Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: My Break With the Democrats
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The Ann Coulter of Right Wing Ed Reform |
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: My Break With the Democrats - The Daily Beast
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: My Break With the Democrats - The Daily Beast:
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-5-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog:
How to Fix Oklahoma’s Report Cards
Mercedes Schneider on NCTQ and Wendy Kopp: Part 7
Let Them Eat Cake!
What You Need to Know About ALEC
Teacher: There Is No Florida Miracle
How to Fix Oklahoma’s Report Cards
A group of scholars in Oklahoma have reviewed the state’s simplistic A-F report cards for schools and proposed a better way to look at school effectiveness. The Tulsa World provided a link so perhaps many people in the state will see it.
Jeb Bush pioneered this grading system on Florida. It puts far too much emphasis on test scores.
Three worthy parts of the review:
1. The fact that these scholars did this report matters
2. Good bibliography
3. Conclusion:
“The work of schools and school leaders might be compared to gardening, that is, tending to the growth of a
Jeb Bush pioneered this grading system on Florida. It puts far too much emphasis on test scores.
Three worthy parts of the review:
1. The fact that these scholars did this report matters
2. Good bibliography
3. Conclusion:
“The work of schools and school leaders might be compared to gardening, that is, tending to the growth of a
Mercedes Schneider on NCTQ and Wendy Kopp: Part 7
Mercedes Scneider continues her dissection of the nonpartisan National Council on Teacher Quality. This post examines the qualifications of Wendy Kopp.
Let Them Eat Cake!
EduShyster has generously written a guest post for readers of this blog.
She has timed this post with the release of Michelle Rhee’s memoir, which makes its debut today. (No one knows who wrote Rhee’s book, but some Washingtonians think they know.)
In honor of the day, EduShyster has collected a recipe from Adell Cothorne, the brave principal who filed a whistleblower lawsuit about the cheating that she saw in the D.C. public schools. Cothorne is now baking cupcakes for a living, having temporarily stepped away from a toxic
She has timed this post with the release of Michelle Rhee’s memoir, which makes its debut today. (No one knows who wrote Rhee’s book, but some Washingtonians think they know.)
In honor of the day, EduShyster has collected a recipe from Adell Cothorne, the brave principal who filed a whistleblower lawsuit about the cheating that she saw in the D.C. public schools. Cothorne is now baking cupcakes for a living, having temporarily stepped away from a toxic
What You Need to Know About ALEC
Want to know who is pulling the stings of he corporate reform movement?
Keep your eye on ALEC, short for the American Legislative Exchange Council.
This is a secretive group of about 2,000 state legislators, major corporations and far-right think tanks.
The goal of ALEC is privatization and advancing the interests of corporations.
ALEC drafts model laws and its members introduce them in their state, sometimes verbatim.
Keep your eye on ALEC, short for the American Legislative Exchange Council.
This is a secretive group of about 2,000 state legislators, major corporations and far-right think tanks.
The goal of ALEC is privatization and advancing the interests of corporations.
ALEC drafts model laws and its members introduce them in their state, sometimes verbatim.
Teacher: There Is No Florida Miracle
You may have heard that former Governor Jeb Bush regularly parades the “Florida miracle,” perhaps preparing for a 2016 run at the presidency. The formula, we hear, is testing and accountability, grading schools, charters and vouchers, and of course, online courses and schools.
This Florida teacher wrote a comment and gives a different view from the trenches:
I will go out on a limb here and argue that there IS no “Florida miracle.” I taught in a Miami-Dade high school for 6 years and I watched our school grade go from a C to a D back to a C, stay a C, and then up to a B…I think it was also an F at some point in there. During that time, did I see any change in the “quality” of student? Nope. Did I see any change in the quality of the teachers? Nope. Did I see any change in the quality of the
This Florida teacher wrote a comment and gives a different view from the trenches:
I will go out on a limb here and argue that there IS no “Florida miracle.” I taught in a Miami-Dade high school for 6 years and I watched our school grade go from a C to a D back to a C, stay a C, and then up to a B…I think it was also an F at some point in there. During that time, did I see any change in the “quality” of student? Nope. Did I see any change in the quality of the teachers? Nope. Did I see any change in the quality of the
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-4-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Is This What Bill Gates Means by Good Education? by dianerav Last week, Bill Gates wrote an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal in which he explained how to solve the world’s biggest problems. The article was titled, modestly, “My Plan to Fix the World’s Biggest Problems.” The answer is simple: Measurement. To prove his point in education, he pointed to the Eagle Valley High School, near Vail, Colorado. He said that the school adopted his recommendations about measuring teacher quality, and test score... more »
Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee Update! – @ the chalk face
Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee Update! – @ the chalk face:
Jon Stewart’s betrayal: #michellerhee Update!
Sorry Jon. I thought maybe you might redeem yourself. I thought maybe you heard me scream FREEDOM!
Popout
I thought wrong.
Just on one single distortion blurted out by the “radical” and you could have ended her miserable career. And I know you know this! The “radical” claimed:
Popout
I thought wrong.
Just on one single distortion blurted out by the “radical” and you could have ended her miserable career. And I know you know this! The “radical” claimed:
“Teachers are biggest IN SCHOOL predictor of student success.”And guess what Jon? In school factors account for maybe 20% of the total picture. And of that 20% teachers MIGHT account for only 10%. Up to 80% of success in school is predicted by
Pearson comes to teacher education, and we are supposed to be cool with that?
When I am not spitting mad at the calls for some kind of high stakes assessment for teacher education, I am flabbergasted and frightened. How can it be that at the same time that we are experiencing the full destructive impact on k12 education of the accountability regime, its high stakes testing, surveillance and privatization, we accept calls to bring high stakes, high surveillance measures to teacher education?
The arguments proffered for some kind of bar exam, and those used to explain the imposition of the Pearson edTPA on teacher education, seem to center around some need to establish teachers’ professional status and to cull the worst from the bunch (“the illiterate and itinerant” as Diane Ravitch wrote in her response to a post on her blog). As a teacher educator, I can feel the disrespect in these ideas as much as I could feel it as a high school English teacher when the conversation turned to what a bad job teachers are doing. However, whereas we have learned to see the manipulation and distraction that is the attack on teachers, we seem ready to consider
The arguments proffered for some kind of bar exam, and those used to explain the imposition of the Pearson edTPA on teacher education, seem to center around some need to establish teachers’ professional status and to cull the worst from the bunch (“the illiterate and itinerant” as Diane Ravitch wrote in her response to a post on her blog). As a teacher educator, I can feel the disrespect in these ideas as much as I could feel it as a high school English teacher when the conversation turned to what a bad job teachers are doing. However, whereas we have learned to see the manipulation and distraction that is the attack on teachers, we seem ready to consider
UPDATE: Why growing concentrated poverty dooms school reform
Why growing concentrated poverty dooms school reform:
Jon Stewart tests Michelle Rhee, defends teachers
How online class about online learning failed miserably
Tennessee lawmaker wants to cut welfare benefits for bad report cards
Why growing concentrated poverty dooms school reform
Until very recently, policymakers ignored the effect that concentrated poverty has on student achievement. Here’s a look at why more attention must be paid to the problem, written by Greg Kaufmann, who reports on poverty for the Nation, and Elaine Weiss, the national coordinator for the Broader Bolder Approach to Education. This appeared on The Nation’s website.
By Greg Kaufmann and Elaine Weiss
Researchers know a lot about how various factors associated with income level affect a child’s learning: parents’ educational attainment; how parents read to, play with, and respond to their children; the quality of early care and early education; access to consistent physical and mental health services and healthy food. Poor children’s limited access to these fundamentals accounts for a good chunk of the achievement gap, which is why conceiving of it instead as an opportunity gap makes a lot more sense.
But we rarely discuss the impact of concentrated poverty—and of racial and socioeconomic
Jon Stewart tests Michelle Rhee, defends teachers
Jon Stewart invited Michelle Rhee on “The Daily Show” Monday night and, while he didn’t skewer her the way some Rhee critics would have liked, he kept challenging her about whether her brand of school reform unfairly targets teachers. He … Continue reading →
How online class about online learning failed miserably
In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff category, here’s an amusing piece about the failure of a MOOC (massive open online course) that was designed to teach more than 40,000 students the fundamentals of how to create an online course. It was written by … Continue reading →
Tennessee lawmaker wants to cut welfare benefits for bad report cards
There seems to be no end to the number of wacky school reform ideas. Now a Tennessee state senator wants to cut welfare payments to families whose kids get really bad report cards and test scores. State Sen. Stacey Campfield … Continue reading →
Why education ‘research wars’ leave no winners
Why education ‘research wars’ leave no winners
There isn’t a day that goes by that someone in the world of education isn’t issuing a report, data point or other form of research to make a point that conflicts with another point that also has a report, data … Continue reading→
One Teacher's Perspective: Along with Learning, Let's Measure Love!
One Teacher's Perspective: Along with Learning, Let's Measure Love!:
I hail from Mark Twain country. Thus, a little satire for this week's posting.
With Valentine’s Day nearing, my family just took its annual love survey.
Using a privately-run, publicly-funded love rating system--my family members and I rate our love for one another using a scale of 1 to 5. While the surveys are done individually and anonymously, the answers are compiled collectively and the results are shared publicly.
In a spirit of transparency, I am proud to report that the family love meter reading comes in this year at an impressive 4.37. This is a rebound from last year’s dip to 4.28, but short of our all-time love meter high of 4.76 in 2011.
Three of six family members showed improvement. The new grandson broke in at an
Along with Learning, Let's Measure Love!
With Valentine’s Day nearing, my family just took its annual love survey.
Using a privately-run, publicly-funded love rating system--my family members and I rate our love for one another using a scale of 1 to 5. While the surveys are done individually and anonymously, the answers are compiled collectively and the results are shared publicly.
In a spirit of transparency, I am proud to report that the family love meter reading comes in this year at an impressive 4.37. This is a rebound from last year’s dip to 4.28, but short of our all-time love meter high of 4.76 in 2011.
Three of six family members showed improvement. The new grandson broke in at an
UPDATE: Will someone speak up for Latino students? + Governor Malloy’s attraction to the concept of “MAJOR” initiatives + Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers! - Wait, What?
Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers! - Wait, What?:
Will someone speak up for Latino students? Corporate reform group overlooks the truth in effort to bolster charter schools.
Governor Malloy’s attraction to the concept of “MAJOR” initiatives
Even on Budget Day – (or especially on Budget Day) – Lobbyist money helps make the world go round…
Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers!
Will someone speak up for Latino students? Corporate reform group overlooks the truth in effort to bolster charter schools.
Governor Malloy’s attraction to the concept of “MAJOR” initiatives
Even on Budget Day – (or especially on Budget Day) – Lobbyist money helps make the world go round…
Step up and show your support for Seattle Teachers!
What If You’re A White Teacher Teaching Black History? [Some Examples] | The Jose Vilson
What If You’re A White Teacher Teaching Black History? [Some Examples] | The Jose Vilson:
In my last post, I put down some thoughts on Black History Month, something I’ve written about at least once for the last four years. Every so often, I get a question that I ought to put in an FAQ section. For instance:
“What if you’re a white teacher teaching about Black history?”
I often reply, “Go right ahead, as long as you do it right.”
Of course, you want to know what I mean by “right.” Besides the aforementioned article, I’d like to point you in the direction of some of the comments made in that article, too. For instance, here’s my respected colleague Mike Kaechele:
What If You’re A White Teacher Teaching Black History? [Some Examples]
In my last post, I put down some thoughts on Black History Month, something I’ve written about at least once for the last four years. Every so often, I get a question that I ought to put in an FAQ section. For instance:
“What if you’re a white teacher teaching about Black history?”
I often reply, “Go right ahead, as long as you do it right.”
Of course, you want to know what I mean by “right.” Besides the aforementioned article, I’d like to point you in the direction of some of the comments made in that article, too. For instance, here’s my respected colleague Mike Kaechele:
As a social studies teacher I really don’t like all of the special months and days. I try to teach the various viewpoints of history holistically. I will not be singling out blacks in February, just like we didn’t talk about terrorism on 9/11. We did spend three weeks on 9/11 and terrorism when it fit where we were as a class. We have talked about African Americans in the context of all of the
Figures…Top Bush Policy Wonk Writes ALEC Education Report and Declares Florida Rocks | Scathing Purple Musings
Figures…Top Bush Policy Wonk Writes ALEC Education Report and Declares Florida Rocks | Scathing Purple Musings:
Figures…Top Bush Policy Wonk Writes ALEC Education Report and Declares Florida Rocks
Reports Gina Jordan in StateImpact:
Florida is the teacher’s pet in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) latest Report Card on American Education. The report ranks state K-12 performance, progress, and reform.
Florida comes in 12th in the most recent rankings, but it’s one of the leaders in making progress. Florida is also tied for first overall in policy – with four states getting a B+.
“I’m not sure everyone understands here in Florida just how much of a model for the rest of the country you are,” said Dr. Matt Ladner, a policy advisor at the Foundation for Excellence in Education.
“There are states all around the country that are emulating policies that originated here in the state
Florida House to School Districts: You Have to Give Your Unused Buildings to Charter Schools – For Free
Small wonder Orlando Sentinel reporter Leslie Postal sounds incredulous over this latest sop to charter school operators:
Florida school districts with empty — or half empty — school buildings would be required to offer those facilities to charter schools at no cost, under a bill a House education subcomittee has proposed.
Districts (and this is the kicker for some local officials) would also have to maintain the facility once the charter was using it “at the same standard and level it would maintain any other district-operated school similar in age and condition.”
The bill is a 36 pager that deals with many aspects of Florida’s charter school law. Overall, it reads as a charter-friendly proposal, though it contains a few items that look to increase charter school
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