James Baldwin said it best:
"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."
A Big Education Ape Nite Cap
"A Subsidy For Charters" Brown's Tax Initiative "Compromise" Pushes Priv...
Lets Unite All Public Workers and Fight Back The United Public Workers For Action is a network and political organizing committee that seeks to unite the 1.5 million California public workers and to take collective action to defend public education and public services. We believe that there are structural problems that have been put in place in order to marginalize and destroy public services. We also believe that there needs to be a basic political education campaign with public workers, working people, students and the oppressed to illuminate the systemic problems in our society.... more »
Voucher Proponents Question Need for Playgrounds at Schools « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!
Voucher Proponents Question Need for Playgrounds at Schools « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Voucher Proponents Question Need for Playgrounds at Schools by millerlf ** *If you have the time, please attend the Common Council Meeting, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 9:00 a.m., 3rd Floor – City Hall. We need your support!* *Playgrounds may be mandatory at new elementary schools* *A move to require outdoor play spaces at new elementary schools draws worry from supporters of voucher schools.* By Erin Richards of the Journal Sentinel July 19, 2012 New elementary schools in the city ... more »
On My Two Recommendations for Gregory Michie and Daniel Willingham | The Jose Vilson
On My Two Recommendations for Gregory Michie and Daniel Willingham | The Jose Vilson: On My Two Recommendations for Gregory Michie and Daniel Willingham by Jose Here’s my first big confession of 2012: I’ve been reading a lot. You’d think, Vilson, that’s not a big deal for you. I’d reply, “As a matter of fact, yes it is.” Huge. Not just my monthly GQ / Wired fix, either (with dabbles of Men’s Health). In the last few months, I’ve read about a book every two weeks on average. More importantly, a couple of them hadn’t even come out to the general public yet … Until this month. I’m pro... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations by Melissa Westbrook [image: kitten in hat animated gif] From the House Appropriations Committee work of last week, comes these results (via Ed Week): *Winners:* Extension of allowing teachers in alternative certification programs to count as "highly qualified" through the 2014-2015 school year. This would include those "higly qualified" TFA 5-week trained teachers. *Losers*: organizations, many of whom support disabled/Special Ed students,... more »
Daily Kos: Political Fundamentalism: Misreading the Right to Bear Arms
Daily Kos: Political Fundamentalism: Misreading the Right to Bear Arms: Political Fundamentalism: Misreading the Right to Bear Arms byplthomasEdDFollow 8 PERMALINK1 COMMENT Fundamentalism is often associated with religion, specifically when literal interpretations of religious texts drive dogma. Religious fundamentalism exposes how commitments to the material *thing* can often create behaviors that contradict the larger principles. Consider how interpreting the scripturally-based truism "spare the rod, spoil the child" (Proverbs 13:24) as license for physically spanking or beating... more »
Update: Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College « Diane Ravitch's blog
Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College « Diane Ravitch's blog: Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College by dianerav A reader sent me the following press release. It describes how college freshmen who get a scholarship will have an electronic monitoring system, where they are expected to check in and report. It appears that the system relies on the student to check in regularly and interact with his or her electronic tracking system. Maybe this will be helpful. Or maybe it will be like that accursed Microsoft Paperclip that used to pop up uninvited and offer to help you whether you wanted... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran: Listen To Your Readers!
Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran: Listen To Your Readers!: Tom Moran: Listen To Your Readers! by Duke So I opened up my dead tree version of the Star-Ledger this morning and read yet another charter cheerleading editorial by Tom Moran and crew. And I was dreading firing up the laptop and writing yet another post that says - yet again: *"Successful" charter schools in New Jersey do not serve the same students as neighboring public schools. They owe much of their "success" to the fact that they have fewer poor children, fewer children who speak a language other than English at home, and fe... more »
Explaining Why Florida’s School Grade System is Fatally Flawed and Why Its Dooms Parent Trigger | Scathing Purple Musings
Explaining Why Florida’s School Grade System is Fatally Flawed and Why Its Dooms Parent Trigger | Scathing Purple Musings: Explaining Why Florida’s School Grade System is Fatally Flawed and Why Its Dooms Parent Trigger by Bob Sikes Matt Di Carlo didn’t know that the Florida Department of Education would be changing 213 school grades when he posted his data in a Shanker Institute blog post on Friday. A well-respected senior research fellow, Dr. Di Carlo effectively shows that Florida’s school grad formula reveals that a remarkable correlation exists between poverty and of performan... more »
Defy gravity! - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators
Defy gravity! - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators: Defy gravity! This past week I listened to Dr. Gene Carter, Executive Director of ASCD, deliver his opening remarks at our Leader to Leader conference in a crowded ballroom of eager ASCD leaders from around the world. He addressed many important themes for the conference, but one phrase jumped out of me in its startling simplicity: “Defy gravity!” I tweeted it out right away, and then let it sit with me the next few days of the conference to appreciate its full im... more »
Leonard Pitts Jr.: Texas GOP wages war on thinking - San Jose Mercury News
Leonard Pitts Jr.: Texas GOP wages war on thinking - San Jose Mercury News: Leonard Pitts Jr.: Texas GOP wages war on thinking By Leonard Pitts Jr. Posted: 07/22/2012 06:00:00 AM PDT Some recent headlines from the alternate universe of modern conservatism: Rush Limbaugh claims the bad guy in the new Batman movie was named Bane to remind voters of Mitt Romney's controversial tenure at Bain Capital. Michelle Bachmann, citing zero credible evidence, accuses a Muslim-American aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood. Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio...more »
Taking College Classes in High School Keeps Low Income Kids on Track - Education - GOOD
Taking College Classes in High School Keeps Low Income Kids on Track - Education - GOOD: Taking College Classes in High School Keeps Low Income Kids on Track [image: students] Dual high school/college programs that shorten the time it takes to earn a high school diploma and let students earn up to two years of college credit for free are growing in popularity. But the programs have more benefits than just saving cash-strapped families money. A new study from California's Community College Resource Center says students from low-income communities who participate in dual programs re... more »
Schools Matter: ALEC and the Privatization Agenda
Schools Matter: ALEC and the Privatization Agenda: ALEC and the Privatization Agenda by Jim Horn Great short video, less than 5 minutes, that connects many dots, especially in relation to the virtual school corporate welfare program. HT to Monty Neill: Popout
Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US | Seattle Education
Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US | Seattle Education: Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US by seattleducation2011 Sharon Higgins, an education activist and a founding member of Parents Across America, has followed the Broad Foundation for several years and is editor of the Broad Report, as well as Charter School Scandals and the Perimeter Primate. Two years ago she began to investigate the Gulen charter schools and to follow is an in-depth interview with Ms. Higgins on that topic: CHARTER SCHOOL... more »
How Much and What Kind of Teacher Education Do Novices Need? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
How Much and What Kind of Teacher Education Do Novices Need? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: How Much and What Kind of Teacher Education Do Novices Need? by larrycuban An official with an influential foundation eager to transform teacher education was convinced that: *[T]eacher education could occur rapidly given the long tenure in classrooms already served by intending teachers:* *The underlying assumption was that bright candidates, after spending sixteen years in elementary, secondary, and college classrooms, have inevitably absorbed a good deal of knowle... more »
teacher/poet/musician glen brown: I'm On Your Side by Diane Ravitch
teacher/poet/musician glen brown: I'm On Your Side by Diane Ravitch: I'm On Your Side by Diane Ravitch In the spring of 2010, I went out to college campuses to talk about my new book. The book was unusual for me because it was not a history; it was not a policy book; it was not a memoir. It was all three. I wanted to explain why I had come to realize that many of the ideas I had championed were wrong. I wanted to explain how testing and choice policies were undermining education. Testing was ruining curriculum and instruction. Choice threatened the survival of public education. ... more »
Public Education Is Not a Business « Diane Ravitch's blog
Public Education Is Not a Business « Diane Ravitch's blog: Public Education Is Not a Business by dianerav I have posted a number of comments on the subject of whether, when and how schools are like businesses. This reader says that public education is not a business. Of course, it is important to understand that the purpose of the accountability measures and the choice policies is to get us all in the habit of thinking we are shoppers, consumers of education services that compete for our children and our dollars. Parents are supposed to take the school letter grades and go shopping... more »
Geaux Teacher!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!
Geaux Teacher!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE! by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) This letter from the Public Affairs Research Council dated July 17 to Superintendent John White calls on him to develop REAL accountability for the voucher receiving private and parochial schools. Where was the PAR when this legislation was being debated? Where were our legislators when they voted on legislation that gave John White virtually singular control of most aspects of the law. THEY will be held
Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky
Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky: Sunday links. by Fred Klonsky *Diane Ravitch* tells my pal Glen Brown, *“I recognized that I have a mission to support teachers in a terrible time.”* *Chicago’s Lupe Fiasco* explains it all to Bill O’Reilly. *The Illinois Teacher Retirement System* is a huge job creator in Illinois. *Is the ”the google-eyed homunculus hired by Koch Industries* to manage their midwest subsidiary formerly known as the state of Wisconsin” getting closer to being indicted? *Romney:* *“The dog ate my tax returns.”* *If only all working mothers* had to face the challenges
NYC Educator: Bloomberg Fails, Yet Does Not Get Letter Grade
NYC Educator: Bloomberg Fails, Yet Does Not Get Letter Grade: Bloomberg Fails, Yet Does Not Get Letter Grade by NYC Educator Very sharp article in the Daily News today on how Bloomberg's signature initiative, school closings, has been an abject failure. It's important to note that the US Education Department favors similar programs, based on Arne Duncan's Renaissance 2012, also an abject failure. It's pretty clear that high-needs students do not, in fact, disappear as a result of school closings (except at charter schools). Also, poverty does not simply disappear when you treat t... more »
Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | The Political Carnival
Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | The Political Carnival: Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2012, 2:54 pm by GottaLaff [image: Google Gmail][image: Facebook][image: Twitter][image: LinkedIn][image: StumbleUpon][image: Reddit][image: Fark][image: Digg][image: Tumblr][image: Blogger Post][image: Delicious][image: FriendFeed][image: NewsVine][image: Google Bookmarks][image: Google Reader][image: Multiply][image: Posterous][image: Email][... more »
Charter gamble is no sure bet
Charter gamble is no sure bet: Charter gamble is no sure bet Inquirer Editorial [image: The SRC´s Joseph Dworetzky, Feather Houstoun, and Pedro Ramos.] The SRC's Joseph Dworetzky, Feather Houstoun, and Pedro Ramos. READER FEEDBACK Post a comment ALSO ON PHILLY.COM Charter gamble is no sure bet The School Reform Commission may be taking too big a gamble by investing $139 million in charter-school expansions when there is evidence that many charters perform no better than traditional schools academically, and the lack of adequate regulation has birthed charters that misspend taxpayer... more »
Education Reform: U.S. schools making little progress in improving student achievement - UPI.com
Education Reform: U.S. schools making little progress in improving student achievement - UPI.com: Education Reform: U.S. schools making little progress in improving student achievement (1) | | | President Barack Obama poses with 2nd graders at Long Branch Elementary School in Arlington, Va., on Dec. 17, 2010. Obama reads book, including his new book "Of Thee I Sing," to approximately 90 children. UPI/Olivier Douliery/POOL License photo Published: July 22, 2012 at 5:01 AM By MARCELLA S. KREITER CHICAGO, July 22 (UPI) -- We haven't heard much of late about why Johnny can't r... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-22-12 Diane Ravitch's blog - A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Those Wacky Economists Are at It Again by dianerav Through Twitter, I met an amazing blogger named Larry Ferlazzo. When I traveled to Sacramento earlier this year, I met the real Larry Ferlazzo. Larry is a teacher who makes amazing lists of everything you need to know. He also scours the Internet for everything interesting. I constantly learn from Larry. Once again, he hit the jackpot with this post. As we know, many of our economists treat test scores as the best and sole measure of learning. They spend T... more »
Spelling Being (Guest Post by cian saywer) « Cooperative Catalyst
Spelling Being (Guest Post by cian saywer) « Cooperative Catalyst: Spelling Being (Guest Post by cian saywer) POSTED BY DLOITZ ⋅ JULY 22, 2012 ⋅ 1 COMMENT *FILED UNDER* ALFIE KOHN, GUEST POST, READING, SPELLING BEE, UNSCHOOLING A couple of months ago, a very reluctant participant in the school spelling bee – my daughter Lauryn – went on stage and spelled for 26 rounds. After about eight rounds, it was between her and one other person. Every time she stepped up to the microphone and the word was given to her – despite my original nonchalance – I became a little bit more shaky, my h... more »
Learning as leaders. | Connected Principals
Learning as leaders. | Connected Principals: Learning as leaders. July 22, 2012 By Lyn Hilt From Scott McLeod’s Pinterest As part of Pennsylvania’s Inspired Leadership (PIL) program, as a principal I have the opportunity to participate in professional development sessions offered through the National Institute for School Leadership. I’m now involved in the fourth and final course of the program, which includes three units: *The Principal as Driver of Change*, *Leading for Results*, and a culminating simulation. The program is comprehensive, and over the past few years I’ve experience... more »
“Muddled Models” — A View Of Economists From…The Economist Magazine | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
“Muddled Models” — A View Of Economists From…The Economist Magazine | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: “Muddled Models” — A View Of Economists From…The Economist Magazine by Larry Ferlazzo Coincidentally, the same day I criticized economists for looking at everything, including schools, through the lens of financial incentives (see “If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail” — Economists Go After Schools Again), The Economist Magazine ran a column called “Muddled Models” saying the same thing. Here are some excerpts: *Do economists have an accurate mod... more »
Q&A: New Oakland teachers union leader hopes to end marathon stalemate in contract negotiations, get a raise for members - Inside Bay Area
Q&A: New Oakland teachers union leader hopes to end marathon stalemate in contract negotiations, get a raise for members - Inside Bay Area: Q&A: New Oakland teachers union leader hopes to end marathon stalemate in contract negotiations, get a raise for members By Katy Murphy Oakland Tribune Posted: 07/22/2012 12:00:00 AM PDT Related - Jul 22: - The Education Report: Is failure to report child abuse in schools a matter of policy? OAKLAND -- The Oakland teachers union and the school district administration have a notoriously strained -- some would say, dysfunctional -- re... more »
School Tech Connect: What I Learned From My Google Class
School Tech Connect: What I Learned From My Google Class: What I Learned From My Google Class by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) This is a pretty good summary of the Google Power Search course, which was so intensely boring I couldn't complete it. I knew many of these things from Twitter, of course. The one thing that the Google Power Search course has reaffirmed for me is that a flipped classroom can be just as deadly as a non-flipped classroom. If you want to take the Google Power Search course, my advice would be to just read the summary I've linked to and then Google any fur... more »
The in box. More pension bullet points. « Fred Klonsky
The in box. More pension bullet points. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. More pension bullet points. by Fred Klonsky *Fred,* *Add these to your bullet points:* *Please MAKE SURE you CONTACT YOUR STATE REP. & SENATOR, ESPECIALLY USING THE SHORT & SWEET BULLET POINTS LISTED AT THE END!!! * *AND–TELL EVERY TEACHER YOU KNOW, TELLING THEM TO TELL EVERY TEACHER THEY KNOW to CONTACT THEIR Reps. & Senator!.TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES & NEIGHBORS to CONTACT THEIR Reps. & Senators! Tell those (be polite but truthful!) who are not teachers–if they ? you or taunt you (about how good we have i... more »
“If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail” — Economists Go After Schools Again | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
“If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail” — Economists Go After Schools Again | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: “If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail” — Economists Go After Schools Again by Larry Ferlazzo Last month, I wrote about a questionable study that touted the idea of “loss aversion” as a successful strategy to get students to do better at tests. In other words, they gave students a trophy or some cash before they took the test and told them they would have to give it back if they didn’t do well. As one of the... more »
First ever StudentsFirst video that I did not laugh at | Gary Rubinstein's Blog
First ever StudentsFirst video that I did not laugh at | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: First ever StudentsFirst video that I did not laugh atby Gary Rubinstein I think it is an understatement to say that Michelle Rhee is not known for her humor. Sure, she got a lot of chuckles when she recounted the time she taped her students’ mouths shut with masking tape and the pain (and blood) that resulted when the tape was removed. (I also did plenty that I was not proud of my first year, but never taped any mouths shut.) Still, though, I generally get a laugh out of any of the videos on the S... more »
Let's Get Rid of Subs - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
Let's Get Rid of Subs - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Let's Get Rid of Subs by Nancy Flanagan stereotypical substitute teacher If there were ever an outmoded, past-its-prime practice in education--something that deserves the dustbin--it's "covering" classes of absent teachers with substitutes. Doesn't matter what you call them (in my building, it was "guest teacher," as if students were politely entertaining distinguished visitors)--the stereotypical substitute teacher suffers from a lack of authority, relevance and dignity. (Please note: stereotypical.) I ... more »
Democurmudgeon: Since Milwaukee's Voucher program began in 1992, Wisconsin became one of the slowest improving states.
Democurmudgeon: Since Milwaukee's Voucher program began in 1992, Wisconsin became one of the slowest improving states.: Since Milwaukee's Voucher program began in 1992, Wisconsin became one of the slowest improving states. by Democurmudgeon Funny thing about the education reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; seems she forgot one important detail. Maybe it’s not important, but I thought I’d bring it up anyway. Isn’t it an odd coincidence that in a new study that covered the years 1992 through 2011, ’92 being the first year of Milwaukee’s voucher system, Wisconsin became on... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-21-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-14-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-7-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-30-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
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