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Monday, January 21, 2013

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 1-21-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



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



Let’s bring the Brown Act into the 21st century | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 minutes ago
Let’s bring the Brown Act into the 21st century | EdSource Today: Let’s bring the Brown Act into the 21st century ** January 21st, 2013 | 1 Comment | By Seth Rosenblatt [image: Seth Rosenblatt] Seth Rosenblatt Both lauded and maligned—and perhaps occasionally violated—the Brown Act has been an integral part of California politics for over half a century. TheRalph M. Brown Act, often referred to as California’s “open meetings law,” was first passed in 1953 to ensure that work of publicly-elected bodies was done openly and transparently. It also remains one of the most confusing pie... more »

Mississippi Will Struggle With Common Core Implementation | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 45 minutes ago
Mississippi Will Struggle With Common Core Implementation | Truth in American Education: Mississippi Will Struggle With Common Core Implementation by Shane Vander Hart [image: MDOE-Seal]I had written earlier that Arizona has funding issues with the Common Core. Iowa’s Department of Education doesn’t even have statutory authority to implement the SBAC tests. Now *The Sun Herald* in Biloxi, MS reports that schools in Mississippi will have a hard time with implementation: All U.S. students in second through 12th grades, under the newly adopted Common Core State Standards, will take... more »

Good press on two PURE stories Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Good press on two PURE stories: Good press on two PURE stories by admin New blog site DNAInfo Chicago had a great story on our UNO complaint here. UNO has 13 charters in the Chicago Public Schools, and 12 received funding increases in the2013 budget for a total outlay of $55.6 million. That’s tied directly to school attendance, but Woestehoff suggested that’s part of the problem, that UNO uses students as “collateral” in its loans. A Standard & Poor’s report in September 2011 gave the school bonds a BBB- rating, warning of “... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week: Seattle Schools This Week by Melissa Westbrook It's a fairly quiet week around SPS this week. *Tuesday, January 22nd* Call into the Board office (or e-mail) if you want to sign up for the Speakers list for the Board meeting on Wednesday. Frankly, you will not be changing anyone's mind if you choose to speak BUT if you want to make a point, out loud and in public, now's the time to go on record. 252-0040 or boardagenda@seattleschools.org *Wednesday, January 23rd* Rally to support teachers against MAP at 4:00 p.m. This o... more »

Ed Notes Online: Supporting Lisa Nielson: Leading DOE Official Shael Polokow-Seransky Affirms Parent Right to Opt Out

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Supporting Lisa Nielson: Leading DOE Official Shael Polokow-Seransky Affirms Parent Right to Opt Out: Supporting Lisa Nielson: Leading DOE Official Shael Polokow-Seransky Affirms Parent Right to Opt Out by ed notes online When I first heard the NY Post was exposing a DOE official for supporting the opt-out movement I thought they must have come across the video I made of Shael affirming the rights of parents to opt-out. Maybe the Post should take a look at this video. Popout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmfOOJkBlds But of course the Murdoch-owned Post would be... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Jonathan Kozol on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., poverty and class size

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Jonathan Kozol on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., poverty and class size: Jonathan Kozol on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., poverty and class size by Leonie Haimson Every year on Martin Luther King Jr. birthday, I try to honor this man’s great memory on this blog. Today I watched Obama’s inauguration; he gave a great speech, particularly on issues like climate change, and probably the most progressive since he was elected; except for a gaping hole when it comes to education. During the last campaign, Obama spoke about cuts to public schools... more »

When I Was Younger, So Much Younger Than Today | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
When I Was Younger, So Much Younger Than Today | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: When I Was Younger, So Much Younger Than Today by Gary Rubinstein I came across, recently, as I’ve been scanning in some of the ‘clutter’ I’ve had in boxes in storage, the the cover letter and the two essays I wrote for my TFA application. The deadline for applying to become a part of the second ever Teach For America cohort was in January of 1991. As this was exactly 22 years ago, this is the first time that these essays are approximately the same age as the soon-to-be Teach For America 2013 cohort. I thou... more »

UPDATE: Schools Matter: Because of the common core, do it wrong

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Schools Matter: Because of the common core, do it wrong: Embracing the common core = “Drinking poison to quench thirst” by skrashen Yvonne Siu-Runyan: “Once you told me a great idiom from China called, ‘Yin Zhen Zhi Ke: Drinking poison to quench thirst.’ Would you please explain why you used this Chinese idiom when speaking about American education?” Yong Zhao: “Well, the Chinese saying is to warn people not to take measures that may appear to solve an urgent problem in the short term but in effect the solution is more damaging than the problem.“ From: Yong Zhao in Conversation: Ed... more »

Diane in the Evening 1-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Diane and Sharon Higgins, a parent activist in Oakland EduShyster: If Martin Luther King Were Alive Today…. by dianerav EduShyster tries to imagine how Martin Luther King, Jr., would react to today’s corporate reform movement in education. Would he agree with the corporate reformers that poverty is an excuse for bad teachers? Would he agree that segregation doesn’t matter? Would he agree that unions are *LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog* coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Lis... more »

Students Last: Where Have All The Instructional Days Gone?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Students Last: Where Have All The Instructional Days Gone?: Where Have All The Instructional Days Gone? by Students Last *Albany -* Yesterday's release of the New York State testing schedule for the 2013 - 2014 school year held a surprise. For the first time in the state's history, more days will be spent on testing and test preparation than on actual instruction. New York State's Education Commissioner John King held a press conference to confirm this unusual occurrence. "We acknowledge that given the number of days for benchmark assessments, the National Assessment of Educatio... more »

The MAP test boycott has spread through Seattle | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
The MAP test boycott has spread through Seattle | Seattle Education: The MAP test boycott has spread through Seattle by seattleducation2011 [image: testing3] Teacher at a Texas Rally In a press conference that was held this morning at Garfield High School, it was announced that additional schools and the SEA Substitute Association have joined the teachers at Garfield High School in protest of the MAP test and in support of the teachers. Teachers at Orca K-8 and the elementary section of Salmon Bay K-8 have joined the boycott and are refusing to give the MAP test. Other schools tha... more »

Why MLK was kicked out of school at 5 and Obama's three education references in inaugural speech

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Why MLK was kicked out of school at 5 and other ed facts …: Why MLK was kicked out of school at 5 and other ed facts … Posted by Valerie Strauss on January 21, 2013 at 2:08 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: (1963 AP Photo)] (1963 AP Photo) The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had something of an unusual education. Here are five things you may not know: 1. King was exceptionally bright as a young child and so was enrolled at the age of 5 at the Yonge Street Elementary School in Atlanta. But st... more »

The Official Schedule for Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
The Official Schedule for Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools | United Opt Out National: Official Schedule for Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools by admin ** *Today, January 21st, 2013, is a remarkable day in history – a day that pays tribute to leadership, civil rights, and the power found in the voice of each individual. * *In his second inaugural address, President Obama declared, “You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time – not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values... more »

TEACHERS AND CIVIL RIGHTS « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
TEACHERS AND CIVIL RIGHTS « Teachers Fight Back: TEACHERS AND CIVIL RIGHTS by alkleen The Presidential Inauguration and the Martin Luther King Jr. festivities are a good time to remind everyone of how the teachers in America have played a huge role in advancing civil rights in this country. I strongly believe that the advancement in civil rights in this country would not have been possible without the efforts of the average teacher in America. The majority of teachers have been advocates for civil rights advancements and have used the classroom as a forum to advance the concept t... more »

TeacherCast Podcast #74 - Student Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Student Voice: [image: TeacherCast-Podcasting-Network-Logo] Originally Posted http://podcast.teachercast.net/teachercast-podcast-74/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter *Zak Malamed**Nikila Kakarla**Adil Majid* Jeff from TeacherCast sits down with Student Voice organizers Zak Malamed, Nikila Karala and Adil Majid to discuss why it is important to include students in the educational reform process. Have a listen: Featured Topics - -Students finding a voice in this world - -What has High School done to prepare students for college - -The importance o... more »

President Obama’s Second Inaugural Address full text - Washington Wire - WSJ

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
President Obama’s Second Inaugural Address - Washington Wire - WSJ: Here* is the full text of President Barack Obama’s second inaugural address on Jan. 21, 2013, as prepared for delivery:* Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our... more »

Inaugural speeches through history - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Inaugural speeches through history - The Washington Post: Inaugural speeches have inspired a nation and reaffirmed American ideals. Take a look back at addresses from every president from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to President Obama. Jayne Orenstein/ The Washington Post RELATED - More inauguration coverage - Story: For many presidential inaugurations, the second is not the charm - Photos: Key players at Obama’s second inauguration

Martin Luther King and Meet the Press, 1965 : blue cheddar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Martin Luther King and Meet the Press, 1965 : blue cheddar: Martin Luther King and Meet the Press, 1965 January 21, 2013 By bluecheddar [image: Share] We should celebrate and savor Martin Luther King day. The push to create a national holiday to honor Martin Luther King began in 1968 not long after his assassination. It would take a petition of over 3 million signatures and 20 years to become a reality on paper* and another 14 years before all 50 states would honor the day in the year 2000. To mark the day at blue cheddar, I’ll share this 25 minutes of essential viewing. On March 28,... more »

A Photo Album of Inaugurations Past - Politics - The Atlantic Wire

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
A Photo Album of Inaugurations Past - Politics - The Atlantic Wire: A Photo Album of Inaugurations Past Associated Press - - - - [image: Share] Share - Print article - Email article - [image: Comments] Comment ELSPETH REEVE11:01 AM ET Sifting through past presidential inauguration photos offers plenty of insight into the character of the guy getting sworn in and what was happening in the country at the time. The ceremony is a massive photo op, but unlike many photo ops, this one has great historical value. January 20, 1953. You can see Vice President Richa... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Clueless in Atlanta; Not So in Seattle Best of the Ed Blogs Jack Hassard January 21, 2013 A Few Points About the Instability of Value-Added Estimates Best of the Ed... more »

NY Post Hit Piece Smears Educator for Anti-Testing Views | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
NY Post Hit Piece Smears Educator for Anti-Testing Views | Scathing Purple Musings: NY Post Hit Piece Smears Educator for Anti-Testing Views by Bob Sikes [image: Lisa Nielsen] For observers who feel that Rupert Murdoch and Joel Klein are driving propaganda against public school educators through the news section of the *NY Post*, yesterday’s hit piece on Lisa Michelle Nielson reached a new low. Author of *Teaching Generation Text: Using Cellphones to Enhance Learning,** *Nielson has worked for New York City’s DOE since 2010 as a technology specialist and of and on since 1997 whil... more »

The Seattle Times | Martin Luther King Jr. Timeline

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
The Seattle Times | Martin Luther King Jr.: Timeline Martin Luther King Jr. The struggle to change conditions in America, and to win equal protection under the law for citizens of all races, formed the backdrop of Martin Luther King's short life. Civil rights It may be hard to believe that less than 50 years ago, America had separate drinking fountains for whites and blacks and "colored balconies" in movie theaters. - January 15. Michael Luther King Jr., later renamed Martin, born to schoolteacher Alberta King and Baptist minister Michael Luther King. Boyhood in Swee... more »

Justice Sotomayor: Urges Latinos to Pursue Dreams, Stay in School | HispanicallySpeakingNews.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Justice Sotomayor: Urges Latinos to Pursue Dreams, Stay in School | HispanicallySpeakingNews.com: Justice Sotomayor: Urges Latinos to Pursue Dreams, Stay in School [image: Justice Sotomayor: Urges Latinos to Pursue Dreams, Stay in School]Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, said on the weekend here that there’s no part of my heart that’s not from Puerto Rico and encouraged all Latinos to pursue their dreams. “If you don’t see the value of community it’s difficult for you to win,” said the magistrate during a colloquium with journalist Maria Hinojosa... more »

Martin Luther King 2.0, Now with More Excellence | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Martin Luther King 2.0, Now with More Excellence | EduShyster: Martin Luther King 2.0, Now with More Excellence by edushyster2012 *What would the original civil rights leader have to say about the civil rights i$$ue of our time?* No one could lead a civil rights movement like Martin Luther King Jr. But let’s face it: the movement he led was old school. The civil rights issue of our time is the achievement gap, and closing it often requires doing the opposite of what Dr. King stood for. Which raises some important questions: were Dr. King to return today would he be an achievement ga... more »

Modern School: Influenza: Vaccinating Kids Could Save Thousands of Infants and Seniors

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Modern School: Influenza: Vaccinating Kids Could Save Thousands of Infants and Seniors: Influenza: Vaccinating Kids Could Save Thousands of Infants and Seniors by Michael Dunn Adapted from Flick Image by Immer_Lebend Flu season arrived early this year and is turning out to be a particularly bad one, with several states (including New York) having already declared public health states of emergency. As usual, only a small fraction of Americans have been vaccinated. Yet seasonal influenza continues to be one of the deadliest diseases in the world, killing an average of 35,000 people ... more »

8th Grade History Teacher: Stop the Common Core | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
8th Grade History Teacher: Stop the Common Core | Truth in American Education: 8th Grade History Teacher: Stop the Common Core by truthed By C.E. White This week, President Obama will be sworn into office as the 45th President of the United States of America. As a history teacher, I was elated to learn he would be placing his hand on two Bibles, one belonging to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the other belonging to President Abraham Lincoln, when he takes the oath of office to lead our great nation. Dr. King and President Lincoln helped define civil rights for America…histo... more »

The Revisionist’s Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have A Dream For Most Of Us” | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
The Revisionist’s Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have A Dream For Most Of Us” | The Jose Vilson: The Revisionist’s Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have A Dream For Most Of Us” by Jose Vilson [image: Martin Luther King Jr.] Martin Luther King Jr. *For some revisionists, MLK Jr. was either one of two things: a staunch conservative who lived patriotically, owned guns, and worked towards self-help, or he was a such a commercial pacifist whose message for peace followed every rule in the book and posed no real threat to the establishment. Then, there are those who, after having recognized MLK’s ... more »

Leading Educators Support Garfield High School Teachers’ Test Boycott | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Leading Educators Support Garfield High School Teachers’ Test Boycott | Seattle Education: Leading Educators Support Garfield High School Teachers’ Test Boycott by seattleducation2011 [image: boycott] In a public statement released today, more than sixty educators and researchers, including some of the most well-respected figures in the field of education, pledged support for the boycott of the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test initiated by the teachers at Garfield High School in Seattle, calling the action a “blow against the overuse and misuse of standardized tests.” Amon... more »

Daily Kos: MLK Day Recommended Reading

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Daily Kos: MLK Day Recommended Reading: MLK Day Recommended Reading by rss@dailykos.com (plthomasEdD) "The Drum Major Instinct," Martin Luther King Jr. [AUDIO] "But this is why we are drifting. And we are drifting there because nations are caught up with the drum major instinct. 'I must be first.' 'I must be supreme.' 'Our nation must rule the world.' (Preach it) And I am sad to say that the nation in which we live is the supreme culprit. And I'm going to continue to say it to America, because I love this country too much to see the drift that it has taken."God didn't call Ameri... more »

Obama's Gun Control Plan: What High School Parents Should Know - High School Notes (usnews.com)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Obama's Gun Control Plan: What High School Parents Should Know - High School Notes (usnews.com): Obama's Gun Control Plan: What High School Parents Should Know By KELSEY SHEEHY January 21, 2013 RSS Feed Print [image: The president’s gun control measures include proposals to add school resource officers and mental health counselors.] The president’s gun control measures include proposals to add school resource officers and mental health counselors. President Obama's newly unveiled gun control plan includes a host of executive orders designed to help schools prepare for and respond to ... more »

“Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
“Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. - Wait, What?: “Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. by jonpelto *“Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.* The debate in America today is not between those who want to keep our education system as it is and those who want to change it. The “education reformers” are fond of saying that those of us who oppose their initiatives are for the status quo. They are wrong and their rhetoric is... more »

Ed Notes Online: LEADING EDUCATORS SUPPORT TEACHER TEST BOYCOTT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: LEADING EDUCATORS SUPPORT TEACHER TEST BOYCOTT: LEADING EDUCATORS SUPPORT TEACHER TEST BOYCOTT by ed notes online * * *Date: * January 21, 2013 *Contact: * Brian Jones, Teacher and Doctoral Student, 646-554-8592 bjones2@gc.cuny.edu Wayne Au, Professor of Education, wayne@rethinkingschools.org *LEADING EDUCATORS SUPPORT TEACHER TEST BOYCOTT* In a public statement released today, more than sixty educators and researchers, including some of the most well-respected figures in the field of education, pledged support for the boycott of the Measures of Academic Progr... more »

Do Indiana charter schools measure up, outperform? - southbendtribune.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Do Indiana charter schools measure up, outperform? - southbendtribune.com: Do Indiana charter schools measure up, outperform?Stanford study: It partially depends on when the school opened. [image: Nadine Grall] Nadine Grall asks social worker Tara Miller a question after the morning assembly at Xavier School of Excellence on Friday morning. From an enrollment standpoint, Xavier is the largest charter school in South Bend. (South Bend Tribune/SANTIAGO FLORES / January 21, 2013) By KIM KILBRIDESouth Bend Tribune 6:03 a.m. EST, January 21, 2013 Elijah Magruder attended three schools be... more »

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] An Answer to the Question Asked by a Teacher by dianerav I earlier posted a letter from a teacher who said that charters give ambitious students a chance to escape their low-performing and disruptive peers. The teacher noted that charters recruit the best students in the poorest neighborhoods. How could anyone blame parents who want their children to be surrounded by others who are equally ambitious? I invited readers to respond. Here is a thoughtful comment. This reader comments as follows: That’s interes... more »

Presidential lessons in education as a civil right | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Presidential lessons in education as a civil right | EdSource Today: Presidential lessons in education as a civil right - by Kathryn Baron by Kathryn Baron President Barack Obama’s second term officially began yesterday when he took the oath of office in a private ceremony surrounded by his family, using a Bible given to First Lady Michelle Obama’s grandmother by her father. Today, as he is publicly sworn in on the day the nation also celebrates the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the president will place his hand on a Bible that belonged to Dr. King, which itself will be ... more »

Daily Kos: Thoughts on an Inaugural Day

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Daily Kos: Thoughts on an Inaugural Day: Thoughts on an Inaugural Day by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) A new term has officially begun. The celebrations began even earlier than that. Today the nation officially celebrates, and we will hear what our President has to offer as his vision for his 2nd four years. I know there will be times where I will be critical of him and of his administration. Some of those criticisms will be very strong - on human rights for those denied them, on our increasing use of drones, on the unwillingness to fully protect whistleblowers, on its flawed a... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Standards and Square Watermelons

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Standards and Square Watermelons: Common Core Standards and Square Watermelons by stlgretchen  [image: No, these aren't watermelon designed candles! They are actually fruits ready for shipping. It seems a little crazy but when you put a form around an immature fruit or vegetable it will grow to fit into that form. Apparently these watermelon can be shipped in greater quantities by shaping them. No joke! From Wikipedia: "In Japan, farmers of the Zentsuji region found a way to grow cubic watermelons by growing the fruits in glass boxes and le... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The arc of the universe...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The arc of the universe...: The arc of the universe... by Mike Klonsky Dr. King's funeral, 1968. (Don Hogan Charles/NYT)It's M.L. King Day today. Schools are closed. No b-ball practice. This will be my only post as I'm taking the day off and spending at least some of it contemplating Dr. King's famous statement -- his conviction that the

Noam Chomsky: From the Strategic Mind to the Radical Politics of Imagination | Dissident Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Noam Chomsky: From the Strategic Mind to the Radical Politics of Imagination | Dissident Voice: Noam Chomsky: From the Strategic Mind to the Radical Politics of Imagination by Nozomi Hayase This week marks the beginning of Obama’s second term as US President. His inauguration on January 21st coincides with the day that honors civil rights leader Martin Luther King, who delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech 50 years ago at the Lincoln Memorial. At the dedication of the Martin Luther King Monument in 2011, Obama called to make King’s dream a reality for all. In the last four years,... more »

“Remaining awake through a great revolution.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
“Remaining awake through a great revolution.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr « Fred Klonsky: “Remaining awake through a great revolution.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr by Fred Klonsky [image: King]Commencement Address for Oberlin CollegeBy Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, JrJune 1965, Oberlin Ohio“[Oberlin College] President Carr, members of the faculty, and members of the graduating class of this great institution of learning, ladies and gentlemen: I can never come to this campus without a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for all that this great institution has done f... more »

The Enduring Ideals of Dr. King | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
The Enduring Ideals of Dr. King | toteachornototeach: The Enduring Ideals of Dr. King by aristotlethewise *The Enduring Ideals of Dr. King* by Daniel R. Porterfield, Ph.D. [image: mlk-jr]On Jan. 21, we again reflect upon the meaning of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. For me, this day has always been especially significant because I have memories of Dr. King from my childhood that inspire me today. How did I “know” Dr. King? Born in 1961, I grew up in integrated Baltimore City neighborhoods, where, before and after his assassination in 1968, he was a hero for ... more »

The Educated Reporter: Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Should Schools Stay Open?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
The Educated Reporter: Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Should Schools Stay Open?: Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Should Schools Stay Open? by Emily Richmond *It's inauguration day, but it's also the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Here's my post on the topic from last year.* Today is a federal holiday, which means schools -- and pretty much every office -- is closed here in D.C. However some districts nationwide opt not suspend classes for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Many schools use the day as an opportunity for special assemblies and workshops, while others simply continue with their... more »

Oakland's American Indian charter schools one step closer to closure - ContraCostaTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Oakland's American Indian charter schools one step closer to closure - ContraCostaTimes.com: Oakland's American Indian charter schools one step closer to closure By Katy Murphy Oakland Tribune Posted: 01/20/2013 11:03:59 AM PST Updated: 01/20/2013 05:25:12 PM PST Related - Oakland's American Indian charter schools one step closer to closure - State audit finds evidence of fraud, conflicts of interest by Oakland charter school operato - Madman, genius or both? - Oakland school board: American Indian charter school to stay open - Top-performing Oakland charter sch... more »

Schools Matter: New Common-Core Unit for ELLs: No support from research, no evidence they will work.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Schools Matter: New Common-Core Unit for ELLs: No support from research, no evidence they will work.: New Common-Core Unit for ELLs: No support from research, no evidence they will work. by skrashen Re: Three Districts Test Model Common-Core Unit for ELLs. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/01/16/17ellstanford_ep.h32.html We are told that the newly announced unit on Reading and Writing Persuasion features a “shift”: the two elements of this shift are “an explicit focus on language” and “complex texts.” Both are bad ideas. Decades of research tell us that focus on form does no... more »

Karen Lewis on Using The Bosses’ Tools [Pre-MLK Jr. Day] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Karen Lewis on Using The Bosses’ Tools [Pre-MLK Jr. Day] | The Jose Vilson: Karen Lewis on Using The Bosses’ Tools [Pre-MLK Jr. Day] by Jose Vilson [image: boondocksmlkjr] A few notes: - The Los Angeles United School District and its teachers union came to an agreement on teacher evaluation that makes some sense. [LA Daily News] - John Holland outlines with no equivocation the difference between responsibility and accountability. [Future of Teaching] - Sherman Dorn gives us five oft-overlooked facts about President Barack Obama that might give context to

Reincorporating Hunter-Gatherer Wisdom in our Society | Lefty Parent

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Reincorporating Hunter-Gatherer Wisdom in our Society | Lefty Parent: Reincorporating Hunter-Gatherer Wisdom in our Society by Cooper Zale In my previous piece, “Traditional Wisdom of Child Development”, I looked at how contemporary social scientists are rediscovering some of the wisdom of traditional hunter-gatherer societies, which were for most of our time on this planet the predominant human organizing principle and are arguably a more natural form of human community that the high-technology society that most of us humans live in today. I got a handful of thoughtful comments on ... more »

Activist Zack Kopplin is making life hell for Louisiana’s creationists | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Activist Zack Kopplin is making life hell for Louisiana’s creationists | toteachornototeach: Activist Zack Kopplin is making life hell for Louisiana’s creationists by aristotlethewise [image: adam-and-eve-e1305127512133]*How 19-year-old activist Zack Kopplin is making life hell for Louisiana’s creationists* by George Dvorsky For Zack Kopplin, it all started back in 2008 with the passing of the Louisiana Science Education Act. The bill made it considerably easier for teachers to introduce creationist textbooks into the classroom. Outraged, he wrote a research paper about it for a hig... more »

Judges Require Kansas to Provide Adequate School Funding « InterACT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Judges Require Kansas to Provide Adequate School Funding « InterACT: Judges Require Kansas to Provide Adequate School Funding by David B. Cohen I know, we’re not in Kansas (most of us), but since I’ve written in the past about legal battles over adequate school funding, I just wanted to add this latest chapter in the larger story. On January 11, Brad Cooper of theKansas City Star reported: A panel of state judges ruled Friday that funding of Kansas schools doesn’t pass constitutional muster, suggesting a price tag that could approach $500 million more for the state. Three judges ... more »

Chad Sansing comes clean about positive test scores « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Chad Sansing comes clean about positive test scores « Cooperative Catalyst: Chad Sansing comes clean about positive test scores by Chad Sansing All sizes by giulia.forsythe Interviewer: Did you ever use worksheets to enhance your students’ test performance? [image: All sizes by giulia.forsythe]Chad Sansing: Yes. I: Was one of those worksheets a word search? CS: Yes. I: Did you ever teach to the test or use released items to enhance your students’ test performance?

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week 16 and 17: Heaven, and the start of Spring…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week 16 and 17: Heaven, and the start of Spring…: Week 16 and 17: Heaven, and the start of Spring… by alicemercer That first week back from vacation I, and my class, were on fire. They seem to look forward to the topics we’re covering (a language arts unit on taking a stand for what’s right, ecosystems in science, and Ancient Africa and India in social studies). They were chatty, but much of it was on topic. It was one of the most productive weeks of learning we’ve had. This week was not bad, but it wasn’t as good, and the kids are clearly ... more »

An Urban Teacher's Education: Life Lessons: 2012 (Whoops, I Forgot Some Things!)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
An Urban Teacher's Education: Life Lessons: 2012 (Whoops, I Forgot Some Things!): Life Lessons: 2012 (Whoops, I Forgot Some Things!) by James Boutin I was reflecting on my last post, I realized there were a few more things that really changed my thinking last year. * **4) You want to teach somebody something? Better be sure you've got the cred to do it. * I was watching The Interrupters sometime last spring, a documentary about people interrupting violence in Chicago. And there's this part about three quarters of the way through when Ameena (one of the interrupters - you have to... more »






Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 1-19-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 1-12-13 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 1-5-13 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 12-29-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 12-22-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 12-15-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 12-8-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 12-1-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 11-24-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 11-17-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 11-10-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 11-3-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 10-27-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 





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Let’s bring the Brown Act into the 21st century | EdSource Today

Let’s bring the Brown Act into the 21st century | EdSource Today:


Seth Rosenblatt
Seth Rosenblatt
Both lauded and maligned—and perhaps occasionally violated—the Brown Act has been an integral part of California politics for over half a century.  TheRalph M. Brown Act, often referred to as California’s “open meetings law,” was first passed in 1953 to ensure that work of publicly-elected bodies was done openly and transparently. It also remains one of the most confusing pieces of legislation, particularly for “amateur” politicians such as school board members, because of its non-obvious provisions and multiple exemptions.
The California School Boards Association’s annual conference every year has multiple sessions devoted to explaining the Brown Act to school board members (and CSBA publishes a 63 page book to explain the law), but even attorneys specializing in the area disagree on the application of some of the law’s provisions, particularly in the modern era.
The intent of the law is clear and largely not in dispute: Public bodies should not deliberate behind closed doors but rather allow the public to witness their “thinking process” in how they come to decisions. The law centers on provisions stating that a majority of the members of any elected body must deliberate in public with an agenda that is posted and available publicly in advance of such meeting. There are many specific requirements and some exceptions (including for matters such as litigation, collective bargaining, and student 

Mississippi Will Struggle With Common Core Implementation | Truth in American Education

Mississippi Will Struggle With Common Core Implementation | Truth in American Education:


Mississippi Will Struggle With Common Core Implementation

MDOE-SealI had written earlier that Arizona has funding issues with the Common Core.  Iowa’s Department of Education doesn’t even have statutory authority to implement the SBAC tests.  Now The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS reports that schools in Mississippi will have a hard time with implementation:
All U.S. students in second through 12th grades, under the newly adopted Common Core State Standards, will take the same standardized tests online rather than on paper at school. The deadline for schools to implement this requirement is the 2014-15 school year.
Many school districts, however, may find themselves struggling with a lack in technology and hardware, outdated 

Good press on two PURE stories Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Good press on two PURE stories:


Good press on two PURE stories

New blog site DNAInfo Chicago had a great story on our UNO complaint here.
UNO has 13 charters in the Chicago Public Schools, and 12 received funding increases in the2013 budget for a total outlay of $55.6 million. That’s tied directly to school attendance, but Woestehoff suggested that’s part of the problem, that UNO uses students as “collateral” in its loans.
Standard & Poor’s report in September 2011 gave the school bonds a BBB- rating, warning of “considerable growth risk with two schools opening.” It made clear that UNO’s ability to repay was based on school population.
“That money they’re getting that’s supposed to be for children is being used to pay their debt,” Woestehoff charged. “That doesn’t seem like a healthy situation.”
Meanwhile, MSNBC dipped back into our Noble “secret

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week:


Seattle Schools This Week

It's a fairly quiet week around SPS this week.

Tuesday, January 22nd
Call into the Board office (or e-mail) if you want to sign up for the Speakers list for the Board meeting on Wednesday.  Frankly, you will not be changing anyone's mind if you choose to speak BUT if you want to make a point, out loud and in public, now's the time to go on record.
252-0040 or boardagenda@seattleschools.org

Wednesday, January 23rd
 Rally to support teachers against MAP at 4:00 p.m.  This one is organized by the SEA and I sure hope there is a lot of teacher, parent and student presence.

School Board meeting at 4:15 pm.  Agenda


The Agenda includes:

- approval of the 2013-2014 Interim plan.  To note, the cost has gone up from about $3.5M to just over $4M and this would come from BTA III.  This, of course, not was part BTA III planning so I'll have to ask what projects are shelved/delayed by this action.

Staff appears to still be recommending


News of Interest

The Children's Film Festival Seattle starts this Thursday, Jan. 24th and continues through Feb. 3.

Overview of Festival.  This includes a pajama party with Caspar Babypants one night, a pancake breakfast and short films the next morning, and a 1924 film version of Captain January.

Info for teachers/educators. 

We have added three extra weeks of weekday morning screenings for groups – so tell a teacher or childcare provider!

From the Times, a story about College Bound, the state program that help pay for college for low-income 

Ed Notes Online: Supporting Lisa Nielson: Leading DOE Official Shael Polokow-Seransky Affirms Parent Right to Opt Out

Ed Notes Online: Supporting Lisa Nielson: Leading DOE Official Shael Polokow-Seransky Affirms Parent Right to Opt Out:


Supporting Lisa Nielson: Leading DOE Official Shael Polokow-Seransky Affirms Parent Right to Opt Out

When I first heard the NY Post was exposing a DOE official for supporting the opt-out movement I thought they must have come across the video I made of Shael affirming the rights of parents to opt-out. Maybe the Post should take a look at this video.


Popout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmfOOJkBlds

But of course the Murdoch-owned Post would be outraged by any protest against testing that might hurt the boss's and his pal Joel's profit margins on the testing regime.

So, there was lots of chatter about the Sue Edelman's "exposure" of DOE official Lisa Nielson's support for the opt-out movement -- and I put "exposure" in quotes because Lisa, who I've known as an aquaintance for about a decade -- has never hid her activities from the Tweedies and I'm sure they know all about it. Of course, they are so concerned about what the Post thinks, they just may pull the plug but I hope not. (I hope Ed Notes support is not the kiss of death.)

Actually, Sue, who can be a snake, did not do a terrible job given that the work Lisa does was given lots of space. It was the vicious headlines and the photo of Lisa they used from her Facebook page that made it look bad.

Here are some links to the Post Article and Perdido Street School:

More Tweedies Like This One, Please

And some stuff from Leonie:

Here is a response to this NYP article by kris Nielsen ( no relation):

This is my favorite line from the NYP article:  “The department is always open to working with people with different ideas,” said spokeswoman Erin Hughes.” Really?  Could have fooled me!
NY Opt out group which she moderates is here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/OptOutNewYork/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Lisa here: http://www.facebook.com/InnovativeEdu?ref=ts&fref=ts

Go show Lisa some love.

And maybe one day we can get her to tell us the inside dope on how DOE technology really fared under Bloomberg admin over the last 12 years. As a tech guy myself in the last 20 years (roughly 1985-2005) I worked both at the school, district and region level my sources generally report a disaster with enormous sums wasted.

NYC Public School Parents: Jonathan Kozol on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., poverty and class size

NYC Public School Parents: Jonathan Kozol on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., poverty and class size:


Jonathan Kozol on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., poverty and class size

Every year on Martin Luther King Jr. birthday, I try to honor this man’s great memory on this blog.  Today I watched Obama’s inauguration; he gave a great speech, particularly on issues like climate change, and probably the most progressive since he was elected; except for a gaping hole when it comes to education. 

During the last campaign, Obama spoke about cuts to public schools and the need to reduce rising class sizes; yet this wasn’t mentioned today.  All he said today about education was the vague need to “harness new ideas…to reform schools” and hire more “science and math teachers.”  

I suppose it could have been worse; he could have pushed Race to the Top and charters, but it is not wholly satisfying when we see how our public education is being decimated by 

When I Was Younger, So Much Younger Than Today | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

When I Was Younger, So Much Younger Than Today | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:


When I Was Younger, So Much Younger Than Today

I came across, recently, as I’ve been scanning in some of the ‘clutter’ I’ve had in boxes in storage, the the cover letter and the two essays I wrote for my TFA application.  The deadline for applying to become a part of the second ever Teach For America cohort was in January of 1991.  As this was exactly 22 years ago, this is the first time that these essays are approximately the same age as the soon-to-be Teach For America 2013 cohort.
I thought of posting these after seeing two recent comments from newly accepted corps members on my ‘Why I Did TFA And Why You Shouldn’t’ post.  One was very naive and the other was more realistic.  I was wondering where I would have stood on this spectrum 22 years ago.  I’ll quote the comments from those two new corps members and then reprint the scans of my essays.  I’m doing this, not to ridicule the new corps member who I call ‘naive’ but to show that it is pretty natural for someone in his/her position to feel this way.  Even back 22 years ago, TFA recruited us and gave us the confidence that we would be able to do a good job right away.
Here is the ‘naive’ comment:
I just got accepted to TFA and plan to accept my offer from them tomorrow. I debated long and hard about this choice. I believe that while TFA ers don’t have the wisdom of more experienced teachers, we bring nuanced ideas to the table–ideas that people who have been in the business of 

UPDATE: Schools Matter: Because of the common core, do it wrong

Schools Matter: Because of the common core, do it wrong:


Embracing the common core = “Drinking poison to quench thirst”

Yvonne Siu-Runyan: “Once you told me a great idiom from China called, ‘Yin Zhen Zhi Ke: Drinking poison to quench thirst.’ Would you please explain why you used this Chinese idiom when speaking about American education?”

Yong Zhao: “Well, the Chinese saying is to warn people not to take measures that may appear to solve an urgent problem in the short term but in effect the solution is more damaging than the problem.“

From: Yong Zhao in Conversation: Education Should Liberate, Not Indoctrinate http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2012/05/yong_zhao_in_conversation.html


Accepting the common core as inevitable has the effect of making it inevitable.


Written in response to this question,
"How can we best prepare our students for the common core in language arts?"
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2013/01/response_best_ways_to_prepare_our_students_for_ccss_in_language_arts.html#comments

Larry Ferlazzo responds:
“I have been no fan of the Common Core standards (see The Best Articles Sharing Concerns About Common Core Standards). However, one of the key lessons I learned in my nineteen year community organizing career was that, though we should always recognize the tension inherent in "the world as we'd like it to be" and "the 


Because of the common core, do it wrong


In Larry Ferlazzo’s Ed Week blog, Amy Benjamin first agrees with comprehensible input and then does a strange about-face:

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2013/01/response_best_ways_to_prepare_our_students_for_ccss_in_language_arts.html

Amy Benjamin agrees with the idea that we acquire language “mostly” via comprehensible input and then does an abrupt about-face, claiming that students need “regular practice and targeted instruction” in academic language, activities based on word-lists. She goes on to assert that students need formulas to master academic writing, even though she still notes that writing is “informed by input.”
No. There is no evidence supporting this view. There is massive evidence for the superiority of comprehensible 

Diane in the Evening 1-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

Diane Ravitch's blog:

Diane and Sharon Higgins, a parent activist in Oakland







The Corporate Reform Movement Vs. Dr. MLK

Reader Mike Dixon commented on a post about Martin Luther King Jr.‘s definition of the purpose of education:
A cynical person might suspect that corporate education reform is intended to promote exactly what MLK warned about.


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the Purpose of Education

Thanks to a reader of the blog for sharing this statement by Dr. King on a matter of concern to us all.
Here is a portion:
“We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda. At this point, I often wonder whether or not education is fulfilling its purpose. A great majority of the so-called educated people do not think logically and scientifically. Even the press, the classroom, the platform, and the pulpit in many instances do not give us objective and unbiased truths. To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to 

EduShyster: If Martin Luther King Were Alive Today….

EduShyster tries to imagine how Martin Luther King, Jr., would react to today’s corporate reform movement in education.
Would he agree with the corporate reformers that poverty is an excuse for bad teachers?
Would he agree that segregation doesn’t matter?
Would he agree that unions are

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why You Should Send Your Child to the Local Public School by dianerav A reader thought about privatization and offered these thoughts: “Pride in our School.” The idea behind this comes from the community spirit/commitment necessary to sustain public schools. Call it the social contract. In my small, rural northern California community, two threats to the success (dare I say existence) of traditional public education are: No Child Left Behind (“NCLB”) and charter schools/school choice. Fortunately, NCLB is... more »

Students Last: Where Have All The Instructional Days Gone?

Students Last: Where Have All The Instructional Days Gone?:


Where Have All The Instructional Days Gone?

Albany - Yesterday's release of the New York State testing schedule for the 2013 - 2014 school year held a surprise. For the first time in the state's history, more days will be spent on testing and test preparation than on actual instruction.

New York State's Education Commissioner John King held a press conference to confirm this unusual occurrence.  "We acknowledge that given the number of days for benchmark assessments, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, state tests, mid-terms, finals, exams for English Language Learners and those taking alternative assessments, unit tests, make-up days for those who were absent and given that teachers typically use the weeks before a high-stakes exam for test preparation, that for the first time in New York State history there are actually fewer instructional days than testing days."

The MAP test boycott has spread through Seattle | Seattle Education

The MAP test boycott has spread through Seattle | Seattle Education:


The MAP test boycott has spread through Seattle