7-5-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy

Wait What?:

  Wait What? All Week

Is the Charter Movement Imploding? (by Diane Ravitch)

Using Connecticut as an example and featuring a recent Hartford Courant column written by Colin McEnroe, Diane Ravitch, the nation’s leading public education advocate, has entitled her latest blog Is the Charter Movement Imploding? Ravitch writes, In state after state, charter schools are proving that it is downright risky to turn public money over to […] The post Is the Charter Movement Imploding

12 by jonpelto / 1h 

YESTERDAY

Founders Left Lesson For Evasive Politicians (By Kevin Rennie)

My July 4th Wait, What? Post was entitled When Democracy is seen as a danger…. Turns out Kevin Rennie, the Hartford Courant columnist was tackling a somewhat similar topic in his latest article. In his weekend column, Rennie writes, If you have not already this holiday weekend, take a few minutes to read the Declaration […] The post Founders Left Lesson For Evasive Politicians (By Kevin Rennie) ap

2 by jonpelto / 17h 

When Democracy is seen as a danger…

This week, as our state and nation prepared to celebrate the 4th of July, the union leaders of the Connecticut AFL-CIO sent out their weekly email to members.  Their update included the following article, Can’t Support Petitioning For Pelto I am an advocate for access to the election ballot. I was a plaintiff in a […] The post When Democracy is seen as a danger… appeared first on Wait What?.

55 by jonpelto / 1d 

JUL 03

How much did you or your UConn student contribute to Hillary Clinton’s $251,000 speaking fee

Here is the latest on UConn’s payment of $251,000 to Hillary Clinton for speaking on the Storrs Campus earlier this year Pat Eaton-Rob of the Associated Press writes, HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The University of Connecticut on Thursday defended its decision to have former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speak on campus in April […] The post How much did you or your UConn student contribute t

4 by jonpelto / 1d 

Malloy and Pryor:  The Connecticut Charter School Debacle Expands

Thanks to Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy and his Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, Connecticut’s charter school industry has been sucking up tens of millions of dollars in public funds that could have been going to help Connecticut’s real public schools. Malloy’s unlimited commitment to charter schools runs so deep that when he brags that he […] The post Malloy and Pryor:  The Connecticut Cha

49 by jonpelto / 2d 

JUL 02

Pelto to Union Leaders: Do the Ends Justify the Means?

Released to the media earlier today…. TheService Employees International Union has issued a press advisory that they “will make an important announcement at noon at SEIU 1199 New England Headquarters, 77 Huyshope Avenue, Hartford Malloy and Wyman are listed as attending. Although the SEIU’s leadership informed Jonathan Pelto, the gubernatorial candidate for the Education and Democracy […] The post

25 by jonpelto / 2d 

CT Post Editorial: A long-overdue step on charters

The Connecticut Post has published a powerful editorial about the Jumoke/FUSE charter school debacle and the Malloy Administration’s failure to properly oversee the growing charter school industry in Connecticut. Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy, his Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, and Pryor’s minions of charter school allies are diverting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to […] The post

18 by jonpelto / 3d 

JUL 01

The battle against the corporate education reform industry takes center stage

Charter School Scandal Continues to Rock Malloy Administration… However, rather than conduct a truly independent investigation into the fall of the Jumoke/FUSE charter school management company, Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education and his political appointees on the State Board of Education decided to hire a lawyer to conduct an “investigation.” Stefan Pryor, Malloy’s Education Commissione

18 by jonpelto / 3d 

JUN 30

The attack on the fundamental rights workers continues

Here in Connecticut we have a Democratic Governor who proposed doing away with teacher tenure, which is the basic due process protection for those who devote their lives to educating, nurturing and supporting our state’s public school children. In the same piece of legislation, Senate Bill 24, Dannel “Dan’ Malloy also proposed completely doing away […] The post The attack on the fundamental rights

5 by jonpelto / 4d 

News Flash:  Malloy/Pryor hand another top job to an Achievement First Inc. staffer

The Malloy administration has given the one-hundred thousand dollar a year plus job of “Bureau Chief for District and School Transformation” to William (Billy) Johnson, a former employee of Achievement First Inc. Of course, Achievement First, Inc. being the large charter school management company that was co-founded by Stefan Pryor, Malloy’s Education Commissioner.   The company […] The post News

25 by jonpelto / 5d 

JUN 29

“Disruptive innovation’ policies hurting state’s children” (By Wendy Lecker)

The Corporate Education Reform Industry calls it “Disruptive Innovation.” Translated into English, it describes the process by which an “education reformer” claims that they are improving the quality of education for our children by blowing up and undermining our public schools, turning them over to private companies to run, allowing a bunch of non-educators and […] The post “Disruptive innovation

21 by jonpelto / 6d 

7-5-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle School Board Meeting Updates

Shockingly, I neither attended nor watched the School Board meeting.  But I did hear about it from other sources so here is some of what went on (plus some input from a careful reading of agenda items on the docket).   Apparently it was a love fest for Banda and some tension on the Board.  Here's the information I received from the organizing group for later starts where the tension comes in.Later

1 by Melissa Westbrook / 1d 

(Thursday) Open Thread

Going with a Thursday Open Thread due to the holiday tomorrow. From The Atlantic, a somewhat troubling story about a study finding that kids care more about "achievement and happiness" than caring for others and that teachers are aware of this issue.  The study is from the Making Caring Common project at Harvard and is called The Children We Mean to Raise: the Real Messages Adults are Se

by Melissa Westbrook / 1d 

JUL 01

Common Core and Homework

There have been many stories about parents - famous (like Louis C.K., a certified public school parent in NYC who spoke about Common Core homework NOT in a routine but as a parent) and not-so-famous - and their struggle to help their children with their CC homework, particularly in math.The latest article comes from the NY Times.  Some of the comments are off discussing whether CCSS are valid, imp

1 by Melissa Westbrook / 3d 

Tuesday Open Thread

WA State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn has sent a letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan asking that Washington be waived from the NCLB requirement that public schools send out letters about how they are all failing under NCLB (about 96% of schools would have to send out these letters).  Naturally, 96% of Washington schools are not failing; it's just the failure of Congress

by Melissa Westbrook / 3d 

JUN 30

A Common Core News Roundup

It's a cavalcade of news but most of it, not so good.  I have nearly 50 other stories in the hopper.  About Pearson, about Gates, about what else states could do without (gasp!) CC. And then there are the mid-term elections and CCSS.  Current AnalysisA great essay at Vox, The Republican Debate on Common Core is Over.   But the Pew Research Center's recent profile of American political views destro

by Melissa Westbrook / 4d 

Great Reading on Ed Reform by a Local Leader

That leader is Trish Millines Dziko who started Technology Access Foundation and is truly a great thinker on how to push the needle forward for students of color using STEM-based curriculum with project-based learning.Trish has written a series on her thoughts about ed reform (she's frustrated) and we think - intentionally - about the work of educating children on a school level. Time to Transform

by Melissa Westbrook / 4d 

JUN 28

Seattle School Board Meeting on Wednesday

This meeting could be interesting for a number of reasons.One, it is likely the last one where we will see Superintendent Banda up there on the dais with the Board.  (The Sacramento School Board is scheduled to vote July 17th and this Seattle School Board meeting is the last until August 20th.)  It may be awkward (to say the least) as the Superintendent is now the lamest of lame ducks.  Does the B

2 by Melissa Westbrook / 6d hide  //  save

Have you written to the Board about a New Superintendent?

Honestly, I think it matters.  (I'll tell you why I think that at the end of the thread.)I wrote to them and included some thoughts that Charlie and I had previously printed here especially around the role of the Board and the role of the superintendent.Here's some of what I said (and I'm deliberately vague on the process because it's the Board's call and no one else's):- The district needs someon

2 by Melissa Westbrook / 6d 

7-5-14 Ed Notes Online Week

Ed Notes Online: 

Ed Notes Online

Karen Lewis vs Rahm Emanuel for Mayor?

Lewis, who is African-American, would have powerful appeal to black voters who overwhelmingly disapprove of Emanuel (only 8 percent of them would support him against a challenger)... Daily Beast How much fun would this be? Though I'd rather see Karen run against Randi at the AFT convention next week.Not mentioned is that Karen Lewis is also Jewish, as is Emanuel, and might attract the Jewish vote

by ed notes online / 38min

Moaning Mona Vergara Copycat Suit Is Also An Attack on Parents and Students Facing Bully Principals

Parent activists are rightfully outraged at Mona Davids' claims that  "the NYCPU, is the leading independent voice of New York City public school students and their parents."In fact the very idea of an attack on tenure is an attack on parents and students as much, if not more, than on teachers.Bully, abusive principals, of which there are many, not only abuse teachers but parents and stu

by ed notes online / 1h 

YESTERDAY

Dissecting Moaning Mona Davids

Moaning Mona Davids has switched sides more times than a tennis ball.... and burned more bridges than the retreating German army..... Ed Notes Local 372 President Santos Crespo Jr. fired [Mona] Davids in December, then sued her in January, claiming she failed to turn over passwords to databases containing confidential information about the union’s members and its contacts.... NY Post, Feb. 10, 201

by ed notes online / 16h 

JUL 03

How the UFT Sits By and Watches Discontinued Teachers Go Down

Plainly, the UFT basically doesn't give a shit when teachers lose their jobs.With the new tone between the UFT and Farina, why won't UFT Officials pick up a phone and save a teacher's career? One of the major reasons for the weakness of the union at the school chapter level is the unlimited power principals have to blackball probationary teachers from the system for life -- in addition to all the

by ed notes online / 1d 

Worse than Michelle Rhee: Teachers and public schools have a shocking new enemy

Isn't it time for teacher unions to issue a Declaration of Independence from the Democratic Party? Thomas Jefferson for AFT president. Again thanks to Jeff Kaufman for coming up with this article by Jeff Bryant writing at Solon. Note that our fearless union leaders keep sucking at the teat of the Democratic Party no matter how much they smash teachers and their union.TUESDAY, JUL 1, 2014 12:55 PM

by ed notes online / 1d 

JUL 02

Tier 4, 5, 6 Pension Plans Comparisons: The later you enter, the more you get screwed

Thanks to Jeff Kaufman for sending this to ICE Mail. We used to joke about Tier 12 - we're up to Tier 6 so we are half way there. Coming one day - Work 'till you are 80 --- but we know the reality -- few will make it to full pension. Tier 4 Pension Plan (applicable to members hired before 01/01/10)Employee Pension Contribution.............3% for ten years, *0% after (*except for special earlier

by ed notes online / 2d 

JUN 30

How Will UFT Be Affected if Supreme Court Rules Negative on Dues?

Will disaffected UFTers quit the union? Will people think they are not getting their dues money's worth?I know this decision might come down any minute but I wanted to speculate a bit before it does on how the UFT might be affected.First, the essence of the case: You don't want to pay union dues (agency shop fees) if you don't support the union. So the court may rule you don't, what will that mean

by ed notes online / 5d 

JUN 29

Eterno on End to Jamaica HS 122 Year History - Farina/deBlasio Silence is Endorsement of Bloomberg Closing Schools Policy

“This is the end,” said longtime teacher James Eterno, a 28-year veteran of the school, while choking up. “It’s bittersweet. It’s a celebration, but it feels like a funeral.”Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/24-students-graduate-jamaica-high-school-final-graduation-article-1.1845848#ixzz361tnyKwvJames has the story at the ICE blog, along with a lot of good family news:We said g

by ed notes online / 6d 

JUN 28

The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and His Lovely Wife Matilda - 100 years later, 56 Years Since I Was in the 8th grade

- OK, so Ferdinand's wife's name was really Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, as today we mark the 100th anniversary of the assassination. But to my 8th grade social studies class committee, consisting of 5 pubescent boys putting on a little reenactment of the assassination in front of the class as part of their report, she was his "lovely wife Matilda." (The teacher didn't laugh but I still

by ed notes online / 6d hide  //  save

Shades of 2004: Balanced Literacy Plus High Class Sizes a Recipe for Failure

With the re-entry of Farina's pal Lucy Calkins and Balanced Literacy and its Workshop models we may find ourselves in the Tweed version of Groundhog Day.One of my long-time colleagues in ICE/GEM/MORE is a grad of Teachers College where she was trained in Balanced Literacy and is a fan - in theory. She teaches in the heart of Bed-Stuy and since I've known her she says, "It's a wonderful progra

by ed notes online / 7d