LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-6-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

A Teacher’s Hopes for Lily

This just in from a member of NEA from Massachusetts who is at the Denver convention. She hopes that Lily Eskelsen, the new president, will be a champion and fighter for kids, teachers, and public schools. Is she THE ONE? Will she stand up to the phony “reformers”? Will she fight for democratic control of the schools? Will she tell the plutocrats to use their billions to alleviate poverty instead

4 by dianeravitch / 42min 

Who Is Campbell Brown and Why Does She Want to Eliminate Tenure?

Mother Jones published this article in 2013 when Campbell Brown started her campaign against “sexual predators” in the New York City public schools (there are none, apparently, in charter schools, thank goodness!).   Campbell Brown is now leading the lawsuit attacking tenure, seniority, and due process for teachers in New York state. Her organization has found half a dozen student plaintiffs who c

by dianeravitch / 7min

Roxana Elden: The Myth of the Super Teacher

Roxana Elden teaches high school English at Hialeah High School in Miami. In this very funny video, she explains to education writers how demanding teaching is and how prevalent are the misconceptions in Hollywood and the media about the “super teacher.” Elden is a National Board Certified teacher and the author of “See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers.” She is a Teach for America a

by dianeravitch / 16min 

3 Louisiana Teachers: What Is Wrong with the Common Core Standards

The following statement by three Louisiana teachers was distributed by Mary K. Bellisario of the Louisiana Coalition for Public Education. From: Mary K. Bellisario, Coalition for Louisiana Public Education Re: Real teachers’ concerns with Common Core in the classroom Attached is an unsolicited letter I received from three Louisiana classroom teachers describing their concerns with the Common Core

by dianeravitch / 9min 

California Court: Corruption Is Not Sufficient Reason to Close a High-Scoring Charter School

For a few years, the American Indian Model Charter Schools in Oakland, California, were the most celebrated charter schools in the nation, beloved especially by the conservative and rightwing media, not only for their high test scores but for their founder’s scathing comments about liberals, unions, and “multiculturalists.” Despite the name of the charter, it enrolled few American Indians; most of

1 by dianeravitch / 11min 

Peter Greene: Who Would Replace Duncan?

Peter Greene responds to the NEA resolution. Calling for Arne Duncan to resign. he first deals with the debate on Twitter, about who would replace Arne Duncan. The assumption behind the discussion is that President Obama has no idea what Duncan has been doing and that when he finds out, Duncan will be ousted. Then he takes on the NEA resolution. Greene quite rightly points out that Duncan is doi

8 by dianeravitch / 52min hide  //  save

Bruce Baker: Vergara Is Fallacious in Néw York State

Bruce Baker reviews the Vergara claim that teacher laws in Néw York deny students a quality education and shows that it is fallacious. He writes: “VergarGuments are an absurd smokescreen, failing to pass muster at even the most basic level of logical evaluation of causation – that A (state laws in question) can somehow logically (no less statistically) be associated with selective deprivation of

3 by dianeravitch / 1h 

Arthur Camins: “Reform” Policies Are Unsubstantiated

Arthur Camins, Director of the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ., points put that drug makers are not allowed to make unsubstantiated claims. They are required to gather evidence and to disclose possible negative side effects. They can make boasts, offer up dubious facts, and get away with it. They speak about the indi

7 by dianeravitch / 2h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 7-5-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGJohn Stocks Gets Angry at the NEA conventionJohn Stocks, the executive director of the NEA, voiced the anger and frustration that so many of the members are feeling. He gave a rip-roaring speech. But, sadly, he did not mention the perfidy of the Obama administration or the duplicitous role of the Gates Foundation in under

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-6-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL, & EF

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:

July’s Infographics & Interactives Galore – Part One

There are just so many good infographics and interactives out there that I’ve begun a new semi-regular feature called “Infographics & Interactives Galore.” You can see others at A Collection Of “The Best…” Lists On Infographics and by searching “infographics” on this blog. I’ll still be publishing separate posts to individually highlight especially useful infographics and interactives, but you

by Larry Ferlazzo / 7min 

Amazing Video: “Fireworks filmed with a drone”

You may have already seen this amazing video that I’m adding to The Best Websites For Learning About The Fourth Of July:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 33min

“StepUp.io” Lets You Edit & Splice Together An Existing Video

StepUp.io is a new site that lets you easily pick any YouTube video, pick the specific segments you want to show from it, and then put them all together. That ability could be useful, though I think the option of making the segments “looping” is just an annoying feature. What would really make StepUp.io very helpful would be if they added the ability to get segments from multiple videos and put t

by Larry Ferlazzo / 42min 

Three Good Resources On Understanding Education Research

© 2007 Joel Bedford, Flickr | CC-BY-ND | via Wylio Here are new additions to The Best Resources For Understanding How To Interpret Education Research: The Problem with Research Evidence in Education is from Hunting English. The U.S. Department of Education has published a glossary of education research terms. If the Research is Not Used, Does it Exist? is from The Teachers College Record.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2min hide  //  save

This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Useful Posts & Articles On Education Policy

© 2006 Alex S, Flickr | CC-BY-ND | via Wylio Here are some recent useful resources on educational policy issues: Ten Reform Claims That Teachers Should Know How to Challenge is by Jack Schneider at Ed Week. I’m adding it to The Best Articles Providing An “Overall” Perspective On Education Policy. Teachers And Education Reform, On A Need To Know Basis is from The Shanker Blog. I’m adding it to the

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2min 

More Sites For Learning About Different Cultures

© 2009 Nina Matthews, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Here are some new additions to one of my most popular lists, The Best Sites For Learning About The World’s Different Cultures: What Beauty Looks Like, From Argentina to Vietnam is from The Atlantic. MAP: The most popular sport in every country is from Vox. The amazing diversity of languages around the world, in one map is also from Vox. Here’s a “Sc

by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h 

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 7-5-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYQuote Of The Day: “The Secret of Effective Motivation”The Secret of Effective Motivation is a column in today’s New York Times that’s written by Amy Wrzesniewski and Barry Schwartz. They focus on recent research they’ve done on the difference between “internal” and “instrumental” motives. I

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-6-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy

Wait What?:

  Wait What? All Week

Malloy’s $3 million state funded PR operation

Every day Connecticut taxpayers ask, where do our tax dollars go? Today, thanks to investigative reporter Jon Lender, we got a little glimpse into Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy’s taxpayer funded PR operation. As taxpayers, we pay about $3 million a year for Malloy’s staff in the Governor’s Office. And forget, for a moment, that Connecticut […] The post Malloy’s $3 million state funded PR operation

by jonpelto / 55min 

Hartford Courant picks up Pelto’s statement on $251,000 fee for Hillary Clinton

In an article entitled, Hillary Clinton’s UConn Speech Continues to Draw Criticism, the Hartford Courant writes, Hillary Clinton’s April speech at the University of Connecticut is continuing to spark controversy, with two candidates for governor slamming the school for paying the former senator and secretary of state more than $250,000 for the 30-minute talk. UConn […] The post Hartford Courant pi

by jonpelto / 30min 

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

Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekIs 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 downri

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-6-14 Curmudgucation Week

CURMUDGUCATION:

There Really Is No Superman

Though personally I always wanted to be part of the Doom Patrol (original flavor, not modern artsy version). But no Doom Patrol, either.There is something very seductive about the superhero ideal, the notion that as soon as X gets on the job, things will finally be okay. Here he (yes, almost always he) comes to save the day.There are subtler versions of the superhero ideal as well. Maybe we don't

3 by Peter Greene / 35min 

All Minority Schools

Last Tuesday the Atlantic became the gazillionth news outlet to report that this coming fall, the student population of the US will be less than 50% white.There's remarkably little comment on or discussion of this, even in the Atlantic's article. I can think of several reasons for this to go unremarked.1) It's not exactly news because it's been coming for quite a while. It would be like throwing a

9 by Peter Greene / 52min 

7-5-14 Curmudgucation Week

CURMUDGUCATION:Curmudgucation WeekMeet the New NEA PresidentsIn election results that surprised nobody anywhere, NEA delegates crowned heir apparent Lily Eskelson Garcia the new presidents of NEA.Liana Heitin reported on the election for EdWeek, and... well... I'm excited? Bemused? Worried about Garcia's susceptibility to cognitive dissonance."I believe Secretary Duncan is sincere..."&qu

by mike simpson / 8h 

P21Education Reform: Organizations Undermining the Political Process | Missouri Education Watchdog

P21Education Reform: Organizations Undermining the Political Process | Missouri Education Watchdog:

P21Education Reform: Organizations Undermining the Political Process

inShare

From a Partnership for 21st Century Skills blog entry. Are we a democracy or a republic? Did you vote on this collaborative initiative in your district/state to be implemented?  Whose vision is being implemented?

The following companies and organizations are lending their support to Common Core goals through yet another group named Partnership for 21st Century Skills:

Citizen Audit provides this information about the organization:

(click on graphic to enlarge)

What is the mission of the organization?

Does this sound like an organization pressed into service to sell the Common Core State Standards Initiative?  This mission statement sounds as if it’s lifted from the CCSSI website.  The changing P21Education Reform: Organizations Undermining the Political Process | Missouri Education Watchdog:

NYC Educator: Sharing the Joy

NYC Educator: Sharing the Joy:

Sharing the Joy

I've been following a Twitter exchange for some time now. Apparently someone who works for NEA wants parents to have non-voting status in NEA, and a few Badass Teachers have actively lobbied against this notion. I'm not sure why.

As a teacher, as chapter leader of the largest school in Queens, and as an NYSUT-NEA member, I've long had non-voting status in NEA. In fact, NEA has just elected a new President who's a strong supporter of Common Core, and no one ever asked me or a single person I represent whether or not we wanted to be represented by a CCSS proponent. I say, if we're not asking teachers what they think, why not follow by not asking parents either?

Parents have as much right to be ignored by union leadership as we do. If NEA and AFT are going to not represent members, can't they also manage to not represent parents? It's pretty clear to me that both parents and teachers in NY State oppose Common Core. As long as leadership doesn't give a crap what teachers think, why not extend public school parents an olive branch by letting them know they don't give a crap what they think either?

I've been teaching for almost 30 years, and I say there's no reason to be overly possessive of our lack of voice in union. Those of us in the United Federation of Teachers know better than anyone what it is to have no voice, so I feel particularly qualified to opine on this. In fact, every single representative we have in NYSUT, NEA, and AFT has signed a loyalty oath to NYC Educator: Sharing the Joy:

Tennessee and Its Most Recent Performance on the NAEP |:

Tennessee and Its Most Recent Performance on the NAEP

Following up on three posts over the past few months — the first about Tennessee Commissioner Huffman’s (un)inspiring TEDxNashville talk in which he vociferously celebrated Tennessee students’ recent (albeit highly questionable) gains on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) scores, the second about Huffman’s (and the Tennessee Department of Education’s) unexpected postponement of the release of its state-level (TCAP) standardized test scores, test scores that were, by law, to account for 15 to 25 percent of Tennessee students’ final grades, and the third about some of the “behind the scenes” details surrounding what might actually be going on in Tennessee –  it seems Tennessee’s most recent NAEP scores are in!

Recall that two years after Commissioner Huffman arrived “Tennessee’s kids had the most growth of any kids in America” on the NAEP. This was celebrated by both U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and President Obama, as evidence that tying accountability measures to teacher-level growth in fact works to increase student achievement.

Well, as per the most recent NAEP scores just released, Tennessee students’ mathematics and reading scores have gone, more or less, flat. More specifically, and as per Gary Rubenstein’s recent post, in Tennessee “3-8 Reading dropped from 50.3% to Tennessee and Its Most Recent Performance on the NAEP |:

Russ on Reading: Putting Students First: Reformers Don’t Know What that Means

Russ on Reading: Putting Students First: Reformers Don’t Know What that Means:

Putting Students First: Reformers Don’t Know What that Means

 If you want to put children first, you must also put the adults who are working closest with them, their parents and their teachers, first.

The corporate education reformers love to talk about putting students first. Uber-reformer, Michelle Rhee, loves to say it so much she named her multi-million dollar non-profit StudentsFirst. When reformers attack teachers and teacher unions, they say it is because they are putting students first. When they support lawsuits attacking teacher job protections, it is because they are putting students first. The reformy state appointed superintendent in Newark, NJ, Cami Anderson, says that too many adults are getting in the way of her plans to close neighborhood schools and hand them over to charter operators “for the kids.” Even Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, who has sytematically decimated public schools in Philadelphia through budget cuts, claimed he was putting students first with an agreement to raise a cigarette tax to aid Philly schools.

To paraphrase the immortal words of Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride, “You reformers keep saying students first, but I don’t think you know what that means.”

Allow me to explain what it means.

I suppose most of us have flown so often by now that we don’t really pay Russ on Reading: Putting Students First: Reformers Don’t Know What that Means: