Detroit: OCCUPATION AT CATHERINE FERGUSON HIGH SCHOOL! | Dailycensored.com

Detroit: OCCUPATION AT CATHERINE FERGUSON HIGH SCHOOL! | Dailycensored.com

Detroit: OCCUPATION AT CATHERINE FERGUSON HIGH SCHOOL!

Written by Danny WeilEducationApr 15, 2011

0digg

Share

Student Occupiers at Catherine Ferguson Academy Need Your Assistance! See list of needs below announcement.

OCCUPATION AT CATHERINE FERGUSON HIGH SCHOOL!

STUDENTS AND SUPPORTERS SIT-IN TO DEMAND THAT NO DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL CLOSES

Following in the civil rights tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, Catherine Ferguson students — along with their babies and toddlers, teachers and supporters — have begun a peaceful occupation of Catherine Ferguson Academy (CFA). CFA, located at 2750 Selden, is a Detroit Public school that is slated to be closed in June. The students who are sitting down have five demands:

• No School Closings
• Keep All Detroit Schools Public – No More Charters or Privatization
• Reinstate all programs and services that have been eliminated, including art &

NEA prez offers tepid endorsement of the deal. « Fred Klonsky's blog

NEA prez offers tepid endorsement of the deal. « Fred Klonsky's blog

NEA prez offers tepid endorsement of the deal.

by Fred Klonsky

Dennis Van Roekel, President of the NEA, offered a very mild endorsement of the Swanson ed reform deal:

“With this agreement that puts children first, our Illinois leaders have shown how collaboration at all levels is the key to success,” said National Education Association (NEA) President Dennis Van Roekel. “From the very beginning of this process, IEA President Ken Swanson was at the table with the IFT and the CTU, urging legislators to put politics aside and work together for the best interests of Illinois’ students.

This collaboration between lawmakers, parents and the unions is ground-breaking and led to unanimous support from all involved in the coalition,” Van Roekel said. “We are so pleased that

News | www.kochwatch.org

News | www.kochwatch.org

Wisconsin State Journal: Sarah Palin coming to Madison? You betcha *April 15, 2011-* Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and current tea party sweetheart, is coming to Madison Saturday to serve as keynote speaker for the now-annual tea party Tax Day Rally. Thousands are expected to turn out at the Capitol for the ...

Thousands protest in Lansing against governor's policies read more

Detroit Free Press: Thousands protest in Lansing against governor's policies *April 14, 2011- *A mostly union crowd of more than 5,000 swarmed around and inside the state Capitol on Wednesday to protest planned state budget cuts and tax changes it decried as hurtful to the middle class and unions. Under comfortable, sunny ...

CNN Money: Wisconsin governor takes union fight to Congress *April 14, 2011-* The controversial governor of Wisconsin defended his efforts to limit public employees' collective bargaining rights and make them pay more toward pension and health care costs at a congressional hearing on Thursday. Gov. Scott ...

A College Education Should Not Result in Crushing Debt - E.D. Kain - American Times - Forbes

A College Education Should Not Result in Crushing Debt - E.D. Kain - American Times - Forbes

A College Education Should Not Result in Crushing Debt

by E.D. Kain

There have been some interesting pieces about the value of a college degree lately. The first is from Peter Thiel, the hedge fund investor behind the financing of Facebook. The second is from Dana Goldstein.

Thiel argues that we are in the midst of a ‘higher-education bubble’ and that kids today aren’t getting their money’s worth. Goldstein shows how the debt can be a real problem especially for kids who don’t finish school:

Half of all college drop-outs have borrowed some money for tuition. And consider this depressing statistic: One in five students who drop out of college leave only after accumulating $20,000 or more in debt. These are the folks most unable to pay back their loans; the rhetoric of "college for all" simply does not match the reality of their lives.

I disagree with Thiel’s conclusion about a ‘bubble’ in higher-ed, but that doesn’t mean he’s all wrong. Obviously a lot of Americans aren’t getting their money’s worth from college, especially if they don’t finish their degrees but do take on a lot of debt. So what’s the solution to this growing problem? After all, schools are more expensive than ever. Between 2007 and 1982 college tuition went up 439 percent while median family income rose by only

Eye On Education New Product Updates

Eye On Education New Product Updates
Helping Students Motivate Themselves:

Practical Answers to Classroom Challenges

By Larry Ferlazzo

A comprehensive outline of common classroom challenges, this book presents immediately applicable steps and lesson plans for all middle and high school teachers looking to help students motivate themselves. With coverage of brain-based learning, classroom management, and using technology, these strategies can be easily incorporated into any curriculum.

Learn to implement solutions to the following challenges:

• How do you motivate students?
• How do you help students see the importance of personal responsibility?
• How do you deal with a student who is being disruptive in class?
• How do you regain control of an out-of-control class?
• And more!

Click to read sample chapters!

Order this book today and
use code FERLAZ411 for a 20% Discount!

Expires April 22, 2011

Graph of the Day: Private School Day Tuition vs. Public School Expenditures (Boston Metro 2009) « School Finance 101

Graph of the Day: Private School Day Tuition vs. Public School Expenditures (Boston Metro 2009) « School Finance 101

Graph of the Day: Private School Day Tuition vs. Public School Expenditures (Boston Metro 2009)

by schoolfinance101

I’ve written extensively in the past about private school tuition and expenditures.

Here is a link to a report on private school expenditures I produced in 2009.http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/private-schooling-US

The graph below is actually stacked heavily in favor of showing that public schools have higher spending than private schools. Why? Because I am comparing private school tuition to public school total expenditures per pupil.

TUITION DOES NOT COVER TOTAL COSTS AND DOES NOT REPRESENT TOTAL SPENDING. The tuition figures included below include only DAY SCHOOL TUITION (or day component for boarding schools) which is only a share of current operating expenditures.

That out of the way, let’s take a look at the distribution of day tuition for the 57 private schools identified in 2009

LAUSD - WHERE SCHOOL BULLYING ISN'T JUST ABOUT KIDS (LAUSD - DONDE EL ACOSO ESCOLAR NO ES SOLO DE LOS NIÑOS) - Perdaily.com

LAUSD - WHERE SCHOOL BULLYING ISN'T JUST ABOUT KIDS (LAUSD - DONDE EL ACOSO ESCOLAR NO ES SOLO DE LOS NIÑOS) - Perdaily.com

LAUSD - WHERE SCHOOL BULLYING ISN'T JUST ABOUT KIDS (LAUSD - DONDE EL ACOSO ESCOLAR NO ES SOLO DE LOS NIÑOS)

by Leonard Isenberg

(Mensaje se repite en Español)

(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)

Did you ever wonder where kids learn about bullying in school? Try looking at the way in which teachers are treated by their principals with the blind support of LAUSD administration.

Meanwhile, back at the Office of Administrative Hearings this last Monday March 21, 2011, an observer noted

John Merrow has faith in public education | Thoughts on Public Education

John Merrow has faith in public education | Thoughts on Public Education

John Merrow has faith in public education

Share

His new book offers hope and solutions

Posted on 4/15/11 • Categorized as Uncategorized

By Kathryn Baron

When I first met John Merrow he was in his element, wearing a tuxedo and doing his best imitation of Alex Trebek – if Trebek had a sense of humor, that is – leading a room full of education reporters in a rollicking game of Education Jeopardy. If your table had too many points, he’d give you an impossible, possibly unquestionable, answer. “He was the brother-in-law of the firefighter who lived next to this state’s education secretary.” If your table was low on points, you’d get a no-brainer to get you back in the game. “Its initials are NCLB.”

It wasn’t long before I got to know the other John Merrow. Smart, creative, and indefatigable. Don’t take my word for it; read his bio. The guy is a prolific writer, and his production company, Learning Matters, has produced some of the most important and influential report

Student Body Presidents: Budget Cuts Threaten Dream of a Higher Education | California Progress Report

Student Body Presidents: Budget Cuts Threaten Dream of a Higher Education | California Progress Report

Student Body Presidents: Budget Cuts Threaten Dream of a Higher Education

by megan

By Eming Piansay
New America Media

With public universities in California being targeted for drastic budget cuts, college-bound students are bracing for a now uncertain future. How many students will be able to secure financial aid? Will universities be offering scholarships and fellowships to low-income students? Which courses and departments will be cut out of the curriculum? Will tuition fees at public universities and community colleges be hiked once again?

Those questions are weighing heavy on the minds of the student body presidents interviewed for this report, all of whom agreed that the biggest concern facing them and their classmates is how the financial crisis is going to damage their ability to obtain a college degree. In fact, the student presidents said that for many of their peers, a college degree is seen as the “golden ticket” -- the only thing guaranteeing their survival in a suddenly uncertain world.

read more

This Week In Education: Journalism: Just How Stressful Are Midyear Assessments, Really?

This Week In Education: Journalism: Just How Stressful Are Midyear Assessments, Really?

Journalism: Just How Stressful Are Midyear Assessments, Really?

by Alexander Russo

I didn't mean for my recent comments about Dana Goldstein's American Prospect piece to overshadow my appreciation of her efforts and the article, but Goldstein's taken the opportunity to respond on her blog (How I Reported My Latest Feature Story) and that's great. It hasn't really changed my thinking, however. I admire how many people Goldstein spoke with but remain concerned she focused on teachers who were introduced (or self-selected meeting attendees) and presented only those who were critical. It would have been so interesting to hear from a teacher who didn't mind the extra testing or even thought it helped her do her job better. As for the issue of test stress, I agree that multiple midyear assessments change the "feel"

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Tweeting with Dave this morning

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Tweeting with Dave this morning

Tweeting with Dave this morning

by Mike Klonsky

I'm followed on Twitter by Dave. He claims to be an independent and has been critical of Republicans and praiseful of Pres. Obama. But when it comes to the subject of teachers and their unions, Dave sounds like a T-bagger to me. This morning's Twitter debate began with Dave commenting on the Illinois senate's passage yesterday of a bill that curtails teacher union rights. Here's the back-and-forth:

D: it is not about money it is about breaking unions who give support ro democrats in elections. Break them break democrat bank.
M. Ur right Dave. But in IL, the teacher unions all signed on to the bill and Dems, not GOP, engineered it.

D: perhaps a case of better of two evils. If they do not then GOP will write one and do more damage.

M. Problem is, union prez called it a model for the whole country, not lesser of evils. Dems in control in state house. No Wisc.

D: hmm maybe unions are out of control then. Jobs going to mexico and all. Need to create jobs

Prison vs. School NAACP | Sign the Misplaced Priorities Petition

NAACP | Sign the Misplaced Priorities Petition

America spends more money incarcerating its citizens than educating them. That's not an exaggeration. It's a fact. The NAACP's new report, Misplaced Priorities, shows how much money states spend on their criminal justice system compared to their education system -- and what that means for our communities. The results are astounding. Over the past 20 years, for example, state spending on prisons grew at six times the rate of spending on higher education. Our country is home to just five percent of the world's population, but we make up a staggering twenty-five percent of the world's prisoners. You can do something about this crisis. That's why the NAACP has launched a petition asking all 50 state governors to get their priorities straight and fix this problem with a set of smart reforms to keep our communities safe. Add your name now, and make sure your voice is heard in your state capital: http://action.naacp.org/MisplacedPriorities In 2009, as the nation plummeted into the deepest recession in 30 years, funding for K-12 and higher education declined. But for prisons, the reverse was true. That year, 33 states spent more discretionary dollars on prisons than in 2008. As our children fail to get the education they deserve, our prisons are filling up at an alarming rate. And, as usual, those most affected are communities of color. We know drug treatment is a smart alternative for non-violent offenders. It is also significantly cheaper. Educational opportunities are also cost-effective, and lead to a marked reduction in neighborhood crime. Relatively minor investments in treatment for those suffering mental illness mean fewer people in jail and more contributing members to society. There's no denying the irrational increase in prison spending, and its impact on state budgets and our nation's children. But there is something you can do about it. Sign our petition to tell America's governors to support the NAACP's reforms that will focus on making sure we invest in schools, not prisons. http://action.naacp.org/MisplacedPriorities Thank you for taking the time to help us speak out to America's governors, and show the strength of our resolve to change our country's misplaced priorities. It's time we stop over incarcerating and under educating. Best, Ben Benjamin Todd Jealous President and CEO NAACP

Chart: Who's Bearing the Tax Burden? - National - The Atlantic Wire

Chart: Who's Bearing the Tax Burden? - National - The Atlantic Wire

Investigative Reporting Workshop

CHART OF THE DAY

Chart: Who's Bearing the Tax Burden?

BY ELI ROSENBERG11:40 AM ET

It's April 15, tax day in spirit if not in practice this year. The chart above, put together by the Investigative Reporting Workshop, shows that the gap between the share of taxes paid by individuals and the share paid by corporations over time. By now you've probably read or heard about the big story in the New York Times about how G.E. paid far below the putative 35 percent corporate tax rate in the United States on its $14.2 billion in global profits last year. Similarly, maybe you checked out David Cay Johnson's excellent "9 Things the Rich Don't Want You to Know About Taxes" in Willamette Week from

Ken Swanson’s historic achievement: a scenario. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Ken Swanson’s historic achievement: a scenario. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Ken Swanson’s historic achievement: a scenario.

by Fred Klonsky

Sue Carrel comments:

Fred,

Here is a letter a friend of mine sent to the Sun Times…he says I can share it since it probably won’t be published. I was a suburban teacher, my husband was a Chicago teacher and I always wondered why we were represented by two different unions. Especially now in these teacher-bashing times we should consolidate forces! This new legislation is a lose-lose situation for all but the union-busting corporate-backed powers that be. Here’s the letter:

Before everyone starts congratulating the State Legislature for “ending seniority and making teachers more accountable to show growth,” please consider the following scenario that probably will be replayed hundreds of times at all grades in the Chicago Public Schools next year: The principal hires a new 2nd grade teacher who proves to be awful. After a year the principal can dump that teacher and not many would feel bad about it (excect the 2nd grade kids and their parents

Schools Matter: Jay Mathews Condemns Miron KIPP Study for Its Fairness, Part II

Schools Matter: Jay Mathews Condemns Miron KIPP Study for Its Fairness, Part II

Jay Mathews Condemns Miron KIPP Study for Its Fairness, Part II

by Jim Horn

Mathematica, which is under contract to KIPP, Inc. for some ongoing research, issued a working paper in time for AERA this year and in time to try to neutralize the findings of the Miron study. It is this "better data" to which Jay refers in the quote below. "Better data for Jay is, of course, data that supports the KIPP party line. It matters not that the Mathematica paper bases its numbers on self-reported info from KIPP schools and does not include some schools that did not bother to report or that had incomplete data, whereas the Miron study pulls from the Fed's Common Core of Data, which some might view as "better data" in the sense that is is less likely to be cooked by KIPP.

Miron and his team raise good questions about KIPP. They come up with some interesting answers that both support and criticize the KIPP model, although their conclusions lean toward the negative and they make some mistakes. In one section they say KIPP is losing 40 percent of black males, but better data from Mathematica show the loss is considerably less than that, and below the average attrition of black males in neighboring regular public schools. The Miron report

Jay Mathews Condemns Miron KIPP Study for Its Fairness, Part I

by Jim Horn

As the spokesman for the testing industry in general and for Kaplan in partiular (thank you, Kaplan, for paying Jay's salary), Jay Mathews lost credibility as a reporter a long time ago.

When Jay signed on as KIPP's man in the print media, a previous lack of credibility earned from disfiguring the facts turned to public dismissal as dissembling degenerated to all-out bullshit, as defined by Frankfurt in his book, On Bullshit:

He [the bullshitter] does not reject the authority of the truth, as the liar does, and oppose himself to