Why the Hateful Talk about Children?
In the past few days, education officials in New York have made some breathtakingly hostile comments about children.
Merryl Tisch, the chancellor of the New York Board of Regents, responded to reports about test anxiety by saying that it was time to jump into the deep end. By that, she meant that it was time to throw these little children in grades 3-8 into the deep end, as I presume she will not be jumping in with them.
Dennis Walcott said with relish that it is time to rip the Band-aid off. Is that something that a caring adult does to
Merryl Tisch, the chancellor of the New York Board of Regents, responded to reports about test anxiety by saying that it was time to jump into the deep end. By that, she meant that it was time to throw these little children in grades 3-8 into the deep end, as I presume she will not be jumping in with them.
Dennis Walcott said with relish that it is time to rip the Band-aid off. Is that something that a caring adult does to
Will Democratic Stand Against Corporate Reform Affect L.A. Mayoral Race?
This comment asks an important question. With billionaire money flooding state and local school board races in California, what will the Democratic candidates for mayor of LA do or say?
Will the Democratic parties in other states have the gumption to renounce those who are destroying public education and attacking teachers?
The comment:
Too bad Antonio Villarigosa is leaving office–I’d like to see his response to this since he is a leading Democratic
Will the Democratic parties in other states have the gumption to renounce those who are destroying public education and attacking teachers?
The comment:
Too bad Antonio Villarigosa is leaving office–I’d like to see his response to this since he is a leading Democratic
Breaking News! California Democratic Party Blasts Corporate Education Reform
The California Democratic Party passed a resolution opposing corporate education reform.
It specifically criticized Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst and the Wall Street hedge fund managers’ group called “Democrats for Education Reform” as fronts for Republicans and corporate interests.
The message is getting out. The public is beginning to understand the privatizers’ game of talking “reform” and
It specifically criticized Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst and the Wall Street hedge fund managers’ group called “Democrats for Education Reform” as fronts for Republicans and corporate interests.
The message is getting out. The public is beginning to understand the privatizers’ game of talking “reform” and
NYC Official: “It’s Time to Rip Off the Band-Aid!”
Dennis Walcott and other city and state officials in New York announced that they expect test scores to fall by 30% this year because of the switch to the Common Core.
They keep saying, almost too gleefully, how hard the test is. (Reader, remember that the test is “hard” only because state officials decided to raise the passing mark.)
Walcott said, “It’s time to rip the Band-Aid off, and we have a responsibility to rip that Band-aid off.”
Readers, I have been trying to figure out what t
They keep saying, almost too gleefully, how hard the test is. (Reader, remember that the test is “hard” only because state officials decided to raise the passing mark.)
Walcott said, “It’s time to rip the Band-Aid off, and we have a responsibility to rip that Band-aid off.”
Readers, I have been trying to figure out what t
Best Comment of the Week: The Washington Post and Rhee
The same reader wins two straight weeks! In this article, he writes about the Washington Post’s internal dissent about covering Michelle Rhee. Jo-Ann Armao, the editorial writer, was a Rhee fan. Bill Turque was the reporter who covered Rhee, fairly and without bias.
He writes:
I won “COMMENT OF THE DAY (SO FAR” last Saturday,
in an article Dr. Ravitch wrote of the same name about
that COMMENT.
I’m gunning for “BEST COMMENT” two Saturdays in a row here.
[Editor's note: Sorry, it is not Saturday.]
Here goes…
Jo-Ann Armao has a proven history of re-writing and softening
He writes:
I won “COMMENT OF THE DAY (SO FAR” last Saturday,
in an article Dr. Ravitch wrote of the same name about
that COMMENT.
I’m gunning for “BEST COMMENT” two Saturdays in a row here.
[Editor's note: Sorry, it is not Saturday.]
Here goes…
Jo-Ann Armao has a proven history of re-writing and softening
Rhee: SC Teachers Riding a “Gravy Train”
Undeterred by the release of John Merrow’s report of widespread cheating on her watch, Michelle Rhee traveled to South Carolina to attack teachers. She said they were defenders of the status quo. She said they were protecting their self-interest. She said they ride a “gravy train.”
The average teacher’s salary in SC is $46,306.67.
Rhee is paid $50,000 for lecturing and taking questions for an hour.
Who is on a gravy train?
The average teacher’s salary in SC is $46,306.67.
Rhee is paid $50,000 for lecturing and taking questions for an hour.
Who is on a gravy train?
The Man Who Launched the Anti-Testing Movement in New York
Who deserves credit for creating the anti-testing movement in New York State?
Governor Andrew Cuomo.
He is so devoted to standardized testing that students in third grade in New York will have “six straight days of tests, 90 minutes a day.”
Cuomo loves standardized testing and high stakes, though not for his own children, of course.
Mark Naison also credits State Commissioner John King, who shares Cuomo’s devotion to tests and
Governor Andrew Cuomo.
He is so devoted to standardized testing that students in third grade in New York will have “six straight days of tests, 90 minutes a day.”
Cuomo loves standardized testing and high stakes, though not for his own children, of course.
Mark Naison also credits State Commissioner John King, who shares Cuomo’s devotion to tests and
Charters in Ohio: Succeeding or Failing?
Maureen Reedy wrote an opinion piece criticizing charters in Ohio.
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which sponsors charters in Ohio, published a blog post criticizing Maureen Reedy for her negative views about charters and defended the record of charters in that state.
Stephen Dyer, a former state legislator who works for Innovation Ohio, a think tank, wrote a response to the Fordham critique. Since I don’t have a link, I am reprinting it here:
The Fordham Foundation, always quick to point out how much they want Charter Schools to be held
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which sponsors charters in Ohio, published a blog post criticizing Maureen Reedy for her negative views about charters and defended the record of charters in that state.
Stephen Dyer, a former state legislator who works for Innovation Ohio, a think tank, wrote a response to the Fordham critique. Since I don’t have a link, I am reprinting it here:
The Fordham Foundation, always quick to point out how much they want Charter Schools to be held
Reedy: Ohio Charters Are Floundering
Maureen Reedy, a veteran teacher and a teacher of the year in Ohio, has been fighting valiantly against the privatization movement in Ohio.
In this article that she wrote in the Columbus Despatch, she demonstrates how charters of low quality have diverted billions of dollars from the state’s public schools.
Consider:
“While 77 percent of Ohio’s public schools were successful last year (rated Excellent with Distinction, Achieving
In this article that she wrote in the Columbus Despatch, she demonstrates how charters of low quality have diverted billions of dollars from the state’s public schools.
Consider:
“While 77 percent of Ohio’s public schools were successful last year (rated Excellent with Distinction, Achieving
School Board Member Opts Son Out of State Tests
Willa Powell, a member of the school board in Rochester, New York, will keep her child home on testing day.
Buried in this story is a very strange comment by State Commissioner John King.
“As we looked at flat test scores in New York and across the country, it was impossible to ignore a few sobering facts,” said state Education Commissioner John King in a video message to parents. “We’re not faring as well as we should be in the new global marketplace. Too many of our graduates aren’t prepared to succeed in college or
Buried in this story is a very strange comment by State Commissioner John King.
“As we looked at flat test scores in New York and across the country, it was impossible to ignore a few sobering facts,” said state Education Commissioner John King in a video message to parents. “We’re not faring as well as we should be in the new global marketplace. Too many of our graduates aren’t prepared to succeed in college or
Is Your Pension Managed by Someone Who Wants to Eliminate It?
Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone has a hilarious article about a hedge fund manager who manages pension funds, but is also a board member and co-founder of StudentsFirst in New York, which advocates against defined benefit pension plans.
You will enjoy reading the exchange between Dan Loeb, the hedge fund manager, and Randi Weingarten, who
You will enjoy reading the exchange between Dan Loeb, the hedge fund manager, and Randi Weingarten, who
Tony Bennett’s Useless $1.7 million Gift to Glenda Ritz
When Glenda Ritz took over outgoing Superintendent Tony Bennett’s office, she was surprised to find some very expensive teleconferencing equipment. But it didn’t work, because it was only partially installed.
Turns out that Bennett was so sure of his re-election that he installed a system costing $1.7 million from Cisco. Unfortunately it is incompatible with the current technology.
So all Ritz has is three very elegant blinds.
For $1.7 million.
Wonder how many teachers that might have paid.
Turns out that Bennett was so sure of his re-election that he installed a system costing $1.7 million from Cisco. Unfortunately it is incompatible with the current technology.
So all Ritz has is three very elegant blinds.
For $1.7 million.
Wonder how many teachers that might have paid.
Children in NYC Suffer Bouts of Test Anxiety, Officials Shrug
As this article in the New York Times explains, elementary schoolchildren are frightened by the tests that start this week, based on the Common Core.
The article points out that neither the students nor the teachers are prepared. Some of the material was never taught. “But the standards are so new that many New York schools have yet to fully adopt new curriculums — including reading material, lesson plans and exercises — to match. And the textbook industry has not completely caught up either. State and city officials have urged teachers over the last year to begin working in some elements of new curriculums, and have offered lesson plans and tutorials on official Web sites. But they acknowledge that scores will most likely fall from last year’s levels.”
The article points out that neither the students nor the teachers are prepared. Some of the material was never taught. “But the standards are so new that many New York schools have yet to fully adopt new curriculums — including reading material, lesson plans and exercises — to match. And the textbook industry has not completely caught up either. State and city officials have urged teachers over the last year to begin working in some elements of new curriculums, and have offered lesson plans and tutorials on official Web sites. But they acknowledge that scores will most likely fall from last year’s levels.”
Diane in the Evening 4-14-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Celebrated California Charter School Implodes in Dissension by dianerav The American Indian Model Schools has turned into a long-running drama. This week it took a sharp turn for the worse, as the board fired top administrators, some board members denounced other board members, and everyone was angry. All this followed the revocation of the charters due to fiscal improprieties. For years, it was the toast of conservative pundits because of its high test scores, its no-excuses discipline, and the epithets hurle... more »
The 30th anniversary of the landmark report, A Nation at Risk, occurs this month. We can bet that national and perhaps even local media will use this event to ask, “What has changed?”
