Monday, December 14, 2020

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDOUTBREAK #CHANGEGONNACOME #BIDEN

THE TOP BANANA
TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES

They Didn't Turn In Their Work For Remote School. Their Parents Were Threatened With Court And Fines. | HuffPost - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/truancy-remote-learning_n_5fd3aa5fc5b66a758414b732 on @HuffPostPol

Wave of federal charter school funding on its way to N.H. - https://www.concordmonitor.com/Fiscal-Committee-approves-doubling-NH-charter-schools-$46-million-grant-37734794#new_tab on @conmonitornews

Disability Rights Groups Send Letter Opposing Biden's Potential Education Secretary Pick - https://www.newsweek.com/disability-rights-groups-send-letter-opposing-bidens-potential-education-secretary-pick-1554189#new_tab on @newsweek

Depression Among Children Has Increased ‘Substantially’ Under Lockdown: Study | The Daily Wire - https://www.dailywire.com/news/depression-among-children-has-increased-under-lockdown-study#new_tab on @realDailyWire

SC schools modify plans amid teacher outcry, COVID-19 surge: 'They just want to quit' | News | postandcourier.com - https://www.postandcourier.com/news/sc-schools-modify-plans-amid-teacher-outcry-covid-19-surge-they-just-want-to-quit/article_a7054114-3b12-11eb-8bfb-6758a1cfec2a.html#new_tab on @postandcourier

Maine public school enrollments drop amid pandemic - Portland Press Herald - https://www.pressherald.com/?p=5772914 by @PPHEricRussell on @pressherald

Florida’s mental health system for school kids a ‘mess’, grand jury says - https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2020/12/11/floridas-mental-health-system-for-school-kids-a-mess-grand-jury-says/#new_tab on TB_Times

Exclusive: We finally know how much kids spread coronavirus. Here’s how it can help schools. - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/we-now-know-how-much-children-spread-coronavirus/# via @NatGeo

Nearly a quarter of Boston public high school students not logging into classes daily as course failure rates rise - The Boston Globe - https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/12/metro/nearly-quarter-boston-public-high-school-students-not-logging-into-classes-daily-course-failure-rates-rising/#new_tab on @BostonGlobe

The Pandemic Hasn’t Stopped This School District From Suing Parents Over Unpaid Textbook Fees https://www.propublica.org/article/the-pandemic-hasnt-stopped-this-school-district-from-suing-parents-over-unpaid-textbook-fees

With the Virus Surging, Arizona Teachers Protest by Calling In Sick - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/coronavirus-schools-arizona-sickout.html#new_tab

Focus on union leader as Biden searches for education secretary - The Washington Post - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/education-secretary-search-union-leader/2020/12/11/5787e77a-3bc8-11eb-bc68-96af0daae728_story.html#new_tab

COVID online school means students are behind, but lack tutoring plan - https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/education/2020/12/13/covid-online-school-tutoring-plan/6334907002/#new_tab

Michigan doesn’t have a plan to find missing students - Chalkbeat Detroit - https://detroit.chalkbeat.org/2020/12/11/22170407/michigan-missing-students-coronavirus#new_tab on chalkbeat

Report: Indiana's teacher pay problem can be fixed — for $600 million - https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2020/12/14/report-indianas-teacher-pay-problem-can-fixed-600-million/6537828002/#new_tab via @indystar

Schools look to bring back kids failed by distance learning - South Florida Sun-Sentinel - https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-south-florida-schools-students-return-20201213-oeaincaqxjbofgztiiflz6wpki-story.html#new_tab via @SunSentinel

‘Herculean efforts’ — Most San Antonio school districts find ways to reward teachers, staff - ExpressNews.com - https://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/Herculean-efforts-Most-San-Antonio-15795884.php#new_tab on @mysa

From an M.D.: Keep Your Well Deserved Title, Dr. Jill Biden https://www.laprogressive.com/keep-your-well-deserved-title/ #press #feedly

Boston Teachers Union passes vote of no confidence in superintendent | Boston.com - https://www.boston.com/?p=20623974 by arianna-macneill

CDC: Schools Need Additional $442 Per Student to Reopen Safely | Education News | US News

by Mike Simpson / 11min

CDC: Schools Need Additional $442 Per Student to Reopen Safely The figure represents the total cost for schools implementing all safety measures for the approximately 51 million students enrolled in public schools in the U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. need as much as $22 billion to reopen for in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new estimate from the Centers for Di

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 35min

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile_12.html Diary of a Song: How Prince Wrote a Political Anthem That’s Still Relevant Today by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h 'Breaking down the 1987 track, “Sign o’ the Times,” that’s still powerfully resonant today,

Teacher Tom: I See It Every Day in Preschool

by Mike Simpson / 47min

I See It Every Day in Preschool Former Federal Reserve Chair and Joe Biden's nominee for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has expressed the opinion that it's okay for the US to add trillions to our nation debt in order to improve education. Yellen is an impressive person. She is respected on both sides of the political aisle, having served at high levels under both Democrats and Republicans and s

TODAY'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Education Research Report Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK Education Research Report - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-education-research-report_12.html Least Advantaged Benefit Most From Attending Effective Schools by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 47min This study estimates the longer-run effects of attending an effective high school (one that improves a combination of test scores, su

PROOF POINTS: 114 studies on flipped classrooms show small payoff for big effort - The Hechinger Report

by Mike Simpson / 1h

114 studies on flipped classrooms show small payoff for big effort Research also hints at the importance of live video instruction during remote learning In a flipped classroom, students watch video lectures before class and use class time to work on assignments and group projects. It’s “flipped” because it’s the opposite of the traditional structure in which students first learn from a teacher’

Sunday, December 13, 2020 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-i

About that PhD. – Fred Klonsky

by Mike Simpson / 1h

ABOUT THAT PHD. With all the crises facing folks these days, some may wonder about why the hell are we talking about Jill Biden and her title as a doctor? The Wall Street Journal, which published the original op-ed piece by Joseph Epstein, doubled down. Top WSJ editor Paul Gigot complained about critics of the column playing the gender card. Whatever that is. Dr. Biden has earned her title. She

Ugly Attacks on Teachers and Teachers Unions | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Ugly Attacks on Teachers and Teachers Unions As a candidate for President, Joseph Biden promised to appoint a teacher or someone experienced in public school education as U.S. Secretary of Education. Now as Biden is appointing the members of his Cabinet, we are reading opinion pieces filled with all the old conventional biases against schoolteachers in general and against the National Education

Will Civics Education Help Students Make Better Decisions? [It’s complicated] | Ed In The Apple

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Will Civics Education Help Students Make Better Decisions? [It’s complicated] In my role as President of the Education Alumni Association at a local college I host a “Principal and Community Breakfast” every February. We invite a policy maker, a researcher, or a scholar to make a presentation to local principals and activists. This year we invited a speaker from the US Census; she made an excell

Education Matters: Why isn't planning fair across grade levels

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Why isn't planning fair across grade levels If you follow my blog, you know I am not happy with the new contract offer; however, the district's disrespect and playing a shell game with money, moving it around to keep it out of the hands of teachers who should be getting it, aren't my only concerns; another is why isn't planning equitable across grade levels? Why in some schools do teachers get 9

CURMUDGUCATION: Schools, Supposedly, Have Caused the Fall of US Religion

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Schools, Supposedly, Have Caused the Fall of US Religion The Christian Church has been suffering a steady and rapid decline for a few decades now, a trend noted by many social scientists, and a source of struggle within many churches that are looking for ways to fill newly-emptied pews. You can look at many data sets on the subject. The folks at Pew Research find that there's a stark generationa

City Council candidate education briefing | Class Size Matters | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes

by Mike Simpson / 1h

City Council candidate education briefing | Class Size Matters City Council candidate education briefing | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes City Council candidate education briefing On Dec. 9, 2020, Class Size Matter and NYC Kids PAC held an online briefing for City Council candidates and campaign staff. About 85 or so candidates participated.

Mike Klonsky's Blog: The shame of a nation.

by Mike Simpson / 1h

The shame of a nation. My blood is boiling after seeing news and videos of violent American fascists ("Proud Boys) being turned loose on mask wearers and counter-protesters in D.C. yesterday. This follows by days 126 Republican congressmen and 17 red-state attorneys general signin

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 12/12/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDOUTBREAK #BIDENWINS #TOPBANANAHEADLINES

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 12/12/20 ‘Slaying Goliath’: Diane Ravitch argues in new book that public education advocates have beat back efforts to privatize schools - The Washington Post The real story of New

Big Education Ape

CDC: Schools Need Additional $442 Per Student to Reopen Safely | Education News | US News

CDC: Schools Need Additional $442 Per Student to Reopen Safely

The figure represents the total cost for schools implementing all safety measures for the approximately 51 million students enrolled in public schools in the U.S.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. need as much as $22 billion to reopen for in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[

SEE:

The Latest News on the Coronavirus Outbreak ]

The estimate, which is significantly lower than other school reopening estimates compiled by various national education organizations, notably does not account for the additional costs of providing face masks for students, teachers and staff, additional costs for food service, additional costs for contract tracing, which the CDC recommends as "an essential strategy to reduce transmission," or additional costs related to social distancing.

The report, published Friday, estimates that schools need as much as $442 per student to cover the additional costs to implement three buckets of safety measures the CDC recommends, including materials and consumables, which cover things like sanitization products and physical barriers for classrooms, additional custodial staff and additional transportation.

The $22 billion figure represents the total costs for schools implementing all safety measures for the approximately 51 million students enrolled in public schools in the U.S.

Outliers include Utah, where schools would need up to $204 in additional per-student spending, and Washington, D.C., where the CDC estimated schools would need as much as $912 in additional per-student spending. The variation in state estimates is driven largely by transportation costs, including the needs for additional buses and drivers to abide by social distancing recommendations.

"Successfully operating schools during the COVID-19 pandemic requires sufficient resources to implement and sustain effective mitigation strategies," the report states. "Although the list of resources identified in this analysis is not exhaustive, the cost estimates illustrate the level of resources needed to help ensure that schools both reopen and operate in the safest possible manner."

[

READ:

No Vaccine, No School? ]

The cost estimate comes as congressional leaders stand paralyzed in their renewed efforts to provide a fresh round of coronavirus relief – this after months of squabbling between the White House, Senate Republicans and House Democrats scuttled previous efforts to provide federal support before the presidential election in November.

Congress previously provided $13.5 billion to K-12 schools in the spring. Since then, state chiefs, CONTINUE READING: CDC: Schools Need Additional $442 Per Student to Reopen Safely | Education News | US News

Teacher Tom: I See It Every Day in Preschool

I See It Every Day in Preschool

Former Federal Reserve Chair and Joe Biden's nominee for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has expressed the opinion that it's okay for the US to add trillions to our nation debt in order to improve education.

Yellen is an impressive person. She is respected on both sides of the political aisle, having served at high levels under both Democrats and Republicans and she has been talking about the importance of education for most of her career. One can use your favorite search engine to go back and time to find her regularly saying things like this from a 2016 speech to graduates of the University of Baltimore:

"Economists are not certain about many things. But we are quite certain that a college diploma or an advanced degree is a key to economic success."

And from a talk to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition:

"Probably the most important workforce development strategy is improving the quality of general education."

She's said similar things about education from preschool through high school, touting spending on schools as a way to close the wealth gap in our country, addressing poverty as well as to stimulate the economy overall. Her elevation is a reason to celebrate, right? Our schools have long been underfunded. Finally, someone in high office is speaking our language. And best of all, she seems to have the ear of both sides, which means that maybe, just maybe, we can make education funding one of those rarest of birds in the political aviary: a bipartisan issue.

The truth, however, is that education, in my lifetime, has always been a bipartisan issue. Both sides are equally wrong. I've been listening to public officials talk about education for decades, and whatever their political stripe, none of them CONTINUE READING: Teacher Tom: I See It Every Day in Preschool

PROOF POINTS: 114 studies on flipped classrooms show small payoff for big effort - The Hechinger Report

114 studies on flipped classrooms show small payoff for big effort

Research also hints at the importance of live video instruction during remote learning

In a flipped classroom, students watch video lectures before class and use class time to work on assignments and group projects. It’s “flipped” because it’s the opposite of the traditional structure in which students first learn from a teacher’s in-class instruction.

Advocates believe that students learn more when class time is spent actively learning instead of passively listening. Flipped classrooms also free up class time for teachers to help students individually, as a tutor does.

Over the past decade, flipping has spread across U.S. classrooms, from city college campuses to suburban elementary schools. But like many trends in education, the novelty took hold before the evidence mounted.

Now there is a significant body of research to answer the question of whether students learn more. The underwhelming answer from more than 100 studies of flipped classrooms is yes, but only slightly.

“My takeaway message is that it could be better,” said researcher David C.D. van Alten, referring to a flipped classroom, in an email interview. “But only when it is appropriately designed.” Van Alten, a doctoral student, led the research team at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, which conducted the largest meta-analysis to date of flipped classrooms in the CONTINUE READING: PROOF POINTS: 114 studies on flipped classrooms show small payoff for big effort - The Hechinger Report

About that PhD. – Fred Klonsky

ABOUT THAT PHD.

With all the crises facing folks these days, some may wonder about why the hell are we talking about Jill Biden and her title as a doctor?

The Wall Street Journal, which published the original op-ed piece by Joseph Epstein, doubled down. Top WSJ editor Paul Gigot complained about critics of the column playing the gender card.

Whatever that is.

Dr. Biden has earned her title. She plans to continue to teach at a community college.

But what would be a shame is if the moment was lost to ask what exactly the Biden administration has planned for secondary education, student debt, junior colleges, adjunct pay and job protection?

Over 70% of U.S. instructors in higher education are adjuncts or never-to-be CONTINUE READING: About that PhD. – Fred Klonsky

Ugly Attacks on Teachers and Teachers Unions | janresseger

Ugly Attacks on Teachers and Teachers Unions

As a candidate for President, Joseph Biden promised to appoint a teacher or someone experienced in public school education as U.S. Secretary of Education. Now as Biden is appointing the members of his Cabinet, we are reading opinion pieces filled with all the old conventional biases against schoolteachers in general and against the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.

Many Republicans are suspicious of teachers unions, but a lot of the current attacks on teachers are coming from Democrats—from the supporters of the “corporate school reformer” education policies of President Barack Obama and his education secretary, Arne Duncan. These are Democrats who adhere to the neoliberal policies that endorsed school privatization in the form of charter schools whose operation is entirely private. Some of these Democrats are people who promote business school school accountability based on incentives and punishments said to increase teachers’ productivity. The current protesters are worried about the possibility that President Elect Biden will appoint Lily Eskelsen Garcia, NEA’s recent president, or Randi Weingarten, AFT’s current president, as the next U.S. Secretary of Education.

Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal printed an extraordinary classist, sexist, elitist, and insultingly anti-teacher screed by Joseph Epstein, the former editor of The American Scholar. Here is how Epstein begins his personal attack on Jill Biden: “Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo… Your degree is, I believe, an Ed.D., a doctor of education, earned at the CONTINUE READING: Ugly Attacks on Teachers and Teachers Unions | janresseger

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Monday, December 14, 2020