Some Parents Oppose Obama Speech to Students - NYTimes.com

Some Parents Oppose Obama Speech to Students - NYTimes.com:

"The uproar over the speech, in which Mr. Obama intends to urge students to work hard and stay in school, has been particularly acute in Texas, where several major school districts, under pressure from parents, have laid plans to let children opt out of lending the president an ear.

Some parents said they were concerned because the speech had not been screened for political content. Nor, they said, had it been reviewed by the State Board of Education and local school boards, which, under state law, must approve the curriculum."

Obama's speech not on some schools' lesson plans -- latimes.com

Obama's speech not on some schools' lesson plans -- latimes.com:

"President Obama's speech to students next week may be a 'teachable moment,' as some educators see it, but it will not be a command performance. A combination of scheduling, academic priorities and sheer bandwidth will keep the president out of many Southern California classrooms when he goes on the air Tuesday.

'We're an academic institution, and our responsibility is to cover specific content standards,' said James Stratton, superintendent of schools for La Cañada Unified School District, where the school year got off to a late and rocky start because of the nearby wildfires. In his district, he said, the speech will be shown only in those classes where it 'has any relation to the California content standards for that particular class.'"

Sacramento Press / Charter Committee in favor of mayor appointing manager

Sacramento Press / Charter Committee in favor of mayor appointing manager:

"Most of the members of a city committee examining the “strong mayor” issue are in favor of revising the city’s charter to allow the mayor to appoint the city manager. However, three of the 11 members of the city’s Charter Committee voted against the idea Thursday.

The committee’s early vote in support of the mayor’s ability to appoint the city manager means that most of the committee members think the mayor should have more power in this area. Right now, the City Council appoints the city manager."

Mom.me: Flu shots for kids now available, swine flu vaccine likely coming in fall

Mom.me: Flu shots for kids now available, swine flu vaccine likely coming in fall

Flu shots for kids now available, swine flu vaccine likely coming in fall

Seasonal flu shots are making an early appearance in pediatric offices this year thanks to the H1N1 virus and vaccine.

The seasonal flu vaccines are available now - which is slightly earlier than usual - because the H1N1 vaccine likely will be available as early as mid-October, said Dr. Ken Ashley, a pediatrician and medical director of Sutter Medical Group, "We would like to separate these slightly to allow the (H1N1) vaccine to provide better protection from the virus," Ashley said in an e-mail.Seasonal flu vaccines are recommended for children ages 6 months to 18 years old.

Doctors also recommend that children ages 6 months and older be given the H1N1 vaccine, which is a two-part vaccination given one month apart, he said.Pregnant women, parents of children less than 6 months old and children will be among those first in line to receive the H1N1 vaccine. Other target groups include healthcare and emergency medical workers, people between 6 months and 24 years old and people between 25 and 64 who are at higher risk due to chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Big Education APE Editorial: The President's talk with Students

President Obama’s Address to Students Across America September 8, 2009:

"President Obama’s Address to Students Across America September 8, 2009"

Read the "nattering nabobs of negativity" reviews of the document "President Obama’s Address to Students Across America September 8, 2009" posted on docstoc.com by The Big Education APE. This brand of rhetoric is shrill and aggressive, it questions the patriotism of any who supports the Obama administration.

The "reviews" constantly and consistently portray the president's speech with words such as "socialist", "brainwashing"and "Hitler"; rhetoric that seems to have permeated all things conservative. This rhetoric is bitter, fantastic, and divisive.

DonorsChoose.org: Sacramento City Educational Foundation's Giving Page

DonorsChoose.org: Sacramento City Educational Foundation's Giving Page:


"You can bring these projects to life at half the cost, thanks to the Sacramento City Educational Foundation (SCEF). SCEF will fund 50% of these projects if someone like you provides the remainder. By completing a project, you will double the impact of your donation. The Sacramento City Educational Foundation provides financial and other resources to benefit students and classrooms in the Sacramento City Unified School District. The Foundation is dedicated to enhancing student achievement and educational opportunities in innovative ways."

Early Education Key To Closing the Achievement Gap - California Progress Report

This month, as millions of children across California begin their first days of school, some children will start the year more prepared than others. Although each child is born learning, too few have the opportunity to attend high-quality early childhood education programs, which build a solid foundation in the social, early reading and math skills they need to succeed in school.

Unfortunately, it is often those kids who need it most that do not have access to attend such programs and research shows children who start behind too often stay behind throughout their school careers.
State Superintendent Jack O’Connell recently reiterated the importance of high-quality early learning when he released the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program results. O’Connell noted that while California’s students continue to make academic progress, a significant achievement gap remains, partly because many children start kindergarten without the advantage of a high-quality preschool program.

Right wing’s schoolyard taunt: Obama’s a socialist and so's your mama | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times

Just when you thought the culture wars were ancient history comes this news bulletin: Conservatives are up in arms over President Obama’s planned speech to schoolchildren Tuesday, the day millions of Americans return to work and school after the Labor Day holiday, touting the value of education.

After a summer of stoking controversy over nonexistent death panels in healthcare plans, critics on the right are now charging that the White House -- which plans to broadcast the speech live on the White House website and over C-SPAN -- is trying to indoctrinate their innocents on issues like healthcare reform and federal spending. Thanks to conservative talk radio and the right-wing blogosphere, Obama’s speech to children has been turned into a lighting rod for socialism.

“As far as I am concerned, this is not civics education -- it gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality,” said Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell. “This is something you’d expect to see in North Korea or Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.”

Even the chairman of a state Republican Party, Jim Greer in Florida, has joined the fray, warning that Obama is trying to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda."

With rumors spreading faster than a California wildfire, school districts in six states -- Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin -- have opted out and will not show the speech. Others are mulling it over.

Quick: Name the 4 States That Haven't Spent an Ed Stimulus Dime

Quick: Name the 4 States That Haven't Spent an Ed Stimulus Dime

Alaska, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Mexico.

These four haven't drawn down any of the money that's been made available to them via state stimulus grants, according to the latest spending report from the U.S. Department of Education. (You can check out edweek.org's nifty interactive follow-the-money map here.) This means these states haven't spent any of their special education, Title I, stabilization fund, education technology, or other smaller grants, such as vocational rehabilitation. Note the zeros in the "outlay" category in the department's report.

You'll note on the Education Department's spending report that, within these states, a portion of grants to other entities, such as higher education institutions and local school districts, have been spent.

What's interesting is that even South Carolina, where Gov. Mark Sanford unsuccessfully tried to refuse stimulus money, has spent some of its share.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10800261/Ed-Stimulus--latest-spending-report-from-the-US-Department-of-Education
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2009/09/quick_name_the_4_states_that_h.html

Inside School Research: Where's the Research in 'Race to the Top'?

Inside School Research: Where's the Research in 'Race to the Top'?:

"'Neither research evidence related to growth models nor best practice related to assessment supports the proposed requirement that assessment of teachers and principals be based centrally on student achievement'"

Education Week: Why Not Count Them All?

Education Week: Why Not Count Them All?:

"Before leaving office, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings issued last October new regulations for how states should calculate high school graduation rates under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The regulations seemed simple: Take the number of students who graduated, then divide by the number of students who entered high school four years earlier. But what about those students who take longer than four years to graduate? How would they be counted? The short answer is, they wouldn’t."

Education Week: Officials Move to Quell Furor Over Obama Speech

Education Week: Officials Move to Quell Furor Over Obama Speech:


"The White House and federal education officials scrambled Thursday to reassure school leaders that President Barack Obama’s national speech to schoolchildren next week will touch on important educational goals, despite criticism from some conservatives that the president is planning to use the speech to “indoctrinate” children with his political views.

“The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning,” the U.S. Department of Education said in an e-mail urging schools to participate in what it called a “historic moment,” to be broadcast live Sept. 8 on C-SPAN and the White House’s Web site."

A national movement of foodies, farmers, parents and educators is pushing for better school food - San Jose Mercury News

A national movement of foodies, farmers, parents and educators is pushing for better school food - San Jose Mercury News:


"Schools like ACE Charter are contracting with companies that provide organic lunches. 'Farm to School' programs that connect schools with local farms — like the relationship between Full Circle Farm in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara Unified School District — are popping up nationwide. And Slow Food USA is organizing 'Time for Lunch,' a campaign designed to 'get real food in schools.' The effort kicks off on Labor Day with more than 300 'Eat-ins,' or community pot lucks, planned across the nation."

Advocates hope the momentum will lead to an overhaul of the Child Nutrition Act, the bill that governs the National School Lunch Program and is up for reauthorization in Congress this fall.

"It's the right time for this campaign," said Gordon Jenkins of Slow Food USA. "People are more food conscious overall. We have Michelle Obama planting a garden in the White House lawn. Now the burden is on us to show that there's a political will for this."

Most local school districts contract with large food service companies that prepare food off-site, often in other states, then freeze it and ship it to school districts. The food is then heated in microwaves or warmers. Corn dogs, pizza, and nachos — meals that are high in fats and cholesterol — are standard fare.

"Schools don't have kitchens anymore," Jenkins said. "If we really want healthy food, the food needs to be prepared at the schools."
But cost is an enormous barrier. Advocates such as Slow Food, which was founded in opposition to fast food and emphasizes eating locally grown food, are urging Congress to raise the reimbursement rate so schools can buy fresher ingredients.

Schools to focus on kids most likely to get shot :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Education

Schools to focus on kids most likely to get shot :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Education:

"Using a newfangled probability model, Chicago Public School officials have identified the 1,200 Chicago public high school students most likely to be gunshot victims -- and will direct millions in resources to help them this school year, Schools CEO Ron Huberman revealed Thursday.

'These kids are in trouble, and we need to help them,'' Huberman said as he unveiled a $30 million plan to stem the student shooting deaths that have traumatized the nation's third-largest school system for several years."

Special education: Public schools pressed to pay for private schooling -- chicagotribune.com

Special education: Public schools pressed to pay for private schooling -- chicagotribune.com:

"Parents of students with special needs have the right to seek reimbursement from their districts for private school tuition, even if they did not first try their public school's special education programs, according to the recent ruling.

'This is an extremely important decision,' said Matthew Cohen, a Chicago attorney who specializes in disability law. 'It makes it clear that school districts ... may be held legally liable for placements that the parents make on their own.'

The practical effect on districts is unclear. Some educators fear the ruling will strain already cash-strapped districts and pit parents against one another as they clash over scarce resources. But it's unlikely parents will flock to private schools because they have to pay the cost, then seek reimbursement."

Kent teachers' union to consider defying court order - Covington Reporter

Kent teachers' union to consider defying court order - Covington Reporter:

"The Kent Education Association Thursday afternoon announced it was giving the district 'one more opportunity to do the right thing' before making a decision whether or not to defy a court order to end their strike and return to school.

'We as educators know that students or school boards or districts need extra time to get it right,' KEA President Lisa Brackin Johnson.

The union called a membership meeting at Green River Community College Thursday in response to King County Superior Court Judge Andrea Darvas's decision that their week-long strike was illegal under washington law.

Darvas ordered the union to law down their picket signs and go back to their classrooms beginning Tuesday, with students expected to arrive Wednesday."

Obama Plays Bait-and-Switch on "No Child Left Behind"

Obama Plays Bait-and-Switch on "No Child Left Behind":

"On the campaign trail, candidate Obama orated repeatedly, '... don't tell us that the only way to teach a child is to spend too much of the year preparing him to fill in a few bubbles on a standardized test,' and 'Tests should not be designed as punishment for teachers and students... Tests should support learning, not just accounting.'

Yet, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, an Obama basketball buddy from Chicago, recently announced the department's first big initiative: the 'Race to the Top' initiative, which will award $4.3 billion in federal grants 'to open the door to more charter schools and expand the use of student test scores for judging teachers,' per the New York Times."

Will California Use Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teachers?.

Will California Use Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teachers?. Category: News from The Berkeley Daily Planet - Thursday September 03, 2009

“It takes more than the ability to fill in bubbles to be considered an educated person,” says Marty Hittleman from the California Federation of Teachers. He testified at the hearing that the test regimen in schools is not helpful to most students. “We believe that the emphasis on standardized tests is misplaced and destructive. Multiple-choice tests in math and reading do not address the real goals of education. Teaching to the test not only narrows the curriculum but attempts to destroy any love of learning. When tests drive the curriculum, instruction suffers.”

Hittleman acknowledges that the existing ways of evaluating teacher performance, including classroom visits and peer counseling and review, can stand improvement, but he believes that they are working pretty effectively. What needs much more attention, he argued before the committee, is the social context of education: “Any effort to close the achievement gap in our schools that does not address the conditions children grow up in is doomed to failure.… Until this country and this state close the gap in job opportunities at a livable wage, healthcare, and affordable housing, efforts for improvement in the schools will have limited success.”

Secretary of Education Duncan has stated that he wants to preserve only the positive contributions of “No Child Left Behind” to education. But witnesses before Senator Romero’s committee, including Patty Scripter and Debbie Look representing the California PTA, spoke of their concern about a possible continuation of policies that were so harmful to education during the Bush years. Just prior to the hearing, Scripter expressed her view that “Evaluation of teachers and students should be done at the local level and should be based on multiple criteria.” She and Look are skeptical about the use of test scores to get rid of incompetent teachers.

Senator Romero’s hearing has been only a first step in addressing the requirements being imposed on California schools by the Obama administration. Legislators in Sacramento will have to craft a federal grant application that reconciles—if that is possible—these new requirements with the critique being voiced by many California teachers and their allies.

Sacramento Press / U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosts town hall forum

Sacramento Press / U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosts town hall forum:

"Duncan also addressed a question on how to engage parents to be a part of the learning process. 'Parents are always going to be kids' first teachers, and they're always going to be their most important teachers,' he said. 'When parent's aren't engaged or they're fighting the teachers, they're part of the problem.'

'We need to do as much as we can to challenge parents to meet us more than halfway,' he added."

US education chief urges Calif. to enact reforms - San Jose Mercury News

US education chief urges Calif. to enact reforms - San Jose Mercury News:

"U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Thursday urged California lawmakers to make education reforms or risk falling further behind the rest of the nation and losing out on a slice of $4.3 billion in federal stimulus money.

Duncan met with lawmakers from both parties at the state Capitol as they prepare to debate potential changes to California law. If enacted, some of the reforms would allow the state to compete for federal money under the Obama administration's $787 billion economic recovery plan.

The Race to the Top competition will reward states that are focused on education reforms. States that agree to expand public charter schools will be first in line for the money, along with those that allow performance pay for teachers based on student achievement, which is currently prohibited in California."

State urged to revamp evaluations - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee

State urged to revamp evaluations - Sacramento Politics - California Politics Sacramento Bee:

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's message was clear during his Thursday visit to Sacramento: California can either get on board or be left behind.
Duncan spoke about federal stimulus funds and education reform during stops at the state Capitol, a youth rally in Oak Park and a meeting of school officials and a public town hall meeting at the downtown library as part of the Sacramento Education Summit.

"Popular Comment
Yesterday's article described Hiram Johnson West's success with 100% passing the Cahsee. Part of their success stems from having a more rigorous admission process than other high schools. St. Hope didn't have that type of success even though it also is selective in who it keeps as a student. There is nothing magical about charter schools. Instead we should move to encourage more flexibility into the public school bureaucracy. Student test scores are impacted by too many factors out of the class room teacher's control to be used as an evaluation tool. Evaluate a teacher for things they control, are they prepared and do they establish a learning environment in their classroom, are they an active member of their school community, do they prepare and present good lessons, and opportunities for students to grow. You can't blame the teacher if the kids cut school, joined a gang or chose this year to use drugs. Who will teach inner city middle school if the tests impact salary?

-- JoeBarnett"

Sacramento City Unified's new chief is everywhere - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sacramento City Unified's new chief is everywhere - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Nine days into the job, Raymond has raised school flags, cleaned up the grounds of a campus and held the first of what he says will be twice-monthly town-hall-style meetings with parents.

They also might see him on the first day of school Tuesday, when Raymond says he'll ride a school bus before and after school.
And he expects to see a lot more of parents, too."

As flu spreads, 13% of students out sick at Grass Valley High - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

As flu spreads, 13% of students out sick at Grass Valley High - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:


"About 300 students stayed home sick from Nevada Union High School this week, a number startling less for its size than its timing. Widespread illness doesn't usually hit during the first weeks of the school year, but public health officials say this year will probably be different because of the new flu spreading around the globe.

Roughly 13 percent of students at the Grass Valley high school were out sick Wednesday and Thursday. During the winter flu season, schools may see 15 percent of their students out sick, said Karen Milman, Nevada County's public health officer."

SCUSD Observer: Has anybody seen the facilities use agreement?

SCUSD Observer: Has anybody seen the facilities use agreement?

coopmike48 said...
...one of the worst things about civilization is, that anybody that gits a letter with trouble in it comes and tells you all about it and makes you feel bad, and the newspapers fetches you the troubles of everybody all over the world, and keeps you downhearted and dismal most all the time, and it's such a heavy load for a person.- Tom Sawyer Abroad

Learning to Roar

Learning to Roar Teaching Tolerance

In Puerto Rico, there is a saying: Somos cuatro gatos…miaou. In other words, how can we do anything? We are just four cats. Miaou.

In K-12 education, there is also a saying. How can we close the “achievement gap”? In other words, if our students’ parents speak little or no English, often lack formal education, and are strained by poor health, violence, inadequate housing and transportation and the related stresses of living in poverty, how can teachers be expected to bring those students up to speed with their peers? Miaou.

In my school district, we — teachers and parents — found a way to change the question. How can our community support the grassroots leadership development and organizing efforts of low-income parents and guardians to close the “opportunity gap”? Together we learned to roar.

NYC trying to work out a "formula" to fire teachers

This Week In Education: Thompson: Cross Examination

Much of Steven Brill’s New Yorker article on the "Rubber Room," has a ring of truth, but I do not know enough about those disputes to comment. Had Brill adequately cross examined other charges, however, the last third of his article would have been edited out.

Brill uses the stupid and inflammatory words of teachers against them, which is fair, as he also cross examines their factual assertions. But Brill seemed deaf to the false and inflammatory nature of his sources’ words.

And before considering other versions of the TNTP ideals, we should muse about this:

"Consider a framework that automatically fires the bottom x percent of teachers in terms of value added in a single year or average value added over a number of years. Unobserved differences among schools and classrooms almost certainly influence the estimates, and test error certainly introduces a degree of randomness. Consequently, mistakes will be made; however, outcomes could still improve compared with the system without such decision rules. Nonetheless, the implications of adding such risk and uncertainty may necessitate a substantial salary increase, and these monetary costs as well as costs associated with increased turnover would have to be weighed against any improvements in the composition of teachers."

And even if the bottom x perecent are not automatically fired, they are still indicted as suspect teachers placing them at the mercy of y percent of administrators caught up with the blame game and guilt by association. - John Thompson

California’s Race to the Top: Senator Romero’s Opening Remarks

Senator Gloria Romero -- California’s Race to the Top: Senator Romero’s Opening Remarks

“Today, decades after the Brown decision, we still have a form of segregation in our public school system. Nearly 80 percent of students in our lowest-performing schools are African American or Latino. Poor students and students of color are four times more likely to have under-prepared teachers. We have an achievement gap for African Americans, Latinos, and English learners that has been both persistent and pernicious – confirmed again with new test scores released just last week.

“Over the years, many of us in this Senate and in this room have advanced innovative legislation to find new ways to reform and transform public education. Impressive efforts have happened at the local level—oftentimes in spite of Sacramento or Washington. That includes: the use of student data to improve instruction and reward teachers in Long Beach and Fresno; an alternative compensation program in San Francisco that resulted from collaboration with the teachers union; a focus on better, not just more, high-quality charter schools throughout the state; a parents’ revolution that is captivating Los Angeles.

Education News & Comment

Education News & Comment:

"U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
to Visit Sacramento

SCUSD will be hosting a First Day of School press event on September 3rd, at 10:30 a.m. at David Lubin Elementary.

Invited guests include the New Superintendent, Mayor Kevin Johnson, the SCUSD School Board, and SSPI Jack O'Connell. Parents and members of the community are welcome to attend.

THIS THURSDAY, September 3rd at 10:30, join us at David Lubin Elementary for the
'Sacramento Goes Back to School' celebration, featuring the new SCUSD Superintendent Jonathan Raymond, Mayor Kevin Johnson and other guests - including the River Cats mascot (for the kids)"

Obama speech divides parents - The Denver Post

Obama speech divides parents - The Denver Post:

"President Barack Obama's plan to address the nation's students during the school day Tuesday has polarized parents over whether it's OK for their kids to listen to the speech.
On one side are parents who say the webcast speech to K-12 students is 'political recruiting' and 'spreading the liberal agenda.'

On the other are those who say listening to presidential speeches is an important part of American culture and the education process.

The White House officially announced the speech Wednesday morning, and the U.S. Department of Education followed up with a letter to school principals and a lesson plan for discussing the talk. The White House said the speech will address the importance of studying and staying in school."

Mayor Turns Political Loan Into Gift - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Mayor Turns Political Loan Into Gift - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Fending off allegations from the Sacramento City Attorney's office that he has a 'conflict of interest,' Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has decided to write off a $25,000 political contribution.

City Attorney Eileen Teichert raised the question during a City Council meeting last month when she requested that Johnson recuse himself from a discussion about whether his strong-mayor initiative is flawed.

Johnson refused, and the Council voted 9-0 to seek a non-binding opinion from the California Fair Political Practices Commission."

Poll disagrees with report | www.theacorn.com | The Acorn

Poll disagrees with report www.theacorn.com The Acorn:

"In its May report “School District Administration: Is the Cost Too High?” the grand jury recommended the 20 public school districts in the county be reduced to just six, which would save millions of dollars in administrative costs.

The school boards had until July 17 to respond.

School superintendents in the Simi, Moorpark, Oak Park and Conejo Valley districts disagreed with the grand jury’s report and said their schools operate efficiently as they are. Officials said the education community prefers smaller, local school districts over larger, consolidated ones.

In answer to the question “Should Conejo Valley and Oak Park unified school districts merge?” 56 percent of respondents said no and 44 percent said yes.
“Become another Los Angeles Unified School District? No thanks,” one blogger wrote."

A-mazing Progress Report for NYC Schools | NBC New York

A-mazing Progress Report for NYC Schools NBC New York:

"'Once again today's schools success story is based on the world according to Bloomberg, not the reality that our students are graduating unprepared,' said Thompson. 'Bloomberg would rather inflate these numbers and falsely claim success at the expense of kids being educated.'

Bloomberg's school's czar Joel Klein wisely attempted to put the numbers in their proper context.

'We want to make clear that that reflects that [schools] met their progress targets,' he said. 'It doesn't mean by any stretch of the imagination that those are schools that don't have a lot of improvement ahead of them.'"

West Contra Costa school workers reject tentative pact - ContraCostaTimes.com

West Contra Costa school workers reject tentative pact - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"Workers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District turned down a tentative labor pact Wednesday, a union leader said.

'We stand ready to resume negotiations,' said Richard Leung, supervising business agent of Public Employees Union Local 1, which represents about 1,500 maintenance and clerical workers, paraprofessionals and teachers' assistants in the school district.

The tentative, three-year pact had called for a wage freeze and for members to pay between $133 and $373 a month toward their and their families' medical benefits. The district currently absorbs the entire cost of the benefits, which the union said will be $533 to $1,323 a month in 2010."

Sound Politics: Strike by Kent teachers

Sound Politics: Strike by Kent teachers:
"Strike by Kent teachers

It is illegal for teachers to strike. The teachers of the Kent School District are on strike. Why are they willingly violating the law?

Every time a school district has taken the local teacher's union to court over a strike the district has won. But the Washington Education Association (WEA) retorts 'An appeals court has never upheld a school district to end a strike.' Technicality! Trick! No WEA local has every appealed. So the WEA's record in appeals court is 0 for 0; never lost.

What are they striking over in Kent? Meetings? Sure. Disrupt thousands of families over how many meetings you have to attend.

For a 10% pay raise? Ask you neighbors, teachers. They might find the district's offer of 4.5% too high.

For smaller class size? The system is providing funding for enough adults to lower the class size IF they would put more adults in their Kent classrooms.

The education system has found more and more things for people to do outside the classroom - counselors, planners, coordinators, etc. But they still work for the district and are being paid by the district. THE STATE PROVIDES ENOUGH MONEY. Get them back in the classroom.

The teachers and their well funded union are part of the establishment that maintains this situation. They have immense pull with the legislature, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, etc., if they want more people in the classroom.

THE STATE PROVIDES ENOUGH MONEY. Funding has grown far faster than the student population when adjusted for inflation. As I recall the numbers are over 70% funding increase during 25% student growth."

A School for the Fentys - washingtonpost.com

A School for the Fentys - washingtonpost.com:

"FOR YEARS, D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has been criticized for sending his sons to private school. Now, with the boys in a public school, Mr. Fenty is being chastised for not disclosing the circumstances of their enrollment in a choice elementary school.

We are sympathetic to Mr. Fenty's desire that his children's privacy be respected. Still, we understand the public's interest in whether rules were broken to allow the boys to enroll this year in a school outside their neighborhood. It would be a pity if suspicion about the mayor getting special treatment undermined support for the critical work Mr. Fenty is doing to reform education.

Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee told WTOP radio last week that no rules or policies were violated in assigning the boys to the highly regarded Lafayette Elementary School. How could this be? Ms. Rhee didn't explain, but there is an explanation. Mr. Fenty's neighborhood school, West Elementary, has only one fourth-grade class. Most studies show that twins, particularly if they are of the same gender, should be in separate classes for both learning and social development. That's apparently why Ms. Rhee -- using a process employed for other families in similar circumstances -- assigned the boys to Lafayette, where the existence of four fourth-grade classes made it easy to accommodate them. The school is also in Ward 4, where the Fentys live."

Homework for parents as kids go back to school – OregonLive.com

Homework for parents as kids go back to school – OregonLive.com:


"First up, in honor of educators everywhere, is a humorous audio clip making its way into people's e-mail boxes, as it has for several years. (Snopes.com, a Web site dedicated to urban legends, says the e-mail has been around since at least 2002). The clip is a fake answering machine message for a high school, that includes the following options for callers:

To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2
To complain about what we do - Press 3
To swear at staff members - Press 4


(And please ignore the answering machine message's last line, which takes a jab at people who don't speak English. Why someone felt the need to cheapen this valuable bit of satire is beyond me. Still, the sardonic clip is worth hearing.)"

Jews, Hindus: Treat religions equally in schoolbooks

Jews, Hindus: Treat religions equally in schoolbooks:

"JEWS AND Hindus have urged the Texas State Board of Education to treat all the major religions and denominations evenly in its Social Studies curriculum, which is currently under revision.

Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, a Jewish leader in Nevada and California and Rajan Zed, a Hindu statesman, in a joint statement in Nevada on Thursday (September 3), said that pening up the Texas schoolchildren to major world religions, native american spirituality and non-believers’ viewpoint would make them well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow."

Letter: California once a model on education - Oroville Mercury Register

Letter: California once a model on education - Oroville Mercury Register: "Letter: California once a model on education
Chico Enterprise-Record
Posted: 09/03/2009 01:03:28 AM PDT


Your paper recently reported upon a visit to our city of a Republican candidate for governor. Your story related that she said California ranked 48th among the states in education. I was not in attendance at the meeting but I am aware that funding for education in California ranks 48th. I think that achievement levels are much higher.
In the mid-1960s, funding for California education ranked fifth in the United States. California's education system was recoginized as one of the best. Responsibility for the decline in funding is to be shared by politicians of both parties.

— Charles Hodel, Chico"

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER ANNOUNCES NATION'S LARGEST STATE-SPONSORED GREEN JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM - September 1, 2009 Tuesday 4:31 PM EST - Building Design & Construction

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER ANNOUNCES NATION'S LARGEST STATE-SPONSORED GREEN JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM - September 1, 2009 Tuesday 4:31 PM EST - Building Design & Construction:

"On behalf of the Los Angeles Trade Technical College I am very pleased to welcome all of you, obviously, to our college today as I said, this is the first day of the fall semester and to see firsthand why Trade-Tech is recognized as the community colleges' leader in clean and green workforce development. The tour today, in particular, was directed by our Dean of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development Leticia Barajas. Raise your hand there so we can you behind us. OK, and our Vice President for Workforce Development Marcy Drummond. So we want to thank them for that.

The tour was taken in one of our laboratories for the Alternative Fuels, Hybrid Technology and Low Emission Vehicle Technology Programs. In these programs students learn how to troubleshoot and repair new and emerging green or clean fuels technologies such as CNG, compressed gas, bio-diesel, LNG, ethanol and hybrids, where they learn the latest clean air technologies such as diesel, opacity testing and emission control devices."

California Chronicle | Budget Causes Unintended Losses for California's Lowest-Performing Schools

California Chronicle Budget Causes Unintended Losses for California's Lowest-Performing Schools:

"SACRAMENTO, CA — Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, announced she is prepared to introduce urgency legislation in order to correct a budget funding loss to the state´s lowest-performing schools. The funding loss, caused by a complicated funding swap in the recently enacted education budget, affects 139 school districts in California that receive Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) state funding.

'The budget has resulted in negative unintended financial consequences for our lowest-performing schools,' said Romero (D-East Los Angeles). 'We must work as expeditiously as possible to rectify the problem.'"

David B. Cohen and Alex Kajitani: Test scores poor tool for teacher evaluation - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

David B. Cohen and Alex Kajitani: Test scores poor tool for teacher evaluation - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"Education Secretary Arne Duncan is in Sacramento today to promote the new Race to the Top grant program, which offers a chunk of $4.5 billion in federal funds to states that meet federal guidelines, including a requirement to allow standardized test results to be used in individual teacher evaluations.

The link between test scores and teacher performance may seem obvious to the casual observer, but this is a case where appearances and intuition are misleading. As two of California's teachers – the 2009 California Teacher of the Year and a National Board-certified teacher – we urge Duncan and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to go back to school regarding the use of test scores for teacher evaluations."

Kevin Johnson: For $5 billion in federal money, put children first - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Kevin Johnson: For $5 billion in federal money, put children first - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"It's easy to look at the current state of affairs and feel disheartened. However, at this time, I feel hope. The words that Rahm Emanuel delivered to the U.S. Conference of Mayors ring in my head, 'Never let a serious crisis go to waste.' In the midst of this crisis in our state, we also have a huge opportunity. Race to the Top is that opportunity. It's the chance to address the severe funding shortage and, more importantly, to use the leverage of unprecedented federal dollars to enact important reforms. These reforms are ones that challenge the status quo, but ones that are desperately needed to improve the learning outcomes for kids."

Area schools score big on exam - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Area schools score big on exam - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"The achievement gap doesn't seem to be much of a problem at the El Dorado Hills school. All racial subgroups passed the test at a rate of 92 percent and above. African American and Latino students passage rates were within five percentage points of white students on both tests. But not many are students of color. Of the 528 10th-graders who took the math test, for instance, only nine were African American and 31 were Latino."