NYC Educator: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid

NYC Educator: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid:

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid

One of my students didn't have her homework today. She's pretty smart, and pretty eager, but not altogether that fluent in English. I asked her where it was and she struggled to answer. I checked a few other kids in the class and she came to me, brandishing her iPhone like it held the key to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

"It's here," she said.

And there, on the screen, was the homework that was due yesterday, homework that she actually turned in. I told her I'd already seen it and continued moving around the room. But soon she was back.

"This is today," she said.

And indeed it was, but I manipulated the image and it had the name of the girl who sits two seats away from her. I pointed this out and she got very excited. She started talking very quickly in her native language, of which alas I speak not one word. My kids are under strict instructions to speak only English, but with 90% of the class belonging to one language group it's a very tough rule to enforce. I do my best but it's not good enough.

A boy started translating for her and I started giving him a hard time. The gist of it was that she just photographed the homework to help with it. First of all, it wasn't a whole lot of help, as she was unable to produce the assignment anyway. Perhaps more importantly, cheating's become a whole lot easier. I can't count the times I've found kids copying homework 

Three Questions, Two Answers from the Department of Education - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Three Questions, Two Answers from the Department of Education - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Three Questions, Two Answers from the Department of Education

By Anthony Cody on September 19, 2013 3:47 PM

A little more than two weeks ago, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan held a phone-in press conference. I submitted several questions online, but they were not addressed during the event. However, reporters on the line were assured that unanswered questions would be given high priority. So I emailed them in.

Today, answers have arrived, from Department of Education spokesperson Stephen Spector, who explained that time constraints prevent a response from Secretary Duncan himself.

Here are the questions, followed by Mr. Spector's responses:

Question 1: Secretary Duncan, you have a successful career. Would you be willing to take the Common Core Tests as they become available and share your score?

Response: "I cannot personally respond to your first question, but happy to respond to the second to.(sic)"

Question number 2: There has been a massive loss of teacher agency since you've taken charge, and creative, top-notch teachers are fleeing the profession in droves. Do you see a way to address the feeling of loss teachers have about their own profession? Is that something you were after? --What do you have to say about teacher morale, in general?

A: The Department is working with educators in rebuilding the profession. We are looking to 

Diane in the Evening 9-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

FAIRTEST: Pearson’s History of Test Foul Ups

FAIRTEST has warned about the misuse of standardized testing for years. As an organization, it serves an invaluable purpose and exists on a shoe string. It should be funded by Gates, Broad, and Walton. Instead it is funded by you. Here is FAIRTEST’s chronology of Pearson’s testing errors over the years. PEARSON’S HISTORY OF TESTING PROBLEMS compiled by Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director Fair

72 by dianerav / 25min 

Is the Bridgeport Election the Beginning of the End for Corporate Reform?

[Forgive the posting of the headline with no text. I am at NY1, our local all-news station. No sooner did I put in the headline when I was called in to be interviewed by Sam Roberts of the New York Times. I closed my iPad, and the blank post flew into cyberspace. ] The Atlantic has a comprehensive article about the education wars in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Democratic machine was shocked by t

3 by dianerav / 12min 

Bloomberg Administration Plans to Scrub Emails

A whistleblower inside the DOE in New York City told me the Bloomberg administration plans to eliminate all emails. I assumed they were reacting to the Indiana scandal, where Tony Bennett’s emails showed that he engaged in grade-fixing and assembling lists of campaign donors. Maybe yes, maybe no. But what we learn from this story is that the Bloomberg administration plans to delete emails in many

9 by dianerav / 37min 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: A Last-Minute Bad Idea from NYC Department of EducationIn its ongoing effort to destroy neighborhood schools and communities, the NYC brought out a plan to centralize kindergarten admissions. This paren activist says it is time to fight back now: “Last week, the DOE announced the roll-out of a new $800,000 kindergarten admissions p

by mike simpson / 2h 

Awards and Lists: Hate/Love | My Island View

Awards and Lists: Hate/Love | My Island View:

Awards and Lists: Hate/Love

September 19, 2013 by tomwhitby

It is most commonly known that the two things we should not open a discussion on at a friendly dinner party would be religion, or politics. These two topics stir up passions in people that may take some over the bounds set by acceptable civility at such gatherings. I have found myself a victim of this social imperative on a number of occasions. That is the price to be paid for being opinionated, and passionate about things.

Among educators, I would suggest that we add Awards and Lists to Religion and Politics as subjects that strike chords in people who cause them to cross over to the wild side. Whenever annual award presentations appear on the calendar the pro and con discussions begin. The merits and flaws of such ceremonies are debated in blog posts and tweets ad nauseam. Lines are drawn placing people on respective sides of what, at the time, seems like a very important issue. Actually, in the scheme of things that are of real important, it is actually a non-issue.

Often, a well-meaning effort to recognize the accomplishments of the few who stand up and stand out, are criticized or maligned to the point where people are discouraged from even suggesting to do such events. The irony is that 

I’m late; I’m late, for a very important. . . Review of Diane Ravitch’s new book “Reign of Error” | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

I’m late; I’m late, for a very important. . . Review of Diane Ravitch’s new book “Reign of Error” | Crazy Crawfish's Blog:

I’m late; I’m late, for a very important. . . Review of Diane Ravitch’s new book “Reign of Error”

Posted on September 19, 2013

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If you’re like me, you’re late to everything. For instance, my mom is fond of telling me I was late to my own birth. In my defense I always remind her that my brother was three weeks lake and I was only about one week, so relatively speaking I was early. No matter what else happens in life, I will always have that to hold over my brother. Perspective is very important.

For instance, if I surrounded myself with skinny fit people I would feel very fat and unhealthy all the time. That’s why I make it a point of distancing myself from anyone who becomes too obsessed with P90X or Cross fit programs. That type of association would not be good for my mental health. I also make it a point of only befriending folks who are larger than me, especially if they with more physical limitations like a hook for a hand, or a patch over one eye. (Yes. I have a lot of pirate friends.) I also really like to befriend really bald people because they are very jealous of my unruly mop of hair – which I find annoying, but they find enviable. Perspective is what Diane’s book, Reign of Error, is all about.

Reformers and privatizers (not to be confused with my pirate compadres) like to frame their pseudo-successes in a context that makes them look good, and the things they are opposing look bad. For instance, they like to point to the performance of the poor and minorities on standardized tests and show the current achievement gap between them and the wealthy is not closing. They 

Court ruling backs student discipline for off-campus e-threats SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Court ruling backs student discipline for off-campus e-threats
By Kimberly Beltran
Thursday, September 19, 2013

In a ruling that, for the first time, provides specific guidance to school administrators addressing issues such as cyberbullying and threats via technology, a federal court has determined that school officials can discipline students for certain off-campus electronic communications.

The case involved a high school student in western Nevada’s Douglas County who made repeated threats via his MySpace page to carry out multiple violent acts, including going on a school shooting spree. After the student was suspended and then expelled, his family sued the school district, claiming that the statements were a joke and that the district had violated his First Amendment rights by disciplining him for speech made off-campus.

But in affirming a district court’s earlier judgment in favor of the district, Ninth Circuit Court Judge M. Margaret McKeown wrote, “[This] panel held that the messages, which threatened the safety of the school and its students, both interfered with the rights of other students and made it reasonable for school officials to forecast a substantial disruption of school activities.

“The panel held that when faced with an identifiable threat of school violence, schools may take disciplinary action in response to off-campus speech that meets the requirements of Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Cmty. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969),” McKeown opined. “Under the circumstances, the panel concluded that the school district did not 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Ravitch a Texas-bred Paul Revere

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Ravitch a Texas-bred Paul Revere:

Ravitch a Texas-bred Paul Revere

When it comes to schooling, Diane Ravitch is a traditionalist in most senses of the word. But a defender of traditional democratic education at a time when corporate-style reformers and her former conservative think-tank friends have all donned the label of r-r-r-revolutionaries and fancy themselves as educational "change agents", is not bad. They "monitor" her and target her as "an agent of the status quo." But nothing could be further from the truth.

In her latest book, Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools,  Diane plays the role of a Texas-bred Paul Revere warning the populace that the privatizers are coming -- and coming they are, tearing away at all public space and with it, public decision making. Diane lays it out, chapter by chapter.

Genuine school reform must be built on hope, not fear; on encouragement, not threats; on inspiration, not compulsion; on trust, not carrots and sticks; on belief in the dignity of the human person, not a slavish devotion to data; on support and mutual respect, not a regime of punishment and blame. To be lasting, school reform must rely on collaboration and teamwork among students, parents, teachers, principals, administrators and local communities.“ (p. 325)

What I love and admire about Diane is that she's not just writing (she's prolific) but she's always out on the stump, uniting body and brain to get the message out. I don't know how she does it. I need a nap just thinking about it. Her book tour is turning out thousands for whom the message resonates. And it's been a pro-teacher message, resonating with the 

Choosing to focus on teaching | Edwize

Choosing to focus on teaching | Edwize:

Choosing to focus on teaching

 I am criminally overworked. “Preps” seem to be a thing of the past, as we now have department meetings or grade team meetings during the day. “Lunch” is no longer an eating period as the microwave in the teacher’s lounge seems to have been misplaced. In fact, the entire teacher’s lounge has been misplaced, and yes, that can happen. I’ve been staying late to decorate my room and make a sorry attempt at planning and grading, but it’s usually just a time to try and get some energy back. I’ve had meetings with the principal and AP where I had to choose how often I will be observed. They seemed to be trying to figure out the new system, and are more confused than the brand-new teachers. We were passively threatened to have our sub lessons submitted with copies of the work for all students done, though the person that makes copies for us is overwhelmed with an insane amount of copies to make. I’ve had meetings with my department. Meetings with my grade team. Meetings about what we should be talking about in meetings. No, seriously, we actually discuss how to properly have a meeting, what an agenda should look like, all of the stuff to make a school look like it’s a well run corporation. The humanity on that side of things is gone. Perhaps forever. My new students are calm and respectful…for now. They say that every year you teach, it gets easier as your confidence grows. I do feel that way, that I have finally come into my own as a teacher. Too bad there are all of these new changes, so everything I have mastered over the past few years will be viewed as obsolete. I can hear the chaos in the hallway as I teach my drop-dead-silent classes, and I act as if I don’t hear a thing. The kids take their cue from me and - See more at: http://www.edwize.org/choosing-to-focus-on-teaching#sthash.DhA4o64J.dpuf

9-19-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

OSPI Interested in Thoughts on Late Starts for High Schools

OSPI is apparently interested in your thoughts on a later start for high schools.  I don't believe they have the authority to order this to happen but that they are interested in finding out the depth of interest is a good sign.Weigh in at their Facebook page.

by Melissa Westbrook / 21min 

What is the deal with Spectrum?

Thirteen years ago, when I first became an activist in Seattle Public Schools, there were problems with Spectrum. There were three problems:Qualified students could not gain access to the program because the classes were full.There was lively discussion about the student identification process including issues of under-representation of minority students and students from low-income homes.There we

by Charlie Mas / 15min  

9-18-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Growth Boundaries PlanFirst, the headlines:The big winner is K-5 at Boren, soon to be K-8 STEM at Boren.The big loser is Pinehurst K-8, soon to be closed and clearly treated with bad faith.APP breaks even, getting everything expected, most of it where expected, some of it in difficult spaces but with an extraordinary accommodation that should prove very beneficial

by mike simpson / 22h 

Study: Impact of unaddressed mental health issues on students is severe:

Study: Impact of unaddressed mental health issues on students is severe

By Valerie Strauss, Published: September 19 at 11:47 amE-mail the writer

Mental health is one of those topics that Americans don’t like to talk about much, unless it is forced into public view by tragedies such as Monday’s mass shootingat the Washington Navy Yard by a man who told police that he was hearing voices shortly before he killed 12 people. In the area or school reform, the mental health of students has been ignored too, despite the irrefutable fact that sick kids have a hard, if not impossible, time learning in class. But the consequences of failing to address mental health issues in students goes well beyond academic problems, as a 2013 study reveals.

The 2013 study, called “Blind Spot: The Impact of Missed Early Warning Signs on Children’s Mental Health,” was written by Andrea M. Spencer, dean of the School of Education at Pace University in New York and educational consultant to the Center for Children’s Advocacy.

Spencer looked at data from 102 case studies drawn from school records of  students ages 12 to 16 who had been referred to an area advocacy center because of persistent school failure, truancy, juvenile justice involvement or other court involvement. She sought to find out the types of developmental and social risk factors associated with 

Before tonight’s meeting, several Dallas ISD trustees make clear their feelings about Mike Miles | Dallas Morning News

Before tonight’s meeting, several Dallas ISD trustees make clear their feelings about Mike Miles | Dallas Morning News:

Before tonight’s meeting, several Dallas ISD trustees make clear their feelings about Mike Miles

By Matthew Haag
mhaag@dallasnews.com
11:25 am on September 19, 2013 | Permalink

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Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles will face his bosses tonight and, perhaps, fight for his job after an investigation found he violated district policy and tried to disparage trustees. The meeting at 5:30 tonight is the first time Miles will meet with board members about the investigation and have a chance to give his side.

They will discuss in closed session the investigation by private attorney Paul Coggins, who is scheduled to also discuss his report in public later in the night.

However, before that meeting starts, several trustees have already made clear their feelings about Miles. Mike Morath wrote in an op-ed last week that student achievement gains prove that Miles needs to stay.In a blog post published this morning, Carla Ranger has a different take.

“Some trustees are being pushed to ignore their governance responsibility to hold the superintendent accountable for the numerous serious issues raised in recent internal and external investigations,” she wrote. “Yet, no other Dallas ISD employee would be allowed to obstruct or interfere with an ongoing