Thoughts on teachers — from Socrates to Lady Gaga - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Thoughts on teachers — from Socrates to Lady Gaga - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

Thoughts on teachers — from Socrates to Lady Gaga

by Valerie Strauss

Today is National Teacher Day, part of Teacher Appreciation Week, an annual moment to heap praise on teachers in a country that has spent the rest of the past year doing pretty much the opposite.
Morale has been plummeted in recent years among most of the approximate 3,232,800 teachers in K-12 public schools, according to recent polls. This is a result in large part of the actions of state legislatures that have passed laws end teacher tenure, to make teacher evaluation partly dependent on student standardized test scores, and to take other actions that many teachers see as an assault on their profession.
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Teacher on flawed tests: ‘We can ill-afford to be silent while our very jobs are at stake’

by Valerie Strauss

I received the following email from a New York State math teacher. The message reveals a previously unreported problem with the New York State 7th Grade Math exam recently given to students, this on top of the now famous English Language Arts test questions about a talking pineapple and other problems with these tests that have been cited by principals and others.
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Union Gears Workshops Toward Parent Power – SchoolBook

Union Gears Workshops Toward Parent Power – SchoolBook:

Union Gears Workshops Toward Parent Power

by Mary Ann Giordano

Last week a parent coordinator, Taneesha Crawford, wrote a post for SchoolBook about parent engagement, asking who is paying attention to parent accountability and finding ways to help parents become more involved.
“Someone is always talking, measuring, criticizing — but not solving,” she wrote.
On Monday, Gotham Schools identified one potential problem solver: the teachers’ union. According to Gotham, the United Federation of Teachers began a series of workshops for parents on Saturday morning, to help provide them with skills and motivation “to advocate on behalf of their children and schools, and demand education policy changes.”

About fifty parents — ten from each borough — packed a third-floor conference room at union headquarters for the new academy’s inaugural meeting on Saturday morning. The parents were invited to participate by borough liaisons to the union, according to Anthony Harmon, a union official who conducts parent outreach. Several veteran city activists, including Juan Pagan and Laurie Frey mingled with self-described lobbying naifs, who took turns practicing short introductory speeches in the style of a public testimony.

Thinking about Teacher Appreciation Day. « Fred Klonsky

Thinking about Teacher Appreciation Day. « Fred Klonsky:

Thinking about Teacher Appreciation Day.

by Fred Klonsky

Obama has decided to declare this week National Charter School Week.
The guy sure knows how to appreciate teachers. I haven’t felt so appreciated since he announced support for firing all the union teachers in Central Falls, Rhode Island.
There’s a joke going around Facebook: Arne Duncan supports same-sex marriage if you can find a way to test it.
Another joke from professor Mark Naison: Teacher Appreciation Week in the current national climate is like having Deer Appreciation Week during hunting season.
Still another Facebook project: people are posting the name of a teacher that mattered to them.

Jersey Jazzman: All I Want For Teacher Appreciation Day

Jersey Jazzman: All I Want For Teacher Appreciation Day:

All I Want For Teacher Appreciation Day

I appreciate the lunch and the cards and the tweets and gifts and all the other little thank yous. I really do; we all do.

But you know what I really want today?

The Usual Suspects

by Duke

Last Wednesday, while us teachers were actually in school and, you know, teaching, the usual elites were gathering at an "invitation only" event to talk about how they are going to save education from... I dunno, us? Must be, because we weren't invited.

But we're so lucky - Alexander Russo threw us a few crumbs:

COMING OUT FOR THE PARENT TRIGGER: It was notable to me that the organizers opened the summit with a screening of the parent trigger movie (Won't Back Down) and an appearance by Parent Revolution's Ben Austin, who also won one of NSVF's annual awards. From Two Million Minutes to Waiting For "Superman" to Race To Nowhere, the potential power of mass media to shape public option is clear, but the reform community has been 

Parent Trigger - California Teachers Association

Parent Trigger - California Teachers Association:

PARENT TRIGGER

The Adelanto Elementary School District Board of Trustees boldly stood up for students and the rights of all parents in the school community by rejecting an attempt led mainly by a group of outside organizers to shut down an elementary school, replace the entire staff, and create a privately managed charter school.

The trustees recognized that Parent Revolution organizers at Desert Trails Elementary School had failed to meet the simple majority threshold required by the state’s so-called “parent trigger” law because many parents who initially signed the petition now wanted their names removed amid allegations of misrepresentation and harassment by some signature gatherers.

The Adelanto School Board meeting drew some heavy-hitter outsiders to the district, including parent trigger author and former state senator Gloria Romero. Acknowledging she had never been to Adelanto before, she urged the board to send a national message and approve the trigger petition. One board member respectfully reminded her that their role was not to send political messages, but to follo

LAUSD AND THE WHY OF PRIVATIZED PUBLIC EDUCATION (VIDEO #6) - Perdaily.com

LAUSD AND THE WHY OF PRIVATIZED PUBLIC EDUCATION (VIDEO #6) - Perdaily.com:

LAUSD AND THE WHY OF PRIVATIZED PUBLIC EDUCATION (VIDEO #6)

by Leonard Isenberg

(Mensaje se repite en Español)

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

One of the main functions of government has been to educate its population. With ever increasing corporate sovereignty that has gotten to the point where it challenges the supremacy of government, corporations are in an all out fight to privatize public education. The reasons are two-fold:

1. A revenue stream that is conservatively estimated at $370 billion a year lies in the balance for private interests that are finally able to supplant the tradition public function of educating our youth. It is estimated that a hedge fund could double its money in 7 years by running a publicly funded charter school, while taking advantage of generous federal and state tax benefits. Then, like with the credit default swapsand sub prime fiascoes, these charter operators could then dump these debt laden charter back on the state and taxpayers for them to clean up the mess.

2. In addition to a financial benefit, corporate privatization of public education means that public 

President proclaims…charter schools | Merianna Neely

President proclaims…charter schools | Merianna Neely:

President proclaims…charter schools

by Merianna Neely on MAY 8, 2012 in FUTURE OF EDUCATION

Yesterday, the president spoke on education:

Whether created by parents and teachers or community and civic leaders, charter schools serve as incubators of innovation in neighborhoods across our country.  These institutions give educators the freedom to cultivate new teaching models and develop creative methods to meet students’ needs.  This unique flexibility is matched by strong accountability and high standards, so underperforming charter schools can be closed, while those that consistently help students succeed can serve as models of reform for other public schools.

Sorry, I mean he spoke on charter schools and the way that they are incubating innovation. He commended their teachers and their administrations and didn’t say a word about public schools. No word about the amount of time and energy that they are currently putting in to abide by the standardized testing movement that he has continued. No word about the money they are personally contributing to classroom 

NYC Educator: I Sure Do Feel Appreciated

NYC Educator: I Sure Do Feel Appreciated:

I Sure Do Feel Appreciated

by Miss Eyre

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!  I know it's Teacher Appreciation Week because I got this lovely e-mail from State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. informing me, among other things, about the great new teacher evaluation systems that are going to be put in place despite the fact that the vast majority of working teachers don't like them.

I try not to be paranoid about such things.  I tell myself that I work hard, that I have good relationships with my administration, my students, and their families, that I have nothing to fear.  Usually that works.

But this "Teacher Appreciation Week e-mail" was a 

All Education Matters: Suicidal Debtor Writes Again, "Through my tears, I decided to come back to the blog to see if there was anything new, and I found my story posted."

All Education Matters: Suicidal Debtor Writes Again, "Through my tears, I decided to come back to the blog to see if there was anything new, and I found my story posted.":

Suicidal Debtor Writes Again, "Through my tears, I decided to come back to the blog to see if there was anything new, and I found my story posted."

by Cryn Johannsen

If you are suicidal, please call: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
 
I am really glad that this poster came back and found that their remarks had been turned into a short piece about the student lending crisis. Here is why we must work on outreach, so that people know that they are not alone, and that we must band together to fight back.

Here's what they just wrote:

Today was an especially low day for me; I spent it pacing and panicking. My dark thoughts came back into my mind again and they're really starting to scare me. One of my loans is coming out of 

Schools Matter: Schools, Students and Teachers Sold for Scrap

Schools Matter: Schools, Students and Teachers Sold for Scrap:

Schools, Students and Teachers Sold for Scrap

by Judy Rabin

   Coming to a school near you, underfunded, overburdened and sold for scrap, if it hasn't already.
   Camden, New Jersey, across the river from Philadelphia is next -- but not last.  
   Refreshing to see quality journalism is still alive and well.

Read full story at the Philadelphia citypaper

Who's Killing Philly Public Schools?

Underfunded. Overburdened. About to be sold for scrap.

Daniel Denvir

City Paper


Thomas Knudsen, the man who was temporarily put in charge of Philadelphia schools in January, was running 

Florida State Board of Education Takes to the Road to Flack for Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings

Florida State Board of Education Takes to the Road to Flack for Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings:

Florida State Board of Education Takes to the Road to Flack for Charter Schools

by Bob Sikes

The Orlando Sentinel’s  Dave Weber has a snarky take on the state board’s clear favoritism for charter schools. Writes Weber:

Florida’s state Board of Education is having a love fest for charters schools this week, with board members fanning out around the state to tell charters what a wonderful job they are doing.
 But where is our love, officials at traditional schools are asking?
 In observance of National Charter Schools Week, members of the state board are heading to 

Common Explanations for Change and Stability in Classroom Practice | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Common Explanations for Change and Stability in Classroom Practice | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:

Common Explanations for Change and Stability in Classroom Practice

by larrycuban

The list of explanations for why classroom practices, even when counting modest changes teachers made in routine tasks and activities, has remained largely stable over decades is hardly exhaustive or inclusive. It does, however, cover the major ones in the literature on school reform.
*What keeps teaching largely stable are teaching traditions dating back centuries that are reinforced by those who enter and stay in teaching, supported by popular social beliefs, and fortified by the age-graded school structure.
Historical traditions of teacher-centered instruction to transfer knowledge, skills, and values from one generation 

Perth Amboy school board votes again to place superintendent on paid leave | NJ.com

Perth Amboy school board votes again to place superintendent on paid leave | NJ.com:

Published: Monday, May 07, 2012, 9:37 PM     Updated: Monday, May 07, 2012, 9:54 PM

Perth Amboy school board votes again to place superintendent on paid leave

 By Tom Haydon/The Star-Ledger PERTH AMBOY — For the second time in two weeks, the Perth Amboy school board voted tonight to place outspoken Superintendent Janine Caffrey on paid administrative leave, removing her on charges of insubordination and "eviscerating" school district morale.

Board members, citing state law, invoked a "doctrine of necessity", allowing members to vote despite conflicts of interest. On April 25, the board voted 4-0 to remove Caffrey, with five members abstaining, with four citing conflicts as relatives work for the district.

Tonight’s vote was 6-0 to place Caffrey on leave, with three members not voting.

Board vice president Kenneth Puccio presided at the meeting, saying president Samuel Lebreault 

Now That You’re Done, You’re Still Wrong [#IKnowATeacher Series, part 1] | The Jose Vilson

Now That You’re Done, You’re Still Wrong [#IKnowATeacher Series, part 1] | The Jose Vilson:

Now That You’re Done, You’re Still Wrong [#IKnowATeacher Series, part 1]

by Jose

The whole premise of some meetings is to listen to the person speak ad nauseam about the topic of their choice with little regard for others’ opinions. It happens all across America in offices where voice only matters insofar as the first one has first, second, and third say. Words to some serve as a beat down into acquiescence rather than inspiration to act onward. In such meetings, the most powerful person is always the one who puts his index fingers on his lips, takes a deep breath, waits until the speaker is done, and says, “Yea, I get that, but you’re wrong, and here’s why.”
That’s why I admire my former math coach. All praise is due to my first math assistant principal and first math coach, but, during his years at my school, I learned lots about how to handle the malcontents of the world. Some people have this belief that they don’t have time to waste, so they grow impatient and frustrated with those who they believe take up too much of their time. They cut people off, don’t want to deal with people, and take too 

Rheevolting: "Stupid in America"? Fox's contribution to National Teacher Appreciation Week - Miami Dade County Education Policy | Examiner.com

"Stupid in America"? Fox's contribution to National Teacher Appreciation Week - Miami Dade County Education Policy | Examiner.com:

"Stupid in America"? Fox's contribution to National Teacher Appreciation Week

Jennie Smith

Dade County Education Policy Examiner

 Today, Monday, May 7, marks the beginning of National Teacher Appreciation Week.

And John Stossel, courtesy of Fox, gave us teachers a little token of his appreciation last night.

The "report," wanting to make sure no viewers had to draw their own conclusions, was titled "Stupid in America." Who was he calling stupid? You might assume he was referring to the people who would accept at face value his incredibly one-sided presentation, no questions asked. But no, he wasn't calling his viewers stupid--at least not to their faces. He was calling me stupid...along with my roughly 20,000 colleagues here in Miami-Dade County, and 3.6 million colleagues across the country.

Just to make sure his viewers didn't miss his point, he wrapped up his "report," by chirping that, if students stop being bored in school and start learning math, "it will be thanks to those online classes. Or the charter schools. Or 

 Despite her much-touted firing of 241 teachers, Dr. Alan Ginsburg, retired Director of Policy and Program Studies for the U.S. Department of Education, published a report in January 2011 finding that test scores had already started rising under Rhee's predecessors, and that the rates of test score gains were no higher under Rhee than under her predecessors.

Time to edit the Democrats out of DFER » Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Time to edit the Democrats out of DFER:

Time to edit the Democrats out of DFER

by admin

While teachers spend every day in school educating our children — against great odds — propaganda flaks like Rebeca Nieves Huffman, new Illinois director of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), write ugly, extremist op ed pieces like the one the Sun-Times printed last week. It started out this way: “For much of the last year, while parents, community leaders and policy makers have been focused on bringing much-needed improvement to the Chicago Public Schools, the teachers’ union has been not-so-secretly planning to hold our city — and our schoolchildren — hostage by calling for a strike.” You don’t really need to read the rest of this toxic dump to know what it said.
Time for Democrats to take action
Recently the chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party sent DFER a “cease and desist” letter directing