Reclaiming the Commons : blue cheddar

Reclaiming the Commons : blue cheddar:

Reclaiming the Commons

by Worley Dervish

Advertisements insidiously worm their way into our hearts and minds despite our best efforts to tune them out (which is why Tom and I don’t watch TV anymore). They must be accomplishing something, or advertisers wouldn’t shell out the big bucks for them, would they? But isn’t there some kind of saturation point? Aren’t we getting to a place where people are just sick to death of always having stuff hawked and pushed at them? Does anyone else ever feel like you spend your whole goddamn life in a marketplace, with sellers screeching at you nonstop? This must be why younger people are known to be a more susceptible “market.” (They’re human 

Jersey Jazzman: The Obnoxious Sanctimony of Reformy Types

Jersey Jazzman: The Obnoxious Sanctimony of Reformy Types:

The Obnoxious Sanctimony of Reformy Types

by Duke

Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!

The article asserts that white suburban children actually score the highest on the international assessments—rivaling the the coveted student achievement of Finland and South Korea. The article blames 35 percent of our student population—poor blacks and Latinos—for pulling down our otherwise stellar scores, making America's ranking plummet. Lind writes:

"If you look at the facts, then, they don't suggest that the U.S. public K-12 system is a failure. Rather American public education is a world-class success except among poor natives 

Labor and the Community Defend Public Education A Teach-In to Save Our Schools Saturday, August 25th | Dailycensored.com

Labor and the Community Defend Public Education A Teach-In to Save Our Schools Saturday, August 25th | Dailycensored.com:

Labor and the Community Defend Public Education A Teach-In to Save Our Schools Saturday, August 25th

by Danny Weil

Title:	Labor and the Community Defend Public Education
START DATE:	Saturday August 25
TIME:	9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location Details:
SEIU 1021 Headquarters, 350 Rhode Island St. enter on Kansas St between 16th & 17th Streets Map at http://tinyurl.com/c2gk6ru, # 10, 19, 22 buses
Event Type:	Teach-In
Labor and the Community Defend Public Education A Teach-In to  Save Our Schools Saturday, August 25th, 9:00 AM -12:00 Noon  SEIU 1021 Headquarters, 350 Rhode Island St. enter on Kansas St between 16th & 17th Streets Map at http://tinyurl.com/c2gk6ru, # 10, 19, 22 buses Join the growing movement to defend our public schools from corporate raiders who want to steal our tax dollars, bust our unions and hurt our students. Presentations, discussions and plans of action to help our schools pass this test.

NEA - Back to School Guide

NEA - Back to School Guide:

Back to School Guide

Educator-tested tips, advice, and resources for a successful start to the school year.

Found In: advice & support

ARTICLE SECTIONS

• Classroom Setup
• Prepping for the First Week
• Classroom Management
• Working with Parents
• Year-Long Support
• Keeping a Sense of Humor

Students may still be enjoying their summer vacations, but for educators, the beginning of the next school year is just around the corner. NEA editors have compiled a list of our best articles and resources to help you - whether new or veteran - get ready for the fall semester.

Classroom Setup

Classroom Beautiful: Do It Yourself8 veteran educators share photos of their classroom and tips on how to organize your space for better learning.

Assessing Your Space
What to consider when planning your classroom setup.

Using a Theme
An elementary school teachers shares advice for decorating a classroom around a theme.

Stocking the Classroom—For Free
Savvy educators' tips on scoring no-cost classroom resources.

Prepping for the First Week

Classroom Survival KitNEA members recommend must-have items for the classroom.

33 Ways to Start the First Year Off RightA little planning before school begins can pay big dividends throughout the school year.

NEA's Custom Lesson Plan Search EngineWe've customized a Google search engine with 1,000s of lesson plans from across the Web, each one hand-picked and vetted by our Search Editor.

Classroom Management

Setting Up Rules and Routines
Ways to keep things running smoothly so you have more time to teach.

Discipline Tips from Drama Teachers
Your classroom is your stage. Use it to command attention and respect from students.

Strategies for Better Bus BehaviorHow one savvy driver turns her troublemakers into helpers.

Management Tips for New TeachersLearn how to bring order to the classroom, establish a positive climate, and reach your students.

Getting to Know Each OtherAids and activities to help teachers and students learn about each other in the busy first days of school.

Ask an ExpertNeed help with a specific classroom management problem? Post your question on our Classroom Management discussion board and receive an answer from a master teacher. While there, you can also advise your other help-seeking colleagues.

Why Middle School Students Can’t Stop TalkingAnd how you can accommodate them to keep things running.

Classroom Disruptors
What to do about out-of-control kids? Your colleagues share their strategies.

Breaking Up FightsBasic techniques for school personnel.

Social Skills Kids Need to Succeed
Why we should teach manners and etiquette in school.

Working with Parents

Meet the ParentsForge a strong partnership with parents by meeting them on their own turf.

Welcoming ELL Parents into the ClassroomHaving trouble engaging your ELL parents? Just follow along for our teacher-tested strategies.

Parent-Teacher ConferencesPreparing for and conducting successful conferences.

The Overzealous Parent Strategies for working with helicopter parents.

Bringing Parents in the Picture
Building partnerships that last beyond back-to-school night.

Dealing with Irate ParentsWhat to do when Mom and Dad are furious over Ashley's failing grade? Advice from your colleagues.

Year-long Support

Works4MePractical classroom tips written by teachers, for teachers. Browse online, search for a specific topic, or sign-up for a weekly email and have the best tips delivered to your inbox.

NEA Online Community
Share advice, tips, questions, or opinions on NEA’s discussion boards. Topics range from advice for thwarting cheaters to getting students interest in P.E. classes.

Keeping a Sense of Humor

A Beginner's Guide To Teaching The three-minute lunch and 9 other tips you didn't learn in college.

Caption This!Try your hand at writing funny captions for our cartoons or read the submissions of your colleagues.

Um, You, Over There ... is that Megan or Margaret?
A veteran educator struggles to remember students’ names.

Blue Jersey:: Washington State Dems Welcome Christie

Blue Jersey:: Washington State Dems Welcome Christie:

Washington State Dems Welcome Christie by: interested observer Thu Aug 09, 2012 at 06:59:48 PM EDT

Kudos to the Washington State Democrats, who laid out the welcome mat for Chris Christie today as he campaigns with the Republican candidate for Governor: Today, the Washington State Democrats are releasing "Bad Company," a web-video highlighting New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna's rough relationships with the media. The two have a history of yelling at and running from media members, as well as voters.The video portrays several of Gov. Christie's outbursts, juxtaposed with McKenna's recent run-in with KIRO TV reporter Essex Porter. While Gov. Christie has a particularly brash style, McKenna is more of a runner, in whatever direction is away from difficult questions.

Joan Buchanan to chair Assembly Ed | EdSource Today

Joan Buchanan to chair Assembly Ed | EdSource Today:

Joan Buchanan to chair Assembly Ed

August 9th, 2012 | Add a Comment | 
By John Fensterwald

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Joan Buchanan

Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, a Democrat from Contra Costa County who served on the board of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District for nearly two decades, will run the Assembly Education Committee, as of tomorrow. Assuming she wins re-election to a third term in November, she’ll chair the committee when the Legislature returns in January.

Buchanan will replace Julia Brownley, a Santa Monica Democrat who’s in a tight race for Congress. Assembly Speaker John Perez announced changes in Assemby leadership and committee chairs yesterday.

A Democrat from Alamo with business experience, elected in a swing district, Buchanan has parted with her party on some business issues and has backed changes in public pensions opposed by organized labor. At the same time, she opposed SB 1530, which would have made it easier to fire teachers accused of serious misconduct. This year she authored AB 1772, which would mandate kindergarten, now optional for parents; since it would establish a new state mandate, it’s unlikely to pass. One bill that did 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed Reform as Viewed by a Teacher

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed Reform as Viewed by a Teacher:

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Ed Reform as Viewed by a Teacher

by Melissa Westbrook

Via Diane Ravitch's blog, comes this piece from teacher Matt Mandel, a national board certified teacher in Philadelphia public schools.   From Diane:

He has figured out reform.
He explains it here for those who were puzzled.
The most important thing you need to know is this:
“It’s not about the children.”
The reason reformers keep saying that it is “for the children,” is because it’s not.
They say that to confuse people.
Read Matt Mandel and learn what it would look like if it were really “about the children.”

What does Mr. Manel say? 

• If it were about children, each and every public school would be awash in resources and technology. A 

London Resigns; New Interim Appointed

by Melissa Westbrook

From Bob Boesche (himself an interim) Deputy Superintendent:

I am writing today to tell you that Wendy London, who was serving as Interim Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, made the difficult decision to resign from her position. I want to thank her for her leadership and for balancing both the interim role and her duties as Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction – two very demanding positions. We all wish her well.

For the next two weeks, Kimberly Kinzer, our Manager of Early Learning, will serve as Interim Assistant 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm sends millions in TIF money to Penny -- not to schools

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm sends millions in TIF money to Penny -- not to schools:

Rahm sends millions in TIF money to Penny -- not to schools

by Mike Klonsky

I'm still on the road but trying to keep up on Chicago happenings. Stunned but not surprised to see that Rahm isdelivering millions from his TIF slush fund to his billionaire pal Penny Pritzker for her new Hyatt Hotel.

Pritzker sits on the mayor's hand-picked school board. She's also Pres. Obama's chief campaign fundraiser.  Pritzker is also an anti-union hard-liner who's trying to bust the union at Hyatt. She's claiming that there's no money left in the budget for even small teacher raises. The union argues that TIF money can be used to help solve the crisis. But Rahm obviously has his own priorities. Pritzker obviously has a conflict of interests.

“This one example shows the fundamental corruption in the way things are done here,” said David Orlikoff of the Chicago Teachers Solidarity Campaign, a labor and community coalition growing out 

Jersey Jazzman: Mayoral Control Ain't Awesome

Jersey Jazzman: Mayoral Control Ain't Awesome:

Mayoral Control Ain't Awesome

by Duke

The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran loves mayoral control of schools:

The real resolution of this conflict should come in November, when four of Caffrey’s leading critics on the board face re-election. This case perfectly illustrates the hazards presented by the toxic politics that all school reformers face. It is a screaming argument in favor of mayoral control of urban schools. [emphasis mine]

It's because, even though school boards are elected, they just can't be trusted - like in Newark:

There is more to this story than the wishes of a backward board elected in a vote 

Jersey Jazzman: Tea Partyin' = Teacher Bashin'

Jersey Jazzman: Tea Partyin' = Teacher Bashin':

Tea Partyin' = Teacher Bashin'

by Duke

Maureen Castriotta is no ordinary suburban school board member.

Castriotta serves on the Roxbury, NJ Board of Education, a high-performing system in Morris County. She urged the defeat of her own board's budget in 2011, and supported a slate of anti-union, cost-cutting board candidates (they lost).

Castriotta got into hot water with her fellow board members back in 2010 during Chris Christie's War On Schools. At the time, high school students in some districts were organizing protests against Christie's draconian school budget cuts. The Roxbury administration decided the best course of action was to allow a student protest but to manage it, hopefully creating a safer atmosphere than an unsupervised, spontaneous 

Disaster Capitalism, K-12 Education, and Corporate Takeovers of Progressive Organizations | Crooks and Liars

Disaster Capitalism, K-12 Education, and Corporate Takeovers of Progressive Organizations | Crooks and Liars:

Disaster Capitalism, K-12 Education, and Corporate Takeovers of Progressive Organizations

43 comments

By karoli

This is how fundamental democratic institutions and progressive organizations get co-opted by corporate interests. Find an issue like, say, education reform, partner up with right-wing interests to undermine public education as a fundamental right of every child in this country, and let billionaires direct the flow of dollars into competing efforts.
Along the way, it's useful to toss some corporate money at progressive organizations in order to give the appearance  that right-wing corporate policies are somehow progressive. This is exactly what has happened with Stand for Children and Change.org. Their union-busting petition microtargeted at Chicago teachers highlights how they have been played "at the edges" to promote ideas that are not at all progressive.

This video and the paragraphs above may be all you need to be convinced. But if you want the details, continue reading below the fold.
Last week, 90 percent of Chicago's teachers participated

Expresso :: Issue of the Week: National Voucher Group Meddles in Milwaukee Democratic Primaries

Expresso :: Issue of the Week: National Voucher Group Meddles in Milwaukee Democratic Primaries:

Issue of the Week: National Voucher Group Meddles in Milwaukee Democratic Primaries

Plus: Hero of the Week

By Shepherd Express Staff

 

It's happened before and it's happening again.

The American Federation for Children (AFC)—a Washington, D.C.-based pro-school-privatization group funded by some of the wealthiest Republican activists in the country—is supporting some Milwaukee candidates in the Democratic primaries.

This year, AFC is spending thousands of dollars on independent expenditures in support of candidates Elizabeth Coggs in Senate District 6, Millie Coby in Assembly District 10, Jason Fields in Assembly District 11, Fields' brother Jarett Fields in Assembly District 18, and Tracey Dent in Assembly District 17.

National pro-voucher groups typically dump money into races late in the game to skirt campaign-finance reporting deadlines so that all of their post-deadline spending doesn't show 

Chicago Teachers Union Update on Contract Negotiations| www.ctunet.com

Chicago Teachers Union | www.ctunet.com:

Update on Contract Negotiations:

“Contract is not Settled; …We Continue To Bargain In Good Faith

and Members Continue to Prepare For A Work Stoppage”

 

CHICAGO – The Chicago Teachers Union is currently in contract negotiations with the Chicago Public Schools and has been since November 2011. While much has been made of the interim agreement in which the Union was able to successfully stop the threat of a 7 hour and 40 minute work day as well as force the District to hire displaced (tenured) teachers in over 500 new positions, the parties have not reached a new contract agreement.

Educators have been without a contract since June 30.

Despite the interim agreement, there are many open issues still on the negotiating table in which there has been little movement. Public school educators also remain concerned about the District’s refusal to provide adequate wrap-around services for students severely impacted by poverty and violence in addition to threats of ballooning class sizes. Teachers are concerned about the new evaluation process of which 40 percent of the review is based on how students perform on standardized tests. Job security, health benefits and teacher pay have not been resolved.

While we continue to bargain in good faith, CTU members continue to prepare for a work stoppage in September when most of them are required to return to the classroom.    State law requires a “cooling off period” of 30 days after the issuing of a fact-finder’s report.At the end of this period, or thereafter, the CTU may strike provided it has first given the District a 10-day notice of the intent to strike.

It should be noted that movement at the bargaining table came only after nearly 10,000 people marched in downtown Chicago in support of a fair contract and more resources for neighborhood schools. This dramatic action was followed by a historic vote, where 90 percent of CTU members voted 98 percent to authorize a strike.

We recognize strikes are not popular. HowevePublish Postr, they are the strongest tool public workers have in ensuring their rights are not trampled upon and working conditions are fair and equitable. The CTU is fighting for strong, well-resourced neighborhood schools where students, regardless of their zip code, will have equal access to a high quality education.

Chicago is a world-class city and it deserves world-class neighborhood schools. Teachers, paraprofessionals and school clinicians are prepared to do what it takes to protect their jobs, their students and their schools.                                     ###

Why Are All the Smart Kids Cheating?

Why Are All the Smart Kids Cheating?:

Why Are All the Smart Kids Cheating?

by guest blogger

Image via onlinedegrees.org

This video by the New York Times illustrates just how much faster sprinter Usain Bolt is than Olympic medalists of yore.  The video’s key takeaway is that the crème de la crème of athletes have over the years pushed themselves to consistently higher standards.  Whereas breaking 10 seconds used to seem nearly impossible, it is now all but a requirement of medaling in the 100m sprint.  While the Olympics has a comprehensive drug testing program to keep its athletes from abusing performance-enhancing substances as they pursue better athleticism, America’s high schools lack the ability to place similar checks on student academic performance.  Students are improving their grades just like sprinters are improving their times; but in schools, cheating among the best and the brightest in order to attain those high grades has become a pervasive problem and in some cases the norm.
Take, for example, the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, N.Y., where 71 students were caught cheating on New York’s Regents exam (and those were only the ones whose involvement was proven). These “cheaters” are unlikely to be found participating in immoral activities on the regular, yet each of them justified cheating by weighing it against the consequences of a less-than-stellar score on the high-stakes Regents

Three Big Numbers to Watch

by Kris Amundson

Meetings at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) help state policymakers with both big picture issues (how will the Affordable Care Act affect your budget) to specific details. Education Sector’s Kris Amundson was at their annual summit this week in Chicago. Here are three important numbers she brought back from the conference.
On state budgets: 6. That’s the number of states that report they feel “optimistic” about their state’s economic outlook for Fiscal 2013. A total of 33 states foresee a “stable” economic outlook, and 11 states say they are concerned. Six is also the number of states that are members of what NCSL calls the “Billionaires’ 

Local Control = Real Freedom | Truth in American Education

Local Control = Real Freedom | Truth in American Education:

Local Control = Real Freedom

by Shane Vander Hart

I was shocked – SHOCKED to read this in a newspaper editorial because most have, by and large, embraced the centralization of education at the state and federal levels.  I almost wanted to cry, ok I’m exaggerating, but it is great to see that the editorial board of The Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel gets it.
An excerpt:

There is a need, of course, for input from all levels of government on maintaining superior public education. The greatest need is for local input, but the pressure from both state and federal governments is for greater control from farther distances. Before we lose local control altogether, we ought to consider just what we will be giving up.

The very premise of this nation is that the more decisions are made closest to the people they affect, the better off we are. The farther away we move from local solutions based on local