Big Education Ape

How Race to the Top is like ‘Queen for a Day’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

2012-02-02T05:08:00.000-08:00

How Race to the Top is like ‘Queen for a Day’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

How Race to the Top is like ‘Queen for a Day’

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by James Arnold, superintendent of Pelham City Schools in Pelham, Ga.

By James Arnold

How wonderful it was when we were told that Georgia had won the second round of the Race to the Top sweepstakes. The application -- submitted by then-Gov. Sonny Perdue and his team and amended from the first application, which was almost but not quite good enough -- had been successful in conducting a survey that nobody remembered taking AND in meeting the U.S. Education Department guidelines. And our lucky state was about to receive $400 million dollars and a little change.

Read full article >>

CPS schools’ chief call neighborhood school students “unfortunate.” « Fred Klonsky

2012-02-02T05:03:00.001-08:00

CPS schools’ chief call neighborhood school students “unfortunate.” « Fred Klonsky:

CPS schools’ chief call neighborhood school students “unfortunate.”

by Fred Klonsky

What’s up when a top CPS bureaucrat says that students who go to CPS neighborhood schools areunfortunate?

New Schools for Chicago Chief Executive Officer Phyllis Lockett told the Chicago Sun-Times, a student who cannot get into magnet or charter school is “unfortunate” and “relegated to a neighborhood school.” Lockett was speaking at the New Schools Expo that CPS puts on to promote its charter schools.

Sarah Hainds of the Chicago Teachers Union responded in a letter to the paper.

She knows more than anyone how many resources have been drained from the schools on the West Side and South Side of Chicago because of the proliferation and promotion of charter and contract schools.

SUNY Trustee Resigns Over Objections to Charter Schools – SchoolBook

2012-02-02T05:03:00.000-08:00

SUNY Trustee Resigns Over Objections to Charter Schools – SchoolBook:

SUNY Trustee Resigns Over Objections to Charter Schools

by Anna M. Phillips

A State University of New York trustee who oversaw the creation of new charter schools has resigned, citing concerns that the institute has a political agenda to increase the number of charters, rather than a mission to develop experimental schools.

Pedro Noguera, a professor of education at New York University, submitted his letter of resignation last Friday, he said, a few days after the committee voted to allow a charter school, Cobble Hill Success Academy, to open in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, an affluent neighborhood where it would share a building with two public schools.

“That was kind of the last straw for me,” Dr. Noguera said.

Recently, he had become troubled both by the types of charter schools SUNY was approving, as well as the

On Keeping Church and Schools Separate

by Udi Ofer

Last month, the United States Supreme Court refused to intervene in a 16-year legal battle against New York City’s prohibition on the use of schools for religious worship services.

Some 160 religious congregations, almost all Christian denominations, now have until Feb. 12 to stop using schools as houses of worship. They won’t go quietly and have enlisted the help of state and city lawmakers.

On Thursday, the City Council‘s education committee has scheduled a hearing on a resolution to allow religious groups access to schools.

The Department of Education is right to erect a wall between religious worship and our schools. Policymakers

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: The Sycophancy of Little Evan Stone and Educators4Excellence Continues

2012-02-02T04:46:00.000-08:00

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: The Sycophancy of Little Evan Stone and Educators4Excellence Continues:

The Sycophancy of Little Evan Stone and Educators4Excellence Continues

by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)

Every time I see a Little Evan Stone and Princess Sydney Morris propaganda column in The New York Post or in fact anywhere I feel that it must be treated as if one were looking directly at Kollos, the Medusan ambassador. But in reality, Little Evan and Princess Sydney are not Kollos, but more like Twiddle-Dee and

The Washington Teacher: Help Us Expose DC's Equation for Displacement of Our Students

2012-02-02T04:45:00.001-08:00

The Washington Teacher: Help Us Expose DC's Equation for Displacement of Our Students:

Help Us Expose DC's Equation for Displacement of Our Students

by Candi Peterson

Won't you please join me along with members of Empower DC, parents, teachers and community as we fight the displacement of our students and the privatization of our public schools. I have featured a guest post by Liane Scott which outlines the plan to expose DC's Equation for Displacement. Hope to see you this Saturday @ 11 am. Details listed below. Spread the word.
Candi Peterson

The Displacement Equation

Guest post By Liane Scott

What do DC’s proposed school closings have to do with the loss of affordable housing in the District of

Jersey Jazzman: Another Broken Christie Promise

2012-02-02T04:45:00.000-08:00

Jersey Jazzman: Another Broken Christie Promise:

Another Broken Christie Promise

by Duke

Remember when Chris Christie told all of us public workers here in New Jersey that we had no choice but to accept his ~~broken promises~~ reforms?

“What this legislation will do will be simply to save the pension system for all of those retirees and public workers who are counting on it,” Christie said. “The only way to do that is to control spending -- there is no magic wand. But affordability comes at a price: There are choices to be made and sacrifices to share." [emphasis mine]

We teachers and cops and firefighters and social workers and nurses and DPW workers and everyone else has to "sacrifice," or our pensions were going to disappear. Straight-shootin' Chris was just telling us saps the truthwe had been denied for so long:

At a town hall-style meeting in Camden County, Christie Tuesday said the state has

An Urban Teacher's Education: The Struggles of a Small School

2012-02-02T04:44:00.002-08:00

An Urban Teacher's Education: The Struggles of a Small School:

The Struggles of a Small School

by James Boutin

The following is part of a series I'm working on about my time teaching in New York City. This post is an edited version of two posts I wrote while in New York: "Could You Make My Job More Difficult" and "If Only We Had Fewer Resources." You can follow the series by clicking on the label "Teaching in New York" at the bottom of this post.

"I work in a small school." It's what I told myself every time I found myself stealing staples from office staplers or drawing Venn diagrams on twenty papers before class because all of the copiers were broken at my small school in the Bronx. It was sort of like, "This is why I moved to New York," which is what I said every time I talked education with a bunch of progressive educators, got tickets to see Diane Ravitch speak, visited authors' apartments for book clubs, or watched people live their lives in the Manhattan skyline at two in the morning. But one was positive, and the other often proved a hassle.

In the past few decades, much has been made of the benefits of small schools. However, new schools that need

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 2-2 AM Posts #edreform #ows

2012-02-02T04:44:00.001-08:00

Jersey Jazzman: Newsflash: Evangelicals Evangelize!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Jersey Jazzman: Newsflash: Evangelicals Evangelize!:Newsflash: Evangelicals Evangelize!by DukeNew Jersey is giving a lot of churchmen the chance to run their own charter schools. Is there anyone so naive that they think these schools will be completely scrubbed free of religion?Because - and I know this may come as a shock - religious leaders tend to want to proselytize for their religions:In prior meetings, Ortis had been a nappy-looking homeless drug user, down on his luck. He was a layoff victim ... more »

Parents Across America releases a proposal for real parent empowerment in schools | Seattle Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Parents Across America releases a proposal for real parent empowerment in schools | Seattle Education:Parents Across America releases a proposal for real parent empowerment in schoolsby seattleducation2011…as an antidote to phony “parental choice”Today, Parents Across America (PAA), a non-partisan, non-profit national network of public school parent activists, released a proposal for true parent empowerment that authentically involves parents in collaborative school decision-making and has a strong research base in improving student achievement.Our position paper,“The Empowerment Par... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 2-1 #edreform #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Afternoon Posts 2-1 #ows #edreformBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-12 minutes agoLAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-31 minutes agoLAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.com:LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, ... more »

No Country Left Behind (NCLB) and The Race to the Slop | Dailycensored.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

No Country Left Behind (NCLB) and The Race to the Slop | Dailycensored.com:No Country Left Behind (NCLB) and The Race to the Slopby Danny WeilThe 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure grades 15 categories of infrastructure, including levees (http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/report-cards). So how is America doing? The report notes, “….. for the second time,America’s infrastructure rates a cumulative grade of D. While not all categories fare as badly or are plagued by the same problems, delayed maintenance and chronic under-funding are contributors ... more »

Future of Teaching: I Prefer To Boogie On The Soul Train | The Jose Vilson

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Future of Teaching: I Prefer To Boogie On The Soul Train | The Jose Vilson:Future of Teaching: I Prefer To Boogie On The Soul Trainby JoseClassic Soul TrainExcerpt:As I’ve gotten older and seen how different movements work, I’ve noticed that, whether charitable or nefarious, the most effective movements have a small, malleable, and memorable set of core beliefs and tenets for their congregation. Obviously, the core team of Teaching 2030 represents that. The diversity in ed-thought reigned supreme over the ... more »

Modern School: Passing the Buck, Or Robbing Peter and Paul?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Modern School: Passing the Buck, Or Robbing Peter and Paul?:Passing the Buck, Or Robbing Peter and Paul?by Michael DunnThe California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the State Board of Education, the state Department of Education and the attorney general's office all want a judge to drop a lawsuit brought against the state by the ACLU for illegally charging students to participate in classes and extracurricular activities, according to a recent report by California Watch.It is a classic legal pissing ... more »

Love, peace and soul. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Love, peace and soul. « Fred Klonsky:Love, peace and soul.by Fred KlonskyWhen school let out at Shenandoah Elementary School near Cheviot Hills in LA, we would head to Larry Rosenberg’s to watch American Bandstand.A couple of girls and a couple of boys. We wanted to learn the latest steps. We were sixth graders and we desperately were trying to be cool.It was 1959.But American Bandstand only had white kids on it. So how cool could that be?A really cool dance ... more »

These Educators Deserve a Movie Deal - Lily's Blackboard – Lily's Blackboard

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These Educators Deserve a Movie Deal - Lily's Blackboard – Lily's Blackboard:These Educators Deserve a Movie Dealby LilyThese Educators Deserve a Movie DealFeb 1st, 2012 by Lily.There are two stories to tell in Chester Upland School District in Pennsylvania. One is a heroic story worthy of a book or movie deal. There are plenty of movies about the lone teacher crusader who against all odds and against the establishment brings students out of the darkness of ignorance and into the ... more »

Sacramento Press / Everyday Law: New Bullying Laws in California

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Sacramento Press / Everyday Law: New Bullying Laws in California:Everyday Law: New Bullying Laws in Californiaby Robyn MoltzenBullying has been in the news a lot lately, particularly when something tragic happens to the child being tormented. Students, parents, and educators are wondering what laws are available to help prevent bullying and what can be done to stop it. A bully is defined as “a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people”.California already has several ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Afternoon Posts 2-1 #ows #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-31 minutes agoLAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.com:LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas)by Leonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of ... more »

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Negative study on longer school day

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Negative study on longer school day:Negative study on longer school dayby adminFrom PAA’s Leonie Haimson on NYC Public School Parents blog: Yet another negative study that finds that extended time made little difference in terms of achievement or teacher attitudes.This one, from Abt Associates, examined the results of the much-touted Massachusetts expanded learning time initiative, which provides state funding to selected schools to increase their class time 25-30% over the district ... more »

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools: For an Education Built to Last | ED.gov Blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools: For an Education Built to Last | ED.gov Blog:U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools: For an Education Built to LastPosted on February 1, 2012 by Andrea FalkenLast week President Obama asked us to work together to create an America built to last — one that thrives on innovation, collaboration, affordable education and spending within our means. As part of this effort, the U.S. Department of Education is working to encourage sustainable schools ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Keeping An Eye On The Prize of Quality Legislation

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Keeping An Eye On The Prize of Quality Legislation:Keeping An Eye On The Prize of Quality Legislationby AnngieThe Missouri legislature has hit the ground running, as they always do this time of year, and is moving forward rapidly on a number of proposed bills. Yesterday Senate Bill 706, which attempts to provide framework for fixing the problem associated with the unaccredited school districts transferring students to the adjoining accredited districts, got its first public hearing. The cyber ... more »

Summer Meal Site Application - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Summer Meal Site Application - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education):State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Urges Agencies toApply to Become Summer Food Service Program SponsorsSACRAMENTO—In an effort to help keep children well-nourished during the summer recess and ready to learn when they return to school in the fall, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today urged eligible organizations to apply as summer meal sites through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)."Often the only nutritious meal a low-income child receives ... more »

Does merit pay really increase teacher retention? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Does merit pay really increase teacher retention? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Does merit pay really increase teacher retention?by Valerie StraussThis was written by Eleanor Fulbeck, who has a doctorate in education policy from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Here she explains that the evidence on whether merit pay increases teacher retention is less than clear — despite recent articles in the media suggesting otherwise. A ... more »

What do teachers do? | Taking Note

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

What do teachers do? | Taking Note:What do teachers do?by John MerrowJohn wonders: is there one word that can describe the true role of a teacher?If you live in New York, John will be appearing in discussion with former NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein on February 15th. You can purchase tickets here.Last night over dinner, a retired educator — still very involved — suggested that the job of a teacher today was fundamentally different from what it was ten or ... more »

THE TWO TEACHER SOLUTION « Teachers Fight Back

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

THE TWO TEACHER SOLUTION « Teachers Fight Back:THE TWO TEACHER SOLUTIONby alkleenI firmly believe that unless we put two teachers in every elementary classroom we will never get the achievement results that people want. Having only one teacher in a classroom of thirty or thirty-five students is a recipe for disaster. It’s possible for a teacher to succeed with fifteen or fewer students in a room, but not the usual thirty or so. I don’t think any elementary school teacher ... more »

The education competition myth | eSchool News

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Viewpoint: The education competition myth | eSchool News:Viewpoint: The education competition mythBy Seth RosenblattRead more by ContributorMost of the fundamental conditions of capitalism don't exist in the world of public education, the author asserts..I received lots of feedback from myeSchool News article last year, “Viewpoint: Why education is not like business,” which postulated there was a fundamental fallacy in viewing the world of public education through the lens of normal business paradigms.An overwhelming number of the comments I received were ... more »

Shanker Blog » Schools' Effectiveness Varies By What They Do, Not What They Are

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Shanker Blog » Schools' Effectiveness Varies By What They Do, Not What They Are:Schools’ Effectiveness Varies By What They Do, Not What They Areby Matthew Di CarloThere may be a mini-trend emerging in certain types of charter school analyses, one that seems a bit trivial but has interesting implications that bear on the debate about charter schools in general. It pertains to how charter effects are presented.Usually, when researchers estimate the effect of some intervention, the main finding is the ... more »

LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.com:LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas)by Leonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)In the following videos from the January 24th Town Hall Meeting at El Camino High School, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Newsflash: Evangelicals Evangelize!

2012-02-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

Jersey Jazzman: Newsflash: Evangelicals Evangelize!:

Newsflash: Evangelicals Evangelize!

by Duke

New Jersey is giving a lot of churchmen the chance to run their own charter schools. Is there anyone so naive that they think these schools will be completely scrubbed free of religion?

Because - and I know this may come as a shock - religious leaders tend to want to proselytize for their religions:

In prior meetings, Ortis had been a nappy-looking homeless drug user, down on his luck. He was a layoff victim plummeting deep into destitution after Tent City/Transitional Park off of Federal Street closed in May 2010.
Ortis has said he was “sold a dream” with The Nehemiah Group’s $200,000 Tent City closure. He claims it didn’t provide necessary services and tried to impose religious views. When it shut down, it put Ortis and about 40 homeless people back on the streets. But Ortis slowly started a resurrection to inspire others. [emphasis mine]

The Nehemiah Group is a venture of Pastor Amir Khan, who was recently given permission by the state to start a charter school in a town that doesn't want it and already has great public schools.

I don't know if Ortis's claim that Nehemiah didn't provide services is true. I absolutely believe, however, that the group brought their religious views into their work with the people who were in Tent City. I would be amazed if

Parents Across America releases a proposal for real parent empowerment in schools | Seattle Education

2012-02-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

Parents Across America releases a proposal for real parent empowerment in schools | Seattle Education:

Parents Across America releases a proposal for real parent empowerment in schools

by seattleducation2011

…as an antidote to phony “parental choice”

Today, Parents Across America (PAA), a non-partisan, non-profit national network of public school parent activists, released a proposal for true parent empowerment that authentically involves parents in collaborative school decision-making and has a strong research base in improving student achievement.

Our position paper,“The Empowerment Parents Want: A Real, Effective
Voice in our Children’s Education,” proposes its “LSC model,” a form of elected parent-majority school governance, as an antidote to recent efforts of corporate school reformers to brand parent triggers, school choice, vouchers and other attacks on public education as “parental empowerment.”

We know that these strategies do not reflect what most parents actually
want, or what works for children and schools. A 2010 Phi Delta Kappa
poll found that 54 percent of Americans think the best thing to do about

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 2-1 #edreform #ows

2012-02-01T17:01:00.001-08:00

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Afternoon Posts 2-1 #ows #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 minutes ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Negative study on longer school day

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 minutes ago

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools: For an Education Built to Last | ED.gov Blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 minutes ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Keeping An Eye On The Prize of Quality Legislation

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 minutes ago

Summer Meal Site Application - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 minutes ago

Does merit pay really increase teacher retention? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 12 minutes ago

LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

A Successful School Reform: The Age-graded School (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

A Successful School Reform: The Age-graded School (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:A Successful School Reform: The Age-graded School (Part 1)by larrycubanAnyone reading the literature published by contemporary school reformers cannot avoid such phrases as “teacher leaders,” “change agents,” and “dynamic entrepreneurs … who challenge the status quo to lead urban school systems.” One is bombarded with happy visions of peppy, smart, young teacher leaders replacing tired, ineffective staff. Eager change agents swapping places with ... more »

Teaching Quality Summit Review « InterACT

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Teaching Quality Summit Review « InterACT:Teaching Quality Summit Reviewby David B. CohenFor Accomplished California Teachers, the highlight of our month was going to Sacramento to put on an event titled “Teaching Quality and California’s Future” (sponsored by the Stuart Foundation). I’ve had some prior opportunities to write about the event and its goals, in an op-ed for the Sacramento Bee, and in a blog post that provided a preview of the event. Interestingly, the Bee chose to title the op-ed ... more »

The Educated Reporter: Parent Trigger: Too Much Firepower for Public Education?

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The Educated Reporter: Parent Trigger: Too Much Firepower for Public Education?:Parent Trigger: Too Much Firepower for Public Education?by Emily RichmondThere's a significant buzz out of Florida regarding proposed legislation that would enact a so-called "Parent Trigger:" Dissatisfied families could vote to have a local public school undergo significant restructuring including being converted to a charter school or turned over to a private operator.Similar legislation has passed in California and Texas, not without controversy and ensuing conflict, and Indiana is also ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: How To Get Chris Christie to Visit Your Charter!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: How To Get Chris Christie to Visit Your Charter!:How To Get Chris Christie to Visit Your Charter!by DukeBruce Baker has an important post about charter school student populations. It turns out that different charter schools have wildly different percentages of students who live in poverty, don't speak English as their first language, or are classified as needing special education services.Worse, it seems that many of the schools touted as "successes" actually have fewer of these children with special ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What a night! The People Speak

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What a night! The People Speak:What a night! The People Speakby Mike KlonskyLupe Fiasco performed last night at The People Speak [M.Klonsky pic]Packed house went wild last nigh at Metro in Chicago for The People Speak. Opened with Matt Damon reading Howard Zinn's "The Problem With Civil Obedience", Malcolm London doing Fred Hampton. Lupe Fiasco, Idris Goodwin, Avery Young (an amazing version of Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddam"), Angela Jackson, She'Kira

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 2-1 AM Posts #edreform #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher” « City School StoriesBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-8 hours ago“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher” « City School Stories:“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher”by fmurphyNotes from the FieldSubmitted by Frank Murphy, on January 31, 2012I started the new year cautiously optimistic about the future of education in our city and state. My hopeful spirit was quickly dashed. ... more »

Kimble's Corner: Jack Kimble Suspends Presidential Campaign

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Kimble's Corner: Jack Kimble Suspends Presidential Campaign:Jack Kimble Suspends Presidential Campaignby Representative KimbleI just got off the phone with my Mitt Romney. Once again, he attempted to fire me and had to be assured that I wasn't on his payroll by several of his people. I congratulated Mitt and informed him, that we still had a long way to go. Unfortunately, I also got off the phone with my father who informed me that when a candidate's blood alcohol content ... more »

The Pink Badge of Cowardice | TBogg

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

The Pink Badge of Cowardice | TBogg:The Pink Badge of Cowardiceby TBoggI have to say that killing women with breast cancer before they might consider abortion sometime in their lives is one way to eliminate a woman’s right to choose.Susan G Komen For the Cure has announced that it will stop funneling money to Planned Parenthood, ending a years-long partnership between the two organizations that provided mammograms and related services to low income women. But what accounts for the Komen ... more »

Education Fairs Reach Out to Parents in Spanish | latinoedbeat

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Education Fairs Reach Out to Parents in Spanish | latinoedbeat:Education Fairs Reach Out to Parents in SpanishSpanish-speaking Latino parents often shy away from parent involvement programs like the PTA when the many of the other members primarily speak English. For the past five years, a national Spanish-language education and college-readiness fair called the Feria Para Aprender has aimed to bridge that gap.Radio station KUT recently reported on the fair hosted by the Austin Independent School District in Texas on Saturday. ... more »

No Country Left Behind (NCLB) and The Race to the Slop | Dailycensored.com

2012-02-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

No Country Left Behind (NCLB) and The Race to the Slop | Dailycensored.com:

No Country Left Behind (NCLB) and The Race to the Slop

by Danny Weil

The 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure grades 15 categories of infrastructure, including levees (http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/report-cards). So how is America doing? The report notes, “….. for the second time,America’s infrastructure rates a cumulative grade of D. While not all categories fare as badly or are plagued by the same problems, delayed maintenance and chronic under-funding are contributors to the low grades in nearly every category.” (ibid). The report goes on:

“Grades ranged from a high of C+ for solid waste to a low of D- for drinking water, inland waterways, levees, roads, and wastewater. U.S.surface transportation and aviation systems declined over the past four years, with aviation and transit dropping from a D+ to D, and

Future of Teaching: I Prefer To Boogie On The Soul Train | The Jose Vilson

2012-02-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

Future of Teaching: I Prefer To Boogie On The Soul Train | The Jose Vilson:

Future of Teaching: I Prefer To Boogie On The Soul Train

by Jose

Classic Soul Train

Excerpt:

As I’ve gotten older and seen how different movements work, I’ve noticed that, whether charitable or nefarious, the most effective movements have a small, malleable, and memorable set of core beliefs and tenets for their congregation. Obviously, the core team of Teaching 2030 represents that. The diversity in ed-thought reigned supreme over the diversity of experiences, but we all held

Modern School: Passing the Buck, Or Robbing Peter and Paul?

2012-02-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

Modern School: Passing the Buck, Or Robbing Peter and Paul?:

Passing the Buck, Or Robbing Peter and Paul?

by Michael Dunn

The California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the State Board of Education, the state Department of Education and the attorney general's office all want a judge to drop a lawsuit brought against the state by the ACLU for illegally charging students to participate in classes and extracurricular activities, according to a recent report by California Watch.

It is a classic legal pissing match in which none of the parties are willing to accept responsibility, let alone acknowledge or address the actual problem: educational equality does not exist, nor has it ever existed, primarily because of inequities in school funding and a wealth gap that gives affluent students a large educational advantage over their lower income peers.

In the lawsuit, the ACLU claimed widespread instances of school districts charging parents

Love, peace and soul. « Fred Klonsky

2012-02-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

Love, peace and soul. « Fred Klonsky:

Love, peace and soul.

by Fred Klonsky

When school let out at Shenandoah Elementary School near Cheviot Hills in LA, we would head to Larry Rosenberg’s to watch American Bandstand.

A couple of girls and a couple of boys. We wanted to learn the latest steps. We were sixth graders and we desperately were trying to be cool.

It was 1959.

But American Bandstand only had white kids on it. So how cool could that be?

A really cool dance show on TV would have to wait for another twelve years. That’s when Don Cornelius’ Soul