The Emporer Has No Clothes
The chancellor from Hearst is gone
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Chewing the de-formers up and spitting 'em out. Black fired. Klein runs to Murdoch. Rhee booted. Huberman flees. Umm ummm good! Send us more.
Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: Reflections on Standardized Testing Forum
Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: Reflections on Standardized Testing Forum
Reflections on Standardized Testing Forum
I attended the forum on standardized testing on Monday night at Thornton Creek Elementary. There were about 40 people there including parents and teachers. I sure wish more people had attended as it was a great discussion. I wish someone from the district could have been there to see that this is how you have a public discussion. Kudos and thanks to Chris Stewart for putting this on (and her speakers as well).
First up was Marian Wagner, a teacher from Salmon Bay, who spoke about some of the difficulties with MAP both from a logistic perspective and a teacher perspective. She said that at one point there had been a useful bubblesheet math test from Edu-Soft that the district math coaches had given out and she had found that useful but that has gone away.
She did point out that high achieving students don't get a lot out of MAP because their scores show no growth when, in fact, if she hasn't accelerated her teaching in class but MAP accelerates the questions but the kids
First up was Marian Wagner, a teacher from Salmon Bay, who spoke about some of the difficulties with MAP both from a logistic perspective and a teacher perspective. She said that at one point there had been a useful bubblesheet math test from Edu-Soft that the district math coaches had given out and she had found that useful but that has gone away.
She did point out that high achieving students don't get a lot out of MAP because their scores show no growth when, in fact, if she hasn't accelerated her teaching in class but MAP accelerates the questions but the kids
Must See: Changing Education Paradigms - The Educator's PLN
RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms - The Educator's PLN
RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms
Sir Ken Robinson discusses through animation the need for Education R
Cathie Black's Departure: Totally Predictable. Plus: Meet Dennis Walcott - Dana Goldstein
Cathie Black's Departure: Totally Predictable. Plus: Meet Dennis Walcott - Dana Goldstein
Cathie Black's Departure: Totally Predictable. Plus: Meet Dennis Walcott
I don't know why the front page of the New York Times is calling NYC schools chancellor Cathie Black's departure "surprising." Was anything more predicatable? Over the past year, in cities from Newark toWashington, D.C. to Denver to New York, neighborhood protest movements arose to push back against the same few controversial policies being pursued by reform-minded mayors: charter school co-locations within public school buildings, neighborhood school closings, and more test-driven instruction.
Without getting into the merits and drawbacks of this agenda, the politics here have been clear for some time: There is absolutely no conensus among public school parents either in favor or against such changes. Neighborhoods are attached to the institutions that have served them for generations, regardless of
Michelle Rhee: The Evidence Is Clear: Test Scores Must Accurately Reflect Students' Learning
Michelle Rhee: The Evidence Is Clear: Test Scores Must Accurately Reflect Students' Learning
The Evidence Is Clear: Test Scores Must Accurately Reflect Students' Learning
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USA Today recently reported on an important topic: the reliability and integrity of student test scores in Washington, D.C. during the first three years of mayoral control of the city's schools. With student achievement becoming an increasingly important part of accountability systems nationwide, we have to ensure test scores accurately reflect what students have learned.
The reports, however, unfairly leave the impression that district leaders unduly influenced or avoided an investigation into possible cheating. Further, it implies cheating was widespread. I was chancellor of the schools at the time, and I would like to set the record straight.
It is simply not true that district officials avoided doing an investigation. The accuracy of student achievement data was of paramount importance to us. When schools were flagged by the state
Are We Losing Our Last, Best Hope? | Dissident Voice
Are We Losing Our Last, Best Hope? | Dissident Voice
Are We Losing Our Last, Best Hope?
Undeniably, it’s a terrible time for labor unions. Younger working people—men in their early and late twenties—not only believe that Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest presidents America ever had (because he “beat the Russians”), they blame labor unions for our economic woes. It’s true. They blame the unions for driving out so many of the good jobs.
Mind you, this isn’t Wall Street or the Chamber of Commerce talking this nonsense. These are regular working-class young people offering their opinions. And instead of viewing organized labor as the one institution capable of propping up the middle-class by offering decent wages and benefits, they’ve reached the unhappy conclusion that America’s unions are a detriment, not an asset.
How badly have things deteriorated? Just consider the well-publicized event that recently occurred in Maine. Paul LePage, the state’s Republican governor, was so opposed to the contributions of the American labor
Project Appleseed | Family Engagement Days
Project Appleseed | Family Engagement Days
Celebrate Our Signature Family Events!
Save the Dates! For nearly two decades Project Appleseed has inspired millions of parents to volunteer in thousands of schools nationwide. We have created signature family engagement days for schools, that produce hundreds of millions in volunteer time each year. Through our national events - National Parental Involvement Day, Public School Volunteer Week and National Family Fitness Week - local parents can engage with their public schools and raise valuable social capital for their school community. (Pictured above: Bowman High School in Santa Clarita, California)
Start Now! Family Engagement Events for Schools!
1. Get Ready Our national celebrations of family engagement in schools - calls upon parents, grandparents and caring adults to assist teachers and staff with the day-to-day activities involved in providing a balanced education and nutrition for our students. Schools should engage parents, grandparents and caring adults as an important part of a team that strives to ensure that each and every student succeed.
2. Get Your Team It's About Teamwork! Working together with employers, employees, parents, mentors, and educators is key to creating a successful day that strengthens the connection between education and home, between parents and their children.
3. Get Inspired The most important and most effective way to get the word out about your celebration is to use it in all parts of your school program. Make Project Appleseed's signature event an integral point of reference for all that you do at your school. In this way, all partners will understand how their commitments and their actions contribute to improved student learning and high achievement for all students. Here are some ways you can make your Parental Involvement Pledge count.
Public School Volunteer Week, April 17 - 23, 2011
14th annual celebration, held during the third week in April.
National Parental Involvement Day, November 17, 2011
17th annual celebration, held on the third Thursday in November
National Family Fitness Week, January 22 - 28, 2012
4th annual celebration, held during the fourth week in January.
14th annual celebration, held during the third week in April.
National Parental Involvement Day, November 17, 2011
17th annual celebration, held on the third Thursday in November
National Family Fitness Week, January 22 - 28, 2012
4th annual celebration, held during the fourth week in January.
Save the Dates! For nearly two decades Project Appleseed has inspired millions of parents to volunteer in thousands of schools nationwide. We have created signature family engagement days for schools, that produce hundreds of millions in volunteer time each year. Through our national events - National Parental Involvement Day, Public School Volunteer Week and National Family Fitness Week - local parents can engage with their public schools and raise valuable social capital for their school community. (Pictured above: Bowman High School in Santa Clarita, California)Start Now! Family Engagement Events for Schools!
- Recruit Families
- Make Your Own Activities
- Parent | School Checklist
- Sample Proclimations
- Use our Images: Horizontal Logo / Small Stacked Logo / Six Slices Logo
- Purchase Toolbox
Chart: Alsup Elementary School, Commerce City, CO - National Parent Involvement Day 2010
2. Get Your Team It's About Teamwork! Working together with employers, employees, parents, mentors, and educators is key to creating a successful day that strengthens the connection between education and home, between parents and their children.
3. Get Inspired The most important and most effective way to get the word out about your celebration is to use it in all parts of your school program. Make Project Appleseed's signature event an integral point of reference for all that you do at your school. In this way, all partners will understand how their commitments and their actions contribute to improved student learning and high achievement for all students. Here are some ways you can make your Parental Involvement Pledge count.
BREAKING NEWS: Cathie Black out as schools chancellor | GothamSchools
BREAKING NEWS: Cathie Black out as schools chancellor | GothamSchools
BREAKING NEWS: Cathie Black out as schools chancellor
After a rocky 100 days as chancellor, Cathie Black is leaving the job today, Mayor Bloomberg announced at a press conference this morning.
Black is being replaced by Dennis Walcott, a deputy mayor who has long played a prominent role in education issues. At Black’s public appearances during most of her brief tenure as chancellor, Walcott could almost always be found at her side, managing her interactions with the press and others.
The leadership change came as a surprise as Bloomberg had as recently as yesterday defended Black against low public opinion. But the departure of two top deputies this week dealt a crucial blow to her leadership.
A Marist poll earlier this week found that just 17 percent of New Yorkers approved of Black’s job performance. The lowest approval rating ever posted by her predecessor, Joel Klein, who announced his resignation in November, was 33 percent.
Data and dinner. « Fred Klonsky's blog
Data and dinner. « Fred Klonsky's blog
Data and dinner.
I may have mentioned this before. But I guess I’m mentioning it again.
There was a time when if I met someone for the first time, say over dinner, and I told them that I was a K-5 art teacher I would get, “Oh, that must be fun.”
And aside from the slight condescension in the tone of voice, we would end up having a good conversation about kids. They laughed at amusing school stories. We might end up in a discussion about art.
Now people want to talk to me about unions, tenure,
Cathie Black is Out as Chancellor - NYTimes.com
Cathie Black is Out as Chancellor - NYTimes.com
Cathie Black is Out as Chancellor
By ELISSA GOOTMAN
Cathleen P. Black, a magazine executive with no educational experience who was named as New York City schools chancellor last fall, will step down Thursday morning, officials said, after a tumultuous and brief tenure.
Ms. Black’s departure, which comes on the heels of the departures of several high-ranking education officials, was nearly as surprising as her appointment. When Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg plucked her from Hearst Magazines to run the nation’s largest public school system, people in New York and across the country — including some of the mayor’s closest aides — were stunned.
Shanker Blog » What Democracy Looks Like When We Actually Show Up
Shanker Blog » What Democracy Looks Like When We Actually Show Up
What Democracy Looks Like When We Actually Show Up
As you probably already know, yesterday was spring election day in Wisconsin. With a margin just about as slim as it gets (about 200 votes) in the race for State Supreme Court Justice (and a recount looming), it seems that the Democratic candidate, JoAnne Kloppenburg, has beaten her opponent, Republican Justice David Prosser.
No matter how the recount turns out, it was a stunning outcome. Kloppenburg was a virtual unknown, facing a long-time incumbent who had bested her by 30 points in the Feb. 15 primaries. Her victory seemed virtually impossible.
Equally amazing was yesterday’s turnout. Although the final certified ballot count will no doubt be a bit different,
People vs. Dollars - Bridging Differences - Education Week
People vs. Dollars - Bridging Differences - Education Week
People vs. Dollars
Dear Diane,
Even when we were fierce "enemies," we held one thing in common: our support for unions in general and the teachers' unions in particular. You were fonder of Al Shanker's politics than I was—but I rather miss him of late.
Were you as "amused" then as now by all the talk about "Big Labor"? It was, I thought, one of those white lies that serve all sides. It defused, for corporations, the classical and unflattering icon of the fat capitalist boss with one of a labor boss. But for labor, too, it was an attractive recruitment tool: "Join us! We have power, too!"
But it was a double-edged sword for the union movement, and it's amazing how it has withstood its decimation. The lead story in the American School Board Journal this month comes with this lead-in on the journals' website: "Once nearly untouchable, teachers' unions now are portrayed as barriers to school reform."
Even at their most awesome, unions in America enrolled a distinct minority of our workforce, and it was only
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