Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 4-8 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Will an Oakland school district initiative slow teacher turnover, or make it worse? - ContraCostaTimes.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

Will an Oakland school district initiative slow teacher turnover, or make it worse? - ContraCostaTimes.com: Will an Oakland school district initiative slow teacher turnover, or make it worse?ByKaty MurphyOakland TribunePosted: 04/08/2012 12:00:00 AM PDTUpdated: 04/08/2012 05:10:03 AM PDTClick photo to enlargeOakland School District Superintendent Tony Smith speaks during an Oakland Unified School...OAKLAND -- Ask students at McClymonds High School about their teachers and you'll likely hear this: They work hard, but they don't stay long."Since I've been here, we've never ... more »

Pitt Bars Transgender Students and Faculty from Gender-Appropriate Bathrooms « Student Activism

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

Pitt Bars Transgender Students and Faculty from Gender-Appropriate Bathrooms « Student Activism: Pitt Bars Transgender Students and Faculty from Gender-Appropriate BathroomsbyAngus JohnstonLast fall a student at the University of Pittsburgh’s Pitt-Johnstown campus was banned from the men’s locker room at the university gym. The student, Seamus Johnston, is listed as female in the university’s records, but has been living as a man for three years and carries a driver’s license identifying him as male. When Johnston refused to comply with ... more »

State legislatures reignite war over religion in schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

State legislatures reignite war over religion in schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: State legislatures reignite war over religion in schoolsbyValerie StraussThis waswritten by Charles Haynes, director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life. This appearedon the websiteof the First Amendment Center.By Charles HaynesContrary to culture-war mythology, God isalive and wellin many, if not most, public schools.Visit almost any school in ... more »

Peddling Panic: Biased Survey Promotes National Science Standards - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

Peddling Panic: Biased Survey Promotes National Science Standards - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Peddling Panic: Biased Survey Promotes National Science StandardsbyAnthony CodyGuest post by Jack Hassard.This year,Achieve, Inc. commissioned a survey of attitudestoward science education with Public Opinion Strategies and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. The pollsters sampled 800 voters using a stratified sampling technique so that they could report results by political party, ethnicity, education level of parents, region of the USA, and urban, suburban and rural ... more »

Incredible Free Conference in Tribute to Manning Marable | Outside the Cave

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

Incredible Free Conference in Tribute to Manning Marable | Outside the Cave: Incredible Free Conference in Tribute to Manning MarablebyStephen LazarI hope many can join and spread the word about the incredible Manning Marable Memorial Conference: A New Vision of Black Freedom. Dr. Marable, asI’ve written about before, was my teacher and mentor while working on my masters in African-American Studies at Columbia. I will be moderating the panel , “Parents, Organizers Educators Discuss the Education Crisis” on Friday morning. ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Astonishing Education Ignorance From the Star-Ledger

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

Jersey Jazzman: Astonishing Education Ignorance From the Star-Ledger: Astonishing Education Ignorance From the Star-LedgerbyDukeI had promised myself (and Mrs. Jazzman) that I wouldn't blog on Easter. But then I picked up this morning'sStar-Ledger,and read the most ignorant paragraph about education reform I have seen to date:[Newark] Superintendent Cami Anderson has presented a promising plan that draws heavily on thesuccesses of people such as Joel Klein in New York City and Michelle Rhee in Washington. [emphasis mine]Oh, dear lord.Let's start with ... more »

As states OK school vouchers, fight over public dollars for private education turns to courts - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

As states OK school vouchers, fight over public dollars for private education turns to courts - The Washington Post: As states OK school vouchers, fight over public dollars for private education turns to courtsText SizePrintE-mailReprintsByAssociated Press,Updated: Sunday, April8,5:32AMWASHINGTON — Students like Delano Coffy are at the heart of brewing political fights and court battles over whether public dollars should go to school vouchers to help make private schools more affordable.He was failing in his neighborhood public elementary school in Indianapolis ... more »

TRS members. Do you agree with Executive Director Ingram? Let TRS Directors know. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

TRS members. Do you agree with Executive Director Ingram? Let TRS Directors know. « Fred Klonsky: TRS members. Do you agree with Executive Director Ingram? Let TRS Directors know.byFred KlonskyRecently Richard Ingram, the Executive Director of the Illinois Teacher Retirement System was quoted as saying that retiree benefits might need to be cut and that the system faced insolvency by 2029.While not repeating Ingram’s Civic Committee line, the TRS board, including IEA representatives, supported Ingram and claimed that members must ... more »

4LAKids - “Parent Trigger”: NO MAGIC BULLET FOR SCHOOLS

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: “Parent Trigger”: NO MAGIC BULLET FOR SCHOOLS: “Parent Trigger”: NO MAGIC BULLET FOR SCHOOLSWe're a long way from knowing whether "parent trigger" can improve schools. No petition has yet been approved, and the options the law provides are not that effective.LA TIMES EDITORIAL |HTTP://LAT.MS/HY2EH3At Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto, where the state's second "parent trigger" petition was rejected last month, parents want the ability to eliminate teachers whom they view ... more »

Anniston Star - Bob Davis Measuring charter schools’ impact in a Texas town

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 54 minutes ago

Anniston Star - Bob Davis Measuring charter schools’ impact in a Texas town: Bob Davis: Measuring charter schools’ impact in a Texas townApr 08, 2012|409views|0|2||The creation of charter schools in Alabama seemed to be on the minds of many in Anniston last week. Depending on who was doing the talking, these alternative public schools are either the solution of our educational woes or a hopeless act destined to make matters worse.The answer, as is usually the case, lies somewhere in ... more »

Bob Seger - Against The Wind

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Bob Seger The Silver Bullet Band- Against The Wind - Lyrics - Original Version"Against The Wind" Lyrics ~It seems like yesterdaybut it was long agoJaney was lovely she wasthe queen of my nightsThere in the darknesswith the radio playing lowAnd the secrets that we sharedthe mountains that we movedCaught like a wildfire out of control'Til there was nothing left to burnand nothing left to proveAnd I remember what she said to mehow she swore that it never would endI remember ...more »

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird (Studio Version) *FULL*

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird (outtake version)Lyrics:If I leave here tomorrowWould you still remember me?For I must be travelling on, now,'Cause there's too many places I've got to see.But, if I stayed here with you, girl,Things just couldn't be the same.'Cause I'm as free as a bird now,And this bird you can not change.Lord knows, I can't change.Bye, bye, its been a sweet love.Though this feeling I can't change.But please don't take it badly,'Cause Lord knows I'm to blame.But, if ... more »

In the Aftermath of Hurricane Michelle Embattled D.C. School District Has A New Vibe : NPR

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Embattled D.C. School District Has A New Vibe : NPR: Embattled D.C. School District Has A New VibebyCLAUDIO SANCHEZ A year and a half after Washington, D.C., and its hard-charging school chancellor Michelle Rheeparted ways, there are troubling questions about the reforms and policies she left in place. AsNPR's Claudio Sanchez reports, new chancellor Kaya Henderson is trying to build the trust andgoodwill she'll need to go forward with her own plans.SCOTT SIMON, HOST:This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 4-7 #soschat #EDReform

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

Meet the ALEC Staffers Who Help Corporations Write Our LawsBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-13 minutes agoMeet the ALEC Staffers Who Help Corporations Write Our Laws: Meet the ALEC Staffers Who Help Corporations Write Our LawsSaturday, 07 April 2012 13:52By Zaid Jilani,Republic Report| Report27font sizePrintEmailThe American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is the most powerful corporate front group you’ve never heard of. The group, sponsored by some of America’s largest corporations, writes legislation that tends to benefit its donors and ... more »

Pink Slime: Anna Phillips Reflecting On Dennis M. Walcott's First Year as "Chancellor" - ParentAdvocates.org

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

Parent Advocates - ParentAdvocates.org: Pink Slime: Anna Phillips Reflecting On Dennis M. Walcott's First Year as "Chancellor" (Without A Contract) by Betsy Combierre-posted from NYC Rubber Room Reporter: I'm going to address the ridiculous article printed by SchoolBook's Anna Phillips and the media rush the past couple of days to glorify Dennis M. Walcott - and thus praise Mayor Bloomberg - and libel the teachers who, by fighting well with evidence and truth, were not terminated at 3020-a arbitration.Dennis WalcottPink ... more »

The “Reform” of NOLA Public Schools: Headline Edition 9/14/05 to 12/21/05 | The G Bitch Spot

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

The “Reform” of NOLA Public Schools: Headline Edition 9/14/05 to 12/21/05 | The G Bitch Spot: The “Reform” of NOLA Public Schools: Headline Edition 9/14/05 to 12/21/05byG BitchPart I.The point? Watch it not grow but slam into being.______State seeks $2.4 billion from U.S. to pay teachers: N.O. schools’ plans to be revealed today,(New Orleans)Times-Picayune. 9/14/05.Print.With about 25,700 Louisiana public school employees displaced by Hurricane Katrina and three local systems warning they will soon run out of money to pay their ... more »

Student loan debt may be next financial crisis

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Student loan debt may be next financial crisis: Student loan debt may be next financial crisisCarolyn SaidSaturday, April 7, 2012(page 1 of 2)SINGLE PAGEPrintE-mailShareComments(44)Font|Size:77Lance Iversen / The ChronicleConnie Swain, who is still paying back her student loans, reads to her godson, Joseph Parker, 5, at her rented S.F. home.IMAGESView Larger ImagesIn her 20s, Connie Swain shelled out a lot of money to a private vocational school to learn computer skills, relying on student loans for tuition and expenses."I was young ... more »

Good Night and Good Luck: Is Being a Public School Teacher REALLY Un-American? Mr. Gates? « Living Behind the Gates

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Good Night and Good Luck: Is Being a Public School Teacher REALLY Un-American? Mr. Gates? « Living Behind the Gates: Good Night and Good Luck: Is Being a Public School Teacher REALLY Un-American? Mr. Gates?bylivingbehindthegatesPopout“We will not walk in fear, one of another.” ~Edward R. Murrow“The American education system has never been better, several important measures show. But you’d never know that from reading overheated media reports about “failing” schools and

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 4-7 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

NYC Chancellor won’t grade himself | Outside the CaveBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-3 minutes agoNYC Chancellor won’t grade himself | Outside the Cave: NYC Chancellor won’t grade himselfbyStephen LazarIf this is how the Chancellor evaluates himself, why is he grading schools and teachers on a curve that ends with letter grades, or their equivalent? Froman interview with Anna Phillips:Q. If you were to rate yourself, give yourself a grade for your first year as chancellor, whether it’s an ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments In Reformy Backtracking

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments In Reformy Backtracking: Great Moments In Reformy BacktrackingbyDukeEarlier this week,I blogged about a reformyist group in Connecticut,the Connecticut Council for Education Reform, that said something pretty dumb: poverty doesn't much matter in student achievement. Their proof was that poor students in New Jersey and Massachusetts do better than those in Connecticut; the reason was that NJ and MA had implemented reformy policies similar to those proposed by Governor Malloy.There are two reasons that this is nonsense: ... more »

Scott Walker Wages War on Women « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Scott Walker Wages War on Women « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Scott Walker Wages War on WomenbymillerlfAmanda TerkelScott Walker Quietly Repeals Wisconsin Equal Pay LawHuffington Post Posted: 04/ 6/2012 / Updated: 04/ 6/2012Follow:Scott Walker,Video,Women’s Rights,Equal Pay,Scott Walker Equal Pay,Scott Walker Wisconsin,Wisconsin Equal Pay,Wisconsin Pay Equity,Marlo’s Slideshows,Politics NewsWASHINGTON — A Wisconsinlawthat made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court was repealed on Thursday, after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) quietl... more »

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky:

Sunday links.

by Fred Klonsky

Chicago Spring prepares for NATO in May.
Critic of corporate reform Marion Brady. His blog has gone viral.
Scott Walker signs repeal of equal pay provisions in Wisconsin’s front in the War on Women.
Fox Snooze’s Mike Flannery. His one-sided reporting on pensions. What else is new?
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis. “I’ve called you here today to tell you that Chicago teachers and para-professionals are fed up.”
US Bank closes UC Davis branch. “We’re prisoners of Occupy.”  They are circled by protesters every day.
On Saturday NR editor Rich Lowry posted on their blog saying that Derbyshire had been relieved of his duties.

“Anyone who has read Derb in our pages knows he’s a deeply literate, funny, and incisive writer…. 

We're All in this Together - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators

We're All in this Together - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators:

We're All in this Together

The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough, Massachusetts form a regional school system where the two towns each fund their own K-8 programs and then jointly finance the cost of Algonquin Regional High School. Imagine the possibilities for conflicts of interest as each town provides public education at taxpayer expense. During my tenure there as Director of Technology there were ongoing complex challenges working jointly with the two municipalities. The binding golden rule that keeps this excellent school system moving forward is championed by its excellent Superintendent, Dr. Charles Gobron, “We’re all in this together!”

Whether the district leadership team is working across the budgets of the two towns or aligning curriculum and instruction K-12, Dr. Gobron’s credo helps to keep the team vision on unity and common ground. Yes people tend to protect their own turf. Of course there are pedagogical disagreements. Like on any leadership team, there are personalities and agendas that do not always mix well. But through it all, the focus always comes back to what is best for the common 

Debate over private school vouchers heats up again, shifts to low-income students | OregonLive.com

Debate over private school vouchers heats up again, shifts to low-income students | OregonLive.com:

Debate over private school vouchers heats up again, shifts to low-income students

Published: Sunday, April 08, 2012, 2:31 PM     Updated: Sunday, April 08, 2012, 2:49 PM

 By The Associated Press 

View full sizeAPHeather Coffy, right center, leaves the St. Monica School with her children, left to right, Delano Coffy, 15, Alanna Marshall, 8, and Darius Coffy, 11, in Indianapolis. Students like Delano are at the heart of brewing political fights and court battles over whether public dollars should go to school vouchers to help make private schools more affordable.

WASHINGTON -- Students like Delano Coffy are at the heart of brewing political fights and court battles over whether public dollars should go to school vouchers to help make private schools more affordable.  

He was failing in his neighborhood public elementary school in Indianapolis until his mother enrolled him in a Roman Catholic school. Heather Coffy has scraped by for years to pay the tuition for Delano, now 16 and in a Catholic high school, and his two younger siblings, who attend the same Catholic elementary as their brother did. She's getting help today from a voucher program, passed last year at the urging of GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels, that allows her to use state money for her children's education.  

"I can't even tell you how easy I can breathe now knowing that for at least for this year my kids can stay at the school," said the single mother, who filed a petition in court in support of the law. The state Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to the law, 

Oregon high school students to face tougher graduation standards

Published: Sunday, April 08, 2012, 12:59 PM     Updated: Sunday, April 08, 2012, 1:19 PM

 By The Associated Press 

View full sizeStephanie Yao Long/The OregonianDustin Gilmer follows along with the reading in his freshman English class at Milwaukie High School. The federal government now requires that additional evaluations be used to determine if students are prepared to succeed.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Beginning this year, graduating seniors will have to do more to get their diploma than show they've successfully earned 24 high school class credits.  

Under rules set by the Oregon Board of Education, students will have to prove that all those hours in class have resulted in actual skills.  

This year, they must show that they can read at a level that will serve them in college and on the job.  

Next year, the state ups the ante.  

In 2013, graduating seniors will have to show both reading and writing proficiency, and the 2014 graduating class also must 

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: The Hypocrisy of Sock Puppet Dennis Walcott and the Daily News

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: The Hypocrisy of Sock Puppet Dennis Walcott and the Daily News:

The Hypocrisy of Sock Puppet Dennis Walcott and the Daily News

by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)

The Daily News with seemingly nothing better to do, has taken a course over the last several days to do Uncle Mike's bidding and besmirch teachers who have been accused of inappropriate contact with students. The News whines that these teachers, when afforded their rights under the United States Constitution were either found not guilty, had statements and evidence thrown out, or given penalties other than being terminated by a impartial arbitrator.

Which brings me to the defense of my pal, Chaz the Blogger, henceforth known as Eric Chasanoff. Eric, has been raked over the coals by the Daily News. Not only for coming out as he has on his blog, but for The Daily Newsmisrepresenting the truth. Thankfully, The New York Times at least gave Eric the chance to share his side of of the truth, and Eric gave his side as well. 

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Easy money without govt. regs for ed start-up companies

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Easy money without govt. regs for ed start-up companies:

Easy money without govt. regs for ed start-up companies

by Mike Klonsky

Congress has passed a bill making it easier for ed start-up companies to raise capital while at the same time, easing government regulation. The Jump-Start Our Business Start-Ups, or JOBS Act  would allow companies to raise up to $1 million,  The bill establishes a new form of company financing called “crowd funding” and allows school entrepreneurs to raise money by selling shares over the internet. 

"In K-12, it's a hard place to raise capital, and a lot of the entrepreneurs are raising less than $1 

CPS finally admits to serving kids pink slime

by Mike Klonsky

The USDA commodity beef from Don Lee Farms, a major supplier to school districts across the U.S., came through Chartwells, CPS spokeswoman Ziegler said.