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Sunday, January 29, 2012

January’s Best Tweets | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

January’s Best Tweets | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:

January’s Best Tweets

Every month I make a short list highlighting my choices of the best resources I shared through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. Now and then, in order to make it a bit easier for me, I may try to break it up into mid-month and end-of-month lists (and sometimes I’m a bit late).

I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in this post.

If you don’t use Twitter, you can also check-out all of my “tweets” on Twitter profile page or subscribe to their RSS feed.

This month, I’m using Storify to “curate” my best tweets:

[View the story "January's (2012) Best Tweets" on Storify]

Sabrina Stevens Shupe: Why the #EdSOTU Matters

Sabrina Stevens Shupe: Why the #EdSOTU Matters:

Sabrina Stevens Shupe

GET UPDATES FROM SABRINA STEVENS SHUPE



Why the #EdSOTU Matters

Posted: 01/29/2012 6:25 pm


Or, A Tale of Two Speeches)

Over at Teacher in a Strange Land, Nancy Flanagan asked, ""Who speaks for public education?"

I'd answer that a lot of people do (for better, and for worse) but we don't all get the same kind of microphone, or the same airtime.

After watching the State of the Union address Tuesday night, I found myself thinking about the differences between President Obama's statements on education and those of California Governor Jerry Brown.

In public statements over the past year, Governor Brown has said what many educators and parents nationwide have been saying for over a decade: that current state and federal education





Oakland Bail Fund | OccupyWallSt.org #ows #edreform

Oakland Bail Fund | OccupyWallSt.org:

Oakland Bail Fund

Posted 5 hours ago on Jan. 29, 2012, 12:16 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

OCCUPY OAKLAND NEEDS BAIL FUNDS! (click here to donate)

Police Chief Howard Jordan has been quoted in AP saying there were almost 400 people arrested yesterday. There are many people who were arrested that need urgent medical attention, people who have been injured by the police or do not have their medication with them that they need to treat prior conditions. We need the money to bail these people out!

Many people who have medical needs were unable to prevent themselves from being arrested, or to retrieve their medication, because the police did not give a dispersal order– they just kettled. We are still gathering names.

Our bail funds have been dwindling significantly as a result of the police backlash against occupy oakland in the last month, if you are able, PLEASE donate – 10, 50, 100, whatever you can!

Click here

A Look Back at the League of Education Voters | Seattle Education

A Look Back at the League of Education Voters | Seattle Education:

A Look Back at the League of Education Voters

I’ve been following issues in education since 2009 when my daughter entered the Seattle Public School system and therefore don’t have any previous history with the League of Education Voters (LEV) before that time. I can only tell you what I have observed in the last few years.

LEV is an education advocacy group. They do not have members and rely on funding from individuals to keep going. In 2007, they began to receive generous donations from the Gates Foundation. Bill Gates is a great proponent of charter schools, larger class sizes and putting kids in front of computers. He and the other venture philanthropists who have been pushing their notion of “education” on us are also no big supporters of the teacher’s union or any other union for that matter. Did his generous donations affect how LEV “advocates” these

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 1-29 Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform


Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky:Sunday links.by Fred KlonskyMoney Talks Too Much, Josh MacPhee, Just Seeds.Just when we thought our kids were safe, “Fast Eddie” Vrydolyak is back. The convicted felon and former Machine alderman has sold polluted industrial land in his old ward to CPS to build a new school. Any student or teacher would face health risks. The deal smells in more ways than one.Haven’t they heard? You don’t throw money at schools. An article in this morning’s NY ... more »

So Florida Lawmakers Want More Money for Charter Schools, But Who Will Really Get It? | Scathing Purple Musings

So Florida Lawmakers Want More Money for Charter Schools, But Who Will Really Get It? | Scathing Purple Musings:So Florida Lawmakers Want More Money for Charter Schools, But Who Will Really Get It?by Bob SikesFrom Mary McGrory in the Miami Herald:Last year, state lawmakers made it easier for high-performing charter schools to replicate and increase their enrollment.This year, the focus is funding.Charter schools receive less state money than traditional public schools – partly because traditional public schools have the power ... more »

Stop ACTA NOW | Seattle Education

Stop ACTA NOW | Seattle Education:Stop ACTA NOWby seattleducation2011I have not been paying attention to ACTA until yesterday when my daughter brought it to my attention and helped me understand the seriousness of the issue. Yes, this blog is about education but it is also about my freedom to say what I believe to be the truth. It’s a small example of truth to power and I am grateful that I am able to share my views and information freely ... more »

A City Education: The Domino Effect of Raising Students' Self-Esteem - Education - GOOD

A City Education: The Domino Effect of Raising Students' Self-Esteem - Education - GOOD:A City Education: The Domino Effect of Raising Students' Self-Esteemby Liz WardenIn our A City Education series, two City Year corps members share their experiences working as tutors and mentors in schools in hopes of closing the achievement gap and ending the dropout crisis.Many of the students we work with at Markham Middle School are just beginning to become more aware of their actions. The students who ... more »

Children should not be forced to recite the Pledge | Dailycensored.com

Children should not be forced to recite the Pledge | Dailycensored.com:Children should not be forced to recite the PledgeWritten by Irene NorthDaily Journal (Opinion), EducationJan 29, 20120diggShareEvery day, millions of American children are forced to start their school day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. They are told by their principals that it is required, but it is not. The Pledge is considered to be an oath of allegiance and it is a “government-sanctioned endorsement of religion,” that “violates the ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Reformy Astroturf

Jersey Jazzman: Reformy Astroturf:Reformy Astroturfby DukeTime for another edition of "Spot The Pattern"! Can you find the pattern in these reformy stories?Chicago:I can't embed the video (click the link to watch it), but protesters, shipped in by bus, are paid to demand a "failing" public school in the Windy City be closed. The protesters wind up being bussed back to a church center run by a pastor. As they disembark, the reporter asks several to name the school; they can't.New ... more »

Teacher: I won’t ‘teach and shut up’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Teacher: I won’t ‘teach and shut up’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Teacher: I won’t ‘teach and shut up’by Valerie StraussThis originally appeared on the website of The Hechinger Report, an education-news outlet based at Teachers College, Columbia University. Its author, Eric Shieh, is a founding teacher of the Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School, “A School for a Sustainable City,” which opened in New York City in September 2010. Shieh teaches music to middle-school students.By Eric ShiehI remember the ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Once Again, Tom Moran Doesn't Do His Job

Jersey Jazzman: Once Again, Tom Moran Doesn't Do His Job:Once Again, Tom Moran Doesn't Do His Jobfrom Jersey Jazzman by DukeI have tried - no, really, I have - to back off of Tom Moran and the editorial pages of the Star-Ledger. But I just can't let this one pass:In a typically insouciant editorial about the problems with one of Chris Christie's "reform" schemes, the S-L writes:But it’s not just school buildings that are needed. The instructional programs in the ... more »

Koch Out News | www.kochwatch.org

News | www.kochwatch.org:Koch Brother News Feed From KBucket: Koch brothers influence on elected officials, schoolswww.kochwatch.org aggregator - 6 minutes agoEd Schultz talks with filmmaker Robert Greenwald about the Koch Brothers' influence on American colleges, and about their role in the 2012 election.Koch Brother News Feed From KBucket: Are the Koch brothers teaching youwww.kochwatch.org aggregator - 6 minutes agoWhat s happening to academia in Florida demands national attention. Billionaires Charles and David Koch are infringing on intellectual freedom and independence in ... more »

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: The Michelle Rhee Connection map

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: The Michelle Rhee Connection map:The Michelle Rhee Connection mapby The Perimeter PrimateHow to view this image:Click on it to enlarge, orOpen new Word doc Right click on webpage image Select Copy Image Go to Word doc and paste enlarge.Write to me @ perimeterprimate@yahoo.com and request the pdf.Stay tuned for map #2, “Oligarchs, the Tea Party, Corporate Education Reform: Michelle Rhee the StudentsFirst Connection”

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Money, our Schools and PTSAs

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Money, our Schools and PTSAs:Money, our Schools and PTSAsby Melissa WestbrookAnother fine article by Brian Rosenthal in the Sunday Seattle Times, this time about PTA fundraising and our schools. He certainly did his homework and here's some interesting information:McGilvra Elementary raised over $390K last year. They have about 240 students. You do the math.So far this school year, four of the district's nearly 100 schools make up more than one-third of the expenditures. They are all ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 1-28 #edreform #ows

Why California Students Do Not Know Chicano History - Institute for Democracy and EducationBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-30 minutes agoWhy California Students Do Not Know Chicano History - Institute for Democracy and Education:Why California Students Do Not Know Chicano HistoryWhy California students do not understand Chicano/Latino history. 1987- 2011. By Duane CampbellTextbooks for California schools are selected by the State Board of Education based upon recommendations of their Curriculum Committees and the state frameworks and standards. It is ... more »

School Tech Connect: Trust, But Verify

School Tech Connect: Trust, But Verify:Trust, But Verifyby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to ask your superintendent what the exact policy and practice vis a vis record destruction is at the place where you work. Report back in an hour.

Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN

Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN:Top Content Rank1Latest News In Education: Preschool Funding Cuts While The Definition of “Special Needs” Expands On The Federal LevelPosted by Child's Work on January 23, 20122Still Out There?Posted by Courtney L Belolan Roy on January 23, 20123Progressive Education in the 1940sAdded by Thomas Whitby on December 31, 20114I Teach, Therefore you Learn...Or do you?Added by Thomas Whitby on May 3, 20105Josh Stumpenhorst, 2012 Teacher of the YearAdded by Thomas Whitby on January ... more »

Viva Tirado - El Chicano (in HD)

El Chicano, originally formed under the name VIP, arose during a period of increasing Chicano consciousness in America. Their initial hit, the jazzy "Viva Tirado", was a rendition of Gerald Wilson's original song about a bullfighter. The song did very well in Los Angeles and remained number one there for thirteen weeks. With their newfound success they created their first album and toured extensively, becoming the first Chicano band to play at the famous Apollo Theatre. Other popular songs include ... more »

Wendy Lecker: CT should slow down on NCLB waiver « Parents Across America

Wendy Lecker: CT should slow down on NCLB waiver « Parents Across America:Wendy Lecker: CT should slow down on NCLB waiverby leoniehaimsonSee also NYC Parents for more on these damaging waivers; find out if your state is applying and if so, how you can provide comment. This column is cross posted from the Stamford Advocate.Last March, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan addressed Congress about the flaws in the No Child Left Behind Law. He called NCLB “fundamentally broken,” and said ... more »

Schools Matter: Teachers Tired of Being Bullied to Death

Schools Matter: Teachers Tired of Being Bullied to Death:Teachers Tired of Being Bullied to Deathby Judy RabinWe're not going to take it!The CPS Grind on Teachers by Katie OsgoodRecently, in Chicagoland, a story hit the papers about a teacher committing suicide. She wrote in her suicide note that the major reason for this drastic act was work-related. According to her colleagues, this woman took her own life because of the bullying and fear she experienced at her school.As I discussed ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 1-27 Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

Virginia may stop requiring some 3rd grade SOLs - The Answer Sheet - The Washington PostBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoVirginia may stop requiring some 3rd grade SOLs - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Virginia may stop requiring some 3rd grade SOLsBy Valerie StraussThe Virginia Senate has approved a bill that would require that third graders take the Standards of Learning exams only in math and English, meaning they would no longer have to to take ... more »

Thinking Outside the Schooling Box? | Lefty Parent

Thinking Outside the Schooling Box? | Lefty Parent:Thinking Outside the Schooling Box?by Cooper ZaleI am becoming more and more uncomfortable with the whole concept of “school” and “education”, seeing both as formalized and standardized bureaucratic mechanisms that awkwardly attempt to both facilitate and direct human development. I think that is at the heart of the issue and my discomfort, because facilitating people and directing people are two very different approaches to human social interaction, often incompatible with each other.A recent ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Do Facebook Posts Illustrate the State of American Education?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Do Facebook Posts Illustrate the State of American Education?:Do Facebook Posts Illustrate the State of American Education?by stlgretchenIt's been an interesting few days in education in St. Louis. We listened to a School Choice Week panel discussion about closing traditional public schools in favor of opening alternative public schools (charters) with just a passing mention of the federal takeover of education by Arne Duncan. We listened to a legislative panel presentation about a court decision or legislative ...more »