quiet ritual. People have been scrambling to write and submit legislative testimony. Some people are submitting written te

Authentic Education Reform Based on Diversity Research | tultican

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Authentic Education Reform Based on Diversity Research By Thomas Ultican 5/7/2021 “Dedicated with admiration and respect to public school teachers who opt-out of commercial standardized tests.” These are the words of dedication for Garn Press’s new book in their “Woman Scholars Series,” Diversity Research in Action . In this book, lengthy excerpts from published research by three PhD’s in educat

How Professors Teach | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 1d

How Professors Teach Jonathan Zimmerman’s Amateur Hou r (a great title) documents how college professors have taught over the past two centuries. It is a worthwhile read for those who have experienced the full range of university teaching from packed lecture halls to wood-paneled seminar rooms. And it got me thinking of my experiences in college and university classrooms over many years. I have

The Testing Game, Louisiana-style | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

The Testing Game, Louisiana-style Let’s say that I am at the end of my freshman year of high school in Louisiana. I must take two Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) exams: English I and Algebra I. So long as I minimally pass these exams (“approaching basic”), I am good for graduation three years from now. Furthermore, my state exam score counts as my final exam in the class (between

Welcome to South Carolina: A State of Denial – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Welcome to South Carolina: A State of Denial In the United States of America, the stated law of the land is “innocent until proven guilty.” However, police in the U.S. shoot and kill about 1000 people a year, denying them due process, acting as judge, jury, and executioner instead of the claimed role of “protect and serve.” The U.S. is experiencing a mild reckoning, specifically linked to the ki

September 21 School Opening and Unanswered Questions: Requiring Vaccinations, Remote Instruction, Teacher Accommodations, Summer School and “Catching Up” | Ed In The Apple

by Mike Simpson / 1d

September 21 School Opening and Unanswered Questions: Requiring Vaccinations, Remote Instruction, Teacher Accommodations, Summer School and “Catching Up” As the COVID positive rates continue to spiral downwards and the vaccination numbers increase the State is moving towards a full school opening. Broadway can reopen on September 14 th , large sports venues allowing larger and larger crowds and

Jesse Hagopian Joins CBS News to Counter GOP Bills Outlawing The Teaching of Structural Racism: “I will not lie to kids” – I AM AN EDUCATOR

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Jesse Hagopian Joins CBS News to Counter GOP Bills Outlawing The Teaching of Structural Racism: “I will not lie to kids” Ijoined CBS News anchor Tanya Rivero on her program to discuss the request from Republican lawmakers to rescind any support of the 1619 Project and to talk about the proliferation of bills in state legislatures around the country that would ban teaching about structural racism

CPAC: Why next year will be our best opportunity to lower class size in our schools | Class Size Matters

by Mike Simpson / 1d

| A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes CPAC: Why next year will be our best opportunity to lower class size in our schools We gave this power point presentation to the Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Council on 5.6.21 on why next year, because of the big increase in state and federal funding, we will have the best opportunity to lower class size, at

Pledge to Teach the Truth, Despite New State Bills Against It (Tennessee bans public schools from teaching critical race theory) | Zinn Education Project

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Pledge to Teach the Truth, Despite New State Bills Against It | Zinn Education Project Pledge to Teach the Truth, Despite New State Bills Against It Tennessee bans public schools from teaching critical race theory amid national debate The Tennessee General Assembly has banned the teaching of critical race theory , passing a law at the very end of the legislative session to withhold funding from p

‘Ripe for fraud’: Multicounty Grand Jury releases interim report on Epic Charter Schools investigation | KFOR com Oklahoma City

by Mike Simpson / 1d

‘Ripe for fraud’: Multicounty Grand Jury releases interim report on Epic Charter Schools investigation | KFOR.com Oklahoma City ‘Ripe for fraud’: Multicounty Grand Jury releases interim report on Epic Charter Schools investigation OKLAHOMA CITY ( KFOR ) – The multicounty grand jury investigating Epic Charter Schools has released a scathing interim report of its findings following the state’s audi

MAY 06

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Thursday, May 6, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Moderna says early data shows Covid vaccine is 96% effective in teens - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/06/covid-moderna-mrna-earnings-q1-2021.html by BerkeleyJr on @CNBC Mothers are being left behind in the economic recovery from COVID-19 - https://brook.gs/3nOeDaj on @BrookingsInst Anti-Trans Laws Are Making Trans Youth Feel Unsafe | Tee

What the divorcing Bill and Melinda Gates did to public education - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Let’s review how Bill and Melinda Gates spent billions of dollars to change public education Now that the philanthropic Bill and Melinda Gates have announced they are divorcing after 27 years of marriage, let’s look at the controversial investments they made together to reform K-12 public education — and how well those worked out. Together, the two have been among the most generous philanthropis

Education Matters: DCPS approves charter with racist and anti-LGBTQ ties

by Mike Simpson / 2d

DCPS approves charter with racist and anti-LGBTQ ties I sent below to the school board after seeing their plans to approve a second classical charter school. I knew it was going to pass, to fight back against what is wrong takes courage, and as we have seen all year long, the board lacks it, but I had hoped for some toke resistance, but apparently thinking racism doesn't exist and gay people are

DEAR BLACK TEACHERS, WE SEE YOU! - Philly's 7th Ward

by Mike Simpson / 2d

DEAR BLACK TEACHERS, WE SEE YOU! “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his [her] influence stops.“ —Henry Adams At the Center for Black Educator Development, we believe that the impact of a great teacher is everlasting and lifesaving. So, to all the great Black teachers out there, know that you’re special. You’re special not solely because you choose to educate—reason enough—but b

New report provides reality check on virtual schools - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 2d

New report provides reality check on virtual schools Online education has been at the center of the national education discussion since the coronavirus pandemic forced schools last year to close and teachers to find ways to teach virtually — often online. While some students thrived learning virtually, educators and parents around the country have said that most did not. But online learning has

Opinion | Does your child’s teacher know how to teach? - POLITICO

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Does your child’s teacher know how to teach? The pandemic pushed a lot of ‘alternatively’ credentialed teachers into schools. That’s a problem. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated harmful educational inequalities in the preK-12 public education system. The nation’s poorest students, Black and Latino students, and our disabled students have been the most negatively impacted by school closings n

The Great (Unemployed and Underpaid) Transformation | Teacher in a strange land

by Mike Simpson / 2d

The Great (Unemployed and Underpaid) Transformation Short version of this blog: No. We’re not going to get back to normal. The pandemic has changed everything. You’ve probably seen the meme: There isn’t a ‘teacher shortage.’ There is a ‘Masters-level professionals willing to work for $35,000 shortage.’ And maybe you’re thinking… yeah, no, beginning teachers make a lot more than that. Well— not s

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #tBATs

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Teacher Tom: To Be Alive is to be Ceaselessly Beginning

by Mike Simpson / 2d

To Be Alive is to be Ceaselessly Beginning I met Amelia as a two-year-old. Like many young children experiencing their first days of school, she didn't talk to me. Feeling shy is a common, and completely rational, reaction to new people and environments. It wasn't just me. As long as she was in the classroom, she didn't talk to anyone, including her own parents. Again, not a problem. She talked

Inefficient, Ineffective, and Absolutely Necessary: The Case for Elected School Boards – Have You Heard

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Inefficient, Ineffective, and Absolutely Necessary: The Case for Elected School Boards Inefficient. Ineffective. Outdated. Outmoded. Unrepresentative. Sure, local school boards are deserving of all of these criticisms (and more), but they are also seedbeds of local democracy at a time when democracy is under attack. Special guests: school board member and scholar Rachel White, and school committ

SSPI Announces 2021 PAEMST Finalists - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 2d

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2021 Finalists for Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching SACRAMENTO—Even through the challenges of remote learning and the COVID-19 pandemic, California teachers continue to find ways to bring out the curiosity, excellence, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities in students. Today, State Superintendent of Pub

Education Matters: DCPS's testing shenanigans

by Mike Simpson / 2d

DCPS's testing shenanigans A lot of schools are doing a new testing regimen. In years past, an entire class would test all at once, but now higher achievers are testing first and lower performers sometime after. My initial thought was the district is trying to pull a fast one. The district knows kids talk, so the thought is maybe some could pass on some info to their peers, that and teachers jus

A NYC Teacher Blogger Fell, 1 Year Ago Today | JD2718

by Mike Simpson / 2d

A NYC Teacher Blogger Fell, 1 Year Ago Today Eric “Chaz” Chasanoff was one of the best-known New York City teacher bloggers . He was an exceptional advocate for teachers, and a opponent of arbitrary and unfair policies. Eric wrote regularly for well over a decade. He started in 2006 . And he didn’t stop, until COVID stopped him. During the pandemic he was writing every two or three days. On Apri

CURMUDGUCATION: Teaching Legacies

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Teaching Legacies It's easy as a teacher-- particularly if you've taught in a single school for a lot of your career-- to think of your legacy being in the building or in some program that you created or nurtured. But that's not it. As you approach retirement, you may notice (if you haven't already) that no matter how ever-present and plugged in you may be, no matter how many invaluable extras y

Seattle Schools Community Forum: This and That District News

by Mike Simpson / 2d

This and That District News From SPS Communications via Twitter today: 1/2) Student transportation is impacted by several factors that SPS is working to address. These challenges make it impossible to provide transportation to all eligible students at this time. (2/2) If additional bus drivers become available, we will focus on establishing limited transportation based on the highest needs. The

MAY 05

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Wednesday, May 5, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES PA Charter Change Roundup: May 5, 2021 - https://mailchi.mp/b5f9f09201d9/g1h5jkecl0-2487688?e=0810a17a46 For some Black families in CHCCS, remote learning is a "breath of fresh air" - The Daily Tar Heel - https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2021/05/donotpub-chapel-hill-carrboro-city-schools-black-families-remote-learning-education?utm_

Teacher Tom: Seeking Not Truth, But Complete Truth

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Seeking Not Truth, But Complete Truth I grew up in a household with magazine subscriptions. We always had the latest edition of Time and Sports Illustrated on the coffee table, and for a long time we took National Geographic as well. I'm pretty sure mom read Women's Day , and there were others. As I got older, when I had my own magazine budget to spend, I chose comic books. Magazines were a habi

CURMUDGUCATION: Khan Academy Expanding To Littles

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Khan Academy Expanding To Littles The pandemic has been very, very good to Sal Khan, and he's ready to grab the big sticky ball and run with it. He recently did an interview with Emily Tate for EdSurge, and it's all just as discouraging as you would expect. Khan opens with a few thought about pandemic life in the Bay Area: “Obviously, some aspects have been suboptimal for everybody,” he says, ac

JEFF BRYANT: A Florida School Improved Reading and Math Scores With Streetlights—And Joe Biden Is All For It | Ed Politics

by Mike Simpson / 2d

A Florida School Improved Reading and Math Scores With Streetlights—And Joe Biden Is All For It | Ed Politics A FLORIDA SCHOOL IMPROVED READING AND MATH SCORES WITH STREETLIGHTS—AND JOE BIDEN IS ALL FOR IT “What I’m working on—like making sure students have access to food, clean clothing, and streetlights—may not look like what I’m working on,” Catherine Gilmore told me over a phone call. Gilmore

The Problem of Student Engagement in Writing Workshop – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 2d

The Problem of Student Engagement in Writing Workshop Imagine you are a teacher who says to students, “You can revise your work as often as you want to learn as much as you can and achieve the grade you want.” Imagine you are student who replies, “No thanks.” As a critical teacher and teacher educator, I have spent about 40 years not swimming against the stream but floating, isolated, in an enti

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 2d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/05/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm.html Reclaiming Their Roots: CBS News Producer Rodney Hawkins Discovers Ancestor in Slavery Archive by Mark Anthony Neal / 6min ' CBS News producer Rodney Hawkins digs deep into his family's past with th

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #tBATs

by Mike Simpson / 2d

NYC Educator: The School Calendar and Losing 15 Minutes of Fame

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The School Calendar and Losing 15 Minutes of Fame During the apocalypse I've gotten repeated calls to appear on the news and give opinions about various situations. It was easy to talk about the botched and delayed school openings, as well as the tone-deaf responses of de Blasio and the Mariachi Chancellor. Lick their fingers, place them in the air, and hope their responses would prove popular.

Biden’s Proposed American Families Plan Would Revolutionize Life for Poor Children | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Biden’s Proposed American Families Plan Would Revolutionize Life for Poor Children When public policy has been entirely inadequate and misguided for decades, it is difficult to grasp the full implications of the beginning steps for reform. Such is the case with President Joe Biden’s proposal last week to respond to our society’s outrageous level of child poverty. The development of coherent, eff

NANCY BAILEY: The Covid-19 Tech v. Teacher Tug of War and Teacher Appreciation

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The Covid-19 Tech v. Teacher Tug of War and Teacher Appreciation The Covid-19 Tech v. Teacher Tug of War and Teacher Appreciation It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, time to thank a teacher before there are no teachers to thank. Not only did teachers have Covid-19 fears to contend with this past year, keeping their students and themselves safe, but they’ve also gone through a tug of war since the sta

Texas: SPEDx Whistleblower Laurie Kash Was Right, and She’s Been Paying for It Ever Since. | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Texas: SPEDx Whistleblower Laurie Kash Was Right, and She’s Been Paying for It Ever Since In August 2017, Laurie Kash was hired by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as its director of special education. Her immediate supervisor was Justin Porter , who was then the executive director of special populations. (One year later, in August 2018 , Porter assumed Kash’s job, which sat vacant for nine mont

Seattle Schools Community Forum: The New Way in Seattle Schools

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The New Way in Seattle Schools What the “New Way?” Encompassing the entire district, we see changes aplenty with near zero explanation. I’ll start but do chime in with yours. - Minutes of committee meetings . Man, these are starting to look like charter school board meeting minutes. Which is to say, sparse and just the facts (and maybe not even all the facts). Example: the scribe appears to have

Choosing Democracy: Sacramento City USD Fails English Learners

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Sacramento City USD Fails English Learners The Education Committee of LULAC/Sacramento has recommended for over 4 years that the funds allocated to Sacramento City Unified School District specifically to improve the educational achievement of English Learners be used specifically for that purpose. ( see example below of 2018 submission). Supplemental funds carried over from one year to the next

MAY 04

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Tuesday, May 4, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Are NYC Teacher Retiree Health Plan Benefits in Jeopardy? | Ed In The Apple - https://wp.me/p2zCG-2Rd via @edintheapple SUNY honcho urges pols to lift cap on charter schools https://nypost.com/2021/05/03/suny-honcho-urges-pols-to-lift-cap-on-charter-schools/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20bu

Student Appreciation Week | Teacher in a strange land

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Student Appreciation Week So here we are, once again ‘celebrating’ Teacher Appreciation Week, with all the teachers saying—no, no, don’t get me a $10 Starbucks card or (better yet) a $50 bottle of champagne . Instead, write me a sincere note of gratitude. Here, write it on my Facebook page. Feel free to embellish. We all have that box of thank-you notes. And yes, we re-read them periodically. An

Shawgi Tell: Public Opposition to Charter Schools Steadily Growing | Dissident Voice

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Public Opposition to Charter Schools Steadily Growing | Dissident Voice Public Opposition to Charter Schools Steadily Growing Over the years, as more problems with charter schools have been exposed, analyzed, and critiqued, more people have come to see the need for opposing them and for defending public education and the public interest. Criticism and rejection of these privately-operated schools

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Brent Jones Speaks

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Brent Jones Speaks Here is the first public statement from new superintendent, Brent Jones. As statements go, it’s about what you would expect but some editing might have helped. One key item - he does not say schools will reopen in their buildings in September. He just vaguely talks about “prepare for fall.” Also of interest is the fill-in form to contact him available at the district’s website

Teacher Tom: What the White House Should Know About Preschool

by Mike Simpson / 4d

What the White House Should Know About Preschool The current administration is proposing universal free preschool in the US. People keep asking me what I think about it. I support publicly funded early childhood education, but frankly, I'm worried. In my lifetime, policymakers and elected representatives, no matter where they stand on the political spectrum, have always been wrong about educatio

Please send a letter on the need to lower class size to your State Senator today! and other updates | Class Size Matters

by Mike Simpson / 4d

and other updates | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes Please send a letter on the need to lower class size to your State Senator today! and other updates Please send a letter today to your State Senators by clicking here, urging them to sign onto S.6296 , the bill introduced by Sen. Robert Jackson, to update and renew NYC’s commitment to lower

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #tBATs

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Charles Siler: A Former Privatizer Changes Sides | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Charles Siler: A Former Privatizer Changes Sides Charles Siler had excellent credentials to work in the privatization movement. In this article, he explains why he switched sides. To learn more about Charles Siler, watch this video in which I interviewed him. Confessions of a Former Privatizer Why I Don’t Want to Eradicate Public Schools Anymore I spent years working to privatize public schools.

The Classroom as a “Gritty” Place for Engineers and Plumbers (Matthew Evans) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 4d

The Classroom as a “Gritty” Place for Engineers and Plumbers (Matthew Evans) Matthews Evans is headtea c her of a Gloucestershire secondary school in southwest England and author of Leaders with Substance: An Antidote to Leadership. The issue of researchers–engineers who study and design projects to solve schooling problems–having a difficult time in getting practitioners–plumbers who get in and

NYC Public School Parents: How do you think NYC should spend $8 billion to improve our schools? Make your voice heard!

by Mike Simpson / 4d

How do you think NYC should spend $8 billion to improve our schools? Make your voice heard! Class Size Matters is holding our annual Parent Action Conference on Sat. May 22 from 11 AM – 1 PM with NYC Kids PAC, to gain input from parents, teachers and others on how NYC should invest the $8 billion in additional state and federal funds our schools are due to receive in the next two to three years.

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Advanced Learning to Change

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Advanced Learning to Change The Seattle School Board and the district are poised to change the Advanced Learning program in a major way. Interestingly, the BAR (Board Action Report) on this change has a fairly bland title - Rename and Amend Highly Capable Services and Advanced Learning . I am NOT advocating for anyone to write to the Board because this was a done deal a long time ago. The distri

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 4d

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END “One of the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.” ― Oprah Winfrey The 2021 version of the Tennessee General Assembly is slowly coming to a close. But whether it will close with a whimper or a bang is yet to be determined. Two bills slated for discussion this week could send it either way . First up, is a bill th

MICHELLE GOLDBERG | Why the Right Loves Public School Culture Wars - The New York Times

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Opinion | Why the Right Loves Public School Culture Wars - The New York Times Why the Right Loves Public School Culture Wars There is a quote from Ralph Reed that I often return to when trying to understand how the right builds political power. “I would rather have a thousand school board members than one president and no school board members,” the former leader of the Christian Coalition said in

MAY 03

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Monday, May 3, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES In bitterly divided election in Southlake, Texas, opponents of anti-racism education win big - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bitterly-divided-election-southlake-texas-opponents-anti-racism-education-win-n1266102 by NBCNews on @NBCNews During pandemic year, US teachers faced backlash over school closures, and saw a newfound respec

Seattle Schools Community Forum: What Did I Miss? #tBATs

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Seattle Schools Community Forum: What Did I Miss? What Did I Miss? Why hello there! Long time, no see. I first want to acknowledge and bow my head to all that has happened to our country and countries throughout the world I have continued to monitor several parent Facebook pages and one WA state teacher page (not WEA). It has been a deeply frustrating, frightening, exhausting time for teachers, p

An Update on My Health | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 4d

An Update on My Health A month ago, I wrote to tell you that I was going to the hospital for open-heart surgery. I lined up guest bloggers who filled in for me in my absence, and I thank them all for keeping the conversation going. I checked into the hospital in NYC on April 7. Surgery was early the next morning. I had an ascending aortic aneurysm and a leaky heart valve that had to be replaced.

Teacher Tom: "Art Therapy is Therapy"

by Mike Simpson / 4d

"Art Therapy is Therapy" Conversation isn't always the best way to get to know a child. This is true of adults as well, but it is especially true of children who are still developing their language skills. The words they say are important, of course, but more revealing is often how they interact with their environment, including the other people in their world. How they use art materials can be

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 4d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/05/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm.html Brené Brown and Tarana Burke on their Anthology 'You Are Your Best Thing' by Mark Anthony Neal / 42min 'Author, speaker and life coach Brené Brown and #MeToo co-founder Tarana Burke join us to share

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #tBATs

by Mike Simpson / 4d

can’t-miss UK/NAACP Education & Civil Rights Initiative VIRTUAL CONFERENCE | Cloaking Inequity

by Mike Simpson / 5d

CAN’T-MISS UK/NAACP EDUCATION & CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE Talk with National Leaders and Experts! Register now for this can’t-miss virtual conference hosted by the University of Kentucky’s Education & Civil Rights Initiative May 7-8, 2021 Register here by Thursday, May 6 , for Education & Civil Rights for the New Decade! Explore some of the most pressing issues of our time in th

Important: Let's Thank Those House Members Who Support Charter Reform - Network For Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Important: Let’s Thank Those House Members Who Support Charter Reform Good news. Fifteen members of the House of Representatives led by Mark Pocan and Jamaal Bowman signed a letter to Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies House Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro, and the subcommittee’s Ranki

Will Staff Returning from Obama/Duncan Years Compromise Biden’s Public Education Promises? | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Will Staff Returning from Obama/Duncan Years Compromise Biden’s Public Education Promises? At the end of his first hundred days, President Joe Biden deserves credit for taking important steps to help public schools serving children living in communities where family poverty is concentrated. First, the President promised during the campaign to triple funding for Title I schools, and the federal b

Russ on Reading: Defeating the Science of Reading Narrative, Part 1: Focus on the Child

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Defeating the Science of Reading Narrative, Part 1: Focus on the Child Last week I wrote a post, Unsettling the Science of Reading Narrative that highlighted a new report from the Literacy Research Association, on dyslexia and the Science of Reading. The report titled An Examination of Literacy Research and Instruction, with Policy Implications, by Peter Johnston and Donna Scanlon, posits that 1

Good News from Oakland! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Good News from Oakland! Several years ago, the Walton Family Foundation and the Gates Foundation decided that it was not enough to open new charter schools. No, they had to devise mechanisms to make sure that school officials put charters on an equal footing with public schools and that the public didn’t care whether schools were run by their elected school board or a private board of directors.

Democracy Prep’s Fiscal Tottering | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Democracy Prep’s Fiscal Tottering In March 2019 and October 2019, Democracy Prep charter chain founder and former employee Seth Andrew stole a total of $218K from three Democracy Prep escrow accounts. He was able to do so because two years after leaving Democracy Prep (in 2017), Andrew still had access to his school email account and could falsely portray himself as still associated with the cha

MAY 02

CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: What? May Already? Edition (5/2)

by Mike Simpson / 5d

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: What? May Already? Edition (5/2) What? May Already? Edition That whole April thing seemed to slide by quickly. What could come next? I'll remind you (as I haven't in a while) that sharing is your power as a reader, and that if any of these really speak to you, the best gift you can give the writer of your favorite piece is more readers. Share. I'm a Chicago principal. This

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Sunday, May 2, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES The American Families Plan: Potentially the Most Important Proposal for Children Ever by @BruceLesley https://link.medium.com/YIzqtaAEQfb Is Kentucky upholding its mandate to adequately fund public schools? - https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2021/04/30/kentucky-upholding-its-mandate-adequately-fund-public-schools/7390942002

Joe Biden, the Republicans, and Kids’ Stuff | The New Yorker

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Joe Biden, the Republicans, and Kids’ Stuff | The New Yorker Joe Biden, the Republicans, and Kids’ Stuff As the new Administration enters its next hundred days, the child wars are likely to grow more intense and, in some quarters, more detached from reality. “Superheroes Are Everywhere,” a children’s book celebrating ordinary people, by Vice-President Kamala Harris, has landed, like so many thing

Biden’s Message: Government Must Work for the Common Good | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Biden’s Message: Government Must Work for the Common Good Michael Sean Winters of the National Catholic Reporter expressed my reaction to President Joe Biden’s speech to Congress. No boasting. No narcissism. A strong assertion that government must work for the people and use its resources to improve the lives of the people. The most abnormal thing about Biden’s speech, however, was how normal it

How the Centner Academy Became a Beacon for Anti-Vaxxers - The New York Times

by Mike Simpson / 6d

How a Miami School Became a Beacon for Anti-Vaxxers The Centner Academy barred teachers newly vaccinated against the coronavirus from being near students. Some parents threatened to withdraw their children. Others clamored to enroll. MIAMI — A fifth-grade math and science teacher peddled a bogus conspiracy theory on Wednesday to students at Centner Academy, a private school in Miami, warning the

EdAction in Congress May 2, 2021 - Education Votes

by Mike Simpson / 6d

EdAction in Congress May 2, 2021 In his first 100 days, President Biden has made the single largest investment in students and public education ever. Scroll through this timeline to see what this administration is doing for students, educators, and communities across the nation. Biden unveils American Families Plan in historic address to Congress As President Joe Biden delivered his first addres

Where are we going, and why are we in this handbasket? | Live Long and Prosper

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Where are we going, and why are we in this handbasket? POLLUTION I never wanted to be one of those grumpy old men who say things like, “The country is going to Hell in a handbasket,” but it’s getting harder and harder to control myself. We in the US have a serious pollution problem. It’s not just air and water pollution, though those are certainly worth our attention. Sadly an insidious form of

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 6d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/05/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm.html Phylicia Rashad On Alpha Kappa Alpha and Howard University History by Mark Anthony Neal / 1h ' Phylicia Rashad on the the history of her cherished sorority and alma mater with ESSENCE Social Media D

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #tBATs

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Kathleen Cashin: How Schools Should Invest the Biden Windfall | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Kathleen Cashin: How Schools Should Invest the Biden Windfall Kathleen Cashin has been a teacher, a principal, and a superintendent in New York City in high-needs districts. She is currently a member of the New York State Board of Regents, which sets policy for the state. In this article, which appeared in the New York Daily News, she explains her hope that school district will use their new mon

Education Matters: DCPS approves charter schools hand over fist, other districts fight back.

by Mike Simpson / 6d

DCPS approves charter schools hand over fist, other districts fight back This should be all you need to know. DCPS approved a charter school right across the street from an A-rated school. They approve charter schools all the time in areas of town that don't need them; District 7 Lori Hershey's district, Mandarin has more charter schools than any other part of the city. Schools doing great; no p

Charter schools exploit lucrative loophole that would be easy to close - The Conversation

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Charter schools exploit lucrative loophole that would be easy to close Charter schools exploit lucrative loophole that would be easy to close While critics charge that charter schools are siphoning money away from public schools, a more fundamental issue frequently flies under the radar: the questionable business practices that allow people who own and run charter schools to make large profits. C

Democracy Prep Enabled Its Founder to Rip It Off. | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Democracy Prep Enabled Its Founder to Rip It Off On April 27, 2021, founder and former superintendent of Democracy Prep charter schools, Seth Andrew, was arrested for stealing $218K from school bank accounts. From the US Attorney’s Office press release (Southern District of New York): Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., As

MAY 01

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, May 1, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 5/1/21 Biden promised to end federal funding of for-profit charter schools. A new report explains how they operate. - The Washington Post Huge cash influx pouring into Kansas City

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