Saturday, September 3, 2011

Amid controversy, new interim leader appointed for Oakland schools police - Inside Bay Area

Amid controversy, new interim leader appointed for Oakland schools police - Inside Bay Area:

Amid controversy, new interim leader appointed for Oakland schools police

Posted: 09/02/2011 07:13:23 PM PDT

Updated: 09/02/2011 08:40:10 PM PDT

The Oakland school district's small police force, which has drawn outsized attention this year for an officer-involved shooting and an alleged racist outburst by its chief, has a new interim leader.

Beginning Tuesday, Lt. James Williams, a 17-year veteran of the Oakland Housing Authority's police department, will head the Oakland school police operations while the district searches for a permanent chief, Troy Flint, the school district's spokesman, announced Friday.

"He has a reputation as a man with high integrity," Flint said.

Williams will be the second person to run the 16-officer police department since Aug. 4, when then-Chief Peter Sarna,

Mid-testing classes aided Sweetwater gains | SignOnSanDiego.com

Mid-testing classes aided Sweetwater gains | SignOnSanDiego.com:

Mid-testing classes aided Sweetwater gains

District reviewed complaint, found ‘‘perception of impropriety’’ in intervention course

Documents »

Download: Complaint that Sweetwater High School offered improper test preparation

Documents »

Download: Report on district's investigation of the matter

Polls »

What do you think happened with Sweetwater High test scores?

State has cut back on cheating enforcement

NATIONAL CITY — Teachers at Sweetwater High School who had just given standardized tests to most of their students went on to teach a five-day, 20-hour intervention course during spring break for 226 low-performers.

The struggling students, pulled from initial testing in their weakest subject, took their exams in that subject after special training.

Administrators credit the intervention and other innovations with helping bring about a marked increase in scores. Still, an anonymous complaint was filed with the state saying the additional instruction amounted to illegal test preparation.

The district reviewed the complaint and found no wrongdoing, but will make changes next year — no more intervention courses during testing time, and no more spring break interrupting test-taking.

Miss Nancy of Bay Area's 'Romper Room' dies at 77 - ContraCostaTimes.com

Miss Nancy of Bay Area's 'Romper Room' dies at 77 - ContraCostaTimes.com:

Miss Nancy of Bay Area's 'Romper Room' dies at 77

By Rob Rogers Marin Independent Journal

Posted: 09/02/2011 11:13:50 AM PDT

Updated: 09/02/2011 01:25:57 PM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Nancy Besst Townsley, known as Miss Nancy, in the1950's and 60's children's show Romper Room,...

Nancy Besst of San Rafael, who appeared as the Bay Area's original Miss Nancy on the children's television show "Romper Room," died Aug. 14 after a long illness. She was 77.

"For those of us who were born and raised in the San Francisco area during the 1950s and '60s, 'Romper Room' was part of our television culture," said Forrest Patten, who met Miss Besst while organizing a gathering of former Bay Area children's television hosts.

"And for many of us, Miss Nancy Besst will always be the definitive hostess and teacher on the program. She was a female counterpart to Mr. Rogers: gentle and patient, bringing a child-like wonder to her many devoted viewers without being childish."

Born in Canton, Ohio, on May 25, 1934, Miss Besst graduated at the top of her class from that city's McKinley High School and was crowned "Miss Canton" in a beauty pageant. She studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., serving as women's sports editor of The Daily Northwestern at the same time that writer/director Garry Marshall was serving as men's sports editor.

In 1956, Miss Besst applied for a job with "Romper Room," a syndicated television show based in Baltimore and

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good School Reform Posts & Articles

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good School Reform Posts & Articles:

Constitution Resources Federal legislation requires schools in the United States to offer lessons related to the U.S. Constitution on U.S. Constitution Day — September 17th of each year. Here are the newest additions to The Best Sites For Learning About The Constitution ...

More 9/11 Resources Here are the newest additions to The Best Sites To Help Teach About 9/11: September 11: Teaching Contemporary History comes from The Smithsonian. Understanding 9/11A Television News Archive 9/11 Ripple is from CNN. 9/11: Then and Now is from ...

This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good School Reform Posts & Articles There have been several excellent commentaries on schools over the past few days: In Honor of Teachers by New York Times columnist Charles Blow is a must-read for any teacher. The Single Best Idea for Reforming K-12 Education is by Steve Denning ...

K-12 Education is by Steve Denning ...

Learning Game Collections I’ve just revised and updated The Best Collections Of Online Educational Games. More suggestions are welcome.

#7 Special Education Part 2 (IEP) | Special Needs in Education

#7 Special Education Part 2 (IEP) | Special Needs in Education:

#7 Special Education Part 2 (IEP)

Understanding your role in the development of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) www.wrightslaw.com; idea.ed.gov

43430 University of Montana – Western

Image by SeattleRay
Since its founding in 1893 The University of Montana – Western has been dedicated to excellence in undergraduate education.

Today, the unique mission of UM-Western emphasizes experiential learning that combines theory and practice through projects and field experiences. This mission infuses the curriculum in:

* century-long tradition for excellence in teacher education
* growing strength in the interdisciplinary arts and sciences
* two-year associate degree programs responding to regional needs

UM-Western enrolls an average of 1,200 students who come to campus for an

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Logos for Duffy's new charter?

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Logos for Duffy's new charter?:

Logos for Duffy's new charter?

NEWS STORY: A.J. DUFFY TO START UP HIS OWN CHARTER SCHOOL COMPANY, APPLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

These logos are not suggestions, they are already taken. Three are from probably the most successful, lawyered-up and litigious corporations in the world. One is from an existing charter school - with probably the best legal claim to the name.

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 19 - AM Sat. 9-3

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 19

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago teachers respond to bashing by the mayor and the media Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago teachers respond to bashing by the mayor and the media: Chicago teachers respond to bashing by the mayor and the media Teach-In at the Thompson Center (M.Klonsky pic)It's sad, yet understandable that some Chicago ...

Daily Kos: Excellent Teaching begins with Excellent Preparation Daily Kos: Excellent Teaching begins with Excellent Preparation: Excellent Teaching begins with Excellent Preparation byRandi Weingarten Share7 1 PERMALINK8 COMMENTS Like any good teacher, I try to spend the waning days of summer sorting through my ...

HANDCUFFS IN FIRST GRADE ! « Teachers Fight Back HANDCUFFS IN FIRST GRADE ! « Teachers Fight Back: HANDCUFFS IN FIRST GRADE ! by alkleen The Chicago Public Schools are now being sued because allegedly one of their security men handcuffed a few first graders and took them out of their classroom. The ...

Democurmudgeon: Per Student Funding and Teacher Jobs Cuts Stall the Economy.Democurmudgeon: Per Student Funding and Teacher Jobs Cuts Stall the Economy.: Per Student Funding and Teacher Jobs Cuts Stall the Economy. by Democurmudgeon As I hear it, we should all be happy Gov. Walker provided the tough love and “tools” to deal ...

Michigan Bill To Privatize Public School Teaching Sparks Concerns Michigan Bill To Privatize Public School Teaching Sparks Concerns: [image: Joy Resmovits] Joy ResmovitsJoy.resmovits@huffingtonpost.comBecome a fan of this reporter GET UPDATES FROM JOY Like ** 498 Michigan Bill To Privatize Public School Teaching ...

Ohio board: No pardon in school fake-address case - Boston.com Ohio board: No pardon in school fake-address case - Boston.com: Ohio board: No pardon in school fake-address case By Andrew Welsh-Huggins AP Legal Affairs Writer / September 2, 2011 - E-mail| - Print| - Comments (0) Text size – + COLUMBUS, ...

“Number One Teacher” – A Poem for THAT Teacher! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!“Number One Teacher” – A Poem for THAT Teacher! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!: “Number One Teacher” – A Poem for THAT Teacher! I found this in my piles of ‘teacher stuff”, I think one of my students gave it to me. It’s on pretty stationary and ...

Zero Job Growth Is No Surprise to #Parents | Firedoglake Zero Job Growth Is No Surprise to Parents | Firedoglake: [image: user]Zero Job Growth Is No Surprise to ParentsBy: Peterr Friday September 2, 2011 4:14 pm [image: Tweet]Tweet [image: digg] [image: stumbleupon] Percent Job Losses in Post-WWII ...

Why education sucks! George Carlin on American Owners and Education (Rated Language)

Modern School: Foreign Youth Give American Workers Lesson in Solidarity Modern School: Foreign Youth Give American Workers Lesson in Solidarity: Foreign Youth Give American Workers Lesson in Solidarity by Michael Dunn The strike at Hershey by 300 foreign students here on J-1 work-study visas has been going on for two ...

Protect Yourself From Cybercrime « Tangerine, Florida Protect Yourself From Cybercrime « Tangerine, Florida: Protect Yourself From Cybercrime by 5redherrings Use Several Methods of Security, Don’t Rely On Just One! 1. Use anti-virus software: Your anti-virus software should be set to ...

For The New Teacher: How To Handle Race In The Classroom | The Jose Vilson For The New Teacher: How To Handle Race In The Classroom | The Jose Vilson: For The New Teacher: How To Handle Race In The Classroom by JOSE on SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 Other People's Children by Lisa Delpit Today, I had the pleasure of addressing staff ...

Modern School: AJ Duffy Union Scab Modern School: AJ Duffy Union Scab: Crying Wolf: Another Unnecessary Lockdown In Oakland by Michael Dunn Oakland Unified School District has now locked down three schools within the first two days of the school year. In at least one of the cases, ...

Opposed Rectal Administration Bill Clears Senate; SB 161 Now Heads to Governor « State of Emergency Opposed Rectal Administration Bill Clears Senate; SB 161 Now Heads to Governor « State of Emergency: Opposed Rectal Administration Bill Clears Senate; SB 161 Now Heads to Governor by Leonard Feldman (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) 1 September 2011 — The state ...

Should there be a Constitutional Right to Unlimited Property Taxation? « School Finance 101 Should there be a Constitutional Right to Unlimited Property Taxation? « School Finance 101: Should there be a Constitutional Right to Unlimited Property Taxation? by schoolfinance101 A Reply to Dunn and Derthick in *Education Next* Anyone who has ...

Will Sketchy Voucher Results Bring Back the “Choice” Mantra Again in Florida? | Scathing Purple Musings Will Sketchy Voucher Results Bring Back the “Choice” Mantra Again in Florida? | Scathing Purple Musings: Will Sketchy Voucher Results Bring Back the “Choice” Mantra Again in Florida? by Bob Sikes From the Associated Press: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A new ...

Lobato 9/2: A long chapter closes | EdNewsColorado

Lobato 9/2: A long chapter closes | EdNewsColorado:

Lobato 9/2: A long chapter closes

by Todd Engdahl

Five weeks of testimony and uncounted documents got summed up in less than three hours of lawyers’ speeches Friday as the Lobato v. State trial wound up.

The next phase of the case is in the hands of Denver District Judge Sheila Rappaport, who will decide on the issue of whether the state school finance system fails to meet constitutional requirements and if the legislature should be ordered to come up with a new one.

The end of the trial marks one more step in the lawsuit’s long odyssey, which began with filing in 2005. Since

Saturday, September 3, 2011