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Thursday, January 28, 2021

We Need a Democratic Approach to Reimagining Schools—Asking People, Not Billionaires and Ideologues, What They Want | Ed Politics

We Need a Democratic Approach to Reimagining Schools—Asking People, Not Billionaires and Ideologues, What They Want | Ed Politics
WE NEED A DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO REIMAGINING SCHOOLS—ASKING PEOPLE, NOT BILLIONAIRES AND IDEOLOGUES, WHAT THEY WANT



As soon as Anna Grant’s busy workday at Forest View Elementary School in Durham, North Carolina, ended, she would head toward the next school where she was needed. “I would get off work and immediately drive to meetings, press events, whatever we had organized [for the school],” she recalls. Her second school of concern was Lakewood Elementary, where Grant now works. In 2017, Lakewood was a flashpoint of grassroots protest due to a threat by the state to take over the school.

“Roughly 200 protesters, parents and neighborhood residents” rallied at Lakewood Elementary to keep the school out of the state’s new Innovative School District (ISD), reported NC Policy Watch, a media project of the North Carolina Justice Center. The ISD was created by the state legislature to take over low-performing schools and transfer governance from the local school board to charter school management companies. Lakewood, along with Glenn Elementary in Durham and three other schools in the state, was on the shortlist of schools at risk of being transferred into the ISD.

“It’s a takeover,” NC Policy Watch quoted Bryan Proffitt, then-president of the Durham Association of Educators. “I don’t intend to allow a terrible legislative idea to ruin our neighborhood school,” Durham school board member Matt Sears told a reporter for the Herald-Sun.

Grant now calls the protests “a community effort” that united teachers with parents, community activists, and the Durham school board in an effort to stave off a transfer of school governance from the community to a private organization. The activists formed the group Defend Durham Schools to share research and talking points on state takeovers and started a Facebook page to recruit more community support.

“Our zoned school was Lakewood,” recalls Durham parent and current school board member Jovonia Lewis, “and when the CONTINUE READING: We Need a Democratic Approach to Reimagining Schools—Asking People, Not Billionaires and Ideologues, What They Want | Ed Politics

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Biden's first big Covid test: Keeping parents of school kids from losing it - POLITICO

Biden's first big Covid test: Keeping parents of school kids from losing it - POLITICO
Biden's first big Covid test: Keeping parents of school kids from losing it
A battle is brewing between teachers’ unions and Republicans. And so far, the White House is siding with the former.



President Joe Biden’s vow to reopen most schools during his first 100 days is crashing into demands of one of his party’s most powerful constituencies: teachers’ unions. And the friction is creating an early test for the Democratic Party’s commitment to following the advice of scientists when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tensions began bubbling up this week as Chicago teachers and city officials clashed over a plan to reopen. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot insists that classrooms are safe, but teachers in the city are pushing for an expansion in vaccinations first. Now, a version of that fight is playing out nationally, as the White House tries to navigate between a growing body of science indicating that long-held fears of reopening schools may be overblown with demands from teachers for more funding and health supplies before returning to the classroom.

Teachers’ unions, which played a crucial role in Biden’s electoral victory last fall, say they share the goal of reopening schools for in-person learning, but that this can only be done if schools have the resources to safely proceed. White House officials, too, said Biden’s 100-day goal depends on Congress following through with more funding for schools to pay for improved ventilation, reduced class sizes and other Covid mitigation strategies.

But the stalemates in Chicago and recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — which wrote that in-person learning leads to little spread of the coronavirus so long as schools closely follow safety measures — are creating an immediate flash point for the president, along with potential political vulnerabilities.

“This is one of several issues that is going to have some starts and stops—and [it’s] a big challenge for [the White House],” conceded Steve Barr, a longtime Democratic political activist and operative and the founder of a charter school organization in Los Angeles. Barr said he agrees with the White House push for a big financial package, but stressed that the new administration needs to CONTINUE READING: Biden's first big Covid test: Keeping parents of school kids from losing it - POLITICO

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The Whole Truth About Kids, School, and COVID-19 - The Atlantic

The Whole Truth About Kids, School, and COVID-19 - The Atlantic
The Whole Truth About Kids, School, and COVID-19




Federal health officials at the CDC this week called for children to return to American classrooms as soon as possible. In an essay in the Journal of the American Medical Association, they wrote that the “preponderance of available evidence” from the fall semester had reassured the agency that with adequate masking, distancing, and ventilation, the benefits of opening schools outweigh the risks of keeping kids at home for months.

The CDC’s judgment comes at a particularly fraught moment in the debate about kids, schools, and COVID-19. Parents are exhausted. Student suicides are surging. Teachers’ unions are facing national opprobrium for their reluctance to return to in-person instruction. And schools are already making noise about staying closed until 2022.

Into this maelstrom, the CDC seems to be shouting: Enough! To which, I would add: What took you so long?

Research from around the world has, since the beginning of the pandemic, indicated that people under 18, and especially younger kids, are less susceptible to infection, less likely to experience severe symptoms, and far less likely to be hospitalized or die. But the million-dollar question for school openings was always about transmission. The reasonable fear was that schools might open and let a bunch of bright-eyed, asymptomatic, virus-shedding kids roam the hallways and unleash a pathogenic terror that would infect teachers and their families.

“Back in August and September, we did not have a lot of data” to make a recommendation on schools, Margaret Honein, a member of the CDC’s COVID-19 team, told The New York Times. Okay, but September was 100 days, 15 weeks, and several dozen remote-learning school days ago! Meanwhile, anybody paying attention has long figured out that children are probably less likely to transmit the disease to teachers and peers. This is no longer a statistical secret lurking in the appendix of one esoteric paper. It has been the repeatedly replicated conclusion of a waterfall of research, from around the world, over the past six months.

In May 2020, a small Irish study of young students and education workers with COVID-19 interviewed more than 1,000 contacts and found “no case of onward transmission” to any children or adults. In June 2020, a Singapore study of three COVID-19 clusters found that “children are not the primary drivers” of outbreaks and that “the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among children in schools, especially preschools, is likely to be low.”

By September, many U.S. scientists were going on record to say that transmission in schools seemed considerably rarer than in surrounding communities. “Everyone had a fear there would be explosive outbreaks of transmission in the schools,” Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told The Washington Post. “We have to say that, to date, we have not seen those in the younger kids, and that is a really important observation.” Throughout the fall, the evidence accumulated. “Schools do not, in fact, appear to be major spreaders of COVID-19,” Emily Oster, an economist at Brown University, wrote last October in The Atlantic, summarizing the conclusions of her national dashboard of school cases. CONTINUE READING: The Whole Truth About Kids, School, and COVID-19 - The Atlantic

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Teacher Tom: The Radical Idea of Treating Children Like People

Teacher Tom: The Radical Idea of Treating Children Like People
The Radical Idea of Treating Children Like People



I sometimes forget how radical our ideas are about young children. I forget that not everyone trusts children even if most people say they do. I forget that most adults are convinced that children must be guided, coerced, tricked or otherwise manipulated to do "right" things, even as they genuinely profess a belief in their innate goodness. I forget that out there, outside our bubble, grown-ups might proudly say they want "kids to be kids," yet their behavior demonstrates that they can't imagine them thriving absent a background of near constant correction, "good jobs," and unsolicited advice. Most people think that we agree with one another about children, but once we get talking, they start to realize that what we're saying is radical.



It's the radical idea that children are fully formed people, due the rights and respect due to all the other people. When we CONTINUE READING: Teacher Tom: The Radical Idea of Treating Children Like People
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Farewell to the SAT! We Hope. | Diane Ravitch's blog

Farewell to the SAT! We Hope. | Diane Ravitch's blog
Farewell to the SAT! We Hope.



The SAT is in trouble. Its business model is threatened by the more than 1,000 colleges and universities that no longer require it for admission. Many more higher education institutions dropped the SAT due to the pandemic. The SAT is big business. It collects more than $1 billion each year in revenue. Its CEO, David Coleman, was architect of the Common Core standards, with a background at McKinsey. His salary is about $1 million a year. He achieved notoriety when he promoted the Common Core and came out against personal essays; he told an audience of educators in New York State that when you grow up, no one “gives a sh—“ about how you feel. They want facts. His Common Core curriculum insisted on the study of more non-fiction, which drove down the teaching of literature.

Some relevant history: The SAT was created in the 1920s as a replacement for the traditional College Boards, exams that were written and graded by high school teachers and college professors. The leaders of the CONTINUE READING: Farewell to the SAT! We Hope. | Diane Ravitch's blog

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Reopening a Can of Worms – Have You Heard

Reopening a Can of Worms – Have You Heard
Reopening a Can of Worms



Have You Heard wades into the pitched debate about reopening schools. We hear from an epidemiologist, then tour the land to talk to parents and teachers who are trying to navigate an impossibly complex situation.

The financial support of listeners like you keeps this podcast going. Subscribe on Patreon or donate on PayPal. And Jennifer and Jack’s book, A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door, is out and available wherever you buy books!




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THE BURDEN OF PROOF – Dad Gone Wild

THE BURDEN OF PROOF – Dad Gone Wild
THE BURDEN OF PROOF




“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters”
― Albert Einstein

 

Two days ago the Tennessean ran an article reporting that MNPS had received a letter from the Commissioner of Education accusing them of fiscal malfeasance regarding their management of federal funds delivered through the CARES Act. In the commissioner’s words,

“I cannot underscore enough the seriousness of the current financial management of federal funds and compliance issues in MNPS,” Schwinn wrote Monday. “It is imperative that these issues be resolved quickly, accurately, and comprehensively, so as to provide students with the resources that they need and to move the district to a space of compliance with federal and state law.”

Yikes, dems are some strong words. Department spokesman Victoria Robinson followed up with strong words of her own,

“The issues addressed in the letter represent systemic financial and programmatic concerns documented by multiple oversight agencies at both state and federal levels over multiple years,

Governor Lee’s spokesman Laine Arnold piled on,

“When student achievement, teacher compensation and all manner of CONTINUE READING: THE BURDEN OF PROOF – Dad Gone Wild

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CURMUDGUCATION: New Horizons in Workplace Surveillance

CURMUDGUCATION: New Horizons in Workplace Surveillance
New Horizons in Workplace Surveillance


Work-from-home has triggered an explosion in Surveil-from-the-office features and products. There has certainly been a boom in programs specifically for surveillance of employees who are at home. These are creepy, with a reported 81% of the top programs logging keystrokes-- so that the boss can see exactly what you've been typing.

But there's something even more insidious about regular old productivity software being tweaked so that it can do the surveilling as well.

As you might expect, Microsoft has been all over this trend, with fun things like a "productivity score" built into Microsoft 365. And they have friends, like Shield, a product that promises, proudly and without any hint of irony or shame, 

We are proud to announce the launch of our integration with Microsoft Teams. The Shield platform is one of the first compliance platforms to provide full surveillance as well as record and search of Microsoft Teams interactions, providing the ability to extract, review and analyze specific conversations to assist with any investigation process.

A Reddit thread from six months ago asked "Could my boss be using teams for surveillance?" and the answer is, "of course." This month a ZDNet article looked at some of the "features" available now for CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: New Horizons in Workplace Surveillance

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New Rankings Place UK Education Dean Among Top Education Policy Influencers | UKNow

New Rankings Place UK Education Dean Among Top Education Policy Influencers | UKNow
New Rankings Place UK Education Dean Among Top Education Policy Influencers




LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 28, 2021) — An annual ranking of the U.S. scholars most influential in shaping education practice and policy once again includes University of Kentucky College of Education Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig. 

Vasquez Heilig has consistently been ranked among the top public influencers in the Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings. The 2021 edition was released by American Enterprise Institute Director of Education Policy Studies and Education Week blogger Frederick M. Hess. 

With a focus on making academic research useful and relevant to policy makers and the communities they serve, Vasquez Heilig works to move ideas from academic journals into the national conversation. He uses popular platforms such as podcasts, news media interviews, blogs and social media to reach audiences beyond academia and spark useful discussions. 

Hess created the rankings to encourage academics to use their voices to inform discussions on education policy and practice.  

“As I see it, the extraordinary policy scholar excels in five areas: disciplinary scholarship, policy analysis and popular writing, convening and shepherding collaborations, providing CONTINUE READING: New Rankings Place UK Education Dean Among Top Education Policy Influencers | UKNow

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State Senator Dave Lawson Wants Smyrna Superintendent Patrik Williams To Resign + Pandemic EBT Nutrition Benefits | Exceptional Delaware

State Senator Dave Lawson Wants Smyrna Superintendent Patrik Williams To Resign | Exceptional Delaware
State Senator Dave Lawson Wants Smyrna Superintendent Patrik Williams To Resign



State Senator Dave Lawson is calling for Smyrna Superintendent Patrik Williams to resign. Lawson reached out to the Smyrna Education Association, the Smyrna School District Board of Education, and Delaware Secretary of Education Dr. Susan Bunting asking for their help in getting Williams to resign. He will reportedly be speaking to the Delaware State Education Association to make the same request to them.

The heart of the issue appears to be a combination of things. Last summer Williams found himself in a mess due to Tweets he put out calling for retaliation against Trump supporters. Earlier last fall he apologized during a board meeting for his comments. In addition, some in the Smyrna community are upset about curriculum material the district began using this school year. They are saying the parent company of the textbooks is run or supported by Black Lives Matter.

I will provide more details on this as they come in what will CONTINUE READING: State Senator Dave Lawson Wants Smyrna Superintendent Patrik Williams To Resign | Exceptional Delaware

Why Didn’t Delaware Get Pandemic EBT Nutrition Benefits For This School Year? | Exceptional Delaware - https://wp.me/p4JboV-5LX via @ExcptlDelaware



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A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

 Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007


Looking Through The Lens Of Assets Works In The Classroom And…In The NBA
by Larry Ferlazzo / 14h
I’ve shared a lot connecting The Golden State Warriors to good teaching (see The Best Ways To Use Stephen Curry & The Warriors For Teaching Social Emotional Learning Skills ). I thought the above quote would make a new addition to that list. It’s from the San Francisco Chronicle article appearing yesterday, Lineup change helps spark Warriors to convincing win over Timberwolves . I’m also adding i
Thursday’s Must-Read Articles On School Reopenings
by Larry Ferlazzo / 14h
kaboompics / Pixabay Here are new additions to THE BEST POSTS PREDICTING WHAT SCHOOLS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL : Educators, food workers join California’s priority list for vaccines is from CAL Matters. Don’t Call It A Comeback: School Districts That Never Opened Are Having Trouble Now is from NPR. Has the Public Turned on Teachers? is from Ed Week. The pandemic has made transparent the dysfunc
New Resources On The Holocaust
by Larry Ferlazzo / 19h
RonPorter / Pixabay International Holocaust Remembrance Day is on January 27th. It marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Here are new additions to The Best Sites For Learning About The Holocaust : 5 websites to help educate about the horrors of the Holocaust is from The Conversation.
Changes I’m Making – & Experiments I’m Trying – In My ELL History Class This Semester
by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d
Alexas_Fotos / Pixabay It’s been a hell of a school year – for us all! I’ve been documenting my practical experiences in many posts, most of which you can find at Here Are Detailed – & Tentative – Distance Learning Plans For All My Fall Classes . The two most recent posts sharing my latest lessons are: FIVE KEY LESSONS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT DISTANCE LEARNING THIS SEMESTER Distance learning and Engli
“Increasing Engagement With Student Choice”
by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d
Increasing Engagement With Student Choice is the headline of my latest Education Week column. Four educators discuss ways to increase student engagement, including providing choice and building a sense of classroom community. Here are some excerpts:
Wednesday’s Must-Read Articles On School Reopenings
by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d
Jazella / Pixabay Here are new additions to THE BEST POSTS PREDICTING WHAT SCHOOLS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL : C.D.C. officials say most available evidence indicates schools can be safe if precautions are taken on campus and in the community. is from The NY Times. CDC officials say schools can re-open during pandemic — but precautions are crucial is from NBC News. CDC finds scant spread of coron
What Works Clearinghouse Publishes Online Learning Research Review – Points To Adaptive Learning & Games
by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d
The What Works Clearinghouse is a sort of the gold standard of education research. Today, they unveiled their Evidence Review of Distance Learning Programs Report . They included a zillion caveats and disclaimers, but did point to adaptive learning and gamification as two approaches that are more likely than not to be effective in distance learning. Those two strategies happen to be big parts of
Jan. 26th Is Australia Day – Here Are Related Resources
by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d
WikiImages / Pixabay January 26th is Australia Day, which commemorates the first convict ships that brought white immigrants to the continent. I should also note that many Indigenous people in Australia call it “Invasion Day.” You might be interested in The Best Sites To Learn About Australia . There are also many resources there on Australia’s indigenous peoples.

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007

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