I received this email form a colleague this afternoon:
Fred,
After I read your blog today, I sent Amazon an email and used words like “censorship to meet the CEOs political views”. I got a response back within minutes (really!) that said that they do offer the book and they linked me to the page that shows it offered through other sellers. I fired back a response about
Ebonics, Ebonics, Ebonics! So much controversy and so little rational discussion surrounded the attempts by the Oakland School District to address the gap in African American achievement. Rather than go through history, I’m going to explain why using both specific ELD methods and a culturally positive approach are a good idea, and share some examples of how to do this.
Why is this important? Even those who are hostile, or disagree with the idea of Ebonics generally agree that the lack of acquisition of academic English is one of the main reasons that many African Americans are not doing well in school or as well as white peers. For this discussion, I will use the terms African American Vernacular
Thought I’d share my response to Nancy Flanagan’s post in Teacher in a Strange Land. I recommend you read her post, Katrina Nation: Driving Past Public Schools. You can find it here: http://bit.ly/cKiDS3
Here’s what I wrote in reply to her request that we need suggestions from committed people who are working in our most challenging poor schools – long term….
Excellent points, Nancy.
I work in a Title I school that is labeled as a “failing school”. We are working hard and working very long days to bring up the scores of our students. There is only so much we can do without killing ourselves with stress and
On Sept. 23, the new Gloucester Community Arts Charter School (GCACS) opened its doors, despite the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education’s previous urgings that the school not open and that the enrolled children remain in their original schools. The Commissioner, Mitchell Chester, found the charter school “not viable,” citing concerns including alleged violations of the construction bidding laws; building code violations relating to the modular classrooms; mismanagement leading to a delayed opening; the absence of a Principal (Head of School); and concerns about the charter school’s financial viability.
Chester, in response to hearing the GCACS had opened, released the following statement: “I am planning to schedule a special meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as soon as possible to discuss this matter and to take appropriate action. I am disappointed
Right now, former D.C. School Chief Dr. Clifford B. Janey is the superintendent of schools in Newark, New Jersey. Rhee replaced Janey in D.C. in 2007. Should she replace him again? According to the Associated Press, Oprah thinks so. Were Michelle Rhee to go to Newark, would that mean that Janey would return to the District? There has been discussion that Mayor-apparent Gray would ask Janey to return to finish the job he began. However, Janey has not been on Oprah, who lent her support behind Obama and who has the Midas touch in when it comes to books. Oprah is becoming comfortable in her political endorsements. And, make no mistake about it, the notion of replacing Janey and installing Rhee is a
By PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI
FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITER
| The Wellness Movement | ||
The Native Wellness Institute recognizes the great impacts of historical trauma and oppression on our people. We understand that historic trauma has caused current day trauma in our families and communities. This is evident by the high rates of substance abuse, violence, gossip, negativity, poverty and other destructive behaviors and conditions. As Native people we have the strength and resiliency to move beyond and forward from the hurtful past and utilize what our ancestors left us- prayer, faith, songs, dances, ceremony, language and the perseverance to leave a positive legacy for our future generations. The Native Wellness Institute exists to help create an awareness of where our negative behavior comes from, provide opportunities for growth and healing and most importantly to help our people move forward in a good way. We do this by providing training and technical assistance based in Native culture that promotes the well-being of individuals, families, communities and places of work. NWI lives and promotes the “Warrior’s Spirit” which means paying the greatest respect to our ancestors by being as positive, productive and proactive as we can, everyday of our lives. | ||
Last Updated: 4:32 PM, September 25, 2010
Posted: 3:18 AM, September 25, 2010
Comments: 57It's class warfare!
Fed-up parents and teachers who saw the explosive education documentary "Waiting for 'Superman' " yesterday were left either seething or in tears -- and calling for revolutionary change after the film's Big Apple debut.
"The passing along of children through the system is just disgusting," said Barbara Levinson, 63, who was crying by the film's end. "Every child should be treated as an individual."
Viewers were also rocked by the work's portrayal of the teachers unions' protection of subpar educators.
PROTESTING TEACHERS GIVE 'WAITING FOR SUPERMAN' AN 'F'
"The laws as they stand can protect ineffective teachers who are bad -- I'm disappointed in what the union's become," said Patricia Jordan, who won state teacher of the year in 1993.
"Effective and wonderful teachers are
Check out Brian Williams and his "Teacher Town Hall", streaming live, which "will bring together teachers from across the country, both in-person and online, to brainstorm ideas, talk about what works . . .
Think anti-intellectualism in American education not a problem? Submitted for your disapproval: “There is nothing like knowing it all to kill the imagination,” write Eric Liu and Scott Noppe-Brandon:
“When we become expert, or think we have, we get the benefits of intellectual shortcuts and far greater processing efficiency-but we suffer the cost of closed-mindedness. Having seen it all, we stop looking. Having been there, we stop going. Having done that, we stop doing.”
Seriously? What possible basis in fact could there be for this broad, blanket
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