Italians, Poles fight CPS plan to end Columbus, Pulaski holidays - Chicago Sun-Times

Italians, Poles fight CPS plan to end Columbus, Pulaski holidays - Chicago Sun-Times:

Italians, Poles fight CPS plan to end Columbus, Pulaski holidays

by mark konkol Writer at Large March 18, 2012 12:21AM

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Italians and Polish civic leaders lambasted a plan by Chicago Public Schools to have students attend school instead of take holidays for Christopher Columbus (left) and Casimir Pulaski.

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• CPS adds 10 school days, cuts time for picking up report cards

Updated: March 18, 2012 2:39AM

 

End the holiday treatment for Pulaski Day and Columbus Day at Chicago Public Schools?

Polish and Italian civic leaders say the proposed change in the school calendar backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel is “a slap in the face.”

“It’s ironic that while the river flows green we hear the news,” Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans president emeritus Dominic DiFrisco said on St. Patrick’s Day. “It’s very disheartening. This is part of an ongoing campaign to diminish ethnic recognition in the city. … We’re not marching in the street, yet. We may.”

Gary Kenzer, executive director of the Polish American’s Association, said the proposed holiday changes show “

Daily Kos: Seattle Reconsidering Teach for America

Daily Kos: Seattle Reconsidering Teach for America:

Seattle Reconsidering Teach for America

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)

The Seattle School Board is seriously considering canceling its 3-year contract with Teach for America after only 1 year, according to this piece from 360 Education Solutions, which describes itself as

advocate in the search for quality online teaching degree programs. As an advocate group founded specifically for educators, we provide you with the support and information needed to help you achieve your teaching certification and educational aspirations.

The article begins as follows:  

In a long line of criticism and challenges that Teach for America has recently faced, the Seattle School Board is reconsidering its current three-year contract with the organization after its first year with board members questioning the training and effectiveness of teachers from the program as well as the need for them.

 The contract, which was signed in 2010, was instituted because of a perception of a shortage of qualified teachers, something current board members do not necessarily feel is still true.Among the comments by Board members:

“We have many really good teacher training programs in our city that are providing us with a pool of 

Schools Matter: Why are we suddenly so interested in teacher evaluation?

Schools Matter: Why are we suddenly so interested in teacher evaluation?:

Why are we suddenly so interested in teacher evaluation?

by skrashen

My contribution to the NY Times Sunday Dialogue on how to evaluate teachers.
Published in the New York Times, March 18, 2012

Dr. Yatvin’s suggestions for teacher evaluation are excellent. But why are the Times and many others suddenly interested in teacher evaluation?
It is because of the belief that poor teaching is the reason American schools are failing. The perception that our schools are failing, however, is based only on American students’ international test scores. Rarely mentioned is the finding that middle-class American students in well-funded schools score at the top of the world on these tests; our overall scores are unspectacular because we have the highest percentage of children living in poverty 

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Mother Crusader: Three Strikes For Regis Academy Charter School; Separation Of Church And State, Enrollment Discrepancies And Skimming Students

Mother Crusader: Three Strikes For Regis Academy Charter School; Separation Of Church And State, Enrollment Discrepancies And Skimming Students:

Three Strikes For Regis Academy Charter School; Separation Of Church And State, Enrollment Discrepancies And Skimming Students

by darciecima

On March 12, 2012 Regis Academy held a Board of Trustees Meeting.  Let's take a look at the Minutes from the previous meeting on February 6, 2012, shall we?
Regis Board Notes
(I know the document is highlighted, but this wasn't done by me.  I won't be touching on all of these items, just the ones I think are reasons for the NJDOE to deny Regis their final charter.)


The thing that first struck me was that not only was the meeting held at Solid Rock Worship Center, but there was an invocation by Amir Khan before the meeting.  Invocation is defined by Merriam-Webster as:


a prayer of entreaty (as at the beginning of a service of worship) 

Oh dear. 


This made me do a bit of research to see what the current thinking is on starting a public school Board Meeting