Appearance of conflict | Recordnet.com

Appearance of conflict Recordnet.com:

"A clause in Amato's contract permits 'outside professional activities,' which apparently is interpreted as consulting work.

That's deeply troubling for at least two reasons. First, it sets the stage for exactly the kind of potential conflict of interest that is being investigated. Second, the many and complex problems facing SUSD are more than enough for any superintendent without being pulled away to address the energy-draining problems of others.

Amato is being paid a full-time salary to devote his full energies to Stockton Unified. That should be enough without consulting, too.

It is common for superintendents, trustees and other school officials to attend educational conferences. Valuable information and personal connections can result.

But there are dangers in such conferences, too, especially those sponsored by companies trying to sell their products or services.

As Lincoln Unified Superintendent Steve Lowder said, 'It's easy to make mistakes.'"

Ted Kennedy buried, most influential liberal of our time?

Ted Kennedy buried, most influential liberal of our time?:

"It was onto that final point that Senator Ted Kennedy held the strongest. Ted Kennedy’s actions as a senator championed a long list of causes to not only give all citizens equal rights, but also to give them equal access to services and a helping hand when nobody else would.

He proposed Head Start in 1964, to provide comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.

He strongly supported Title IX, 'No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.'

He fought for the Family and Medical Leave Act, allowing an employee to take job-protected unpaid leave due to a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform his or her job, to care for a sick family member, or to care for a new child (including by birth, adoption or foster care).

Though proposed by Republican President George W. Bush immediately after he took office, Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy believed in its principal and led the fight as a sponsor of the No Child Left Behind Act which was a form of standards-based education reform in hopes of improving education in this country."

Back to school tips: Play even if your child won't

Back to school tips: Play even if your child won't:

"But when you have a child with special needs in a neurotypical school, sometimes you may feel it's hard to find a place for both you and your autie child.

This is why volunteering is so much more important for us AU parents. Being a part of your child's school will give you many chances to educate other parents about your child and what autism means in the public schools. You would be surprised at how many parents in your child's school don't know what autism is or even that there are children diagnosed with autism there in the school.

It also gives you a chance to get to know other parents and learn about what the typical kids are up to in their school classrooms and activities. If your child is in a contained or clustered classroom (with only other AU children) you may feel a bit isolated from the other activities going on in school.

Many parents of autie children feel that the school activities just aren't made for their kids. For instance, my child's school has an evening dance every year. Even though this event isn't yet suitable for my seven year-old, I still attend every year and help with the festivities. When the year arrives that my child is ready to attend, I'll know just what to expect."

Boston schools to help parents take a wider role in education - The Boston Globe

Boston schools to help parents take a wider role in education - The Boston Globe:

"Boston school officials, increasingly concerned about a lack of parental involvement, will launch a program this fall to give mothers and fathers an opportunity to learn how to help their children with homework, talk with teachers, or take on a volunteer leadership role.

Parent University will also help parents write résumés and develop career goals and will hold a graduation for participants at year’s end.
The program opens as state and national policy makers stress the need for urban parents to take an active role in their children’s education."

Tweet the Governor about Education… and other topics too

Tweet the Governor about Education… and other topics too:

"On Tuesday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger launched www.MyIdea4CA.com, a Web site for Twitter users to share their ideas about improving California. The website acts as a Twitter forum, and follows up from the June 2009 public invitation to tweet the Governor about new ideas on the state budget. Not everyone thinks this is a great idea, however.

A recent USA Today article explores the perspectives of “Twitter haters”. In sum, “Twitter haters” lament the way that Twitter and other forms of social media seem to dull users’ desire for face to face interaction.

There is an alternate, and perhaps more popular, perspective: The adoption of social media by public figures from President Obama to Ashton Kutcher and everyone in between, have provided a way for everyday Americans to be more engaged than ever in public life."

Larry Levine: I want the California spirit of my childhood back - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Larry Levine: I want the California spirit of my childhood back - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:


"California was a place of soaring hopes and dreams, of optimism and strength. We paid our taxes and enjoyed the fruits of what we sowed. Our community colleges were the envy of the nation; our highway system was unrivaled; we created a conveyance system to move water to build great cities and a giant agricultural economy; our university and state college systems set a standard to which others would aspire. Republican and Democratic legislators put their partisan ideologies aside to focus on what was best for California and its people. Besides, I could play golf in January and drive around with the top down on my car in February."

Cloonan grouping pilot offers lessons for middle school reform - The Advocat

Cloonan grouping pilot offers lessons for middle school reform - The Advocate

"Students assigned to lower ability groups said that it felt good to 'feel equal,' " according to the report. Teachers, too, remarked the difference and worried that returning to the old grouping system would be a "huge disappointment" for these students.

At the other end, high-achieving students reported, "It felt good to support and help others;" however, they also complained of more disruptions and receiving less support and leniency from teachers.

"Not one person interviewed mentioned that this pilot was beneficial in any way for high-achieving children, other than 'helping' lower-achieving children," Arda Arslanian, the mother of a former sixth-grade participant, wrote in an e-mail. "This point is what many parents who have questioned the district's non-ability grouping drive are concerned about."

While some students perceived a jump in discipline problems, Rudolph said that disciplinary referrals dropped to zero during the seven weeks. By comparison, the administration typically received three or four disciplinary referrals during a regular week.

As for concerns about higher achieving students, he said, they had received a rigorous curriculum, and for the most part were challenged by it. However, instruction wasn't perfect.

"That's why we wanted to do the pilot," he said. "We needed to see where we had to tighten up, and where we fall short -- and we found out at times we did."

Oakland's big algebra push - Inside Bay Area

Oakland's big algebra push - Inside Bay Area:

"It's widely agreed that students' success in high school and even college can hinge on whether they master algebra — and that far too many fall short, especially in poor communities. An Oakland school district analysis this spring found that students were no more likely to pass Algebra I as ninth-graders, after an extra year of preparation, than as eighth-graders, said Brad Stam, the district's chief academic officer.
But the algebra problem itself is so deeply rooted, its solutions so complex, that some say the 'algebra for all' approach is too simplistic and that it will end up hurting some students."

Why teachers like me can't stay | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Why teachers like me can't stay detnews.com The Detroit News:

"But high teacher turnover, in my millennial opinion, still matters, even with eager rookies waiting in the wings.

Having a base of teachers who teach for more than a token few years is critical to school reform. It helps principals and school leaders develop trusting relationships with teachers. It helps teachers collaborate with one another. Most of all, it helps students. A teacher with experience is not always a good teacher, but a good teacher is always better after a few years of experience. As my former principal not-so-subtly put it: 'The kids don't need one-year wonders. There is no such thing as a one-year wonder.'

Four-year wonders are better than nothing, but still not enough.
Sarah Fine was a teacher, department chair and instructional coach"

Teachers promised: 'We will succeed' - MassLive.com

Teachers promised: 'We will succeed' - MassLive.com:

"'We will succeed, I promise you,' Ingram said. 'I believe there is a special place in heaven reserved for teachers and others who dedicate their lives to making the lives of children better. There are plenty of jobs that pay more money than that of being a teacher, but no job in America is more important.'

Ingram said he stands united with teachers, and promised that the 'number one core value is what is best for kids, and kids will always come first.'

Teachers in attendance said the convocation is an uplifting start to the school year, including the speeches and musical performances by students.

'This always kind of motivates me, especially seeing the children perform,' said Sara N. Tourscher, a 6th grade teacher at Duggan Middle School. 'It always brings a tear to my eye.'
'I felt really good,' said Arria N. Coburn, a special education teacher at Springfield Renaissance School. 'I felt we are really equipped this year to go in and start fresh.'

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, chairman of the School Committee, said the city is making physical improvements to the schools, but 'it's really you - teachers, staff and administrators - that make the place shine.' Sarno praised the impact that teachers have on the future success of students.

Timothy T. Collins, president of the Springfield Education Association, said the schools have been under severe financial constraints. The improvements still being made are 'a testament to the energy, idealism and enthusiasm of both the new people to our school district and the loyalty and dedication of our veteran teachers.'"

City schools seek $50 million from Gates Foundation

City schools seek $50 million from Gates Foundation:

"Until today, details of Pittsburgh's proposal, including the amount sought from the foundation, had been known only to a handful of senior district and union officials. Union President John Tarka said he would provide highlights at a meeting of building representatives this morning.

The proposal calls for performance pay for teachers, extra pay for those taking on special assignments and creation of an 'academy' to train new and experienced teachers. The proposal also calls for changing the tenure system and systematically pushing out ineffective teachers.

Many provisions, including performance pay, would require union members' approval through the collective bargaining process.
Last spring, Pittsburgh, eight other districts nationwide and a group of Los Angeles charter schools were invited to submit proposals for the Gates Foundation's $500 million initiative on teacher effectiveness"

How to Get the Teachers We Want : Education Next

How to Get the Teachers We Want : Education Next:

"Schools require all teachers to devote time and energy to bureaucratic duties, patrolling hallways and cafeterias, taking attendance, and compiling report cards. The problem here is that school and district officials are conscious of expenses related to salary and materials but fail to account for the opportunity costs of not leveraging the talent already in the schools. Even schools that tout their commitment to professional development and data-driven instruction press teachers to operate as generalists rather than leveraging their particular skills.

Two decades of surveys by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) suggest that the typical teacher spends only about 68 percent of classroom time on instruction related to core academic subjects, with the remainder consumed by administrative tasks, fund-raising, assemblies, socialization, and so forth. Provisions for substantial numbers of sick days as well as collective bargaining agreements and management practices that result in the universal imposition of noninstructional responsibilities have all conspired to ensure that schools do not maximize the contributions from the talent they do have."

Forced to Hire From Within, New York City Principals Leave Jobs Unfilled - NYTimes.com

Forced to Hire From Within, New York City Principals Leave Jobs Unfilled - NYTimes.com:

"Facing steep budget cuts, the Education Department enacted a hiring freeze in the spring, requiring principals with openings to hire teachers who are already on the city’s payroll but who have no permanent position, often because their schools were closed for poor performance.

But many principals prefer new teachers. So in an act of quiet defiance, they are allowing jobs to sit vacant, leading to one of the most difficult hiring seasons in recent history despite the large number of vacancies and the thousands of candidates who could fill them.

Teachers who lost their old posts are frustrated about the scarcity of job offers. New teachers who cannot get hired are furious after upending their lives to begin careers they must now delay. And principals are upset that after years of choosing their work force, their options are being drastically limited."

Comment of the day: The rest of the story on teacher pay raises - OregonLive.com

Comment of the day: The rest of the story on teacher pay raises - OregonLive.com:


"Negotiations are a process, as you well know. What concessions are being offered for the 2% request on the table? Districts want additional hours and duties be added to the school day, a lengthened school year and furlough days. If an employer wants more hours AND more days AND more responsibility ... wait a second. Who's greedy? My, my, you've omitted more than half the story. I can't tell if you wish to prevent, or want to incite, new angry mobs now that the town hall frenzy has subsided.

Presently, my colleagues are already looking at larger class sizes. The numbers are up to 28-29 in primary grades at one of the more economically challenged schools. This is not counting the children whose parents will mosey in to register them a week after school has begun. This isn't a matter of increasing class sizes to give teachers a raise. It's a matter of class sizes already being huge, and making them even larger with no compensation. That, Jack Flack, is unreasonable."

'Cooperative education must for India, China, US': Rediff Business News, Latest India business news, India Economy news, World Business, Finance news, Latest business headlines, business videos and business articles.

'Cooperative education must for India, China, US': Rediff Business News, Latest India business news, India Economy news, World Business, Finance news, Latest business headlines, business videos and business articles.:

"If India, China and the United States are to prosper in a globalised economy, a joint, cooperative transformation of their higher education systems was imperative, believes B M Naik, former principal of the engineering school at the Guru Gobind Singh College in Nanded, Maharashtra. Naik is now a consultant on entrepreneurship focusing on science, technology and engineering for private sector investors setting up higher education institutions.

Naik, who has published extensively policy articles on how to alleviate India's higher education and served on several accreditation boards, said, 'To bring about this transformation from one level to the high level and to the global level and quality standard education, what is most important is that these ideas must move fast from one country to another.'"

Detroit teachers’ union blocks strike action against wage cuts, layoffs

Detroit teachers’ union blocks strike action against wage cuts, layoffs:

"The Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) on Wednesday agreed to extend its current contract until October 31, preempting a possible strike by 6,000 teachers as schools open September 8. The teachers, whose contract expired in late June, are opposing demands for sweeping wage and benefit concessions from a financial manager appointed by Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm.

The DFT had called a mass membership meeting for Sunday afternoon where teachers were scheduled to vote on whether or not to strike. It is evident that the union leadership, which has publicly opposed strike action, was concerned they could lose control of the meeting and have a repeat of the experiences of 1999 and 2006, when teachers voted overwhelmingly to walk out."

An experiment in teacher pay | PRI.ORG

An experiment in teacher pay PRI.ORG:

"The average salary for middle-school teachers is $46,000, according to the Department of Labor. But a charter school in New York's Washington Heights will be paying a salary of $125,000, trying to find out if better pay means a better education.

Zeke Vanderhoek, the founder and principal of the charter school The Equity Project (TEP).

Vanderhoek believes teacher quality is key to student achievement, and a higher salary will attract quality, 'The point of the money is two-fold: one, it really values outstanding people who are in teaching right now ... and opposed to simply paying lip-service to valuing them. And the other is the hope is it attracts a broader pool of candidates into teaching itself, and a more talented pool as a whole.'"

New York Charter School Has Big Dreams for Small Cash Flow - ABC News

New York Charter School Has Big Dreams for Small Cash Flow - ABC News:

"In addition to the rigorous standards for test scores, attendance, and parent satisfaction by which all New York charter schools are measured, The Equity Project has set its own goals. It expects students to show progress in writing, for instance, by adding a sample to a portfolio every two weeks from each subject area. And within four years, they should be able to perform competently in a musical ensemble."

DOCTORS AND TEACHERS MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT

DOCTORS AND TEACHERS MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT:

"Teaching and student learning; health care and better health are not linear relationships. There are too many human variables that , up to now, have been uncontrollable.

All the expertise of the physician gets undermined when patients don’t follow through on medical advice such as don’t smoke, don’t eat too much salt. Many patients, even those with sufficient funds, don’t fill and take their prescriptions.

All the expertise of a teacher gets undermined when children are poorly fed, left unsupervised at home , and come to school without encouragement from home to do their best.

There is an eagerness of patients and families to forgive and forget their own personal responsibility for better health and stronger education."

Title I School Improvement Grants

Title I School Improvement Grants:


"Every state must identify the bottom five percent of its Title I schools in school improvement status and target the majority of the school improvement funds to implement robust and comprehensive reforms to dramatically transform school culture and improve student academic outcomes. The Secretary is offering states flexibility to concentrate funding over multiple years to support the kind of dramatic, far-reaching changes that have not been possible under the existing program. Because Title I disproportionately supports elementary schools, the Secretary will grant waivers allowing states and districts to use school improvement funds to intervene in low-performing secondary schools that are eligible for, but don't receive, Title I money."