Friday, July 2, 2010

International Program Catches On in U.S. Schools - NYTimes.com

International Program Catches On in U.S. Schools

By TAMAR LEWIN

Published: July 2, 2010

CUMBERLAND, Me. — SAT, ACT, A.P. ... I.B.?

The alphabet soup of college admissions is getting more complicated, as the International Baccalaureate, or I.B., grows in popularity as an alternative to the better-known Advanced Placement program.

The College Board’s A.P. program, which offers a long menu of single-subject courses, is still by far the most common option for giving students a head start on college work — and a potential edge in admissions. But the lesser-known I.B., a rigorous two-year curriculum developed in the 1960s at an international school in Switzerland, is now offered in more than 700 American high schools.

To earn an I.B. diploma, students must devote their full junior and senior year to the program, which requires English and another language, math, science, social science and art, plus a course on theory of knowledge, a 4,000-word essay, oral presentations and community service.

Here in Cumberland, Greely High School adopted the I.B. this year to ma

The Coveted but Elusive Summer Internship

Deidre Schoo for The New York Times

REDIRECTED Sarah Green’s internship trouble led to a change in plans.

By HILARY STOUT

Published: July 2, 2010

REPRINTS

IT’S been a rough summer so far for the Baltimore Orioles, Miley Cyrus and (it goes without saying) BP. Now, summer interns may have joined the list.

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Stephanie Diani for The New York Times

LEARNING EXPERIENCE Emily Lennox interns at Smiling Planet in Marina del Rey, Calif.

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Between the sputtering economy and updated federal guidelines governing the employment of unpaid interns, many students have had a tougher time than they anticipated in landing résumé-enhancing experience this summer.

Tales of frustration abound. One junior at Penn State had his paid corporate internship offer revoked during the last week of classes this spring. A journalism student in Washington had to walk away from three internship opportunities because she wouldn’t receive academic credit. After an “awesome” internship at aventure capital firm last summer, a student in an M.B.A. program in Los Angeles struggled to find 15 hours a week of unpaid work this time around. And at ESPN, Howard Hamilton, a vice president of human resources, said that

Message from the President Regarding Independence Day | The White House

Message from the President Regarding Independence Day

by The White House

Today we celebrate the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of a great experiment, American democracy. In every corner of our country, we recall the valor and vision of patriots from Thirteen Colonies who declared independence from a powerful empire and gave birth to a new Nation. We gather in town centers and wave flags in parades not only to recall this history we share, but also to honor the vibrant and enduring spirit of America established on this day.
For those gallant first Americans, such a Nation as ours may have seemed like an unattainable dream. Their concept was revolutionary: a government of, by, and for the people. Yet, our Founders' tenacity, resolve, and courage in the face of seemingly impossible odds became the bedrock of our country. That essence has permeated our land and inspired generations of Americans to explore, discover, and redefine the outer reaches of our infinite potential. It has become the foundation of the American dream.
This dream has not come without tremendous cost. From the farmers and tradesmen who served in militias during our American Revolution to the present day women and men protecting our Nation around the world, the sacrifices of our Armed Forces have been extraordinary. Today we pay tribute to our service members, many of whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We also acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of their loving families. It is their heroism that has paved the remarkable path of freedom's march.
Just as this day serves as a reminder of the immeasurable bravery of those who have made America what it is today, it also renews in us the solemn duty we share to ensure our Nation lives up to its promise. We must not simply commemorate the work begun over two and a quarter centuries ago; we are called to join together, hoist their mantle upon our shoulders, and carry that spirit of service into tomorrow.
America again faces a daunting set of challenges, yet our history shows these are not insurmountable. We need only to draw upon the perseverance of those before us our Founders who declared and fought for their ideals; our ancestors who emigrated here and struggled to build a better future for their children; and our pioneers and entrepreneurs who blazed trails that have continually expanded our horizons. Their spirit our spirit will guide our Nation now and in our bright future.

On our Nation's birthday, may we come together in the enduring spirit of America to begin that work anew. I wish you all the best for a happy Fourth of July. May God Bless all those who serve, and may God Bless the United States of America.
BARACK OBAMA

Free Technology for Teachers: June's Ten Most Popular Posts

June's Ten Most Popular Posts

by noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Byrne)

The month of June came to busy conclusion for me as I was at the ISTE 2010 conference. If you ever get a chance to go to ISTE's annual conference (it will be in Philadelphia next year) I highly recommend attending. Aside from the many excellent formal sessions, the conversations you can have with other forward-thinking educators are amazing. Anyway, that is my round-about way of saying that I forgot to post the month-in-review yesterday.

Here are the ten most popular posts of the last month:
1. Free PDF to Word Converter

Pennsylvania prof shows Paul Quinn some love | THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | dallasnews.com

Pennsylvania prof shows Paul Quinn some love
	3:54 PM Fri, Jul 02, 2010 \| Permalink \| Yahoo! Buzz Holly Hacker/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

"There's something good happening in Texas," declares a blog post by aUniversity of Pennsylvania researcher who studies historically black colleges and universities.

Marybeth Gasman, writing in the Chronicle of Higher Education, says she spent the day talking to Paul Quinn College's president, Michael Sorrell, and was inspired. "He doesn't claim to be perfect and knows that some may take issue with his methods and leadership, but you can't deny that he is

South Bay Prep misses deadline, but still hopeful for 2010-11 school year - San Jose Mercury News

South Bay Prep misses deadline, but still hopeful for 2010-11 school year

By Chris Vongsarath

cvongsarath@community-newspapers.com

Posted: 07/01/2010 08:03:23 PM PDT

Updated: 07/02/2010 10:10:31 AM PDT

The bad news for South Bay Preparatory Charter School is that it didn't meet its self-imposed fundraising deadline of June 15. The good news is it still has a chance to remain open for the 2010-11 school year.

After falling well short of their $100,000 goal as of June 15, school officials remain optimistic about efforts to keep the school alive, encouraged by rising enrollment, a lower deficit and continued community interest and donations. The nonprofit public school offers students an alternative learning model, one that focuses on hands-on projects that give students more stake in what they want to learn.

And while school officials believe there's a need for that type of learning, they must convince others to buy into the concept through increased enrollment and contributions. The fundraising campaign is in full swing and there's reason to be optimistic, board president Stephanie Brown said.

South Bay Prep, at 3275 Williams Road, has commitments of close to $50,000 so far and enrollment for the next school year is at 37 students, three shy of the official goal of 40 by this time. About 33 percent of those students come from within the boundaries of the Campbell Union High School District.

"We've built a lot of momentum. We've got a lot of enthusiasm and confidence in our fundraising, and we're finding a lot of confidence in our community," Brown said.

The Santa Clara County Office of Education granted South Bay Prep its charter

a couple of years ago, but the school has struggled to get off the ground. It opened last fall and almost immediately faced a number of problems, as enrollment dropped, debt increased and teachers came and went.

School officials attributed those problems to their ambitious expansion goals, Brown said. She added that new pieces are in place to ensure things go more smoothly next school year.

South Bay Prep has hired a charter school consultant and brought in more experienced teachers. The school has also found a permanent location, behind a church on Williams Road. The majority of the summer will be dedicated to bolstering enrollment and securing funds.

School officials must routinely provide reports to the county office of education, which has been closely monitoring

Remainders: No retirement incentive for you | GothamSchools

Remainders: No retirement incentive for you

by Anna Phillips

Mayor Bloomberg said he’s not going to offer senior teachers a retirement incentive. (Daily Politics)
He also said it’s likely the city will have to make more cuts. (State of Politics)
A Department of Education official is leaving to kick anti-gay marriage legislators out of office. (Times)
Bloomberg get a “D” for letting Albany compromise Klein’s charter authorizing power. (City Hall)
President Obama is relying on the Senate to save Race to the Top from millions in cuts. (WaPo)
Thirteen senators have written a letter in opposition to the cuts. (Edweek)
Jonathan Alter says cuts had to be made, but Obey pulled from the wrong places. (Newsweek)
There could be a silver lining to cutting funding from RttT: more qualified winners. (Flypaper)
A parent says her school is squeezed but the city says it can enroll more students. (NYC Parent blog)
A teacher wonders what Bill Gates will say to a teachers union convention. (NYC Educator)
In time for CA’s upcoming budget fight, a report says its schools are underfunded. (Educated Guess)
And Stephen Sawchuk promises coverage of the new teachers union conventions. (Edweek)

This Week In Education: USDE: Duncan's Media Schedule

USDE: Duncan's Media Schedule

by Alexander Russo

Here's a peek at EdSec Duncan's post-Independence Day media calendar.
Angry calls to Obey and Secret meetings with Russian spies are not listed, but there is a trip to the Pacific Northwest and a Patty Murray event on Friday.

PUBLIC SCHEDULE OF U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY ARNE DUNCAN

THE WEEK AHEAD: Monday, July 5 - Saturday, July 11

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: 'Making decisions together' -- What a concept!

'Making decisions together' -- What a concept!

by Mike Klonsky

Edweek headline reads: Making Decisions Together: The Rebirth of Central Falls High School.

Yes that's right, making decisions together in Central Falls where State Ed Commissioner Deborah Gist had, only months earlier, with Arne Duncan applauding wildly in the background, forced the firing of every single teacher and staff member in the school. It was their way of sending a message that teachers no longer had collective bargaining rights and that states would have to toll the ~~No Child Left Behind~~ Race-To-The-Top bell or go bankrupt.

Of course that didn't wash and won't. A national labor push-back plus student and community protests forced Gist to concede and the teachers were all rehired.

'Airplane!' Turns 30: The Internet Reminisces | The Atlantic Wire

'Airplane!' Turns 30: The Internet Reminisces

by John Hudson

Beloved comedy movie 'Airplane!' turns 30 today. In the years since its release, the fast-paced, slapstick romp has influenced scores of television and film comedies including The Simpson's, Dumb and Dumber, Family Guy and Snakes on a Plane to name a few. Across the web, bloggers and journalists are reflecting on the film's sundry qualities:

Revolutionized Comedy, writes Matt Zoller Seitz at The New York Times: "The plentiful pop-cultural references and anything-for-a-laugh attitude of Airplane! were reminiscent of early films by Mel Brooks ( Blazing Saddles) and Woody Allen (Bananas). But its velocity and density were new. Every scene was packed with sight gags (including a supporting turn by NBA giant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a co-pilot who denies that he's really Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and a cameo by Ethel Merman playing a psychiatric patient who thinks he's Ethel Merman). And the film proudly served up jokes so astoundingly corny that they somehow managed to circle around the bend and become hilarious. ('Surely you can’t be serious.' 'I am serious — and don’t call me Shirley!')"

A Genre-Defining Film, writes ABC News: "With their script full of puns and non sequiturs, the makers of "Airplane!" set the stage for decades of comedy films. The movie launched an entire genre of films and inspired young writers and directors like the Farrelly brothers, creators of movies like "Dumb and Dumber" and "There's Something About Mary."

So Many Great Lines, writes CNN's Marquee Blog: "If you can read the 'Airplane!' quotes below and not hear Peter Graves’ hilarious deadpan delivery in your head, then clearly you need to make it a blockbuster night:

How to see “Waiting for Superman” before it’s in theaters | GothamSchools

How to see “Waiting for Superman” before it’s in theaters

by Elizabeth Green

An independent filmmaker group will screen “Waiting for Superman” next Saturday, unveiling the much-hypedfilm about American education before its fall release.
Director Davis Guggenheim has said he wants “Waiting for Superman” to persuade the public that education is“the issue of our time,” just as his earlier film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” energized people around environmentalism. And he’s gotten help from Bill Gates as he works to do that. The film, which I saw last week, vividly depicts the challenges facing public schools. It also endorses charter schools as a solution to the country’s education challenges and depicts teachers unions as a major impediment to improvement.
Guggenheim’s viewpoint has won the film criticism already from teachers union president Randi Weingarten. But her criticism only goes so far; at a recent screening of the film in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Washington Post

Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

See Me After Class: an interview with Roxanna Elden

I ran across Roxanna Elden's excellent "See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers" while killing time in a bookstore-- gravitating, as usual, to the education section. Elden, a National Board Certified Teacher in Miami, has put together a terrific handbook of non-traditional advice and perspectives on practice. An excellent reference for new teachers, it's also engaging for grizzled veterans--I found myself reading long passages, snorting gently and nodding. In the end, I had to buy the book. You should, too.

TIASL: I love this book! My absolute favorite part of the book was the

long, annotated list of strengths that new teachers might bring to the classroom (Chapter 6, Your Teacher Personality). You noted that everyone who comes into teaching has at least a couple of these gifts. What inspired you to see new teachers as unique personalities, rather than inexperienced technicians needing strategies?

RE: Teaching is a shift from your first-name self to your last-name self, not a complete character overhaul. Teachers often cause themselves frustration by trying to base their classroom personalities on traits that don't come naturally to them. Our strengths as people carry over into our teaching, and so do our weaknesses. Luckily, many different, and even contradictory personality traits can be ingredients in great teaching. In the book I give examples of how teachers can use their natural strengths to work around their weaknesses. What we don't want is for teachers with the potential to be great to get discouraged because they don't have the same strengths as another teacher.

TIASL: Another thing I found compelling is your "true confessions" moments--stories from teachers who are still in the classroom (and still passionate about

The Answer Sheet - Favorite quote of the week (by Obey)

Favorite quote of the week (by Obey)

"I didn’t come here to be Arne Duncan’s congressman. Who do people think put the money into these programs in the first place? I did ... Welcome to Washington and welcome to hard choices.” That’s what House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey said about U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan at a House Rules Committee meeting where legislators were discussing a measure that Obey sponsored -- and attached to a war-funding measure -- that includes $10 billion in aid to state governments to prevent the layoffs of thousands of teachers.

School Tech Connect: BREAKING: Memo Leaked From DOE

BREAKING: Memo Leaked From DOE

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

Hmm... looks like Secretary Duncan's office is playing hardball with Congressman Obey and other critics..

NorthJersey.com: New Teaneck schools superintendent quits five days before start date

New Teaneck schools superintendent quits five days before start date

Friday, July 2, 2010
LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY JULY 2, 2010, 1:34 PM

BY JOSEPH AX

THE RECORD

STAFF WRITER

TEANECK — Dr. Constance Clark-Snead has told the school board she will not be taking the position of superintendent of schools, five days before what was to be her first day in the district.

FILE PHOTO

Constance Clark-Snead during a visit to Teaneck in March, when she was hired.

Clark-Snead, who was hired in March at an annual salary of $230,000, told board President Ardie Walser that she had chosen to remain in Westbury, N.Y., Walser said this morning.
Walser acknowledged that he was “disappointed” by her decision but said the board would begin searching for a replacement as soon as possible.
For now, Assistant Superintendent Barbara Pinsak will be the district’s top administrator. The school board will meet Tuesday and discuss its options.
The district has been without a permanent superintendent since January 2009, when John Czeterko died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

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Civil Service rules leave their mark on the Dept of Education | GothamSchools

Civil Service rules leave their mark on the Dept of Education

by Anna Phillips

Chancellor Joel Klein often trumpets the importance of giving principals the power to hire the teachers they want. But Klein’s own ability to select his staff could soon be compromised.
A court case decided in 2007, known as the Long Beach decision, requires New York City (and municipalities throughout the state) to fill certain positions by hiring off of lists of people who’ve passed Civil Service exams. Most of these jobs are administrative or clerical — they include secretaries and associate supervisors of school security — but some are also held by high level managers, chiefs of staff, and some of the department’s press team.
Currently, many of these jobs are held by people classified as provisional employees, meaning they never took the exams because the exams didn’t exist or were given too infrequently. Over the next several years, all city agencies will have to significantly cut down on the number of provisional workers, either by laying them off or

New database puts education spending at your fingertips

by Maura Walz

Source: Checkbook NYC

The Department of Education has spent more money this calendar year than any other city agency, racking up enough expenses to account for about a quarter of total city dollars.
That’s one nugget from of a host of financial information now available through a database Comptroller John Liu’s office launched yesterday that gives real-time updates to city expenses.
The database, called “Checkbook NYC,” currently reports around $40 billion in spending across city agencies since January 1. During that time, the Department of Education spent more than $10 billion.

Summer Plans � A Year in the Life of a Teacher #education

A Year in the Life of a Teacher

Life behind the chalk

Summer Plans � A Year in the Life of a Teacher

Summer Plans

June 28, 2010 by institutrice

The Big Fresh Newsletter from Choice Literacy

Set aside what you must do this summer for a moment, and think about what you are most looking forward to - is it a family vacation, the birth of a grandchild, finally getting the yard landscaped, a class reunion? Is there any way you can set aside some more reading and writing to learn about whatever it is you’re anticipating joyfully in the coming months? It’s reading and writing you’ll be passionate about, and literacy that starts with love is sure to include some unexpected learning about how to ignite passion for reading and

Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, July 2, 2010

International Program Catches On in U.S. Schools

By TAMAR LEWIN

Published: July 2, 2010

The Coveted but Elusive Summer Internship

By HILARY STOUT

Published: July 2, 2010

Stephanie Diani for The New York Times

Readers' Comments

South Bay Prep misses deadline, but still hopeful for 2010-11 school year

See Me After Class: an interview with Roxanna Elden

Life behind the chalk

Summer Plans