Sunday, March 6, 2011

Modern School: Public Sector Pensions: Too Big To Fail?

Public Sector Pensions: Too Big To Fail? Public sector pensions have become a popular bogey man. It is true that most have huge unfunded liabilities and this is a problem. However, the blame is always placed on the workers themselves who have nothing at all to do with the problem. The ...

Charter Schools: The New Jim Crow The Civil Rights Project, at UCLA, has just released a new report documenting the intense segregation that occurs at charter schools. The organization has been studying charter schools for seven years and has found that students are substantially ...

Charter School Fires Founder, Threatens to Sue LAUSD Slap on Wrist or Decertification for Crescendo? Crescendo Charter Schools, embroiled in a scandal over it administration’s mandate for teachers to cheat on state standardized exams, has fired its founder, John Allen, and threatened to sue Los ...

School Tech Connect: The Empty Suit

The Empty Suit

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

I finally had a minute to watch the entire grilling, in which Bernie Sanders talks about the very same heist that Michael Moore spoke about in Madison, and Arne Duncan does his best to put sentences together in response.

It really is remarkable that the president of the United States leans on Arne Duncan for policy advice. Everyone agrees that Arne Duncan is the nicest guy in town, and I believe it. What I also see in Arne Duncan is a guy who has never won an election and never could and never will, a guy who's never actually had to apply for a job and earn it on merit, a guy whose reliance on platitudes is mind-numbing (watch at about 7:40), and a guy whose core political emptiness represents the exact kind of vacuum that nature abhors and that quickly gets filled with gas. In Arne Duncan's case, the gas is emanating from sources that oppose virtually everything Barack Obama

Congratulations, Broad-freed Emerald City « JD2718

Congratulations, Broad-freed Emerald City

by jd2718

Last week Seattle threw out their Broad-trained schools superintendent.

Goodloe Johnson’s tenure was rocky. I highlighted her trying to hire Teach for America (in a big bucks sweetheart deal, she succeeded) when Seattle faced NO teacher shortage. But apparently she lied to the board. She reorganized schools, firing teachers willy nilly (sound familiar New York? DC? NOLA? any other big

A Tale of Two PD’s « My Island View

A Tale of Two PD’s

by tomwhitby

I attended two back to back educational conferences this week. One was a vendor supported conference for invited administrators held in NYC, and the other was a teacher sponsored Unconference at Rutgers University. Both conferences expected an attendance of about 300 participants and neither saw that happen. I came away from both conferences with useful information, but only one offered more inspiration.

For those of you who are unaware of what an Unconference is, you are not alone. I reinforced this lack of awareness with every conversation I had with any administrator I conversed with at this first get together. Since I was headed to the second conference, or unconference at the conclusion of the first, it was a natural addition to any discussion I had. Most of the administrators were unaware as to what an unconference was, or that it even was a developing form of Professional Development. They had no idea that so many unconferences

Gov. Walker Shame On You, Spade Cooley Soundie #WeAreWI #WIUnion

NYC Public School Parents: Video: Bloomberg booed and excoriated for his attack on teachers and our kids

Video: Bloomberg booed and excoriated for his attack on teachers and our kids

by Leonie Haimson

Mayor Bloomberg was roundly booed at the annual Queens St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, for threatening to lay off of over 4,000 teachers and his attack on their seniority rights. Check out the video below and excerpts from the Daily News, NY Post and NY1:

Chants of "Save our Teachers" rang out from pockets of the green-clad crowd that lined Newport Ave. and Rockaway Beach Blvd. in Belle Harbor….
Anthony Hannon, 80:….“What he’s doing to our teachers and our Fire Department – it’s shameful. Who cares about bike lanes? He’s an idiot,” sputtered Hannon. ….
"The classrooms are already overcrowded and now he wants to lay off thousands of teachers?"asked Jeanne O'Leary, who has been teaching at nearby Public School 104 for 10 years.

We Must Change the Narrative About Public Education: Guest Blog by Diane Ravitch | Edutopia

We Must Change the Narrative About Public Education: Guest Blog by Diane Ravitch

By Betty Ray

3/4/11

Editor's Note: Today's guest blogger is Diane Ravitch, an historian of education, an educational policy analyst, and former United States Assistant Secretary of Education. She is now a research professor at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Diane Ravitch

As the protests in Wisconsin dominate national news, and the White House and Congress gear up for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, currently called "No Child Left Behind"), we have a unique opportunity to put to rest some of the inaccurate narratives that have come to dominate debates around education policy, and to lay the foundations for a set of policies that can achieve our broader societal goals for children.

Myth #1: The Achievement Gap is Widening

Central to the current focus on using standardized tests to hold teachers and schools accountable is the belief that low-income children, especially minority children, are losing academic ground, and that weak schools and teachers with low expectations are to blame. In reality, African-American fourth graders have gained so much ground over the past two decades – when their schools were ostensibly failing them miserably – that they now score higher, on average, on reliable (NAEP) math tests than their white peers did as recently as 1992. And the very lowest-scoring students have seen the largest gains. White students

Politics and Publics | Firedoglake #wiunion

Politics and Publics | Firedoglake

Politics and Publics

by masaccio

John Dewey

There is a disconnect between our people and our politics, as Jon Walker points out after almost every national poll. People favor government policies that help people, like Social Security and Medicare; and want to stop wasting money on foreign entanglements, raise taxes on the richest Americans, and cut programs that the Defense Department says aren’t needed. The Congress, and particularly the Republicans aren’t listening to those majorities. Instead, they cut taxes on the rich, assault Social Security and Medicare, and buy unnecessary equipment for the military. It almost looks like the elites run things for their own benefit and use elections to provide a veneer of democracy.

Attacking Teachers Reveals Cost Less Than in ’81: Albert R. Hunt - Bloomberg #WIUnion

Attacking Teachers Reveals Cost Less Than in ’81: Albert R. Hunt - Bloomberg

Attacking Teachers Reveals Cost Less Than in ’81: Albert R. Hunt

By Albert R. Hunt - Mar 6, 2011 8:01 AM PT

Bloomberg Opinion

Albert R. Hunt

The political battles raging in states across America are cast as about whether big labor retains its considerable clout.

Republican Governors Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Chris Christie of New Jersey say public employees are fleecing taxpayers, causing fiscal chaos. It’s an inherent conflict, critics contend, for public-employees’ unions to bargain with government officials they helped elect with campaign support.

In a column in Newsweek last week, a former adviser to President George W. Bush charged that the primary purpose of public unions is to “work against” the interests of taxpayers. “Public unions are big money,” the article boldly proclaims. Most of the specifics are directed at unions representing teachers, firefighters and nurses, yet the

#WIUnion Michael Moore: The Smug Wealthy Have Gone Too Far -- And We're Finally Fighting Back | Economy | AlterNet

Michael Moore: The Smug Wealthy Have Gone Too Far -- And We're Finally Fighting Back | Economy | AlterNet

Michael Moore: The Smug Wealthy Have Gone Too Far -- And We're Finally Fighting Back
By trying to destroy us corporate America has given birth to a movement -- a movement that is becoming a massive, nonviolent revolt across the country.

LIKE THIS
America is not broke.
Contrary to what those in power would like you to believe so that you'll give up your pension, cut your wages, and settle for the life your great-grandparents had, America is not broke. Not by a long shot. The country is awash in wealth and cash. It's just that it's not in your hands. It has been transferred, in the greatest heist in history, from the workers and consumers to the banks and the

#WeAreWI Archdiocese of Milwaukee – Statement Regarding the Rights of Workers and the Value of Unions | Defend Wisconsin

Archdiocese of Milwaukee – Statement Regarding the Rights of Workers and the Value of Unions | Defend Wisconsin

Archdiocese of Milwaukee – Statement Regarding the Rights of Workers and the Value of Unions

– MARCH 6, 2011POSTED IN: MESSAGES OF SUPPORT, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki, archbishop of Milwaukee and president of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, has issued the following statement regarding the rights of workers and the value of unions.

February 16, 2011

The Church is well aware that difficult economic times call for hard choices and financial responsibility to further the common good. Our own dioceses and parishes have not been immune to the effects of the current economic difficulties. But hard times do not nullify the moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers. As Pope Benedict wrote in his 2009 encyclical, Caritas in veritate:

Governments, for reasons of economic utility, often limit the freedom or the negotiating capacity of labor unions. Hence traditional networks of solidarity have more and more obstacles to overcome. The repeated calls issued

#WIUnion Washington DC: Congressional Black Caucus Stands In Solidarity With Wisconsin Workers « Larry Miller's Blog

Washington DC: Congressional Black Caucus Stands In Solidarity With Wisconsin Workers « Larry Miller's Blog

Washington DC: Congressional Black Caucus Stands In Solidarity With Wisconsin Workers

Filed under: Scott Walker — millerlf @ 11:05 am

WASHINGTON – Chairman Emanuel Cleaver II, Congresswoman Gwen Moore and the Congressional Black Caucus sent the following letter to Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin in support of workers’ rights. The letter to Governor Walker is attached and text included below. Chairman Cleaver also released the following statement in support:

“Anytime the rights of public workers are being compromised it is our duty to stand with them. For 40 years, the Congressional Black Caucus has worked tirelessly to ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, color or creed have the opportunity to fully pursue and achieve the American dream. Taking away public employees rights to collectively bargain seems like an assault on the pursuit of that dream.

The CBC is committed to responsibly reducing the deficit, but not with indiscriminate cuts that target hard-working American families. The sacrifices that we make as a nation must be distributed equally amongst the population – not on the backs of the public servants.”

- Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II

______________________________
Letter to Governor Walker

Why employee pensions aren't bankrupting states | McClatchy #WeAreWI #WIUnion

Why employee pensions aren't bankrupting states | McClatchy

Why employee pensions aren't bankrupting states

By Kevin G. Hall | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — From state legislatures to Congress to tea party rallies, a vocal backlash is rising against what are perceived as too-generous retirement benefits for state and local government workers. However, that widespread perception doesn't match reality.

A close look at state and local pension plans across the nation, and a comparison of them to those in the private sector, reveals a more complicated story. However, the short answer is that there's simply no evidence that state pensions are the current burden to public finances that their critics claim.

Pension contributions from state and local employers aren't blowing up budgets. They amount to just 2.9 percent of state spending, on average, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators. The Center for Retiremen

Michael Moore in Mad Town. « Fred Klonsky's blog #WeAreWI #WIUnion

Michael Moore in Mad Town. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Michael Moore in Mad Town.

by Fred Klonsky

Still not posting. Here’s Michael Moore’s speech from Madison yesterday when 70,000 protesters showed up on a day when there was no huge rally planned.

Enjoy!

Popout

How You Can Boycott the Kochs (List of Their Products) « Larry Miller's Blog

How You Can Boycott the Kochs (List of Their Products)

by millerlf

AlterNet / By Lauren Kelley February 28, 2011

The backlash against the Kochs’ influence in Wisconsin is gaining steam, with labor supporters starting to boycott Koch Industries’ many products (listed below)

Over the past few weeks, the billionaire Koch brothers and their front groups have steadily increased their involvement in Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s efforts to strip state workers of their collective bargaining rights. The Kochs’ outsized wealth and influence are forces to be reckoned with; that’s why we should all be grateful that a Koch backlash, including a boycott of Koch Industries’ products, has started picking up steam.

AlterNet has been keeping a close eye on the Koch-financed support for Walker’s anti-union campaign. As wereported last week, Walker is deep in the pocket of the Kochs, having received some $43,000 from Koch Industries while running for governor in 2010. Once Walker was elected, he made sure to take care of his friends/financiers, giving out massive tax breaks to Koch Industries, and more recently, launching the ongoing effort to quash Wisconsin union workers’ rights.

As AlterNet’s Washington bureau chief Adele Stan puts it, Walker is “carrying out the wishes of his corporate master.” But why are the brothers Koch so interested in stifling labor rights in Wisconsin? For one thing, they

Congressman Ryan Stands Up Against SB-5 on the House Floor

Celebrate the end of Koch-fueled Americans for Austerity Bus Tour | Solidarity Wisconsin #WeAreWI #WIUnion

Celebrate the end of Koch-fueled Americans for Austerity Bus Tour | Solidarity Wisconsin

Celebrate the end of Koch-fueled Americans for Austerity Bus Tour Please SHOW UP EARLY so we can greet their bus and be ready! The American for Austerity (mislabeled "Americans for Prosperity") are finishing their bus tour in Madison. Let's extend a *friendly* and *peaceful* greeting to the passengers. Let's make ...

40,000-plus hit the streets as Walker goes to fundraiser Amid the Scott Walker-ordered high security conditions at the capitol, some 40,000 protesters continued their weeks-long demonstrations against the Republican Party. The margin of error of estimates on the size of the protest is the give-away: Give ...

20 lies (and counting) told by Scott Walker We’re used to politicians stretching the truth, but the level of deception and dishonesty Wisconsin’s governor has exhibited in the battle over his union-busting budget repair bill (even the name is a falsehood) sinks to astounding new lows. What ...

Last Week's Best Posts on Big Education Ape » PostRank #SolidarityWi #WeAreWI #WIUnion

Last Week's Best Posts on Big Education Ape » PostRank

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Daily Kos: Making a Difference: It's All About the Students

2011-Mar-5

Daily Kos: Making a Difference: It's All About the StudentsMaking a Difference: It's All About the StudentsbyteacherkenShare3 3 PERMALINK1 COMMENTthat is the title of a keynote address given at the end (that is NOT a mistake) of a Forum today at St. Mary's College of Maryland. The title of the forum, was "Teach for Excellence! Teach for Change!" and it was sponsored by the College's Student Education Association, which includes students who are as undergraduates taking course to become certified ...

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Photos of Michael Moore in Madison today | #Solidarity Wisconsin #SolidarityWi #WeAreWI #WIUnion

2011-Mar-5

Photos of Michael Moore in Madison today | #Solidarity WisconsinPhotos of Michael Moore in Madison todayARTICLE | MARCH 5, 2011 - 8:06PMPhotos from Michael Moore:RELATED TERMS: Protests Wisconsin Scott Walker Unions Cinema of the United States Michael MooreMichael Moore Michael Moore

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Michael Moore to Wisconsin protesters: 'Don't give up!' | #SolidarityWi #WeAreWI #WIUnion

2011-Mar-5

Michael Moore to Wisconsin protesters: 'Don't give up!' | Solidarity WisconsinMichael Moore to Wisconsin protesters: 'Don't give up!' By now, it's unlikely that anyone besides Scott Walker would dispute that the protests at the Wisconsin state Capitol have energized the labor movement, as well as citizens throughout the state and nation. What became clear during raconteur Michael ...Milwaukee County paying for Walker's privatization - Wisconsin Next Milwaukee County must offer to reinstate 26 courthouse security guards who were laid off ...

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Michael Moore Rallies Thousands In Madison: 'America Is Not Broke' | TPMDC #WeAreWI #WIUnion

2011-Mar-5

Michael Moore Rallies Thousands In Madison: 'America Is Not Broke' | TPMDCMichael Moore Rallies Thousands In Madison: 'America Is Not Broke'Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 5, 2011, 6:29PM138Share31tweetsretweet1diggDemonstrators outside the Wisconsin state Capitol, February 16, 2011.Read MoreMichael Moore, Wisconsin ProtestsShare Famed progressive and documentary filmmaker Michael Moore was among the highlights at rallies inside and outside of the state capitol in Madison, Wisc. today.According to reports on the ground, Moore rallied "thousands" with a rousing speech that focused on "three major ...

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The Five States Where Teachers Unions Are Illegal Have The Lowest Test Scores In America*

2011-Mar-5

The Five States Where Teachers Unions Are Illegal Have The Lowest Test Scores In America*The Five States Where Teachers Unions Are Illegal Have The Lowest Test Scores In America*Gus Lubin | Feb. 23, 2011, 9:02 PM | 6,978 | 87A A A inShareUpdate: A commenter points out this fact uses test scores from 1999. Based on 2007 test scores the trend is weaker: NC is 47th; TX is 45th; SC is 39th; GA is 26th; VA is 25th. These rankings ...

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Shanker Blog » How To Make A Misleading Public/Private Earnings Gap Disappear

2011-Mar-5

Shanker Blog » How To Make A Misleading Public/Private Earnings Gap DisappearHow To Make A Misleading Public/Private Earnings Gap Disappearby Matthew Di CarloUSA Today last week published yet another story claiming that public sector workers make more that their private sector counterparts – this one saying that Wisconsin is one of many states where this is the case. Their “analysis” used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and compared total compensation (salary+benefits) between workers in the private sector and ...

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Boycott Toolkit | Boycott Koch Industries #WeAreWI #WIUnion

2011-Mar-5

Boycott Toolkit | Boycott Koch IndustriesBOYCOTTTOOLKITStart a CampaignAdd a CompanyAdd a ProductAdd a StoreCampaignsCompaniesProductsStoresAboutContactBoycott Koch IndustriesWhy? Koch Industries is one of the largest polluters in America. The brothers who own the energy conglomerate have given over $100 million to right-wing causes, including pseudoscientific climate-change denial groups, "Tea Party" astroturf, and "free market" solution advocates.The Koch brothers are major philanthropists, but often use their donations to advance their political agenda. An exhibit they funded in the National Museum of American History ...

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NYT Gives Us David Koch, Public Benefactor | MyFDL

2011-Mar-5

NYT Gives Us David Koch, Public Benefactor | MyFDLNYT Gives Us David Koch, Public BenefactorBy: Scarecrow Saturday March 5, 2011 8:08 am Tweet John D. RockefellerThe New York Times’ Michael Cooper gives us a fawning tribute to billionaire David Koch, he of the infamous Koch Brothers and fifth most wealthy man in America, using the dedication of a cancer center at M.I.T. funded by Mr. Koch to extol his virtues as a great humanitarian and philanthropist. Oh, please.The Times editors ...

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Awake The State - www.AwakeTheState.com #edFL #awakeFL #legFL

2011-Mar-5

ProgressFlorida on Mar 5, 2011Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders have launched an all-out assault on Floridians' quality of life. Gov. Scott and his allies in the state legislature have proposed cutting billions from our public schools, health care programs for children and seniors, environmental protection along with pay cuts for police, fire fighters and nurses.Average Floridians are fed up with their governor and legislative leaders insisting on balancing the budget on the backs of hard-working Floridians while proposing huge ...

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A Letter to Scott Walker from a Wisconsin Teacher #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-5

A Letter to Scott Walker from a Wisconsin Teacher A Letter to Scott Walker from a Wisconsin TeacherThis letter was sent by a teacher from Endeavor, WI to Governor Walker. I forward it not only because it is a really good read, but also because it provides some data/talking points that may be helpful to you as you have conversations with friends and family. To the Duly-Elected Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker (and anyone else who gives a hoot):It has ...

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State officials back off Capitol damage claim - JSOnline #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-4

State officials back off Capitol damage claim - JSOnlineState officials back off Capitol damage claime-mailprintBy Jason Stein and Sharif Durhams of the Journal SentinelMarch 4, 2011 11:36 a.m. |(260) COMMENTSMadison — State officials charged with overseeing the state Capitol are now backing away from their estimate that demonstrators did more than $7 million in damage to the building."I think that's more of a worst-case scenario," said Jeff Plale, the former Democratic state senator who is now the state facilities administrator. ...

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State officials back off Capitol damage claim - JSOnline #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-4

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ThinkProgress » EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senator Yanked Off Committee Speaks Out, Was Informed 30 Minutes Before Anti-Union Vote

2011-Mar-4

ThinkProgress » EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senator Yanked Off Committee Speaks Out, Was Informed 30 Minutes Before Anti-Union VoteEXCLUSIVE: GOP Senator Yanked Off Committee Speaks Out, Was Informed 30 Minutes Before Anti-Union VoteOn Wednesday, just moments before a key committee in the Ohio State Senate was to vote on a GOP bill that would effectively dismantle public employees’ right to collectively bargain, the Senate’s Republican leaderreplaced a GOP committee member who opposed the bill with someone who supported it to ensure the ...

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Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Duncan's Croissants

2011-Mar-4

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Duncan's CroissantsDuncan's Croissantsby Mike KlonskyI'm really pissed at my friend Arne Duncan. He never even thought to invite me to hisBreakfast With Bloggers over at the DOE. He knows how much I love those croissants and coffee, ordered up fresh from the department commissary. I guess he's not quite ready to reach across the other aisle. That's OK, Arne. I'm patient.Or maybe the breakfast was one of those Race-To-The-Top-type deals where you have to submit your ...

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NYC Public School Parents: Yesterday was a great day for the real reformers!

2011-Mar-4

NYC Public School Parents: Yesterday was a great day for the real reformers!Yesterday was a great day for the real reformers!by Leonie HaimsonHail Julie Cavanagh, NYC public school teacher and one of the leaders of the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM), who was brilliant on NY1's Inside City Hall last night, pointing out the importance of teacher experience (and class size!) in opposition to the mayor's push to eliminate seniority protections for teachers.Hail Diane Ravitch who, with her usual incisiveness, pointed ...

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Find An Awake The State Rally Near You Awake The State

2011-Mar-4

Awake The StateFind An Awake The State Rally Near YouSearch for an Event in your area.Zip: Search radius: Create a new eventMar 08 201110:30 AMTallahassee Awake The State Rally Join us in Tallahassee on March 8th as we send a clear message to our legislators and Gov. Scott: ...Leon County Courthouse301 South Monroe StreetTallahassee, FL 114 attendeesEmail the hostMar 08 201102:30 PMMiami Awake The State Rally Join us in Miami on March 8th as we send a clear message to ...

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Republican War On Working Families #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-4

BoldProgressives on Mar 1, 2011Help put this on TV:https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/waronworkingfamilies?refcode=youtube This ad was launched March 2, 2012 by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) and Democracy for America -- airing in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was created by GumSpirits Productions (Aaron Duffey and Jim Cole).

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Jon Stewart & Diane Ravitch Knock It Out Of The Park! | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

2011-Mar-4

Jon Stewart Diane Ravitch Knock It Out Of The Park! | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...Jon Stewart Diane Ravitch Knock It Out Of The Park! Last night’s “The Daily Show” was a classic. Jon Stewart opened with what was probably the most insightful, funny, and effective response I have seen to on-going teacher-bashing. Ten minutes late, Diane Ravitch came on and did a fabulous interview. ...Create A Message With Letters Bouncing To Your Music Font de Music lets you ...

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This Week In Education: Video: Ravitch's Return To "The Daily Show"

2011-Mar-4

This Week In Education: Video: Ravitch's Return To "The Daily Show"Video: Ravitch's Return To "The Daily Show"by Alexander RussoThe Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cDiane Ravitchwww.thedailyshow.comPopoutRavitch starts out talking about schools turning into testing factories. Stewart seems to be of the mind that at least some testing is necessary and reminds Ravitch that NCLB came from somewhere/ was a response to something. He also gently questions the notion that poverty is the cause or explanation of. ...

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Wisconsin Recall Efforts Off to Strong Start | FDL News Desk #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-3

Wisconsin Recall Efforts Off to Strong Start | FDL News DeskWisconsin Recall Efforts Off to Strong Startby David DayenThe Wisconsin GOP is already losing in the court of public opinion; will they also lose at the polls? (photo: markonf1re)The Wisconsin recall effort is only a day old, but it’s going strong. The state Democratic Party has launched a website called Recall the Republican 8 to coordinate events. They have volunteer and contribution pages. There’s also a separate ActBlue page set ...

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Diane Ravitch on education reform and misguided reformers – part 1 | Thoughts on Public Education #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-2

Diane Ravitch on education reform and misguided reformers – part 1 | Thoughts on Public EducationDiane Ravitch on education reform and misguided reformers – part 1 - by adminby adminDiane Ravitch on education reform and misguided reformers-part 2 - by adminDiane Ravitch on a mission - by Kathryn Baronby Kathryn BaronAt age 72, Diane Ravitch has attained cult status among America’s teachers. They give her standing ovations when she’s introduced as a speaker, and again when she concludes her remarks. ...

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#wiunion #wearewi Momma Politico: Our Kids Are Not "Products" - Why Public School Teachers in WI (& Everywhere) Deserve Decent Wages

2011-Mar-2

Momma Politico: Our Kids Are Not "Products" - Why Public School Teachers in WI ( Everywhere) Deserve Decent WagesOur Kids Are Not "Products" - Why Public School Teachers in WI ( Everywhere) Deserve Decent WagesYou've all heard me say it before: an educated populace is the cornerstone of our democracy. When I received a comment on my last post with the idea that education should be treated like a business, well, my comment became more than a comment, as you ...

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The Washington Teacher: Veteran Teachers Need Not Apply: Henderson Recruits TFA Alums During Budget Deficit

2011-Mar-2

The Washington Teacher: Veteran Teachers Need Not Apply: Henderson Recruits TFA Alums During Budget DeficitVeteran Teachers Need Not Apply: Henderson Recruits TFA Alums During Budget DeficitKaya Henderson, Interim Chancellor for DC Public Schools recently delivered remarks at the Teach for America (TFA) 20th Anniversary Summit. Hosted by Teach for America founder and CEO, the event drew what was referred to as an "all-star lineup of education, government, and social justice leaders," including TFA alum, Michelle Rhee, former Chancellor for DC ...

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Des Moines Education Association: Rally to Preserve Our Bargaining Rights This Monday!

2011-Mar-2

Des Moines Education Association: Rally to Preserve Our Bargaining Rights This Monday!Rally to Preserve Our Bargaining Rights This Monday!Join us, ISEA members from around the state, and other union members and their supporters at 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 7th on the west steps of the Iowa Statehouse to demand the Iowa House stop their attack on collective bargaining in Iowa.HSF 117 will take away our rights to bargain health insurance and staff reduction language, as well as other damaging effects ...

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Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Matt Damon calls out Pres.Obama on ed policies

2011-Mar-2

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Matt Damon calls out Pres.Obama on ed policiesMatt Damon calls out Pres.Obama on ed policiesby Mike KlonskyDamon in "Good Will Hunting""He's doubled down on a lot of things, going back to education... the idea that we're testing kids and we're tying teachers salaries to how kids are performing on tests, that kind of mechanized thinking has nothing to do with higher order. We're training them, not teaching them." -- HuffingtonFor the full interview, tune into Damon ...

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Wisconsin Democrats Announce Recall Effort Against 8 Republican State Senators | FDL News Desk #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-2

Wisconsin Democrats Announce Recall Effort Against 8 Republican State Senators | FDL News DeskSenatorsby David DayenWisconsin Dems have started the clock on these GOP Senators. (photo: markonf1re)The Wisconsin State Democratic Party just sent out an email to supporters announcing that they have officially filed recall papers against all eight Republican Senators eligible for recall immediately. Depending on their success in gathering enough signatures – and the threshold is not too high, they need between 14,000 and 20,000 signatures in the ...

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Walker's budget, item by item - JSOnline #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-2

Walker's budget, item by item - JSOnlineWalker's budget, item by iteme-mailprintMarch 1, 2011 |(51) COMMENTSJUSTICEClick to enlargeClick to ennlargeClick to enlargePhoto GalleriesBudget debate: 3/1prev1 of 16nextVideoGovernor Walker budget address Page 1 of 30 Related CoverageNewsBudget: Cuts would touch most WisconsinitesPlan: Walker's budget, point by pointUW: Proposal cuts UW System budgetSchools: Budget cuts school funding 5.5%, expands choicePrograms: Budget impacts Medicaid, W-2, Wisconsin SharesCapitol: Open to publicZoo Interchange: Full speed ahead for reconstructionProtests: Madison, Egypt link flawedRecycling: Mandate eliminated in budgetPensions: ...

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News from Inside the Wisconsin Capitol Building #WEAC #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-2

News from Inside the Wisconsin Capitol BuildingThe Blog from Inside the Capitol Endures...My name is Jonathan Scott. I have been living inside of our Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin most days and nights since February 22, 2011. I want to give everyone a window into the real situation inside of our Capitol Building.Posted at 03:46 PM in Current Affairs, Democracy, Politics, Protest | Permalink | Comments (2)Technorati Tags: bill, budget, building, capitol, current, inside, Madison, news, protest, repair, scott walker, ...

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Smart Guy (Gates) makes my list of “Dumbest Stuff I’ve Ever Read!” « School Finance 101

2011-Mar-2

Smart Guy (Gates) makes my list of “Dumbest Stuff I’ve Ever Read!” « School Finance 101Smart Guy (Gates) makes my list of “Dumbest Stuff I’ve Ever Read!”by schoolfinance101Bill Gates (clearly a very smart guy) has just topped my list of Dumbest Stuff I’ve Ever Read for the first few months of 2011. He did it with this post in the Huffington Post and with his talk to State Governors (in which he also naively handed out copies of the book ...

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Walker’s Two-Year Budget Shows Repair Bill to Be Trojan Horse | FDL News Desk #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-2

Walker’s Two-Year Budget Shows Repair Bill to Be Trojan Horse | FDL News DeskWisconsin Gov. Walker’s Two-Year Budget Shows Repair Bill to Be Trojan Horse for Attacks on Workersby David DayenHey, Wisconsin, beware of geeks bearing gifts. (photo: ccarlstead)The reality of Scott Walker’s two-year budget is setting in, and people have begun to connect the dots. The reason Walker needs to gut collective bargaining now is because he’ll need to silence state and local workers’ voices when he guts their ...

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Modern School: March 2nd National Day of Actions for Public Education

2011-Mar-1

Modern School: March 2nd National Day of Actions for Public EducationMarch 2nd National Day of Actions for Public Education0diggModern School’s Partial List of Links for March 2nd EventsAcademic Workers for a Democratic Union (UCLA)BAMNCalifornia state-wide ActionsDefend Public EducationMarch 1st Social Media Status day to Defend Public EducationMarch 2nd National Day of Action to Defend Public EducationMarch 31st National Day of Student Walkouts and StrikesDetroitMilwaukee SDSOaklandSouth DakotaSEIU Local 73 (Illinois and Indiana)Stand TogetherUC BerkeleyUCLA Fights BackUnited States Student AssociationWashington StateWashington, D.C.

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Religious leaders oppose Walker's 'budget repair bill' #WEAC #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-1

WEACvideo | Mar 1, 2011 | 0 likes, 0 dislikesWisconsin religious leaders speak out against provisions of Wisconsin Governor Walker's 'budget repair bill' and stand in solidarity with educators and all public employees.

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The Walker Plan to Privatize Wisconsin Public Schools #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Mar-1

The Walker Plan to Privatize Wisconsin Public SchoolsThe Rest of the Walker Plan

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On Bill Gates, Class Size, and American Parents - Dana Goldstein

2011-Mar-1

On Bill Gates, Class Size, and American Parents - Dana GoldsteinOn Bill Gates, Class Size, and American Parentsby Dana GoldsteinIn a Washington Post op-ed and speech yesterday to the National Governors' Association, Bill Gates floated the idea of dealing with state education budget cuts by increasing the class sizes of the most effective teachers:What should policymakers do? One approach is to get more students in front of top teachers by identifying the top 25 percent of teachers and asking them ...

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Big Education Ape:3-1-11, Special AM #WIunion Edition #solidaritywi

2011-Mar-1

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Charter School Empowerment Law aka Parent Trigger - Editorials (CA Dept of Education)

2011-Feb-28

Parent Empowerment Law - Editorials (CA Dept of Education)Parent Empowerment LawResponse by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson to newspaper editors on the Parent Empowerment Law, dated February 28, 2011.To the Editor:Reports that California's "parent trigger law" is in peril are way off the mark.Despite news accounts to the contrary, no one has proposed dismantling the law. The question before the State Board of Education is: what rules should govern the process for carrying it out?After requests by many ...

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Poor Man's House - Never Again #WIunion

2011-Feb-28

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AskThe People on USTREAM: Live video footage of union protesters at the capital in madison,wisconsin.

2011-Feb-27

AskThe People on USTREAM: Live video footage of union protesters at the capital in madison,wisconsin.new live streamhttp://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12986654Can't find a feed inside but this one has been working outside the capital!http://www.channel3000.com/localvideo/index.html?v=liveLive feed at Fox (ugh). http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?chanId=6The one below stopped working Live Video streaming by Ustream

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Walker Orders Capitol Cleared | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Feb-27

Walker Orders Capitol Cleared | AFL-CIO NOW BLOGWalker Orders Capitol Cleared by Donna Jablonski, Feb 27, 2011446ShareContinuing his unprecedented power grab, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ordered the state capitol to be cleared at 4 p.m. local time Sunday, closing the building to Wisconsinites protesting his plan to gut the right to bargain for good jobs. Now he’s violating their freedom of assembly, too. Dozens of ministers, rabbis and priests joined workers and students from across the state, risking arrest to ...

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Indiana State AFL-CIO - Daily Schedule of Events - February 28, 2011 #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Feb-27

Indiana State AFL-CIO - Daily Schedule of Events - February 28, 2011Daily Schedule of Events - February 28, 2011Printer friendly version | Send this story to a friendThe following is a tentative schedule of events at the Indiana Statehouse sponsored by "Stand up for Hoosiers" for Monday, February 28, 2011.Schedule for Monday February 28, 2011Noon: Opening Session, 3rd floor, South Atrium12:45 pm Solidarity Action, 3rd floor, South Atrium1:30 pm Roll Call Rally, 3rd floor, House Chambers2:00 pm Closing Ceremony, 3rd ...

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Health Care ASAP | Health Care: American Sponsored for All the People

2011-Feb-27

Health Care ASAP | Health Care: American Sponsored for All the PeoplePlease Note: As always, We never ask our members for money or anything else except their opinions!Please sign our Guestbook!Health Care ASAP is now on Twitter and FacebookWhere do we go from here?We stay in the fight for health care reform!If you are already a member, please sign in. If you want to join, click on the "Members" link on the left of this page, then the "Join Site" ...

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Last Week's Best Posts on Big Education Ape » PostRank

2011-Feb-27

Last Week's Best Posts on Big Education Ape » PostRankHide8.7The Truth About Teachers - Perdaily.com2011-Feb-27The Truth About Teachers - Perdaily.comThe Truth About Teachersby Leonard IsenbergHide8.7moveonorgrally2011-Feb-263StepsEvilTwin | Feb 26, 2011 | 1 likes, 0 dislikesMoveOn.Org Rally in Sacramento, CA 2/26/2011Hide9.3Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick's Email to State Employees #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI ▸2011-Feb-26Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick's Email to State Employees (39)Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick's Email to State Employeesby AFT - American Federation of Teachers on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 1:45pm Dear Colleague, ...

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The Wailers with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh - You Can't Blame The Youth

2011-Feb-27

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Events continue throughout the state! #WEAC #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI

2011-Feb-27

activities | Support Our Union | Legislative Resources | Issues Advocacy | Wisconsin Education Association CouncilEvents continue throughout the state!Keep raising your voice!Background Article: Labor leaders ask Wisconsin citizens to come to the State Capitol (join the conversation here) Also join the conversation at facebook.com/myweac.Note: AFSCME also is maintaining a list of activities and events. If you don't see an event in your community here you may find one on the AFSCME activities list.Check back often. This page is being ...

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The Truth About Teachers - Perdaily.com

2011-Feb-27

The Truth About Teachers - Perdaily.comThe Truth About Teachersby Leonard Isenberg

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moveonorgrally

2011-Feb-26

3StepsEvilTwin | Feb 26, 2011 | 1 likes, 0 dislikesMoveOn.Org Rally in Sacramento, CA 2/26/2011

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Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick's Email to State Employees #StateSOS #WIunion #SolidarityWI ▸

2011-Feb-26

Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick's Email to State Employees (39)Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick's Email to State Employeesby AFT - American Federation of Teachers on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 1:45pm Dear Colleague, The actions against public sector employees in Wisconsin have dominated recent news and troubled us all. As you consider Wisconsin's approach to its budget and fiscal crisis, I want to reiterate a few of the values that guide us here. Unions are good - and they can be part ...

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Yong Zhao » Entrepreneurship and Creativity: Where Do They Come From and How Not to Destroy Them

2011-Feb-26

Yong Zhao » Blog Archive » Entrepreneurship and Creativity: Where Do They Come From and How Not to Destroy ThemEntrepreneurship and Creativity: Where Do They Come From and How Not to Destroy Them26 FEBRUARY 2011 23 NO COMMENT(I am working on a conference (see last paragraph) on preparing students as global entrepreneurs. If you are interested, please let me know.)In his recent weekly address, recorded while touring an Intel plant in Oregon, President Obama once again emphasized the importance of ...

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