The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education

The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

We Want and Need Parents at the Table

September 26th, 2011 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

Post submitted by Walter McKenzie, a lifelong learner, teacher, leader, and connector. A director of Constituent Services for ASCD, he served 25 years in public education as a classroom teacher, instructional technology coordinator, director of technology, and assistant superintendent for information services. He is internationally known for his work on multiple intelligences and technology and has published various books and articles on the subject. Connect with McKenzie on the ASCD EDge® social network or by e-mail atwmckenzie@ascd.org.

OK so you’ve got all the stakeholders at the table: the students, teachers, administrators, unions, lawmakers, state and federal education agencies, professional education associations, teacher preparation programs, education technology experts, visionary gurus… Even the deep-pocketed philanthropists who want their say. Let’s throw a few more tables together… it’s getting crowded… and more chairs… we need elbow room…

A bet on No Child Left Behind - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

A bet on No Child Left Behind - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

A bet on No Child Left Behind

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by Richard Rothstein, a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute, a non-profit organization created in 1986 to broaden the discussion about economic policy to include the interests of low- and middle-income workers. This appeared on the institute’s website.

By Richard Rothstein

Read full article >>

State revisits nation’s first teacher-student ‘Facebook law’

by Valerie Strauss

Missouri became the first state in the nation this year to put a law on the books barring public school teachers and students from having private contact on Facebook and other electronic media — all in an effort to prevent sexual misconduct. Now lawmakers have changed their minds — sort of.

The measure, part of a broader law signed in July by Gov. Jay Nixon, was supposed to go into effect in late August but a judge blocked its implementation after a lawsuit was filed by the Missouri Teachers Association and teachers and students complained that it was unfair.

Read full article >>

The Educated Reporter: Education Nation: Are You Tuning In?

The Educated Reporter: Education Nation: Are You Tuning In?:

Education Nation: Are You Tuning In?

by Emily Richmond

NBC News is in the midst of a massive experiment in public engagement. Now in its second year, the"Education Nation" summit began Sunday and runs through Wednesday in New York City, with a combination of live forums, panels and town hall discussions. There are also multiple online resources for participants, from quizzes to measure parental engagement to rebroadcasts of exclusive interviews with big names such as Education Secretary Arne Duncan and billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett. One of Monday's spotlight interviews looked at Akron, Ohio, where reform efforts are focusing on making sure students are proficient in reading by the third grade. There have been some troubling studies suggesting that students who are below grade level when they start the fourth grade have little chance of catching up in their academic careers. This interview was of particular interest to me (and not just because it also featured LeBron James). I recently spoke

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Looking back on Obama's pick

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Looking back on Obama's pick:

Looking back on Obama's pick

by Mike Klonsky

In December, 2008 President-elect Obama named Arne Duncan to be his new secretary of education. Obama's choice of Duncan over the much more highly qualified Linda Darling-Hammond should have been a tip-off as to what would transpire the next two-and-a-half years.

At the time, many of us were still optimistic in the wake of Obama's historic election victory. Based on his campaign promises,

Pension Call Tuesday. Senator Chris Lauzen. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Pension Call Tuesday. Senator Chris Lauzen. « Fred Klonsky's blog:

Pension Call Tuesday. Senator Chris Lauzen.

by Fred Klonsky

Today we turn to the Aurora area and Republican Senator Chris Lauzen. Lauzen sits on the Pensions and Investments Committee.

Springfield Office:
Senator 25th District
103A Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-0052

District Office:
52 West Downer Place
Suite 201
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 264-2334
(630) 264-1566 FAX

School Reform As Theater: So What? (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

School Reform As Theater: So What? (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:

School Reform As Theater: So What? (Part 2)

by larrycuban

In the previous post, I offered two perspectives on the past decade of school reform that explained No Child Left Behind and splits among reformers. One view featured individual and group motives. Market-driven reformers were out to destroy public schools and teacher union leaders only wanted to protect interests of teachers over children. These motives explained current battles between “reformers” and “anti-reformers.”

Then I offered an alternative to that dominant view: look at school reform as theater. Reformer actions expresses on the stage of public schooling struggles over societal values, beliefs, and ideas. Schools become places where national cultural and social battles are fought out even when they have not caused the problems to be solved. Then I asked the So What question: of what practical use is it to offer the dominant explanation and then an alternative that sees reformers acting out cultural struggles on the proscenium stage of public schools? Sure, such explanations may use ideas and language that academics might appreciate but how practical are such

When It Comes To Vouchers This Is Worth Saying Again « City School Stories

When It Comes To Vouchers This Is Worth Saying Again « City School Stories:

When It Comes To Vouchers This Is Worth Saying Again

by fmurphy

Notes from the Field

Vouchers Are Not an Economic Bill of Rights for the Disadvantaged

Originally posted by Frank Murphy on February 10, 2011

Martin Luther King was deep in the midst of organizing the Poor Peoples’ Campaign when he was assassinated in 1968. The objective of this ambitious endeavor was to press for the passage of an Economic Bill of Rights for the disadvantaged. King was determined to seek economic freedom for all Americans regardless of race. He envisioned a great society. It would be one where all citizens would be fully employed. In the country he

Will Florida’s Public Schools Get the Same “Freedoms” as Charter Schools? | Scathing Purple Musings

Will Florida’s Public Schools Get the Same “Freedoms” as Charter Schools? | Scathing Purple Musings:

Will Florida’s Public Schools Get the Same “Freedoms” as Charter Schools?

by Bob Sikes

Its appears as if some different types of school reform proposals will back taken up in the next legislative session. Will the legislature be granting some of the same “freedoms” that charter schools enjoy to public schools? Writes Allison Ross of the Palm Beach Post.

Practically since the first charters were authorized in Florida in 1996, school districts have grumbled about the flexibility charter schools have compared with traditional public schools.

Now, some school districts in the state have decided to try to get in on some of the action.

Palm Beach County and other school districts throughout the state are looking to tap into some of

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top PM Posts

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top PM Posts

Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic….and Responsibility | GoingPublic

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic….and Responsibility | GoingPublic:Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic….and Responsibilityby Nancy LettsSometimes when I can’t sleep, I listen to BBC radio. It’s on my local NPR station from 2 am until 5 (I know, crazy huh?). Last week I sat upright listening to a piece about the horrific journey some kids in Zimbabwe make to get a top notch education in Johannesburg. They have to cross a river infested with alligators, find their way through barbed wire at the border of ... more »

UC Berkeley student senators respond to bake sale

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

UC Berkeley student senators respond to bake sale:UC Berkeley student senators respond to bake saleNanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff WriterMonday, September 26, 2011PrintE-mailShareComments (364)Font | Size: 262Facebook.comA Facebook post announcing plans by a UC Berkeley Republican group to sell baked goods priced according to race, gender and ethnicity - "White/Caucasian" pastries for $2 and "Black/African American" pastries for 75 cents, for example - has drawn outrage on campus. View Larger ImageRELATED CONTENTStudent Group's 'Diversity Bake Sale' Stirs Controversy At CalViewMORE ... more »

Why are all the Black kids in special ed? Or, why you should always demand a second opinion | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

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Why are all the Black kids in special ed? Or, why you should always demand a second opinion | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:Why are all the Black kids in special ed? Or, why you should always demand a second opinionby Guest bloggerThis guest blog post was written by Sonja Kerr and Dave Hanyok of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia.As demonstrated in study after study and acknowledged in the text of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), minority ... more »

Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: Words Have Meaning

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Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: Words Have Meaning:Words Have Meaningby Melissa WestbrookI say that often here - words have meaning. I bring this up because I have noticed over the last week or so some wording being used here that is pointed at the person and not the argument. It both hurts this blog and the argument when that happens. There is also some unsaid (but implied) arguments that aren't really helpful.I noticed things like:someone saying he/she is open-minded (and ... more »

WHAT WOULD YOU COMPROMISE ON ? « Teachers Fight Back

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WHAT WOULD YOU COMPROMISE ON ? « Teachers Fight Back:WHAT WOULD YOU COMPROMISE ON ?by alkleenI always thought that compromise was the most important part of negotiations. Teacher – administrative contract talks these days seem to center on how much teachers are willing to give, as opposed to a give and take. Teachers are asked to give back previously agreed upon raises, or accept a freeze, or have benefits cut, and get nothing in return. What happened to the compromise ...more »

Food Fee Reductions - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Food Fee Reductions - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education):The California Department of Education Announces Fee Reductionfor Child Nutrition Program Agencies Receiving USDA FoodsSACRAMENTO—Creating a potential savings of $1 million a year for school districts, the California Department of Education's (CDE) Food Distribution Program (FDP) announced Monday that shipping, handling, and administrative fees charged in the distribution of U.S. Department of Agriculture food goods will be reduced by 20 percent beginning October 1."With the financial emergency facing our schools, it's ... more »

What American Schools Just Don’t Understand (Or, Why My Family Might be Moving to Finland) « MomsRising Blog

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What American Schools Just Don’t Understand (Or, Why My Family Might be Moving to Finland) « MomsRising Blog:What American Schools Just Don’t Understand (Or, Why My Family Might be Moving to Finland)by Kerala TaylorMy husband and I are expecting our first baby in December, and we just might be moving to Finland within the next few years–unless schools around here get better soon. And by “better,” I don’t mean that they start churning out higher test scores.I want my daughter ... more »

This Week In Education: Thompson: Gates Study Casts Questions On Broad Winner

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This Week In Education: Thompson: Gates Study Casts Questions On Broad Winner:Thompson: Gates Study Casts Questions On Broad Winnerby john thompsonThe Hechinger Report notes some seriously bad news about the Charlotte Mecklenburg schools, which won the Broad Prize for excellence last week. The CMS "failed dismally in meeting academic targets for 2011." And the number of Charlotte schools ranked by Newsweek as among the nation's top dropped from 13 to two. The biggest blow, however, is CMS's rating on the ... more »

NCLB Waivers - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education)

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NCLB Waivers - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education):Torlakson Issues Statement on NCLB WaiversSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement today regarding the proposal made by US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan regarding state waivers to No Child Left Behind:"Today's announcement represents an acknowledgement by the Administration that the one-size-fits-all policies of No Child Left Behind are unworkable."We are carefully examining the proposal, which would appear to cost billions of dollars to fully implement, at a ... more »

Sly Stone homeless: Soul music star living in camper in L.A. - latimes.com

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Sly Stone homeless: Soul music star living in camper in L.A. - latimes.com:Sly Stone homeless: Soul music star living in camper in L.A.September 26, 2011 | 8:33 am 1236Soul music legend Sly Stone, best known as the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, has squandered his fortune and is living homeless on the streets of Los Angeles."I like my small camper," Stone told the New York Post in an article co-written by William Alkema, director of a documentary about ... more »

At a public comment session on the budget facts don’t get in the way of opinions. « Fred Klonsky's blog

At a public comment session on the budget facts don’t get in the way of opinions. « Fred Klonsky's blog:

At a public comment session on the budget facts don’t get in the way of opinions.

by Fred Klonsky

I just got back from the Park Ridge meeting of the Board of Education. They were considering the budget (which as you may know is like French driving laws. It is more of a suggestion than a set of hard rules).

We had asked teachers to attend in response to the anti-teacher comments made by some local union-bashers at the past few meetings.

About 40 teachers came. As the members of the board came in, some expressed surprise at the large teacher turn-out.

“This is what we do when we’re mildly interested,” I said. “Wait until you see how many show up if we get really pissed.”

I don’t know who the three anti-union speakers are affiliated with. They quack like

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: Sleep Well Daughter of Africa, Wangari Maathai

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: Sleep Well Daughter of Africa, Wangari Maathai:

Sleep Well Daughter of Africa, Wangari Maathai

by L. Jablonski

Let us join the people of Kenya in mourning the death and celebrating the life and legacy of Wangari Maathai, environmentalist, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Maathai died Sunday after a long battle against cancer. Through her fearless championing of environmental sustainability in Kenya, Maathai helped reveal for all the world how environmental issues are inextricably linked to women's rights, economic justice and fairness, national and international peace and security and the fundamental principles of democratic governance.

Check out this remarkable tribute by John Vidal in the Guardian UK, which includes this quote from Maathai spoken in England in the late '80s:

The top of the pyramid is blinded by insatiable appetites backed by scientific knowledge, industrial advancement, the need to acquire, accumulate and over-consume. The rights of those at the bottom are violated every day by those at the top... the economic and political systems are

Blood Money | The Jose Vilson

Blood Money | The Jose Vilson:

Blood Money

by Jose

Recently, someone asked me in response to something they read about whether or not someone’s opinions shift based on whether they were getting paid for said opinions or not. It depends on what we mean by “shift.” Of course, if you throw a million dollars and the person throwing you the money gives you specific direction on what you’re going to spend it on and the ideals of the payment, it makes sense. If you’re at work and you’re asked to give your honest opinion about the job, you’re going to try and sand the edges of your message before you give them the real. Money has powers of influence whether we’re in a prosperous economy or not. Man makes the money, not the other way around. However, it becomes a factor in whatever decision one makes when it gets involved.

Having said that, there’s been plenty of discussion around money from ed-deformer organizations like the Walsh

FAIR Event MisEducation Nation: Corporate Media and Corporate Education Reform

FAIR Event:

FAIR New York City Event

September 27, 2011

MisEducation Nation:
Corporate Media and Corporate Education Reform

NBC is staging its second annual "Education Nation" summit at the end of September--a series of events and broadcasts bankrolled by the corporate interests and foundations aligned with the so-called "education reform" movement.

Corporate media coverage of education policy tends to hew closely to the "reform" agenda: promoting charter schools and vouchers, embracing relentless testing and other "accountability" measures, and attacking teachers' unions for standing in the way of progress.

What would a more reasonable conversation about public education look like?

On September 27, join FAIR and four of the most dynamic and thoughtful education experts and activists in the country for a FREE discussion about how the media mangle the debate over public schools.

The panelists:

-Diane Ravitch
Author, NYU Research Professor of Education

-Pedro Noguera
NYU Professor of Education

-Brian Jones
Teacher-Activist

-Leonie Haimson
Executive Director, Class Size Matters

Moderator: Laura Flanders
Author/Journalist

September 27, 2011
7:00 PM
School of the Future Auditorium
127 East 22nd Street
between Park and Lexington)
New York, NY 10010

Free of charge.

CO-SPONSORS: Class Size Matters, WBAI 99.5 FM, Parents Across America, Grassroots Education Movement, Rethinking Schools, NYCoRE, Coalition for Public Education, Teachers Unite

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Kids In Need Teacher Grant Application Office Depot Accepting Grant Applications for Middle School Teachers

Kids In Need Teacher Grant Application:

Attention Middle School Teachers! The Office Depot® Star Teacher Program in conjunction with the Office Depot® Foundation are proud to be national sponsors of the Kids In Need Teacher Grants program with "Ready, Steady, GO!," a grants initiative especially for middle school teachers being conducted by the Kids In Need Foundation. Grant applications are being accepted online through October 30, 2011. Grants are awarded in amounts from $100 to $500.

The Ready, Steady, GO! grant application must be used only by middle school teachers, and you must register for the Star Teacher Program, which also qualifies you for discounts. Click here to access the Star Teacher Program registration page:

https://www.mystarteacher.com/loyalty/enrollment.do?group_code=20080

And click here to apply for a Ready, Steady, GO! grant:

http://www.kinf.org/grants/2011_teacher_grant_app.php?source=odf

State Official: Skepticism Has Always Followed Vaccines - Rosemont, CA Patch

State Official: Skepticism Has Always Followed Vaccines - Rosemont, CA Patch:

State Official: Skepticism Has Always Followed Vaccines

There’s a 200-year-old cartoon that’s famous in public health circles. The drawing depicts a gaggle of startled peasants with miniature cows popping from their limbs and mouths. The caption reads, “The Cow Pock - or - The Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation (sic).” For James Watt, the California Department of Public Health’s chief of communicable disease, the cartoon is a reminder that fear and skepticism have attended public vaccination campaigns since immunology’s earliest days.

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years and there have always been questions,” Watt said.

When questions about the whooping cough vaccine lead to high rates of personal belief exemptions in a community, Watt said his office steps in to be part of the conversation. “We do a lot of work to educate parents. We have lots of materials up on our website, we work with partners, particularly pediatricians, to promote what we consider to be healthy choices by providing reliable positive information about immunizations.”

Watt said that with pertussis or measles a community needs to maintain a 95 percent vaccination rate to keep the disease from spreading. When there is an outbreak of those diseases it’s usually children too small to be

Parents at Two SCUSD Schools Skip Vaccines More Often

It took Karen Zampa three tries, but she finally gave her kids chickenpox.

Zampa took her 5 and 7-year-old sons to three “chickenpox parties,” gatherings where an infected child shares lollipops and clothes with healthy kids in an effort to spread the illness.

“For them, the best option was actually getting the chickenpox instead of getting the chickenpox vaccine,” she said.

Zampa chose not to give her sons a chickenpox or Hepatitis B

HechingerEd Blog | Governors take stage at Education Nation

HechingerEd Blog | Governors take stage at Education Nation:

Governors take stage at Education Nation

(Photo by Nick Pandolfo)

After lunch, a panel of 10 state governors sat down with Brian Williams to discuss the state of education in America. They spoke and took questions about a wide range of topics: fromhow to evaluate teachers to the the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waivers that wereannounced by President Obama last Friday, tofor-profit programs and partnerships taking place across the country. A point brought up multiple times by teachers during the day related to how teachers can share knowledge and experiences. A teacher from the audience said to the panel of governors, “We need to share best practices on a pedagogical level. How do you get best practices out there and share them?”

NBC was criticized by some for putting on a summit at last year’s Education Nation that was anti-