WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | Teacher inequalities still haunt Nashville schools

WBIR.com Knoxville, TN Teacher inequalities still haunt Nashville schools:

"Students attending schools at the center of Metro's controversial rezoning plan are more likely to be taught by inexperienced teachers, despite incentives to attract and retain staff at the high-poverty schools.

Teachers at nine select schools affected by the rezoning were offered a 5 percent pay increase or the chance to earn more money through training sessions, but at every school the average level of teaching experience decreased.

The problem goes beyond schools involved in the rezoning. Across the district, poor students are more likely to be taught by a new teacher than are their wealthier peers. It's a trend that has gotten worse in the past year, according to a Tennessean analysis of teacher profile data.

As a whole, Metro's teachers are less experienced. In 2008, Tennessean data showed that 23.2 percent of the district's 5,000 teachers had fewer than three years of experience, compared with 32.4 percent in 2009."

My Plan for the UC’s Future >>

My Plan for the UC’s Future >>:

"Students are justifiably angry over my recent proposal to raise their fees by nearly a third over the next two years. I’m angry too. As an educator who has dedicated my career to the incredible promise of public education, it pains me to see this uniquely American institution under assault. This country’s land grant institutions – of which UC is the finest – represent a contract between the states and their namesake universities to educate outstanding students, regardless of their ability to pay, so that they may go on to serve the public and advance society’s interests.

We at the University of California have upheld our end of the deal: giving students of all backgrounds a world-class education, generating life-changing knowledge (we earned our 56th and 57th Nobel prizes this month), providing medical care and contributing to our state’s cultural, scientific and economic life. Meanwhile, our partner, the state, has been systematically divesting from the University. In 1990, we received the equivalent of $15,860 in today’s dollars from the state per student: that figure is now $7730. In other words, we have half as much in state funds to spend per student as we did twenty years ago."

Latino churches front line of census battle - LA Daily News

Latino churches front line of census battle - LA Daily News:

"Storefront Latino evangelical churches in the San Fernando Valley and throughout California have become the front line of the 2010 Census battle to count the country's exploding, but elusive, immigrant population.

'We are no longer just about saving souls,' said the Rev. Aaron Morales, pastor of Christian Adonai Church in Van Nuys, 'but about counting them, too.'

Pastors such as Morales have emerged as prominent boosters of the upcoming census as traditional Latino leaders face increasing pressure from large U.S. Latino organizations and other religious clerics who are spearheading a census boycott to force Washington to deal with immigration reform.

Census proponents say millions of dollars in federal aid could be lost if millions of immigrants continue to go uncounted or undercounted."

Endorsement Proves Newsom's Potential as California Governor - Daily Nexus

Endorsement Proves Newsom's Potential as California Governor - Daily Nexus:

"On Monday, Oct. 5, former President Bill Clinton formally endorsed Gavin Newsom, San Francisco’s young and charismatic mayor, for his gubernatorial bid. Newsom first gained national attention when he realized that his constituents were being denied basic rights, like the freedom to marry. In order to correct this rather egregious assault on justice, in February of 2004, then newly-elected Mayor Newsom began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco. Since 2004, Mayor Newsom has continued the fight for full equality and the same rights and benefits extended to all. Newsom repeatedly said, “Denying certain people the right to marry is wrong and inconsistent with the values this country holds dear.” During the last election cycle, Mayor Newsom actively campaigned against Prop. 8, visiting college campuses to rally young people and raise money for the fight for equality."

D.C. School Vouchers Have a Brighter Outlook in Congress - WSJ.com

D.C. School Vouchers Have a Brighter Outlook in Congress - WSJ.com:

"The District of Columbia's embattled school-voucher program, which lawmakers appeared to have killed earlier this year, looks like it could still survive.

Congress voted in March not to fund the program, which provides certificates to pay for recipients' private-school tuition, after the current school year. But after months of pro-voucher rallies, a television-advertising campaign and statements of support by local political leaders, backers say they are more confident about its prospects. Even some Democrats, many of whom have opposed voucher efforts, have been supportive."

In response to the letter from Executive Vice Chancellor Kliger: : Indybay

In response to the letter from Executive Vice Chancellor Kliger: : Indybay:

"A mass email sent to all ucsc.edu emails in response to the recent propaganda sent out by lying bureaucrat scum Dave Kliger
In response to the letter from Executive Vice Chancellor Kliger:

These are times of crisis. Across the nation, workers are losing their jobs, families are losing their homes, and students are losing access to public education. The administration agrees that these are times of crisis, but they refuse to acknowledge how this affects us all. They ask us to tighten our belts for a year, to take furloughs and budget cuts, to accept massive fee hikes. Now, they tell us that attempts to protest and fight back against this are part of the problem and that they add to the costs placed on students and workers. They accuse us of making worse a situation that they have perpetuated and exploited. This is not the case."

According to EVC Kliger: “When added to cleanup costs following the earlier occupation of the Graduate Student Commons, these efforts will run into tens of thousands of dollars — costs directly borne by taxpayers, students and their families. Those dollars are diverted from educating and supporting students.” We reject this entirely. The figures for repairs they invoke are ridiculous. It is hard to fathom that this “cleanup” should cost “tens of thousands of dollars.” If true, they only indicate the corporate structure of the university and its reliance on inflated costs for services, costs that are indeed “placed on students and workers.” More crucially, these are not dollars “diverted from educating and supporting students.” Kliger, of all people, should know very well that this is not how the university works. These sums that he touts to scare and divide people are only a drop in the bucket compared to the real cuts that the administration has overseen and indeed foisted upon those who depend on the university’s functions and services: students, faculty, and workers alike. To insinuate that it is attempts such as these occupations that are responsible for increased costs is a cynical lie. The funds raised by the proposed fee hike, in addition to the laying off of workers and the slashing of student services, will not be directed to preserving or improving the quality of education or access to jobs. They are directed to preserving the bond rating of the institution so that it can borrow money for unnecessary building projects, and to bolstering the state of California’s credit rating against its own future borrowing. We have no illusion that these actions fully or correctly expressed the discontent felt across the UC system and the state. Many disagree with the tactics, and we encourage those who do to join a wider struggle and to pursue their own ways of fighting against this ongoing trend toward the destruction of our education.

Youth Policy Institute

Youth Policy Institute:

"Empowerment
From preschool to afterschool, charter schools, college preparation, tutoring, and adult literacy, YPI offers education services to help low-income families succeed.

Hope
Preparing Los Angeles residents for high wage jobs in growing fields, such as medical office careers. Offering job placement with area employers, as well as day laborer centers.

Access
Family by family, student by student, YPI provides access to computer technology and the skills needed to excel in school and the workplace."

Thomas Elias: Schwarzenegger's legacy is looking negative | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian

Thomas Elias: Schwarzenegger's legacy is looking negative thecalifornian.com The Salinas Californian:

"A little more than one year from today, Californians will elect a successor to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. How will they remember him?"

Will he seem a blustery buffoon who caused far more problems than he resolved, a governator who could not govern? Will he look like a hypocrite who preached against accepting special interest campaign donations, then set records for doing so?

Will the verdict on his appeals for "post-partisanship" be that they were mere nostrums doing little or nothing to prevent the state Legislature from sliding into its most divisive era ever?

Will he be remembered as the spark behind efforts to reform taxation, budget and water policies in California? Will he leave behind a sharp reduction for the California dream of unfettered opportunity for those brave enough to settle here?

These questions remain open, and Schwarzenegger will get opportunities over the next year to fix things that have gone wrong and clean up messes made on his watch.

But right now, things don't look good for the Arnold legacy.

Editorial: A turnaround school inspires - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: A turnaround school inspires - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"What should school districts do when a school fails to meet academic performance targets year after year after year?

Here's one dramatic option: Close the school and reopen it with a new principal, new staff and new curriculum.

That's what San Juan Unified did with its lowest performing school, Jonas Salk Middle School. This was, and remains, a school with 90 percent of the students in poverty. Over the years, the school would launch improvement plans only to be thwarted by high staff turnover (as many as 15 of 34 teachers were new at any given time)."

TeacherTube - Teach the World | Teacher Videos | Lesson Plan Videos | Student Video Lessons | Online Teacher Made Videos | TeacherTube.com

TeacherTube - Teach the World Teacher Videos Lesson Plan Videos Student Video Lessons Online Teacher Made Videos TeacherTube.com:


"After beta testing for almost two months, TeacherTube officially launched on March 6, 2007. Our goal is to provide an online community for sharing instructional videos. We seek to fill a need for a more educationally focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home learners. It is a site to provide anytime, anywhere professional development with teachers teaching teachers. As well, it is a site where teachers can post videos designed for students to view in order to learn a concept or skill.

TeacherTube was the idea of Jason Smith, a 14-year veteran educator. Jason has been a teacher, coach, campus administrator and district administrator in public schools. He asked the question, 'Why can't teachers, students, and schools utilize the power of the read/write web for learning?' To overcome barriers, he decided to just create a site and get started trying to help. He turned to his brother, Adam, who is a younger, digital native, with technical skills. Adam used his skills to develop the site and found a web host. Soon, Jason's wife, Jodie, joined the team to start populating the site with videos and help improve the communication. She too has 14 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, campus technology integrator, and district curriculum coordinator."

Most importantly, TeacherTube community members are a major part of the evolution of the site. Members are encouraged to not only upload educationally relevant videos, but also to make constructive comments and use the rating system to show appreciation for videos of value to one as an educator or learner. Users also have the ability to preserve the integrity of the site by flagging inappropriate videos. TeacherTube staff review flagged sites and will remove any inappropriate posts. With more collegial commentary and discussion through messaging and responses, the quality of this resource will only increase.

The service is free for everyone. We always encourage our users to Contact Us with thoughts, suggestions, or other feedback. We do have a vision for TeacherTube to truly be a better alternative to other video storage sites. With the community's help, it can become more interactive and engaging for all teachers and learners.

School Life & Education - advice videos on Exams, School: Subjects, School Life - For Kids

School Life & Education - advice videos on Exams, School: Subjects, School Life - For Kids:

"School Life & Education For parents, students and teachers alike, education is a critical issue. VideoJug recognizes this. Using professionally made films, and renowned experts, we guide you through all stages of school life, right up to University. We also tackle subjects like students with special needs, preparation for exams and the psychology of learning itself."


Schoolwork: Helping Your Child:
Parental Involvement At School

Dumbing down education weakens U.S. | Detroit Free Press | Freep.com

Dumbing down education weakens U.S. Detroit Free Press Freep.com:

"As if NAFTA's dismantling of America's manufacturing base and corporate destruction of the middle class isn't enough to challenge the needs of the country's national security, now we have a systematic assault on the nation's educational system."

In Michigan, it is the dumbing down of needed math standards to compete globally; at the national level, it is the drying up of funds used to harness the talent of young people who cannot afford an elitist entitlement system that's cost-prohibitive for many.

The common thread of lost manufacturing jobs, a dying middle class and an impaired educational system that promotes inferior curriculum and economic exclusion all serve to undermine the well-being and national security of the country in ways that hostile external elements could never match. The hypocrisy of weakening America while extolling patriotism is a calculated deviousness that, for the sake of the country and the working class, must be challenged.

Method challenges some education myths -- latimes.com

Method challenges some education myths -- latimes.com:

"For years, schools and students have been judged on raw standardized test scores. Experts say this approach is flawed because they tend to reflect socioeconomic levels more than learning.

The 'value-added' approach attempts to level the playing field by focusing on growth rather than achievement. Using a statistical analysis of test scores, it tracks an individual student's improvement year to year, and uses that progress to estimate the effectiveness of teachers, principals and schools.

Academics have also used the approach to test many assumptions about what matters in schools. Scholars are still puzzling over what makes for a great teacher or school, but their results challenge orthodox assumptions like these:"

All teachers are equal.

More money, more learning.

Teachers can't overcome a student's background.

Class size is key.

Bad teachers tend to teach in poor schools.

Teacher experience matters.

Teacher education matters.

Teacher credentials matter.

Special session: Richardson proposes education cut | session, cut, special - News - Clovis News Journal

Special session: Richardson proposes education cut session, cut, special - News - Clovis News Journal:

"SANTA FE (AP) — Gov. Bill Richardson on Saturday proposed a 1.5 percent cut in education spending as New Mexico lawmakers during a special legislative session decide how to backfill a $650 million hole in this year’s state budget.

The proposal to cut public schools and colleges by at least $40 million was a turnabout for the governor, who had previously said he didn’t want to touch education.
He said the revision reflected the state’s “new budget realities.”

The revenue shortfall is now projected at $650 million. Just weeks ago, it was thought to be $400 million for the fiscal year that began July 1.
“Cuts must include safeguards that classrooms, kids and teachers will not be affected,” Richardson said in a statement."

Pérez, Messing honored for gay rights efforts | MyDesert.com | The Desert Sun

Pérez, Messing honored for gay rights efforts MyDesert.com The Desert Sun:

"Equality California honored Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez and Emmy award-winning actress Debra Messing Saturday for their work promoting gay civil rights at the nonprofit organization's annual awards ceremony in Palm Springs."

Saturday night's event drew more than 400 people.

The Palm Springs Equality Awards is one of five statewide events to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues, while raising money for the San Francisco-based nonprofit group.
“This raises the funds that allows us to do the work,” said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California and a part-time Palm Springs resident.
Last year's statewide events raised more than $2 million, organizers said.

Gay civil rights is an important issue in the Palm Springs area, which boasts one of the largest gay populations, per capita, in the United States.

Pérez, D-Coachella, was recognized for championing measures important to the gay community, such as supporting the repeal of Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and woman, and establishing a day honoring the nation's first elected openly gay person, Harvey Milk.

eChalk Joins Project RED in New Research Aimed at Demonstrating Technology Can Revolutionize Learning and Save Money in Schools

eChalk Joins Project RED in New Research Aimed at Demonstrating Technology Can Revolutionize Learning and Save Money in Schools:

"New York, NY (PRWEB) October 18, 2009 -- eChalk, the instructional technology company that pioneered online communication tools to connect school leaders, teachers, students and parents, recently signed onto Project RED, joining the ranks of Intel, Apple, Pearson and Qwest. The new project's research and advocacy efforts aim to measure the transformative effects of educational technology in ways that better demonstrate impact and cost savings implications for states, districts and schools."

"We're looking closely at schools and districts that have 1:1 initiatives and who provide Internet access to every student to determine best practices. Thirty years, 40,000,000 computers and $60,000,000,000 after microcomputers first entered U.S. classrooms, we're on the hunt for compelling results and secure funding streams for technology," explains Jeanne Hayes, Project RED management team member and CEO and Founder of The Hayes Connection.

"We believe that properly implemented ubiquitous technology schools can produce dramatic improvements in achievement, be revenue positive at the state and federal level and contribute positively to issues of STEM, 21st Century skills and lifelong learning," added Tom Greaves, Project RED management team member and CEO and Founder of The Greaves Group.

"Success depends on new legislation, new state education policies, implementation of identified success factors, strong leadership from classroom to governor, teachers transforming their classrooms and access to appropriate technology," explains Leslie Wilson, Project RED management team member and President of the One-to-One Institute.

Sacramento Press / City Charter Review Committee Final Town Hall Reveals "Gordian Knot"

Sacramento Press / City Charter Review Committee Final Town Hall Reveals "Gordian Knot":

"The City Charter legally and procedurally defines the City of Sacramento and its operations. Kevin Johnson's Strong Mayor Initiative, which would dramatically change the City Charter, will be on the June 2010 ballot.

Sacramento was founded with a City Charter in 1858. In 1921, during the Progressive Era, in response to rampant corruption, Sacramento changed to the current strong manager/council system to achieve more accountability. Ironically, the current Strong Mayor Initiative proponents have campaigned that accountability is not possible under the current system.

In light of Johnson's own proposals for redefining the checks and balances of power, a public process of charter policy analysis is appropriate. The City Council appointed the Charter Review Committee to explore and recommend potential changes to the City Charter."

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Today's preschoolers will become your best employees in 2025

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Today's preschoolers will become your best employees in 2025:

"We learn many of our best skills in pre-school and kindergarten that set the stage for the rest of our lives: sharing and playing well, self-control and self-direction. The importance of early childhood education is more pronounced when we understand the impacts of what kids don’t learn in those critical young years.

By age three, children whose parents are on welfare have vocabularies of about 500 words, children of working class parents have about 700 words, and children of college-educated parents have vocabularies of about 1,200 words. Yet words are the key to how successfully children make their way in the world."

Joan Rentoul: The golden age of education is a myth - John Rentoul, Commentators - The Independent

Joan Rentoul: The golden age of education is a myth - John Rentoul, Commentators - The Independent:

"We don't half like moaning about how awful life is. Take schools, for instance. Dreadful. Children shouldn't go to them. Not until they are at least six, and possibly 16. Most of them leave school unable to read and write, anyway. And testing. That's a load of rubbish. Scrap the SATs. Then all those children who are not at school but presumably roaming the streets will pick up the three Rs by osmosis. Learning by doing.

What we really like is comparisons that tell us that life is worse than in the 19th century. A minor news story a few years ago reported a claim that the health gap between rich and poor in Britain was greater than in Victorian times. Patent nonsense if given a moment's thought, but we haven't time for that before we're on to the next story about our better yesterdays. Last month Lesley Ward, the new president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers union, had her 15 minutes of name recognition for the claim that a 'small, significant and growing minority' of children endure a level of poverty 'mirroring the times of Dickens'. No, they don't."

University World News - US: Online education's outrageous fortune?

University World News - US: Online education's outrageous fortune?:

"Imagine training to become a Certified Professional Midwife online. You can at Aviva Institute of Duluth, Minnesota. Opportunities like this may seem promising, especially in the context of economic uncertainty or when full-time, on-campus study is not an option. But should traditional brick-and-mortar universities be concerned?

Kevin Carey, Policy Director for Education Center, thinks they should. In a recent article published in the Washington Monthly, he suggests that many universities risk following the recent experience of newspapers against the tide of new media.

The statistics tend to corroborate his observations: more than four million college students or 20% of those in the US took at least one online class in 2008 and, of these, about one in 10 enrolled in exclusively internet-based programmes."