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

School Tech Connect: Occupy @AskBrizard

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 57 minutes ago

School Tech Connect: Occupy @AskBrizard:Occupy @AskBrizardby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)Not sure if this is going to be a regular event or not, but JC will be taking our calls Thursday night. Responding to Crainsby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)Crain's recently did a sky is falling piece on TRS investment practices, which naturally got the idiot Cross intomicromanaging mode down in Springfield. It's all part of the long term, destroy-it-with-noise campaign that's been

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Governor Cuomo Announces A New Education Committee

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 57 minutes ago

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Governor Cuomo Announces A New Education Committee:Governor Cuomo Announces A New Education Committeeby noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)We here at SBSB wish to take the time and congratulate Governor Cuomo on his call in tomorrow's state of the state address tomorrow night in calling for an education committee to look at education across the state. This is an idea we here at SBSB have mulled over in the past.Wait, hang on here. A member of the crack team is ... more »

Portland schools' defense in lawsuit: Incompetence, not discrimination, got Diana Fernandez fired | OregonLive.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Portland schools' defense in lawsuit: Incompetence, not discrimination, got Diana Fernandez fired | OregonLive.com:Portland schools' defense in lawsuit: Incompetence, not discrimination, got Diana Fernandez firedPublished: Monday, January 02, 2012, 12:01 PM By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian FollowView full sizeJoel Davis / The OregonianStudents speaking more than 90 different languages count on Portland Public Schools to help them learn English and master grade-level academic content. Portland's English as a second language program has chronically failed to meet minimum state standard... more »

Schools Matter: Buy This Book on January 9

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Schools Matter: Buy This Book on January 9:Buy This Book on January 9by Jim HornThis new book, Corporations Are Not People, by Jeff Clements has a foreword by Bill Moyers and has been praised in the highest terms by some of our nation's best activists and organizers. No one can read it and not understand the pressing need to put an end to corporate personhood.By making this book a bestseller on Amazon, we will get it in front of many ...more »

Results of online polls reflect dissatisfaction with GOP initiatives on K-12 education | MLive.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Results of online polls reflect dissatisfaction with GOP initiatives on K-12 education | MLive.com:Results of online polls reflect dissatisfaction with GOP initiatives on K-12 educationPublished: Monday, January 02, 2012, 1:10 PM Updated: Monday, January 02, 2012, 1:11 PM By Julie Mack | Kalamazoo Gazette FollowYes, online polls are highly unscientific.Still, the results of two online polls posted this past week on mlive.com provide further evidence of Michigan residents' dissatisfaction with the changes in K-12 year implemented over the past year ... more »

No still means no, Boss Johnson - Cut&Paste - Opinions - December 29, 2011 - Sacramento News & Review

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

No still means no, Boss Johnson - CutPaste - Opinions - December 29, 2011 - Sacramento News Review:No still means no, Boss JohnsonThis article was published on 12.29.11.What is it about no, no, no, no, no, no and no that Mayor Kevin Johnson doesn’t understand? Is it the part where he doesn’t get what he wants?The city council has repeatedly rejected the mayor’s requests to put one strong-mayor scheme or another on the ballot. A citizen charter review committee found ... more »

Modern School: Less Than 25% of California Schools Have Librarians

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Modern School: Less Than 25% of California Schools Have Librarians:Less Than 25% of California Schools Have Librariansby Michael Dunn(Image from Flickr, by library_mistress)Less than 1 out of 4 California schools have full-time credentialed librarians, according to the state Department of Education (See San Francisco Chronicle, 1/2/12). There are only about 900 school librarians in the state, down roughly 20% from two years ago. Many schools have cut librarians entirely, while others have hired them part-time or are sharing them with ... more »

Yes we can. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Yes we can. « Fred Klonsky:Yes we can.by Fred KlonskyI want to talk about Obama voting this morning.It sort of started back last July at the NEA convention. IEA President Dennis Van Roekel, in his infinite wisdom, decided we should endorse the guy two years ahead of his election.No discussion on the convention floor. Two speakers for and against at thee Illinois IEA caucus. Done. Obama endorsed.I thought Obama hadn’t done anything to deserve our endorsement. I still don’t. Plus,

Stories that resonated in 2011 — and will matter in 2012 - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Stories that resonated in 2011 — and will matter in 2012 - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Stories that resonated in 2011 — and will matter in 2012by Valerie StraussLists of most-read stories or blog posts are popular on the Internet, but I doubt they tell us all that much about what really matters to readers.The fact that more people read a story about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt than about the U.S. debt ceiling doesn’t make the former ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts #ows #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Whitney Tilson Thinks He's In The ArmyBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-10 minutes agoSOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Whitney Tilson Thinks He's In The Army:Whitney Tilson Thinks He's In The Armyby noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)Imagine much to my surprise as I am eating breakfast this morning at Denny's on Wolf Rd in Albany this morning as I open up my email and come across the depraved and confused mind of Whitney Tilson's ramblings. What a way to start off ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Back to Work - First Up, Charter Legislation

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Back to Work - First Up, Charter Legislation:Back to Work - First Up, Charter Legislationby Melissa WestbrookOkay, Happy NewYear and best wishes for everyone's health, safety and happinessBUTThere's work to be done. First up, charter schools. I am so unhappy to be having to waste my time on this issue but if not, well then we get to see one more layer of bureaucracy at the state level and more dollars exiting our own district. (As ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: NAACP resolution on charter schools

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: NAACP resolution on charter schools:NAACP resolution on charter schoolsby Mike KlonskyIn a process established by the NAACP Constitution, this resolution was adopted by the delegates to the 101st Annual Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, during the legislative session in July, 2010. It was subsequently ratified by the NAACP National Board of Directors at its meeting on October 15, 2010. This resolution is now the policy of the Association, and is “binding on the Board of Directors, ... more »

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Whitney Tilson Thinks He's In The Army

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 18 hours ago

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Whitney Tilson Thinks He's In The Army:Whitney Tilson Thinks He's In The Armyby noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)Imagine much to my surprise as I am eating breakfast this morning at Denny's on Wolf Rd in Albany this morning as I open up my email and come across the depraved and confused mind of Whitney Tilson's ramblings. What a way to start off a new year. Hopefully, 2012 we'll hear less and less of Whitney as he becomes more and ... more »

You Have No Idea What To Count, So Shut Up | The Jose Vilson

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 18 hours ago

You Have No Idea What To Count, So Shut Up | The Jose Vilson:You Have No Idea What To Count, So Shut Upby JoseIra Socol, the unabashed scholar he is, dropped my first favorite quote of 2012 in his meme on December 30th:Things I don’t want to hear in 2012: (3) “Accountability” – you have no idea what to count, so shut up.Gospel. I almost fell on my face laughing. How did he jump in my skull and pull that ... more »

A Second New Year | Connected Principals

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 18 hours ago

A Second New Year | Connected Principals:A Second New Yearby Brian Nichols“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” -Abraham LincolnJanuary 1st brings about a unique opportunity for school leaders that often goes unnoticed. School leaders actually have the benefit of celebrating two “New Years”. The initial New Year arrives on the first day that the staff assembles in the summer before students start back. Everyone is excited about the possibilities ... more »

A New Year, A New List of Trends « Chalkdust101

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 18 hours ago

A New Year, A New List of Trends « Chalkdust101:A New Year, A New List of Trendsby pjhigginsAs has been said elsewhere, it’s list season, and being that I am working through some serious writing muscle atrophy, I’ll use this opportunity to join the fray.Each year, we dig up what we’ve thought a lot about over the course of the past year, what we noticed, and what we feel will make the most impact on our lives, and our schools ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 18 hours ago

Professor: Educating New Jersey's impoverished kids costs more - NorthJersey.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 minute agoProfessor: Educating New Jersey's impoverished kids costs more - NorthJersey.com:Professor: Educating New Jersey's impoverished kids costs moreSUNDAY JANUARY 1, 2012, 12:58 PMBY GEOFF MULVIHILLASSOCIATED PRESSASSOCIATED PRESSPAGES: 1 2 3 DISPLAY ON ONE PAGE | PRINT | E-MAILOne in a periodic series on efforts to remake New Jersey's education system.NEW BRUNSWICK — A scholar who studies and blogs about education finance says improving the ... more »

Forging Ahead With Nutty Teacher Evaluation Plan by Carol Corbett - ParentAdvocates.org

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 18 hours ago

Parent Advocates - ParentAdvocates.org:Forging Ahead With Nutty Teacher Evaluation Plan by Carol CorbettNew York State Commissioner John King is about to get tough with 10 school districts that have not finalized negotiations on their teacher evaluation plans. He threatened to take away their schools’ improvement grants if they do not comply. With little or no consideration of countervailing concerns, the commissioner’s approach illustrates the 'My way or the highway' mantra of Race to the Top reformers. The plan, of course, ... more »

MY ENDORSEMENT OF A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE « Teachers Fight Back

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

MY ENDORSEMENT OF A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE « Teachers Fight Back:MY ENDORSEMENT OF A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEEby alkleenMy phone has been constantly ringing with calls from the campaign managers of the Republican presidential contenders. Given my large readership on this blog, all the candidates are vying for my endorsement. I’m getting really tired of this harassment, so here goes, these are my thoughts about the candidates and also which one I will endorse.Michele Bachman – Sorry Michele, no endorsement for ... more »

4LAKids LAUSD TEACHERS TOP NATION IN NUMBER OF NEW NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS.

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

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: LAUSD TEACHERS TOP NATION IN NUMBER OF NEW NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS.:LAUSD TEACHERS TOP NATION IN NUMBER OF NEW NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS.Rose ceremony at UTLA honors the 189 educators achieving the prestigious distinction this year.FROM THE UTLA UNITED TEACHER | HTTP://BIT.LY/TURMBWDec 16, 2011 :: For the first time, LAUSD teachers have outpaced educators across the nation in the number of candidates achieving National Board certification.With 189 successful candidates this year, ... more »

Unorthodox education predictions for 2012 - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Unorthodox education predictions for 2012 - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

Unorthodox education predictions for 2012

by Valerie Strauss

It’s not especially hard to make conventional predictions for the education world in 2012:

*The U.S. Education Department will grant some states waivers from the most onerous requirements of No Child Left Behind.

*Congress will fail — again — to do a comprehensive rewrite of NCLB.

*Education Secretary Arne Duncan will keep pushing the Race to the Top initiative, so long as Congress provides the cash, ignoring the lack of evidence to support the reforms it requires.

Read full article >>

Call for one tax on November ballot | Thoughts on Public Education

Call for one tax on November ballot | Thoughts on Public Education:

Call for one tax on November ballot - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

Later this week, Gov. Jerry Brown will get a letter from education and business leaders worried about the prospect of multiple tax initiatives in November. Their message: The only hope for addition to revenue is subtraction on the ballot. But in calling for Brown to persuade sponsors of various proposed initiatives to coalesce around one initiative, [...]

A blank check to Sacramento would be a Dickens of a bad deal - by Arun Ramanathan

by Arun Ramanathan

Back when I was working in schools in New England, we had snow days. In California, our kids have “budget cut days.” Unlike the snow days, there’s no surprise or joy to them and they never get made up. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. For those kids who need them the most, like the hundreds of thousands of students in our state who are learning English, the learning time is irretrievably lost. This November, California voters are going to be asked to vote for ballot [...]

Are Latino Students Better Off, 44 Years After CA School Walkouts? - Hispanically Speaking News

Are Latino Students Better Off, 44 Years After CA School Walkouts? - Hispanically Speaking News:

Are Latino Students Better Off, 44 Years After California School Walkouts?

The first time I got to listen to Sal Castro speak was four years ago at UC Santa Barbara during my freshman year of college. Last month, I had the opportunity to hear him lecture again at Cal State Bakersfield, on the topic of education reform, along with professor Mario T. Garcia from UCSB.

Castro, an educator and lifelong Chicano activist, is most well known for his role in the East Los Angeles high school walkouts of 1968. Those historic walkouts were a defining moment of the Chicano movement. At its height, 15,000 mostly Latino students from schools throughout LAUSD left their classrooms to protest social discrimination and educational inequality between white and Latino students in the public school system.

The students back then had a long list of demands, which included: The

2011 Bittersweeet Year for Latino Immigrants in Texas

For activists and defenders of human rights in Texas, 2011 will be remembered for a rash of bills against illegal immigration in the state legislature and, in response, the fight to protect immigrants.

Early last year the legislature was inundated by the innumerable bills punishing undocumented immigration requested by Gov. Rick Perry, who pushed the Republican majority to pass a measure penalizing sanctuary cities.

After months of intense debate, however, none of the almost 40 bills passed.

While the legislative redistricting plan that emerged was blocked by federal judges who accepted the U.S.

Jersey Jazzman: What School "Choice" Is Really About

Jersey Jazzman: What School "Choice" Is Really About:

What School "Choice" Is Really About

by Duke

See if you can find the common theme in these news stories about "school choice."

Indiana:

Still, Dayana said she wouldn’t necessarily recommend at transfer to all students at a public school.

“I think it depends on the person,” she said. “I really want to succeed in life. Some people should stay in a public school, though. If they were able to come to a private school, maybe that would change for them, but there are some kids that really just don’t care about their education.”

New Jersey:

“I’m surrounded by students who want to learn and succeed, who aren’t fighting

To a Better School Year in 2012 « City School Stories

To a Better School Year in 2012 « City School Stories:

To a Better School Year in 2012

by fmurphy

Notes from the Field

Submitted by Frank Murphy on Jan 3, 2012

The latest wave of budget reductions in the School District of Philadelphia took effect on December 31, 2011. As a result, another 141 district employees were laid off. These individuals join the ranks of the hundreds of other essential, school-based employees who have helped this year to narrow the gaping district budget short fall by unwillingly relinquishing their jobs. Nurses are the primary targets of this latest cost saving effort.

Learning that you have been terminated is never pleasant news to hear. But the decision to send out lay off notices to these employees on the day before Christmas Eve is reminiscent of the worst behavior of Ebenezer Scrooge. The outrage over this action resonated throughout the comment section of a post published at thePhiladelphia Public School Notebook. Also clearly articulated in the comments responding to this article is a

Southwest Florida Alliance of Education Leaders to Povide Pushback on Tallahassee | Scathing Purple Musings

Southwest Florida Alliance of Education Leaders to Povide Pushback on Tallahassee | Scathing Purple Musings:

Southwest Florida Alliance of Education Leaders to Povide Pushback on Tallahassee

by Bob Sikes

The Fort Myers News-Press reports on the creation of a group of 5 superintendents and 5 college chiefs that will make their own outreach to business communities to affect education policy. Glades superintendent Wayne Aldrich says “it’s up to teachers, parents and business leaders to change the mindset in Tallahassee, one so focused on testing and remediation that instruction often gets lost.”

Ranking 38th nationally in per-student K-12 spending, 47th on the SAT and 48th on the ACT, Florida schools aren’t wowing the country. Only 29 percent of incoming freshmen at Edison State College, Southwest Florida’s largest institution, are fully prepared for college.

“These problems didn’t happen overnight and they’re not going to be solved overnight,” said Hodges

Schools Matter: On Huffington Post censorship and Parent Revolution puff pieces

Schools Matter: On Huffington Post censorship and Parent Revolution puff pieces:

On Huffington Post censorship and Parent Revolution puff pieces

by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene

These myths falsely portrayed desegregation's failures as the product of autonomous individual choice. Meanwhile, these myths obscured inequalities in desegregation. A new, but parallel, kind of mythmaking about choice is underway in today's charter school efforts. — Ansley T. Erickson

If there ever was an online bastion for right-of-center Democrats, it's Huffington Post. Their education reporting is abysmal in terms of both editorial content and policy advocacy. Their choice of bloggers heavily favors privatization minded charter-voucher swindlers. With a few notable exceptions, including Dr. John Thompson and Larry Ferlazzo, Huffington Post functions as shills for charters, vouchers, and other Freidman fantasies for converting the commons to commerce.

To wit deplorable reactionaries like Michelle Rhee, Whitney Tilson, and fringe right organizations like Teach Plus all have Huffington Post