BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS
RheeFirst! » Following progressive outcry, Change.org drops StudentsFirst
RheeFirst! » Following progressive outcry, Change.org drops StudentsFirst: Following progressive outcry, Change.org drops StudentsFirst by admin Written by Ryan Grim for the Huffington Post. Read the entire article here. “*In a surprising reversal, Change.org, the progressive online powerhouse that channels grassroots energy into petition-based activism, has dropped two anti-union clients, including Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst, according to multiple sources familiar with the decision.* *The move comes after intense pressure from the labor movement and other progressive allies, wh... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Change.Org dumps Rhee, Edelman
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Change.Org dumps Rhee, Edelman: Change.Org dumps Rhee, Edelman by Mike Klonsky Popout Here's a video about the petition drive that led to Change.org dumping Rhee & Edelman In response to an avalanche of protest, Change.Org, a progressive online website that enables activist groups to
Schools Matter: Ohanian on the Rotted Common Core and the Marginalizing of Imagination
Schools Matter: Ohanian on the Rotted Common Core and the Marginalizing of Imagination: Ohanian on the Rotted Common Core and the Marginalizing of Imagination by Jim Horn by Susan Ohanian, posted at Daily Censored: In 20002, Business Week Revealed Why Common Core Disdains Fiction And the little very very very very very very very old man smiled, and looking at the faerie he said: ‘Why?’ —e. e. cummings, The Old Man Who Said Why This is the kind of writing primary graders savor. I speak from first-hand, on-the-spot observation here. Of course, teacher experience, knowledge, and ... more »
Will Weatherford, Like Levesque Ignores Crippling Remediation Rates in FCAT Spin | Scathing Purple Musings
Will Weatherford, Like Levesque Ignores Crippling Remediation Rates in FCAT Spin | Scathing Purple Musings: Will Weatherford, Like Levesque Ignores Crippling Remediation Rates in FCAT Spin by Bob Sikes Defense of FCAT and Jeb Bush’s high-states test regime has been limited to his Gang of Four in policy wonk Patricia Levesque, former Bush ed commissioner John Winn, former Bush chief of staff and current BOE chair Kathleen Shanahan and embattled current education commissioner Gerard Robinson. Realizing they needed someone else, Florida speaker-in-waiting Will Weatherford was recru... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: School Boards Aren't Getting The Message
Missouri Education Watchdog: School Boards Aren't Getting The Message: School Boards Aren't Getting The Message by Anngie * Cool Hand Luke* There seems to be an epidemic of communications breakdown between government and the people. It goes all the way to the President, who gave over 100 speeches in which he tried to get the public to see the beauty of the Healthcare bill. He was largely unsuccessful. It was seen in the state likes Arizona where the immigration law SB 1070 was supported by the majority of the AZ population, but is being prosecuted by the Justice Department. It c... more »
Why Do Doctors Make Excuses? « Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Do Doctors Make Excuses? « Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Do Doctors Make Excuses? by dianerav A reader sent in a comment about holding teachers accountable for test scores. He attended a “question and answer” luncheon hosted by the Lafayette, Louisiana, Chamber of Commerce, where Governor Bobby Jindal was the speaker. Jindal came late, spoke fast, and left without answering any questions. The reader, possibly the only educator in the audience, turned to the CEO of a hospital sitting next to him and asked “*if he ever pondered posting his hospital’s mortality rate outside its door*... more »
Debating Cuomo Plan for Teacher Ratings « Diane Ravitch's blog
Debating Cuomo Plan for Teacher Ratings « Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Debating Cuomo Plan for Teacher Ratings by dianerav Governor Andrew Cuomo has come up with a compromise on the issue of releasing teacher data rankings. He wants only parents to see the rankings and data reports for their children’s teachers, but to make public the data for individual classes and schools. This is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go far enough. It doesn’t satisfy the tabloids, who want every teacher’s name and ranking to be published onl... more »
Wait, What? - Working to educate, persuade and mobilize through "perceptive and acerbic" observations about Connecticut Government and Politics
Wait, What? - Working to educate, persuade and mobilize through "perceptive and acerbic" observations about Connecticut Government and Politics: “Education Reformers” spend over $2.6 million lobbying for Malloy’s “Education Reform” bill by jonpelto With the end of the 2012 Legislative Session, came the final lobbying reports from the corporate-funded “Education Reform” groups. From January through May 2012, Michelle Rhee, Patrick Riccards and the various corporate executives pushing Malloy’s education plan spent over $2.6 million in Connecticut. Overall, the corporate reformers ... more »
Smart policy decisions can only result from involving teachers | Thoughts on Public Education
Smart policy decisions can only result from involving teachers | Thoughts on Public Education: Smart policy decisions can only result from involving teachers - by Liam Goldrick by Liam Goldrick Share Posted on 6/20/12 • Categorized as Evaluations, Teacher Development By *Liam Goldrick* As someone who engages in education policy advocacy and development for a living, it’s good to know opportunities abound for me and fellow policymakers to hear the voices of America’s teachers and to apply their perspective in crafting policy solutions to educationalchallenges. Apart from the tradit... more »
Daily Kos: A few thoughts on Obama and Immigration
Daily Kos: A few thoughts on Obama and Immigration: A few thoughts on Obama and Immigration by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Republicans are howling that what the President did was political. Hell, anything a President does is political, because he is the nation's chief politicians. But let's be clear about something. The approximately 800,000 young people who will have a somewhat regularized status under this executive order will not be able to vote - they not only are not citizens, they are not under this plan yet legal residents. But they are allowed to have an ongoing status ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Tide Keeps Turning
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Tide Keeps Turning: The Tide Keeps Turning by Melissa Westbrook Remember how it has been reported that StudentsFirst, Michelle Rhee's organization, had petitions atChange.org that if you signed them, made you a member of StudentsFirst? Well, I guess Change.org had a change of heart because both StudentsFirst and Stand for Children have been booted out. The story at the Huffington Post is far more nuanced. *Change.org leaders, for their part, said they think some of the outrage resulted from a misunderstanding of the company's goal, which is ... more »
NYC Educator: Tough Days for Teachers
NYC Educator: Tough Days for Teachers: Tough Days for Teachers by NYC Educator Open up any paper and look at the madness that's infected our nation. In Chicago, the government has reneged on an agreement to give teachers a 4% pay increase. Instead, they want to raise their number of hours worked, give them 2% the first year of a five-year contract, and have them hope for the best for the next four years. Now, the CTU has overwhelmingly authorized a strike. That doesn't mean there will be a strike, of course. If Chicago wants to work out something reasonable, it can be averted. Her... more »
Evaluating Teachers Using Student Test Scores: IMPACT (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Evaluating Teachers Using Student Test Scores: IMPACT (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Evaluating Teachers Using Student Test Scores: IMPACT (Part 2) by larrycuban Since 2009, a new system of teacher evaluation has been put into practice in Washington, D.C. called IMPACT. The “Teaching and Learning Framework” for IMPACT lays out a crisp definition of “good” teaching in what D.C. teachers call the “nine commandments”: 1. Lead well-organized, objective-driven lessons. 2. Explain content clearly. 3. Engage students at all learning levels in rigorous work... more »
Kickin’ Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s butt in Chicago. « Fred Klonsky
Kickin’ Michelle Rhee’s butt in Chicago. « Fred Klonsky: Kickin’ Michelle Rhee’s butt in Chicago. by Fred Klonsky There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t get a bunch of petition requests on Facebook and on email. Some have been effective. Certainly the story of Trayvon Martin’s shooting received national attention in large part because of the petition campaign organized by Color of Change. But after a while so many petitions become just noise. And so some folks can be excused by being fooled into signing a petition that seemed to be supporting a settlement to the teacher contra... more »
The Innovative Educator: Criminalizing & profiting off students is wrong
The Innovative Educator: Criminalizing & profiting off students is wrong: Criminalizing & profiting off students is wrong by noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen) Little has changed here in NYC since the Mayor decided we'd treat students like criminals, have em go through metal detectors and force em to give up their digital devices upon entering school. Since then I have written more than 100 articles, taught classes, and a written book about the benefits of harnessing the power of cell phones for learning. This especially made sense when the cell phone-banning city I work in was d... more »
Counting, measurement, and the Fraser Report « Cooperative Catalyst
Counting, measurement, and the Fraser Report « Cooperative Catalyst: Counting, measurement, and the Fraser Report by alanthefriesen This year’s Fraser Institute report is in. For those of you unaware of what this means, the Fraser Institute is a private Canadian “think-tank” that concerns itself with education and statistics, attempting to create “a free and prosperous world through choice, markets, and responsibility” by ranking Canadian schools. Every year, the Fraser Institute releases “report cards” for both elementary and secondary schools, assessing high schools on “diploma ... more »
Change.org Drops Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Group Under Pressure From Progressives
Change.org Drops Michelle Rhee Group Under Pressure From Progressives: Change.org Drops Michelle Rhee Group Under Pressure From Progressives Posted: 06/19/2012 9:16 pm Updated: 06/19/2012 11:33 pm [image: Share on Google+] 203 183 29 660 *GET POLITICS ALERTS:* SIGN UP REACT: ImportantFunnyTypicalScaryOutrageousAmazingInnovativeFinally FOLLOW: Michelle Rhee, éducation, Michelle Rhee, Video, Politics News, Change, Change.Org,Changeorg, Michelle Rhee Dc, Politics News [image: Michelle Rhee] WASHINGTON -- In a surprising reversal, Change.org, the progressive online powerhouse that channels... more »
School Tech Connect: There He Goes Again...
School Tech Connect: There He Goes Again...: There He Goes Again... by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) [image: Tim Furman]No Not Him ... ...defending the status quo. If I was running the world, I would severely reduce the accountability stakes for tests. I would certainly eliminate things like No Child Left Behind. I would probably take away the current waiver. Even if it looks better, sometimes it's still really the same wolf in different clothing. I would do away with standards, to be honest. Even though on paper they sound kind of cool, they assume all kids are the same and t... more »
Charter Schools Fall Short On Students With Disabilities
Charter Schools Fall Short On Students With Disabilities: Charter Schools Fall Short On Students With Disabilities by Joy Resmovits [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Advocates, lobbyists and celebrities including Bill Cosby are rubbing shoulders in Minneapolis this week to celebrate 20 years of the charter school movement. But a report released late Tuesday confirms a flaw that charter critics have raised over the last two decades: charter schools don't enroll students with disabilities at the same rate as traditional public schools, despite federal laws... more »
The Not-So-Secret Secret [A Piece of My Manuscript] | The Jose Vilson
The Not-So-Secret Secret [A Piece of My Manuscript] | The Jose Vilson: The Not-So-Secret Secret [A Piece of My Manuscript] by Jose For a while, you’ve been told of this magical manuscript in the works now for the last two years. If you’re still here after waiting that long, congratulations. As a gift for your perseverance and dedication, I present to you an excerpt of said manuscript, sponsored by Middleweb.com: One time I kept the kids after school because they kept uttering the n-word. Rosa Parks had died the day before, and I got so furious to hear it spoken aloud that I had a t... more »
The Special Olympics Are Coming to UC Davis Next Week - Davis, CA Patch
The Special Olympics Are Coming to UC Davis Next Week - Davis, CA Patch: The Special Olympics Are Coming to UC Davis Next Week *By Shannon Watkins* *Special Olympics Northern CA* More than 900 athletes and volunteer coaches will convene at UC Davis to experience the thrill of competing against other athletes from all over Northern California. After weeks of training and participating in qualifying competitions, athletes will compete in Aquatics, Bocce, Tennis or Track and Field on the UC Davis campus. Summer Games will commence with the lighting of the cauldron. The cauldron will be...more »
Sumter SC schools are being subjected to Broad-style corporate reform « Parents Across America
Sumter SC schools are being subjected to Broad-style corporate reform « Parents Across America: Sumter SC schools are being subjected to Broad-style corporate reform by leoniehaimson *This post is written by Parrish Rabon, founder of our new affiliate, Sumter Education Task Force (SETF) in Sumter, SC. She can be reached at parrishgrabon@gmail.com.* Corporate education reform and its responsible parties (Broad and Gates) were introduced to Sumter, South Carolina, in a fast and furious manner last year. Sumter County’s two former school districts consolidated to form the Sumter... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Tenure Confusion in NJ Eases; However...
Jersey Jazzman: Tenure Confusion in NJ Eases; However...: Tenure Confusion in NJ Eases; However... by Duke So I got a copy of the actual Ruiz tenure bill here in NJ from someone in the know. I was worried because there was some confusion as to what was actually passed. I can tell you that the bill has some changes from thelatest version posted at NJ Spotlight. They are significant, but I wouldn't consider them earth-shattering. One change is that the state has to provide training not only on the evaluation rubrics, but also on "demonstrations of competence on the evaluation syst... more »
Last Stand for Children First: Students Deserve 100% from CTU
Last Stand for Children First: Students Deserve 100% from CTU: Students Deserve 100% from CTU by Last Stand for Children Popout Many teachers last week rejoiced that with 91% of the teachers in the Chicago Teachers Union voting, they authorized a strike 98% to 2%. We at Last Stand for Children First recognize that this was an important
Strong Readers All: What Would It Take ... ? — Whole Child Education
Strong Readers All: What Would It Take ... ? — Whole Child Education: Strong Readers All: What Would It Take ... ? June 19, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers *Post written by Naomi Thiers, associate editor, Educational Leadership* [image: EL Summer 2012] What would it take to make all the children we serve strong readers? It's a bold question to ponder as you prepare for the coming school year. Sadly, according to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress, U.S. students are*not* all strong readers. But authors in ASCD's *Educational Leadership* (EL) summer issue, "Strong ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Will Democracy Come to Jersey City?
Jersey Jazzman: Will Democracy Come to Jersey City?: Will Democracy Come to Jersey City? by Duke The circus train that is the NJ Department of Education pulled into Jersey City this week: Superintendent candidates Debra Brathwaite and Marcia V. Lyles made their first appearances at a public meeting on Friday, answering pre-selected questions on district issues at a four-hour special session attended by about 200 residents. But their appearance at School 11 seemed to take a back seat to drama that unfolded, centered on one candidate who failed to make the final cut – interim supe... more »
Request for Waiver of Provisions - Letters (CA Dept of Education)
Request for Waiver of Provisions - Letters (CA Dept of Education): [image: California Department of Education (CDE) Seal] [image: California State Board of Education (SBE) Seal] *CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TOM TORLAKSON,* State Superintendent of Public Instruction 916-319-0800 *CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MICHAEL W. KIRST,* President 916-319-0827 1430 N Street Sacramento, CA 95814-5901 June 15, 2012 Deborah Delisle, Assistant Secretary Office of Elementary and Secondary Education U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202 Dear Assistant ... more »
In 20002, Business Week Revealed Why Common Core Disdains Fiction | Dailycensored.com
In 20002, Business Week Revealed Why Common Core Disdains Fiction | Dailycensored.com: In 20002, Business Week Revealed Why Common Core Disdains Fiction by susano And the little very very very very very very very old man smiled, and looking at the faerie he said: ‘Why?’ —e. e. cummings, The Old Man Who Said Why This is the kind of writing primary graders savor. I speak from first-hand, on-the-spot observation here. Of course, teacher experience, knowledge, and intuition count for nothing. Education policy makers are deaf to my expertise. Unions are deaf to my expertise. NCTE, ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: News Hot off the Presses
Seattle Schools Community Forum: News Hot off the Presses: News Hot off the Presses by Melissa Westbrook This week, Orlando, FL is hosting the U.S Conference of Mayors. According to Reuters, "hundreds" of mayors endorsed "parent trigger" laws... *"...aimed at bypassing elected school boards and giving parents at the worst public schools the opportunity to band together and force immediate change."* Well, it does force change but is it change the only outcome parents create? Generally so. The adage *"be careful what you wish for" *surely applies here to those parents.* * I c... more »
Mayors Gone Mad « Diane Ravitch's blog
Mayors Gone Mad « Diane Ravitch's blog: Mayors Gone Mad by dianerav The annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the so-called parent trigger idea. The parent trigger means that any 51% of parents at a school can sign a petition, and as the Reuters article about it, said “seize control” of the school. Once the parents have seized control, with the endorsement of the mayors, they can fire the staff or hand the school over to a charter corporation. In other words, they can seize public property and privatize it. This is nuts. The pare... more »
Schools Matter: Memphis Consolidation Plan Trojan Horse for Urban Privatization Via Charter Schools
Schools Matter: Memphis Consolidation Plan Trojan Horse for Urban Privatization Via Charter Schools: Memphis Consolidation Plan Trojan Horse for Urban Privatization Via Charter Schools by Jim Horn When Memphis City Schools announced it would accept $90 million from Gates to "improve teacher quality," Supt. Kriner Cash blubbered, “This is huge, this is huge, this puts Memphis City Schools in very elite territory, on the front page of the nation.” Now almost three years later, Gates's fingerprints are on every aspect of school operations in Memphis, including a scheme to shut dow... more »
Standardized Testing in the Arts? No. Please, No. - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
Standardized Testing in the Arts? No. Please, No. - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Standardized Testing in the Arts? No. Please, No. by Nancy Flanagan When it comes to assessing music students, and their learning, I can say with confidence that I am a bona fide expert. I did this work for thirty years--by my count, evaluating well over 5000 music students, giving them grades and feedback. Which only means I had lots of practice--not necessarily proficiency--but depth of experience matters here. Over three decades, I developed and continuously adjusted a conce... more »
