The Ironies of Oakland | Seattle Education #ows

The Ironies of Oakland | Seattle Education:

The Ironies of Oakland

by seattleducation2011

Oakland Police Violated 2004 Limiting Use of Militarized Weapons to Disperse Crowds

Written by Mark Karlin, Editor of Buzzflash at Truthout.

As the medical condition of Marine Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen appears to haveimproved, he is becoming the Neda Agha-Soltan – the martyr of the Iranian Green Revolution – of the “Occupy” struggle for economic justice.

What occurred this week in Oakland – including the wounding of Olsen – shouldn’t have happened. In June of 2004, the Oakland Police Department reached an agreement to refrain from using the kind of bloody and

Quotes of the Day: Martin Luther King & Kaleem Caire | AMPS #ows

Quotes of the Day: Martin Luther King & Kaleem Caire | AMPS:

Quotes of the Day: Martin Luther King & Kaleem Caire

by Thomas J. Mertz

If you will judge anything here in this struggle, you’re commanding that this city will respect the dignity of labor. So often we overlook the worth and significance of those who are not in professional jobs, or those who are not in the so-called big jobs. But let me say to you tonight, that whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity, and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity, and it has worth. One day our society must come to see this. One day our society will come to respect the sanitation worker if it is to survive. For the person who picks up our garbage, in the final analysis, is as significant as the physician. All labor has worth.

You are doing another thing. You are reminding, not only Memphis, but you are reminding the

Community hearing: OCCUPY The HOOD / OCCUPY MILWAUKEE Oppose Senate Bill 207 « Larry Miller's Blog: #ows

Community hearing: OCCUPY The HOOD / OCCUPY MILWAUKEE Oppose Senate Bill 207 « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

Community hearing: OCCUPY The HOOD / OCCUPY MILWAUKEE Oppose Senate Bill 207

by millerlf

WISCONSIN- We are in a state of emergency. The employment crisis will take yet another hit if Senate Bill 207(SB 207) is passed. This bill has already sped through the Assembly (AB 286), reached the Senate table, and will be passed if not challenged immediately. SB 207 gives employers the right to legally discriminate against over 62,000 Wisconsin residents. Occupy the Hood, a coalition of organizations and individuals, is demanding that politicians put reelection hopes aside and represent the best interests of the people. This current piece of legislation is reflective of the solidarity between politicians, corporations, and other employers that are aligned in the exploitation of the working class. The overall unemployment rate in Wisconsin is already a staggering 7.9% and in Milwaukee County alone 9.2% of people are without work. In these trying economic times, Governor Scott Walker promised 250,000 jobs, but

Keep Wall Street Occupied #Solidarity #OWS

A fast, easy, free, and non-violent way to drive the big banks out of their greedy little minds is sitting in your mailbox right now. You just don't know it yet.

Eric Smith’s Airy Dismissive Evasion of Testing Critics | Scathing Purple Musings

Eric Smith’s Airy Dismissive Evasion of Testing Critics | Scathing Purple Musings:

Eric Smith’s Airy Dismissive Evasion of Testing Critics

by Bob Sikes

Jeffrey Solocheck finally tracked down former Florida ed commissioner Eric Smith. Solochek does a good job of probing Smith and this exchange caught my eye:

Does it create the need for too many tests? Because I’ve heard districts talk about having testing almost every day of the school year for one grade level or another.

You know, I started as a teacher 40 years ago. We didn’t have state accountability back in those days. But we did give tests every week, in every class as far as I knew. What the change is, isn’t more testing, because we’ve always tested in our schools. It’s giving the tests that we give more meaning and more purpose. …

What rubish! And Smith knows it, too.

Smith, who seeks to establish credibility by pointing out that he was a teacher, knows that the tests he gave –

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank AM Posts #ows

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank AM Posts

Urgent: Winter Donation Needs | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 7 minutes ago

Urgent: Winter Donation Needs | OccupyWallSt.org:Urgent: Winter Donation Needsby OccupyWallStIt's been dumping snow here in NYC all day, high winds and 3 inches of slush on the ground. With the NYPD and FDNY confiscating six generators on Friday and this unprecedented October snow, those occupying Liberty Plaza in downtown NYC are in need of emergency supplies crucial for cold weather survival (and occupation).We've made a lot of headway on getting winter gear here in the last 48 hrs but definitely ... more »

Milwaukee: Hundreds of ‘Occupy’ protesters march on north side « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students! #ows

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Milwaukee: Hundreds of ‘Occupy’ protesters march on north side « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:Milwaukee: Hundreds of ‘Occupy’ protesters march on north sideby millerlfGary PorterMarchers representing Occupy Milwaukee and Occupy the Hood march on W. Capitol Drive from Lincoln Park to the closed A.O. Smith factory complex, in protest of urban unemployment and the growing gap in income and political power.By Thomas Content of the Journal Sentinel Oct. 29, 2011Chanting, “We are the 99%,” and “Jobs now,” hundreds gathered ... more »

Speak Out to Raise $2.8 Billion for Baltimore City Public Schools | Re:education in Baltimore

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Speak Out to Raise $2.8 Billion for Baltimore City Public Schools | Re:education in Baltimore:Speak Out to Raise $2.8 Billion for Baltimore City Public Schoolsby Edit BarrySpeak Out to Raise $2.8 Billion for Baltimore City Public SchoolsScene from a Baltimore City Public School via Transform Baltimore's Flickr GalleryThe Transform Baltimore campaign is organizing a Speak Out, where teams representing any Baltimore City Public School can tell the powers that be about the state of their school buildings. The purpose is ... more »

Anti-Police Demo in Oakland « occupy california #ows

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Anti-Police Demo in Oakland « occupy california:Anti-Police Demo in Oaklandby *OAKLAND, California – Several hundred demonstrators began marching at around 8:15pm through Oakland, wearing all black, to mourn for Oscar Grant, and all victims of police brutality. Police are wearing gas masks, even from the beginning of the march.UPDATE8:50pm – Police blocking demonstrators from getting to OPD headquarters.8:55pm – Around 500-1000 demonstrators amassed in front of a few thin lines of

Enacting the Impossible (On Consensus Decision Making) | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

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Enacting the Impossible (On Consensus Decision Making) | OccupyWallSt.org:Enacting the Impossible (On Consensus Decision Making)by David-GraeberTO THE VILLAGE: With a large college and high school student contingent, occupiers from all over the city have repeatedly marched to Washington Square where at least two general assemblies have convened. PHOTO: Stephen O’ByrneOn August 2, 2011 at the very first meeting of what was to become Occupy Wall Street, about a dozen people sat in a circle in Bowling Green. The self-appointed “process ... more »

“What’s Love Got to do with It?” Ask Your Students! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

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“What’s Love Got to do with It?” Ask Your Students! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!:“What’s Love Got to do with It?” Ask Your Students!by Oldschoolteach Once upon a time there was a little 2nd grade boy. He was new to a school, and he brought with him, all his problems and issues. Sent to live with dad after mom “couldn’t take it any more”, a pre-primer reading level, an evil stepmother, and siblings who did not like him, ... more »

A MOVIE WARNS US | Dailycensored.com #ows

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A MOVIE WARNS US | Dailycensored.com:A MOVIE WARNS USWritten by slandauDaily Journal (Opinion), PoliticsOct 29, 20110diggShareBy Saul LandauOccupy Wall Street activists everywhere agree: the system has become dysfunctional. The angst – or anger — among citizens reaches beyond economic collapse and the government’s inability to improve the situation. Frustration and puzzlement persist: why do Presidents keep initiating wars in remote places? Why does Congress back them? Its Members, like robots, then pledge support for our troops – about whom few ... more »

If Only the Billionaire Reformers Cared about THIS Data - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

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If Only the Billionaire Reformers Cared about THIS Data - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:If Only the Billionaire Reformers Cared about THIS Databy Anthony CodyBillionaire Bill Gates was in the news again this week, bemoaning the sorry state of America's schools, insisting that business leaders like him have a lot to teach us about measuring performance.Mr. Gates, in years past, has worried about the fact that we rank poorly on international educational comparisons, suggesting this will cause us ... more »

It's Friday at Corporate #edrefom #ows

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SBE Agenda for November 2011 - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 day ago

SBE Agenda for November 2011 - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education)SBE Agenda for November 2011Agenda for the California State Board of Education (SBE) meeting to be held on November 9 and 10, 2011.State Board MembersMichael W. Kirst, PresidentTrish Williams, Vice PresidentJames AschwandenYvonne ChanCarl CohnAida MolinaJames C. RamosPatricia A. RuckerIlene W. StrausCaitlin Snell, Student MemberSecretary Executive OfficerHon. Tom TorlaksonExecutive DirectorSusan K. BurrSchedule of MeetingLocationWednesday, November 9, 20119:00 a.m. Pacific Time +STATE BOARD OF EDUCATIONClo...more »

Modern School: Rahm Supports Cheating Teachers of Their Contractual Rights

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 day ago

Modern School: Rahm Supports Cheating Teachers of Their Contractual Rights:Rahm Supports Cheating Teachers of Their Contractual Rightsby Michael DunnChicago mayor Rahm Emanuel has accused the teachers union of "cheating children out of an education," according to the Chicago Tribune. His comments came in response to union efforts to block the city from unilaterally violating teachers’ contractual rights by seeking contract waivers from individual teachers to lengthen their school days.Needless to say, the politicians are not guilty of robbing children by ... more »

Amid criticism, Moskowitz will introduce new Brooklyn charter | GothamSchools

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Amid criticism, Moskowitz will introduce new Brooklyn charter | GothamSchools:Amid criticism, Moskowitz will introduce new Brooklyn charterby Rachel CromidasSuccess Charter Network head Eva Moskowitz is making her first public appearance in Brownstone Brooklyn—and as usual, she will be joined by protesters.Moskowitz is holding an informational session tomorrow to detail her plans for a new charter school that is likely to open in the affluent Cobble Hill neighborhood next year. Most of tomorrow’s protesters are parents from the neighborhood, who say ... more »

Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: A Concise Post about Why You Should Vote for the Challengers

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Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: A Concise Post about Why You Should Vote for the Challengers:A Concise Post about Why You Should Vote for the Challengersby Melissa WestbrookMega-ConciseFirst and foremost, every candidate should be considered on his or her own merits. Don't vote for the incumbents because they are the incumbents or challengers just because they are stepping up to challenge them. In short, don't vote on a slate. However, because of several votes that most of these incumbents made ... more »

The despicable Mike Antonucci. « Fred Klonsky's blog

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The despicable Mike Antonucci. « Fred Klonsky's blog:The despicable Mike Antonucci.by Fred KlonskyMike Antonucci is a right-wing blogger who spends his time attacking teacher unions. Almost exclusively.On his Wednesday blog (I never have and never will link to it) he wrote:Meanwhile, in Oakland:Many in the community, including the Alameda Labor Council and many unions as well as community organizations, have supported Occupy Oakland. The California Nurses Association staffed the camp’s first aid clinic, and the Oakland Education Association funded the ... more »

#ows and #occupythehood March In Solidarity With Those Foreclosed On By Criminal Banks | OccupyWallSt.org

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#ows and #occupythehood March In Solidarity With Those Foreclosed On By Criminal Banks | OccupyWallSt.org:#ows and #occupythehood March In Solidarity With Those Foreclosed On By Criminal Banksby OccupyWallStJamaica Queens, NY — On Saturday, October 29th Occupy Wall Street, in solidarity with Occupy the Hood, will take action against the homelessness forced upon innocent Americans through criminal foreclosure practices. At 10:00am we will gather at Liberty Square and march to the J train, which we will take to Jamaica, Queens, the ... more »

Dougco GOP active in Jeffco | EdNewsColorado

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Dougco GOP active in Jeffco | EdNewsColorado:Dougco GOP active in Jeffcoby Nancy MitchellApparently confident of victory in Douglas County, Republican Party officials there want to lend a hand to GOP-backed school board candidates in Jefferson County as Election Day draws closer.Dougco Republican Party chairman Mark Baisley sent an email Thursday notifying party volunteers that they’ll be calling on behalf of Jefferson County school board candidates Preston Branaugh and Jim Powers until Tuesday.“Thank you for all of the phone calls that ... more »

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY & MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

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OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | OccupyWallSt.org:OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTSby OccupyWallStSaturday, October 29thCity Hall Park, New York CityRally: 12:00pm NoonMarch to Liberty Square: 2:00pmSunday, October 30thScreenings of SING YOUR OWN SONG and discussion with Harry BelafonteThree screenings: 3PM - 5:30PM; 6:30PM - 9PM; 10PM - 12AMIn a demonstration of the broadening base of the Occupy Wall Street / 99% movement, a rally will be held this coming ... more »

National focus on DPS race | EdNewsColorado

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National focus on DPS race | EdNewsColorado:National focus on DPS raceby Charlie BrennanA national media blitz by Denver school board candidate Emily Sirota is shaking up the race in southeast Denver but it’s unclear whether it will help her win.Denver school board candidate Emily Sirota on MSNBC on Monday.“While it might have some effect, I don’t know if it’s going to touch enough people in southeast Denver,” said Denver pollster and political analyst Floyd Ciruli. “It lacks a certain kind ... more »

School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Funds « City School Stories

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School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Funds « City School Stories:School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Fundsby fmurphy Notes from the FieldSubmitted by Frank Murphy on October 27, 2011Some time ago I wrote a post for the Notebook titled, “If I Were a Rich Man”. My intention in writing this article was simple. I wanted to point out how a few wealthy individuals were using their personal fortunes in an attempt to influence the future of public education ... more »

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky's blog:

Sunday links.

by Fred Klonsky

Snow falls on Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan, home of Occupy Wall Street.

The ACLU sues the City of Chicago. Latino communities are underserved by the police with Rahm as mayor.

Who attends the secret meetings of the cabal that really runs the Republican Party. You guessed it. The Koch brothers and Karl Rove behind closed doors.

Egyptians march in Tahrir Square in support of democratic

Grumpy Educators: Charter Schools: Parent Caution Advisory

Grumpy Educators: Charter Schools: Parent Caution Advisory:

Charter Schools: Parent Caution Advisory

While charter school expansion continues in Florida, so do the challenges to local decision-making. KIPP is a nationally recognized charter operator; however, KIPP Jacksonville operates a middle school with an "F" performance. The charter's application to open two new charters was questioned by the Duval School Board, which asked KIPP to explain why they should approve an application for more schools when they are operating one with an "F". Duval will vote on the application on November 1; however, KIPP has said they will appeal

Leading by Action - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post

Leading by Action - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post:

Looking Ahead

Leading by Action

This past Thursday morning I caught MassCUE President Leo Brehm posting a picture of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick from the MassCUE conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough with the caption, “Thank you Governor Patrick for your support of MassCUE.” I quickly replied to Leo, “Ya got the gov doin the remarks?!” Without missing a beat, Leo replied, “We did.” Impressed, I replied, “I am so proud of you all! Makes all the ground work put in place the last decade seem even MORE worthwhile. YOU GO BOY!” Leo charitably replied, “You laid the structure Walter.” To which I answered in kind, “Thank you Leo. But your Board is realizing the full potential of what is possible through your good work. I am humbled to see the strides you have made!” This is indeed a study in organizational change.

When I was invited to join the MassCUE board years back, I was fairly new coming back to my home state and honored to be asked. I remember that first board meeting I attended suffering under the exhaustion of a group of tired veteran members, many who had been serving in some capacity for